18
votes
3answers
1k views
How unfavorable were the terms of Germany's “surrender” in WW1?
The First World War ended when an armistice was signed between the Germans and the Allies. At that point, while Germany had no realistic hopes of winning the war, they had no enemies within their ...
18
votes
3answers
1k views
Why did China shut itself out of the world in the 15th century?
After a period of maritime explorations (see Zheng He) in the early 15th century, the Ming Dynasty started shutting the Middle Kingdom out of the rest of the world. This of course continued with the ...
18
votes
3answers
256 views
First evidence for replacement of barter trade by local abstract currency?
What were the first local currency systems in history we have detailed information on? I dont think it was gold/silver or other hard to produce materials. Probably these became more important ...
18
votes
2answers
266 views
Why did the USSR give Crimea to Ukraine?
In 1954 Soviets transferred Crimea from Russian Soviet Republic to Ukrainian Soviet Republic.
Why is this strange?
The whole act, at least officially, was meant to be "a gift", a token of ...
18
votes
1answer
153 views
What courses would have been required to get a B.A. in America in the 1930s?
I know in the early 20th century the liberal arts curriculum was focused much more on the classics, but am interested in knowing specifically what courses were required to graduate during the Great ...
18
votes
1answer
217 views
When did Americans become safe from highway robbery?
The other day a friend and I were reconciling our memories of "shotgun" rules, the customs by which American teenagers determine who sits in the front passenger seat of a car. The concept derives from ...
17
votes
6answers
1k views
Why wasn't the Republic of Ireland invaded (by either side) in WW2?
Ireland was neutral in WW2, however it was never invaded (by either side). How come? Why wasn't Ireland invaded by the UK to prevent the Germans invading? Why didn't germany invade ireland? It would ...
17
votes
2answers
304 views
What led to the first fight in the American Civil War?
After Lincoln was elected president 11 states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. What circumstances surrounding this secession led to the first battle of the war, and ...
17
votes
2answers
320 views
Has any foreign embassy ever been entered without permission?
I was just looking at this article: UK 'threatens' to raid Ecuador embassy over Assange
"Today we've received a threat by the United Kingdom, a clear and
written threat that they could storm our ...
17
votes
4answers
1k views
Is the claim that Hitler came to power democratically justified?
I often encounter a claim that the Hitler came to power democratically, exploiting democratic procedures, was "elected" etc. Such claims are usually made by right Liberals who use this argument to ...
17
votes
3answers
351 views
Has there ever been a serious effort to reform the US Electoral College system?
There seems to be widespread feeling that the US Electoral College distorts the will of the people in presidential elections. Of course, that ability was part of the reason that our founding fathers ...
17
votes
3answers
956 views
Why did Saladin show kindness to Richard I?
Why did Saladin, when Richard the Lionhearted was sick with a fever, send him a gift of fruit? Or when Richard's horse was killed in battle, he sent a steed to be led to his camp?
17
votes
2answers
209 views
When was the term “Nationality” first came into use? How did ancient civilizations refer to themselves? By ethnicity?
When was the term "Nationality" first came into use? How did ancient civilizations refer to themselves? When we refer to Ancient Civilizations, did they consider themselves a nation in the modern ...
17
votes
3answers
362 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 ...
17
votes
1answer
187 views
Which war games did Napoleon practice with his generals?
I have read that Napoleon actively used to play strategy games with his generals in order to understand how they act in a range of situations. The generals also learned the same thing about each ...
17
votes
2answers
236 views
What was the structure of religious beliefs among the Arabic peoples before conversion to Islam?
Other questions on this topic has addressed the pre-Islamic religious beliefs in broad detail, including the conversion of near-Arab cultures.
What was the specific nature of the pre-Islamic ...
17
votes
1answer
266 views
What was the scale of eroticism in Byzantine theater?
When reading the texts of saint John the Chrysostome i found a very severe criticism of theater because of 'nude harlots' that could be seen there. I have also read some fragments of Procopius' Secret ...
17
votes
2answers
288 views
What were the demographics and economics of South-East Asian islands around year 1400?
Background:
Prior to the arrival of the Europeans on the scene, the island chains in South-East Asia, specifically in the area of today's Indonesia, Philippines and neighbouring states, housed a ...
16
votes
7answers
3k views
What were the post World War 2 effects on Germany?
What where the impacts of WW2 on Germany? Obviously the war meant that a lot of resources where spent and that the youth population was significantly reduced. How did this affect Germany's post war ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
What were the reasons that the British colonies in North America rebelled but not others?
I know more about the American War of Independence than about other British colonies, but I have begun to wonder why was it just America. The British had colonies in other places but there doesn't ...
16
votes
3answers
320 views
Did the Romans have winter uniforms?
Standard ancient Roman uniform consisted of a tunic, a cloak and sandal-type boots, resulting in a look like this. Now, this is all very well for Mediterranean climates but I really cannot fathom how ...
16
votes
1answer
564 views
Why are the signatures on the United States Declaration of Independence structured as they are?
When looking at the United States Declaration of Independence its easy to notice that John Hancock's signature is more prominent than the others:
From my readings I know John Hancock did sign one of ...
16
votes
6answers
1k views
How Did Moscow Become the Capital/Most Important City in Russia?
Early in the past millennium, Kiev was probably the largest, most modern city in the former Soviet Union, at least until the Mongols came. One might have expected it to be the capital of the Soviet ...
16
votes
8answers
3k views
Why is Dravidian history ignored?
Whenever I read an article on ancient Indian history, I see people only writing about the Indus valley civilization and the Aryans. But what about Dravidians? Didn't they exist even before the Aryans ...
16
votes
1answer
545 views
Why did the Soviet Union get 3 seats in the UN?
Even before the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine and Belarus (which were then officially part of the Soviet Union) had independent seats at the United Nations. Why didn't the US or the UK get the ...
16
votes
2answers
464 views
Can Bill Clinton run for president of France?
Bill Clinton says in an interview (Bill Clinton on running for political office again) :
Because I was born in Arkansas, which is part of Louisiana Purchase, any person anywhere in the world that ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
When did homosexuality become unacceptable in Europe?
In the ancient greek world male homosexuality was common and didn't attract the same scorn as it did even 100 years ago. So 2,000 years ago, it was acceptable, and 100 years ago it was unacceptable. ...
16
votes
1answer
2k views
Did World War II-era bombs actually whistle?
In WWII-era films and newsreels, aerial bombs are often shown making a whistling sound as they fall; starting high pitched, then decreasing as the bomb approaches the Earth (example here, starting at ...
16
votes
2answers
567 views
Can the Queen of England fire the prime minister of Australia?
My Australian friend says yes. I'm not so sure, considering the monarchy collects no taxes from England, much less a country in the commonwealth. What's the verdict? Can she say "you're fired" and ...
16
votes
2answers
205 views
Private firms (aka mercenaries) as a police force
Since the police invited security firms to bid for roles in the UK, I was wondering if there are historical events where mercenaries were used to police a city (or town or local) and what the effects ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
How did Nazi Germany finance itself during WW2?
How did Nazi Germany finance itself during the war? They produced a large amount of war material during 1939-1945, but how was this production financed? What were Germany's revenue streams that ...
16
votes
2answers
596 views
What is the history of the popped collar?
A popped collar on a polo has become the symbol of Frat Boys and wannabes everywhere. Especially in the "Jersey Shore" culture. I initially thought maybe it was tied to New England preppy style (the ...
16
votes
1answer
513 views
When and why did war chariots stopped being used?
Many cultures (Egypt, Celts, etc...) had war chariots either as mobile platforms or as troop transport. What other advance in warfare made them obsolete?
16
votes
2answers
446 views
How did Medieval Armies survive the use of mail armor in the deserts of the Middle East?
Something that has long puzzled me is the use of full mail hauberks and the like in the Crusades. How did Crusaders and their various enemies avoid cooking inside their armor? I know many of them did ...
16
votes
2answers
711 views
Are there any records that indicate a submarine vs submarine battle?
I am aware of only one which is the U-864 was sunk by the HMS Venturer but that was when both were being submerged -- according to wikipedia. Is that accurate? Which battles did happen between two ...
16
votes
1answer
218 views
Who, if any, in JFK's inner circle argued against the plans for the Bay of Pigs invasion?
Political discussions leading up to the Bay of Pigs invasion are a notorious example of 'groupthink' and the failure of a committee in coming to a well-informed decision. Accounts of the ...
16
votes
2answers
201 views
How does Göbekli Tepe fit into the current picture of society development?
Göbekli Tepe is a huge archaeological site in Eastern Turkey, currently under excavation (make sure you click on "Pictures"). It is one of the oldest architectural complexes in the world, possibly the ...
16
votes
1answer
210 views
Did the Romans pour wine down wells for health purposes?
I've heard some kind of story that after the Romans would conquer a new village or city, they would pour wine (or other alcohol?) down the wells to kill the bacteria and make it safe for future ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
Where did the Gaels originate?
The origin and spreading out of the Celtic peoples is a topic shrouded in mystery, at least to my mind. While the Germanic migrations occurred during the late Imperial Roman period and Early Middle ...
15
votes
4answers
786 views
Who was responsible for the partition of India?
Who was responsible for the partition of India? Did it happen due to Mohammed Ali Jinnah or Mahatma Gandhi? Or were the British of the view that the country needed to be divided?
15
votes
4answers
131 views
How would you accurately use older British currencies?
For writing a story set in Napoleonic Wars era, how should one use the currencies accurately? I read in novels they use currencies like shilling, pound, guinea, sovereign, four (or six-, etc) pence, ...
15
votes
3answers
328 views
Why was language not utilized to establish dominance throughout England 1066 AD–1360s CE?
Why didn't the Normans enforce the use of their native tongue throughout the whole of England after William the Conqueror (of Normandy) became king of England? During William's reign as king he did ...
15
votes
7answers
700 views
What cultures did, or do, perform human sacrifice on a regular basis?
Looking at the Area 51 commitment page, I realized that some of the questions that were originally suggested there never got asked here, so I thought I'd add some of them. Something else I would like ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
Why did Italy abandon its alliance with Germany in WW1 and join the Allied side?
Before WW1 Italy was part of an alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary, yet it didn't join them when the war started and it even joined the Allied side later during the war. Why did Italy do this? ...
15
votes
4answers
571 views
Why do minor political parties in the US receive so few votes?
Reading about the election statistics in the United States I was amazed about how few votes are received by the minor parties and their candidates.
For example, Gloria La Riva received only 181 votes ...
15
votes
1answer
412 views
Was there an assassination attempt against Xerxes in the battle of Thermopylae?
I watched Frank Miller's 300 last night with my girlfriend, and after the movie ended she mentioned the assassination attempt against Xerxes would have been a great plot element for the movie and that ...
15
votes
4answers
390 views
When and how did people begin to consider slavery immoral?
Consider this: In the ancient world, murder and theft were prohibited. However, slavery was ubiquitous and considered normal. AFAIK, nobody thought of it as immoral, though probably some called for ...
15
votes
5answers
405 views
What made Alexander great?
Historians have titled Alexander III of Macedon "the Great". In a very short period of time he conquered one of the largest empires in ancient history and was undefeated in battle.
What I'd like to ...
15
votes
2answers
491 views
Has mercantilism ever been successful?
Mercantilism, which includes protectionism, industrial policy, capital controls, and other distortions to trade, is generally viewed by economists today as unsound economic policy. An overwhelming ...
15
votes
1answer
138 views
What were tally sticks?
What were tally sticks, and how was it that they they worked for the economy? I understand that they were a form of currency and were of fixed value based on the notches, but how did they work as a ...
