Learning about history is an important part of understanding the world around us, but it can be daunting to know where to begin. Wouldn’t it be great if someone else curated historical facts in bite sized pieces to give to you every day? Look no further than the History Defined Instagram account! This page shares facts, stories and videos, so followers can “learn weird things about history” every single day just by logging onto Instagram. We’ve gathered some of the most interesting posts from History Defined, so you can have some historical fun facts in your back pocket to share with others. Then if you’re still hungry for more history lessons, we’ve got another Bored Panda piece featuring a similar Instagram page for you to check out next right here
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#41 During World War II Those Spying On Behalf Of The Allies Had To Go Through Considerable Trouble In Order To Make Sure That They Weren’t Discovered By The Nazis While Securing Axis Secrets
Aside from going out of their way to disguise their appearance as much as possible, which involved the perfect type of clothing that didn’t make them look too English, they sometimes had to resort to trick shoes like this to throw Nazi forces off their tracks. These shoes work similarly to those employed by moonshiners during prohibition (which were likely the inspiration), the soles faced the opposite direction that the wearer was walking, making anyone tracing their footsteps believe that the wearer was walking towards them rather than away.
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402points
#43 Portraits Of Ellis Island Immigrants By Augustus Sherman, Circa 1905-1914
Sherman worked as a clerk on Ellis Island from 1892 to 1925. During his breaks, he would ask newly arrived immigrants to sit for an intimate portrait. In total, he took around 200 photos.
Ellis Island was active for more than 60 years, from 1892 to 1954. During that time, more than 12 million people passed through, often escaping political and social turmoil back home. Others came seeking a better life and a fresh start in the so-called land of opportunity.
Ellis Island was active for more than 60 years, from 1892 to 1954. During that time, more than 12 million people passed through, often escaping political and social turmoil back home. Others came seeking a better life and a fresh start in the so-called land of opportunity.
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393points
#44 An Indian Student Studying Late At Night At The University Of Madras In Tamil Nadu, 1905
Students use to tie their hairs to a nail in the wall to prevent themselves from falling asleep while studying late at night.
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374points
#46 Breaker Boys At The Woodward Coal Mines In Kingston, Pennsylvania, Ca. 1900
Breaker boys worked in the coal mines. Their main job was to separate chunks of coal by hand. As coal came down the conveyor belt, they would break up the coal into common sized pieces and also separate out any things like rocks, clay and soil. Boys were usually between the ages of 8 to 12, but sometimes were as young as 5 or 6. The breaker boys would work 10 hours a day, 6 days a week.
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358points
#47 A German Woman Sitting Alone With Her Dog And All Her Belongings In The Ruins Of Cologne, 1945
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354points
#49 A German Coal Miner Waiting To Get Into The Communal Shower At The End Of A Long Shift, 1958
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315points
#50 In 1731 King Frederick I Of Sweden Sent A Taxidermist His Favorite Lion Who Had Died And This Is What He Received Back. King Frederik's Lion Is On Display To This Day At Gripsholm Castle, A Former Royal Residence And Now A Museum In Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden
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291points
The intriguing use of Instagram as an educational platform is validated by the ever-growing popularity of accounts like History Defined.
As we explore innovative ways to learn history, we are reminded of the unexpected historical curiosity left behind such as the story of a fascinating artifact engulfed by nature. This highlights how historical remnants can spark interest and motivate us to engage with history beyond traditional methods.
