I know access to nutrients and resources leads to taller heights, but I was wondering how taller the aristocrats in Europe typically were.

How did the old Roman religion die out? Was there a major catalyst that increased the spread of Christianity? I am very curious as to what religious life for the average Roman was as Christianity was on the rise. Were people forced to abandon their old beliefs in order to accept the new ones of their dictator? I understand that Constantine I legalized Christianity- but why? How did he become involved in the religion and was it the legalization that caused the rest of the population shift? What happened to the statues and temples to the Roman Gods?

Thanks!

I read a piece in which the author critiques major Western Powers as unable and therefore unwilling to compete with others. Major Western powers being the US, UK, and Europe. And others being China, Japan most notably before World War II, and Africa.

His point is that these other nations are willing to produce important goods and services for far cheaper than Western powers can produce them. As a result, Western powers block these other nations out and limit their access to the most important markets to avoid losing their shirts in the competition that would ensue and would seal the Doom of these Western powers.

The author hints that Japan was blocked out of international markets in this fashion which contributed to Japan's entrance into World War II.

Does this critique of fit with the historical record?

Where did these Jewish populations settle? Are their descendants still alive today?

On December 31st 1665, Pepys writes in his diary of what a fortunate year he has had, increasing his wealth from 1300 pounds to 4400.

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What social bracket would this have placed him in? Was he considered to be at the high end of middle class, or would this level of wealth be comparable to the top 1% of the top 1%, nobility etc? Was this typical for someone who held government office, and how rich would a lord at this time be?

I can find information on what happened to Germany as a whole, what happened to members of the party itself and so on, but I can’t find any information on what happened to “day to day” Nazis e.g. someone’s neighbour.

What happened with them?

Similarly how did anti semitism die down after this? How long did it take to officially be condemned? What happened to general Nazi-ism? Did it just ... go away?

Not sure if this question is specific enough to qualify, but here goes nothing:

So, Spain's first American colonies right after Columbus's "discovery" were in the Caribbean, right in the Taino homeland. Before they acquired the rest of what is now Central and South America, they spent 2-3 decades interacting with the Taino. But, when the Aztecs and Incas were conquered, many priests soon learned and published books in their languages. I know those two peoples had larger and more populous empires, but the Spanish still spent a while with the Tainos, which would make sense to learn a bit of the language.

As far as I know, there are no books dealing with the Taino from that period. I know some words and basic grammar were recorded, but not enough that an entire textbook or chronicle was published.

Its a widely known (if apocryphal) story that King Alfred allowed the cakes to burn due to his other pressing issues, and was chastised by the swineherd's wife.

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This story seems to perpetuate a fairly modern conceit about a nagging wife. In fact it seems like something out of a 1970's sitcom. In the 870's would this have been normal? Would men have expected women to be at home and baking bread while men were expected to worry about more pressing issues? There have been recent news items about female viking warriors and such like and long before this Boudicca showed that women could fight as hard as men.

Could an Anglo-Saxon woman at the time of King Alfred have expected to do anything more than bake bread and nag a homeless king?

So i just watched documentary by history channel in youtubr about Japanese feudal society, some questions kept me from sleeping well:

-how did the samurai engage in warfare? Is it like Roman warfare where recruits were deployed front line with velites skirmishing? (In this case, poorly equipped ashigarus in front, and well equipped troops behind)

-10% of the population were samurai at sengoku jidai (?) What's a life of a samurai like?

-what are the requirements for becoming a samurai, or even the daimyo's bodyguard?

-marriages: what is the difference if i were: (A) a peasant woman (B) a noble's daughter (C) a merchant's daughter (D) the emperor's daughter Can i refuse marriages? What my life would be?

-do emperors or shoguns in Japan have multiple wives like they do in China?

-was there any incidents of elopement done (because assuming the daughter didnt want the marriage) recorded? If so what happened next?

Thanks

From what I understand HP Lovecraft's grandfather was very wealthy and even a prominent Member of Parliament. He also created lots of scientific works along with literary works. He was clearly intellectual and that should have earned him good money.

Yet despite all this he died of malnutrition because he couldn't afford the basic necessities of life.

Can someone explain why was he so poor even with such high volume of works, his intellect and family wealth?

Also, how meritous was he as a scientist? Was the quality of his science poor that made him earn less?

After doing thorough research on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, I came across vague information regarding the Anabapist leader Jan Van Leyden and the Muenster Rebellion. I have found very little information on him outside of brief paragraphs here and there. As far as I know, the only substantial material on this subject is written in German. Does anyone know of any English sources pertaining to the rebellion or Jan Van Leyden?