What sorts of mathematics were the Aztecs aware of when Cortes arrived? Similarly the Maya when Pedro de Alvarado arrived?
1 Answers 2016-04-15
Portugal used to be part of spain until 1139 when declare independency, why they dont talk spanish? They talked spanish and then change to portuguese?
3 Answers 2016-04-15
4 Answers 2016-04-15
Suppose I am a civilian who reads the newspaper every day and listens to the radio. I assume that the Pearl Harbor attack is announced as a heroic raid to open a great war, but what about after that? It seems that by late 1942, the major events would be defeats, were these mentioned at all?
I can imagine that public attention was more oriented toward the Sino-Japanese War, but at what point did it become evident to the public that defeat was likely? How was strategic bombing reported in the media? At some point, the increasing tempo of bombing raids, decreasing rations, and ever more desperate recruiting would be noticeable, how did the government try to present these harsh realities?
2 Answers 2016-04-15
I've seen this in films and in some books I've read, that houses were placed on the actual bridges in cities like London and Paris. Why do we not still have people living on London Bridge, for example?
2 Answers 2016-04-15
The AskHistorians Podcast is a project that highlights the users and answers that have helped make /r/AskHistorians one of the largest history discussion forum on the internet. You can subscribe to us via iTunes, Stitcher, or RSS, and now on YouTube. You can also catch the latest episodes on SoundCloud. If there is another index you'd like the cast listed on, let me know!
This Episode:
Chris Stewart of The History of China podcast (aka /u/cthulhushrugged) discusses the Three Kingdoms period of China. Specifically, the conversation focuses on Wei, also known as Cao Wei, the polity would eventually bring about an end to the Three Kingdoms, though that unification would not last. We discuss the rise of Cao Cao and the decline of the Han, as well as the famous northern expeditions of Zhuge Liang. Also covered is the ascent of the Sima family, who would eventually supplant the Cao lineage and conquer the rival states of Shu and Wu. (78min)
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Coming up next episode: /u/iphikrates talks about the Battle of Nemea, the largest battle between hoplites.
Coming up after that: /u/colevintage discusses cleanliness and hygiene in the 18th & 19th centuries.
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10 Answers 2016-04-15
I'm an Air Force veteran and every year there is an air show/open house hosted by some base somewhere. It's a huge pain in the ass for everyone on the base because it gets open to the public and you're almost definitely "volunteering" to either augment base security, direct traffic, set up, clean up, etc.
There are a few reasons it's done, but one of them is to give people some sort of idea where their tax money is going. The sexy part of it anyway. We don't really show off our office supplies and grounds maintenance contracts to the public.
Were there any equivalents to this in any Ancient Cultures, specifically Rome? Obviously there's no ancient version of the Thunderbirds, but were there military demonstrations or major events geared toward public interaction? It seems like something like that would be used to reinforce public pride in the power of the Empire, Republic, whatever.
1 Answers 2016-04-15
I understand that some sects/religions such as Alawites are considered to be Muslim by some Muslims and not by others. It seems like this might pose a strong practical challenge: if they are, they should presumably be encouraged to go on hajj but if they are not, they should presumably be barred from Mecca.
Has Mecca ever been closed to any sect/religion that claimed to be Muslim based on a ruling that they were not really Muslim?
1 Answers 2016-04-15
In a footnote in Robert K. Massie's Peter the Great bio, he mentions that Peter's beds were considerably shorter than his 6'7" frame and that this was because people of the time slept sitting up against a mass of pillows. This question was asked somewhat inconclusively a year ago, but doesn't mention the Massie reference. Does anyone have more information on this practice?
2 Answers 2016-04-15
2 Answers 2016-04-15
Did most nations understand the outcome would likely influence the general ideological trajectory for the future of the world? Are there many examples of tiny (not directly involved) nations contributing heavily to either the Axis or Allied war efforts?
1 Answers 2016-04-15
I'm writing a short story for school set in the medieval ages (in England), and I was just wondering what bars were called, as my character is an alcoholic.
1 Answers 2016-04-15
The popular perspective of European colonialism all but extinguishes the role of Native Americans in shaping the history of the New World. Despite official claims to lands and peoples won in a completed conquest, as well as history books that present a tidy picture of colonial controlled territory, the struggle for the Americas extended to every corner of the New World and unfolded over the course of centuries. Here we hope to explore the post contact Americas by examining acts of resistance, both large and small, that depict a complex, evolving landscape for all inhabitants of this New World. We'll investigate how open warfare and nonviolent opposition percolated throughout North and South America in the centuries following contact. We'll examine how Native American nations used colonists for their own purposes, to settle scores with traditional enemies, or negotiate their position in an emerging global economy. We'll examine how formal diplomacy, newly formed confederacies, and armed conflicts rolled back the frontier, shook the foundations of empires, and influenced the transformation of colonies into new nations. From the prolonged conquest of Mexico to the end of the Yaqui Wars in 1929, from everyday acts of nonviolent resistance in Catholic missions to the Battle of Little Bighorn we invite you to ask us anything.
Our revolting contributors:
/u/400-Rabbits primarily focuses on the pre-Hispanic period of Central Mexico, but his interests extend into the early Colonial period with regards to Aztec/Nahua political structures and culture.
/u/AlotofReading specifically focuses on O’odham and Hopi experiences with colonialism and settlement, but is also interested in the history of the Apache.
/u/anthropology_nerd studies Native North American health and demography after contact. Specific foci of interest include the U.S. Southeast from 1510-1717, the Indian slave trade, and life in the Spanish missions of North America. They will stop by in the evening.
/u/CommodoreCoCo studies the prehistoric cultures of the Andean highlands, primarily the Tiwanaku state. For this AMA, he will focus on processes of identity formation and rhetoric in the colonized Andes, colonial Bolivia, and post-independence indigenous issues until 1996. He will be available to respond beginning in the early afternoon.
/u/drylaw studies the transmission of Aztec traditions in the works of colonial indigenous and mestizo chroniclers of the Valley of Mexico (16th-17th c.), as well as these writers' influence on later creole scholars. A focus lies on Spanish and Native conceptions of time and history.
/u/itsalrightwithme brings his knowledge on early modern Spain and Portugal as the two Iberian nations embark on their exploration and colonization of the Americas and beyond
/u/legendarytubahero studies borderland areas in the Southern Cone during the colonial period. Ask away about rebellions, revolts, and resistance in Paraguay, the Chaco, the Banda Oriental, the Pampas, and Patagonia. They will stop by in the evening.
/u/Mictlantecuhtli will focus on the Mixton War of 1540 to 1542, and the conquest of the Itza Maya in 1697.
/u/pseudogentry studies the discovery and conquest of the Triple Alliance, focusing primarily on the ideologies and practicalities concerning indigenous warfare before and during the conquest.
/u/Qhapaqocha currently studies the Late Formative cultures of Ecuador, though he has also studied the central Pre-Contact Andes of Peru.
/u/Reedstilt will focus primarily on the situation in the Great Lakes region, including Pontiac's War, the Western Confederacy, the Northwest Indian War, and Tecumseh's Confederacy, and other parts of the Northeast to a lesser extent.
/u/retarredroof is a student of prehistory and early ethnohistory in the Northwest. While the vast majority of his research has focused on prehistory, his interests also include post-contact period conflicts and adaptations in the Northwest Coast, Plateau, and Northern Great Basin areas.
/u/RioAbajo studies how pre-colonial Native American history strongly influenced the course of European colonialism. The focus of their research is on Spanish rule of Pueblo people in New Mexico, including the continuation of pre-Hispanic religious and economic practices despite heavy persecution and tribute as well as the successful 1680 Pueblo Revolt and earlier armed conflicts.
/u/Ucumu studies the Kingdom of Tzintzuntzan (aka the "Tarascan Empire") in West Mexico. He can answer questions on the conquest and Early Colonial Period in Mesoamerica.
/u/Yawarpoma studies the early decades of the European Invasion of the Americas in the Caribbean and northern South America. He is able to answer questions about commercial activities, slavery, evangelization, and ethnohistory.
Our panelists represent a number of different time-zones, but will do their best to answer questions in a timely manner. We ask for your patience if your question hasn't been answered just yet!
Edit: To add the bio for /u/Reedstilt.
Edit 2: To add the bio for /u/Qhapaqocha.
37 Answers 2016-04-15
I'm looking for something that also details not just the American involvement but all the issues between the North and South. Thanks for any help.
1 Answers 2016-04-15
My dad said that in the past, when Marco Polo traveled to China, he saw Chinese people eating noodles and told Europeans about it, thus creating pasta, is this true?
1 Answers 2016-04-15
1 Answers 2016-04-15
Many movies, tv shows, books etc reference Nazi women as being sexually deviant, deriving pleasure from beating POW's and Jews, I'm curious if there is any real historical evidence to support this outside of a single case or two (I once read a case). Or if it's simply how people like to portray the women who married men who are depicted as monsters.
I can't think of other historical figures who often have such twisted perversion attributed to them, my thoughts are that it may partly be a stereotype invented during the war to make them less human and relatable, and thus easier to fight against.
1 Answers 2016-04-15
I vaguely remember my European History teacher in high school talking about a philosopher that talked about being obedient. He said, in order for us to understand more easily, that this philosopher said it's okay to be discontent on your authority's (or government's) policies, but if they ask you to jump, you ask how high. I'm quite sure he was referring to the idea that as long as they are your authority, you have to listen to them. Was this Kant? I tried looking his ideas up but I can't seem to get a definite, reliable answer. The thinker and his book would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
1 Answers 2016-04-15
I read up on some of the FAQ referring to the Spartans but did not see anything about a punishment such as this. I only read about this certain battle drill/punishment in Gates Of Fire by Steven Pressfield. And if this wasnt an actual punishment, what was the most severe punishment of a Spartan leaving behind a shield in training? Or worse yet in an actual battle?
1 Answers 2016-04-15
Would Obama just call my boy Kim Jong, and say, ey b0ss I'm gon' be fuckin wit you today?
Is there a set way?
Or is there suddenly an army at your door and you get to respond?
(sorry about the profanity. And I have no idea if this is the right place for this.)
1 Answers 2016-04-15
1 Answers 2016-04-15
It might have something to do with Parthia/Sassanians/Arabs, I'm sure. But is that really all? It feels like most accounts of history has the western world making a mad dash towards China, until the age of exploration at least.
1 Answers 2016-04-15