There's a reason we share so many history memes on this site. Sure, they're almost always funny. But the real reason is that there is just so much material to choose from. Memes are being made using crap that has happened over the span of thousands of years. And that means there's something for enthusiasts of nearly every period of history. Into memes about Ancient Greece and Rome? Well, they're everywhere. Prefer memes about the Middle Ages? Those are pretty prolific as well. Don't even get us started on World War II memes. There are plenty, but we have to be a little more careful with 'em due to the utter bleakness of the subject matter. So if you're looking for some historical entertainment, chances are we'll have a good meme for you in here. Don't thank us - thank the past.
wwI
Isn't it weird to think that maybe one day our experiences wil be retold in meme form? 2020 has already inspired a zillion memes, but these trials are going to be in history books. Hell, there's probably going to be an entire chapter on coronavirus alone. While we struggle to keep our heads high as obstacles are flung at us, it's nice to look back and remember that the past sucked too. That's where these history memes come in. While we don't take pleasure in the pains of our predecessors, it's nice to feel a bit of solidarity.
You don't have to be a historian to enjoy these memes. While they do reference some obscure dramas of yesteryear, the subject matter isn't so dense that you'll be completely lost. In fact, these history memes might even lead to something special: learning something. Which makes our constant mindless scrolling feel a little less shameful. Here's to knowledge!
Every time we open our phones or turn on the television there are constant reminders of how absolutely terribly the world is doing. While dark and edgy history memes aren't going to solve the climate crisis or find a vaccine for coronavirus, they're a pretty decent reminder that the planet has gone through sh*t and bounced back for the better. We're just hoping that happens to us sooner rather than later. Happy scrolling!
It's wild to think that world-changing historical events can be summed up into silly little image macros. I wonder what Marie Antoinette would say if she could see herself depicted in a chad doge vs. virgin cheems meme. It's fun to imagine how memelords a century from now might meme this 'unprecedented time' we're currently experiencing. Will 2020 be an insignificant blip in history to humans of the deep future? Or will 2020 memes get all the upvotes on some futuristic version of r/historymemes? A lot to think about. For now we'll happily continue scrolling through dank history memes about past events.
Let's face it, 2020 has been something out of an apocalyptic horror story. But it's important to put things into perspective. Historically speaking, the world used to be pretty damn f*cked up. We're not about to compare Covid-19 to the Spanish Flu or Black Death, but maybe (to some people) it's comforting to remember we're far from the first people to deal with plagues, fire and brimstone. These spicy history memes are a great reminder of that.
If you're not a history expert or weirdly obsessed with WWI, the premise of these dank history memes may surprise you. Apparently, despite widespread use of deadly weapons such as the machine gun, Americans and their use of shotguns were the subject of an actual German protest in 1918. The Germans felt the guns were a form of terrorism, that the caused unnecessary suffering. Their protest was not taken seriously - especially because the Germans were using some pretty terrible weapons of their own. Chlorine gas, flamethrowers - even giant Zeppelin bombers.
The Germans were so appalled by the Winchester shotguns that they threatened to execute any Americans carrying the weapon. Their threats didn't sway the US Army, who kept using the guns. Some people even credit the weapons with the defeat of the Germans. Right now, the guns (and the protests surrounding them) are the subjects of an insane amount of history memes, mostly popping up in meme communities on Reddit. And they're pretty freakin' funny. We've put some of the better examples in this gallery, but we bet you can find some more if you creep around r/historymemes. Happy scrolling!
We think history can be really fascinating, but we also understand that learning it out of a textbook is boring as heck. If you're a high school history teacher reading this, then you should definitely start utilizing memes in your everyday lessons if you want students to retain the information better. Who else agrees?
Let's face it, history class is really boring. Who wants to learn by reading out of a boring-a** textbook? And beside, chances are you probably won't remember anything you read after the exam is over anyway. History memes serve as a fun way to cram that historical knowledge into your noggin.
