I understand that he accepted money from the United States for the Aswan Dam, but why then did he sign the Czech Arms Deal in 1955, which basically meant he was working with the Soviet Union?

What advantage was their to gain from being neutral?

I am curious about the History of the Banana. What is the story of everybody's favorite yellow fruit? How has the banana influenced history? Any info is appreciated!

(Excluding the areas below the Sahara).

And did they make slaves from war-prisoners?

I hear a lot about FDR pushing federal executive and his personal power further than what tradition accepted at the time. What are examples of him accepting limits to his power? Especially situations where he could have forced the issue if he wanted.

Additionally, if so, what strategic advantages would capturing a largely empty town provide? And where would those living in that town tend to go?

This is my Great X3 grandpa, private donovan during the civil war. That is the extent of my knowledge other than he was a union soldier. I am hoping for maybe information about the gun, uniform, anything my untrained eye would miss. I apologize if this is the wrong subreddit. Wasn't sure where to post.

What was medicine like back in the early days of anesthesia?

Was there even anything operation-like?

How did doctors handle the patients pain and how did they?

Did they get them drunk? Does this affect the blood as in make it more liquid?

Thanks for your answers and maybe further links!

I know that they deprived rights to the Kanaks of New Caledonia. But I wanted to know if they were also cruel to Asians.

in the past when most people where farmers, presumably they still had things to do outside, what waterproof clothing did they have, how did they make it water proof.

I wondered why I didn't have any responses to my question and then I realized I left out the most important word.

I have been reading Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien and I can't help but get the impression that he was not particularly fond of Americans. Just as one example, here is a quote from Letter #328, which is in regards to American hippies loving his books:

The horrors of the American scene I will pass over, though they have given me great distress and labour. (They arise in an entirely different mental climate and soil, polluted and impoverished to a degree only paralleled by the lunatic destruction of the physical lands which Americans inhabit.)....

Edit: He also seems to make fun of American kids who say 'Gee Whiz', says Americans can't handle criticism, and has a particular loathing for Disney, which he seems to equate with American popular culture.