History is a continuous record of past events that relate to human existence. But if there’s one thing you should never do, it is to believe everything you hear because not all historical narratives are grounded in reality.

In fact, most of the stories we grew up believing are scrambled up with so much misinformation that it’s almost impossible, to tell the truth apart from fiction. And as these myths spread across each generation, wearing new skin, it becomes tasking to demystify history. So let’s make it easier. Read on as we shed light on some of the most popular misconceptions in history.

The Cost of Manhattan

Have you heard about Manhattan and the Dutch colonists? Here’s how that story goes: When the Dutch Colonists arrived in Manhattan in 1624, they set up a trading post on the southern part of the island. And in 1626, they offered the Native Americans $24 in exchange for ownership of Manhattan.

But in reality, the island was exchanged for goods worth 60 guilders, roughly $1000 in today’s climate. And while this does not disprove the fact that the Dutch colonists paid a meager sum, the punchline is that the native Americans believed the payment was for rent, not outright ownership.