We hear a lot about how we reacted to jets and rockets, but what of the opposite?

During WWI, Japan was allied with the "Allies" (The UK, US, France, Russia) but during WWII, they were part of the Axis Powers (Germany and Italy) and fought against the Allies (The UK, US, France, USSR).

Thus why did Japan change her allegiance?

I will be travelling next month for work and will have lots of downtime- I was wondering if there are any recent books out on Medieval history worth taking with me? (Huge fan of French, Russian and English history)

I'd be interested in any period or ethnicity (of the slave).

Once the civil war was ended and slavery was officially outlawed, how was that law implemented and enforced? Were there areas of the country that started off unwilling to enforce the law in which federal troops had to be stationed to enforce abolition? Were there years or even decades that plantation owners were caught still keeping slaves in secret? Did many former slaves stay with their former masters as low-paid free workers? Was there a transition period for plantation owners to adjust to the new laws or overnight was it just declared, "all slaves are officially free, tomorrow you have to let them walk off of your property and go wherever they want"? Once a former slave was freed, where did they go and what did they do? Day one of freedom, how did they immediately come up with food and shelter?

Why didn't they switch sides or become neutral when it became clear the Bolsheviks were winning? Are their intentions (e.g., form a government in exile and wait for an opportunity) documented anyhere?

Is it just a mash up of various accents from the places they travel or is it it's own accent? Yarr.

You can guess my name. I'm just curious because from what I understand his name was Saul before he saw the light.

I understand that the USA was originally a British colony so it seems it should be obvious that English would become the dominant language.

It is, however, my understanding that there were MANY languages spoken throughout the nation. German in the North, French in the South, and wasn't Florida a Spanish colony?

So what was it that gave English the edge in a nation where contracts were routinely drawn up and business frequently done in multiple languages? Especially given that there was not (and remains no) "official" language in the United States?

I've been reading a little bit about him, but I'm having a hard time learning any specific details. All I can find is very brief information that basically says "he was gay, he was insane, he was killed, he built castles." But I want to know more. How do they know that he was homosexual? Whats specifically did he do that made him insane? Did he think people were out to get him? Why did he have those castles built? And what are the mysteries about his death?

Were ancient (i.e., Greek and Roman; if you know about any other civilization, answer away, though) ships christened the way we do?

How is it that the main economic/political ideology of the American (antebellum) South - namely, slavery - was replaced by the contemporary economic/political ideology of free-market (laissez-faire/ regulation free) capitalism?

I understand this coincides with the shift from Southern Democrats to the current stronghold of Republicanism... but how did that ideological change take place?

I've done some historical work about post-Civil War social memory (at the M.A. level) so there is no need to ELI5, but if it makes it easier, feel free. This doesn't relate directly to my work, I've just been watching a lecture about post-war Atlanta on CSPAN this morning. Thanks in advance!

I always hear the strategy of Japan, Germany and the allies. I never hear what Italy did. Im wondering what was their importance during the war?

(Apologies in advance, as this is my first reddit post.)

I am currently working on an undergraduate thesis that focuses on the theme of exile and identity in a selection of Graham Greene's novels. I'm already working with relational literary material such as Dafoe, Conrad, West, Ovid, Said, etc. It has been suggested that I take a look at some materials related to Babylonian exile.

As it is really, really not an area of which I have much familiarity, I was hoping someone could point me in the direction of a concise source that I may consult. It doesn't necessarily have to relate to literature, but I'm looking for an article or book that would assist so that I can understand the historical/political/social events or impact of Babylonian exile--basically, what it was, what happened, what fallout occurred, how it related to "future" events, the impact upon individuals (I'm trying desperately not to say existentially, but...). Failing that, I'm hoping for a recommendation to point me to the correct/appropriate database(s) to look for materials. I've never done upper-level coursework in history, so I'm a bit stuck.

Any and all help much appreciated!

Also, what are some reasons that Europeans wanted to colonize, since slavery had pretty much died down by the time of the Berlin Conference?

Hey, I'm asking all you historians, which book gives the best overall but unbaised secular view of Israel from say 1870 to 1970 -- something that covers the rise of Zionism, the founding of Israel and the wars of Yom Kippur and Six Days.

I've got Gideon's Spies but most other options I've been looking at look like propaganda fluff pieces for various pro- or anti-Israel writers.

Thanks.

When the Christianity was in its nascent stages, Buddhism was a major religion in the Areas of Bactria, India and Central Asia. Given the cultural and trade contacts between the Levant( where Christianity was founded) and these predominantly Buddhist areas it seems highly likely that Buddhist teachings and doctrines would have influenced Christianity. If so to what degree did they influence???

I first thought of this question when I learned the word for "sword" in French is "lame". Was this the origin of the insulting descriptor used in English today? Other latin words, such as the French "blanc" (meaning white) are very similar to English words such as "black". Is there any verifiable reason behind this?