this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
334 points (93.9% liked)

A sub for Historymemes

1144 readers
734 users here now

A place for history memes.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 
top 33 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 66 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Unwashed savages!

Funny enough, Europeans of the 15th and 16th centuries were more likely to be unwashed than their medieval predecessors. Bath-houses had acquired something of a seedy reputation, a medical fad that suggested bathing was unhealthy was in vogue, and it was seen as a mark of humility (very Christian and virtuous!) to go long periods without such vanity as washing oneself. In the medieval period, at least, you'd have even rural people rinsing in the river on the regular!

[–] [email protected] 34 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Antibathers? They had medical antibathers?

Oh shit oh fuck don't tell the antivaxers, imagine having coworkers who refuse to vaccinate and never bathe...

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 week ago

This but even more often

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Steve Jobs is a recent notable example of an anti-bather.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

can you imagine turning up to work, and your boss - too afraid to confront your strange beliefs - simply assigns you the night shift to not have to interact with your weird ass

Steve Jobs was particularly influenced by the book "Be Here Now" which explains the methods and mentality of the Budist tradition. In Budisim, feet have several implicit meanings. For example, it is considered respectful to touch the feet of an authority figure, and a sign of acceptance for that figure to allow it. One of philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh's many mantras is "Walk as if you were kissing the earth with your feet". It is likely from this tradition that Steve Jobs first picked up his unusual habits.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What was that theory called again?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago

Miasma theory. The thinking was, at least partially, that bathing opened up your pores, through which 'bad air' (miasma) could seep in. Funny enough, miasma theory after and before this period was used primarily to support bathing. Goes to show people can twist anything to their purposes.

[–] [email protected] 46 points 1 week ago (1 children)

That's 18th century attire tho

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 week ago

That's also the richy-rich fashion. Not the attire of someone that just spent 8 weeks in a small, rickety boat.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

People looking like nothing you've ever seen, stepping off a vessel unlike anything you've seen, carrying with them disease and weapons that spit fire.

But even more alarming: they're British. 😱

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Well technically speaking they'd be some combination of Spanish and Italian.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Imagine being Bri'ish 🀒

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Please mark your comment NSFW.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah. Imagine having a foreign policy that involves invading other countries and interfering in the activities of others.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We learned it from you Dad

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Why you little….

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

As natives already had people who wore face paint.. the clothes which are mostly absent from the photo would have likely been more startling than the face.

Not sure about that time period, but white meant peace when it came to face paint as well, so this would could across as non-threatening possibly. Surely wearing a symbol of peace and shooting someone could send mixed messages though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

They didn't come off the ships with guns blazing. They got along for a time, until the colonists started taking things the natives didn't want them to take, like everything they set their eyes upon.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

That's not what I read, I read they came off ar-15s blazing and eagles dropping tanks they picked up off air craft carriers. In 1492 of course.

Grenade launchers full of small pox and malaria.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 week ago

Time traveling French aristocrats from the late 18th century find themselves on a Spaniard ship at the tail end of the 15th!

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 week ago

"Guys the circus is in town"

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Dude looks quite unhealthy. Is it the poisonous colors in his face?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago

Every time I read or hear the phrase "Take me to your leader", I'm reminded of the old weed meme with the alien that says "Take me to your dealer" πŸ˜‚πŸ‘½

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

Reminds me of Mac and Dennis

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

I was thinking Mrs. Doubtfire.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Is not that how drag queens started?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

The toupΓ© is greasy enough to mimic real hair not being washed for weeks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Voices from the Past recently did a video of Japanese first encounter with Europeans

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Of all the oddities and mutual disdain, there's something strangely wholesome about the exchange where the Europeans teach Tokitaka how to shoot a gun and he (and a bunch of people watching) just decides it's the best thing he's ever tried.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

This thing all fat and pasty gets off a ship, looks at a buff native warrior and says "I'm clearly superior to that man"