AskHistorians Archive Observer

Is the Malayan Emergency the only guerrilla war that was victorious for a foreign power or the powers in place? What made the British victorious here and why didn't the u.s do the same in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan?

1 Answers 2016-12-24

Would an albino black person have been seen as black or white to society?

For example back in early 1800s America, would an albino black man be given white rights his black family wouldn't have?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Why did the US and the USSR stockpile thousands of nuclear heads during the cold war when a few dozen would have sufficed to destroy the enemy?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

If Constantine's vision and subsequent branding of his army with Christian symbolism prior to the Battle of the Milvian Bridge is true, why is the arch meant to commemorate that victory completely devoid of Christian Symbolism, and in fact displays pagan features?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

What was the first recorded example of close air support being called in by the unit it was in support of? Was it successful?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Has alcohol ever been illegal before the prohibition era in America or Europe ?

Yesterday me and my brother were having a conversation about marijuana being illegal I found it really surprising that marijuana is still illegal throughout most of the world despite the scientific evidence suggesting that is safer than alcohol later he went on saying that it was the same thing with alcohol. I told him that my general knowledge from studying world history, and US history that alcohol was only illegal during the Prohibition era which was from the 1920s to the 1930s, if I am correct, however before that I found it really strange that alcohol was illegal before the Prohibition era based on the fact that whiskey in America was a very important part of the independence movement. I thought that the only logical reasoning for alcohol being illegal is that it was reserved only for the elite anyways I've been having a hard time finding evidence for his claim.

2 Answers 2016-12-23

How did blue cheese nearly cause a mutiny on the Greek battleship Averof in 1911?

Wikipedia says

The stay in Britain was troubled, however, including running aground at Spithead on 19 June, forcing her to be drydocked for repairs, brawls with locals and a near-mutiny resulting from the unfamiliarity of the Greek sailors with blue cheese

And a bit of googling gives other mentions, but no explanation. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_cruiser_Georgios_Averof

1 Answers 2016-12-23

this thing has been sitting on the roof of a garage near my grandfather's dental lab since as long as I can remember. is it a real plane (or at least modeled on one)? if "yes" which one?

http://i.imgur.com/1taR48l.jpg

1 Answers 2016-12-23

In episode 2 of Animaniacs, the character Yakko sings the song "Yakko's World" in which he names all the countries on Earth. Both Israel and Palestine are named. At the time, was there any sort of controversy about the inclusion of Palestine?

[Here's a link to the Animaniacs wiki page on the song](http://animaniacs.wikia.com/wiki/Yakko's_World_(song))

Here's a link to a video of the song

3 Answers 2016-12-23

What kinds of swords were used during the late medieval period and how were they used?

I know that for the most part, swords weren't necessarily the "first weapon of choice" for most soldiers (excluding the Romans) and were often more used as back up side arms in case something goes horribly wrong. I know that the Messer was used in Germany, but from what I hear, they were primarily used in civilian settings (as they were very sharp and thin, useful against no armor, useless against armor) but what about arming swords or bastard sword?

2 Answers 2016-12-23

After concluding that an invasion of Great Britain was not feasible, why did the Nazis continue with air raids, decimating their air force even after invading USSR? Can all be related to their insane irrational leader?

How many topnotch pilots/equipment were wasted over England for no better result than incurring Churchill's wrath and incessant retaliation for the next 5 years

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Why does the Bible mention Unicorns at numerous points?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

I found a possible Nazi item in Wisconsin near the Mississippi.

I tried posting an image but I'm new to Reddit and it doesn't seem to be working for me. It's about the size and shape of a key but it's made of a lighter metal, maybe coppper. It also has no teeth like a key would. Instead of a regular key base it has what appears to be a Nazi symbol. I found it in my yard this summer. I live in Wisconsin so I'm not sure if authentic but white supremacy isn't a popular concept around here. It's more of a community concept here.

1 Answers 2016-12-23

How did Prussia become a military superpower?

I get the impression that Brandenburg-Prussia (aka various assorted Hohenzellorn lands) was a bit of a backwater up until the reign of Frederick William I, at which point it began to grow as a military power, eventually reaching the point where it could handily defeat Austria and France.

What I'm not clear on is how. How did this small-ish (although not by German standards, perhaps) union of two duchies become the most powerful force in Europe in only ~150 years?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Walk the plank: What happened to the maritime merchants captured by pirates during the Golden Age of Piracy?

I checked the askhistorians FAQ so hopefully I haven't missed anything.

this thread by /u/eternalkerri and /u/davidAOP gestures towards an answer to my question but it only does so as tangents when answering other questions.

question inspired by an anecdote about Blackbeard letting the captain of a captured ship go during the "stuff you missed in history class" podcast on the pirate.

1 Answers 2016-12-23

in the 200s BC jerusalem was under the control of Ptolemaic Egypt. how did Jewish leaders at the time square bowing the knee to the Egypt in the present when having (supposedly) escaped Egypt was such a major big part of their history?

2 Answers 2016-12-23

Were the Praetorian Guard a military unit or a paramilitary unit?

What were their origins? What did they do?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

I learned in history that after Johnson Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln, he yelled something in Latin before jumping off of the balcony. What did he yell?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Was Hitler an ineffective leader?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2016-12-23

How far back in history would a current high school graduate have to go to be considered a leading expert in the various scientific fields, based on today's typical high school curriculum?

3 Answers 2016-12-23

In the world of the Witcher, it is common for people to go by their first name then where they come from(Geralt of Rivia,Yennefer of Vengerberg) Was there ever a period of history where this was actually a thing?

Title pretty much

Thanks in advanced!

inb4: Geralt is not actually from Rivia

1 Answers 2016-12-23

Both the Irish Famine and Bengal Famine happened under British Rule, were there any similar policies enacted by the British in both places that contributed to or helped caused these famines?

1 Answers 2016-12-23

How well would the average 21st century person fare in academia in the 19th century? Would the average intelligence of a college graduate in an associated field be that of a 19th century Masters or PhD?

2 Answers 2016-12-23

Why are most holidays celebrated on the Eve rather than the Day in Sweden?

Most holidays have, for most people, their "main event" (for lack of a better term) on the Eve before, rather than the Day in Sweden. This includes for example Christmas Eve (the 24th), Midsummer's Eve, Easter etc.

Why, and when did this start? Is it the same reason for all holidays or is it just coincidence?

2 Answers 2016-12-23

What do we know about Carthaginian culture?

1 Answers 2016-12-23