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Many of us have heard of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-spartan-life-was-like/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">unusual practices of Sparta</a>, the war-obsessed, ancient Greek society. Let&#39;s be real: many&nbsp;of us learned them from the notorious 2006&nbsp;film, 300.&nbsp;While the movie, and our history books, highlight some of the more impressive aspects of Spartan society, there are&nbsp;plenty of weird facts about Sparta&nbsp;that seem&nbsp;too extreme to be real.&nbsp;

For example, did you&nbsp;know Spartan&nbsp;teens participated in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/extreme-ancient-sports-that-sound-fake-but-are-true/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">yearly festival of exterminating&nbsp;slaves</a>&nbsp;to quash any thoughts of rebellion? Or that Spartan babies were dunked in wine to test their worthiness to live? Or that women of Sparta shaved their heads and dressed like men on their wedding nights?

So get cozy, grab your sword (if you have one),&nbsp;and read on to dive <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/christopher-mccandless-into-the-wild-true-story/colleen-conroy?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">into the wild</a>&nbsp;traditions of Sparta. Make sure to vote up the facts that seem too outrageous to be real.

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Facts About Sparta That Sound Made Up - But Aren't

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Looking closer at some of the best, most realistic, most brutal depictions of war in the history of entertainment.

Wars on Screen

All about Spielberg's epic & heartbreaking WWII drama, celebrating 25 years in 2023.

Saving Private Ryan

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When it comes to impactful stories embroiled with action and emotion, you need look no further than war movies. Whether they are detailing events of an entire conflict or just the actions of a few, war movies make up some of cinema's greatest achievements. War has been part of culture for the entirety of human history and how to grapple with the violence and bloodshed is on the forefront of the minds of many. From <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/world-war-2-facts-and-myths/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">World War II</a> to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/vietnam-war-pictures/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">Vietnam</a> to lesser known conflicts, these essential war films explore the topic in a nuanced, insightful manner. Even if you're not a fan of combat movies, there are war movies everyone should watch to get a deeper understanding of world history and the psyche of veterans.&nbsp;Many must-see war movies explore the complexities of war by focusing in on a small group of soldiers. Some of the most famous and popular films of all time are set during major wars that shocked the world.&nbsp;Saving Private Ryan&nbsp;focuses on the effort to save a single soldier to spare a mother more grief.&nbsp;Apocalypse Now&nbsp;is a Francis Ford Coppola-directed film portraying the brutalities of Vietnam. If you're unfamiliar with war films, these are <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/science-fiction-movies-for-beginners-kids-teens/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">movies for beginners</a> that will help you familiarize yourself with the genre.&nbsp;Check out some of these films for an extensive intro to war movies. Then, vote your favorites to the top of the list.&nbsp;

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Since the dawn of civilization, a lot of important things have happened. Here are lists of about the many winding routes we took to get where we are today.

Historical Contexts

Billy Joel

Anyone who's heard “<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDPnsTRAvIM">We Didn't Start the Fire</a>” by Billy Joel knows it's a song about history. In fact, listen to the lyrics a few times through and you realize just how much history is incorporated into the song. (<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LkVKCWL0U4">In 2023</a>, Fall Out Boy even attempted to create a version with events from 1989 to 2023.)When Joel released “We Didn't Start the Fire” in 1989, it was around the time of his 40th birthday. When it came to writing the song, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/23/arts/music/billy-joel-we-didnt-start-the-fire.html">he told biographer Fred Schruers</a>, “The chain of news events and personalities came easily - mostly they just spilled out of my memory as fast as I could scribble them down.”&nbsp;In 2009, Joel told Billboard magazine that the single was “terrible musically.” Even if that is the case, it's an intense, engaging <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-events-to-learn-in-song/melissa-sartore">lesson in the history</a> that took place between 1948 and 1988. It's chronological in structure and, from start to finish, references <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.britannica.com/list/all-119-references-in-we-didnt-start-the-fire-explained">119</a> people, places, events, and phenomena.&nbsp;With all that history <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/american-pie-song-references/megan-summers">packed into one song</a>, it's difficult to know exactly what is being referenced. Sometimes, it's not clear what Joel is saying at all. Here's a breakdown of every historical reference in “We Didn't Start the Fire."

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Every Historical Reference In 'We Didn't Start The Fire,' Explained

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Historical Facts

People have inhabited the Americas for thousands of years. Native American history&nbsp;is just as complex, fascinating, and surprising as any other story about the past, even if it isn&#39;t as widely known.

Indigenous folks across North and South America have made their mark on the world in a variety of ways, ranging from <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/how-why-did-the-mayans-build-pyramids/bailey-benningfield" target="_blank">Mayan pyramids</a> to advanced surgical techniques and popular sports that have stood the test of time. Indeed, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/early-1900s-native-american-photos/chwang?ref=collections_page" target="_blank">Native American communities</a> stretch over two continents, and no two are the same. They all have their own culture, traditions, and accomplishments that are worth remembering.

Though Native American tribes and communities are unique in their own way, they also have one important thing in common: Their histories have been shaped by colonialism, as European empires, the United States of America, and other new nation-states violently encroached on their land and disrupted their communities. Indigenous communities haven&#39;t only been targeted by colonialism; they&#39;ve also shaped the histories of empires.

Native American history is more than a story of tragedy, however - it&#39;s also a story of ingenuity, innovation, and compassion. So read on and vote up the facts about Native American history that are new to you.

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15 Facts We Just Learned About Native American History

15 Facts About Native American History We Just Learned

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History

Wars rarely have one single cause. Often, the outbreak of a conflict results from multiple grievances that have taken shape over time. Differing beliefs, competing interests, and territorial disputes fester, becoming increasingly infuriating and unacceptable. Blood begins to boil, tempers grow short, and, in a single moment, one small mistake or affront&nbsp;unleashes the frustration and anger that&#39;s been building for years.&nbsp;

Minor incidents that <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/foods-that-started-conflicts/laura-allan" target="_blank">kick off major conflicts</a> may seem insignificant on the surface - but they&#39;re really nothing more than <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-overreactions-in-history/setareh-janda" target="_blank">breaking points</a>. Vote up the big historical conflicts that stemmed from seemingly small mistakes and left you saying, &quot;Well, that escalated quickly!&quot;

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12 Major Historical Conflicts Caused By Seemingly Minor Incidents

The Vietnam War - known in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America - lasted from November 1, 1955, until the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975.

The War in Vietnam

Looking closer at films, TV shows, docs, and miniseries that explore, recreate, and occasionally flub up real historical events.

Watching History

War TV & Film

The best Vietnam War movies transport audiences back in time, immersing them in the intensity and chaos of one of the 20th century's most pivotal conflicts. This ranked list, curated by thousands of film enthusiasts, reveals the top films about the conflict that stand out for their historical accuracy, emotional depth, and engaging storytelling. We created this collection of greatest Vietnam War movies to commemorate these famous cinematic masterpieces and to provide a platform for viewers to celebrate and criticize their favorites. What sets this list apart is its crowd-ranked&nbsp;nature, ensuring it reflects the collective opinion of&nbsp;movie buffs.Directed by Oliver Stone and starring Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, and Tom Berenger, Platoon offers a raw depiction of infantry life, highlighting the harsh realities soldiers faced. Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket delves into the psychological struggles of young recruits, with convincing&nbsp;performances by Matthew Modine,&nbsp;Vincent D'Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey. Apocalypse Now, directed by&nbsp;Francis Ford Coppola, captures audiences with its surreal journey into the heart of darkness, with strong acting by Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen. Randall Wallace’s We Were Soldiers, starring Mel Gibson, offers an intense portrayal of the Battle of Ia Drang, while&nbsp;Hamburger Hill, directed by John Irvin and starring Anthony Barrile and Don Cheadle, portrays&nbsp;the harrowing struggle for a strategic position. Michael Cimino's The Deer Hunter, featuring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Meryl Streep, examines the conflict's impact on a group of close-knit friends. Each movie, with its influential filmmakers and talented actors,&nbsp;brings a distinctive perspective to the Vietnam War genre.This collection wouldn't be complete without inviting readers to join the conversation. Vote for your favorites, share your opinions, and help recommend good Vietnam War movies for fans to add to their watchlists! Engage with other war movie enthusiasts and discover new films that capture the essence of courage, sacrifice, and resilience.

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The Best Vietnam War Movies Of All Time

The 25+ Best Vietnam War Movies Ever Made

Harper Brooks

Lists about customs, rituals, and daily life in Ancient Rome and the Roman Republic, which ruled the Mediterranean from 8th Century BC until its spectacular collapse in 476 AD.

Rome If You Want To

Ancient Romans loved their sports and entertainment, and the Colosseum put on the grandest games in all of ancient Rome. With its <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/ancient-roman-gladiator-facts/aaron-edwards">gladiators</a>, interchangeable arenas, exotic animals, and the rare naval reenactment,&nbsp;being a spectator in&nbsp;the Roman Colosseum would have indeed been a spectacle. If you've ever had questions like “how many people could the Colosseum hold?” or “what did Colosseum look like?" this list will help you learn all about the Roman Colosseum.Crowds of 50,000 people, spanning every region and socioeconomic class of the empire, gathered at the stadium to watch shows and get away from the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/disgusting-imperial-rome/carly-silver">disgusting life</a> of everyday Rome. They enjoyed food, wine, music, and theatrics in a large venue,&nbsp;all paid for by the emperor himself.&nbsp;At the Colosseum, the audience could munch on chickpeas while waiting for the mid-day execution,&nbsp;watch&nbsp;for lions and other exotic animals released through the arena's hidden trap doors from their cramped seats, or see&nbsp;Roman elites&nbsp;collecting&nbsp;sweat from a gladiator (they thought it was an aphrodisiac). Events held at the Colosseum were&nbsp;so varied and elaborate that&nbsp;onlookers never knew what to expect.

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What It Was Like To Be A Spectator In The Roman Colosseum

What It Was Like to Be a Spectator at the Roman Colosseum

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Sweatpants at the table; sweatpants while you fistfight your neighbors over slightly discounted TVs. The holidays are here!

Giving Thanks

Weird History

The Thanksgiving holiday in the United States is a time for food, football, and family. Celebrations traditionally include meals with turkey, stuffing, and all of the fixings, with lots of yummy leftovers to enjoy for days and days afterward. The entirety of Thanksgiving weekend is a bit of a holiday in and of itself - with Black Friday and Cyber Monday officially kicking off the end-of-the-year shopping season.If you were educated in a school in the United States, a US territory, or anywhere else that might have taught the topic, you likely learned about Pilgrims and Native Americans coming together for a peaceful meal in 1621. With Pilgrims donning buckled hats and shoes alongside indigenous men and women <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-thanksgiving-traditions/jacob-shelton">seated around</a> a plentiful spread, the story of Thanksgiving is one of cooperation and perseverance alike.Much of what has been taught in the years and decades after the arrival of Europeans in North America has skewed the actual history of what people <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/unpopular-thanksgiving-opinions/alyssa-mariano">think of as Thanksgiving</a>. When it happened, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/thanksgiving-side-dishes-disgusting/melissa-sartore">what was eaten</a>, and even who was involved have all been mythologized to such an extent the fact blends with fiction.

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Debunking The Myths: The Actual Story Behind Thanksgiving

Exploring the backstories and nuances of famous historical photos that will change the way you think about the past—and the future.

Photographic Memories

Wild Facts

The '4 Children For Sale' sign is a haunting symbol of desperation and hardship from a bygone era in American history. The black-and-white photograph featuring this crude sign—alongside the four solemn Chalifoux children—captures the grim reality faced by families during the Great Depression. Lucille Chalifoux, the mother behind this infamous image, was thrust into the spotlight as her story gripped the nation’s heart.The background of the sign is heartbreaking. The Chalifoux family, like many during that time, faced severe financial struggles, exacerbated by job scarcity and widespread poverty. In a desperate bid to improve her children’s lives and possibly secure them a future that she couldn’t provide, Lucille Chalifoux made the unfathomable decision to put them up for sale. This photograph became a searing emblem of the era’s hardships, highlighting the lengths to which parents would go in the hopes of securing a better life for their offspring, even at the cost of their family unit.For those interested in uncovering more of this poignant narrative, delve into the full story of the 4 Children For Sale sign below. Learn about the fate of the Chalifoux children and how this iconic image continues to echo through history.

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'4 Children For Sale': The Tragic Story Behind Lucille Chalifoux's Infamous Sign

'4 Children For Sale': Lucille Chalifoux's Tragic Story Behind The Photo

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Lists about life for soldiers and civilians alike during the Second Great War, which raged around the world from 1939-1945.

WWII

WWII has been mined so aggressively by filmmakers&nbsp;you&#39;d expect the mine to have collapsed&nbsp;and been deemed unsafe for human habitation decades ago. Yet, WWII was <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/ww2-european-theater-stories/philgibbons" target="_blank">so extensive</a>, involved so many countries, continents, and people, and so thoroughly impacted the shaping of contemporary global society, the pull of its tractor beam is impossible to resist for those on the prowl for <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/people-who-hid-from-the-nazis/aaron-edwards" target="_blank">potent human drama</a>. You&#39;ve no doubt seen the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-world-war-ii-movies-of-all-time" target="_blank">cream of the crop of WWII movies</a>, pictures like The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Guns of the Navarone, The Great Escape,&nbsp;Open City, Saving Private Ryan, The Human Condition, and Army of Shadows. If you&#39;re hankering for more but aren&#39;t sure where to start, take a look at the pretty good WWII movies on this list.&nbsp;

Lesser-known WWII&nbsp;movies aren&#39;t necessarily bad&nbsp;movies. There are plenty of classic <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/world-war-ii-japan-movies/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Japanese WWII movies</a> you&#39;ve never seen simply because you may not seek out old Japanese movies (check out The Burmese Harp&nbsp;and Fires on the Plain). So don&#39;t immediately dismiss some of the forgotten WWII movies on this list just because you&#39;ve never heard of them. They&#39;re all decent WWII movies, despite middling reputations and a distinct lack of cultural capital. If you&#39;ve seen the classics and need a few more WWII movies worth seeing on your to-watch list, this list&#39;s for you.&nbsp;

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Pretty Good World War II Movies

List of Good World War II Movies That Are Worth Watching

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Typos have been a part of human history ever since people began to read and write. While they mostly effect publishing&nbsp;companies rather than individuals, anyone who has ever written a essay or typed out a message on social media will be aware of how easily unfortunate typos can creep into text and change its entire meaning.As the written word has had such an impact of our history, it makes sense that some clerical errors could have had a major effect on the world around us and that some of these <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/mistakes-that-changed-history/troybrownfield">mistakes could even have changed the world</a>. It only takes the smallest of typos to have a huge effect and lead to unexpected consequences that no one could have foreseen, costing companies millions of dollars and leading to catastrophic disasters.While you may think that such mistakes can no longer happen thanks to modern technologies, such as the autocorrect feature present on almost every computer and mobile device, typos are still all around us. This is largely due to the fact that more people write or type today than ever before, leading to plenty of possibilities&nbsp;for errors to make their way into important documents, lines of code, and even holy books.

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13 Times Typos Had Major Consequences You Wouldn't Expect

Nathan Gibson

Are you already an expert in everything America? Great! No need to read about these fascinating facts and important events that have shaped the U.S. as we know it today.

US History You Should Know

If you grew up in the United States, you probably learned the United States Customary System (USCS) for weights and measures. USCS terms like inches, feet, pounds, and miles are derived from the British Imperial System, steeped in a long history of application and use. Any introduction to the metric system may have muddied the measurement waters, adding unfamiliar words and awkward conversions to your school day.

While Americans continue to use the USCS, most of the world has shifted to the metric system. The metric system, or International System of Units (SI), was introduced in France <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/rise-and-fall-of-the-lavoisiers/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">during the late 18th century</a> and includes seven foundational units of measurement, the most common of which include meters and kilograms. SI has, according to its proponents, more utility and universality than other systems, making it the preferred system for weights and measures across the globe.

If this is true, why does the United States&nbsp;remain&nbsp;one of the few countries not to use the metric system as its primary system of measurement?&nbsp;The reasons Americans don&#39;t use the metric system are complicated, combining political and economic considerations with nationalist pride, but if you look closely, you can see the influence of SI in the United States. Whether or not this will eventually come full-scale remains to be seen, but here&#39;s what has shaped the use of the metric system in the United States so far.

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The Actual Reasons Everywhere Except The US Has Adopted The Metric System

Why Don't Americans Use the Metric System?

The Actual Reasons Why The US Hasn't Adopted The Metric System

Sometimes, a chain of events unfolds so dramatically that you have to stop and marvel, &quot;Wow, that escalated quickly!&quot; Historical events are no different - some of them moved from zero to 60 in a relatively short time period. Whether it was a war that started <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/dumbest-things-countries-have-fought-over/stephanieschoppert" target="_blank">due to&nbsp;a relatively&nbsp;minor issue</a>, a religious transformation that happened thanks to a single text, or a scientific advancement that emerged in a surprisingly short amount of time, many past events began in one place and ended up somewhere completely different.

These <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/fascinating-todayilearned-history-facts/garri-chaverst" target="_blank">history facts</a> demonstrate that nothing is inevitable, and that the past can have twists and turns like an engaging thriller. So read on and discover some events from the past that escalated very, very quickly.

12 Times In History When Things Escalated Quickly

Times In History When Things Escalated Quickly

Entertainment

War movies are both popular and common, but they tend to deal with the same small batch of wars. World War I, World War II, the Civil War, Vietnam, and the Iran/Afghanistan conflicts have all been the basis for numerous films. Many of those films have been great, a few even earning recognition as all-time classics. These wars are frequent cinematic fare because people are familiar with them, so there's a natural interest level.Of course, there have been many, many other wars over the centuries. Although historically important, the average person doesn't know as much about them as, say, WWII. The following movies are all about wars you've likely heard of, yet probably couldn't explain in much detail if asked. And that's okay - history is vast! How integral the war is to the stories can vary, as does the degree of historical accuracy. Nevertheless, each of them puts a lesser-known war into the spotlight for a few hours.

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War Movies About Wars You Don't Know Anything About

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Lists for the the ~history nerd~ on your virtual trivia team.

History Buff Stuff

Popular culture shows us booby traps a lot. Indiana Jones braves trap after perilous trap during his searches for treasure, while the Mummy&nbsp;movies unleash all kinds of problems for people looking for riches. Kid movies like The Goonies&nbsp;offer up booby traps, as do numerous TV series and video games.&nbsp;But have you ever wondered if what we&#39;re shown on the screen has any basis in fact?

It turns out there is some truth behind the existence of booby traps, but it&#39;s not as clear-cut as it may seem.

These traps have been found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, in the graves of mysterious Mesoamerican queens, and in the final resting places of Chinese emperors. Whether the tricks and traps left for future generations were intentional or not remains difficult to discern. We learned some interesting facts about historical booby traps that are captivating and daunting&nbsp;all at once.

Vote up the most fascinating facts about real historical booby traps.&nbsp;

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10 Facts About Real Historical Booby Traps That Make Us Rethink Our Next Treasure Hunt

Jason Bourne

The Bourne&nbsp;movies are based on the well-known book series written by Robert Ludlum and set itself apart from other action films at the time with its use of real stunts. They were further&nbsp;popularized by Matt Damon&#39;s performance which received generally positive reviews from critics. The films are listed with their release dates so you can watch them in chronological order or from best to worst, the choice is yours.

If you&#39;ve ever asked yourself, how many Bourne&nbsp;films are there, you can look below for the answer. The Bourne&nbsp;films follow the titular character Jason Bourne as he attempts to separate himself from the Treadstone program which embeds assassins all over the world. There was a slight deviation from Jason Bourne when Jeremy Renner took over as the main protagonist in&nbsp;the&nbsp;Bourne Legacy&nbsp;film that served as the fourth installment in the film series. But which of the Bourne&nbsp;movies is the best? Will The Bourne Identity&nbsp;make it to the top of the list or could a follow up in the new series <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-treadstone-episodes/ranker-tv" target="_blank">Treadstone</a>&nbsp;take the top spot? You get to help decide with your votes.

Vote up the&nbsp;Bourne&nbsp;movies that you love and vote downs the one you wish you could have skipped. Be sure to check back as new&nbsp;Bourne&nbsp;movies and TV shows comes out to see where they end up on the list.

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Military Conflict lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of military conflict lists and rankings.

Military Conflict lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind