Devin Jacobs
Time travel isn’t real (yet), but these historical timeline facts might convince you otherwise. Imagine finding out Cleopatra lived closer to the moon landing than to the pyramids being built. These ten incredible timeline twists will amaze you and leave you questioning how we got here.
Sharks Existed Long Before Trees
Sharks have dominated the oceans for more than 400 million years, while trees only appeared around 350 million years ago. Unlike most fish, sharks have skeletons made of cartilage, a unique trait that has helped them adapt and survive through multiple mass extinctions.
Woolly Mammoths and the Egyptian Pyramids
Similarly, Woolly mammoths were present when the Great Pyramid was being built. This overlap makes ancient Egypt feel much closer to the prehistoric era than we’d expect. These shaggy giants survived on Wrangel Island until 2000 BCE, 500 years after construction began on the pyramid.
The Colosseum and the Birth of Jesus
The construction of Rome’s Colosseum began in 70 CE, only a few decades after the birth of Jesus Christ around 4–6 BCE. These overlapping events connect early Christianity with the rise of one of history’s most recognizable symbols of the Roman Empire.
Cleopatra and the Moon Landing
Cleopatra’s era feels like ancient history, but her lifetime was closer to the moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid. While the pyramids date back to 2500 BCE, Cleopatra ruled Egypt around 30 BCE. This mind-boggling timeline twist highlights how distant Egypt’s ancient past truly is.
Abraham Lincoln and the London Underground
When Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, the London Underground was already transporting passengers. Opening in 1863, this world-first subway system feels surprisingly modern compared to Lincoln’s era and bridged the gap between industrial innovation and political transformation.
Oxford University and the Aztec Empire
This timeline challenges assumptions about European and Mesoamerican histories. Oxford University, established in 1096, was already a thriving academic institution long before the Aztec Empire was founded in 1325 and highlights the deep roots of European education compared to the rise of the Aztec civilization.
Gandhi’s Salt March and the Great Depression
In 1930, as Gandhi led the Salt March to protest British rule, the Great Depression began following the 1929 stock market crash. This global economic crisis caused widespread hardship and highlighted how significant social movements and economic challenges can occur simultaneously.
The Wright Brothers and the Titanic
Aviation and maritime history intersected during the early 20th century, a time of both remarkable innovation and tragic loss. The Wright brothers’ first flight in 1903 took place less than a decade before the Titanic sank in 1912, marking a poignant chapter in history.
The Brooklyn Bridge and Jack the Ripper
Just five years before Jack the Ripper began his infamous spree in London, the Brooklyn Bridge opened in 1883. These two events—one representing progress and the other instilling fear—unfolded during the same transformative decade.
The Eiffel Tower and Vincent van Gogh
Paris unveiled the Eiffel Tower in 1889, just one year before Vincent van Gogh’s tragic death in 1890. The soaring tower marked an architectural breakthrough, while van Gogh’s art would later be recognized as transformative, which linked two creative revolutions.