Common Sense in History

Journey through the history of common sense. Click the orange arrows to scroll forward or backwards in time. Place your cursor over the history icon to read more.

[Actual History]
2500 BCE
The Sphinx built in the time of the pharaoh Chephren (of Khafre).
[Common Sense History]
2400 BCE
It was determined that the original giant serpent looked too much like a sand dune, and not scary enough to properly guard the pyramids.
[Actual History]
157-87 BCE
Chinese Invent Gunpowder
[Common Sense History]
87 BCE
Die Bron invents the need to be very careful with gunpowder. He was survived by his wife and seven children.
[Actual History]
March 44 BCE
The Roman dictator Julius Caesar was murdered by a mob stabbing.
[Common Sense History]
April 44 BCE
Drop cloths were used for any assassinations that didn't involve poison.
[Actual History]
455
Vandals destroy Rome.
[Common Sense History]
500
The birth of the Roman Ruins tourism industry.
[Actual History]
Circa 1050
Crossbow invented in France.
[Common Sense History]
Circa 1050
The term "keeping up with the Jones" is first used after Jones Crossbows puts the L'Peire and Sons Spear Company out of business.
[Actual History]
1346
Bubonic Plague reaches Europe.
[Common Sense History]
1346
Drinking from another man's cup was dealt with harshly.
[Actual History]
1503-1504
Leonardo da Vinci paints the Mona Lisa.
[Common Sense History]
1504
The straight black hair craze sweeps Europe.
[Actual History]
1687
Sir Isaac Newton discovers gravity.
[Common Sense History]
1687
Kids are no longer encouraged to jump up and down on beds high off the floor.
[Actual History]
1773
The Boston Teaparty
[Common Sense History]
1773
A small group of colonists form the first unofficial EPA.
[Actual History]
1815
Napoleon defeated by Wellington at Waterloo.
[Common Sense History]
1815
Napoleon never bathes again as he despises all things water.
[Actual History]
1826
Joseph-Nicéphore Niepce takes the world's first photograph.
[Common Sense History]
1826
Women start carrying makeup in their purse and men start carrying combs in their back pocket.
[Actual History]
1849
California gold rush begins.
[Common Sense History]
1849
Nevada mass exodus begins.
[Actual History]
1869
Rutgers University and its neighbor, Princeton, played the first game of intercollegiate football on November 6, 1869, on a plot of ground where the present-day Rutgers gymnasium now stands in New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers won that first game, 6-4.
[Common Sense History]
1869
Princeton fans invent the highly popular "safety school" chant.
[Actual History]
1872
George Westinghouse patents the first automatic air brake.
[Common Sense History]
1872
There is need for an extremely secure drink holder.
[Actual History]
1928
Bubble gum invented by Walter E. Diemer.
[Common Sense History]
1928
High school janitors now carry putty knives for cleaning underneath desks.
[Actual History]
July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., and MichaelCollins, take man's first walk on moon.
[Common Sense History]
1970
Cheese companies relieved to still be in business.
[Actual History]
1980
The United States men's hockey team defeats the Soviet Union and goes on to win gold medals.
[Common Sense History]
1980
Hockey briefly replaces disco as "in."
[Actual History]
1992
Internet access made available to the public for the first time.
[Common Sense History]
1992
Many people are seen out in public for the last time.
[Actual History]
2000
Y2K bug doesn't happen.
[Common Sense History]
3000
Y3K bug destroys earth.
2500 BCE
2400 BCE
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100 BCE
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400 CE
500 CE
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1000 CE
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1300 CE
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1800 CE
1810 CE
1820 CE
1830 CE
1840 CE
1850 CE
1860 CE
1870 CE
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1920 CE
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1960 CE
1970 CE
1980 CE
1990 CE
2000 CE
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3000 CE