How much do we know about what life was like for common people during Napoleon's reign? Would the French have considered it to be an improvement over the monarchy? Do we have reliable information about how popular Napoleon really was?

Italy isn't represented very well in reports of WW2 past their failed excursions into Africa and Greece, and their changing of sides after Mussolini was deposed.

This has meant that Italy has become a target for some in popular media, similar to France after their government's surrender.

As I know that France had a good reason to formally surrender, and that they continued to support the allies throughout the war, it has lead me to wonder whether I have been misled about Italy also?

I tried researching it, but without much luck.

I'm using the term 'pre-Christian' pretty broadly and wondering if I should split this question into several separate questions such as:

1. Was there anti-Semitism among eastern European pagans who were conquered by the Teutonic Order and associated Christian crusaders?

2. in Scandinavia before it converted to Christianity? I'm thinking about the 'vikings' who worshiped Odin and the rest of the Norse pantheon. What about Norsemen who sailed and settled outside of Scandinavia like Normans, Rus, Varangians, etc?

3. among the barbarian tribes who invaded/settled in the Roman Empire during the Migration Period? Although I heard somewhere that some of those tribes were Christian so I'm not sure if this counts...

4. Did the Romans persecute Jews? For example I know that various Emperors persecuted Christians, so did they ever do the same to Jews? Also, should the suppression of the various Judean insurrections be characterized as political or ethnic violence? If the latter, did the sentiment extend beyond the regions/events of the insurrections?

5. Briton, Celtic and Germanic 'barbarians' such as those the Romans encountered/fought in the Republic and Principate periods. Had the Jewish Diaspora even reached these regions by that point?

6. anywhere/when else. These are just the main scenarios that I could think of.

As far as I know, Im only still in high school, Ive never heard of a mass of Jews fight back. Im asking because if i was (jewish), i would. Even in face of death or torture. Or would i i dont know. The human mind is a complex one.

I know civilian numbers are very hard to track, even in present times, but I'm wondering if there's any sort of estimate out there.

I have no idea how long shaking hands has been common. It seems so natural now, but here must have been a time where people just stood awkwardly a couple feet away and said hello without touching.

Hello friends at AskHistorians! After many different attempts to Google what I am looking for, I have been met with many failures. I am hoping that you will be able to assist me.

I am in search of older literature. Some background to this is back in college for a class about medieval history, we read excerpts from the book that I am currently searching for. I cannot remember the title or the author, but I can remember different parts of it.

From what I remember, the main theme of the book seemed to be the nature of man and the author's attempt to show that man's nature is shaped by his surroundings.

The story is set in what seemed to be medieval times and is about a boy. It starts where his village is attacked by some renegade brigands and he escapes. He eventually finds or is found by an old hermit living in the woods. This hermit follows the Christian bible and thus passes on these beliefs and ways of living to the boy. The boy learns and lives what are the Christian values. After some time, the old hermit dies and the boy is left alone again. Some time later, the boy finds a town and struggles with what the hermit taught him and with what he sees. He begins to be influenced by others and thus is slowly corrupted.

That is about all I can recall. The only "title" that comes to mind is something like "Simply Kissimus", but no matter what I have searched through online, I cannot seem to find this literature.

I may have unintentionally messed up some of the details as this was back in either 2008 or 2009 and for a class that was not my major. Yet, it has since that time burned in me to finish this story and know the ending.

If you could offer any help or assistance in my search for this book, I would be most sincerely thankful!

Inventions (specifically tools) are upgraded as time goes on, but many have not. Obviously we have electronic devices etc. But have (1800's) navigational tools such as the ones used by David Thompson, been upgraded? What is the easiest tool to navigate with nowadays, if you were living like David Thompson. Is there something better than a sextant, that David Thompson could use, for example.

Nowadays, we only see or hear performances of music that was deemed good enough to survive 400 years. Bach, Beethoven, Mozart. Even less popular music from these eras we see performed today is still considered to be influential and worthy of study. We even know that some music we love today was considered unpopular when written but influential today.

Is there any music that was written that was hated back then and still hated today? Music with "no value" or considered too generic? How about music that was commissioned and outright rejected by whomever commissioned it?

(I know I am using a lot of subjective terms here, and I apologize. I am not sure how to describe what I am looking for in a purely objective way.)

Edit: why was that comment removed? It sounded like a good explanation.

If the US never existed, would english be relevant?

More specifically in what ways did the political, social and economic relationship change between the two? Also in what ways did British attitudes towards Indian culture change?

Also, did suits of armor become obsolete before swords, or was it the other way around?

I know this is a vague topic, but names like "Smith" I can see, because they smithed things, supposedly. And "johnson" I can see, son of john. But my last name is Hewlett for example, and I don't see the connection of how it came to be.

Also whether or not there's one, what are the evidence used to derive these numbers?