These days, everything is faster, smarter, bigger, and better, especially when it comes to cars. Even the cheapest cars are getting loaded up with options and more horsepower, with obvious exceptions for the Lotus Elise, etc.
If we look back at cars over the years (http://i.imgur.com/LOU2IbH.png) we can see that the 80s marked a sharp decline in horsepower and weight (size) of cars. How was this marketed to the consumer? Was gas efficiency highlighted? Were older more powerful cars simply no longer produced and new names introduced? How did car manufacturer's pull this off? Did they?
Image courtesy of Streets.mn http://streets.mn/2014/11/14/chart-of-the-day-3/#lightbox/1/
1 Answers 2015-02-09
I was reading this Economist article and it notes that Eisenhower and Nimitz were of German origin.
Eisenhower's family moved to the USA from Karlsbrunn, Germany and changed their name from Eisenhauer to Eisenhower.
Wikipedia says Nimitz's family is from Bremen where his Paternal Grandfather was born and he was inspired to join the Navy by that Grandfather who was in the German Merchant Marine. The Wikipedia article does say "in Germany" "German" pre-1870 so I'm not sure how accurate it is since Germany wasn't organized yet.
Anyway my main question is the one at top.
3 Answers 2015-02-09
Please see the document in this image: http://i.imgur.com/u3r2mKJ.jpg
One of my relatives (by marriage) died in France in 1944. So far I don't know exactly where, but I have a suspicion. In the image, does any of the information indicate place or battle of death? I can post more information if this document is helpful at all.
2 Answers 2015-02-09
Hi guys, longtime reader of AskHistorians and much appreciative for the book lists on this sub as all I've gotten are enjoyable reads.
I'm looking for interesting books on the early history of the automotive industry that leans more towards the politics and rivalries between the different companies, for example what happened with the dodge brothers in regards to their work and parting with the Ford Motor Company, how other brands got pushed out of the market like Studebaker, etc. Books that go on to more modern things like post-war imports, how Datsun turned into Nissan and that type of thing are also welcome.
1 Answers 2015-02-09
Not seen a question on him in the FAQ so here's mine.
I mean, he inherited his army from his father - a professional, veteran army.
He used his father's tactics, against a levy army.
He proved at Tyre he wasn't the best man for the job in sieges.
He was petty (killed his friend when he was drunk).
Killed Parmenio and his sons over allegations.
Declared himself son of Zeus.
These are basic facts I know, could anyone with more knowledge on the subject care to help me out??
EDIT: Formatting
2 Answers 2015-02-09
In the Royal Frankish Annals, their Muslim enemies are variously referred to as "Mauri" and "Sarracenos". My Latin sucks, so forgive me if I have written the wrong declension.
The Franks referred to their ally al-Rashid as the king of Persia (regis Persarum) in year 807 of the annals. Did they have a name for their mutual Umayyid enemies? Or were they just "Saracen"/"Moor" as whims dictated?
edit: removed link because you require a U of Toronto library membership to access.
2 Answers 2015-02-09
1 Answers 2015-02-09
1 Answers 2015-02-09
At first I thought the Phoenicians had a monopoly on the hat.
Then I see the headdress on the Minoan isle of Crete at Knossos
Then I saw it again referencing El, a Ugarit/Caananite Godhead figure of ancient Babylon (found in Palestine).
And of course the Egyptian reference.
Was there a large borrowing of religious symbolism going on in the Bronze Age? Anyone know the history behind a conical headdress?
2 Answers 2015-02-09
Hi there, I'd like to ask someone to give me some reading recommendation on this topic. I'm primarily interested in the uses of the information gained through code-breaking. I've already read on the code-breaking itself.
I've found the much praised book British Intelligence in the Second World War by F.H.Hinsley, but it's practically ungettable for me sadly.
Big thanks!
2 Answers 2015-02-09
Welcome to the unintentionally delayed 12th installment of Monday Methods! Being from a culture that is well known for clinging to its archaic base-12 measurement systems, this 12th week is slightly special, because for this topic we are getting extremely self referential folks, for this week's question is as follows;
How has AskHistorians changed or influenced your approach to your field?
Do not feel the need to flatter us for fear of becoming a skeleton mounted on AskHistorians' high walls, if what you have to say can't really be construed as a compliment then it's certainly not going to be taken as less valuable; not all change is anything other than change, neither good or bad. But maybe it is a good change, who knows? You do! Which is why I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.
Here are the upcoming (and previous) questions, and next week's question is this: What field studying the human past (that you don't already belong to) interests you the most, and why?
2 Answers 2015-02-09
They knew about magnets; they must have known about the phenomenon of static electricity, even if they didn't realize what it was.
Examples are especially encouraged
1 Answers 2015-02-09
I have no knowlege on the subject whatsoever. Is there a good, long, in-depth study that /r/askhistorians would recommend?
2 Answers 2015-02-09
I've been reading about the laws of slavery in the Torah (old testament) and I'm curious if the old/new testament and other bibles are considered a good historical source. Would you look into the bible as proof of how Jewish slavery laws worked? How about things such as the Jews being enslaved in Egypt, is the story in the bible proof enough?
How about The Talmud or other later texts that are less laws n'God and more filled with stories/history from a time period?
If not, what defines something as a good source?
Thank you, I hope this is an appropriate question to ask here!
3 Answers 2015-02-09
I have read multiple times that right after WWII the west would have had a hard time to take on the Russians, but when, if at all did this change ?
2 Answers 2015-02-09
This is especially impressive given the fact that in regards to the standards of the time it was originally framed (1875 according to wikipedia), it also followed the "ideological switch" between democrats and republicans that occurred during the 20th century.
Similarly, in sports, the Dallas Cowboys are called "America's team"... How's that possible?
1 Answers 2015-02-09
With such a large empire I've always found it strange that they had such a hard time with Scotland, eventually giving up completely and building Hadrian's wall.
Was it just the case that there wasn't much useful north of the wall and that it wasn't worth the time or effort required to conquer the whole of Britain?
1 Answers 2015-02-09
I have a friend who observed "Christianity is an exclusive faith, meaning that there are true beliefs and false beliefs" with the consequence that adhering to falsehood is damning in the religion.
Has this idea of truth and falsehood been important typically in "old" and "new" religions, or is it much more nuanced?
EDIT: A more focused question might be: Did the evolution of Christianity substantially change the way society perceived the concept of truth vs. falsehood?
To bring it back to the original question a little, did Christianity in fact change the way previous religions / cultures go about things such as as importance of truth.
1 Answers 2015-02-09
And why did the monarch allow his country to be occupied so easily and without much of a fight? Only 800 died defending their homeland.
Edit: Please provide sources for your information
1 Answers 2015-02-09
How did the ships in the 14th to 18th century deal with barnacles and other sea growth? Did they dry dock and scrape the hulls or was this done while at sea somehow?
1 Answers 2015-02-09
I was forwarded an email full of "numbers to chew on" by an exec in the company I work for. This was one of the facts. I thought the general consensus was that modern society is overworked compared to previous centuries?
1 Answers 2015-02-09
While by definition the prohibition era of the 1920s was not unconstitutional, could it be argued that due to its nature it was viewed as infringing upon the public's civil liberty and as a result was all but completely disregarded by U.S citizens.
1 Answers 2015-02-09
