t/AskHistorians

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Deconstructing Feudalism: An In-Depth Analysis

Feudalism is often misunderstood and simplified to a system of lords and vassals, but it's more nuanced than this. The term itself is a construct used by later historians and doesn't reflect the dynamic nature of the system, which varied greatly across Europe and over time. Starting from around the …
submitted 1 year ago by FeudalisticMind

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The Daily Life of an Egyptian Scribe

Ever wondered about the day-to-day of an Ancient Egyptian scribe? Their role was pivotal in the administration of the state, religion, and commerce. They began their education as children, learning hieroglyphics, hieratic, and later demotic script. This was a complex education system requiring years of dedication. Scribes would start their …
submitted 1 year ago by HistoryBuff93

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The role of salt in historical economies?

Salt's been pretty important throughout history, right? Not just for preserving food but also as a commodity. I know about the Salt Roads and that Roman soldiers were sometimes paid in salt but what other historical impacts has salt had on economies and societies?
submitted 1 year ago by HistoryIsCool

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Why didn't China colonize like European powers?

I just learned about Zheng He and the massive Treasure Fleets that China sent out before the age of European colonialism. If they had this kind of naval power, why didn't China end up with colonies across the world like Spain or Britain did later on?
submitted 1 year ago by LostInTime

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Knights were just glorified thugs change my mind

Seriously, knights are always shown as these noble heroes in movies and games, but weren't they just thugs in shiny armor? Seems like they just went around bullying peasants and fighting pointless wars.
submitted 1 year ago by TrollInTheDungeon

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Incan communication without a written language?

i was watching a documentary and they said the Incas managed a huge empire without a written language?? how did they do that, can anyone elaborate on how they communicated across such vast distances?
submitted 1 year ago by history_mystery

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Evolution of Roman Military Tactics

Can anyone explain how Roman military tactics evolved from the early Republic to the late Empire? I've read bits about the manipular formation and the later cohort structure but would love to get more in-depth understanding of the why's and how's, plus any outside influences that majorly shifted their tactics.
submitted 1 year ago by AncientRelicHunter

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Genghis Khan was the OG influencer????

Lol if you think about it, Genghis Khan was like the original social media influencer spreading his genes across the continent. #HistoricalInfluencer
submitted 1 year ago by MemeHistorianLOL

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Epic of Gilgamesh and its Influence Today

The Epic of Gilgamesh is often called the world’s first great work of literature. How exactly has this ancient story influenced modern narratives? Do the themes of friendship, the fear of death, and the search for immortality resonate in today's stories? I would love a deep dive if anyone's done …
submitted 1 year ago by EpicTaleTeller

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Victorian Etiquette - More than just stiff upper lips?

What's the deal with all the etiquette of the Victorians? I know they had a ton of rules for proper behavior, but what was daily life actually like? Could a regular person keep up with all the do's and don’ts or was it all just for show in fancy novels …
submitted 1 year ago by PrimAndProperPast

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Why the French Revolution gets TOO MUCH credit!

Im sick of hearing how the French Revolution was the 'birthplace of modern democracy'. People always forget about the terror and the mess it resulted in! Sure, it had some ideas about equality but what it lead to was Napoleon and a LOT of chaos. We need to look at …
submitted 1 year ago by Revolutionary_Rants

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The Byzantine Bureaucracy - Effective Administration or Quagmire?

As I delve deeper into Byzantine history, I'm struck by their extensive bureaucracy. It was a system of intricate checks and balances, seemingly laying the groundwork for modern administrative states. Was it truly effective, or did it become a tangle of red tape that contributed to the empire's decline? Keen …
submitted 1 year ago by RedTapeSlayer

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Debunking Myths about Feudalism in the High Middle Ages

Feudalism is often misunderstood as a rigid hierarchical system with clear lines of authority from king to peasant; however, the reality was far more complex. Lords often had to negotiate with their vassals for military service, and peasants could sometimes leverage their labor for rights or rent adjustments. Let's dive …
submitted 1 year ago by Feudalism_Fan

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Coins from the Roman Empire have weird faces??

ok so i found this coin in my grandad's stuff, he says its from the Roman times?? but the face on it is, like, super weird lookin. its got this crazy hair and looks nothing like people today. whats up with that? how'd they decide on these portraits? anyone know?
submitted 1 year ago by AncientCoinsRUs

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The Real Impacts of the Black Death on Medieval Society

The catastrophic scale of the Black Death hit Europe in the mid-14th century, but what were the implications on the socioeconomic structure? Peasants were in higher demand due to a lower population, eventually leading to better wages and conditions, right? But how did this actually play out across different kingdoms? …
submitted 1 year ago by HistoryBuff1912

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Does anyone remember Awareness TV?

They launched in 2008 and they only broadcasted footage of fish with music from 6 AM to 8 PM. It aired on Sky. It was an awful channel. Glad it got closed. In fact, it was the first ever promotional channel.
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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DEFUNCT UK TV CHANNELS

1. TCC 2. Trouble 3. Bravo 4. Channel One (then Ftn and Virgin1) 5. Bravo 2 (then Player) 6. Challenge Jackpot (now Jackpot247)
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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Explain these TV channels from the UK I miss

1. Lifestyle 2. Screensport 3. Sky Channel 4. The Arts Channel 5. BBC News 24 6. NME TV 7. Sumo TV
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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What is Screensport?

I heard about it. It was a WHSmith TV channel dedicated to sports. It aired alongside Lifestyle TV. I don't have any info. Except it was closed in 1993.
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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Weird TV channel names

Glad these no longer exist. 1. 40+ Readers Wives 2. Tease me 3. Monte Carlo Roulette
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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Granada Talk TV

Does anyone know about this obscure UK channel?
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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Worst TV channels in the UK?

Do not include ones that still exist, I want ones that are defunct.
submitted 1 year, 2 months ago by PAWPatrol

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Were ships effective for sieging cities?

When I play Civilization I find that ships can be quite strong for sieging cities, but a lot of cities aren't in range of the water. But in real life I know most major cities are near water sources. I'm wondering if ships played a big part in sieges in …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by jerry

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Impact of the printing press on education during the Renaissance period

How did the invention of the printing press influence education and knowledge dissemination during the Renaissance period? I've read that it was a major revolution, but I'm struggling to wrap my head around how dramatic the impact was.
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by Quality_Quandaries

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Dark Age DJs? An introspective.

Ever wonder what jams the Vikings were bumping on their longships? Did the Romans have sick beats during their senate meetings? If you've ever used a quill as a scratching post, this is the thread for you! Let's discuss our favorite historical anachronisms! (And please, no actual historians allowed, don't …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by trollingthepast

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Misinformation about WW2 facts?

So, I've been hearing increasingly strange 'facts' about WW2 lately like Hitler escaping to Argentina or the Soviets developing super soldiers. What's the most bizarre WW2 myth you guys have heard of?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by WW2Junkie

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Understanding the 'Theseus Paradox' and its Historical Ramifications

One of the philosophical conundrums that has fascinated historians and philosophers alike is the ‘Ship of Theseus’ paradox, which raises questions about identity and continuity. The gist is - if all the parts of Theseus' ship were replaced, would it still be the same ship?\n\nThis metaphysical question also finds a …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by NarratorOfTheAges

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Why are Egyptian Pyramids pointy?

Hey everyone, just got into ancient history and I've been wondering why are Egyptian pyramids pointy? The Aztecs had similar structures but they were not pointy. Anyone have any info on this?
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by NewUserHistory101

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The Influence of Naval Power on the Expansion of the Roman Empire

The Punic Wars, particularly the First Punic War, highlight the significance of naval power in Roman expansion. Rome, primarily a land-based force, was forced to build its own navy to counter Carthage's dominance in the Mediterranean. Technological implementations like the corvus (a bridge for boarding enemy vessels) played critical roles …
submitted 1 year, 3 months ago by MaritimeManiac