What ranks existed between the different crew members aboard a British warship in 1710? And did ranks differ on different rates of warships (1st rate, 2nd rate, 3rd rate etc)?

I’m asking about ranks like Captain, lieutenant and any other rank above and below (in order, and plus those are 2 of the very few ranks I know that would occupy a ship like this in 1710)

Most importantly, What were the roles of these ranks?

Which ranks were involved in [physical] combat? (i.e. ship battles and boardings). Could any other ones participate in combat in the event of an emergency?

What clothing would each rank wear on their person? I know standard uniforms were not issued yet during this part of the 18th century, but would men in certain ranks be required/expected to wear clothes that would distinguish them from other crew members? (For example, I’d expect a lieutenant or an officer to wear a more elaborate outfit than, say, an able seaman)

I am aware that Prussia was able to save its possessions, especially Silesia, through the Miracle, but that these territories ended up suffering from multiple incursions during the war. Did this level of destruction make Prussia end up going into debt?

Was it their resources? Luck? What caused the rapid ascension in terms of technology and power?

Prometheus and the eagle that ate his liver, Acteon and the wolves...

I know about the great Christmas truce in 1914, but were cease fires regularly agreed to by battlefield commanders in order to gather wounded for instance after a period of prolonged fighting? And if so, what did they do? send out a radio message in the clear or use a loud speaker?

Is there a method for actually ensuring a question you post will receive an answer? I mean that in earnest, not as a whining complaint: I have posed a total of 14 questions in two years here and never received a single answer on any of them.

I'm sure I don't have to explain how discouraging that is, especially when I get lots of upvotes...but no responses. So please, what does one need to do to actually get answers to their questions?

Hello Historians,

I am currently researching for a novel which will involve pirates (i.e. Golden Age, 17-18th Century) and a good deal of sailing. I want to be as "true" as possible when writing about my characters and the realities of their lives.

So in light of this, I'm looking for book recommendations to help me really understand the truth of pirate life, but also to get a good feel for the life at sea and learn about the technicalities of sailing. Is there a book you can recommend that combines all this?

Just as a disclaimer, I have actually sailed as part of a crew a couple of times in the English Channel, but it was in my youth and I'm assuming a lot of the terminology and technique will be different.

It seems an easier take with similar reward. Beyond that, controlling the Dardanelles would give him a strategic advantage if Russia were his final goal. Any insight?

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In the Disney movie Moana Moana has an argument with Maui about her princess status. It got me thinking. People often point out about Pocahontas that "native American princess" is a completely culturally nonsensical concept. They was no such idea in her culture. Is it the same with Polynesians. I recall reading somewhere that the daughters of Maori chiefs had a special position, titles and status but can't recall the details. And I don't know if the rest of the Polynesians were similar and Moana isn't Maori. So if I am a Polynesian girl and the daughter of a chief what exactly is my position in the tribe. How much could it be considered that of a Princess? More generally how hereditary was authority and status in Polynesian societies.

What I find interesting about the D-Day invasion is that the allies were able to cross the English channel virtually unopposed, making their amphibious landing significantly easier.

I also know that the Germans were aware of an impending invasion from Britain, though they did not know exactly where the allies would target. If the Germans were expecting an amphibious invasion, why didn't the admirals order a naval blockade in the English channel? Or even a fleet of U-boats to disrupt the allies' plans? The German navy didn't have much use anywhere but the areas around Britain and the Atlantic, so why weren't they utilized to counter the invasion?

I know they landed at southern Italy, and it was successful but it was a hard fought campaign, i heard mostly from the terrain, why didin't they choose another spot, like in Dalmatia or Genoa areas?

Some justification I've heard for NATO expansion is the argument that stabilizing Eastern European governments would prevent potential re-absorbtion by the Soviet Union. From what I understand, the newly-fallen Soviet Union was pretty destitute as-is at the time and not likely capable of seizing nation-states. Was this a possibility?

Another justification I've heard for Clinton's NATO expansion is that it was necessary to establish a Western foothold in Eastern Europe to prevent nuclear war. Did any concrete actions undertaken by NATO operations in Eastern Europe directly act as valid evidence that their activities did act to prevent the likelihood of nuclear war?

And finally, if the U.S. had not promoted NATO expansion under the Clinton administration, what would have or could have been the potential action or strategy for East-West diplomacy? I.e., what other policies were on the table? Why didn't we choose these policies?

I'm working on a perspective paper on this specific topic (arguing against 1993 NATO expansion), and am interested in any and all relevant expertise.

I'd like to know the ages of average crusaders from groups like the Knights Templar, the Teutonic Knights, and the Byzantine Army.

The flow was reversed because people in Chicago were getting sick due to the presence of human waste and other contaminants in the river. Reversing the flow reduced the spread of disease because it no longer gathered in Lake Michigan. However, that stuff didn't disappear. How did the reversal impact public health along the Mississippi River, the new destination for Chicago's waste and sewage?

We all know about waging war or marrying, but what if diplomacy abroad was horrible and there were no suitable husbands? What if she were barren? What if her lords didn't have much of a viable army to provide? Is she pretty much screwed?
 
Apologies, btw--I asked pretty much the same question about 5 days ago with no answer, so I'm re-posting as allowed in the rules.

What historical reasons can explain why this is so?

An alternate title for this question could be "why did Canada forge closer ties with the US than with the UK as compared with Australia, New Zealand or South Africa?" This could also apply to non majority white ex-colonies like Hong Kong, Singapore, those of the Indian subcontinent, Botswana, Fiji etc., which also maintained far closer socioeconomic ties to the UK than Canada did.

I took the liberty of listing areas in which Canada can be the odd one out when it comes to ex-British colonies. Please note that these are mostly generalizations, and exceptions do exist (e.g. Nigeria and Burma drive on the right, public schools in Australia and South Africa have principals instead of headmasters, many ex-colonies in Africa like Kenya aren't into rugby or cricket).

Primary/secondary education

• Canada: Based on the U.S. K-12 system (elementary/middle/high or elementary/secondary), no school uniforms for government-run schools, led by a principal, school year is September-June

• Other ex-colonies: Based on the British O/A-Level system (nursery/primary/secondary/optional sixth form or equivalent), mandatory school uniforms even for government-run schools, led by a headmaster/headmistress/head teacher, year-round schooling

Tertiary education

• Canada: Undergraduate degrees are 4 years, focus on breadth, flexibility in choosing courses, law/medical/dental/etc. programs are post-baccalaureate, American-style academic ranks ("tenured associate professor")

• Other ex-colonies: Undergraduate degrees are generally 3 years, focus on depth, residential colleges (e.g. Christ Church Oxford, Trinity College Melbourne, Chung Chi College CUHK), often undergrad programs are fixed curriculums of modules taken in a cohort, you can go into law/medical/dental/etc. school directly from high school, British-style academic ranks ("senior lecturer")

Sports

• Canada: Gridiron football, basketball, baseball

• Other ex-colonies: Rugby and/or cricket

Nomenclature

• Canada: Tylenol, zucchini, gasoline/gas (essence in Quebec), -ize endings, no -ae/-oe (except for archaeology), mono, ALS, lineup, cafeteria, sweaters, sneakers, "on vacation"

• Other ex-colonies: Paramol/Panadol, courgette, petrol, -ise, -ae/-oe, glandular fever, motor neuron disease, queue, canteen, jumpers, trainers, "on holiday"

Other

• Canada: Traffic drives on the right, strong coffee culture, address numbering is by distance, bacon comes from pork belly, 25 cent coins

• Other ex-colonies: Traffic drives on the left, strong tea culture (afternoon tea with scones, strawberry jam and clotted cream), address numbering is by building, bacon comes from pork loin, 20 cent/20p coins

Is there a good resource, preferably free, which would provide a list of ships being used by the British Royal Navy in the 1800's? I'm looking for something around 1879. Thanks in advance.