What were the logistics of building a town wall in the Middle Ages?

Would a town be expected to fund the entire cost, or would they have some help from the King or a local lord? Would towns generally borrow a sum of money to finance the construction, or would there be a kind of one-off 'wall tax'?

2 Answers 2016-04-28

Why was the American Civil War fought?

I discovered the subreddit /r/leeaboos the other day, which essentially pokes fun at Confederacy-sympathetic reddit comments. In this post, the "Leeaboo" being pointed out seems to be correct in their reasons as to why the Civil War was fought (as far as my knowledge goes).

I commented:

He says the war was not fought over slavery - isn't that true? I thought that the Union decided to fight the Confederacy because the rebels were trying to seceded from the country and pursue self-determination. The 13th Amendment was unable to be passed in the House of Reps in early 1865 (nearly the end of the war) and when it was passed later that year, it was only by a tiny margin, which was facilitated by bribes. The Emancipation Proclamation was only a war measure to help turn the tide of war when the Union was losing, although it was also probably a genuine attempt to end slavery by Lincoln.

Yes, the south seceded because of slavery (as you would read in their declarations of secession), the supposed "Leeaboo" makes this clear - but the Union didn't go to war with them over slavery, it was over the secession itself (aka, the federal government asserting its dominance over the states. In this case, their right to self-determination).

Unfortunately I haven't gotten a reply yet. So basically... is my understanding of the war correct, the same as the "Leeaboo", or am I getting it wrong here?

^EDIT: ^please ^note, ^my ^knowledge ^of ^the ^Civil ^War ^comes ^from ^Wikipedia ^and ^watching ^the ^Lincoln ^film. ^Don't ^be ^too ^harsh ^on ^me ^:P

1 Answers 2016-04-28

What caused the Salian Franks to move into Roman territory in the 3rd century and who were the notable chiefs of the Salians at this time?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Why did the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown effectively end the American War of Independence?

I was unable to find this in any previous thread but apologies if it has been dealt with. I have recently been reading up on the US war of independence, a topic I had really read much about since college and I'm really curious to know why the surrender at Yorktown was so consequential. Given that the British still had a sizable fleet and an army in the colonies, why did this defeat spell the end? One of the authors I read (Middlekauf) even cites Lord Norths response to the surrender as indicating that it was all over. What about that victory made them think this was true?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

How were Roman senators elected? What about the Consuls?

This would be about the Roman Republic.

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Which areas of Germany were hardest hit by the 30 Years' War?

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1 Answers 2016-04-28

Is the affirmation "1% owns 99% of wealth" true through the history?

I was talking with a friend about that 1% of the population owns like 99% of the wealth. My arguments were that through the history, there were always very rich people owning large wealth, and many poor people, and the current situation might not be so different than, let's say, 1000 years ago.

The question: are there any studies about the variation of this proportion between the rich and poor in time? In different societies? Different species? Is this value a constant? For example, in every society, the rapport between rich and poor is 1:99? Do such sociological constant even exists?

Innocent disclaimer: is this a history question or a sociology question?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

What is/was the historical context of BDSM?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

It is currently the Jewish festival of Passover, but is there any evidence the Jews were actually in Egypt as slaves?

Also bonus question, is there evidence of the sea splitting or evidence of a dip in population from death of the first born?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Why is it that in English, some Latin/Roman names are shortened, such as Octavian (from Octavianus), whereas other names, such as Longinus, are not?

4 Answers 2016-04-28

Did passports exist before 1914?

I saw someone claim that passports were only made mandatory for international travel due to WWI and 'National Socialists' being xenophobic. This didn't sound right to me, how accurate is this?

3 Answers 2016-04-28

How did ships during the age of sail ride out storms?

Would they keep pressing on towards their destination, or would they drop anchor and wait for calmer winds?

I'm very passionate about naval history, especially the age of sail period spanning the 15th through mid 19th century. I'm pondering a future career as an historian myself, specialising in all marine matters!

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Who actually won the Battle for Gettysburg?

I've heard many different people say that the Gettysburg Address was a conspiracy/hoax to cover up the Union's loss. I feel like this is wrong but I don't know enough about American history to be sure.

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Did the Roman Senate actually have ~300 and up to 900 senators?

The number of senators in the Roman Senate really confused me.

  1. During Caesar the senate had up to 900 senators, but the dimension of the Curia Julia doesn't seem to be able to fit that much senators.
  2. Most depictions of the Roman Senate, from paintings to TV shows, show a handful of senators - only ~100 at best.
  3. Wikipedia mentions that all senators had to speak before a vote could be held, and senators could potentially filibuster until nightfall when a vote could no longer be held - wouldn't that happen anyway if the Senate had 300 memberes? What about the pedarii?

As an additional question - what defines a senator to be a pedarii? Were they not permitted to speak, or simply had no chance?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Have Maoris done a haka in any modern combat situations?

I saw a post on a Facebook page called "New Zealand Veterans in Australia" and it showed them doing one, and some one mentioned them doing one in Germany and scaring the Germans away. Is there any truth to that? Also, does anyone know where I can learn that particular haka? I would link it, but I'm not entirely sure how...sorry

2 Answers 2016-04-28

When did letters like X and Z become "EXTREME!!" letters? Have different letters had a similar association in the past?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

My friend claims FDR's administration's policies lengthened the great depression, is there any truth to this?

Everything I've heard and read seems to claim the opposite, am I just misinformed?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Has there ever been a modern situation where gun ammo was depleted and soldiers had to charge with blades?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Were bicycles used in hunting or combat in the early years after their invention?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Post fall of USSR, what happened to Soviet spies in the US? US informants moved to the USSR?

SPOILERS

Inspired by The Americans. It seems American Martha has been found out and will be sent to Russia, although I don't believe she will live. After the fall of the USSR, what happened to US informants sent to Russia? And conversely, Soviet spies in the USA? Did they continue their lives as per normal, or return to their home countries?

3 Answers 2016-04-28

Does the Cave of the Patriarchs lend historicity to the Judaic figures Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Before Prestonpans, did Cope send "a challenge from Dunbar"?

Referring to the song "Hey Johnny Cope". If he did, do we know the text?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Question about Robert Guiscard and territories ceded him in 1080 by Pope Gregory VII

Recently came across this quote on Wikipedia: "In 1080, the marca Anconitana was given in investiture to Robert Guiscard by Pope Gregory VII, to whom the Countess Matilda ceded the marches of Camerino and Fermo."

These territories were well north of Guiscard's holdings, any idea if this is accurate at all? I've found nothing aside from that one line on the subject. Does anyone have any more information on this, perhaps even where these marches are located?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Is it true America still protects Germany?

[deleted]

1 Answers 2016-04-28

Why did the Sallet Helmet become near universally used by armored German Men at Arm and Knights?

Why did the Sallet Helmet become so common in the German states but not as common in other western European regions like France, Italy, or Britain?

1 Answers 2016-04-28

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