Hello, History Captains!
You know what's fascinating about history? Sometimes the most memorable moments seem almost too bizarre to be real. Take this week in July: in 2016, Pokémon GO launched and had people walking into traffic hunting virtual creatures; in 1865, Mary Surratt became the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government for Lincoln's assassination; and most absurdly, in 455 BC, Aeschylus was killed when an eagle dropped a tortoise on his bald head. History has this way of serving up moments that are simultaneously profound and completely unpredictable. So if you enjoy this one, make sure to share it with a friend:)
Fast Takes: Near-Misses That Almost Changed History
1962: The Cuban Missile Crisis — One Soviet submarine officer refused to launch a nuclear torpedo, saving the world from WWIII.
1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s Driver Took a Wrong Turn — That single mistake led directly to World War I.
1983: A Russian Colonel Ignored a False Nuclear Alarm — Stanislav Petrov may have saved humanity.
In This Weeks Episode:
When Hitler Applied to Art School
The African Queen Who Defied Colonial Armies
What If Hitler Became An Artist?
You know, it's one of those "what if" moments that really makes you think about how history can pivot on the smallest decisions. Back in 1907 and 1908, this young Austrian guy named Adolf Hitler was trying to get into the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He applied twice, got rejected both times, and apparently it hit him pretty hard. Can you imagine being turned away from something you thought was your calling? The humiliation and sense of being lost must have been crushing for someone barely out of his teens.
What's chilling is how that rejection seemed to set him on a completely different path. Instead of channeling his frustrations into art or finding another creative outlet, he drifted toward the radical political movements that were bubbling up in Vienna at the time. It's like watching someone take a wrong turn that would eventually lead to unimaginable consequences. The rejection didn't just hurt his pride—it apparently helped shape the anger and resentment that would later fuel his extremist ideology.
The really haunting part is what historians have pointed out: if those art school admissions officers had just said "yes" instead of "no," we might be living in a fundamentally different world. No rise to power in Germany, no World War II as we know it, no Holocaust—millions of lives that could have been saved. It's staggering to think that the course of the entire 20th century might have hinged on a couple of art professors' decisions about one applicant's portfolio. Sometimes the smallest moments really do have the biggest consequences.
Which “What If” Should We Explore Next Week?
The African Queen Who Defied Colonial Armies
Here's a story that should be taught in every history class but somehow gets overlooked way too often. Picture this: it's 1900, and European colonial powers are basically treating Africa like a giant chessboard, moving in to claim territories left and right. Most local leaders are either being crushed or forced into submission, but then you have this incredible woman named Queen Yaa Asantewaa in what's now Ghana who just refuses to back down. When the British are bearing down on the Ashanti Kingdom, demanding surrender, she's the one who stands up and says "absolutely not."
The most powerful moment has to be when she called out her own people—specifically the men who were hesitating to fight. She basically said, "Fine, if you won't defend our homeland, then we women will do it ourselves." Can you imagine the courage that took? This wasn't just about military strategy; she was challenging gender roles and social expectations while simultaneously organizing an armed rebellion against one of the world's most powerful empires. She didn't just talk the talk either—she actually led troops into battle and managed to hold off British forces for months.
What gets me is how her story perfectly captures this broader pattern in how we remember history. Here's a woman who literally changed the course of colonial resistance in West Africa, whose defiance inspired generations of freedom fighters, and yet ask most people about African resistance to colonialism and they'll draw a blank. Her rebellion didn't ultimately stop British control, but it delayed it significantly and showed that colonial powers weren't invincible. The fact that Yaa Asantewaa's name isn't as well-known as other historical figures really says something about whose stories we choose to preserve and whose we let fade into the background.
The Benin Kingdom’s Engineering Brilliance: Long before modern Europe, the ancient city of Benin had organized street layouts, sophisticated drainage, and massive defensive walls.
Yasuke: The Black Samurai of Japan: In 16th-century Japan, a man of African origin rose to become a trusted samurai under warlord Oda Nobunaga. His story remains largely untold outside niche circles.
The Haitian Revolution’s Global Ripple: The only successful slave revolt in history didn’t just create a nation—it shook the foundations of colonial power worldwide.
Want More?
Next week, we’ll unpack your top-voted “What If” with new insights, forgotten facts, and mind-bending consequences.
Until then—keep questioning the past. Because sometimes, one tiny moment changes everything.
Some Great History Resources
If you’re a teacher or parent and would like to find an engaging way to teach history, check out History Unboxed Here!