I'm watching this show on Netflix called The Men Who Shaped America and right now we're going through the period where Rockefeller was brought to court for his oil monopoly. This made me wonder, how does the wage gap today compare to the gap between the richest and the average of that time?

I realize we don't have the same issues as that time (work conditions are safer, we have social programs, etc.) but I see so many similarities between then and now. Are we headed for a similar dismantling of those who are most wealthy, or will this continue?

Was the USSR taken completely by surprise, or did Stalin's intelligence services try to warn him that something was up?

Considering that all jurors must be the rank of the accused or above, what is the highest rank for which it is feasible to be court-martial?

a good reference of what I'm talking about is the old ballad "the burning of auchendown"

From what i have read the democracy of rome, athens , venice and iceland . All emerged indepandtly , due poltical pressure and enviorment. Not greece

Forgive the phrasing, tried to be headline-brief.

Listening to the amazing Hardcore History podcast, and this question struck me. Shouldn't he have risen to power in his birth country rather than in a foreign power?

If not, when did banking systems first become widespread in Europe, and how?

Like what was the normal size of the armies fighting, expected causality rate and the battle tactics between the two sides.

I was reading the history of Israel and the author of the book heavily cites the torah/bible prior to the end of WWII. So it's been bothering me.

I was watching Glory this afternoon and my interest was piqued so I began reading more about Colonel Robert Shaw. Wikipedia had listed as him joining in May of 1961 as a second lieutenant. His officer rank seemed to rise rapidly becoming a major in March of 1863 and colonel in April of 1863.

Was this sort of rank increase typical during the Civil War? Maybe the ranks were structured much differently than currently?

Thanks!

From the first powerlines ran to today. I thought of this because Im on a 800 mile road trip and staring out the window counting lightpoles.

I've heard it prospered.

Is it related to VW and automobiles? Germany seems to be known for its automobile production. Why is that? What made them so good at cars and tanks?

Clovis was the first pagan king to convert to Christianity in the medieval period. What did kings like Clovis stand to gain from this arraignment? Was it just to gain favor among his Christian subjects? Or was there more to it?

Also, later in medieval period it seems that there are two ruling classes. The nobility and the clergy. Nobility ruled in secular matters of state and clergy ruled in religious matters. What did each side have to gain from the others existing? What was to stop a king from appointing himself as religious authority (like Henry viii). And, what was to stop the church from raising an army and ruling.

What did Constantine have to gain by converting to Christianity? I know the story that he had the cross painted on his soldiers shields and he became Christian to thank god for helping him win a battle. But, this story sounds apocryphal. He may of had the symbol painted on his soldiers shields, but it I think it was probably because his soldiers were christian. And, he made Christianity legal to thank the soldiers who fought for him. Not because he had divine help.