It is easy to look back and see how much the world has changed from just a few years ago, but delving even deeper into the past proves how quickly things took a turn in recent history.
I always think of how much I missed out on learning from my grandma before she passed. Having been born in 1917, she definitely saw firsthand just how much our planet has been redefined over and over again. That made me wonder: How much of our normal life today would absolutely baffle someone 100 years ago?
Something as simple as the traffic we endure on our daily commutes would be mind-boggling, considering not just how rare it was to have a car back in 1916, but how many people we have in our current population roaming the roads. Take a look below to see even more normal things today that would confuse our ancestors.
Did we miss anything you know would make a person from 100 years in the past scratch their heads? Let us know in the comments and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
Thumbnail sources: Wikimedia Commons 1, 2
1. You Can Get Very Little For $1
With inflation, something that costs a dollar for us would have been a nearly $23 price tag.
2. There Are People In Space Right Now
American astronaut Shane Kimbrough is the current commander of the International Space Station orbiting on a four-month long mission, along with four other team members.
3. The World Population Is Over 7 Billion
Thanks to the Baby Boomers following WWII, the planet's population has multiplied seven times as large as it was in the 1900s, expanding from around 1.5 billion people to today's 7.4 billion.
4. There Is An Endless Variety Of Music
Popular genres of jazz and ragtime were much calmer — jauntier melodies than much of what we hear today — sung by folks like Al Jolson and Irish tenor John McCormack.
5. Our Movies Have Sound
Movies were still a pretty novel form of entertainment, with live bands providing the only sound. The “talkies” we enjoy today would definitely turn their heads.
6. Our Outfits Are Quite “Revealing”
This didn't just apply to women. Anyone wearing a regular pair of shorts in the summer or going to a public beach baring their torso would make jaws hit the floor.
7. We Know Cigarettes Are Harmful
It took a very, very long time for folks to understand just how harmful inhaling the toxins found in cigarettes really was for our health.
8. Most Of Our Phones Are Wireless
Not only would our ancestors gasp at the idea of us carrying phones around in our pockets, but imagine the look on their faces when you pull up a video call.
9. There Are A Ton Of Cars On The Road
Ford's Model-T was just fresh off the factory lines and a bit more complicated to manage than our modern vehicles, so most people stuck with other modes of transportation.
Did we miss anything you know would totally stump someone from the past if they showed up today? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
