I had a big discussion with 4 guys about the historical purpose of universities. Why they were created and what the primary goal was.

I said that they where created for people to get an education to find work. To be able to be a needed citizen in a big complicated society. But they were all certain that universities were only created for young rich people because these aristocrats wanted to learn for the learning itself as they already had all the money they needed. They actually got really irritated with me and called me ignorant. So, what is the real answer?

I've always wondered this. I thought maybe an expert could shed some light on the subject.

Sort of a poorly phrased question but I'm wondering if there's any record of how actors rose in social status between these two periods. Was it simply due to Patronage or was there a culture shift in the attitude of the English people.

Hey guys, history novice here trying to help my brother with his history essay on the subject. Not the best at searching for historical references. He said he needs 6 primary sources and 4 secondary (from 2 books and 2 journal articles). Checked my local library. Couldn't find much. I live in the tri-state area. Was wondering if anyone knew of the best libraries/book stores to hunt these sources down or could just point me in a better direction. Super willing to travel. Thank you!

I would like to know how did people of those time, and what time it was exactly, justify their opinion of them as a supreme race?

Did it originate from colonial era?

I've read many of the standard college textbooks that give the broad view of eastern and western civilizations. I've read about Rome to the point of exhaustion, and I'm not terribly interested in war or politics. I studied art history in college, and I love the sort of history that gets into the small details - how pots were glazed, how horses were tamed, and how agriculture and trade evolved over time. Archaeology, I guess.

I absolutely loved Morris Bishop's 'The Middle Ages'. I don't need visuals, but I prefer authors who are willing to engage in a bit of conjecture and imaginative reconstruction. I would also really love to read about some of the less 'popular' subjects:

• Jōmon period Japan
• Bronze age Britain
• Pre-Colonial South America
• Pre-Colonial North America
• Bronze Age China
• Pre-Roman Mesopotamia
• African Kingdoms
• ...anything else you suggest

Do you guys have any suggested reading? And is this an appropriate question for this subreddit?

For example, was it common or acceptable to send a mercenary unit to certain complete annihilation? Did mercenary captains have any recourse for situations like this?

France was very busy dealing with the violent turmoil on the inside, so why didn't other countries seize the opportunity and take over France?

So around the 20's and 30's these two political parties started gaining more and more traction in Europe. Was it because of the Great Depression era economy, and people looking for change? The Russian revolutions had left the country devastated and their provisional government wasn't effective at giving relief to the famine stricken country. Did the socialists promise help to the Russian people, or did they just come out on top with the most power at the time Germany was crippled due to the end of WWI and the treaty of Versailles. They had massive amounts of inflation caused by paying off the treaty. Was this enough to lead fascists to power, or were there other factors I'm missing

With the biggest resistance movements being put down at the turn of the century, America didn't seem to be having problems in holding the Philippines. In granting the Philippines it's independence, of course there were concessions made by the Philippine government. The maintenance of bases, trade agreements, etc. but wouldn't America have been able to reap all of these benefits and more had it chosen to not grant the Philippines its independence? Why would they choose to do this?