Voltaire wrote about Adam Smith, “This Smith is an Excellent man! We have nothing to compare with him, and I am embarrassed for my dear compatriots.”

Smith had similar positive opinions of Voltaire’s work.

Burke wrote about Voltaire, he “has the merit of writing agreeably, and nobody has ever united blasphemy and obscenity so happily together.”

Burke wrote about Smith “he raises from this simple truth, one of the most beautiful fabrics of moral theory, that has perhaps ever appeared. “

Smith argued he and Burke thought identically.

What information can reconcile the fact that Voltaire and Smith had similar views in their writings and Burke and Smith were similar, but Burke strongly disagreed with Voltaire?

Also, in which countries was it possible, and in which it was impossible?

Are there any known female executioners of Middle Ages?

I've read general literature about the man himself but I don't think those are useful methods of indicating what society at large thinks. My question specifically concerns what the historians on this board feel is the view Western Society and even Eastern Society take on Khrushchev and his role in De-Stalinization after Stalin's death. It appears that Khrushchev was presented with an opportunity that few people in the whole of history experience when Stalin died.

Considering the power structure Stalin had established during his time as the General Secretary of the Central Committee I find it greatly admirable that he didn't continue with the status quo, something that is attributed to NKVD chair Lavrentiy Beria. As is history, Khrushchev began the process of reforms we know today as De-Stalinization, even blatantly criticizing Stalin in his speech at the 20th Party Congress in 1956.

Does Khrushchev get a lot of credit for this in the current times? From what I've heard in the US it seems like Khrushchev is only mentioned when the Cuban Missile Crisis comes up, and anything said about him is disparaging. Although Khrushchev was known to denounce and essentially seal the fate of different political rivals in his career, I feel like the decisions he made in De-Stalinization reflect his true personality and give an insight to his original ideas on Socialism/Communism, before he ascended to significant positions of authority. Something I admire him for.

Obviously, guitar groups have been a mainstay of popular music since, so as a prediction, Decca failed. But how accurate was it as an assessment - in the early 60s, pre-Beatles, were guitar groups fading out of popularity?

That is, a collared, short-sleeved, button-down shirt with a garish floral or island-themed pattern, that is popular in Hawaii/Pacific Islands?

Further, how did this shirt become acceptable dress/semi-formal wear in those locations?

During the run up to World War II and the Cold War, did Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union ever try to make Ireland an ally against the UK? It was neutral throughout and there was also a large anti-British sentiment in the mid 20th century, and it was also an extremely poor country throughout the Cold War, which are more likely to turn to Communism.

I'm in need of some sources on the reign of Ivan the Terrible, especially on his military conquests and foreign policy. Thanks.

So, I know theirs no definate date when the Western Empire fell, but what happened to city of Rome? Did it just revert back pre empire and back to a city state republic? I know it was frequently raided during the fall of the empire, but what happened after?

I've been reading about the bombing and I don't really understand what lead to it. I know there was a civil war going on in Spain, but why would Hitler even get involved with the conflict? How much of the bombing was coordinated between Hitler and Franco?

I've never really heard the two having any kind of relationship. Were they ever enemies or allies? Did Carthage ask Egypt to aid them in the Punic Wars? If allies, how did Egypt react to Rome defeating Carthage in the Punic Wars? Also, I'm somewhat new to reddit so let me know if this question doesn't fit the guidelines so I can fix it. Thanks!

-In the film, the Italian colonial authorities round the Bedouin population into concentration camps, use poison gas, and execute civilians. I am aware these events are broadly accurate, but does the film exaggerate any specific incidents? Or is it a largely accurate portrayal?

-After Mukhtar is captured, he is brought back to an urban center (I think it was Benghazi but the film doesn’t specify), where there are many Italian settlers. How large was the Italian population in Libya? What was their experience during this period?

-Fascist imagery is prominent on many of the uniforms of the Italian soldiers. Did Mussolini really integrate this kind of imagery into military uniforms?

Edit: Was

Most (all?) western countries use the year of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ as the 0 year for their calenders, wht are some other calenders current being used in the world and what is their 0 year based on?

I understand there are "neo-pagan" religions, but from what I've read these are modern interpretations of religions that died out. Have any other polytheistic or pagan religions survived intact?

I read yesterday that the FBI knew that MLK was in some way involved with communist groups in America, but that information is still classified. Also, I've seen letters of his where he laments the "failures of capitalism" and talks about democratic socialism as being the best form of government. So, was he a communist? Democratic Socialist? How involved was he with communist parties?