q_id stringlengths 5 6 | title stringlengths 3 301 | selftext stringlengths 0 39.2k | document stringclasses 1
value | subreddit stringclasses 1
value | url stringlengths 4 132 | answers dict | title_urls list | selftext_urls list | answers_urls list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5f6ywg | Is there a historical reason why the US military says klick instead of kilometre? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5f6ywg/is_there_a_historical_reason_why_the_us_military/ | {
"a_id": [
"daj38ya"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"It's not official, it is military slang, and is used purely because it is easier to say."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2vud2t | Can you name some important historical travelogues? | I know of ibn battua book, and Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.Are there any others that histroins use as primary sources for undercover regions. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2vud2t/can_you_name_some_important_historical_travelogues/ | {
"a_id": [
"col0dpk",
"colamhm"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Forgive me, I am not certain what you mean by 'undercover regions'. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's travel writings on Turkey and other countries are used as primary sources. Her relish in appealing to her audiences means her ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"https://classesv2.yale.edu/access/content/user/haw6/Vikings/voyagers.html",
"http://books.google.com/books?id=UPCworiqUqcC&source=gbs_book_other_versions",
"http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Diligent.html?id=0YILMba_EnoC",
"http://www.brycchancarey.com/equiano/index.htm"
]
] | |
31fl5x | During WW2, were there any significant acts of sabotage executed by the Axis powers on U.S. soil? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/31fl5x/during_ww2_were_there_any_significant_acts_of/ | {
"a_id": [
"cq13nb7"
],
"score": [
27
],
"text": [
"The case of Ex Parte Quirin is of note here, if only to show how inept German sabotage was for the time. A handful of covert German operatives deposited by submarine on the American eastern coast landed in uniform, to comply with the laws of war... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1x9xaq | How accurate are the assumptions made by the blog medievalpoc concerning nonwhite peoples in medieval Europe? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1x9xaq/how_accurate_are_the_assumptions_made_by_the_blog/ | {
"a_id": [
"cf9gsac",
"cf9obsi"
],
"score": [
2,
16
],
"text": [
"What are the assumptions concerning non-white people in medieval Europe? Please outline the specific assumptions you feel are being made by the blog.",
"So, for the record there was [this conversation last week](_URL_0_... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1wuu4g/the_blog_medievalpoctumblrcom_asserts_that_black"
]
] | ||
5475ir | When did Americans start using French words and phrases, and why are they so prevalent? | I'm sorry if this breaks the current event rule, but I feel that the question really spans a long period of time, not only the present.
_URL_0_
Here is a list of French phrases that americans use. I'm not sure if other english speakers also use them, or even other languages, but I would be interested to know if they ... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5475ir/when_did_americans_start_using_french_words_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7zjf34"
],
"score": [
9
],
"text": [
"Although English is a Germanic language, approximately 30% of English vocabulary comes from French in one form or another. This is largely caused by an event called the Norman Conquest, in which a group of people called Normans, who inhabited Nor... | [] | [
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_expressions_in_English"
] | [
[]
] | |
7z0rzd | In the 1920s, what did people feel nostalgia towards? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7z0rzd/in_the_1920s_what_did_people_feel_nostalgia/ | {
"a_id": [
"dum1m8f"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"This is not to prevent anyone from writing you a full, new answer, but you may be interested in these two answers of mine:\n\n[Why are people today fascinated with the Victorian era?](_URL_0_)\n\n[Dang kids! Or: Why does each generation have such... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7brmla/why_are_people_today_fascinated_with_the/dpl8k1o/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5zavf4/dang_kids_or_why_does_each_generation_have_such/dex8q7t/"
]
] | ||
bvj7a1 | The USA had a large percentage of German immigrants in the early 20th century. What was life like for them during WWI and WWII? Did many serve the Allies or did any go back to the “Fatherland”? Also why did the US sell to the British and not the Germans before they entered both wars? |
Other questions that would be interesting are:
How did the government convince German immigrants that their new country was going to war with their homeland?
Was there any camps? Like the Japanese after Pearl Harbour.
Was there any German related Terrorism on US soil?
How did non-German citizens treat them?
... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/bvj7a1/the_usa_had_a_large_percentage_of_german/ | {
"a_id": [
"eprt9u0"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"One of the first things you need to think about is why the Germans came over to the US. The vast majority of immigrants came after the failed Democratic revolutions in the 1890s, so they wanted to live in Republican state. That being said while t... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2161cr | What gods were foreign and then adopted by the Greeks and Romans through trade/war/etc? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2161cr/what_gods_were_foreign_and_then_adopted_by_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cga1661"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"A few of the most famous examples of Roman religious syncretism are the cults of Isis, Mithras, and Sulis.\n\nIsis was an Egyptian goddess of magic and mother of Horus, God of the Pharaoh. She was an incredibly important figure in the Egyptian pa... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
2hjs2e | Three questions about the Napoleonic army. | I'm curious and want answers for some questions.
1- How often did officers wives accompanied them, was it allowed?
2- In what sort of accommodation did the officers have during campaigns?
3- Did infantry commanding officers ride horses?
Edit: Removed unnecessary word | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2hjs2e/three_questions_about_the_napoleonic_army/ | {
"a_id": [
"cktcpzi"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"During a campaign, an officer was generally allowed a small Wagon to carry personal effects and anything necessary for his work in the field. This would range from a tent and necessary notes to liquor and personal reading. Naturally the higher th... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
37vtaa | What people does the Assyrians descend from? | To my knowledge Assyrians are the descendants of the Akkadians and share linguistic, cultural, geographical and many more connections. Could historians elaborate further on this and more in depth?
Question regarding both ancient and modern day Assyrians. Modern day Assyrians being descendants of Ancient Assyrians and... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/37vtaa/what_people_does_the_assyrians_descend_from/ | {
"a_id": [
"crqhqtz",
"crr38fl"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"This is a somewhat controversial topic within the Syriac christian community. Basically there are two main schools of thought: those who identify as Assyrians and descendants from the ancient Assyrians and those who identify... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2u5p7f/is_there_a_difference_between_assyrian_and_syriac/",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2zcvnq/what_is_the_history_of_the_arameans_when_was/",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/10qocs/were_the_assyrians_victim_to_a... | |
2bk49m | What portion of the world's current gold supply was part of Atahualpa's ransom? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2bk49m/what_portion_of_the_worlds_current_gold_supply/ | {
"a_id": [
"cj6gc6b",
"cj6gihl"
],
"score": [
18,
9
],
"text": [
"Let's assume that Hernando Pizarro was telling the truth about the size of the ransom and that all the promised ransom was received. Here is the description from Hernando Pizarro \n\n > for that he could give them ten th... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://greenanswers.com/question/how-much-gold-circulation-world/",
"http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Silver_plates_and_gold_beaker,_Peru,_Chimu_and_Inca_-_Staatliches_Museum_f%C3%BCr_V%C3%B6lkerkunde_M%C3%BCnchen_-_DSC08503.JPG",
"http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Pizarro.html",
"ht... | ||
3gisma | Why was the practice of presenting men, who refused to enlist in the army, a white feather supported by early feminist organizations? | I guess I'm mostly thinking about England during WWI. It doesn't seem to be very inline with their other causes of universal suffragism. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3gisma/why_was_the_practice_of_presenting_men_who/ | {
"a_id": [
"ctyk9m5"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"The so-called 'Order of the White Feather' was created in Britain in 1914 by a former admiral, and essentially involved handing out 'white feathers' to anyone, specifically men, not seen as supporting the war effort, ie not enlisting. Some Britis... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziGow3CLalo",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W0657Bwn_A"
]
] | |
525hgl | In the Byzantine Empire, what type of names did people have? | I'm curious, I know that the Byzantine Empire is also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire so I'm curious as to what type of names people had.
\*EDIT* Forgot to include what time period I'm talking about in the title. I'm asking about what names they used in the 13th century. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/525hgl/in_the_byzantine_empire_what_type_of_names_did/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7hk088",
"d7hm99g",
"d7jdwvo"
],
"score": [
3,
25,
2
],
"text": [
"Follow up, when did the Byzantines stop using Latin and changed to more Greek names?",
"That depends on the time period and location. Up until around the sixth century, you can see a lot of empero... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[]
] | |
3pvk0y | To what extent did the Soviet-Polish war cause Poland to be successfully invaded in 1939? | Did it weaken Poland so it could not win another fight? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3pvk0y/to_what_extent_did_the_sovietpolish_war_cause/ | {
"a_id": [
"cw9utx8"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"The Polish army was strong for a country of its economical development - it was well trained and equipped with modern arms. However, they were unable to stand up to the full power of a grand power such as Germany, and even less the power of two g... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
77oer8 | Why we're African slaves not more common in the uk? | Firstly, apologies if this question comes off as ignorant or offensive.
With England being a huge player in the transport of slaves from Africa to America and the Caribbean, why is there not more of a black minority with heritage going back to this period? Most African Americans seem to have slave ancestors; whereas m... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/77oer8/why_were_african_slaves_not_more_common_in_the_uk/ | {
"a_id": [
"donmmbz"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"There was a legal question regarding whether or not the state of enslavement could exist on British soil. The situation was ambiguous, and certain West Indian plantation owners did bring slaves back to Britain with them, as personal valets/maids ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
9zs4y8 | What did people in the 'Old West' name their pets? | Dogs and horses I know were much more than pets, they were useful tools out on the range. But I'm curious if humans have always named their dogs 'spot' or horses 'Thunder' | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9zs4y8/what_did_people_in_the_old_west_name_their_pets/ | {
"a_id": [
"eabls1v"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"I'm honestly more curious about horse names "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6bidsm | How did Italians preserve the tomatos needed for many of their dishes, prior to the invention of canning? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6bidsm/how_did_italians_preserve_the_tomatos_needed_for/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhnered"
],
"score": [
26
],
"text": [
"Sorry, other poster is dead wrong, tomatoes were eaten fresh only rarely before the invention of commercial canning, getting down on fresh tomatoes is a pretty modern thing, your pre-canning tomato breeds would not make for tasty fresh eating, p... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3xubkl/comment/cy7z4al",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2fcqkd/comment/ck8dirc"
]
] | ||
29gyw8 | How fast was the decline of civilisation in Europe (including Britain) after the fall of the Roman empire? | My childhood history books seem to suggest that there was almost an immediate reversal back to what civilisation (that may not be the right word) was like hundreds of years before the Romans, but I find that kind of hard to believe.
Also a follow-up question: did civilisation revert back to being significantly better ... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/29gyw8/how_fast_was_the_decline_of_civilisation_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"ciktbqu"
],
"score": [
11
],
"text": [
"This is a difficult question to answer, due to the size of the empire and how different regions reacted differently to the decline of Roman authority, but generally I would say that though decline was visible in the West, it was a gradual one. I... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1r578q | What would have Mary called her son? | I am certain it wouldn't have been Jesus as it doesn't sound very middle-eastern. Was is some Hebrew name? What about the Arabic name "Isa" which the Arabs use to refer to Jesus. Where did that come from? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1r578q/what_would_have_mary_called_her_son/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdjpbdl",
"cdju015"
],
"score": [
9,
3
],
"text": [
"Jesus is his name as passed through a number of transitions through other languages. The original Hebrew or Aramaic name would be something like Yoshua.\n\nSome modern groups make a big deal of calling Jesus by his \"real\" ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
1vu3gq | Why did the Romans have so much trouble with the Germanic tribes? | Tacitus says
"Neither Samnite nor Carthaginian, neither Spain nor Gaul, nor even the Parthians have taught us more lessons. The German fighting for liberty has been a keener enemy than the absolutism of Arsaces."
What made the Germans so implacable?
| AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1vu3gq/why_did_the_romans_have_so_much_trouble_with_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"cevwgmr",
"cew62fj"
],
"score": [
26,
2
],
"text": [
"I wouldn't say I'm an expert on the Germanic tribes, but having read fairly extensively on Caesar, Varus and Germanicus, I can give you some background.\n\nThe Romans actually did a pretty good job of whipping German butt. ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
7nyl36 | How did mammoth hunting cultures harvest the meat? | Obviously a mammoth is a little too big to just pop on your shoulders and carry back to the village, were the tribes mostly nomadic and just set up camp around the kill or did they have some system in place for transporting the carcass for butchering? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7nyl36/how_did_mammoth_hunting_cultures_harvest_the_meat/ | {
"a_id": [
"ds5qfot"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"you should also try to ask this over at r/askanthropology but the current thinking is that the mammoth would be butchered where it fell. Bison (*Bison bison*), were much smaller and they tended to be butchered where they fell as well. There is a ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
12ckou | How were hurricanes tracked in the 17th and 18th centuries? | Unrelated to the current hurricane we're experiencing, I happened to be reading the Wiki article for the [1780 hurricane season](_URL_0_). I understand that there's no way that every storm would be detected.
I'm most curious about how the meteorologists of the time followed the storms, especially over the ocean. T... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12ckou/how_were_hurricanes_tracked_in_the_17th_and_18th/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6u470l",
"c6u4xjm"
],
"score": [
5,
4
],
"text": [
"hurricanes were not 'tracked' in the 17th and 18th centuries. There was little understanding of cyclonic storms and no means of instantaneous communications. A track could be made well after the fact, but that was not 'track... | [] | [
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1780_Atlantic_hurricane_season"
] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3rs1vu | When the United States annexed the former territory of Mexico (California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas), why were the Spanish names of cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco retained? | I have always wondered what the reason was that the United States retained the Spanish names of the former Mexican territory of the Southwest. Could they have kept the names for the "romance" of living in a city or town with a Spanish name? Or could the names have been kept since there was a significant population of p... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3rs1vu/when_the_united_states_annexed_the_former/ | {
"a_id": [
"cwr1ind"
],
"score": [
36
],
"text": [
"generally speaking, pre-existing towns or settlements weren't renamed, and san francisco is the exception. [according to the 1847 ordinance changing the name of the town,](_URL_0_) \"yerba buena\" was renamed \"san francisco\" to prevent confus... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.sfmuseum.net/hist/name.html",
"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/1846_Mitchell's_Map_of_Texas_Oregon_and_California_-_Geographicus_-_TXORCA-mitchell-1846.jpg",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2xtspe/after_the_us_won_the_mexicanamerican_war_was/cp3ihiq",
... | |
51b93m | Books on U.S.-Native American wars | I'm looking for books about U.S.-Native American wars. The subject was glossed over or never mentioned in the history classes I have taken in the past. I'm interested whether they cover only one war or battle or are comprehensive. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/51b93m/books_on_usnative_american_wars/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7amsp3"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"I quite enjoyed: Jill Lepore, The Name of War: King Philip’s War and the Origins of American Identity (New York: Vintage Books, 1999).\n\nIt covers one of the earlier conflicts to take place and explores some of the different perspectives and sou... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
74c6hv | Im interested in theory of pre-historic advanced civilizations is there any reading material that you could recommend? | I know its not a commonly accepted theory im just asking to satisfy my curiosity. If this is not an acceptable post I understand if it is removed. Thanks in advance | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/74c6hv/im_interested_in_theory_of_prehistoric_advanced/ | {
"a_id": [
"dnxjcpr"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Hey there!\n\nYou're right that it's not a commonly accepted theory, and for good reason. There's no evidence. Most arguments for it are based on \"We don't know anything about this era.. So it could be?\" This mentality hardly lends itself to an... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3ue2lq | In the Americas, why are Spanish-speaking countries so small and numerous, but there are two enormous English-speaking countries? | [deleted] | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3ue2lq/in_the_americas_why_are_spanishspeaking_countries/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxelbw0"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"After Simon Bolivar drove out the Spanish in South America, he was briefly president of much of Spanish-speaking South America. His vision was for it to be a united country. Other political factions felt differently.\n\nFurther north, Mexico and ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
20ydad | What role did Persia and Persians play in Greek mythology? | I assume the arch-nemesis of the Greeks are addressed in some way in Greek mythology. Any Greek myths that relate to Persia or Persians directly?
To be clear, I'm curious about Persia's/Persians place in Greek mythology rather than just "through Zeus' help the brave Greeks crushed their enemies the Persians" mentions ... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/20ydad/what_role_did_persia_and_persians_play_in_greek/ | {
"a_id": [
"cg7w0gu",
"cg81mlp",
"cg85axa",
"cg8iel7"
],
"score": [
3,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"There are no Greek Myths relating to the Persians or Persia directly. ",
"I'm not aware of any specific myths involving the Persians but there are several involving the near ea... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
5iwdjt | How long did it take to create marble sculptures? Weeks, months, or years? | Specifically, I refer to the sculptures created in the Renaissance and afterwards (but before industrialization). | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5iwdjt/how_long_did_it_take_to_create_marble_sculptures/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbbn5h3"
],
"score": [
16
],
"text": [
"\"Months to years, it depends\". Many of the famous Renaissance sculptures took between one and three years. Almost three years for Michelangelo's David (september 13th 1501-early spring 1504), about two for Moses, and almost two for the Pietá (... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://sourcebooks.fordham.edu/basis/vasari/vasari26.htm"
]
] | |
5uz4su | My great uncle enrolled in the Charlemagne Waffen SS Division, is there online ressources I could check to find out what happened to him ? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5uz4su/my_great_uncle_enrolled_in_the_charlemagne_waffen/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddxz7l5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Hi, hopefully someone can drop by to help with something more specific, but you might find these resources helpful : the sub has a wiki for finding military records [here](_URL_0_). You might also try x-posting to /r/genealogy for more tips. "
... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/militaryrecords#wiki_germany"
]
] | ||
37epxy | I kept hearing about significant infantry combat doctrine changes during the first world war. What were the main changes among western military from 1914 to 1918? | I'm hoping this could stay for the discussion on infantry combat doctrine only.
Specifically, what were the main organization changes? And why were they changed and what was the reason? Did any of the changes led to new infantry weapon design requirements, or even personal equipment. (How much ammo carried, grenade ca... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/37epxy/i_kept_hearing_about_significant_infantry_combat/ | {
"a_id": [
"crm3z5r"
],
"score": [
13
],
"text": [
"There's a lot of talk on this and there's an idea here that many seem to struggle with greatly as it directly challenges this idea of \"trench warfare\" as a \"thing\". For each army it is different certainly so we'll speak for now only on the B... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerdog/generalstorage/piclinks/Holding_It.jpg"
]
] | |
c3qsil | Did the Spartans suffer from demographic decline because their women were less willing to have children? | What is the veracity of this reddit comment _URL_0_ | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/c3qsil/did_the_spartans_suffer_from_demographic_decline/ | {
"a_id": [
"ervjm9y"
],
"score": [
36
],
"text": [
"The answer to your question is no, and the best way to describe the linked comment is \"horribly wrong\". Horrible because it blames Spartan women for a development that was wholly the result of laws and customs drawn up, enacted, and enforced b... | [] | [
"https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/c3ppfq/til_that_in_the_late_classical_era_of_greece/ersiu5x/"
] | [
[]
] | |
1rps17 | Why are British colonies in the Caribbean so homophobic? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1rps17/why_are_british_colonies_in_the_caribbean_so/ | {
"a_id": [
"cdpqf41",
"cdpt9ga"
],
"score": [
21,
4
],
"text": [
"I feel this is a loaded question as Montserrat, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands all consider homosexual activity perfectly legal. So perhaps the question should more focus on ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | ||
1uaew2 | How formative was Tolkien to the genre of high fantasy? | There is some debate on the subject, but for my purposes I'm using high fantasy to mean fantasy set, mostly or entirely, in another world. Under this definition Harry Potter counts because it mostly deals with a sphere outside of normal earthly existence, but few of E. Nesbit's books would.
What are some of the things... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1uaew2/how_formative_was_tolkien_to_the_genre_of_high/ | {
"a_id": [
"ceg63yb",
"ceg82sj",
"cegiw1x",
"cehk2rg"
],
"score": [
71,
985,
9,
4
],
"text": [
"Tolkien was in many ways the father of modern fantasy as we know it. He is responsible for many of the aspects of fantasy that are see as commonplace or cliche today namley, orc... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.english.uga.edu/~jdmevans/Personal/JRRT1936.pdf",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Orfeo",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alliterative_verse",
"http://public.callutheran.edu/~brint/Arts/Tolkien.pdf",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quenya",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C... | |
2ge2hd | Napoleonic Era and Uniforms (Nit-Picky Questions) | So I'm a fan of the Napoleonic Era, and I would say I know just enough about it but not the detailed specifics. So I have some few nitpicky questions I was hopijg you guys could help answer.
Austria and Napoleon: From what I know, Napoleon had a large amount of hate for Austrians saying that there empire should be br... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2ge2hd/napoleonic_era_and_uniforms_nitpicky_questions/ | {
"a_id": [
"cki86tb"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"So, there's a million questions. It would be beneficial if you reworded your question for a single question and ask a few over a few days."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2u25b2 | What did ancient teenagers do for fun? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2u25b2/what_did_ancient_teenagers_do_for_fun/ | {
"a_id": [
"co4hrt8"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"You mean a 'really' ancient civilisation such as the Greeks or the Egyptians, or will a more recent example do?\n\nRoman teenagers from the 17th/18th/early-19th centuries grew up in the street and the society they lived in was rife with violence.... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://zanzathedog.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/giudeo-nella-botte.jpg?w=320"
]
] | ||
14gmpx | What memorials/monuments, if any, has the USA donated to other countries that is not about the US in anyway. | This question occured to me from the Russian 9/11 memorial post ([Thread in question here](_URL_0_)).
The US has recieved several monuments from other countries that had nothing to do with the donating country (like that Russian 9/11 monument, or the Statue of Liberty). But I can't find any evidense that we (the US) h... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/14gmpx/what_memorialsmonuments_if_any_has_the_usa/ | {
"a_id": [
"c7cvz95",
"c7cxf97",
"c7cxnny",
"c7cxnvg",
"c7cyex4",
"c7cz0dk",
"c7czqws",
"c7d08yb",
"c7d1i7l",
"c7d2f7d"
],
"score": [
7,
3,
44,
12,
2,
41,
4,
6,
6,
2
],
"text": [
"[Does this count?](_URL_0_)\n\n > Studentend... | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/14g8j1/russian_911_monument_for_usa/c7cttxn"
] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlachtensee_Student_Village"
],
[
"http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zWuTtHWkHU8/SwcJG_S3enI/AAAAAAAAAYs/_F-O1fhI5go/s1600/tresdesnudos.jpg"
],
[],
[
"http://www.flickr.com/photos/sigurtor/6078126932",
"http://www.abmc.gov/memorials/memorials.php",
"http://en.... | |
86vtql | What exactly was the Battle of Actium? | Why was Marc Antony and Ptolemaic Egypt warring against Octavian? What was the motivation? What was the Outcome? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/86vtql/what_exactly_was_the_battle_of_actium/ | {
"a_id": [
"dwy68qq"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Not to discourage any further answers but while you wait you'll probably enjoy these older posts:\n\n[What was Mark Antony's intention when he gave Rome's lands to Egypt in 34BC? And why did it take Rome two years to start a war against him?](_UR... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6iem2e/what_was_the_religion_of_egypt_like_after/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5w8lrw/what_happened_to_the_ptolemaic_egyptian/?st=izwoo53i&sh=eff23e7d",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7ot9xi/did_augustus_order... | |
1fctpn | Did Romans really have those feathered things on top of their helmets? If so, why? | I was wondering because I thought they were like the horns on viking helmets (Hollywood added) but I noticed they have them in documentaries. They don't seem very practical. Did they have them? Did they serve a purpose? Did they wear them in war or was it just ceremonial armor? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1fctpn/did_romans_really_have_those_feathered_things_on/ | {
"a_id": [
"ca90qj2",
"ca9237h"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"The \"feathered thing\" is called a crest and its usage depends on the time period:\n\nIn the days of the early republic, it was not common.\n\nDuring the late republic (post 3rd century B.C.) it was very common among legion... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
5v06pi | What led to Sulla's retirement after being declared dictator for life? | At the time, was his retirement most likely viewed as a sincere, "now the Republic has a strong foundation on which to stand, we can return to the rule of law," or an insincere, "I'm bored with this, time to go kick it in my country estate." | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5v06pi/what_led_to_sullas_retirement_after_being/ | {
"a_id": [
"ddy9beq"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"The sources are particularly lousy for this: the wretched Appian on the one hand, and on the other Plutarch, more interested in the morbid details of his wasting disease than any politics. Scullard and Keaveney both argued that Sulla simply got ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2ccfui | Did the Romans ever face armies of horseback archers from the steppes or elsewhere? How did they fair? Did they ever experiment with or adopt the strategy? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2ccfui/did_the_romans_ever_face_armies_of_horseback/ | {
"a_id": [
"cje5tpd"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"Yes, Roman armies faced armies primarily composed of horse archers more than once. The fellow under me has referenced Attila the Hun. The Romans did technically defeat him at Chalons, but I'll admit to a small working knowledge of the late Roma... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1no29f | How do you defend the purpose of Medieval History? | First off I am not attacking history as a field of knowledge. I believe history has value as a field of study because it is perhaps the best to understand our present, where we have come from and also to learn how best to approach our world today. I am a graduate student of American History (and trans-Atlantic) and for... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1no29f/how_do_you_defend_the_purpose_of_medieval_history/ | {
"a_id": [
"ccke0fo",
"ccked12",
"cckfd5p"
],
"score": [
6,
15,
2
],
"text": [
"... because times change. It's useful to study how people thought and lived and why things happened the way they did in eras very different from our own, so we gain insight into what might happen in fu... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/campaigns/15.jpg",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones"
],
[]
] | |
3z88eo | Why did America develop a stable republic while most of Latin America developed weak, unstable republic? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3z88eo/why_did_america_develop_a_stable_republic_while/ | {
"a_id": [
"cyk7mjm",
"cyk86o4",
"cykapd9",
"cyke73d"
],
"score": [
4,
60,
5,
3
],
"text": [
"Which Latin America? We all have different histories you know. ",
"I don't know that I can answer the question as written for \"most of Latin America, from what appears to be ... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
5bilkk | Did any ancient civilisation ever actually build the kinds of complex mechanical puzzles you see in popular fiction like Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, Uncharted, National Treasure etc? | Obviously these are works of fiction but I've always wondered to what extent the trope was inspired by real discoveries. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5bilkk/did_any_ancient_civilisation_ever_actually_build/ | {
"a_id": [
"d9osgvj"
],
"score": [
91
],
"text": [
"Hi, you may be interested in a couple of posts from [the FAQ](_URL_2_):\n\n* [Were the tombs of South American civilizations the booby-trapped nightmare we see in entertainment?](_URL_1_) - South & amp; Central America, Egypt\n\n* [Many fantasy... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/13r37l/many_fantasyhistorical_computer_games_and_rpgs/",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/23jd10/were_the_tombs_of_south_american_civilizations/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/monuments#wiki_were.2Fare_there_actually_tombs_... | |
1kbmz9 | Are there other cultures that have a long tradition of personal names appropriated from languages other than the ones primarily spoken by that culture? | Was just thinking about how many proper names in European culture are derived from Latin, Greek, or Hebrew roots, like Cornelius, Veronica, or Joshua. As opposed to proper names taken straight from the spoken vernacular, like Victor or Heather.
This in comparison to say Chinese, where the majority of the names see... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1kbmz9/are_there_other_cultures_that_have_a_long/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbnc0rg",
"cbnd755"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Late Ancient Hebrew did this a ton. Many names were Greek. Variants of \"Alexander\" were especially popular. Other names were Aramaic, but the two languages are so similar that distinguishing them in names is often diffi... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
41bgit | Why didn't any Ottoman Sultans perform Hajj when they declared themselves Caliphs of Islam? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/41bgit/why_didnt_any_ottoman_sultans_perform_hajj_when/ | {
"a_id": [
"cz1b9x5"
],
"score": [
15
],
"text": [
"It's mostly logistical issues. A sultan traveling from Istanbul to Mekka would need a huge army for protection. Traveling there and back would take months even years with a massive entourage which would destabilize the government back home and p... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
4ovy3f | Why is the star in the "star and crescent" symbol of Ottoman Empire/Islam not exactly upright geometrically? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4ovy3f/why_is_the_star_in_the_star_and_crescent_symbol/ | {
"a_id": [
"d4g22w7"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"The design is specified by a 1930s law. The alignment of the star is such that one of the points of the star points directly left. So it's aligned \"exactly\" on a horizontal axis -- relative to the crescent -- rather than a vertical axis. See _U... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/tr.html#con"
]
] | ||
2kma0f | In my high school history classes, the fate of the USS Maine is usually described as a boiler-room accident or a deliberate "false-flag attack" to provoke war with Spain. What is the current academic consensus on the disaster? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2kma0f/in_my_high_school_history_classes_the_fate_of_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"clmqb36",
"clmrtzz",
"clmsep9",
"clmsu6x",
"clmvf4k",
"cln2olu",
"cln3wg5"
],
"score": [
87,
68,
14,
1199,
40,
5,
2
],
"text": [
"Just to clarify, you took a high school history class where your instructor referred to it as a \"false fla... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.loc.gov/law/help/usconlaw/pdf/Maine.1898.pdf",
"http://www.iprr.org/reviews/Rickoverreview.html",
"http://www.dcte.udel.edu/hlp/resources/overseas/competing_evidence.pdf"
],
[],
[],
[]
] | ||
48n18i | What is the Eastern Front known as in Russia? | I don't suppose it's as simple as the Western Front? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/48n18i/what_is_the_eastern_front_known_as_in_russia/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0ky8yk"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"This can be a bit confusing, so I will use *italics for Latinized Russian* and **bold for English translations**\n\nIf you're asking about the Eastern Front of WWII, the single massive continuous front (geographic area) is known by Russians as Ве... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://youtu.be/2gZdQ1i312I?t=238"
]
] | |
18wsy0 | When did "Right by conquest" stop being a thing? | I read online that countries honored the tradition of "right by conquest," the idea that if a country is conquered then the invading party got it "fair and square," up until about WWI. That doesn't seem right to me, is that true? If not, when did it stop being recognized? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/18wsy0/when_did_right_by_conquest_stop_being_a_thing/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8iow3x"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"Actually way later, up until WW2 right by conquest was recognized as international law. \"War of aggression\" as a crime was only codified in the Nuermberg Principles after WW2 and made a UN resolution in 1974 (UN resolution 3314). \n\nThe princi... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
5o9cp2 | It is said that Benedict Arnold died wishing to wear his Continental Army uniform, expressing regret at his betrayal. This may be legend, but do we know how he really felt in his later years about what he did, or his attitude towards the United States? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5o9cp2/it_is_said_that_benedict_arnold_died_wishing_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"dchr4qz",
"dci4b9n"
],
"score": [
18,
7
],
"text": [
"Not to discourage further discussion, but see /u/uncovered-history's answer in [this post](_URL_0_). He also addresses the Continental Army uniform question a little further down the comment chain.",
"I answer this exac... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4mjp43/did_benedict_arnold_regret_his_decision_to_join/"
],
[]
] | ||
49hvxs | How were crimes by ordinary people punished in Ancient Rome? | You often hear of nobles being exiled or beheaded, or of slaves being crucified. How was a plebeian citizen punished for, let's say, stealing, assault, robbery, etc? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/49hvxs/how_were_crimes_by_ordinary_people_punished_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"d0s3vs0"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Roman law during the late Republic and most of the Principate made no distinction in punishment between free people of different social rank. By Roman law all Roman citizens were guaranteed the same legal rights, and the only important distinctio... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
24j8ur | Was there any indication for a genocide in the Bosnia war from 1992-1995? | I am writing an essay about the genocide in Srebrenica but I can't find any indication that it was predictable. Could you give me your answers and some sources, please?
Thank you! | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/24j8ur/was_there_any_indication_for_a_genocide_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ch7zppe",
"ch80pjs"
],
"score": [
2,
6
],
"text": [
"We're allowing this question despite our 20-year-rule, because the events straddle the 20-year line, and most of the time in OP is in-bounds. But it's particularly important to not let any answers get into current politics,... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/22tgvg/can_someone_explain_the_bosnian_genocide/cgqbsvp",
"http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hr109-199",
"http://www.icty.org/x/cases/karadzic/cis/en/cis_karadzic_en.pdf",
"http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/91/13685.pdf",
... | |
5j4i0u | How did the Allies supply their armies in France in WWII in 1944 and 1945? | I was doing some reading about the Battle of Brest in WWII during Operation Overlord and it became clear that taking port cities to supply the Allied armies was a key goal, though the article focused on the battles more than the logistics. Which ports handled the bulk of the supply traffic? How did the Allies move enou... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5j4i0u/how_did_the_allies_supply_their_armies_in_france/ | {
"a_id": [
"dbdfua2",
"dbdnj9o"
],
"score": [
2,
9
],
"text": [
"Most of the goods were shipped in to France. By 1944 German Naval power was not what it used to be and while there were still attacks on supply convoys the Allies did a decent job of establishing Naval dominance. As they mov... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.amazon.com/Supplying-War-Logistics-Wallenstein-Patton/dp/0521546575"
],
[
"http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Logistics2/index.html",
"http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-E-Logistics1/index.html"
]
] | |
38xu70 | Was there any study of economics pre-consumerism? | Before consumerism became widespread, was there any study of economics? If so, what was it like? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/38xu70/was_there_any_study_of_economics_preconsumerism/ | {
"a_id": [
"crywzai"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Yes.\n\nConsumerism is generally linked to the rise of industrial production and wasn't a phenomenon (at least outside the upper class) until the late 19th century. Before then you had such figures as Adam Smith, David Hume, Ricardo, Marx, Quesna... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
r2xqn | What was President William McKinley's reasoning for his views on the issue of the annexation of the Philippines? | I'm doing a debate for US history about whether or not to annex the Philippines after the Spanish-American war, and I'm being McKinley. I know what his views were (mostly, I think), but I'm a little unclear as to what exactly his thought process was. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/r2xqn/what_was_president_william_mckinleys_reasoning/ | {
"a_id": [
"c42jjxq",
"c42jntb",
"c42r3ii"
],
"score": [
2,
3,
2
],
"text": [
"The Philippines were important as a strategic outpost in Asia. The US leaders saw China as a market for their goods and they didn't want the European powers to control it alone. Therefore, a base in Asi... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.msc.edu.ph/centennial/benevolent.html"
],
[],
[]
] | |
2cz7h9 | Good books/movies/documentaries/websites/podcasts about Roman British history | I am doing some just-for-fun research on Roman-British history and was looking for some suggestions for good and interesting books, movies, documentaries, websites, and podcasts from r/history. Thanks. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2cz7h9/good_booksmoviesdocumentarieswebsitespodcasts/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjkthhn"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"British History Podcast. "
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
10b41s | What are some examples of small disciplined forces defeating larger forces? | Just looking for some examples of smaller well disciplined forces defeating larger forces. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/10b41s/what_are_some_examples_of_small_disciplined/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6bx9ub",
"c6bxjr3",
"c6bxkwg",
"c6bxuxy",
"c6bxwhw",
"c6bxyog",
"c6byay8",
"c6bycfj",
"c6bygl8",
"c6byjsg",
"c6bz3w8",
"c6bz760",
"c6bz9zd",
"c6bzghb",
"c6bzh9k",
"c6bzk1y",
"c6bztve",
"c6c0zng",
"c6c1jv3",
"c6c2izn",
"c... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Marathon"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Winter_War"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War#Fall_of_Saigon"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt",
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_... | |
rt9lx | How do you feel about John Brown? Terrorist or freedom fighter? | I'm currently in my undergrad for teaching and I recently stubbled upon the story of John Brown. History has always been an interest of mine and I'm wondering how the historians of reddit feel about this guy. If you have anything to contribute, please let me know. Thank you. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/rt9lx/how_do_you_feel_about_john_brown_terrorist_or/ | {
"a_id": [
"c48nntu",
"c48wpih"
],
"score": [
5,
2
],
"text": [
"He's both technically but in my biased opinion he's a freedom fighter. Though he could have planned the rebellion slightly more I believe, like asking a local slave in the dead of night on what he thought the slaves would do... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
26v2kc | What does it mean when one has a 'teleological view of history'? | I have seen this term being used a few times on this subreddit and been referred to in a quite negative manner.
What is a teleological view of history and what is wrong with this line of thinking about history? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/26v2kc/what_does_it_mean_when_one_has_a_teleological/ | {
"a_id": [
"chusi6h",
"chw07e2"
],
"score": [
20,
2
],
"text": [
"To build a bit on /u/Sherbert42's answer: teleology (in a historiographical sense) is a form of historical enquiry which attempts to construct a narrative view of history as a progressive march in one direction; towards an ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://cdn.preterhuman.net/texts/literature/general/Butterfield%20\\(Herbert\\)%20The%20Whig%20Interpretation%20of%20History.pdf"
],
[]
] | |
9l712w | Before the Augustus founded the empire, the Roman republic was plagued with civil wars. Why didn't the Parthians invade? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9l712w/before_the_augustus_founded_the_empire_the_roman/ | {
"a_id": [
"e74of12"
],
"score": [
5
],
"text": [
"They did...it's all over the sources...\n\nThe Parthians crossed the Euphrates only twice. In 51 Cicero feared a Parthian invasion into Cilicia, but it did not materialize, and the brief Parthian campaign following Crassus' defeat fizzled out qui... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
12qdei | Is it true that a third of the knights in the battle of Agincourt were over 50? | If so, what are the implications for medieval life expectancy AFTER childhood? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/12qdei/is_it_true_that_a_third_of_the_knights_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"c6x9xov",
"c6xa8mk"
],
"score": [
3,
8
],
"text": [
"Where did you hear this if I may ask? ",
"Well life expectancy is a very skewed statistic, because infant mortality deflates it substantially. The upper-classes could expect to live to the beginning of what we'd call \"o... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3mmmhf | What was the anti masonic party and what happened to them? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3mmmhf/what_was_the_anti_masonic_party_and_what_happened/ | {
"a_id": [
"cvgln73"
],
"score": [
7
],
"text": [
"They were a political party formed in the wake of public outcry over an incident where some Masons in NY state were accused of kidnapping and possibly killing at fellow Mason (named Morgan) who had published an expose on the initiations.\n\nThis ... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1y8knm | Did the US ever try to convert Filipinos to Protestantism during their colonisation of the country? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1y8knm/did_the_us_ever_try_to_convert_filipinos_to/ | {
"a_id": [
"cfibp3v"
],
"score": [
13
],
"text": [
"After the US colonized the Philippines the Catholic Church was disestablished, and was no longer the official religion. When that happened there was a large influx of Protestant missionaries of all denominations to the Philippines. Today, Protes... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
1l1xli | Slavery in ancient Greece | Good day, was hoping if some of your can get an insightful answer on a subject i was talking about with a friend of mine. So it was regarding slavery in ancient Greece and basically she said that only the very rich people in Greece owned them and the slaves were intelligent and part of the family and did important jobs... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1l1xli/slavery_in_ancient_greece/ | {
"a_id": [
"cbuylm1",
"cbv5sdn"
],
"score": [
6,
7
],
"text": [
"Slaves in Greece were not a rare thing to see. It is certain that rural slavery was very common in Athens. It is estimated that every citizen in Athens had at least 1 slave so, to answer your question, high class people were... | [] | [] | [
[],
[]
] | |
3tfriq | The "Duel of Champions": how common was it? What was it's purpose? | Homer's Iliad depicts several duels between great warriors of the opposing sides: Paris and Menelaus, Hector and Ajax, Hector and Achilles. Modern fiction set in feudal Japan often depicts battles beginning with a duel to the death between two samurai between the armies. I'm sure it would be easy to find other (semi-)f... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3tfriq/the_duel_of_champions_how_common_was_it_what_was/ | {
"a_id": [
"cx5w03h",
"cx6cu62"
],
"score": [
3,
2
],
"text": [
"Been asked before a few times. The term for this is [Single Combat](_URL_0_).\n\n_URL_1_\n\n_URL_2_",
"I've talked about this wrt feudal Japan [here](_URL_0_). Also, a more common thing seen pre-Sengoku era was still due... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_combat",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/183dk7/are_there_any_cases_where_two_leading_individuals/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1f46ls/at_the_beginning_of_the_film_troy_a_battle_wasnt/"
],
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/... | |
4b19e5 | I found this old helmet in an antique store, and I was wondering where it is from. | It is rather battered, with multiple scratches and whatnot, and it doesn't look that familiar to me. I'm kind of a history buff, and it doesn't match any of the major powers with helmets. It kind of looks like a mixture of a few of them. If any of you can find out the country this helmet belongs to, and possibly a roug... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4b19e5/i_found_this_old_helmet_in_an_antique_store_and_i/ | {
"a_id": [
"d15aysl"
],
"score": [
22
],
"text": [
"Swedish M26 Army Helmet seems to be the one, \n_URL_0_\n\nHeres some info on it. \n\n_URL_1_"
]
} | [] | [
"http://imgur.com/a/YdWYV"
] | [
[
"http://nuke.combat-helmets.com/Portals/0/2010/SweM26-65a.JPG",
"http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=129470&sid=b22be6cd242320fa9b5210b97804bf97"
]
] | |
3vzeie | Is there a history of monasticism in Islam? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3vzeie/is_there_a_history_of_monasticism_in_islam/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxsal8i"
],
"score": [
15
],
"text": [
"*I speak of the Middle Ages.*\n\nIslam doesn't really have monasticism. Within Sufism, Islam's mystical tradition, we can see some parallels to Christian monasticism, but fundamental differences remain--they are, at heart, different institutions... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3zkgky | How long did it take a skilled armourer to make chainmail armour during medieval times? | I was watching [this video](_URL_0_), and he says that making mail is a very slow process, but he doesn't specify how long it might have taken a medieval smith to make the armour.
In the video, he says the process of making good mail in medieval times was longer due to them flattening and riveting each individual rin... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3zkgky/how_long_did_it_take_a_skilled_armourer_to_make/ | {
"a_id": [
"cynm0iz"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"My own area of study is the armour of high and late medieval Europe. So my answer will focus on that, not on the Early Middle Ages. I mention this caveat because the economics and social organization of Europe were very different between 600 and ... | [] | [
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdqOE_OHEP0"
] | [
[]
] | |
15gyvs | What is the difference between German Blitzkrieg strategy and Soviet Deep Battle doctrine? | Both of these doctrines were used during WW2 by the Germans and the Soviets, respectively. All I know about them is that they had something to do with encircling the enemy. However, I'm having trouble picturing Deep Battle doctrine in my head. How was it different from the German way of doing things? Could someone demo... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/15gyvs/what_is_the_difference_between_german_blitzkrieg/ | {
"a_id": [
"c7mdt9d",
"c7me061",
"c7mfhud",
"c7mibe5",
"c7mqvif"
],
"score": [
34,
3,
14,
9,
3
],
"text": [
"First of all, the Germans never used the word 'Blitzkrieg' themselves and did not have a specific doctrine around deep penetration or strategic battle - as ... | [] | [
"http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3801553_f260.jpg"
] | [
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://i.imgur.com/CAued.png"
],
[]
] | |
z9uyg | [META] Wide-scale revisions to the official rules | In a bid to make everything more comprehensive and precise, we've decided to update /r/askhistorians' official rules and sidebar. Please take a look, and let us know below if you have any questions or comments.
N.B. There's nothing in here that will be completely novel or unanticipated by the previous rules, but rea... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/z9uyg/meta_widescale_revisions_to_the_official_rules/ | {
"a_id": [
"c62rbrz",
"c62rgai",
"c62rhfe",
"c62sdmh",
"c62tfs3",
"c62txeb",
"c62w6m9",
"c62wxkg",
"c62xwfi",
"c6331os",
"c634izq"
],
"score": [
17,
14,
82,
20,
29,
8,
13,
7,
8,
9,
9
],
"text": [
"Looks good, kudos to... | [] | [
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/y94fc/special_occasion_post_243rd_birthday_of_napoleon/",
"http://i.imgur.com/vZveY.png",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/x9c4e/meta_new_projects_incoming/"
] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
59x94y | Historically, how long have Arabs been the dominant ethnic group in the Middle East? | I know some areas have probably had an Arabic majority for a long time, like the Arabian Peninsula. I also know that other groups exist in the Middle East, like Persians, Turks, Kurds, etc.
From what I've read, though, Arabs are the largest ethnic group in West Asia. Have they always been a conspicuously large, if no... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/59x94y/historically_how_long_have_arabs_been_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"d9d3n6x"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Unfortunately I don't think this an answerable question. \"Arab blood\" does not define Arabness. Arabness is at least partially a linguistically defined ethnicity. That's why dark-skinned dark-eyed [Anwar Sadat](_URL_2_) is just as much an Arab ... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.eheraldpost.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Bashar_al_Assad.jpg",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/arabs/comments/3if0in/the_distribution_of_peoples_described_as_arabs_by/",
"https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/77/93077-004-9CEFFCB4.jpg"
]
] | |
ezpek8 | Why were the Franks so effective at conquering the Germanic tribes, where Rome had failed for so long? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/ezpek8/why_were_the_franks_so_effective_at_conquering/ | {
"a_id": [
"fgp5izc"
],
"score": [
14
],
"text": [
"Frankish hegemony over transrhenan peoples was less due to conquest or overpowering campaigns, and more to a policy of personal relationships, trade, raids and counter-raids that weren't that dissimilar to Rome's policies in Germania and that te... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6nj52v | Would an ancient Roman be able to read and understand the Latin Wikipedia? | [deleted] | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6nj52v/would_an_ancient_roman_be_able_to_read_and/ | {
"a_id": [
"dk9uxoa"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"Post this to r/latin--I think they'd get a kick out of it. :)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
51hcib | Why did cavalry during the U.S. Civil War operate almost exclusively as dragoons? | Throughout the mid-19th century, European armies fielded various types of cavalry. Yet both Union and Confederate cavalry corps operated almost exclusively as dragoons. Why was this? To what extent was this affected by the duties of pre-war US cavalry, and/or the lack of a European-style military establishment? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/51hcib/why_did_cavalry_during_the_us_civil_war_operate/ | {
"a_id": [
"d7bzlzk"
],
"score": [
20
],
"text": [
" > Yet both Union and Confederate cavalry corps operated almost exclusively as dragoons. Why was this? To what extent was this affected by the duties of pre-war US cavalry, and/or the lack of a European-style military establishment? \n\nThe way... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://archive.org/details/cavalrytacticsa00graygoog",
"https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1810/244878/Badsey12201.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y",
"http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A2001.05.0109"
]
] | |
1duv6p | Why didn't Israel keep the Sinai peninsular? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1duv6p/why_didnt_israel_keep_the_sinai_peninsular/ | {
"a_id": [
"c9u22jd"
],
"score": [
18
],
"text": [
"Because giving it up was a hugely important bargaining chip for peace with Egypt. No one really regarded it as part of Israel (the way the West Bank is), though there were people there who were less than thrilled about being kicked out. Making... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6a44fn | Is there any proof that Mesopotamia and Egypt had contact with each other and if they did, what was their relationship like? | [deleted] | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6a44fn/is_there_any_proof_that_mesopotamia_and_egypt_had/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhblp8k"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"What timeframe are you refering to?"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
2ym6cl | How do Historians typically calculate an "exact" date? | As an example, let's say a Roman primary source gives us the only known reference to an event as having occured "300 years in the past". Now, Roman dating was fairly chaotic. Even after they went from 10 month years to 12 month years, they would periodically insert a 13th month. So simply multiplying the number of year... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2ym6cl/how_do_historians_typically_calculate_an_exact/ | {
"a_id": [
"cpav2j9"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"hi! hopefully some of the historians in antiquities will drop by with more info, but you may be interested in a few related posts\n\n\n* [How do we know what years certain pre-gregorian historical events happened in?](_URL_4_)\n\n* [How certain a... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistory/comments/q944u/what_is_the_earliest_reliable_documented_event_in/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2lkip2/how_do_historians_work_with_dates_from_different/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/xww2c/how_certain_are_we_of_what_year_it_... | |
8u33jv | With the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, the English language began rapidly changing. What other long-term cultural changes did this event bring about within England? | I am primarily interested in what political policies were adopted by the English people, what long-term impacts diplomatically the Norman Conquest had upon England and its neighbors, the economic consequences of the invasion, and the impact of the Conquest upon the average English household. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8u33jv/with_the_norman_conquest_of_england_in_1066_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"e1comu5"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Hi there, I essentially answered a similar question to yours [here](_URL_1_), and linked to an earlier answer on some more of the legal changes [here](_URL_0_). The legal changes in particular would have had a genuine impact on the day-to-day lif... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6bale9/how_did_the_norman_conquest_of_england_impact_the/dhl77kj",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8tf1o4/z/e17fsg8"
]
] | |
6i9yiq | What books should be trusted? | I have looked through the books that are recommended in the community info. What I want to know is with all the books on history available, how can you tell what is sound information and what is widely conjecture?
Also, I am really interested in ancient Europe and Middle East prior to the fall of of the western Roman... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6i9yiq/what_books_should_be_trusted/ | {
"a_id": [
"dj4mkq8",
"dj4ngi4"
],
"score": [
3,
3
],
"text": [
"Obviously, there is always a ton to be said on this sort of question, but you might find [this](_URL_0_) response by /u/Cosmic_Charlie informative",
"You will be interested in a series we ran a year ago on finding and ev... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3larxd/how_can_a_layman_tell_how_reliable_a_source_is/cv4sgdy/"
],
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3t1z25/monday_methodsfinding_and_understanding_sources/",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3tz8wo/monday_methodsfin... | |
9cbiol | Why was king hussein of jordan pro-peace with Israel? | Almost from the very beginning Jordan was inclined to make peace with Israel. Since the time of his grandfather they were more open to discussion with the zionists and he had secret talks with Israel since the 60s/70s and only made peace much later because of the Palestinian situation. My question is why was he like th... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/9cbiol/why_was_king_hussein_of_jordan_propeace_with/ | {
"a_id": [
"e5auhdp"
],
"score": [
8
],
"text": [
"Part 1 (scroll to my reply to this comment to read Part 2):\n\nThe Jordanian motivations go much deeper than the history of the Hussein family and the Palestinians. Instead, one has to first understand the development of Jordan and the developmen... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
3weljk | What is the oldest, civilized and still existing nation? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3weljk/what_is_the_oldest_civilized_and_still_existing/ | {
"a_id": [
"cxvloye"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Depends on how you define \"civilized\" and \"nation\".\n6th edition of *Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English* defines \"civilized\" as: \"1. a civilized society is well organized and developed, and has fair laws and customs\". In historica... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2956925.stm"
]
] | ||
3du0ix | What is the history of course and grounds upkeep at St. Andrews? | The ancient and royal courses have been there at least since the mid 1700s. I can't find any information on how the grass and courses were maintained.
Did they even maintain the grasses? Used animals? I'd love to know. | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3du0ix/what_is_the_history_of_course_and_grounds_upkeep/ | {
"a_id": [
"ct8y8so"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"St Andrews was unusual in that between 1552 and 1805 they used rabbits. There was a financial incentive for this, because rabbiting was a huge industry when every part of a rabbit had a use and there was always an increasing supply. This benefitt... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://www.scottishgolfhistory.org/oldest-golf-sites/1574-st-andrews/"
]
] | |
44pfyq | Could Russia ever have won the Cold War? | Was it really as close a call as people make it out to be? When did it stop really being anyone's game? Was their failure more up to their political system, or just Russia's natural resources and geography? What were some of the flashpoints during the cold war in which Russia lost due to poor leadership and not due to ... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/44pfyq/could_russia_ever_have_won_the_cold_war/ | {
"a_id": [
"czryy2h",
"czs1xb5",
"czs2091",
"czsa5e3",
"czsigh8",
"czt772m"
],
"score": [
14,
60,
11,
7,
2,
3
],
"text": [
"Hi, quick moderator request for you: could you remove the following section?\n\n > In an alternate world where the USA went communi... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/rules#wiki_is_this_the_right_place_for_your_question.3F"
],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[]
] | |
7pf10c | Why did Japan have oil problems dispite owning oil-rich provinces during WW2? | During WW2 Japan owned French-Indochina, Dutch East Indies and British Malaya. Why did they still have supply problems dispite owning those provinces which had a lot of oil? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7pf10c/why_did_japan_have_oil_problems_dispite_owning/ | {
"a_id": [
"dshkte8"
],
"score": [
13
],
"text": [
"There are basically three elements to this. \n\nFirst. While the the Southern Resource Area was oil rich by Japanese standards it was significantly less productive than other areas of the world at the time. In 1940 while the US produced 183 mill... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
7l354j | To what extent were the Romans successful against Persian horsemen? | Inspired by /u/kingofthehill5 's post [here](_URL_1_)
I know that initially, Roman legions [weren't all that effective against Parthian horsemen](_URL_3_). But I also know that Rome was eventually able to conquer [a pretty large chunk of Pathia] (_URL_2_ (for a time) and was decently successful against the [Sassanids]... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7l354j/to_what_extent_were_the_romans_successful_against/ | {
"a_id": [
"drjmtc5"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"So I wrote a post on why horse archers were so effective a couple of days ago:\n\n_URL_0_\n\nAs for Roman tactics against them, let's first look at Crassus' campaign. He was a rich man but a horrible commander, and actually was given a good route... | [] | [
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman%E2%80%93Persian_Wars#Roman%E2%80%93Sasanian_wars",
"https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/7kt5sb/what_are_some_effective_strategies_against_horse/",
"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia_(Roman_province)",
"https://youtu.be/bR7VDPUj5AE"
] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7jmpk5/how_did_the_mongols_defeat_armies_with_just/dr8g724"
]
] | |
4nsj55 | How accurate is Battlefield 1? | I know it's still early to ask it, but so far we have some new info and trailers released. Right now they are playing on a live stream. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4nsj55/how_accurate_is_battlefield_1/ | {
"a_id": [
"d46juj8"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"There's always room for discussion, but perhaps this previous topic found through the search function will answer your inquiry.\n\n* [Battlefield 1 Trailer Accuracy](_URL_0_)"
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4i8bj7/battlefield_1_trailer_accuracy/"
]
] | |
4nfvwq | Were the Vandals any more destructive than other invading tribes during the fall of the Roman Empire, or was there another reason their name became connected with vandalism? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4nfvwq/were_the_vandals_any_more_destructive_than_other/ | {
"a_id": [
"d43yerd"
],
"score": [
41
],
"text": [
"I'll only speak for one aspect of the Vandals in that, while certainly proving to be just as if not more destructive than the Huns and Alaric's visigoths--in terms of the sack of Rome they actually proved to be far less Vandal-like. \n\nLike whe... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
6arzly | Why did the roles of Barrister and Solicitor develop separately in Britain? | Why did attorneys in the U.S. develop to have the same role as both the British counterpart? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6arzly/why_did_the_roles_of_barrister_and_solicitor/ | {
"a_id": [
"dhhq2df"
],
"score": [
10
],
"text": [
"Oo! A question that I can help answer in part!\n\nFor what it’s worth, I’m not a historian, but I do have a degree in history. I’m currently a law student in Australia, which has a similar Solicitor/Barrister split profession. I can’t speak to h... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
1ah3pl | How prevalent was Latin in Britain under the Romans and if it was when did it die out as a common language? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ah3pl/how_prevalent_was_latin_in_britain_under_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"c8xjj2i",
"c8xll8y"
],
"score": [
8,
25
],
"text": [
"If this is a question you're interested in, you should read up on [Brithenig](_URL_0_), a constructed language based on the idea that a latin romance language eventually displaced the local languages of Britain. Some of th... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brithenig"
],
[]
] | ||
unb42 | I'm looking for books focused on political history (preferably books focused on the 20th century, but I'm open to anything). Any suggestions? | If this isn't the correct place to post this let me know and I will post it in the correct subreddit.
I'm willing to read about any topic so please suggest whatever books or authors you enjoy. Also if you have any suggestions for a biography on political figures, I would greatly appreciate it (I'm currently reading t... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/unb42/im_looking_for_books_focused_on_political_history/ | {
"a_id": [
"c4wvjzp",
"c4wwi4p",
"c4wwoya",
"c4wx7ei",
"c4wy0k4",
"c4wygg7",
"c4wyx50",
"c4wztuk",
"c4x49s3",
"c4xaoby"
],
"score": [
2,
2,
3,
3,
2,
2,
2,
2,
2,
2
],
"text": [
"David McCullough's *Truman* is very good.",
... | [] | [] | [
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[],
[
"http://www.amazon.com/Diplomacy-Touchstone-book-Henry-Kissinger/dp/0671510991"
],
[]
] | |
2cu5yz | Why are so many followers of Islam/people in Islamic nations named after the prophet Muhammad? | It would seem to me that a larger majority of Muslims / people of Middle Eastern decent are named Muhammad while fewer Christians / people from christian nations are named with direct namesake from Jesus Christ, or people from other religions named directly after their prophet. Is this perception correct, and if so is ... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/2cu5yz/why_are_so_many_followers_of_islampeople_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"cjj28ua",
"cjj4fs5"
],
"score": [
4,
2
],
"text": [
"Interesting, I always thought about it from the other point of view. If you consider a man to be the best human and a role model to pattern your life on, wouldn't it follow that it should be a very common name? Muslims are s... | [] | [] | [
[],
[
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1sl9ta/has_jesus_ever_been_a_popular_name_in_the_western/",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/ytmu2/why_do_muslims_consider_it_alright_to_name_their/",
"http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c5s4i/is_there_a_historic_reason_... | |
8ti4po | To what extent was Cannabis consumed for pleasure in the ancient world? | I'd like to also know about origin of domestication, spread, high-consuming nations, law, etc. | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/8ti4po/to_what_extent_was_cannabis_consumed_for_pleasure/ | {
"a_id": [
"e18jurx"
],
"score": [
3
],
"text": [
"Not quite your question, but [this older link](_URL_0_) might nevertheless be of interest for you."
]
} | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6o6r8x/do_we_have_any_records_of_recreational_drugs_used/dkfkgd5/"
]
] | |
1587uw | A clarification on the date 13.0.0.0.0 in the Mayan Long Count | I'm not even going to discuss the silly idea that the Long Count date 13.0.0.0.0 (aka, it seems, *today*) marks the end of the world or even that the Mayans would have believed this; but I wonder how the idea started that it marks the "end", or even a full cycle, of the Mayan calendar.
My understanding is this: the Ma... | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1587uw/a_clarification_on_the_date_130000_in_the_mayan/ | {
"a_id": [
"c7k8sqs",
"c7kaomt"
],
"score": [
20,
2
],
"text": [
"My understanding of how this thing got started (I'm trying to find a citation) is that the number 13 comes up repeatedly in Maya numerology because it's considered a lucky number. The ritual calendar, as you pointed out, us... | [] | [
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_calendar#Long_Count"
] | [
[
"http://www.famsi.org/research/vanstone/2012/index.html",
"http://www.amazon.com/Apocalypse-2012-Novel-Gary-Jennings/dp/0765322595/ctoc"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzolk%27in"
]
] | |
24pfso | What factors led to (why did the emperor order) the destruction of Zheng He's fleet, end of Chinese exploration, and continuation of Ming isolation in the 1400s? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/24pfso/what_factors_led_to_why_did_the_emperor_order_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"chftd2h"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"There were several reasons regarding the fleets themselves: Zheng He's fleets were expensive, the Ming were involved in wars against the Mongols and Vietnamese, the government bureaucracy was quite suspicious of how eunuchs dominated the venture,... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
7egmqe | In the "wild west" time era, when a bank robber robbed the stagecoach or a bank, who lost that money? Was it the bank or the individual who banked it? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7egmqe/in_the_wild_west_time_era_when_a_bank_robber/ | {
"a_id": [
"dq5f554"
],
"score": [
21
],
"text": [
"I can reply to the bank question, but not the stagecoach one.\n\nTL:DR: The bank, unless the robbery caused the bank to fail, in which case both.\n\nHere's how banking works: banks take deposits from people and lend out the cash to other people.... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
eu25mk | How well trained were war and hunting dogs in the Roman Empire and/or medieval Europe compared to today & how did they train them assuming their knowledge & tools for dog training was much less than we have today? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/eu25mk/how_well_trained_were_war_and_hunting_dogs_in_the/ | {
"a_id": [
"ffm47l8"
],
"score": [
4
],
"text": [
"I can't answer with specific reference to the Roman Empire although I suspect that much of my answer is transferrable from Medieval skills to Roman skills.\n\nFirstly I'd like to challenge the assumption that \"*knowledge and tools for dog traini... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | ||
3igg42 | In the early 1500s pre reformation Europe what was the difference between an indulgence and a confession? | I am trying to work out why the Catholic church was selling indulgences in the run up to the reformation. I am under the impression an indulgence is in crude terms to "have your sins forgiven and get out of purgatory". Is this not very similar to Sacrament of Penance / confession which I assume was free?
These seem t... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/3igg42/in_the_early_1500s_pre_reformation_europe_what/ | {
"a_id": [
"cugr9lc"
],
"score": [
2
],
"text": [
"Well, Confession is having your sins absolved, that is, return to a state of grace and avoid a path leading to damnation. A reconciliation, if you will. But there is still a need to make up for the consequences of sin, most notably the offense th... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
6f4dft | The Arab world around the 10th century is known by many as the(/an) Intellectual Golden Age. What made this area so fertile in scientific advancements, and what happened at the end of the period that may have led the area away from such a reputation? | Around 800-1300, areas like Baghdad and Damascus were known as the "intellectual centers of the world". These areas were making advancements in science, medicine, mathematics, physics and astronomy not seen like anywhere else in the world at the time. From the invention of algebra, widespread use of arabic numerals, to... | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/6f4dft/the_arab_world_around_the_10th_century_is_known/ | {
"a_id": [
"dig3okt"
],
"score": [
19
],
"text": [
"There are a couple of narratives that attempt to explain this. The traditional narrative proposed by later Muslim scholars is that when the Abbasid dynasty usurped power from the Umayyads in 750 CE, this represented a shift in power from Arabs t... | [] | [] | [
[]
] | |
13swoz | Who were the first prominent Southerners in government [Congress/White House/SCOTUS/Armed Forces/etc...] after the Civil War and did they face extra issues getting in? | AskHistorians | http://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/13swoz/who_were_the_first_prominent_southerners_in/ | {
"a_id": [
"c76xee9",
"c76ywmz",
"c76z9wv",
"c770qpz"
],
"score": [
5,
4,
10,
2
],
"text": [
"Andrew Johnson (president after Lincoln) was born in N. Carolina and grew up in Tennessee. \n\n_URL_0_",
"John Hennington, the Postmaster General of the CSA was able to make i... | [] | [] | [
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Johnson"
],
[],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Longstreet#Postbellum"
],
[
"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Wheeler"
]
] | ||
4bg0jx | Was Albrecht von Wallenstein really a traitor or were the charges against him trumped up? | AskHistorians | https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4bg0jx/was_albrecht_von_wallenstein_really_a_traitor_or/ | {
"a_id": [
"d196cny"
],
"score": [
6
],
"text": [
"A reply to /u/ManicMarine \n\nUgggggghhhhh ... this is such a good question and such a complex topic at the same time ...... ! :D\n\nFirst we must set the scene properly in terms of how the \"military fiscal state\" was [evolving in that era](_UR... | [] | [] | [
[
"https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/49r3ln/did_arms_dealing_as_private_enterprise_exist_in/d0unxha"
]
] |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.