Codex Gigas?

Will there ever be a full english translation of the Codex Gigas compiled all in one book?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

Were most slaves in human history caucasian?

How true is the assertion that most slaves in history were, in fact, white? Period: antiquity, location: middle east.

I'm not exactly sure what the claim really is - either that numerically most slaves were caucasian, either the enslavement was the most prolonged, or as a % of a population, it was the most significant.

Is there any truth to any variant on this claim?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

Why was Rhodesia the subject of near universal boycotts but not Apartheid South Africa?

3 Answers 2014-12-13

Would Austria-Hungary focusing more heavily on Russia, leaving only a paltry force to defend against Serbian invasion, have had an affect on WWI?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

When and how did Islam spread to Souh East Asian nations like Indonesia?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

How did the Mona Lisa end up being permanently displayed at the Louvre, so far away from Florence? And what happened to the painting in the centuries before its permanent display?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

Why was there so much rationing during the world wars if there was the same number of people to feed?

What was it that there was widespread rationing during the world wars? Presumably the food supply was damaged, but how? Was it that farmers went to the front lines, that distribution networks were destroyed, that farms were burned, that supply convoys got attacked?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

Let's talk about the battles in Braveheart. How accurate were they, and were any battles from that time period truly that intricate? (Pouring the oil on the battlefield, crafting the spears, etc).

I have read on various places online that it is considered one of the most inaccurate film depictions ever made, but most of the qualms come from Wallace's love life and the fact that he wore a kilt. That being said, is the rest of the overall story really that marred? I am mainly interested in learning about the battles depicted in the film and the overall representation of Wallace and what he stood for.

2 Answers 2014-12-13

How do historians explain the fact that an ancient Roman statue was discovered in Mexico?

I'm referring to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca_head

A large statue that pretty clearly derives its architectural inspirations from the Roman Empire... but it's thousands of years old, according to Wikipedia. And somehow was found in Mexico. Reading the article, a couple hypotheses have been put forward but they all seem kind of weak.

Is there a prevailing historical consensus on how the head got there? What's the most likely explanation?

3 Answers 2014-12-13

Did Confucius actually write all the things we see attributed to him or did the ideas evolve into being his?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

Feeling frustrated of not being able to find an "accessible" (engaging and easily readable) book for general history. Any suggestions for a newbie?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

How did Alexander the Great become known as an exemplary person, but other conquerors are viewed in a more dubious or negative light?

8 Answers 2014-12-13

How come the French people were so okay with Napoleon becoming Emperor and destroying their hard fought republic?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

What is the significance of this small demon (hanging onto the scale) often portrayed together with the devil and the archangel Michael in medieval depictions of the last judgement? [examples inside]

Hey everybody,

I am currently writing a short paper about medieval depictions of the devil and demons. While the above question can be neglected in my paper, I'm just wondering what it represents, since it seems to be a recurring motive.

I haven't done truly extensive research but all my books about demonology have seemingly turned up nothing. The books containing the images also fail to elaborate on the meaning of that particular demon.

Is it just trying to change the odds in the devils favor? But why? How does the devil benefit from getting more souls to torture? Since at least on the Paris one, Jesus is actually judging the souls, how would he even be able to? Complete image of the Notre-Dame facade here.

Thank you for reading!

1 Answers 2014-12-13

When was refined sugar invented, and are the health impacts of increased sugar consumption detectable on a historical scale?

For the purposes of this question I want to focus on serious daily sugar consumption. For that reason, I'm only interested in the consumption of semi refined sugars like honey and date syrup in those times, places and social classes where people consumed those things in large quantities regularly (as opposed to just at special celebrations). Has an increase in sugar consumption around the invention and spread of things like refined sugar or increased production of honey, dates etc been historically linked to changes in health measures like life expectancy, infant mortality etc? How do these changes compare to the introduction of other unhealthy products, like the introduction of tabacco to Europe or the popularization of opium for instance?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

How did the Soviet Union manage to transfer their industries to the east during WW2?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

Tlingit Armor Covered in Chinese Coins

At the National War Museum of Canada, they have on display an armored Tlingit vest covered in Chinese coins. Unfortunately, the blurb there explains nothing of the history of the vest, nor what must have been an extensive trade in Chinese currency across the North West (nor much of anything actually).

After some googling, it seems that these vests, while not common, were most definitely not rare.

So my question (s) are: 1, Given that most of these coins were carried over by western traders, were they accepted by said traders as payment for furs etc, or as a good in kind (with the hope of reselling them to First Nations?)?

2, Were the Tlingit aware of the history behind these coins (how much did they know of the Pacific trade)?

3, Just how many vests existed; would each house have one, or clan, or "king"?

An example of said armor:

http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b3/41/07/b341073a5399e00fb4e79fa461d2a18e.jpg

1 Answers 2014-12-13

Saturday Reading and Research | December 13, 2014

Previous

Today:

Saturday Reading and Research will focus on exactly that: the history you have been reading this week and the research you've been working on. It's also the prime thread for requesting books on a particular subject. As with all our weekly features, this thread will be lightly moderated.

So, encountered a recent biography of Stalin that revealed all about his addiction to ragtime piano? Delved into a horrendous piece of presentist and sexist psycho-evolutionary mumbo-jumbo and want to tell us about how bad it was? Need help finding the right book to give the historian in your family? Then this is the thread for you!

5 Answers 2014-12-13

How effective were body armors in WWI?

So recently thanks to this clip a discussion sparkled among some of my friends about how much body armors were used during the war and how effective they were. The video, as you can see, shows soldiers using full body armors (which is a mistake: those are American Brewster body armors, the Italian Farinas were much lighter) assault a trench and get slaughtered by machinegun fire.

Now my questions are (not just tied to the Italian front, of course): were those armors really so ineffective? Were they commonly issued to attacking soldiers? How frequently were they used?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

The newly released movie Exodus: Gods and Kings depicts the ancient Egyptians hanging people. Did they really practice this form of execution?

The trailer can viewed here, which also shows the ancient Egyptians hanging people using a gallows. Is this historically accurate?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

When was rifling guns introduced in Europe, when did they become standard issue for armies in Europe?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

Do we actually *know* how Adolf Hitler died?

When I was in elementary grades [US public schools] we were taught that Hitler's body had been discovered in Berlin after the German surrender in WWII, but it was unclear how he had died.

When we studied WWII in more depth in high school, we were taught that "nobody knows" what happened to Hitler, and the teacher cited "unconfirmed reports" that he had escaped to South America. I'm an old fart, so this was in the 1970s, about the time that The Boys from Brazil was a hit movie.

Wikipedia says Hitler committed suicide by shooting himself, but the footnoted sources are decades delayed (books published in 1980 and 1995), and I'm wondering how reliably anyone could "know" that he shot himself. As I understand this version of events, only he and his wife were present at the end.

So I ask, do we actually know how Adolf Hitler died?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

What is the most direct source when it comes to airplanes in WW1?

I'm interested in this subject, and I thought of asking here, since there might be other people who's interested aswell. I also like to study the most direct sources I can get to, because of many reasons. Any ideas?

The most direct I can think of is diaries from the pilots, or books written during the war with specs of the airplanes.

EDIT:
To make it a bit more clear, I'm searching to know things such as how they worked in war, and some basic technical specifications.

2 Answers 2014-12-13

What would America be like if the Confederate Army had taken victory?

1 Answers 2014-12-13

What manner of bascinet and aventail would St George of Prague (1376) wear?

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/2448198.jpg

The armour is, overall, contemporary with Germany at the time, however, it's the scale mail (yes it's scale, if anybody doubts me I'll see if I can dig up the high res pictures floating around the Internet) that throws me for a loop here.

Also, the fact that it seems to be a transitional era between the center hinge and side pivot as well as early pigfaces/international styles of bascinets showing up here and there doesn't make it easier to pin one type of visor mounting (and overall shape).

So I turn to you, oh reddit historians, what aventail and what manner of badcinet would complete the vision of St George in a recreation?

2 Answers 2014-12-13

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