12 Things History Forgot About

History books are filled with famous tales of battles, inventions, and leaders who shaped the world. However, behind the grand narratives are countless forgotten stories, events, figures, and achievements overshadowed by more popular accounts.

In this article, we uncover 12 fascinating things that history has largely forgotten, yet deserve to be remembered.

The Ancient Library of Nalanda

When people think of ancient libraries, Alexandria often comes to mind. However, few remember the Library of Nalanda a massive center of learning in ancient India that thrived from the 5th to the 12th century CE.

Located in what is now Bihar, Nalanda housed thousands of manuscripts covering subjects like philosophy, astronomy, and medicine.

This sprawling university was destroyed in the 12th century by invaders led by Bakhtiyar Khilji, who reportedly burned the library for months.

The loss of this knowledge hub was a devastating blow to education and intellectual pursuits in Asia.

The Great Molasses Flood of Boston (1919)

In 1919, an enormous storage tank holding over 2 million gallons of molasses burst, causing a tidal wave of thick, sticky syrup to flood the streets of Boston’s North End.

The “Great Molasses Flood” killed 21 people and injured over 150, sweeping buildings off their foundations.

Despite its bizarre nature, this tragedy prompted stricter safety regulations for industrial construction. Yet, the event is rarely taught in history classes outside of Boston, despite its significance in public safety legislation.

The Peshtigo Fire

Most people are familiar with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, but on the very same day, an even deadlier fire raged in Peshtigo, Wisconsin.

The Peshtigo Fire killed over 1,200 people (some estimates suggest up to 2,500) and obliterated entire towns in northeastern Wisconsin.

The firestorm was so intense that it created its own weather patterns, including fiery tornadoes. However, because Chicago was a more prominent city, the tragedy in Peshtigo was overshadowed in the national press and remains largely forgotten.

Noor Inayat Khan: The Forgotten Spy

Noor Inayat Khan was an Indian princess, author, and Allied spy during World War II. As a member of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), she was trained to send encrypted messages behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied France. Despite being captured and tortured, she never revealed critical information.

She was executed at Dachau in 1944, but her bravery was posthumously recognized with the George Cross. However, her story has often been eclipsed by other wartime figures, though recent efforts aim to restore her place in history.

The Eruption of Mount Tambora (1815)

The eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815 was the most powerful volcanic event in recorded history. It was 100 times more powerful than the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii.

Tambora’s eruption caused a “volcanic winter,” as ash blocked sunlight, leading to global climate anomalies.

The year 1816 became known as the “Year Without a Summer,” resulting in widespread crop failures and famine, particularly in Europe and North America. #

Despite its massive impact, Tambora’s eruption is often overshadowed by smaller, more famous volcanic events.

The Stolen Romanov Jewels

The Romanov family, the last imperial dynasty of Russia, was executed in 1918 after the Russian Revolution.

While their tragic fate is well-known, the mystery of the Romanov family jewels remains a historical enigma.

The royal family allegedly sewed diamonds and gemstones into their clothing during their final days, some of which were never recovered after their deaths.

To this day, treasure hunters continue to search for these lost riches. However, this mystery is often overlooked amid the broader political upheavals of the time.

The Lost Colony of Roanoke

Long before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts, the English established a settlement on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina, in 1587.

Led by John White, the colony mysteriously disappeared when White returned from a supply trip to England in 1590.

The only clue left behind was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Historians and archaeologists have debated the fate of the settlers for centuries, but the true story remains a mystery.

Despite its intriguing nature, the Lost Colony of Roanoke is often sidelined in mainstream history.

The Emu War (1932)

Yes, you read that correctly—Australia once fought a war against emus. In 1932, Australian farmers were struggling to control the population of wild emus, which were devastating crops.

In response, the government deployed soldiers armed with machine guns to cull the birds.

Despite their firepower, the emus evaded capture and continued to thrive. The “Emu War” became a humorous yet embarrassing episode in Australian history, though it rarely makes its way into textbooks.

The Forgotten Female Pharaoh: Hatshepsut

While figures like Cleopatra and Nefertiti are well-known, Hatshepsut is often forgotten, despite being one of ancient Egypt’s most successful rulers.

Hatshepsut reigned as pharaoh from 1478 to 1458 BCE and initiated a prosperous era of trade, monumental architecture, and economic growth.

She defied expectations by assuming the full regalia of a male pharaoh, including a false beard. After her death, her stepson attempted to erase her legacy by defacing monuments and statues.

It wasn’t until modern archaeological discoveries that Hatshepsut’s remarkable reign was rediscovered.

The St. Pierre Disaster (1902)

The small Caribbean island of Martinique was home to the bustling city of St. Pierre until the catastrophic eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902.

The volcano’s eruption destroyed the city in mere minutes, killing nearly all of its 30,000 inhabitants.

Amazingly, one prisoner, locked in a stone cell, survived and became famous for his unlikely escape from death.

Despite the disaster’s magnitude, it has been overshadowed by more famous natural disasters, such as the eruption of Krakatoa.

The Overlooked Heroism of Irena Sendler

During the Holocaust, Irena Sendler, a Polish social worker, saved over 2,500 Jewish children by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto and placing them with Christian families.

She risked her life repeatedly, forging documents and outwitting Nazi officials.

Sendler was eventually caught and tortured, yet she never betrayed the children’s identities.

Despite her extraordinary heroism, her story was largely forgotten until it resurfaced in the early 2000s thanks to a student project that brought her legacy to light.

The 1904 Olympic Marathon Fiasco

The 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis is often remembered as the strangest marathon in history.

The race was held in extreme heat, and runners endured poor conditions, including dusty roads and inadequate water stations. One competitor even stopped for a meal during the race!

The winner, Thomas Hicks, was helped across the finish line after ingesting strychnine, a performance enhancing (and highly dangerous) stimulant.

Another runner finished after taking a car ride for part of the race. Despite the chaos, this bizarre race remains a forgotten footnote in Olympic history.