Professor was talking about the legal structure of Pre-Spanish America then rambled off about the other Native Americans in the North and commented that they fought against exploring Vikings, defeated their exploration parties and even drove them out of Greenland. Then he went on about how the few abandoned norsemen and their forgotten descendants that remained in Greenland, barely scrapped by and had a miserable existence there while also fighting a new different group that had come to the Americas thousands of years after the original native american settlers/inhabitants, through Alaska and expanded throughout the Artic region called Proto Eskimo/Inuit. This new group went on to expand in Greenland and exterminated the remaining norse colonies or mixed with them.

I had never heard anything about any of that. How accurate is it and what really happened with Viking/Norse explorations and settlements in North America and Greenland?

Reading the wiki page left me more confused than I was originally. Who were the main participants and what led to the start of the war? Who won and how did they achieve victory?

Were there sell-offs to Western or Eastern interests? Did they re-nationalize privatized resources or always keep them 'in house'? Was the demand for resources just not there yet to garner foreign interest?

I know that according to Norse paganism, those who died in battle would go to either Valhalla or Fólkvangr, and the one's who died of old age or disease would end up in Hel.

But what did Vikings' beliefs say about the souls of children who died before they could prove themselves in battle?

After reading Peter Wilson's Europe's Tragedy: The history of the 30 Years War I don't understand why Gustavus Adolphus is so respected as a general. He really won one victory, at Breitenfeld, lost at Alte Veste and got killed at Luetzen. His tactics were to repeatedly send his troops in frontal attacks on Imperials. Even among the Swedish generals, Johan Baner arguably was a better commander, who with his victories allowed the Swedes to recover after Nordlingen. Yet Gustavus is the one remembered. Is it because of the Swedish and Protestant propaganda after Breitenfeld? Or are there other reasons?

I've heard very contradictory things about medieval cleanliness, and of course thing will have varied depending on era and location, but I seem to consistently heard that, for a time at least, Europeans didn't really bathe. The explanations I've heard include bathhouses being considered sinful due to nudity or due to association with Islam, bathing being considered unhealthy by quack medieval medicine, and the Christian faith itself being considered cleansing enough.

What is the truth here? Was being a dirty slob an eccentricity of a few notable monarchs or was this really a widespread issue? And if so, why?

For some reason I can't find a clear answer. Although some sources say they're "pagan," I highly doubt the people at the time called themselves that since, to my knowledge, that was a word christians used to describe any polytheistic religion. I saw some websites saying their religion was called "hellenic" but isn't that just an adjective to describe things greek? What would a roman or greek say their religion is if I asked them?

Hey, everyone. I'm a layperson who has always enjoyed reading/learning about history. Lately, I've been interested in knowing more about the Roman empire. Which books do you recommend on the subject for someone who has passing familiarity with the subject and wants to delve deeper?

Most of the crusades were 'just wars' as ordained by the Pope. The Crusaders were doing God's work on Earth and in my mind, at least, it would make sense that they tried to represent him well. And I would also assume a greater proportion of Crusaders participated purely because they thought it was the right thing to do, like giving to the poor. I assume fewer fought because they wanted loot or the thrill or were just cruel. So I would imagine that this would lead to armies and commanders that would work harder to sin less. They would have fewer whores in the camps, they would not rape and pillage as much when they took towns, and they would keep alcohol consumption under control when compared to, say, contemporary Christian armies fighting Christians. Is there any truth to this?

I know that the greeks figured it out 2000+ years ago, but then Christianity came and most people thought that it was flat, because that's how God made it. Then in 1492 Christopher Columbus knew that earth was a globe, which is how he discovered America. So when did it become known and factual that the earth is spherical? I'd guess the 14-15th Century?

Hi. Once I read a letter from GD Maria Nikolaevna (I think it was her, but in this case it doesnt really matter which sister it was) to her mother Empress Alexandra and in it she asks how old she was when she started wearing long dresses. What does she mean? I have seen many photos of the family and all dresses look long to me. Are we talking about a few cm difference in length? Were there other differences between a young female teenager's clothing and that of an older one?

I know of course that no nation or its people can be summed up as briefly as is done in the title, but given the character limit I unfortunately had to make a slight generalisation, for which I apologise!

And yes, of course I'm not trying to say that other nations weren't just as brutal, I'm only specifying Japan because their culture seems to be so at odds with their military at the time.

To be a little more in-depth as to my enquiry:

During WW2 it's well known that the Japanese military were *ruthless*, even compared to other allied and indeed axis powers. I won't go into specifics as I'm not a historian myself and don't want to give any misinformation, but to briefly name a few examples of the brutality to which I refer, I'm specifically thinking of their brutal torture and mutilation methods and their lack of regard for even their own citizens.

This, when compared to the Japanese people and their, deserved, reputation for being overwhelmingly friendly, respectful, cool-headed and polite. A reputation I believe they held at the time of WW2 as well.

I apologise if this post is offensive, it's not my intention to be disrespectful, I am admittedly rather ignorant about this matter and I'm more than willing to be corrected. Thank you!

What made Viking’s combat style better than that of the Britons and other groups?

When people think of the purest form of evil a human can become, Hitler & his Nazi officers are some of the first that come to mind. However, it is sometimes difficult to grasp the idea that a group of people can lack such basic human empathy & compassion so consistently and for so long. Are there any records indicating, at any point, the Nazi party doubted their own cause/ methods?

Considering Spartans were born and raised as warriors there would be no shortage of man power. Warfare was in their blood, every warrior knew tactics again kind of nullifying the tactic of disrupting their communicatiom in terms of no tactics

Although my knowleadge is limited i cant think of a way of defeating the Spartans without a massive advtanage in terms of war technology (stronger armour. Weapons that can pierce any armour etc.) or by sheer numbers

Any historian have details of USAAF operation against Hamburg, April 7th 1945? I've only found one mention: that 120 German student pilots were sent up in an attempt to crash into US bombers on a 1000-bomber American raid.

I'm working through my father's army trunk and found this letter. I can include picture to prove I'm not being dramatic, making up dates. 'Hap' (short for 'Happy,' his full nickname) wrote the letter the day after Hiroshima bomb. Mailed the day before Nagasaki bomb. He was scheduled to report back to the USAAF in Atlantic City Aug 15th the day Japan surrendered. Suspect he showed up, they gave him his last paycheck and told him to just head on back to the shuffleboard, golfing, drinking, and card games.

Not sure when this letter caught up with my father. As member ASF in European theater, 1944-45, he was early transfer to Pacific and his friend seems to think he was still in Europe. I believe my father said he was on a transport in the Indian Ocean on this date, after boarding in Marseille. Instead of heading to original destination (Okinawa?) it kept sailing and deposited him somewhere near San Francisco.

S/Sgt. Stephen A. Kiss 3230065323 McPherson Ave.Metuchen N.J.

ToLt. Ken M. O’Brien 0-1558968848th Ord Depot Co.,A.P.O. – 408 c/o Postmaster,N.Y.N.Y.

Postmarked Metuchen Aug 8 5 PM 1945 N.J. across a hand-drawn “Free” in corner where stamp usually goes

Aug 7, 1945

Howdy Ken,

Yep! Back in the good old U.S.A. again. Boy this boy really is a lucky guy.

Saw your mother & Dad. They’re in the best of health.

The old town the same as ever. Been drinking, playing golf, taking in shows & baseball games, playing cards & shuffle board with the gang.

On April 7th we got hit over Hamburg. Were trying to make it to Denmark but had to bail out over the North Sea. Boy that water sure is cold.

Saw five chutes only three of us got picked up believe the other two drowned & five got killed in the crash. They picked us up near a small Island called Pellworm. When they took us there the people sorta banged us around before the German soldiers got them under control. Never a dull moment.

From there to some very nice cells in Husinn(?) & Pennaburg (probably Pinneberg?) From there to Stalag #1 at Barth, Germany, a regular prison camp. Really only had it rough for about 2 ½ weeks. Seeing what some of the boys had to go thru I sure didn’t have it to(sic) bad. (crossed-out: Well it was one way)

After we were liberated we flew to France to Camp Lucky Strike. From there by boat to N.Y. arrived in the U.S.A. 12th of June. Got home on June 15th (in both cases he crossed out July and rewrote June) Have to report to Atlantic City on Aug 15th.

Boy what a picnic I’m really having. Well Ken it was one way of getting a good furlough from the government.

How’s tricks with you old man? Are they working you pretty hard? How’s the gals over there? Meet any of the boys over there?

Well Ken that’s all the poop from the group over here.

Hey Mug(?) how about keeping me posted on the happenings over there. Will do the same.

Well Ken best of luck to you.

Your pal,

“Hap”

Carthage was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC, and it is said that the city was razed to the ground and only ruins remained. I am aware that the siege lasted from 149-146 BC, but became curious about how efficient an ancient army would be at destroying a city.

Without access to modern explosives, did they destroy large scale structures, and if so, how did they manage such a feat and how long would it take?

Hello, could anyone recommend some good readings on late antiquity / early middle ages Frankish kingdoms Austrasia, Neustria, Burgundy, Francia in general?

I've read several of Peter Brown's excellent books, and had the opportunity to listen to Paul Freedman's lectures over at Yale Courses. There's also of course Greg of Tours' history, but would love to read something that focuses in on these kingdoms and stuff like the Merovingians, Brunhilda's melodramas, etc.

Many thanks in advance, oh excellent Reddit historical hive mind!