I read the wiki entry and saw that sulfur was applied to the face as early as the times of Cleopatra, and that it was known to happen during puberty. Did acne have the same social stigma then as it does today with all the treatment options?

I'm trying to do some research for a screenplay and can't find a definitive answer! Thanks so much.

Why did nearly all succeeding presidents follow his precedent even before there was an amendment in place stating that it was necessary?

The historical accuracy of Ridley Scott's The Kingdom of Heaven has been ripped to shreds here and elsewhere for the past decade. So please, I'm not looking for anything beyond this detail:

In the opening of the movie, Orlando Bloom's wife is being buried. Before they fill up her grave, the priest or whatever orders the grave digger to sever her head because she committed suicide.

I've done some serious Google-fu but can't find anything. I see that Augustine's City of God argued that suicide was a mortal sin. And that in 1533 (according to Wikipedia) suicides were denied a Christian burial. (And then Wikipedia says, "In 1562, all suicides were punished in this way.").

So I guess my question could be extended into: would a 12th Century suicide be punished with burial outside a Christian burial ground (based on this 1533 date)? And where does this decapitation idea come from?

[deleted]

For example, did everyone mix their wine before drinking, or was that just some poleis? How about pederasty? Wearing togas? What are some examples of cultural practices that Intro to Antiquity 101 might try to pass off as universally Greek, but really only applied to Athens?

For example would the Mexica have a different breed of dog more fit for consumption than the hunting dog of a nomadic tribe?

In short what I'm asking is what type of training and experience did Spanish soldiers have over the natives of Hispaniola, regardless of the superiority of their weapons were they "tougher". What did native warfare at the time look like on the island, where there any raids or large scale pitched battles? What weapons did they use? What were their warrior traditions? I once heard that in some tribes cannibalism was practiced as a form of gaining strength in rituals. Is there any truth to this? Moreover, I'd like to find some good sources on the early settlement of the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

Good morning,

I'm looking for (academic level) history books that focus on British imperialism in the Middle East and its consequences on present-day events or on the region's instability...

Something that outlines motives and interests, outcomes, modern issues and repercussions on international affairs.

Thanks for your help!