How much history do you REALLY know?

[wvrevy]

There is a new show on HBO called "Assume the Position" with Robert Wuhl. This show examines the many (many) myths that we take as "history" in today's society. These are things you are even taught in school that are totally incorrect. Things like "Columbus sailed to prove the world was round" and "Paul Revere's ride helped save the American colonies by informing Philadelphia of the British attack". I highly recommend this show.

That said, here is a little quiz on the show's official site. This will help test your knowledge of actual history versus the myths that we've all come to believe are true. (I only managed 5 out of 10 on this quiz, and I'm usually pretty good at this kinda thing ).

Take the "Assume the Position" quiz

BTW....Did you know that Thomas Edison was not the inventor of the radio?

 

[Bob Slydell]

8 out of 10

But then, I just thought about what I would normally answer, and then answered the opposite.

The show sounds pretty good (and I love Robert Wuhl -- Arli$$ was an awesome show ). Unfortunately, I just cancelled HBO a while ago.

 

[Minnie824]

Going to take the quiz now! The show looks like it will be pretty funny though.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I got 7 wrong...but truthfully--I guessed on a bunch b/c I dont' recall learning the questions I was asked.


And Washington wasn't the first president???

John Hanson of Maryland was unanimously elected shortly after the Article of Confederation was ratified in 1781.

Are they taking liberties with technicalities?

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/hanson.htm



And supposedly Alexander Graham Bell didn't invent the telephone either.

 

[ashjohnson80]

I got 5 right and 5 wrong. That's pretty embarassing considering I have a history degree. Oops. I wish I had HBO though I would love to see that show.

 

[Chris and Pooh]

7/10
But not hot on US history

 

[Crankyshank]

9 out of 10
I'm a history major so it would be pretty embarrassing if I didn't do well

 

[salmoneous]

I would think that if you are doing a show about people getting history wrong, you would be extra, extra careful to make sure you are right. The Shakespeare question, for example, is completely wrong. I don't get it.

 

[Claire L]

Got 7/10 right

Claire

 

[Cindy B]

I got 9 right and one wrong. Darn that map question!

If you are into this kind of thing, there is a great book called Lies my Teacher Told Me which is an indepth look on some of the great "textbook myths" that are propogated by History teachers.

Its an interesting book. The author of that book also did another book on slavery which was also interesting.

 

[Sirius]

The Shakespeare question, for example, is completely wrong. I don't get it.

I agree. Highlight to see why... Many of Shakespeare's sonnets were published as early as 1609, 7 years before his death.

 

[RealMickeysGirl]

I saw the show - it was funny - and informative. I got 8/10 right on the quiz - but partly because i saw the show - I just chose the opposite of what I thought on a couple of them.

I have read Lies my teacher told me - it is a very good book - I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

 

[belle_of_the_ball]

I got 9 right and one wrong. Darn that map question!

If you are into this kind of thing, there is a great book called Lies my Teacher Told Me which is an indepth look on some of the great "textbook myths" that are propogated by History teachers.

Its an interesting book. The author of that book also did another book on slavery which was also interesting.

i got 8 right..yay..but i think i have to thank my History teacher on that

hmm i should buy my teacher that book..he loaths our text book more than anything in the world. We're almost done school..and we've used it once..to look at pictures.

and i quote "everythings so damn white washed, when are they gonna stop trying to offened everybody..I find it very offensive that they dont let me have a damn opinion!" The rest i cant say due to how angry the teacher gets and how his language can be!

 

[wvrevy]

Thanks for the recommendation, Cindy B ! I love this kinda stuff, but somehow have managed to avoid ever hearing of that title. I'll definitely have to check that out.

The Shakespeare question was probably just poorly worded. It probably wasn't the researcher doing the entering on the website, so they probably changed "none of The Bard's plays were published" to "Shakespeare wasn't published". Just a guess, though, as I've seen that kind of thing happen before.

The story he told on the show about the origins of "Yankee Doodle Dandy" is one I've heard in other places (as was the one about the middle finger ), and is one of my favorites. Only we could take a song basically calling us ignorant, effeminate fops and turn it into a national song of pride.

(BTW...Nicola Tesla is the true inventor of the radio, along with about half the technology we use in today's world, including alternating current (Edison was a proponent of direct current. One of the most uncredited geniuses in the history of the world, and the original model for the "mad scientist" archetype.)

 

[doxdogy]

I am shocked, I got 8 out of 10

 

[olena]

We watched it and enjoyed it.

My favorite historical misnomer is that Jackie Robinson was the first African-American to play major league baseball. When I do baseball trivia conests and this question comes up, before I answer, I ask if they want the real answer.