Why was the bolt-action Karabiner 98k issued as the standard rifle for the German army during world war 2, instead of the semi-automatic Gewehr 41 or 43 for example? Are there any downsides to semi-automatic rifles? If so, then why did the US army issue the semi-automatic M1 Garand as the standard rifle?

I realise it has to do with industrialisation, adverts and probably the 20th century "green revolution" of agriculture. Still, it seems like the idea of eating daily meat as a norm is very strong in many Western societies, as if this had always been the case. How did this idea become so ingrained?

Looking through old photos of say WWI through Vietnam, it seems that helmets were alway a requirement yet body armor wasn’t until around the 21st century. Besides weight and materials, why were helmets seen as necessary at all?

The documentary film and the accompanying book argue that rock and roll music liberated people in the USSR by making an important contribution to a cultural/social revolution which ultimately undermined the Soviet authorities.

The film however consists largely of interviews with Beatles fans talking about how much they love the Beatles. Are there are reliable sources that support these kind of arguments?

Hello, I have recently gotten into a discussion about whether yes or not was the king Leopold II of Belgium a socialist or not. Now I am not a historian myself but from my brief research I could not find any sources claiming that he was. It actually seems that he was the opposite. Building his own private colony while his own country was growing more and more socialist becouse of his policies. Can somone educate me please on this one becouse I'm really interested.

I've asked this before but third times the charm I guess!

Found in Leonard Thompson's A History of South Africa

Between 1995 and 1997, the principal sources of direct foreign investment in South Africa were the United States and, surprisingly, Malaysia, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

What was the reasoning behind this? What made Malaysia such an interested part in the development of Mandela's new South Africa? Were there diplomatic ties between the country and the ANC before?

Also, did some schools decide against transitioning, and if so, what happened to them?

Thank you!

Im currently transcripting an epigraphy for a uni work, and the epigraphy im doing is slashed on the sides, is there any reason to why this was done

I've been reading various books about the late Medieval period, in particular The Calamitous 14th Century by Barbara Tuchmann, and one thing I've noticed is that discontent with the church establishment was widespread ever since the Papacy moved to Avignon, not to speak of earlier heresies like the Albigensians in the 13th century. From the radical Fransiscans and Fraticelli in Italy, to Wycliff and the Lollards in England (who's doctrines seem much more radical compared to the criticisms Luther expoused), or even Jan Hus around the turn of the century; the corruption in the Church does not strike me as particularly worse in 1517 then it did in 1415, or 1382.

What lead to the Reformation taking hold when it did? What caused it to become a permanent schisma within Western Christianity? Was it merely the influence of the printing press, or did theological and political considerations come into play as well?

How fast could people travel around the time of the Revolution, say from NYC to Boston? How many miles a day would they travel? Washington notes in his diary that his speed was 5 MPH. Was this a normal gait for the time? Also, what was the significance of taverns? Would they serve as hotels and restaurants only? And how often along the road were they placed? This is my first post on this sub, so if I am breaking any rules please let me know!

The lyrics allude to many negative criticisms of Dr Dre's financial and artistic position, what was the basis of this?

I have some interesting ancestors in Germany and I have access to their archives from the 17th-19th centuries. But I can’t read most of it!

I’ve tried googling resources, but haven’t got very far. Scholars of that region and times, how did you learn to read these old handwritings? Any tips?

The Danes had warriors to take most of the British Isles as well as hold their lands in Denmark/Norway. How were they able to bring to bear wave after wave over the years.

As a follow up, did they face any significant threat from the south at home?

It seems when we had the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War a couple of years ago, the focus was on reflection and remembering. Why, with the recent 75th anniversary of VE day, was it mostly a celebration and party? Especially from a UK point of view where we were on the 'winning' side for both?

In The Last Kingdom, characters are shown frequently moving between settlements both on and off road. How would an Anglo Saxon navigate between settlements without compasses or maps or even an understanding of cardinal directions? Was there an understanding of cardinal direction without the use of compasses? Would there be road signs, or was literacy too poor for them to be useful? Would they have to rely on local knowledge or fellow travellers?

What about the dangers of navigating between borders? I presume moving between Danelaw and Mercia, for example, would be dangerous, but how would a person know where Mercia ended and Danelaw began?

Title basically says it all.

It seems like Japan developed a super codified artwork style basically removed from European influence...

How did that develop? Did “westerners” find themselves in awe when they first saw it? Did the Japanese awe at European art?