I don't understand how European tribes during Caesar's time could be so large yet not leave written records or any substantial structures

Maybe there's information out there that I don't know about. But, I'm reading Goldsworthy's biography on Caesar and I just can't fathom how multiple tribal groups could number in the hundreds of thousands and yet... not build any lasting structures, not have a written language, and could pick up and move their entire tribe for long periods.

The mobility of the tribes has me imagining American Indians, yet... Caesar stayed in "noblemen's homes" so they must have built something decent enough to qualify as a house right? How could you do that without written language? And if we don't have any of these tribal homes today they must not have been very robust?

Even if the huge migrating groups are federations of smaller tribes, 10 or 20 thousand people in a group is a huge number. That's a decent sized town in 2017 America which requires a lot of infrastructure and coordination to get by.

So what kind of homes or tents or hovels or what did these tribal people live in? Obviously they farmed because they supply grain to the Romans, and they must have had specialists like blacksmiths because they had weapons, correct? Maybe carpenters, tailors too?

I guess to me, specialized/settled/robust class structure doesn't jive with large/mobile/no witten language.

Any experts out there? Thanks

1 Answers 2017-06-23

During the First World War, after trench warfare was firmly established did both sides ever launch simultaneous offensives and meet in no man's land?

A description of said event, what kind of fighting, and what role artillery played would be much appreciated.

1 Answers 2017-06-23

When did giving three names to people become a thing?

Was it to distinguish ourselves? Give everyone a sense of individuality? If so, that may have worked for a time, but now three spaces aren't even enough to give unique names.

1 Answers 2017-06-23

How did pirates get their ship when they decided to start being a pirate?

In the ealry 1700s you hear of pirates like Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Henry Jennings etc. Im just curious as to how they generally got started? Steal a ship? Steal money and buy one? Just always been curious.

2 Answers 2017-06-23

were there other styles of plate armor besides Milanese and Gothic style in the late medieval period?

I've noticed that during the late medieval period, the 2 most distinct styles Milanese and Gothic style armor. But what about plate armor that was symmetrical and not fluted? was there specific name for it? I mean I've heard the term white armor being tossed around here and there and I think it refers to armor that is polished as apposed to black armor, which i think refers to unpolished armor (that might also be painted over)

1 Answers 2017-06-23

Is it true that the Japanese did not initially expect the 1937 Chinese Incident to turn into a full blown war, or had they been planning on declaring full scale war on China anyways?

Basically, had the Japanese been planning on the war leading up to the Chinese Incident all along, or did they actually blunder into it without realizing what the conflict would entail? What was Japan's plan for China post-conquest? Did they have a detailed layout of how they would occupy it after the war?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

WW2: What do these patches mean?

[deleted]

3 Answers 2017-06-22

How was the Soviet government structured?

Often when we are hear about the government of the USSR people like Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev, etc. are portrayed as an absolute dictator of sorts.

However, when I read about the USSR whether it be in fictional stories or history on the nation you get references to things like the politburo who sometimes sound like they are the real decision makers in the USSR.

So how was the government of the USSR structured? Did the politburo have different political powers than the General Secretary? Who was the official head of state (if there was any)?

2 Answers 2017-06-22

Historians, why do you study history?

Sorry if this might be against the rules, but I'm in a crossroads in life right now where I need to pick what subjects to do in uni. I've read the threads on employability, what you learn, etc and I know the risks, but I still have a deep interest in studying history and I think I'll continue doing so.

What I really want to ask is why some of you do history as a subject. I've always had an intense passion in the subject but I've never really been able to put to words why I find history so interesting and want to study It further in university. Could any historians talk about why they chose the subject and what they think the importance is?

4 Answers 2017-06-22

Why did Bismarck take Alsace-Lorraine?

After reading up on German History, I know that Bismarck engineered the Franco-Prussian war to consolidate the alliance between Prussia and the southern German states in order to ultimately reform Germany. However, Historians such as Christopher Clark in The Iron Kingdom states that "taking Alsace Lorraine was probably the biggest mistake in Bismarck's career" due to the repercussions it had and how it led to Germany's eventual isolation. If Bismarck, being the genius he was, knew that he could never reconcile with France if Alsace-Lorraine was taken, why did he do it?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

What are the best books about the history of technology?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2017-06-22

I've only known about dinosaurs in a post-Jurassic Park world. Before the film came out, were dinosaurs popular in society? Would the average person know what a Velociraptor or T-Rex were? If so, when did the fascination with dinosaurs start?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

The Battle of Glorieta Pass: Was is the Gettysburg of the West or something else?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Did the Romans or Greeks have suvonienrs for those who visited the large cities?

I was looking at other posts and realized today's society has so many suvonienrs from every city so I am curious is this a new phenomenon or did empires such as the Romans have shops or sculptures for tourist and travelers to take home that showed off the architecture or culture of these cities? Did they sell minitatur models of important landmarks?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Was Bruce Lee the first Chinese-American to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

My friend keeps insisting this is true. I've tried looking it up but can't find a source anywhere, but he still says he heard it once from a reliable source. I'm very skeptial and almost certain it wasn't Bruce Lee. If not Bruce Lee then who was the first, and if he was is there a source that confirms this?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

How important was the Battle of Narvik?

My stepfather is of the opinion that the reason Britain won the war with Germany is solely down to the superior range finder on the HMS Warspite and its affect in the Battle of Narvik. (He also coincidentally owns this rangefinder)

He says the Battle of Britain was irrelevant in terms of stopping a German invasion, and that the destruction of 10 German destroyers, which was all down to this magical rangefinder, is the reason Germany couldnt invade Britan and win the war.

I find it hard to believe, in a war over so many years with numerous countries involved, that this is the one reason Germany lost, so i thought id ask you to see he is full of shit. He also says that the only reason Britain won in the Falklands is because the USA lost in Vietnam but thats another question.

1 Answers 2017-06-22

It seems like up until the middle of the 20th century most cities in the U.S. were laid out in a grid pattern, then that idea was abandoned. Why?

I live in Denver and the parts of it laid out up to what I guess is the 1950s are mostly a coherent and easily navigable grid pattern, with some exceptions. But everything after that time is just a meandering non-sensical jumble of roads. But its not just Denver its every city I've ever lived in. What happened?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

I often hear lay people saying Greeks and Romans did not really believe in Greek and Roman gods. It is obviously not true, but when did this attitude start appearing? Is it modern? Could it trace all the way from the Renaissance?

The claims vary — either that their religion was purely ritualistic, but they didn't take it literally, or it was not mystical, or some such nonsense. The case seems unique to Greece and Rome, and no one ever claims that say, Egyptians or Babylonians were the same way.

What I'm wondering is if it's, at least on some level, the legacy of the Renaissance — could it be said that the antiquity got somewhat 'secularized' by Italian humanists to present the ancient authors in a way that would better fit contemporary times?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Any history books recommendations for learning about WWII?

I'm looking for a book or a list of books to learn about World War II

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Was it arbitrary that Europe was the first continent to develop into a modern civilization

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Even though the Japanese won the Russo-Japanese war, they didn't really gain anything. Why?

Also why was Roosevelt so "sympathetic" to Russia during negotiations?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

What are some good primary sources on Roman military armor, weaponry, and equipment?

Mostly interested in the armor, but the others too.

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Why are the casualty numbers the same for both sides on D-Day? Shouldn't there be significantly more Allied casualties?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

How much did the German populace know about the Holocaust during WWII?

I've always heard that the German government tried to keep it secret for the most part, but did the Germans suspect that something was going on?

1 Answers 2017-06-22

Did Lawrence of Arabia support the Sykes-Picot Agreement?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2017-06-22

⯇ 3325 / 7255 ⯈

Back to start