Things You Thought You Knew About History

Did Marco Polo really travel all the way to China? Or was he really a liar? Learn all about Marco Polo, his background, and his book in this exciting episode. Find out what's true and what's just a myth! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Why do we celebrate Independence Day on July 4th? When did the Continental Congress really declare independence? And when was the Declaration of Independence really signed? Learn the history behind July 4th and the Declaration of Independence in this awesome episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

We've all heard of the tragic Salem witch trials. But do you know what really happened? How'd the trials start? Why were these people accused of being witches? How were they really executed? Learn about this terrible event in this episode. Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Was the Hundred Years' War really 100 years? What was the Hundred Years' War? Why did it start? Learn all about the Hundred Years' War in this episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

You may have heard that the mainland U.S. was never attacked in World War II. But that's not true! The United States was attacked multiple times, by Japan and Germany. Learn all about it in this fascinating episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

You've probably heard that famous inventor Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. But do you know that he wasn't the first? Have you heard about all the scientists and inventers who made light bulbs before him? And how much do you know about Edison himself? Get ready to learn all about the invention of the light bulb and Thomas Edison's life! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did a cow really start the Great Chicago Fire of 1871? Was it really Mrs. O'Leary's fault? In this episode we discuss different theories about how the Great Chicago Fire started! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Vikings never wore horned helmets! Then why do we think they did? And what did they really wear? Are you ready to learn some fascinating facts about the Vikings? Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

We use the word OK all the time! But where did it come from? A joke in an 1830s newspaper? Or Andrew Jackson's spelling mistake? And what does it have to do with Martin Van Buren's campaign? Learn the surprising history behind this super useful word! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did careless officials accidentally change immigrants' names on Ellis Island? Why do we think they did? Why did immigrant's names change at all? In this episode we learn all about immigration on Ellis Island and this interesting myth! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did Nero Really Fiddle While Rome Burned? Why do we think he did? What was the Great Fire of Rome? Learn all about this fascinating myth in this episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Where did the name "marathon" come from? Why are marathons 26.2 miles? Did a Greek soldier by the name of Pheidippides really run from Marathon to Athens? In this episode learn about the history of the name marathon Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did President Kennedy accidently call himself a jelly donut in front of crowds in Berlin? What does "Ich bin ein Berliner" really mean? And why was Kennedy giving this speech? Learn all about JFK's speech at the Berlin Wall in this exciting episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Who is Napoleon? Was he really short? Why do we think he was? In this episode we discuss a little bit about Napoleon and why the myth that he was short is so widespread. Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Was Manhattan bought for $24 worth of beads? Who bought it and who'd they buy it from? In this episode we discuss the history of the purchase of the island of Manhattan. Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did Pilgrims Really Come to America for Religious Freedom? If not, why did they come? What was life like once they got to the Americas? In this episode we discuss this history of the Pilgrims and some bonus Pilgrim trivia!! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did pirates really say arrrrr? Why do we think they did? What were pirates really like? And do pirates still exist today? Learn lots of interesting information about pirates in this episode! Want to read the transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

What really happened on Paul Revere's historic ride? How much of the famous poem is true? In this episode we learn all about Paul Revere and his midnight ride. And get ready for some American Revolution trivia!

Who really discovered the North Pole? Was it Admiral Robert Peary? Dr. Frederick Cook? Neither? Why is it so complicated? In this episode we'll discuss who really discovered the North Pole and learn all about their expeditions. And there is some Arctic trivia at the end! Want to see a transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: XCACCAAHQ6JVJUJP

Did Betsy Ross design the first American flag? If not, who did? In this episode we will discuss the history of the American flag and some particularly cool flags! And there is some flag trivia at the end! Want to see a transcript? Find it on our website here: Things You Thought You Knew About History Intro Music: Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: 99ZDOMMOWS6CDBQM *Edited for corrections

What were ninjas really like? Did they really wear all black? In this episode will explore what ninjas really did in ancient Japan and a little bit about Japanese history. Find our website here Intro music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: UYQGA6XIBE7ZI51K

Did George Washington really chop down a cherry tree? Why is that such a classic story? And why did he always wear a wig? Wait, did he? Where his teeth really wooden?!? How much of what you know about George Washington is true? Find out in this episode as we explain some common George Washington myths and where they came from. The Music is from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: UYQGA6XIBE7ZI51K Check out our website Things You Thought You Knew About History here

Was Christopher Columbus the first to discover America? Nope! Who did discover the Americas? Who is Leaf Erikson? And how did the Indigenous Peoples come to the Americas? In this episode we discuss how people got to the Americas. Find the sources and transcript on our website by clicking here Intro Music: Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: 99ZDOMMOWS6CDBQM

Who is Marie Antoinette? What happened to her? Did she really say, "Let them eat cake" at the start of the French Revolution? In this episode we will talk about who Marie Antoinette was and some of what led up to the French Revolution. Find the sources and transcript here: https://sites.google.com/view/things-you-thought-you-knew Intro Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: 99ZDOMMOWS6CDBQM

Did people a long time ago believe the world was flat? Sure they did until Columbus proved it was round. Well nope, not really! So what's that all about? In this episode we will learn when people really discovered the earth is round and how this myth started. Find the sources and transcript here: https://sites.google.com/view/things-you-thought-you-knew Intro Music: Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: 99ZDOMMOWS6CDBQM

Who really drew the original Mickey Mouse? How did Disney get started? And what was cartoon animation like back then? In this episode we will discuss how Mickey Mouse, Disney, and animation came to be. Plus there is some bonus trivia at the end! Our Website: https://sites.google.com/view/things-you-thought-you-knew Introduction Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you, License code: UYQGA6XIBE7ZI51K

What is Things you Thought You Knew About History? Who runs it? Should I listen to it? (Of course!) In this trailer we will give you a brief description of our show so you can get a taste of what each episode offers! Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ben-johnson/cant-stop-chasing-you License code: UYQGA6XIBE7ZI51K