15 Unsettling History Facts from its Darker Periods

We tend to think of history as a boring subject, relegated to reading really long texts and learning a bunch of dead people’s names. Of course, it is much more than that, and it is also the source of some of the darker tales of, well, history. Not everyone cares to learn the truth of the things that happened long ago.

If you want to learn about these events, or you just have some morbid curiosity that needs to be satiated, we have just some of the darker facts from the deadliest times in human history. Some are about twisted individuals, while many others cover the everyday lives of cultures we wuldn’t understand today.

Romans Used Crushed Mouse Brains as Toothpaste

To get that perfect smile, Romans mixed powdered mouse brains and human urine into their toothpaste. They thought the brains helped clean and the urine whitened. If that failed, dentists pulled teeth with zero anesthetics.

Aztecs Wore the Skins of Sacrificial Victims

During the Tlacaxipehualiztli festival for Xipe Totec, Aztec priests ritually took skin from sacrificial victims, who were often war captives. The priests then draped themselves in it for the ceremony.

Ancient Egyptians used Crocodile Dung as a Contraceptive

Around 4,000 years ago, Egyptian women combined crocodile dung with honey to prevent pregnancy. They placed the mixture inside themselves to act as a physical barrier, making modern family planning look like a walk in the park.

Spartans Bathed their Newborn Babies in Wine

To test the strength of newborn males, Spartans bathed them in wine. They believed weak infants would convulse or cry during this process. Babies who failed the test were left to perish or became slaves.

Medieval Doctors Tasted Urine to Diagnose Medical Conditions

Physicians in the Middle Ages would smell and actually taste a patient’s urine to figure out what was wrong. They matched the distinct odors and flavors to specific colors on a diagnostic chart.

Vikings Filed their Front Teeth to Look Intimidating

Viking warriors had a reputation for being fierce, and they took extra steps to scare their enemies. Filing grooves into their front teeth gave them a terrifying appearance that definitely sent a message in battle.

Ancient Chinese Emperors Drank Mercury Seeking Eternal Life

China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, consumed toxic mercury pills and drinks in his quest for immortality, which ultimately killed him. Official records show numerous other emperors also died after taking these supposedly life prolonging elixirs.

Medieval Courts put Pigs and Insects on Trial

Medieval justice extended to the animal kingdom, with courts putting pigs, locusts, and flies on trial for crimes. These creatures were judged under human laws and faced punishments like hanging, burning, or being buried alive.

Vlad the Impaler Dined Among his Impaled Enemies

An illustrated 1499 account describes Vlad setting a dining table outside in Brașov. He casually ate his lunch surrounded by his victims as they writhed on stakes. Another woodcut also depicts him dining near the stakes.

King Charles Drank Alcohol Mixed with Powdered Human Skull

King Charles II bought the formula for a tincture called ‘King’s Drops,’ made from crushed human skulls. He mixed the grim distillation with alcohol in his laboratory and casually sipped the concoction while he worked.

Plague Doctors Stuffed their Masks with Sweet Smelling Flowers

The iconic bird-like masks worn by plague doctors were not just for show. They stuffed the long beaks with aromatic flowers and herbs, hoping the pleasant scents would protect them from inhaling the terrible disease.

European Executioners Sold the Fat of Victims as Medicine

Up until the 19th century in Europe, human fat was believed to hold magical healing properties. Executioners collected it from their victims and sold it to make ointments for ailments like gout, toothaches, and bone pain.

Ancient Greeks Believed Redheads Turned into Vampires after Death

Having red hair in ancient Greece came with some heavy superstition attached. People genuinely believed that redheads were destined to transform into vampires after they passed away, adding an entirely new level of dread to funerals.

Medieval Knights Suffered from Severe Parasitic Worm Infections

Life in heavy armor was far from glamorous. Poor hygiene and difficult living conditions meant that medieval knights constantly battled terrible internal parasites, making their daily existence incredibly uncomfortable even when they were not fighting.

Sixteenth Century Surgeons Cauterized Wounds with Boiling Oil

Medical treatments in the sixteenth century were often as painful as the injuries themselves. Surgeons routinely poured boiling hot oil directly onto open wounds to cauterize them, creating a brutal recovery process for the unfortunate patients.