Most Popular
1500 questions
21
votes
1 answer
What would a Norseman in the early 11th century have worn as daily clothing?
Most of the Norse clothing we know about seems to come from burials. However, in many cultures, bodies dressed for burial are wearing either "good" clothes, or special clothes for the dead. Is there any evidence to suggest that ordinary, everyday…
gothwalk
- 635
- 4
- 10
21
votes
5 answers
What was the tactical benefit of using flamethrowers as weapons?
I often hear stories of flamethrower troops storming the beaches of Iwo Jima and burning bunkers full of troops.
But isn't it more risky to carry a tank of flammable liquid with limited fuel and range when chucking a few grenades into a bunker could…
RN_
- 321
- 2
- 5
21
votes
4 answers
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 know is, what factor more than any other made it…
Bryce
- 5,941
- 37
- 49
21
votes
4 answers
Did the Romans have writing desks?
I am just rekindling my interest in Ancient Rome, and reading Rome:Its people, life and customs by Ugo Enrico Paoli. He goes into considerable detail about tables, but only dining tables. There is a whole chapter on writing implements, tablets,…
TheHonRose
- 7,929
- 1
- 39
- 61
21
votes
3 answers
When was the American War of Independence first called a 'Revolution'?
What happened in America seems to be nothing of the kind that happened in France a few years later.
American Independence was all about a group of Englishmen exercising their rights under the 1688 Bill of Rights (e.g. 'no taxation without…
WS2
- 2,242
- 1
- 22
- 22
21
votes
16 answers
Why does Europe have so few skyscrapers compared to East Asia?
The European Union has virtually no skyscrapers except the newly built 'The Shard' in London. There are also a series of newly-built state-funded skyscrapers in Moscow.
On the other hand if you look at Hong-Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, and…
Anixx
- 32,728
- 13
- 90
- 183
21
votes
1 answer
Did Archery evolve independently on separate continents?
Is there evidence that early civilizations across the world discovered archery independently from one another (like Native Americans, Europeans and Africans)? Or can the technology be traced back to a certain time period/region before humans spread…
Drai
- 383
- 1
- 6
21
votes
6 answers
By mid-1945, was Japan capable of maintaining the war even in the absence of further direct American attacks?
The USA went to a great effort to defeat Japan, but do historians regard it as necessary?
For example if the USA had just kept the naval action going to the extent of cutting of all shipping to Japan. Given the state that Japan was in by this…
Ian Ringrose
- 852
- 6
- 18
21
votes
2 answers
How do Friedman and Bernanke's explanations about the causes of the Great Depression compare?
I know that both Friedman and Bernanke wrote papers (or books, in Friedman's case) about the cause of the Great Depression. How do their points of view compare and contrast?
Aarthi
- 411
- 2
- 5
21
votes
4 answers
Before the Land Bridge Theory, how was human presence in the Americas explained?
The Land Bridge Theory argues that humans crossed over to Alaska from Siberia, via a land bridge created by glaciation. The theory developed in the 1930s and became the popularly accepted explanation for human settlement of the Americas.
What were…
BMS
- 311
- 2
- 4
21
votes
7 answers
How come all the major WW1 rifles were bolt action?
The main disadvantage of bolt action is that one has to remove the right hand from the trigger which leads to slower rate of fire.
Neither lever nor pump have this problem.
Rate of fire was viewed as an important military issue which lead to…
sds
- 26,987
- 2
- 88
- 140
21
votes
4 answers
How long would the average sword last in the middle ages?
Assuming normal wear and tear, how long before a knight had to replace his sword?
John Meyer
- 319
- 1
- 2
- 3
21
votes
4 answers
How far were women able to advance in the Gestapo?
I'm trying to write a story happening during World War 2, and I'd like to include there a female Gestapo agent/interrogator as a main character. However, I've been searching and I can't find evidence that women had such an important job at…
Rodolfo Dias
- 311
- 2
- 6
21
votes
5 answers
Is there evidence Muslim soldiers fought in the Continental Army?
It is said that Muslims fought for the American Revolution, by serving in the Continental Army. Wikipedia cites a few names:
Records from the American Revolutionary War indicate that at least a few Muslims fought on the American side. Among the…
Semaphore
- 97,526
- 21
- 393
- 402
21
votes
3 answers
Did the US and Soviet navies really come close to blows in the Indian Ocean in 1971?
In December 1971, Pakistan and India were at war over what would become Bangladesh. President Nixon ordered Task Force 74, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and supplemented by a marine contingent on the amphibious…
Bruce James
- 5,134
- 3
- 28
- 53