AskHistorians Archive Observer

I live in 1937 Germany. What type of taxes would I be expected to pay? How did this compare to other European countries at the time?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Did the total combined radiation from the nuclear weapon tests have any negative effect on the population of the south-west United States

I've been wondering if there are any known long term effect from the nuclear weapon tests done in the Nevada/New Mexico region. Did the sparse population help negate any or did the growth of cities like Las Vegas cause any concern during the trials? Did Mexico ever have a strong objections against these tests?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

To what extent was Andrew Jackson an "indian killer?"

I read somewhere that Jackson actually tried to get Indians out of Georgia and onto the Trail of Tears because the local Americans would've killed them. I also thought Oklahoma was considered to be a good piece of land at the time. Would just like some clarification.

1 Answers 2016-03-07

The incas

Hello, which controversial themes are being discussed about the incas? I find the history about the incas fascinating

5 Answers 2016-03-07

Question about upper class undergarments during the late 19th century...

My friend cited wiki on the fact that only wool was used... but I insist silk was used especially for aristocracy or upper class (U.S.)

Am I right or was it only wool?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1880s_in_Western_fashion#Underwear

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Why is it that Trojan names like Hector, Paris, Helen and Cassandra are used over ancient Greek names like Achilles, Odysseus and Agamemnon?

Edit: To clarify, I mean in the modern, western Countries. However information on places outside the west is welcome.

2 Answers 2016-03-07

How long has cutting been "a thing"?

Was it a recorded phenomena in the 1950s? 1900s? Or before?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

How come Taoism was never able to achieve the same level of popularity as Buddhism?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

What was the peak population in gulags and other prison-like systems in the USSR between 1918 and 1953?

I couldn't find a straightforward answer to this, especially one that attempted to account for most of the widely known estimates. Also, as a follow-up question, how are these estimates formed and how do they seem to vary extremely?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Did 17th and 18th century noblemen usually remove their wigs for sex? What about sleeping?

This is a little bit juvenile, but did prominent wig-wearers like Louis XIV remove their hairpieces very often? What were the mechanics of wearing elaborate wigs in bed?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Why was South America so prone to military dictatorships?

Long periods under military dictatorships is something shared by many South American countries. Brazil, Argentina, Chile, they all had them at some point. In other places of the globe, dictatorships were never so concentrated as they were in South America.

What are the key factors that led to this? Why so much instability in countries so close to each other?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

I heard once that Nazi Germany had two intelligence agencies, the Abwehr and Gestapo, and they were so dysfunctional they occasionally killed one another's agents. Is there any truth to this, and to what extent did they work together?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

What were the odds for an african slave to survive the journey to the American shores?

I was reading online about the atlantic slave trade and I was wondering: How likely was an african taken into slavery to make it to his destination? What were the average mortality rates aboard slave ships, and were they much higher for slaves than for british or french sailors? Did they decrease considerably from the 1600s to the 1800s?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Did war horses panic when they saw other horses dying around them? If so, how much of an issue was it?

2 Answers 2016-03-07

At the American civil war, republicans were for freeing the afro-american slaves while democrats opposed it. Has the party ideology changed through the years?

As a non american this seems prettt weird. Looking at todays parties, you would have thought that the Democrats would be anti slavery and the Republicans pro slavery.

Has anything changed within the years?

2 Answers 2016-03-07

When and where did the first universities open?

Specifically, I'd like to know when the first universities opened that would allow in more than just priests and other religious figures.

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Why don't many Japanese cities have historic center similar to that of European cities?

I've looked at pictures of Osaka, Tokyo, Nagasaki, Sapporo and there's no sight of any fully traditional urban spaces. Kyoto seems to have a rather small one, but that's it. I understand that Japan suffered a LOT of bombings during WW2 (especially Hiroshima and Nagasaki), but so did many European cities, but they've either rebuilt the historic places or restored them. Why didn't Japan do the same?

1 Answers 2016-03-07

Why has Western society so wholeheartedly laid claim to classical Greco-Roman tradition, in a way that the Middle East does not, despite the fact that the Middle East has a much stronger connection to classical Greco-Roman tradition?

Based off of this post by /u/tiako

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/497pep/why_didnt_greek_culture_stick_in_the_east_the_way/d0pr817

4 Answers 2016-03-07

I live in 1937 Germany. What type of taxes would I be expected to pay? How did this compare to other European countries at the time?

Did the total combined radiation from the nuclear weapon tests have any negative effect on the population of the south-west United States

To what extent was Andrew Jackson an "indian killer?"

The incas

Question about upper class undergarments during the late 19th century...

Why is it that Trojan names like Hector, Paris, Helen and Cassandra are used over ancient Greek names like Achilles, Odysseus and Agamemnon?

How long has cutting been "a thing"?

How come Taoism was never able to achieve the same level of popularity as Buddhism?

What was the peak population in gulags and other prison-like systems in the USSR between 1918 and 1953?

Did 17th and 18th century noblemen usually remove their wigs for sex? What about sleeping?

Why was South America so prone to military dictatorships?

I heard once that Nazi Germany had two intelligence agencies, the Abwehr and Gestapo, and they were so dysfunctional they occasionally killed one another's agents. Is there any truth to this, and to what extent did they work together?

What were the odds for an african slave to survive the journey to the American shores?

Did war horses panic when they saw other horses dying around them? If so, how much of an issue was it?

At the American civil war, republicans were for freeing the afro-american slaves while democrats opposed it. Has the party ideology changed through the years?

When and where did the first universities open?

Why don't many Japanese cities have historic center similar to that of European cities?

What did Andrew Jackson do that caused him to be looked down upon in today's society?

Colombian Exchange ??

Were the policies of the Reagan Administration responsible, all or in part, for the dissolution of the Soviet Union?

When did humans become humans?

Age of exploration

How were the German concentration camps in WWII named?

Were there American events could the US military could have drawn upon to prevent the damaging attack on Pearl Harbor?

Why has Western society so wholeheartedly laid claim to classical Greco-Roman tradition, in a way that the Middle East does not, despite the fact that the Middle East has a much stronger connection to classical Greco-Roman tradition?