How often would samurai commit seppuku

While reading James Clavell's Shõgun I wondered how quickly samurai would be willing to commit seppuku. As described in the book (which is a great read so far), the samurai would perform the ritual at the slightest opportunity.

2 Answers 2017-01-10

Imagine a Japanese peasant farm in AD1050, Imagine a Japanese peasant farm in AD1850. How could you tell which was which?

2 Answers 2017-01-10

Which known pantheon of gods is the oldest?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

How did the US react to a potential - and at times probable - communist rule of Portugal following the 1974 Carnation Revolution?

This week, one of the most important portuguese politicians of the last Century - Mário Soares - died.

Notoriously, he was of the key people in stopping a communist rule of Portugal following the 1974 revolution against the long standing right-wing dictatorship.

One of the stories about him during this period is that he - along with US Ambassador to Portugal Frank Carlucci - convinced Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State at the time) to support a democratic Portuguese Republic, instead of letting the extreme communist parties rule Portugal - which Kissinger prefered, as a "communism vaccine" for other european states - or letting a Pinochet-style coup revert the country back to a right-wing dictatorship.

So, what do we know about the US plans for post-revolution Portugal? How did the US see the rise of a potencial communist country inside NATO? Was a military intervention on Portugal or a support for a coup on the table?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

Can anyone tell me what my nonno did?

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1 Answers 2017-01-10

Could there have been any pagans among William the Conquerer's invasion force?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

Questions about Bosnia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire Pre-WW1 (As well as Slavic Dragon Mythology)

Bosnia was still primarily Islamic at the time, correct?

Did Bosnians speak Austrian, or did they create Bosnian before?

As well, were they at the same technological level as the Empire? I imagine they had to be at least a little behind to not be able to prevent it from happening, but how far behind?

What influences did the Austro-Hungarian Empire put on them after said annexation? Scientific? Cultural? Religious? Simply put, what did Austrians do that interacted with Bosnia after it was annexed?

What might have been some cultural things done specific to Bosnians?

How mentioned were mythological monsters such as the Slavic Dragons at this time?

Are there any legends about the Slavic Dragons specific to the Bosnian region? I know Slovenia has the legend of the dragon that guards their capital, but what are some like that for the Bosnians?

That should be it for the questions. Sorry if this isn't a very well known topic, i'm just researching it right now.

1 Answers 2017-01-10

How far south into Africa was Rome (or the Mediterranean world) known in the ancient world?

I know north Africa got its name during the Roman empire and the region has long historical ties in the classical period. But how far south did these ties stretch? Is there evidence that central or western Africans knew anything about the Mediterranean world and their civilizations? What about vice versa?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

Since the Fourth Crusade was an expedition against Christian lands, were the crusaders in the Fourth Crusades differently motivated and with less morals than those of First, Second, Third, and Fifth Crusade?

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1 Answers 2017-01-10

Tuesday Trivia: Booze!

It's "Drinks" week, which surprisingly so far has not only meant alcohol.

This thread, however, is all about alcohol, and its consumers, and the circumstances and effects of its consumption.

Next week: Orange Things

8 Answers 2017-01-10

Why, when referring to people from different nations in English, do some words end in "ish" while other words end in "an"? Is there an historical reason for this?

The "ish" ending includes "Scottish", "Irish", "English", "Welsh", as well as "Polish" and "Danish", "Swedish", "Spanish", etc.

And then we have the "an" ending, as in "Indian", "American", "Brazilian", "Mexican", "Venezuelan", and "Italian", "German", "Iranian", "Jordanian", and so on.

Special cases seem to include how people from the Far East are referred to ("Chinese", "Japanese", "Vietnamese"...), some from the Middle and Near East ("Iraqi" and "Israeli"), and of course "Dutch" and "French".

Is there an historical reason for these different endings?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

I noticed a trend in the UK, France and Germany. The earlier a nation adopted democracy the less sophisticated their industry will be. Is that trend present elsewhere? and what are its reasons?

2 Answers 2017-01-10

Soviet appeal in 1941

I remember and I can't remember where I read it that Soviet high command after the German invasion offered a peace treaty and to give most of Ukraine's land so that the germans would stop advancing. Anyone got any more info on this?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

It's 1935, I'm Mexican and I walk into a segregated Southern diner. Do I sit on the black side, or the white side?

For the purposes of discussion, let's say I'm a traveller in the South on business.

I am also interested in what I would've done if I were Spanish, Chinese, Arab, Italian, Greek, etc.

Thanks in advance!

4 Answers 2017-01-10

How were pikes used in the American revolution?

I've found several simple pikeheads that were described as being used in the revolution as "trench pikes". We're these actually used, and if so, how? http://www.thepirateslair.com/9-pike-head-flat-1.html The pike in question

1 Answers 2017-01-10

I'm doing my History MA with regards to the Historiography of Hitler. Could anyone throw me some awesome literature recommendations ?

Hey there.

In October I will be starting my MA. My chosen subject will be on the Historiography of Hitler, and how historians views have changed on all aspects of his life leading up to the generally now accepted Kershawian view. With this in mind I have been amassing quite the collection of Hitler biographies. So far I have Kershaw's a-bridged edition, the most recent Hitler Biography by Volter Ullrich, Alan Bullock's 'Study in Tyranny' and Jochaim Fest's 'Hitler' ( I also have my own copy of 'Mein Kampf' the two books by Speer and the 'Hitler of History' book).

However, I understand that limiting myself to biographies would be detrimental to my aims and was hoping for recommendations in regards to: Journal articles, physiological profiles, contemporary sources and anything else that might prove useful. I am also considering using David Irving's 'Hitler's War' book not as actual scholarly work, but rather as a wildcard option which is helpful in regards to the challenges faced by historians in presenting Hitler. Any recommendations/potential research paths would be helpful. Thanks guys. Awesome Sub-Reddit by the way.

2 Answers 2017-01-10

Why do so many sailors drown when warships are torpedoed in old wars like WWII and WWI?

I have been watching The Great War series on Youtube, and I am on week 13. The German torpedo boat S-90 sank the Japanese Cruiser Takachiho, drowning 271 sailors.

That seems like a ridiculous number of drownings, even if a lot of people were below deck when it sank. Did sailors in past wars not know how to swim? Did they not have floatation devices?

Are modern sailors at risk for similar casualties should a torpedo or missile strike and sink their ships?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

Teaching AP History?

Hi! Sorry if this question isn't allowed in this sub. I'm currently an ESL teacher in Seoul, and I have an interview coming up for a job teaching AP World History (along with English) at an international high school. I majored in history, but that was quite a few years ago.

What are some things I can do to wow my interviewer? What made your favorite history teachers in high school so special?

I want to say something a little better than "old stuff rulez". I'm rambling, but thanks in advance!

1 Answers 2017-01-10

my grandmother once told me there was an experiment in the 19th century where they fed a man to a whale to see if people really could survive inside them (IE like Jonah) and unsurprisingly they can't. was she talking about a real experiment that ever took place?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

I've had colleagues regard American political climate to be akin to the late Weimar Republic. How would a historian respond to such a claim?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

Should historians make an effort to be 'objective', and if they were to do so how would they best achieve it?

2 Answers 2017-01-10

Is the Peasants' Revolt an example of early class warfare as some Marxist historians believe?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

How and when did lasers start becoming so prominently featured in science fiction/pop culture?

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1 Answers 2017-01-10

Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians drank beer daily as it was more nutritious and sanitary thirst quencher than water. But, I never see any mentions of beer in ancient Greek literature. Do we have any evidence that the Greeks were familiar with beer? Why didn't Greeks also adopt beer?

2 Answers 2017-01-10

How trustworthy is oral tradition?

1 Answers 2017-01-10

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