6
votes
3answers
269 views
Can One Use Attrition Tactics When There are No Other Clear Means to Win a War.?
In 1864, General Ulysees S. Grant began the "final campaign" against Richmond using a war of attrition. That's because of the Union's 2-to-1 numerical advantage against a qualitatively superior ...
24
votes
6answers
2k views
What were the reasons for the Renaissance / scientific revolution in Europe?
One of the common reasons given for the Renaissance and the subsequent scientific revolution is the rediscovery of classical works by scholars in Europe and the social change that the study of those ...
10
votes
4answers
669 views
Is history always written by the victors?
The famous "history is written by victors" saying argues that the victors overwhelmingly influence historical accounts.
Be it in the past or present, are there any examples of history written by the ...
24
votes
5answers
592 views
What are the factors that caused the new world civilizations to be less technologically advanced than the old world?
Assuming they started at the same point (maybe the split of the continents or the migration of the first "Native Americans" to the American continent), why did the Old World end up developing faster? ...
12
votes
4answers
4k views
Why did the southern states secede from the U.S.?
Lincoln's election precipitated the secession, but didn't they have enough congressional power to continue things much as they were? It seems in the preceding two decades the slave states had managed ...
6
votes
3answers
543 views
Was the Zimmerman Telegram a ruse on the US or a way of Germany to incite Mexico to declare war on the US?
Prior to America's entry into WWI the Zimmerman Telegram was one incident that helped push America to declare war against Germany and join the Allies, while Mexico never fought against the US was this ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
Were the “hussars” that Jan Sobieski used at the battle of Vienna actually elite troops?
Apparently, the decisive blow at the 1683 Battle of Vienna was struck by Jan Sobieski, with only 3,000 "hussars" (cavalry). This seems a bit hard to believe, given that the Turkish army had about ...
34
votes
8answers
3k views
Why didn't Imperial Japan attack the Soviet Union during World War 2?
Japan and the Soviet Union shared a common border in Manchuria and the German invasion of the Soviet Union weakened the Soviets greatly. In view of the advantages to Japan in seeing the Soviet Union ...
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 ...
30
votes
5answers
2k views
Why was Africa colonized last of the continents in the Age of Discovery?
One thing that I always wondered is during the time where European powers were dividing up the world amongst themselves (1500-1900 roughly), why was it that Africa seemed to lag behind in ...
17
votes
3answers
966 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?
12
votes
2answers
743 views
To what extent did Native American cultures develop metalworking for tools and weapons?
When Europeans started showing up in the New World, the native cultures were technologically far behind. Many still used stone tools: North American tribes used flint, while some Mesoamerican cultures ...
6
votes
2answers
130 views
Was the American Civil War the first to include multiple multi-day battles?
Looking at wikipedia reveals that there were plenty of multi-day battles in the American Civil War.
I looked at its article on the Crimean War, which as far as I know
was the previous significant ...
5
votes
2answers
112 views
Who was the oldest recorded participant in a battle whom we know of?
This is a record of a eighy-year-old's participation in a battle -- the Battle of Vienna in 1683 -- from Andrew Weatcroft's The Enemy At the Gate: Habsburgs, Ottomans and the Battle for Europe; he ...
5
votes
1answer
245 views
What was the status of specialized workers during Greek times?
In Ancient Greece, what kind of social status would specialized workers have? Did they have any extra privileges when compared to the average person, and did they have less rights than rulers and ...
-2
votes
2answers
213 views
Is the Bible considered a reliable historical resource? [closed]
I realize there is probably a large spectrum of opinions on this matter. Nevertheless, what is the general consensus among academics on the historical reliability of the Bible? Is it a sound ...
34
votes
7answers
894 views
Why China was able to unify and not Europe
If you look at a map of China through the ages, you will usually find (from about the Han up) a huge mass representing China. On the other hand, you look at a map of Europe, and you'll usually see a ...
19
votes
4answers
492 views
When did the practice of formally “declaring war” cease and why?
Here's a detailed description of ambassador Neville Henderson being received by the foreign ministry in Berlin in 1939. Perhaps the most famous example.
He came in looking very serious, shook ...
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. ...
13
votes
0answers
72 views
Song school vs. Han school of Confucian thought in the Qing dynasty
The Song school eventually prevailed due to favor from the Qing emperor and also because some Han texts were determined to be not genuine by scholars of the time.
My question is, were the scholars ...
10
votes
3answers
403 views
Gold Confiscation Act of 1933
On March 9, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) called Congress in for an emergency session, which would result in the speedy passing of the Gold Confiscation Act. According to FDR's Executive Order ...
9
votes
2answers
277 views
Wiliam Wallace vs. Robert Bruce: Why Did One Win and One Lose?
At the battle of Falkirk in 1298, William Wallace (aka "Brave Heart") abandoned the guerrilla tactics that served him so well at Stirling Bridge, and adopted a strong, but "conventional" defensive ...
7
votes
2answers
150 views
At what point do armies tend to break?
I remember hearing something about where it was discerned that after a certain percent of losses armies tend to break (ie retreat). Does research on this exist? If so, at what point do armies tend ...
5
votes
2answers
368 views
About Naval Formations?
What are the differences between the "line ahead" and "line abreast" formations in naval warfare? Which is more likely to lead to the (advantageous) of "crossing the opponents' T" (or being crossed)?
1
vote
2answers
198 views
What is the basis of Russian criticism of Antony Beevor's work? [closed]
Some Russian sources make claims to the effect of "Beevor is revisionist and anti-Soviet propagandist".
What is the basis for this criticism?
For the antecedents of the question, see here.
21
votes
1answer
580 views
What knowledge may have been lost at the Library of Alexandria?
Of course we'll never know for sure, but do historians have some reasonable ideas about what knowledge may have been lost at the Library of Serapeum of Alexandria, when it was destroyed by the Decree ...
15
votes
3answers
242 views
What were the reasons for making Prohibition a constitutional amendment?
What were the reasons that the Prohibition in the United States was passed as a constitutional amendment, rather than a normal federal law, or a set of state laws?
14
votes
3answers
824 views
What were Hitler's religious beliefs?
Hitler is often cited as an example of an evil atheist (along with Stalin and Mao). But there are several quotes from him that seem to indicate he believed in the Christian God - and even used this to ...
11
votes
3answers
226 views
Material Basis of the Golden Age of Bohemia
On a recent visit to Prague I was much impressed by the city's beauty and the number and splendor of its historic sites, such as Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge (a bit further afield Karlštejn ...
8
votes
4answers
700 views
How did a besieged city/castle defend itself vs. catapulting diseased dead bodies into it?
I was a bit shocked to read that diseased dead bodies/animals where catapulted into besieged castles/towns. Biological warfare in the middle ages. But this "method" of warfare had probably alot ...
7
votes
3answers
198 views
Chinese Hundred Schools of Thought and Ancient Greek Philosophy
As a beginning student of Chinese I am also learning a bit more about Chinese history. As such I am more-and-more impressed by the quality of thought that has been left behind by Chinese philosophers ...
7
votes
3answers
226 views
Why did non-monarchic rule meet with so little success in ancient China?
In the ancient world, the states around the Mediterranean were ruled by various forms of monarchy, aristocracy and democracy, each of which had varying levels of success. Meanwhile, in China, monarchy ...
6
votes
4answers
182 views
Does (or did) any monarchy have a limited length of tenure?
Wikipedia's page about monarchies states that they might have "predetermined limits on the length of their tenure". However reading the page there is no mention about any current monarchy who does ...
6
votes
4answers
159 views
Resources on the History of African Civilization
I was wondering if anyone might be aware of any good resources on the history and development of African civilizations? I will of course be seeking council from the Most Wise and Great God Google, ...
3
votes
2answers
187 views
Based on historical experience what would happen if/when the USA/EU fell?
In this video the guy talking mentions that when empires fall. Governance tends to become more local and smallscale(warlords, feudal lords etc) because threats tend to become smallscale and local. And ...
3
votes
7answers
665 views
What is a difference between the revolution in Egypt that sprung recently and the Russian Revolution of 1917
What is a difference between the revolution in Egypt that sprung recently and the Russian Revolution of 1917
i need to find a difference between the revolution that happened recently in Egypt, ...
51
votes
15answers
4k views
Why did Hitler attack the Soviet Union when he was still busy fighting the United Kingdom?
This has always bothered me. Everyone knows that having to fight on two opposite fronts at once is bad... and it's also a well known fact that every European country which tried to invade Russia has ...
30
votes
7answers
742 views
History of scientific regression
Throughout history, humans have made many subtle and many substantial scientific advancements. Humans have explored, examined, learned, applied and at times seemingly "forgotten" and/or were unable ...
18
votes
3answers
590 views
What was the religion of the Arabic people before conversion to Islam?
What was the dominant religion of the Arabic people when Prophet Muhammed started the Islamic religion?
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 ...
26
votes
4answers
779 views
Why are many African nations poor?
Many African countries are currently in the bottom parts of socioeconomic rankings like GDP per capita, life expectancy, literacy, HDI, etc. Some of them possess a decent amount of natural resources ...
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 ...
20
votes
5answers
5k views
Why is Christopher Columbus credited for “discovering” America?
Even if we ignore the millions of native Americans who lived in the continent before Columbus "discovered" it, even if we ignore other civilizations (eg: Polynesians, Phoenicians, Chinese, Arabs, ...
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 ...
7
votes
6answers
806 views
What are the counterarguments to calling German nazism a right-wing movement?
I notice that the media routinely refer to Hitler's politics as "extreme right-wing". "extreme right-wing" and "neo-nazi" have become practically a synonym.
Is this accurate?
The obvious "but" is ...
24
votes
4answers
602 views
Are there confirmed cases where a country changed its language without being conquered?
I thought about this question and wondered: Are there any known cases where a country switched to a different language other than because of being conquered? If some country ever did this I would be ...
23
votes
3answers
870 views
Has Britain's 1940 invasion of Iceland been downplayed by historians?
On the face of it Operation Fork (Britain's invasion of Iceland in 1940) wasn't so terribly different from Germany's territorial landgrabs in 1939 and 1940.
Britain and her allies will have ...
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 ...
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, ...
14
votes
3answers
444 views
How many Samurai killed themselves?
I'm curious if the Samurai killed themselves often in shame. Losing face and dishonor seems to be the major cause (from what I've read) but how often would they do it? I apologize if I'm not being ...
