So I was having a conversation with a colleague of mine, mostly to do with "Where has the rum gone", cause we drank all the rum. This got us thinking, was there a trademark drink of the Empire? Were there many? Did the cultures affect the alcohol, or vice versa? Do any of these still exist today as named brands? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I know both Sparta and Athens were exhausted after their war with each other and neither could prevent conquest from the north. I'm interested to know if Phillip and Alexander saw the Spartans as an asset to acquire and learn from or as a threat...or something else entirely.

Hello fellow historians I've been researching Pioneer combat doctrine during the second world war, for reenactment purposes, and I'm having some trouble locating specific information on the soldiers themselves. More specifically I'd like to learn about their uniforms/equipment, their tactics etc. I've also heard tell of special flammenwerfer units in the pioneers but can't find much of anything on them.

I would be especially interested in any books concerning these types of soldiers which would be indispensable in our reenactments.

I'm doing research to write an English paper on wars in history but for some of these early wars I cannot find a specific reason for war to break out or for a state wanting to expand.

Given the recent Michael Sam incident, I've heard a resurgence of the idea that homosexuality caused the fall of the Roman empire. I'm extremely doubtful of that being the case, but I actually don't know what thing (or things) caused the fall.

The Medieval arming sword was used for both cutting and thrusting. The later spada de lato and espada ropera were similarly balanced, though they perhaps canted somewhat towards thrusting attacks rather than cutting. Wikipedia says the spada de lato was "ideal for handling the mix of armored and unarmored opponents of [the late 16th century]."

At the time the rapier evolved from the aforementioned swords, armour usage was in decline due to the proliferation of firearms; and in a civilian duel, your opponent was unlikely to be armoured anyway.

However, my understanding has been that cutting attacks are more effective against unarmoured foes, and thrusting attacks are more effective against armoured foes. (Support for this claim includes: shamshirs used mostly for slashing at unarmoured foes; the Polish army adopting the szabla in response to their enemies not using much heavy armour; estocs being developed solely to deal with heavily-armoured opponents.)

Why, then, did the rapier (and the small sword, and other dueling swords of the 16th century and later) evolve as a thrusting weapon, when in fact the targets it was intended for were virtually all unarmoured?

EDIT: Thanks for all the illuminating answers so far, everyone! I will respond to all when I have time. :)

I was wondering how the USA kept blacks, people without property and women from voting, because I can't see them going: "Black people can't vote." What were the exact wordings and did people try to get around it with creative interpretations?

I am about to finish up the incredible Dividing the Spoils by Waterfield and I'm thinking for my next book I want something on Alexander's life/campaigns themselves, but I am looking for something with a heavy, if not heavier, look at his diadochi. Something that includes info on not just Alexander but also delves into the lives of Ptolemy, Perdiccas, Antigonus, Seleucus and so on. What do you think my best option is?

I understand that they can't carry shields because they need both hands for the Pike, so what stopped them from being shot by arrows?

Please bear in mind that my knowledge of medieval warfare is based on games of thrones.

I've seen this a lot in movies and was curious if there is any evidence of this actually happening.

I am aware of Charles II and his multiple (hereditary) genetic disorders, and that got me thinking. Are there any instances of royalty/nobility, European or otherwise, with Down Syndrome? I know the two aren't related, but it's a random thought that I've been wondering about for some time.

There must have been a huge amount of surplus vehicles, weaponry, supplies and the like after the war, with most of the soldiers who had previously been using it going home, but it that had to go somewhere. What happened to it? Was it melted down, or stored away? What happened to captured enemy vehicles or supplies etc. ?