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History is more than just dates and battles; it is full of strange events that sound too weird to be true. From accidental wars to dancing manias, here are five historical facts that will leave you scratching your head.

• The Great Emu War of 1932: The Australian military once declared war on emus because the birds were destroying crops. Despite using machine guns, the soldiers were outmaneuvered by the fast-running birds, and the emus effectively won the conflict.
• The Dancing Plague of 1518: In Strasbourg, France, hundreds of people suddenly started dancing in the streets for days without stopping. Some actually died from exhaustion or heart attacks, and to this day, scientists aren’t entirely sure why it happened.
• Ketchup was Sold as Medicine: In the 1830s, an Ohio physician claimed that tomatoes could cure indigestion and jaundice. He turned ketchup into pills and sold them in pharmacies before it became a popular condiment for fries.
• The Shortest War Ever: The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 holds the record for the shortest conflict in history. It lasted only about 38 to 45 minutes before the Sultan of Zanzibar surrendered to the British forces.
• Napoleon was Once Attacked by Bunnies: The famous French leader once requested a rabbit hunt for his staff. However, when the cages were opened, thousands of rabbits didn’t run away—they charged at Napoleon and his men, forcing the great general to retreat to his carriage.