mysterial
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One of the most iconic monsters in modern pop culture is the vampire, a creature that’s been around for a long time. The figure of the bloodsucker has evolved over the centuries and across different cultures, but its basic concept—a dead body that rises from its grave after dark to feed on human blood—has remained remarkably consistent. These days, vampires are everywhere: they’re in books, movies, music videos and TV shows; they’re everything from James Bond analogues to teen heartthrobs with fangs; they come out during both full moons and solar eclipses (or somehow manage not to be affected by either). So how did this undead legend get started? Where did it come from? Let’s take a look at some of the major moments in vampire history!

Etymology

The Romanian word for “son of the dragon” gave us the English word for vampire. The history of vampires is a collection of folklore, myth, and legend. The name Dracula was derived from an actual person who lived in Eastern Europe during the 1400s. He was not a vampire but he did have some interesting qualities that have been attributed to vampires over time.

Vlad Drakul, the Wallachian prince whose name and deeds inspired the tale of Dracula, was known by many names.

As you may or may not know, Dracula was not just one person. The title was given to Vlad by his father when he was still a boy, meaning that there have been many Draculas in history. In fact, there have been so many that it’s impossible to keep track of them all. However, there are some important facts about this figure that you should know:

• Vlad III (also known as Vlad Dracul) was a prince of Wallachia who later became known as “Vlad the Dragon” and “Vlad Tepes” (meaning “impaler”). He earned his most famous moniker after his father bestowed it upon him while they were still living in Transylvania. His family had fled Hungary and settled in Targoviste after being ousted from power by Matthias Corvinus II during the 15th century Hungarian Civil War between two rival factions vying for control over Transylvania’s throne—King Matthias Corvinus II representing one side while King Ladislaus II represents another faction trying to eliminate him from power; both sides ended up losing due to infighting amongst themselves rather than fighting against each other directly like how wars usually play out today.”

Ancient vampire traditions

Vampires have been a part of the folklore of many cultures for centuries. In India, vampires were believed to be able to change form; this belief was also common among the ancient Slavic peoples. Vampires were also believed to be able to influence their victims in dreams; this belief was found especially in central and eastern Europe. Vampires were often thought to be created by witches who had made a pact with Satan.

The plague

The plague was a disease that was spread by rats. It killed millions of people across Europe in the 14th century. The plague was known as the Black Death because it turned people’s skin black and caused them to bleed from their eyes, nose and mouth.

More Dracula films than you can shake a stake at

Dracula is one of the most famous characters in history. The 1897 novel by Bram Stoker was a huge hit and has been adapted for film many times. It’s also been the subject of many books and films.

Stoker’s Dracula wasn’t the first vampire story, but it still has some pretty important things to say about our relationship with blood-sucking monsters—and our own mortality.

Vampires are a lot older than you might think

Vampires are a lot older than you might think. The first vampire story was written in the 11th century and the first vampire film was made in 1922. The first vampire novel was written by John William Polidori in 1897, but it wasn’t until Bram Stoker’s Dracula that we really had an iconic image of the creature. Before then, vampires were simply a part of folklore and legend—stories told around campfires or on long European nights.

While we can never truly know how far back “true” vampires go, there are plenty of myths about them that have been passed down through generations (and no doubt helped inspire some people to try to make real vampires).

When you look at the history of vampires, it becomes clear that there is much more to them than meets the eye. The idea of a creature who can live forever has been around for millennia and has inspired countless stories, but nobody really knows where they came from or how they became popular in modern times. Maybe it’s because we all want to believe that death isn’t final—there could be something out there waiting for us after this life ends!