Which came first? · Counterintuitive

Which came first: the can opener or War and Peace?

The can opener came first, in 1855 (invented). War and Peace followed 14 years later, in 1869 (published).

Older Than You ThinkOlder Than You ThinkWhich came first? Sixteen pairs, from obvious to "wait, really?"Quiz11 seconds a pairMobile & desktop
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  1. First1855

    The can opener

    invention · invented

    Cans were around for decades before the can opener; people opened them with hammers and chisels.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

  2. Second1869

    War and Peace

    book · published

    War and Peace was published in full in 1869.

    Checked against Wikipedia and Wikidata

All which-came-first pairs · About Older Than You Think · Quiz games

Years from Wikidata, each checked against the item’s English Wikipedia article on 2026-10-18. A year stands for what its label says: a founding, a first patent, a premiere.