Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire
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Teaching at Oxford began around 1096 AD and the university developed rapidly after 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. The Aztec Empire — the Mexica Triple Alliance — was not founded until 1428 AD and the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was established in 1325. Oxford's Bodleian Library (founded 1602) is older than the founding of several countries. Oxford has been continuously operating for over 900 years.
Oxford was a functioning university with students taking exams before the Aztec Empire existed. European medieval institutions and pre-Columbian civilizations were genuinely contemporary.
The Science Behind It
Teaching at Oxford began around 1096 AD and the university developed rapidly after 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. The Aztec Empire — the Mexica Triple Alliance — was not founded until 1428 AD and the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan was established in 1325. Oxford's Bodleian Library (founded 1602) is older than the founding of several countries. Oxford has been continuously operating for over 900 years.
Why Your Brain Finds This Hard to Believe
OddlyHuman Editorial
VerifiedWritten and fact-checked by the OddlyHuman Behavioral Science Team. We verify all psychological, sociological, and historical claims against peer-reviewed journals, primary sources, and established encyclopedias to bring you accurate insights.
Read our Editorial Guidelines →“Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire. Teaching began at Oxford in 1096; the Aztec Empire wasn't founded until 1428.”