After Malta awarded the UK 12 points in the Eurovision, someone, perhaps Graham Norton, commented that it was a good thing they didn't become the 5th nation of the UK, on equal footing with Scotland or Wales. Was that ever a real possibility? Was there support for the idea?

Africa is a lot closer than North America, so it would seem natural for Europeans to go there first.

I was re-reading the Hyperion Cantos by Dan Simmons and it got me to thinking about the history of the Catholic Church vs. Eastern religions. Being of Western descent, I am aware of a lot of the corruption, etc that went on in selecting Popes in the past. My question is - people being people, is there any similar record of corruption/chicanery with the selection of leaders like the Dalai Lama, who are supposed to be identified at a very young age as reincarnations of the same person?

Not liking to attack anyone's religion, just seems ripe for exploitation, and I wouldn't know where to begin researching the subject.

Did it have anything to do with the actual Huns of Asia and Eastern Europe?

Besides time from 1917 of the Balfour Declaration what shifted in British thought to not support the formation of Israel?

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I have been watching a lot of silent films recently, and I have noticed that there is a re-occurring theme. Birth of a Nation (1915), 20,000 leauges under the sea (1916) and The General (1922). All have heroes in the confederate army, even though these films were made in New York and California.

Was there a lot of sympathy for the south in the early 1900's? Have peoples attitude towards the civil war and it's history changed in the last 100 years?

I recently have begun thinking about doing some reading or general learning on the history of Oceania- that is to say the general histories of the Polynesians, Melanesians, and Micronesians. However, much to my disappointment, I've found it rather difficult to find any comprehensive titles (this could very well just be my error) that cover the area. That being said, are there any books, websites, or other good resources that a resident historian could direct me to? I understand the phrase "Oceanian history" is incredibly broad, but I really am looking for any and every relevant source you can throw at me.

Although I consider myself relatively well-versed in Polish history in the 1900s, my knowledge of the Commonwealth period is incredibly sparse. 'Balance of power' politics was beginning to take root during the late 18th century, and it seems logical to me that Britain or France would want to guarantee the borders of Poland-Lithuania in an attempt to stem the aggression of its expansionist neighbors. I don't know very much about the political landscape of the time but I'm still surprised that the Commonwealth was left completely friendless during the Partitions.

Even during the First Partition, could Polish-Lithuanian troops put up any semblance of a fight either way?

Creating a course on leadership for middle-schoolers and I could use suggestions. Looking for books about leadership that highlight history's greatest leaders and what they did / how they did it. I don't want to use business leadership books or highly effective habits books; also not looking for biographies. The perfect book would have Churchill, Ghandi, Roosevelt... TIA

I just discovered this animal even existed. Given its size, one would expect it to leave a major impact on European civilization in the form of statues, religion, art, or SOMETHING. But I have never heard of anything.

Did the European Bison play a role in the culture of the Gauls? Romans? Germanic tribes? Eastern European tribes? Anyone?

Was it a standard tactic that was accepted as regular practice - i.e. something like the infantry square Napoleonic infantry used to fend off cavalry? Or was it more of a rarity?

Was it only used after the adoption of the rectangular scutum or did it exist before? If so, why did it not survive the fall of the Roman Empire (or is there evidence that it did?)

So I'm reading a book right now about Armenia and the author said that the USSR "gave" Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. I also read that Donetsk was given to the Ukraine. I think South Ossetia was given to Georgia.

Each of these "gifts" created massive problems later both for Russia and for the other countries. Ethnic cleansing and war with Armenia and Russian invasions of South Ossetia and Donetsk.

So my question is, why did the USSR do this? Did they not consider ethnicity to be a problem in these areas? If they are all one country, why did these borders between the Soviet republics matter? Were they economic decisions? Political rewards for compliant local officials? Efforts to buy loyalty? Finally, what is the history of this policy? Was it Stalin? Kruschev or later Soviet heads who promoted it?

Thanks.

Not the movie of course, but the actual first year ad.

I read that many of the later pharaohs and offspring had some serous health issues. Even most of Akhunaton's health issues could have been caused by the inbreeding. Did they have any clue or was it just the will of the Gods?