And what's the difference between the two? I know absolutely nothing about guns, so a lot of the explanations I find go over my head. Can anyone break it down for me?

I'm trying to figure out when land reclamation happened, mostly in the Low Countries

Digging through wikipedia and the internet doesn't yield much in the way of draining of marches and fens, most results relate to the draining of Flevoland (which date is readily available.)

At what point in history did the technology to drain land get discovered and how was it expanded, and when did the Dutch start using it widespread?

Where did he get his start? Did he have a mentor?

I'm currently attempting to revise for my exams, and the only information I have on this is "Galen and the church did it". Is that really it? 2000 years is a bleeding long time, did nothing else challenge the theory in all that time? And was Galen's/the Church's authority enough to cement the four humour theory for that long?

Also, am I right in saying that the theory persisted until questioned by Ibn Al-Nafis? Or was it more Harvey/Vesalius Renaissance medicine?

Was the designation "World War" used during WWI and/or WWII, or was it applied afterwards. What would a soldier in either war have called it? Did people think of WWII as comparable to WWI while it was happening, thus warranting the "movie sequel" name (as a friend of mine put it)?

On an only vaguely related note, did soldiers tend to think of themselves as fighters in a "world war" or as fighters in a war against one or two other countries? Would an American soldier in the European theater have been aware of/connected to/informed about the Pacific theater? Would he have felt like part of the same war?

We have a rich legacy of ancient academic and creative writing and artwork but hear comparatively little of the music of the time. Did any Greek compositions survive and can they be played by modern musicians?

First time posting, so I apologize if I break the rules. There was another question posted (and very well answered) about the Knights Templar, and it was mentioned that Saladin was loathe to execute non-militant-order soldiers. It reminded me of the movie, where Saladin was quite merciful, even against advice from his advisors. How accurate is this? Also, I'd love to read more about him, his military conquests and rule. Thank you

Essentially all of the history of WW2 I've heard is all about the fighting going on in the Pacific and in Europe and how the battles and European politics played out. But what kind of conditions were black people facing in America? Since it was right before the Civil rights movement I'd imagine it wasn't great, but I've never been taught any specifics. What about black men in the military? Did they have their own "separate but equal" battalions? Were there any black officers? How were they treated by their comrades?

This seems like such a glaring omission in what I've learnt of WW2 from both school and general media.

As far as i know, people in ancient Rome weren't buried within city limits, but always outside the city, near roads.

I know Peter was crucified there, but why would they make an exception for someone who was publically humiliated by crucifixion by giving him the 'honor' of burying them within city limits afterwards?

Or is it much simpler and did they move his grave (bones) much later to where the Vatican now lies?

I was watching some fictional shows about medieval time and the thought came across me. From what I know they didn't have condoms, so what did they do to stop it?

Good morning from Southwest England! I'm Elaine Chalus, Professor of British History at Bath Spa University, which is based in the beautiful World Heritage Site city of Bath.

Much of my research has been on various aspects of gender and political culture in the long 18C. I have always been interested in the overlap between the social and political arenas and how this plays out, particularly with regard to elite women's involvement in political life at a time when politics was ostensibly men's business. I am fascinated by the rough-and-tumble of 18C parliamentary elections, the ubiquity of patronage, and the use of social situations (walks, talks, teas, dinners, balls, assemblies, etc.) for political ends. Eighteenth-century politics manifests itself in everything from the dreadful doggerel of election poetry through trips to spas and horse races, to the adoption of political clothing and accessories at points of high political fervour (political fans, bandeaux, ornaments, Regency caps, etc.) and the purchase and use of politicized pottery, such as anti-Stamp Act teapots.

As wives, mothers and daughters in political families, at a time when political interests were familial and political participation was intertwined with notions of personal and familial advancement, elite women were anything but oblivious to politics.

In addition to the above, I am interested in spa cultures, and have worked on 18C Bath, queen of the spas in 18C England, and, more recently on 19C Brighton, as well as the English abroad in Italy and Nice in the 19C.

I've also done some work with radio and television over the years, particularly acting as a historical consultant to programmes like Time Team.

I will be online today between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST to answer questions and will return tomorrow to check for any late additions.

NB: Thanks for all the fascinating questions today. I will check back tomorrow in case there are any others. Do come and find me on Twitter @ehchalus and say hello!

Mecca is an important location in Islam, and was the capital of the pre-Islamic state in the area. Why was it not made the capital of any of the succeeding empires?

Would soldiers fight for their country, fight for their king, or fight for the honor of their culture?

"When the first Africans arrived in Virginia in 1619, there were no “white” people there. Nor, according to colonial records, would there be for another sixty years. In this seminal two-volume work, The Invention of the White Race, Theodore W. Allen tells the story of how America’s ruling classes created the category of the “white race” as a means of social control. Since that early invention, white privileges have enforced the myth of racial superiority, and that fact has been central to maintaining ruling-class domination over ordinary working people of all colors throughout American history."

-The Invention of the White Race

If the answer to these questions are yes, in what ways did race change when it was exported to other societies?

What's the difference between these variations on communism or socialism? I've heard it said that Trotskyism is quite different to either Stalinism or Leninism but I'm not sure how. So I want to know the differences between all these variations. Feel free to include any other significant variations of communism or socialism that I may have missed.

Edit: optional: also fascism and totalitarianism if they are relevant since they seem to be often lumped with communism.