Before Hitler, who served as a handy reference for the "universal bad guy"?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Viking horns

I recently learnt that Viking helmets didn’t have horns.

https://www.history.com/news/did-vikings-really-wear-horned-helmets

Does anyone know the reason behind why it’s commonly believed that the helmets did have horns?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Bushido (Samurai) and Chivalry (Knights)

Samurai and Knights have often been compared and contrasted as the quintessential warriors of honor in Japan and Europe between the 12th and 15th (19th) centuries.

They both operated on certain codes that were somewhat similar at a glance but were intrinsically different: Bushido and Chivalry.

To historians of this these time periods, what are the fundamental difference between these two codes of conduct on a philosophical (and social) level?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

In Desmond Seward's "The Hundred Years War", the author refers to a royal bride as "sluttish". This struck me as a very harsh word to use in a history book, but I had also never heard it before. Why use this particular word over something like "promiscuous"?

Does this word carry the same historical connotation as "slutty" or "Was a slut"?

I've also looked up the word and apparently there is an archaic definition meaning having low standards of cleanliness, e.g. "dust left on the floor by a sluttish servant".

Which meaning was the author likely going for? How common is this word in a historical/academic context?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Did the Japanese government really plan to create a colony of Jewish people in Manchuria, and, if so, was this really because they were positively influenced by the Protocols of the Elders of Zion?

In his book "The Fugu Plan: The Untold Story of the Japanese and the Jews During World War II," Marvin Tokayer claims that Japanese people exposed to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion believed the anti-Semitic propaganda, but interpreted it positively. They thought that, if Jewish people were so influential and powerful, Japan should try to have as close relations with them as possible, so that it could benefit from their power. As such, the Japanese government planned to eventually settle a group of Jewish settlers in Manchuria to form the basis of a Japanese/Jewish colony.

This is something I have heard repeatedly as a piece of interesting WWII trivia, but, while I found a bunch of articles discussing it, (for example: https://chinachannel.org/2019/03/28/japan-fugu/) all the citations eventually seem to go back to Tokayer's book. Tokayer is not a historian, but a rabbi who served in Japan, and seems to have a generally positive outlook on Japan's WW2 leadership (based on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Tokayer) and wants to promote ties between Japan and the Jewish community. This makes me wonder if this story is actually true, or apocryphal.

Were there really plans to create a Jewish colony in Manchuria, and were these plans really because the Japanese government believed the anti-Semitic conspiracy theories in the Protocols, but thought that they were a good thing?

I see this question has been asked here a couple times before, but it looks like it never got an answer.

1 Answers 2021-07-16

What prevented the Dutch from establishing an imperial presence in Africa during the the 18-19th centuries?

Even Belgium was able to establish their very own colony.

1 Answers 2021-07-16

In his book "21 Lessons for the 21st Century" Yuval Harari writes there were real concerns in the 90s, that the Yugoslav wars would spill over to other parts of eastern Europe. Was it a serious concern this time?

He specifically writes about possible conflict between Hungary and Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey or Poland and Ukraine.

1 Answers 2021-07-16

What was the relationship that the Socialist Party of America had with communities of Color in the earlier 20th century? Was there attempts by Debs and other leading Socialists to attract Black or Mexican or Asian supporters across the country?

2 Answers 2021-07-16

Friday Free-for-All | July 16, 2021

Previously

Today:

You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.

As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.

11 Answers 2021-07-16

Why was there not almost no contact between Indonesia and New Guinea or Australia even though it wasn't that far and they were good at boats so they would get there probably?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

If West Berlin is in East Germany, what was it like to enter West Berlin after going though East Germany to reach the enclave before and after the construction of the Berlin Wall?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

German Empire expanded their navy in part to "threaten" Britain into an alliance. It blew up in their face, but was there ever serious discussion in UK about allying with Germany pre WW1?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Why did the Vikings settle in such a terrible location in North America?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

How were the earliest printing presses financed? Did they depend exclusively on the equivalent of the modern ‘pre-orders’?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Best books on the 1917-1923 period?

Hello, I am looking for books about the 1917-1923 revolutions and wars during that period. I find the period very fascinating and not really talked about much.

I am looking for books about books about the Munich/ruhr uprising, russian civil war , Hungarian romanian war, Hungarian Czechoslovak war,Polish Soviet, Polish Ukrainian war, Finnish civil war,etc.

I am not looking for books about exclusively about ww1

Send links/long lists of you want and thanks for the help!

2 Answers 2021-07-16

In the 1590's, Japan under Hideyoshi launched invasions of Korea with the intent of conquering both Korea and Ming China. Could the Japanese have succeeded in this at that time?

I know from reading that the Japanese forces were eventually defeated mostly due to supply lines being disrupted while fighting in Korea, but if they had actually conquered Korea, could Japan have actually conquered China at that time as well?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Why have there been 25 Popes named John but only one Mark and no Matthew or Luke?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Legendary Chinese physician Hua Tou knew about brain tumors and anesthesia as early as 200AD. Just how much medical science did the Chinese actually know back then?

Hua Tou famously died because he suggested Cao Cao had a brain tumor and wanted to perform brain surgery. Cao Cao thought it was a thinly veiled assassination plot and had the poor doctor executed.

So Cao Cao’s reaction is what I’d expect from someone living in the year 200AD. How on earth did Hua Tou know about tumors and brain surgery? How far back does knowledge of surgery, anesthesia, and what we consider modern medicine go in China? If Hua Tou actually was able to do the surgery, how would he have even done it? I have so many questions because the whole thing seems crazy to me but also very impressive if true (I know many popular Three Kingdoms stories are embellished or downright untrue…not sure if that’s the case here).

1 Answers 2021-07-16

Well known is Christian groups' opposition to Life of Brian, but was there a negative reaction from Jewish groups too? After all, it has a gag based on a long list of slurs for Jews, and the "What have the Romans ever done for us?" scene could be read as a defense of Roman imperialism in the Levant.

To be sure, I love the movie dearly, but I understand how other people could have felt differently about it.

1 Answers 2021-07-16

What were the TACTICAL advantages of the British in the Anglo-Maratha Wars? The Marathas had several times more men, a higher ratio of artillery, a higher ratio of cavalry, and even flintlock muskets for most of their infantry later on. How did the British still consistently thrash them tactically?

1 Answers 2021-07-16

I've read before that Virginia was the most powerful state in the early history of the United States. How true is this and how did Virginia flex it's power?

1 Answers 2021-07-15

Which books do historians recommend for studying history and religion

Hi all,

As an agnostic, I'm conflicted about religion. As a history lover, I'm fascinated by how religion has developed over the centuries and help shaped the modern world.

As someone with a family and a very full time job, going back to school to study history/theology isn't an option. So my question is which books would historians recommend to try and understand the development of religion over the ages alongside the historical backdrop associated with the world's major religions.

To be specific I feel I should start with Judaism/Christianity alongside Roman history first as I'm from Europe and already have some understanding.

Many thanks.

2 Answers 2021-07-15

A question about any books that you guys may recommend to help in a project I’m working on.

Hi. This year I have to create an Extended response project, and I am free to choose the topic. I have decided to do a counter factual, with the POD being if Teddy Roosevelt wins a second term. I would love any suggestions for readings on him and other major political players at that time, not just from the USA but all around the world.

Please no tips or advice for the direction of my timeline as I would like it to be my own work.

Cheers

1 Answers 2021-07-15

Do we have any documented sources of unmarried 19th century women ruining their reputation?

It's a well trodden trope of literature from the 19th century Europe (and modern literature set in that period) about unmarried women running off with a man or being seen with a man and ruining their marriage prospects and so on. Are there any documented instances of this occurring? Is it understood to have happened a lot, which is why is features as a plot in literature or not much, but still written about because it was a concern?

1 Answers 2021-07-15

How did islamic rulers justify their rule during the middle ages?

1 Answers 2021-07-15

610 / 7255

Back to start