Did Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington ever meet with Napoléon Bonaparte?

Besides on the field of battle. What did the two think of each other?

1 Answers 2014-08-29

Do we know any pre-European history about Native North Americans?

I am asking specifically about Canadian tribes as our Canadian history curriculum taught little about aboriginal history about any history about North Americans tribes before Europeans discovered the Americas is of course welcome.

1 Answers 2014-08-29

When was the last time the entire world was at peace, and how long did it last for?

Has there been a time when there was no war (civil or between states) happening anywhere in the world?

1 Answers 2014-08-29

How accurate did movies like the godfather portray the mafia?

Or any of the classics like goodfellas and casina, etc

2 Answers 2014-08-29

Nowadays in most western cultures we cut our fingernails fairly regularly, and if we don't, they will keep growing. How did people in past generations deal with this?

1 Answers 2014-08-29

How did Stonehedge not get completely destroyed after all the years it's been completely exposed in England?

After all of the wars and all of the different rulers and people living in the area, it somehow managed to survive to today. How?

1 Answers 2014-08-29

What exactly did executive order 7037 do?

I have been looking for a while on the internet and in books but I am not coming across much info on how 7037 was enforced or how it was looked upon by the nation.

Edit: I was naive in how I was looking for info. I found what I was looking for and more.

1 Answers 2014-08-29

What made the square formation so efficient against cavalry?

I don't know if this is the right place to post this question but I don't think there's a sub called /r/AskMilitary.

Anyway, why was this so good against cavalry? I'd say that the best way to counter a cavalry charge would be to have as many rifles firing at once, but that's the opposite of what the square formation does, it even has men facing the other way, but of course I'm not a tactician so I'd appreciate the help

1 Answers 2014-08-29

When were the physiological advantages of women as fighter pilots proven, and what role, if any, did this discovery play in opening up the Air Force to female pilots?

I understand that women of a smaller stature and more massive legs are better able to withstand greater g-forces than men of a larger stature with proportionately less mass in their legs. This presumably means that on average female pilots can fly faster, turn faster and do more extreme aerial maneuvers than male pilots, which means that all else being equal they would have an advantage over the male pilots of an opposing air force. When was this discovered? Did this discovery provide an impetus to allow female pilots into any country's Air Force at a time when women were barred from entering the armed forces or combat positions?

1 Answers 2014-08-28

On Mad Men, people are often depicted as drinking openly in their offices and after work everyday. Is this an accurate portrayal and if so, when and why did things change?

I would also like some recommendations of books to read about 50's, 60's, and 70's culture, either written in that time or afterwards.

1 Answers 2014-08-28

Why did WWII era American troops wear helmets with netting on them?

When ever you see photos or videos of real war, or even enactments, the American troops in particular often appear to have netting placed over the top of their metal helmets. What was this for? Attaching badges or something else important? I know some wedged packs of cigarettes in there, but it surely can't be only for that?

1 Answers 2014-08-28

My grandfather finally opened up a little bit about his war experience. Asking for a bit of help with this information.

Sorry if this is a bad sub for this question. He started talking and my mom had told me he NEVER talked about his experiences so I didn't want to interrupt to clarify much.

So he was in the Army during Korea. I learned I was going there soon to Osan so we talked about that for a minute and he asked where that was. He thought he had landed there but then remembered it was itsan (insan, it sounded like that). At that time they controlled that beach so not fighting there then he moved into chugan (chucan) valley where there was fighting going on. This was during the winter because he was talking about how dang cold it was.

I googled what I thought I heard him say but it didn't give me any hits. Hoping someone might be able to help me out based on what I heard. Thank you for any help, even if you point me somewhere else!

2 Answers 2014-08-28

Reddit, was the Gregorian calender referenced since year 1? In other words, were people in the first centuries aware and willing to follow the timeline?

I find the passage of time in reference to centuries very interesting, I'm wondering if people knew of this new calender since its creation or if it eventually dawned on them hundreds of years later.

2 Answers 2014-08-28

Would someone finally settle this... How the heck did people hold a shield?!

I've seen this same conversation come up repeatedly, in RPG gaming communities, LARPers, SCA, movie fans... hopefully /r/AskHistorians can give me an answer with some credibility.

There are two general schools of thought, that shields were strapped on to the arm with two straps, or held in the fist at the center. I know both of these likely happened (I'm sure there is an example of just about everything in history) but in general, what was the popular way to hold a shield? Did it change over different periods in history? Did it vary with different types of shields (I'm certain no one was strapping a buckler to their arm, but what about kite shields, tower shields, etc)?

What's the right answer?

4 Answers 2014-08-28

When did images on a 2d surface stop having a flat depth of field?

Sorry if this has been asked before, i tried searching for it but i wasn't even sure how to word it.

Anyway I want to know when people were able to start creating 3d looking images on a 2d surface. For example when you think of more primitive images you may think of cave paintings, or of the images on Greek urns or the flat 'walk like an Egyptian' pose.

I would like to know if this was something that was limited by the medium or by the lack of development in the skill, or if the 'flat' images were more easily made permanent, or for any other reason.

1 Answers 2014-08-28

What was life like during the Civil War in Northern territory occupied by the Confederacy?

I realize that it would be a very small fraction of land, but what was it like?

Sources are great!

1 Answers 2014-08-28

Can you tell me if this bayonet is indeed from WWI or WWII, or its manufacturer and weapon it was used on?

Images here.

1 Answers 2014-08-28

What did Ashkenazi Jews dress like in the 17th-19th Centuries?

Did they always wear yarmulkes and tallit?

1 Answers 2014-08-28

Why do people in the Southern US have such strong accents?

Having recently re-located from the northern tip of the US to the Carolinas, this question has been on my mind a lot lately. What caused the "southern" accent?

2 Answers 2014-08-28

Happy 3rd Birthday /r/AskHistorians! To celebrate this momentous occasion, you may be jocular in this thread.

343 Answers 2014-08-28

Is there a historical consensus on the "Moon-Eyed People" of pre-Columbian Tennessee?

2 Answers 2014-08-28

How did Issac Newton come up with calculus single-handedly?

1 Answers 2014-08-28

Are there any examples of successful rebellion or overthrow of government (on the local scale or otherwise) in the United States?

2 Answers 2014-08-28

When an occupying force finally gained control of a city there would often be looting, destruction, or defacement of the local art/paintings/sculpture/relics/idols. Are there famous examples of hesitation to ruin such beauty or desperate attempts to preserve these works from destruction?

1 Answers 2014-08-28

Since there wasn't much clean water, what exactly did people in Medieval times drink? What was that cliché bubbling mug of "Ale" the peasant folk drank that is always so deliciously depicted in movies and shows?

I don't think wine and mead have not changed much since then and you can get them at most liquor stores. But when I try to find the original "ale" at Specs or someplace, the employees give me their most puzzling looks. Anyone know what it is exactly and if there is anyone out there who reproduces it for sale? I'd love to try it.

1 Answers 2014-08-28

6370 / 7255

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