The Untold History of Pranks: From Cavemen to Internet Trolls

Long, long ago, in the days before TikTok pranks and fart machines, there was a caveman named Ug. One chilly morning, Ug decided to leave a pile of mammoth dung by the entrance of his cave, knowing his buddy Oog would step right in it on his way out. And thus, the first prank was born. Oog slipped, the tribe laughed, and a new form of entertainment was unleashed onto humanity.

The Stone Age: Pranks Go Prehistoric

After Ug’s groundbreaking prank, other cave dwellers got in on the action. There were the classic "slip on the mammoth poop" pranks, but some cavemen got more creative. One genius, known as Zug the Trickster, invented the first-ever “rock switch.” He’d tell his friends he had discovered a rare shiny rock, only for them to reach out and grab a chunk of dung. It was prehistoric gold.

Ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphic Prank Wars

As civilization advanced, so did the art of pranking. In Ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh’s court was known for its practical jokes. Cleopatra herself was said to have filled Pharaoh’s sandals with scarabs as a joke, though it didn’t end well when he screamed and nearly destroyed half the palace.

The Egyptian scribes even immortalized pranks in their hieroglyphics. One famous tomb features what might be the first “kick me” sign ever, cleverly hidden in hieroglyphs on a servant’s back.

Medieval Times: Knights and Jesters

Fast forward to the Middle Ages, where knights and jesters ruled the prank scene. While jesters were employed to entertain kings with jokes and tricks, the knights were the real pranksters. Sir Lancelot once challenged a fellow knight to a duel, only for the knight to arrive and find a cow wearing armor in his place.

But the most legendary prank came from Merlin, who enchanted King Arthur’s sword, Excalibur, and the Knights of the Roundtable swords to turn into a rubber chicken at the most crucial moments. Many battles were lost to fits of laughter as knights tried to swing their now-bendy chicken swords.

The Renaissance: Artists Get Crafty

In the age of Michelangelo and da Vinci, pranking got a little more sophisticated. Da Vinci was notorious for pulling pranks on his apprentices, famously sketching fake “inventions” that would make them run around Florence looking for “flying turnips” or “invisible ink.”

And then there was Michelangelo, who sculpted a lifelike statue of his rival painter Raphael—sitting on a toilet. For weeks, visitors to his studio thought Raphael had taken up residence, deeply lost in thought on his porcelain throne.

The Victorian Era: When Pranks Got Proper

In the prim-and-proper Victorian age, people thought pranking had lost its edge, but oh no—it had merely gone undercover. Gentlemen were known to wear whoopee cushion-esque undergarments to formal dinners, causing quite the commotion when they “excused” themselves loudly during tea.

Even Queen Victoria herself wasn’t immune to a little fun. It’s rumored that her beloved Prince Albert would replace her afternoon crumpets with rubber ones, leaving her confused but quietly amused. The court called it “Crumpetgate,” and it remains one of the most daring royal pranks in history.

The 20th Century: Pranks Go Global

With the invention of radio and television, pranking entered the golden age. Who could forget the great “spaghetti tree harvest” prank of 1957? When a British news program convinced viewers that spaghetti grew on trees, pasta sales soared as people rushed to plant their own “spaghetti trees.” Pranksters were now using mass media to spread the joy of trickery far and wide.

In the 1990s, prank calls reached their peak. Bart Simpson practically defined the era, calling Moe’s Tavern with classics like “Is Al there? Al Coholic?” Pranksters everywhere rejoiced in his mischief.

The Internet Era: Trolls and Memes

And now, we live in the age of the digital prank. From viral challenges to meme culture, pranking has evolved into a global pastime. YouTube pranksters rise to fame by hiding in giant teddy bears and scaring unsuspecting shoppers, while internet trolls craft elaborate hoaxes that fool even the savviest among us.

One prank to rule them all? The legendary Rickroll. What started as an innocent bait-and-switch in the early 2000s turned into one of the most enduring internet gags of all time. Just when you think you’re about to watch that tutorial on how to fix your car, Rick Astley’s "Never Gonna Give You Up" blares through your speakers, and you’ve been Rickrolled.

The Future of Pranking

So, where do pranks go from here? Perhaps to the moon, where astronauts might swap space suits for inflatable sumo wrestler outfits. Or maybe they’ll happen in virtual reality, where your friend’s avatar suddenly grows a giant rubber nose.

One thing’s for sure—no matter where we go, pranking will always be with us. From Ug’s mammoth poop to Rick Astley’s serenade, pranking has shaped our world in the most hilarious ways possible. This entire blog might be a prank.