I've heard a lot of arguments for why she chose not to marry (no valid Protestant Noble, desire to avoid Continental entanglements, possible latent homo- or A- Sexual tendencies, didn't want to share power), but is there a historical reason that most scholars currently agree on?

It seems fairly important for a monarch, especially one without a sibling or close cousin, to marry to secure the succession. But in her entire reign, she never did, putting the Tudor Succession into very great doubt. Why would she take this risk?

I've been digging around online for books that will describe day-to-day life, cultural beliefs and practices, hunting, building techniques, political systems, etc...

Most of the books I have found (that are aimed at adults) are focused around historical events during or after the colonial period.

I'd love to learn about any Native cultures, but in particularly interested in northeastern (Iroquois) and other North American societies.

Thanks!

I saw on another subreddit a user had claimed that speed was used during the war, by an unnamed nation(s), to help increase soldier's alertness while in the trenches.

Immediately my BS alarms were going off, I do a decent amount of reading on the BEF and I've never seen that claim come up. Did any nations actually issue "speed" to their troops in WWI? And if they did, was it actually to increase alertness in the trenches? Or was my initial gut reaction correct?

What is the current state of historiography regarding acceptance of the supernatural?

I was studying about the history of my discipline (literary studies) for a test and got sidetracked thinking about what I knew of the way other disciplines developed and realized I don't know much History's own history. I do know a modern historian approaches history from a different perspective than a historian in Ancient Greece would have. But how did we get from one way of thinking about history to the other?

Britain is a currently a shadow of its former self, if the Empire that it once was. However, when she decolonised, did the Empire have plans in place to continue maintaining her power// following a policy of imperial ?

And if true, how different were the languages that they did speak?

Based on this claim:

• According to historian Eric Hobsbawm, "the French language has been essential to the concept of 'France'," although in 1789, 50 percent of the French people did not speak it at all, and only 12 to 13 percent spoke it fairly well; even in oïl languages zones, it was not usually used except in cities, and even there not always in the outlying districts.

with the wiki citation

According to historian Eric Hobsbawm, "the French language has been essential to the concept of 'France'," although in 1789, 50 percent of the French people did not speak it at all, and only 12 to 13 percent spoke it fairly well; even in oïl languages zones, it was not usually used except in cities, and even there not always in the outlying districts.

I'm interested in seeing a full list of the Roman Senators during the Republic's time period because I would like to create a video showing the change in power over time in the Roman Senate. I would try to find some information about the person and with what political ideals they believed in, and then create a color-coded map of the changing ideals. I think it would be interesting to see the slow change occur (do to the Senators serving for life) and could perhaps be informative about Roman politics. Is there any lists or starting off points that could help me with this, and is it feasible to do?

I'm not sure where I heard this claim first, but it immediately interested me.

I learned recently about a modern day equivalent of one of the largest libraries in Asia in Sri Lanka being burned down by a mob during a civil war and that got me thinking were there any more great libraries like this.

I've asked the mods and they said it was ok, so I'd like to both ask about some books and ask for some reading recommendations (especially since the Goodreads and Wiki are slow to get updated). I'm open for any type of book or academic article; in fact, I'd prefer academic works. I've also got a few books I'd like your opinions on, if possible.

Does anyone have any opinions of Keay's works? Specifically China: A History and India: A History? Are they good overviews? Is there anything else you'd recommend over them? In particular, I'm mostly interested in pre-Qing China (the further back the better, honestly) and 18th century India (so mostly history from before the major colonial powers). Does anything similar exist for Japan.

Along the same lines, is Mann's 1491 a good overview of he Americas? I realize it must leave a lot out due to the sheer scope of the Americas and the various peoples living there, but does it serve it's purpose in general? If not, what would be better? I'm open to anything about any particular groups, as I really don't know much.

Similarly, is there anything similar to Rogan's The Arabs: A History but that starts further back in time? Truthfully, I'd love some broad (or narrow) reading recommendations of the history of various parts of the world, especially pre-Age of Exploration. I tend to shy away from European history currently, simply because I know more about it and want to extend my knowledge, but feel free to recommend anything.

Another topic that interests me is the training regiments of ancient warriors/assassins/etc. Do we know how the Spartans trained, for instance? What about diets? What about a knight (which I'm sure changed based on time period and locale)? Samurais and ninjas? What about the fida'i of the Nizari Ismailis? Really, any ancient/not-so-ancient training regiments of warriors is interesting.

And, lastly, books on the history of religions. I'm more interested in things pre-Christian though I am interested in that as well (in particular the Cathars and other heretical sects in Christianity), as most of what I've found seems to be New Age mumbo-jumbo instead of research works on the beliefs of the people (again, I realize a lot of conjecture will be necessary here). I'm interested in it throughout the world as well, so pre-Islamic faith, shamanism, etc.

Really, if you recommend something, I'll probably look into it and see if it's interesting, and then try to read it. I do what the recommendations/alternatives to Keay's works, but other than that I'm open to anything to increase my knowledge of history.

Thanks in advance!

I've heard in ancient Mesopotamia Salt was the actual wage ( hence salary) given to workers since salt is needed for humans to survive. I don't get how they could know that without modern science, if people died because they didn't eat salt how could they discern they didn't die of a virus or "struck down by the gods"?

I have heard of stories of English and French Knight, even German Knights, But I havent heard of any from Italy or even Spain? Did they exist? I mean you would think Rome would have sent some troops during the crusades as well. Just curious if they were a thing in the medieval times.