Five Historical Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing Now

These myths have been around for too long

A photograph of The Beatles by an unknown photographer, 1963 (Wikimedia Commons)

The modern world is bursting with misinformation, and no field of study is exempt from this issue, including history.

Consequently, there are plenty of historical misconceptions floating around, especially within the online realm.

So, next time you hear someone voicing these mistruths, make sure you correct their mistake.

Misconception #1: The Vikings Arrived in Britain in 793

A painting of a Viking ship by Nicholas Roerich, 1901 (Wikimedia Commons)

Those who are familiar with the history of the Vikings will already know the significance of 793, for this was the year the Vikings attacked the holy island of Lindisfarne off the coast of Northumberland.

This event is often cited as the beginning of the Saxon-versus-Viking era in British history. (At this time, the land that would eventually become England was a collection of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, with Northumberland being one of them.)

In reality, the first recorded Viking attack in Britain was in 789 in Portland, Dorset. Three Viking ships…