The wikipedia entry on the Hammer and Sickle, in addition to being pretty mum regarding my question, explains that the symbol came out of the Russian Revolution. In the 20th century, the Hammer and Sickle seemed to be the definitive symbol of not just Soviet and/or Stalinist-style leftism, but for Communist and Leftist movements worldwide.
Communism was not invented by the Soviets, though. And while ideologies would appear that fit the modern definition of "leftist" even before Karl Marx, I have been able to find little information in regards to what common imagery these movements might have used.
From what I have been able to scrounge up so far, industrial machinery, agricultural tools, and clenched fists seem to be popular. Can anyone shed some light on what themes would appear in leftist imagery from before 1917? Thank you!
3 Answers 2014-08-17
So today I learned that for most of it's history, Ukraine was in a completely different part of Europe than we think of today (That is to say, more towards central-eastern Europe). On the other hand, the place we now think of as Ukraine was, historically speaking (Before Russian involvement), more Crimean (Specifically the Crimean Horde). Maybe it's touching a bit into current topical events, but why was it decided that Ukraine should occupy the area that's historically Crimea? Also, not to make any comments on current politics, why wasn't Crimea independent from the first place after the dissolution of the USSR?
1 Answers 2014-08-17
3 Answers 2014-08-17
A perfectly fine question that might have benefited from slightly better wording, but that is aside the point. I for one find many legitimate questions like this get quickly buried by a bit of down voting, and then never really see the light of day.
Asking what sort of repeating arms the British fielded in 1883 (basically none outside of revolvers and gatlingesque field pieces) and their accuracy is perfectly legit, and should not have been downvoted. /Rant
4 Answers 2014-08-17
Most people know that the Nazis aggressively rooted out and murdered Jews and Gypsies wherever they conquered, but what about those other groups targeted in Germany?
As I understand it, groups like Homosexuals or Jehovah's witnesses or others were targeted in Germany (and Austria) because they didn't fit the 'mould' of what the Nazis wanted society to be like. But in conquered countries like France, Denmark or the East, did they impose the same cruelty against those kinds of groups? France wasn't 'Germanic' or part of the Reich, so it would seem silly to waste resources 'purifying' their society by removing people like homosexuals? In short, did the Nazis care about French gays or Belgian Jehovah's witnesses?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
Poetry is such a unique form of literature, and I'm not trying to belittle it, but sometimes it seems as though in modern times the only ones who appreciate it are fellow poets.
1 Answers 2014-08-16
When did common pizza toppings (pepperoni, ham, etc.) become fairly standardized? What led to picking them as toppings, as opposed to other similar items (for example, salami is not a common pizza topping, but pepperoni is)?
For that matter, when did pizza become a popular takeout food in the United States, to such an extent that in some homes Friday night is "pizza night"?
3 Answers 2014-08-16
5 Answers 2014-08-16
If anyone wonders when the story is set: 1482
Bonus question.
Was the majority of gypsies really thieves?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
I recently found in wikipedia some "coats of arms"/emblems that seemed to be precolumbian. I didn't know they were a thing.
This one is (according to wikipedia) the coat of arms of the city of Tula de Allende, a city that was once inhabited by the Toltec civilization.
These are (once again according to wikipedia) the emblems of the Triple Alliance.
There are more in the "preceded by" section of the chart.
A lot of them seem to represent diferent crops.
First of all: were they actually things or were they just made-up?
Are they used by royal houses and/or clans in an european and japanese style?
Both of these are mexican, did these things exist in North or South America too?
What else can you tell me about them?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
What stopped Germany/Italy from attacking them? Also, Sweden too. How does a country remain neutral in a war?
2 Answers 2014-08-16
I need to know what type of British repeating rifles were available in 1883 along with accuracy. Thanks!
1 Answers 2014-08-16
1 Answers 2014-08-16
News stories such as this one! celebrate 200 years of peace in Sweden and go on to speculate why Sweden became a peaceful country after centuries of warfare. But arguments seem to be reduced to:
...which doesn't really explain anything. Are there any historical events or persons we can point to that led to Sweden becoming more peaceful?
Someone told me the traditional and rising influence of farmers might have something to do with it, but I have never seen a good source or informed discussion about this topic.
Does AskHistorican know more?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
I know some mirrors were made from bronze and other metals but what did they make them out of before modern methods?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
Recently I'm coming across this event almost every month one place or another on the internet? I would like to know how true this is? How responsible is Churchill and England for this? Churchill is quoted as saying "if people are dying of famine? why hasn't Gandhi died yet?" "famine or no famine indians will breed like rabbits" and etc.. I would like to know if these things are true.
Also I would also know how the Brits feel about their colonies, east india company? Is there any guilt?
http://yourstory.com/2014/08/bengal-famine-genocide/ and lots of quora posts.
1 Answers 2014-08-16
In the book the Brothers Karamazov, in the 2nd chapter, there is a line about someone being "a Liberal of the type common in the 40's and 50's."
What was a typical Liberal in that time? What were their views and political ideals?
For that matter, what other political parties and divisions were common or even not so common?
1 Answers 2014-08-16
4 Answers 2014-08-16
