I know they all of course had their differences and aren't something that can be lumped together. I'm just curious as most places I've read about them just say that human sacrifices were integral parts of their religions in each respective society (paraphrased of course).

So I'm curious as to how prevalent the sacrifices actually were and how important a role they played in their religious and social practices.

I've heard it more than once. That Rome has survived in more than one form. To include Russia, Constantinople, Western Democracy, but also Islam.

I see that Islam rose from Africa (? or the Arab states) and expanded east, but how did it rise from Rome?

I wonder if it arose from the outskirts of Rome and took over a southwest region and expanded east and came up north and then north then west

What, culturally, can it claim from Rome?

Was Hitler (or the fuhrer) bound by the laws of the Reich, or was he above them?

Tonsure is famous haircut for medieval monks, how far back does it go, when was the first known appearance of the Tonsure haircut and does anyone know if that very particular haircut predate Christianity ?

Hi fellow Latin Americanists! I'm starting my master's degree in the fall and I'm writing my thesis on conquistador culture in the first half of the 16th century. Any help with sources would be amazing. I'm currently reading Matthew Restall's little conquistador book and a book on conquistadors by Michael Wood. Thank you in advance!

Some Communist countries such as East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland in the past or North Korea and PR China today had "popular fronts" or "national fronts" regrouping several political parties under the aegis of the Communist one, usually to give an impression of multipartism to the external watchers. These associated parties' political positions mirrored the Communist ones.

So, why would someone want to sign up for such parties? After all, if one is to adhere to a political party member of these Fronts then it would be more advantageous to enter the dominant one, especially since the others ate totally subserviant to it.

French court is generally presented as being a bit outlandish and more excited then other countries at that time. Is any of this historically accurate? If yes, what made France the place to be trendy and not other places? If no, why do people view it that way today?

Though not a president, Douglas MacArthur played a huge role within the beginning stages of the peculiar relationship. From JFK to Obama, each president has had to wrestle with China. Which president had the most lasting impact concerning how the US and China relate to each other today?

Hi, I can't find any charters from communes in Northern France in the Middle Ages, except for one book in French which Google Translate is ineffective in translating but which I don't think has the actual text of the charter in it ... is there a repository of such things?

In my world civilizations class we were talking about Ancient Africa and after my professor discussed the climate and geography of Africa he talked about a term "Ethnocentrism."

He explained how this was when you judge another group/culture/etc through a lens of your own based on your own culture and values. He went on to explain why in America our knowledge of African History prior to college was limited to that of when Europeans arrived in Africa.

I've noticed that generally historians have paid more attention to that of Egyptian history more so than that of sub-Saharan Africa. A lot of times it seems as if they try to "dis-associate" Egypt with Africa.

My question is why do generally Historians pay more attention to Egypt? Is it because of ethnocentrism?

Thanks in advanced!

I know there is a lot of controversy surrounding the claim that colonists deliberately distributed smallpox infested blankets to Native Americans, but I haven't really seen anything that takes this simple fact into account.

Thanks.

Hello! I'm a sophomore in college and I recently declared my major in history! This summer, I want to do a lot of reading in order to give me grounding on the intellectual work of history. Particularly, I am interested in texts that will give me understandings of key ways to look at and analyze history. Basically, essential works to understanding the discipline of history and the work that it involves.

I am also interested in works that will help me understand key threads of modern history such a liberalism, socialism, colonialism, etc.

Finally, I am also very interested in works on Latin American history and in particular the colonial system in the Americas and to a lesser extent sub-Saharan Africa. Also, the historical relationship between people and nature/their land is another topic that I am fascinated with.

Sorry for the overload, but I appreciate any advice!

I know a little about Action Francaise, Vichy and the OS movement after the war, but can someone give me a run-down of the movement, continuities in characters/goals between these three periods, and high ebbs/low ebbs of fascism. Book recommendations also greatly appreciated.

As I understand, the distinction between "Folklore" (originating as an oral tradition) and "Fakelore" (the intentional creation of an oral tradition) is an issue of "authenticity" as measured in the antiquity of the particular story.

For example, in my part of the world I hear the term "fakelore" most often in regards to Pecos Bill which is sometimes claimed to be a literary invention of the early 20th century that was passed off as a story with greater antiquity (i.e. the 19th century) than it really has. How much is that true for Pecos Bill specifically, but more importantly, is that an important distinction in the study of folklore or does the distinction place too much emphasis on "authenticity" (however that is constructed).

Hello /r/AskHistorians/ ,

I figured that I would also ask this very question in this subreddit as well as in /r/suggestmeabook/ since Historians have more knowledge on novels/documents. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

-Repost from /r/suggestmeabook/

"" Hello /r/suggestmeabook ! First time poster in this subreddit, and I was wondering if you guys can suggest me a book that has been written by famous, or not so famous warrior of the past. An example would be The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi. The book is on the mentality of a warrior; actual battle advice that can later be adapted to everyday life / business. Even goes on to the spirituality side of things (which would be a huge plus!). I personally love seeing how feudal era warriors think. How they build their strategy, how they perceive things and learn. The book / warrior that wrote it may be from any culture. Ex2, samurai, vikings, knights, crusaders, native american, Caribbean, ect ect. A mix of the psychology of these brave men and actual accounts of battle is something I would like but if not then that is okay. The reason I ask is because the new generations seem to have lost all sense of honor/loyalty/integrity and character; which is something that an Old school minded person values. Any help is appreciated, and thank you in advance, happy readin' ""

Watching the news lately is incredibly depressing, as it seems like the American people are becoming more and more separate in terms of political and social values. It goes without saying that the current 2016 presidential race is embodying a lot of the sentiments that Americans are currently feeling. Has there been any other elections throughout American political history that had a similar atmosphere?