I know it sounds ridiculous but I just need someone to help me clear some things up.

When archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in Sarajevo, the Austro-Hungarian empire was ruling over Bosnia. Technically speaking, the war should've been Austro-Hungarian empire vs Bosnia? Why were Germany and France involved in the first place? I understand that Germany was allied with the Austro-Hungarian empire but it doesn't explain why they decided to invade Belgium and ultimately start WWI... I'm a bit lost.

Just wondering how the early colonial economy worked

I've read about political mutilation in the Byzantine Empire (hard to avoid it, really) but I've never heard of how the practice originated. Was there a similar practice in the Roman Empire or did it arise from some other source?

I read somewhere that arguments against intermarriage were similar to arguments against same-sex marriage today, but I was unable to find examples. I appreciate any response!

Do we have records of their travels or records of Japanese traveling to China or beyond? I know that Japanese armies went to Korea several times, but what about merchants? How far did they get (Siam, India, Persia, etc)?

hi.

I'd like to find out more about the history of war and war tactics this year, as some sort of new years resolution. I have absolutely no prior knowledge on this subject and no clue of how and where to start.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated :)

I know this has probably been asked a lot, but I remember something about chopsticks

As i have understood it, it depends on the forms of cults or the setting/purpose in which the god was worshipped, but I would still here more about it. Were there regional differences and what were they? Were there "competing" cults?

The series creator mentioned in an interview that it was a little studied time period (he said that, unlike Americans, the English were better at mythologizing upper middle class rather than working class people). The creator himself had first heard about it through his own family history.

Does anyone know of good reading material for learning about the historical context of the show, as well as the history of the Peaky Blinders themselves?

If any 20th-century-European historians on this sub have been following the show, I'd love to know your thoughts on it!

Was just asking me this question and would like to see if there was a society with similar ideology/ economic policies

We got into it the other night about this, and someone in the group said something along the lines of, "Egyptians drank beer, the Celts probably did something similar. We've been fermenting since before we fell out of the trees."

It occurs do me I really don't know much about the history of drinking, so any input would be appreciated.

In the earliest Tintin adventures (at least through the Broken Ear, IIRC), he's described as a reporter, and his assignments are usually the setup for the adventure he undergoes. Why did Herge drop this in later stories? Why was he a reporter in the first place?

He apparently lived, but what happened to him?

John Adams defended eight British soldiers involved in the Boston massacre, of which only two were ultimately convicted. In the proceedings he referred to the mob (full of the future revolutionary elements he would later rely on) as:

a motley rabble of saucy boys, negroes, and molattoes, Irish teagues and outlandish jack tarrs [i.e. sailors].

He later validated his defense of the soldiers as a blind understanding of their natural liberties:

The Part I took in Defence of Cptn. Preston and the Soldiers, procured me Anxiety, and Obloquy enough. It was, however, one of the most gallant, generous, manly and disinterested Actions of my whole Life, and one of the best Pieces of Service I ever rendered my Country.

I have two questions from this: (1) was his stated rationale as pure as he would have us believe, and (2) did it alienate his fellow revolutionaries?

I apologize in advance if this has been covered before but I did not find any other posts pertaining to this topic. More importantly, I have been reading a lot of contradicting information comparing the English longbow and the Mongol composite recurve bow online, so I want to get this straight.

Other than the English longbow being for infantry and the Mongol recurve bow being for cavalry, how would the bows pull strength in pounds, or range of the bows compare? Total range? Accurate range?

The main thing I knew about this Mexican General is the leader Mexican army at the Alamo, and maybe something about him leading Mexico as a dictator. However, it seems like there is much more to him than that. In doing some very minimal research, I heard the phrase "age of Santa Anna" used for his impact on Mexican history, and came across the fact that he was elected president of Mexico for 11 (non-consecutive) terms. How exactly did he do this? Was it through mostly corrupt means, or did he have the Mexican people's support in his elections?

I ask because I am curious to know the mood of the population when the boycott ended. Or African Americans empowered, or was the mood much more hostile than that?

I know there isn't just one answer for this, so I'd love to see some debate in the comments. I'm really interested in American History and would love to hear from some experts on the subject. Thanks!