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1500 questions
23
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2 answers
Why did the Monitor and Merrimac (aka Virginia) have such radically different designs?
This is something that's always baffled me. You have one ship that appears to sit just above the water with one little canon on a turret (the Monitor) and a second that sits high and is brimming with canons on either side. Why did these two ships…
Doug T.
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Was the title "Prince of Wales" originally claimed for the English crown prince via a trick?
As the son of a proud Welsh woman, as a child I was told the origin story of the title "Prince of Wales" was that after Edward I beat Llywelyn ap Gruffudd at the Battle of Orewin Bridge, as part of the peace settlement Edward agreed that the new…
Dave
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23
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10 answers
What was the Julian Calendar aligned to?
I understand that the Julian Calendar was introduced to align the length of the calendar to the tropical year, i.e. make the average year 365.25 days long. However, what I'm still trying to figure out is that were they trying to align the start of…
Juan A. Navarro
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23
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Are there historical texts in England querying where Roman structures came from?
I watched a film recently called King Arthur, showing London post Rome (guessing set in Middle Ages with modern-ish buildings but still with some Roman buildings / walls showing.
It got me thinking: are there historical texts in England querying…
Chris
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23
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3 answers
Did Northern troops attempt to re-enslave African Americans in Southern plantations during the Civil War?
In Black Reconstruction in America, W.E.B. Du Bois argues that during the war, Northern troops - in this case under the command of Nathaniel P. Banks - sometimes tried to get enslaved people back to the plantation, and that this plan failed:
Just…
user64296
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23
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3 answers
How did the Bolsheviks fund their government?
I came across this from a telegram sent by a Mr. Lindley in Russia to Mr. Balfour in London.—
(Received November 28.)
(Telegraphic.)
Archangel, November 27, 1918.
Principal reason why Bolsheviks have lasted so long is their unlimited supply of…
CWill
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23
votes
6 answers
Who was the last European king to actively engage in combat?
Specifically, I would like to know who the most recent European monarch (or monarchs, if they lived roughly at the same time) is that actively engaged in combat whilst reigning: that is, used a sword, gun, or any other weapon himself during…
Noldorin
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23
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2 answers
What is the spiral-looking device shown in this wall painting?
A colleague found this wall painting. We are sure about the elements related to mining and the divining rods. But we've got no clue for the spiral element that seems to be operated/carried by two people.
For dating we've got a hint at least. There…
Bendaua
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23
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3 answers
During World War 1, were any policies in place to handle large scale troop mutiny?
From what I understand, the rank and file didn't really want to be there after the fighting got started (this could be incorrect). During the Christmas Truce, both sides stopped fighting and interacted.
Were there any policies in place to handle…
Michael Stachowsky
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23
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Was Switzerland pressured either by Allies or Axis to take part in World War 2 at any time?
In the second world war, Switzerland mostly maintained it's neutrality and served as protecting power and mediated communications between the Axis and Allied powers.
A Wikipedia article Switzerland during the World Wars states that
Switzerland's…
SwiftPushkar
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23
votes
2 answers
How did Roman armies survive in the desert?
I'm writing a novel set in the third century. A general is marching his army through the middle of the Syrian Desert. How did Roman armies with tens of thousands of soldiers survive in the arid wasteland. How did they get food and water?
I've tried…
Lgndry
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23
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1 answer
Did the Ottoman empire suppress the printing press?
I overheard this conversation a while back that the Ottoman Empire which flourished in all fields during the Golden Age of Islam were left behind after the introduction of the printing press in Europe as the clergy of the Empire said that it was…
user38443
23
votes
2 answers
How did the Allies achieve air superiority on Sicily?
The Allies had freed all of Africa by the start of 1943. Afterwards, they landed in Sicily with a huge air force and fleet. How did they manage to land with the opposition of the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica?
Did they fight an air battle over the…
totalMongot
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23
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Did Henry V’s archers at Agincourt fight with no pants / breeches on because of dysentery?
At the Battle of Agincourt (1415), according to the War History Online article The Time English Soldiers went to Battle without Pants, and Won
The conditions for the archers at the start of the battle were dire, but they simply dropped their pants…
Lars Bosteen
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23
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1 answer
Is the scarlet letter 'A' a real historical thing?
I've heard someone say something like:
It's not a scarlet letter, it's not a mark on your forehead you keep for life.
Obviously this was said in terms of permanency of a badge of shame, or redemption.
The Scarlet Letter was a novel by Nathaniel…
Zebrafish
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