When did nomenclature like “giving away my heart” come about? What makes the heart so special in love? Why not the lungs? And how did the heart symbol we know today come about if it doesn’t resemble the real heart?

Hi, I am doing a Martin Luther mock trial in my AP Euro class, and I am on the prosecution side. My character is Johann Tetzel and I am having a very hard time defending Tetzel and everything he did. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Were middle eastern Sheiks thought of as particularly romantic figures at the time? What prompted that, if so?

From 1607 onward there were established 13 colonies in the New Land, America. At some point this new land came to referred to as "Virginia", but exactly when was this? Was it the moment they established Jamestown? Or was there a specific time when they decided "this section of this continent is going to be called Virginia"? I know the establishment of Jamestown was done by the Virginia Company, but in regards to an actual naming of the plot of land Virginia - how and when did that come to be?

Additional follow up: were there any commentaries from members of indigenous groups who agreed or disagreed with Montaigne's essay?

I have just started my first year of sixth form and i'm studying History, Geography and English language. I love all my other lessons but I have a real passion for history and I'm wondering if anyone who has a history degree In the UK could tell me how useful it's been for them particularly regarding employment? I also have a passion for writing and would love a career in journalism or a similar field yet I'm not sure if history would be a valuable choice for such things. UK history graduates, where do you work now? Are there jobs available that aren't the traditional teacher or librarian roles the degree would usually open? many thanks :)

There’s a lot of bashing of Christopher Columbus these days. Stories paint him as a horrific barbarian, murdering indigenous people for fun, cutting off hands and noses, and the breasts off of women; raping women and murdering men to recreate the crucifixion. It seems like most of what I have seen is politicized- either very anti Columbus or has some view that Europeans were purposely ruining new - to them - lands for their own sadistic purposes. Where does the evidence lie? What’s the truth?

Why did Elizabeth the first want Mary queen of Scots executed?

Re posted as original title was worded strangely.

Does anyone know the actual way that Rasputin was supposedly killed and what proof they had that he didn't actually die from any of it?

Basically what I have heard is that this guy was poisoned, shot, stabbed, thrown into a sack, then thrown into a river, but when they found his body he showed no signs of drowning. Now of course, I think this is dumb and highly unlikely, but why does this continue to be accepted? What evidence is there? Or has this been debunked and I'm just clueless?

I'm just curious. For the latter question I mean what was the process or criteria that a man (or woman) was chosen to participate as a fighter or victim of the Roman Coliseum.

Bit specific, I know. But most painting of Anne of Cleves (divorced wife of Henry the Eighth) show her wearing black and gold/red striped sleeves on her dresses. I thought striped clothing was only worn by fools and prostitutes in the 16th century, definitely not by royals. Am I missing something here?

He joined the airforce early 60s and during training he fired a rifle that he didn’t know the name of and I would assume it would be an m1 or m14 but he claims it was bolt action. Could it be an old Springfield 1903 or an m40? Google is giving me a hard time.

My family is partially made up Gherardini (Herardino in Spanish) descendants who left Italy for Spanish possessions in the Caribbean. It's claimed by my family to be that we're related to the Norman FitzGerald's of Ireland. I've also heard that the main branches of the Gherardini still in Italy keep in contact with the Fitzgeralds/Kennedys (it's even said they visited some cousins of mine in Puerto Rico).

Is there any truth to the Gherardini relation to the Normano-Irish nobility? Or is this just a myth? Any good reading on the Gherardinis or the Fitzgeralds in Ireland?

I'd like to know not only because I find it very interesting but also that the other side of my family has some less positive links with the Kennedys.