35 History Memes That Teach More Than Your High School Textbook

John Summers • Contributor

Mar 17, 2025 8:00 PM EDT

Now, I'm not saying memes should replace actual history lessons—but I am saying I've learned more from them than I ever did in school. Maybe that's on me. Maybe that's on my history teacher, who had all the enthusiasm of a DMV clerk and the voice of Ferris Bueller's teacher ("Bueller… Bueller…"). He would stand at the front of the class, droning on in a monotone voice, reading straight from the textbook until I started contemplating whether I could personally become history.

Maybe if he had peppered in a few memes—like a joke about the French surrendering again or something about the Habsburg jaw—I would have actually remembered important historical events. Instead, I spent most of my time staring out the window, wondering why the past had to be so unbearably boring.

Lucky for us, history memes exist, and they make everything so much better. Whether you're into ancient Rome, medieval blunders, or Cold War chaos, these 35 history memes will entertain and educate. Who knew learning about the past could actually be fun?