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17
votes
3answers
386 views

How was the modern geographic boundary between Europe and Asia decided?

Wikipedia puts the boundary as: The modern definition of Europe delimits it from Asia at the Aegean Sea, the Dardanelles-Sea of Marmora-Bosporus, the Black Sea, along the watershed of the Greater ...
10
votes
3answers
330 views

How common are major cities not built by abundant water?

When you look at the biggest cities in the world, they all tend to be built on a major body of water, either a coast, a large lake, or a major river. This made sense in ancient times, as abundant ...
10
votes
1answer
158 views

How accurate and detailed were geographical maps created and updated by the Romans?

Knowledge is power, and having superior geographical knowledge vs. your imperialistic enemies and competitors was probably a big advantage in the middle ages. Some specific examples would be knowledge ...
10
votes
0answers
127 views

Why was Queretaro chosen as a fail-safe capital of Mexico?

According to this article on a person's experience in the country of Mexico, Querétaro was used as a temporary capital city of the Mexican Republic three times. What I am having trouble finding out ...
7
votes
4answers
833 views

Where was the pre-war (ww2) border between Poland and Germany?

I am interested in mapping the pre-war (WWII) border between Poland and Germany. Is there any data available in a public resource? Can anyone describe waypoints along the border in terms of modern ...
4
votes
1answer
143 views

Where was the Japanese surrender signed on Okinawa in June 1945?

On the 21st of June, Japanese defences on the southern fringe of Okinawa collapsed. The following day General Mitsuru Ushijima and chief of staff Isamu Chō committed suicide. Colonel Yahara was denied ...
4
votes
2answers
95 views

State boundaries in mountainious regions

I have in front of me a map of South-East Europe (as depicted below) from the inside cover of the 1967 German edition of John Stoye's The Siege of Vienna. A detail shows three then dukedoms situated ...
3
votes
1answer
131 views

Has the Delmarva Peninsula been known by any other name?

Wikipedia explains that Delmarva is a term that originated in the 20th century. What was the name of the Delmarva Peninsula during the British colonial time and on 19th-century United States?
1
vote
1answer
77 views

What area of Los Angeles does this historical map depict?

What area of Los Angeles does this historical map depict?
1
vote
1answer
111 views

Why is our planet called Earth? [closed]

How did the Earth get its name? The answer on Wikipedia is a bit short and unhelpful. I was not just referring to its English name - in the few languages I know it translates to basically the same ...
1
vote
0answers
92 views

What is so special about the location of Mexico City?

Since 1325, the area we know today as Mexico City has held some sort of cultural or historical bond. The bond is so strong that, no matter what, no matter how bad a shape the country gets, they ...