By ancient times I mean organized, progressive societies such as the Romans or Greeks. I presume there was advertising by use of posters for theatrical events or political events. What about for real estate or new luxuries, were they readily advertised to the masses? More specifically I am asking when formal types of advertising were used; ones that were specifically oriented towards a profit goal?

I heard on the radio today a casual mention of the Parisian Stock Market Crash of 1720. It made me start to wonder how long humans have traded stock. Does anybody know how "stock" itself actually developed in the first place? When it went from being a domestic commodity to an international one?

It seems like such a contemporary concept to me. I am eager to understand how it has evolved through time.

Hi guys,

I've read a bit about D-day and especially about the deception plan that the Allies orchestrated to trick the Germans into thinking the invasion would be at Pas-de-Calais.

However, I just don't understand how the Germans didn't spot all the ships on the other side of the channel? They would have had to be amassed there over several days if not weeks.

Or did they just group up opposite Pas de Calais and sail across to Normandy in a day's time ?

Shouldn't a quick flight by one or two German planes have revealed all those ships, and let the pilots alert Berlin in time?

Thanks

It seems that the expressions of basic emotions (happy, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, and sadness) are generally universal and pretty much hard-wired into being human, albeit with varying perceptions depending on your location, for example, westerns rely more on eyebrow movement, whereas those towards the east rely more on reading ones eyes. However, were there any expressions that were more common or perceived differently in the past, and adding a little more to the question were there any "facial crazes" in the past, such as how we (albeit unfortunately) have "duckface" now?

Considering that both neighbour the US, did the soviets see them as potential allies or just countries subjugated by the US?

All the Crusades Except the Fourth One for Obvious reasons

It seems to me that sword designs were ethnically oriented--functionality as a second priority. Perhaps a misconception and of course, different eras, but the West Asia seemed to love scimitars, Japanese are known for the thick katana, while bendable longswords are known from Europe. Wouldn't a certain design and techniques (such as smelting techniques) ultimately supersede all other factors or are swords just not as devastating as guns therefore certain aspects can be overlooked? How did metallurgy evolve across the lands?

Wondering what the best comprehensive biography on Napeolon is

I am planning to host an medieval themed midsummer celebration as peasants would have done in the 5th - 10th century, and I'm trying to research how lavish their meal would have been. I understand peasants would have feasted during Yule, particularly slaughtering animals and using expensive spices. Was midsummer of the same significance?

I would assume something along the lines of:

• Slaughtered pig/sheep - animals commonly reared by peasants
• Baked fish/eel
• Pottage
• Horsebread (as it's late in the year)
• Cheese
• Ale & Mead

I know there are myriad midsummer traditions, for reference I would be thinking of western europe (Britain, Scotland, Ireland, northern France, Belgium, Netherlands). I would assume pagans celebrated midsummer before the conversion to St John's Eve?

Thanks!

I was curious if any historians knows if Christian groups believed the outbreak of WWI or II was the start of the biblical end-times. I feel as though if World War III were to break out today certain groups would be screaming "rapture."

In some fantasy literature, fiction dictates that certain warriors (usually tribal or barbarian ones) use chanting either to moralize themselves or to demoralize the enemy.

Now, I know of marching drums and such, but are those demoralizing chants limited to fiction, or do we know of any warriors and soldiers who made use of music in order to lower the morale of their enemies?

The Battle of Berlin began in April, 1945 and ended in May. Japan held out until September, 1945. Most people believed it would hold out much longer. General MacArthur suggested it might take ten years.

So, if there were experts who believed that Japan might hold out for another decade, why wouldn't any Nazis flee to Japan?

May I explain my question. Obviously I am not asking whether they benefitted in relation to blacks, because that much is obvious. No, what I'm asking is was life really better for white South Africans under apartheid than it is now? Was apartheid SA really a white utopia where all whites were guaranteed a job and nobody needed to lock their doors? Or did whites suffer from an authoritarian, paternalistic regime and economic stagnation? Which brings me onto another question: How democratic was apartheid South Africa for its white population?

I'm wondering would the cost of the 100 Years War to the French or English be relatively similar to the cost to those countries centuries later in the Napoleonic Wars or would it be far cheaper or more expensive? How would those costs compare to World War One and Two? A more modern war like the Falklands or the occupation of Iraq?

In short, I'm wondering how the cost to the leadership or government of a country going to war, particularly major conflicts with another major power, has changed with technological and social changes.