(ORDO NEWS) — It is far from a fact that the historical information from the written sources of antiquity is true. However, even around it we create many myths.
Ninja didn’t dress in black, and Columbus didn’t discover America – and this is not a complete list of historical myths.
The history of mankind can hardly be called a very exact science. But, despite this, there are historical facts that few people doubt. We encounter them in popular culture.
We believe in them and do not suspect that in real history everything was a little different. Here are some examples of myths that many of us still believe.
1- King Arthur is real
Many have read legends or watched films about the noble King Arthur, his faithful knight Lancelot, Queen Guinevere and the wizard Merlin. In fact, these stories are fiction.
Despite centuries of controversy, scientists have been unable to confirm the existence of Arthur in real life. His name is not mentioned in the only surviving contemporary source about the real Saxon invasion (during which Arthur supposedly lived), which was described by the Celtic monk Gildas.
However, there is reason to believe that King Arthur may have been inspired by several different historical figures.
2- Columbus discovered America
We know from school that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. However, this is not true. People have lived on this land for over 15,000 years.
Moreover, Columbus never even set foot on the North American mainland. Instead, he landed on a small island in the Bahamas.
A group of Icelandic Norwegian explorers led by Leif Erikson visited American lands long before Columbus’ voyage. However, even they were not necessarily the first explorers to discover America.
3- In the Middle Ages, people lived up to 30 years
One of the popular myths about the Middle Ages is the myth about the length of life at that time. It is generally accepted that people then lived, at best, up to 35 years, and at 30 they were already considered old people. However, this is not true.
The fact is that the average life expectancy at that time was 35 years. This means that if the life expectancy of one child was less than one year, and the other lived to 70 years, then on average it turned out to be 35 years.
In the Middle Ages, infant mortality was very high. People who survived this period of life could well live to old age.
4- Ninjas wore black
Black ninja gear is a stereotype created by martial arts movies. This myth comes from the kabuki theater props. The cameramen were dressed in black suits to blend in completely with the black background and be “invisible”.
In fact, the ninja looked like ordinary people. They could transform and wear the clothes of artists, merchants, priests or monks.
These clothes did not arouse suspicion among others and served as a cover. When it comes to choosing a color, red or navy blue is the most preferred ninja.
5- In the Middle Ages, people did not bathe
Assumptions about the uncleanliness of people who lived in the Middle Ages are greatly exaggerated. In fact, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary. Personal hygiene and cleanliness were important aspects of the life of medieval people.
Popular books recommended regularly changing your underwear, washing your hands, washing your face, and brushing your teeth after waking up. Medical collections contained recipes for whitening teeth and improving skin condition.
In addition, medieval people looked after the condition of their clothes and often washed or had a washerwoman in the house. Many houses had wooden bathtubs for bathing, and later public baths appeared in the cities.
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