Questions tagged [europe]

It is the second smallest continent, forming the Western extension of Eurasia.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
17 votes
5 answers
15k views

What's the correct term for a waitress in the Middle Ages?

How was a waitress called in the Middle Ages? Handmaid, waitress, maid, ...? And is there a different name for the ones who did this kind of job inside a castle, in contrast to the women doing this ...
timtos's user avatar
  • 273
25 votes
6 answers
12k views

Why did the person in charge of a principality not just declare themself king?

I don't understand the concept of principalities, why wouldn't you just call yourself king? The job description appears to be exactly the same. When England was ruled by the Saxons we had a bunch of ...
WendyG's user avatar
  • 1,299
48 votes
5 answers
13k views

Which European Languages are not Indo-European?

I saw this question asked on Twitter today. At first blush it seemed like an easy reference question, but I can't find any place that actually has this spelled out in one place. I ended up having to ...
T.E.D.'s user avatar
  • 119k
5 votes
1 answer
404 views

How did a student grant work in 18th/19th century Western Europe

I am making research for a book, and I need details about grants/scholarships in Western Europe around the beginning of the 19th century, ideally for a teenager living far away from the applied school....
JM Prongs's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
488 views

Is this a Masonic Ring?

I told by my Auntie that she had a Masonic ring that came from my Great Grandfather from my mum’s side of the family and I’m skeptical if this ring she sent a photo of is really a Masonic ring. I ...
user65231's user avatar
15 votes
3 answers
2k views

What is the significance of 4200 BCE in context of farming replacing foraging in Europe?

This is a question relating to how and, in particular, why foragers were colonized by farmers (settled societies) of Hilly Flanks (uplands of Fertile Crescent of Southwest Asia). According to Ian ...
J Asia's user avatar
  • 6,323
5 votes
2 answers
564 views

What was the place of a catapult in a formation

My question is where would you usually keep a catapult on a battlefield. It feels as if you shouldn't keep it in the rear back of the army since it won't reach the target, and also you want to have as ...
Starseeker's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
85 views

What exactly is the "revolution from the bourgeois" referred to in flow?

I was reading the book Flow by Mihaly Csizkszentmihalyi, wherein the following quote is made on page 67: “The much more subtle but equally coercive social controls of bourgeois Vienna made Freud’s ...
Sidharth Ghoshal's user avatar
30 votes
10 answers
16k views

Why was Germany not as successful as other Europeans in establishing overseas colonies?

French, British, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch.. they all had vast outreach across the globe on multiple continents. Why did Germans not have this much outreach?
Samid's user avatar
  • 2,202
-2 votes
1 answer
353 views

How did women give birth in middle ages? [closed]

I don't really know where to ask this question, and how to name it properly in short. But here: As I read through historical literature about middle ages it seemed like the dark times: constant wars,...
Ilya  Pakhmutov's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
270 views

Why were the doors of ghettos locked at night?

I've heard that some hundreds of years ago, in many places, the Jews were forced to live in ghettos and that the doors to the ghetto were locked at night. (See, for example, https://widerimage....
jw_scarsdale's user avatar
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

What's the point of fortified castles inside fortified cities?

In the Middle Ages, people built highly fortified castles for royalty inside cities that were already fortified by walls. What was the reasoning behind that? Were they made to protect royal families ...
Ivan Yurchenko's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why did Europeans call Native Americans Indians in the 18th Century AD, After they had found out they were in the wrong continent?

Why did European people continue to call Native Americans as Indians even after they found out they were not Indians? Question was inspired by Louis Ck's stand up bit. Based on what I know: ...
FirstSlack's user avatar
0 votes
5 answers
691 views

What's the origin of the movement to withdraw the United Kingdom from the European Union?

Who first proposed that the UK should leave the EU, and why? How did this movement grow in support?
Maria_mimi's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
406 views

Why were some Napoleonic battles fought at sea?

'The Royal Navy 1793-1815' is all about the different battles that took place in the water'...my main concern is why the navy was involved at all? why couldn't they just fight in the land ? Is it ...
Maria_mimi's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
348 views

What is the number of slaves imported from Africa to the Americas by non-British countries?

From 1526 to approximately 1870, slave ships from various countries loaded slaves from Africa and took them to somewhere in the Americas. (Note, in this question, I use "America" and "Americas" to ...
DrZ214's user avatar
  • 17.3k
3 votes
0 answers
222 views

What does the date on the tombstone mean?

This photo was taken in the Cathedral of St. Martin in Bratislava. I found information about the genus Palffy, but not one of his representatives died in 1845; moreover, it turns out that this person ...
Mouvre's user avatar
  • 121
31 votes
3 answers
5k views

What's the meaning of a knight fighting a snail in medieval book illustrations?

Someone sent me this really weird picture of a medieval illustration. It depicted a knight fighting a snail, and was basically a viral snarky commentary about how weird medieval ideas were. I tried ...
DVK's user avatar
  • 17.7k
2 votes
1 answer
3k views

Rose tattoo used to mark convicts condemned to death?

I recall from my university history courses a factoid about rose tattoos being used to mark convicts condemned to death in Europe during the Renaissance period (in case of escape), and was wondering ...
HopelessN00b's user avatar
  • 1,485
2 votes
0 answers
107 views

What are the per capita alcohol consumption rates of England from 1700 to 1900?

The rates are readily available for the period 1800 onwards but there is some trouble finding equivalent data for the period prior to 1800. Moreover, the data that I have some across so far even for ...
Jasmus's user avatar
  • 135
2 votes
2 answers
5k views

Why was fellatio considered so horrible during the XIX century in Europe?

The mentioned sexual practice was extremely frowned upon during that period, basically only prostitutes were to do them and even in this case, only with huge amounts of received money, that, in the ...
user2638180's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
141 views

What is meant by "state people" in this context? (Governments of new Balkan states post-WWI)

I'm reading The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, but since my background is science I find the history a little hard to follow. What is the meaning of state people in the following quote? ...
Notiophilus's user avatar
-5 votes
1 answer
232 views

European Life Expectancy Comparable? Now or When? [closed]

Question: Was their ever a people in European history where life expectancy was similar to Now? 21st century? 70+ years of age? Average or Median? I realize conventional wisdom would inform us ...
user avatar
33 votes
4 answers
13k views

What is the oldest European royal house?

What is the oldest European royal or princely house, either enthroned or dethroned, that patrilineally survives nowadays?
Ignacio Hill Oliveira's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
128 views

At what age could you hold custody of another in 12th century England?

My question is as stated in the title. My reason for asking is that I know girls could marry at twelve, and boys at fourteen. I am wondering at what age could each have legal custody of another? I ...
Tanzanite Dragoness's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
1k views

How accepted were public displays of affection in medieval France?

Were a man and a woman allowed to kiss/hug/hold hands in public? Did it differ depending on whether they were married or not? What about if they were engaged? If it was forbidden, what punishment did ...
Katerina's user avatar
  • 355
0 votes
1 answer
435 views

Why were the Soviets better at replacing their lost men and material? [duplicate]

Battle of Kursk is considered a Soviet decisive victory, no doubt it was the last major German offensive at the Eastern front. But why so? Casualties indicate the Soviets suffered 1 million ...
Tony Tannous's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

Where was the first European electric tramway operated?

Many sources agree that the tramway Vevey-Montreux-Chillon, built in 1888 was Switzerland's first and Europe's second electric tramway. However, sources are contradictory on which was the first ...
Bregalad's user avatar
  • 5,306
0 votes
0 answers
112 views

For the French Army under Jean Martinet (d1672) how and why were cavalry used instead of infantry?

For France's army of the period of Jean Martinet (d1672) in the Early modern, how and why were cavalry used instead of infantry? In European warfare the default company is the infantry company. This ...
Samuel Russell's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

When (and where) did public polling start taking place on topics other than elections?

Image Source: The Roper Center on Cornell.edu Question When did public opinion polling on topics other than elections begin? Are there examples prior to the 1930's when Gallup and Roper began ...
Kerry L's user avatar
  • 6,187
3 votes
0 answers
409 views

How did Ancient Egyptians see Europe and how did they call the area?

I was wondering how the Egyptians during the time of the Middle Kingdom saw Europe, besides Greece, Rome, and Macedonia? Did they ever travel to trade in or explore the northern part of the continent, ...
CuriousWriter's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Did nutmeg really prevent infections during the Bubonic Plague?

Not sure if this comes under biology or history. Years ago, a chemistry professor gave us a short lesson on the history of nutmeg. He said, the priests in Europe wore pouches around their neck ...
Samid's user avatar
  • 2,202
88 votes
7 answers
33k views

Why is the consensus that WW2 started on September 1, 1939 and not July 7, 1937?

Looking at Wikipedia, dates given are 1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945, which end in the defeat of Japan. However why is the starting date when Germany invaded Poland and not when the Japanese ...
Matas Vaitkevicius's user avatar
-16 votes
1 answer
1k views

Why the European Union choose to use a Nazi flag? [closed]

I wonder why the EU uses a Nazi flag like the one from this picture? Source: https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-32598a7f739cbfe57c03e4011891984b
Anixx's user avatar
  • 32.7k
3 votes
1 answer
571 views

Why did the maize-based society that Spain found in the Central Valley of Mexico not dominate over Europe?

· Was there something in the Mesoamerican cultures that put obstacles to growth and development? · Did American crops such as maize, cacao beans, and tobacco, compete unfavorably with European ...
No need's user avatar
  • 31
4 votes
2 answers
553 views

As newly independent countries after WWI, why didn't Baltic states have sovereignty dispute and war each other like other Eastern European countries?

After the WWI, many independent countries emerged and the borders between these countries, and also the existing Eastern European countries, were not clear, leading to territorial claims, disputes and ...
wodemingzi's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
13k views

Why did European writers and artists continue to depict the Moors as being black skinned, even though they were mostly Berbers and Arabs

The Moors were foot soldiers of the Ummayad dynasties of Syria who crossed the straits of Gibraltar into the Iberian peninsula. Later in that period, two new dynasties emerged: the Almoravids and the ...
user20490's user avatar
  • 966
39 votes
2 answers
7k views

Why didn't Europeans before Gutenberg print with woodblocks?

Before the invention of the printing press and movable type (and some related innovations) by Johannes Gutenberg, books in Europe were generally only reproduced if someone copied them by hand. In ...
KWeiss's user avatar
  • 633
26 votes
6 answers
5k views

Has there ever been an archbishop or bishop younger than the 16-year-old James of Nicosia?

In 1456, King John II of Cyprus appointed his illegitimate son James as Latin Archbishop of Nicosia. James was just 16 at the time. James soon lost his position, being forced to flee the following ...
Lars Bosteen's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
112 views

Economic aftermath in Europe and the Middle East of the Black Death

The following excerpt is from Blinkist's summary of The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan: Europe after the plague was an altogether different place. The population had fallen dramatically, but this ...
J.G.'s user avatar
  • 625
2 votes
2 answers
291 views

Roughly how many people were in a Magdalenian group? (And Gravettian?)

The book "The Creation of Inequality" (Marcus & Fannery, 2012) says the Magdalenian groups were much larger than the Gravettian groups but doesn't provide a clear number (or I did not ...
JinSnow's user avatar
  • 465
2 votes
7 answers
794 views

Did Europe experience forest deficits prior to 19th century?

I would like to understand if there were issues with forests in Europe prior to 19th century and, if so, what were the reasons behind them? Two versions that I have are overusing forests as the ...
Denis Kulagin's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

Who is this, probably royal, teenager?

This photo was found in the same envelope as a photo of the Prince Imperial, Louis Napoleon, (recently identified on this site by Evargalo) and various other European royals. The photos (seven in all) ...
Lars Bosteen's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
185 views

Who was a Roman General for a short time?

I'm trying to remember the name and battle that a Roman General. I might be unintentionally mixing parts of it up with other historic parts. The story goes the Roman Empire need someone to lead their ...
Nonus's user avatar
  • 19
37 votes
3 answers
5k views

Who is this young 'Prince'?

The photo below was found in an envelope among a bundle of family photos which were recently handed down on the English side of my family. Aside from the photo itself, the only clues are as follows: ...
Lars Bosteen's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
428 views

Eastern Europe during middle ages, a world view [closed]

I am a Belgian man conversant in Dutch, French, English, German (so English is not my first language), therefore you read many mistakes. My question is this: in our class and country it seems that ...
jan's user avatar
  • 41
14 votes
3 answers
2k views

What did European people of the 5th century AD eat during spring and what was the availability?

It is commonly believed that winter during that age was a period of starvation, with very limited means of procuring food. If the above is true, what did the commoners (peasants, serfs, etc) have to ...
Mindwin Remember Monica's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Was it customary for young upper-middle class women to chew gum in public in German-speaking Europe?

I'm writing a fiction work and there is a scene about a young, well-educated, but stormy woman, willing to stretch the boundaries of what's allowed. I'm thinking about making her chew gum in public. ...
user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

How accurate is the quip: "Mongols, having already conquered half of Europe, decided the other half wasn't worth it"?

Erik Flint, writing in the voice of a heroine who is a professional historian, quipped: Mongols, having already conquered half of Europe, decided the other half wasn't worth it (emphasis added) ...
DVK's user avatar
  • 17.7k
2 votes
1 answer
369 views

Turko-Mongol horse tactics and Western European response

Did not seem that Western European armies stood up to Turco-Mongol military tactics such as the horse archer. Did these European armies ever learn to counter those tactics? The Slavs (Polish) had a ...
MartinIII's user avatar

1 2 3
4
5
12