35+ History Memes That Will Make History

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Oct 21, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

Memes are a part of history. They might not have existed in ancient Babylon or during the Crusades, but they will undoubtedly be in the history books in the not-so-distant future. Memes express what real people were thinking about historical moments while they were happening better than their memories ever could. I might remember how I felt after the 2016 election, but a meme from that night is documented proof of what a person felt, which is a lot more valuable to historical study. Memes literally change the way that people view historical figures. Before a couple of years ago, Jackie Onassis Kennedy was widely perceived as a glamourous fashion icon. Now, Gen Z can't look at her without thinking of her gnawing on sheets of metal.

These memes are not likely to be historically relevant in the study of memes, but they are history memes, and they're perfect if you want a blast from the past. 

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  • 01
    You should not judge Rome by modern morals; other cultures back then were just as brutal and they had many great achievements. The aztecs where pure evil they deserved to be destroyed and had no redeeming values.
    via CodyBurkett
  • 02
    fields massive armies founding leader was an unabashed furry with several fursonas The 125 year old COOMERkaj nahua-influenced chontal maya who migrated south and married into the k'iche maya'; identity crisis is a part of the identity empire is ruled by four kings who all hate each other only drinks balché with tobacco and toad poison so obsessed with the "dawn" of his society that he conquers and colonizes half of guatemala so everyone else can help re-enact and relive it again and again and a
    via CodyBurkett
  • 03
    MONCHIA I fear no man. But that thing... it scares me.
    via CodyBurkett
  • 04
    21st Century Climate Activist VS. 13th Century Climate Activist DASAN Noooooo we have to recycle this water bottle to save the planet!!1!!1! I orchestrated the killing of 40 million people or about 11% of the world's population and as a byproduct removed 700 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere
    via CodyBurkett
  • 05
    Pharaohs Cyrus Nooo... Anybody who disturbs my I was a good king. Please don't disturb my tomb, if it isn't too much of coffin will be cursed! an inconvenience
    via CodyBurkett
  • 06
    Heavy stone balances weight of water bucket DON'T BREAK YOUR BACK Get a machine to lift the water for you. A shadoof will make watering your fields in the dry season as easy as falling off a log! Shadoof Builders, Faiyum Oasis
    via CodyBurkett
  • 07
    STOP THE WAR ON THE OLYMPICS ES ZEUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON PUT ZEUS BACK INTO THE OLYMPICS Chuck O
    via CodyBurkett
  • 08
    Diocletian: I have slaughtered the Alamanni, the Sarmatians and the Carpi. My Caesar Galerius has annihilated the Persian forces and I have quelled the revolts of Egypt. I am the most powerful man on the planet. I fear nothing. A single Christian: Hello. Diocletian: (SCREAMING)
    via CodyBurkett
  • 09
    TWO PYRAMIDS SNEFERU Not enough, not enough.
    via CodyBurkett
  • 10
    The Historian's Den In 1921, 15-year-old former Chinese emperor Puyi wanted a phone. His advisors feared it might grant him too much independence. When he got it, he only used it for prank calls.
    via CodyBurkett
  • 11
    Living in France in 1346 be like I'm sorry but you have the black plague, you will surely die in the next few days in a slow and painful way made with mematic Our army had been completely destroyed by the English, I don't even know how I'm still alive. How could life be even worse?
    via CodyBurkett
  • 12
    Anne Thériault @anne_theriault Ancient Romans: druids are bad Ancient Romans: they sacrifice humans, according to us Ancient Romans: we just invade places Ancient Romans: slaughter innocents, etc Ancient Romans: conscript our own young men Ancient Romans: but it's, like, the good kind of sacrifice, you know?
    via @anne_theriault
  • 13
    PERSONAL ADS LOOKING FOR MY ODYSSEUS I'm Lee in IL. I love to travel and am looking for a companion. Contact me if interested. Thanks for reading the entire IL Lee ad. SERIOUS AD
    via CodyBurkett
  • 14
    what kind of Roman are you?
    via CodyBurkett
  • 15
    "USE COPPER AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT VIRUSES AND BACTRIANS!" MITHRIDATES I OF PARTHIA
    via CodyBurkett
  • 16
    Tea with Tolkien TeawithTolkien "it's hard to believe I'm standing in the ruins of Beleriand. because I'm not. they're currently at the bottom of the ocean, and I can't swim." anna myelessar-1d the lord of the rings but it's narrated by philomena cunk
    via @myelessar & @TeawithTolkien
  • 17
    22 October The Hongwu Emperor announces that he will accept straightforward criticism of his rule from officials [42] Ye Boju is starved to death in prison for criticizing the emperor [42]
    via CodyBurkett
  • 18
    IT MUST BE HARD FOR A BASELIUS TO UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I AM MERELY A SPATHAROKANDIDATOS imgflip.com SO WHEN THIS NEXT COMES UP AT QUESTION TIME YOU WANT ME TO TELL THE SENATE THAT IT'S THEIR FAULT THAT THE ROMAN CIVIL SERVICE IS TOO BIG?
    via CodyBurkett
  • 19
    SVA CALLA Toch. A kukäl, Tocharian B kokale, ('wheels':) 'wagon' Toch. A kukäl, Tocharian B kokale, TALI che (tshja) LH tsha, OCM *k-hla 'Chariot' [OB, BI, Shi]> 'wheel' ('wheels':) 'wagon'
    via CodyBurkett
  • 20
    What I think I look like when talking about #ISTORY VS what I actually look like 171
    via CodyBurkett
  • 21
    school students in the Inca empire: BBC I am learning the vocabulary of rope! made with mematic
    via CodyBurkett
  • 22
    paperandpencilsandskips Seguir here have this picture i made and forgot about until now paperandpencilsandskips Seguir [Id: an edited photo of Seinfeld featuring Kramer, Jerry, and George anticipating the arrival of the mesomerican god of ice frost death and justice itztlacoliuhqui] 25.6 K notas D
    via paperandpencilsandskips
  • 23
    AJHA Pueblo Revolt Chan Santa Cruz Rebellion of Túpac Amaru II
    via CodyBurkett
  • 24
    Why can't you just submit? Screams
    via CodyBurkett
  • 25
    N This is a weapon of terror, it is meant to intimidate the enemy. This is a weapon of war, it is meant to kill your enemy.
    via CodyBurkett
  • 26
    SESAME STREET.org Spanish Conquistador Elmo Pizarro comes upon Sapa Inka Atahualpa and demands that the great king fill one room with gold to escape death
    via CodyBurkett
  • 27
    Never Ask A Woman Her Age A Man, His Salary and The Great League of Peace what they were doing to the Wyandots, Eries, Neutrals, Odawas, Ojibwes, Meskwakis, Sauks, Miamis-Illinis, Muscoutens, Mahicans, Susquehannocks, Wenros, Abenakis, Petuns, the Dutch, and the French in the mid-1600s
    via CodyBurkett
  • 28
    Khosrow II @khosrowparviz Oct 23, 626 Your empire looks like this. What are your last words? Gokturks ka Eastern Rome Sassanid Empire Andy Order Heraclius @ogbasileus · Oct 610, 626 Go go gadget heraclian tactics ↑ ...
    via CodyBurkett
  • 29
    List of sieges of Constantinople Gades Spania Carteia Tingis Septum Volubin TNTNIMANTAN Naval Rashidun Caliphate Byzantine and Empire land 669 Umayyads Byzantine Empire Naval and land Co674- Umayyads Byzantine Empire Sardinia. 555 AD Result Rashidun victory Bosporos Troesmissos Kerkinitida Alyston Cherson Naval and land forces in Syria were Arabs. [31] In response to the loss of Syria, the Romans developed the phylarch system of using Armenian and Arab Christian auxiliaries living on the frontie
    via CodyBurkett
  • 30
    HOW THEY DID IT ANCIENT ROME MARK AND <LEO'S ASPIRATIONAL BAKING ICATO'S SALT SHOP சேயி MAKING A ROMAN HAMBURGER WAKE UP WITH THE KING! OH YEAAH! BACON AND CHEESE, SO BACONEY, SO CHEESY! WAKE UP WITH THE KING OF COURSE IN ORDER TO HAVE A PROPER START TO YOUR DAY, YOU NEED TRUE ROMAN HAMBURGERS FOR TRUE ROMANS, MADE BY BURGER BASILEUS! IF DONE RIGHT, YOUR BURGER CIVILIZATION WILL LAST FOR 2000 YEARS, JUST LIKE MY HARD TACK (CLACK CLACK! imgflip.com
    via CodyBurkett
  • 31
    Top 10 BEST ANIME COMEBACKS WatchMojo.com Subscribe 13,580,695 mojo + Add to Share More 10:00 860,639 views 11,481 1,208
    via CodyBurkett
  • 32
    Joannes Zonaras Joannes Zonaras made with mematic Making original, distinct looking art Alf 418247
    via CodyBurkett
  • 33
    53 BCE Persia? We will defeat you as Alexander did Infantry on open ground? This will be easy O roma.aeterna 700 YEARS LATER Why don't you die? At it again, f*cker?
    via CodyBurkett
  • 34
    I'LL JUST BLOW UP AND SHOCK THE TERRANS WITH A NEW LIGHT BRIGHT LIKE THE MOON OH NO, GOD IS ANGRY AT US! THE ROMAN EMPIRE EXCOMMUNICATES YOUR LEGATES! Orthodox Church Catholic Church RIGHT BACK AT YOU, YOU SCHISMATICS! East-West Schism (1054) NORWAY ANGLO SAXON KINGDOM IT'S ON NOW! (other than a brief respite under Alexios as recorded by Anna Komnene)! FRANCE imgflip.com EMPIRE HUNGARY EMPIRE
    via CodyBurkett
  • 35
    The Virgin Romaboo The Chad Byzaboo "Rome fell in 1453" Reads Anthony Kaldellis to get Information on Roman History "Rome fell in 476" Thinks Christianity ruined the Empire because Gibbon said so Reads Edward Gibbon to get Information on Roman History Thinks roman Civilization was destroyed by naked Barbarians Thinks Latin was the only language of the Romans Simping for lunatics like Caligula and Nero Forgot about half of the Empire for no reason calls Byzantium a medieval greek Kingdom despite
    via CodyBurkett
  • 36
    The polities that successfully repelled the Spanish watching people argue over their favorite defeated empire
    via CodyBurkett

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ancient rome history memes ancient history history egypt historical memes funny memes World History Memes european history Historical ancient greece funny meme meme
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