What sort of naval technology and strategies were present in the European powers during medieval period? What notable battles took place? What were the most important advances? How did ships usually engage one another?

In the constitution it says you need to be born in America to become president (not the only qualification but for the purpose of the question) were all the presidents up to Martin Van Buren born on the continent of North America as British subjects? or were they immigrants that came to the colonies but participated in the Revolution?

Did it happen all at once, or in certain parts of the world first?

What role did language play in this?

What was an average number of people in a group in a hunter gatherer society? How about agrarian?

As a whole, and the rate for the plebs and patricians if were able to tell.

I know this is a somewhat boring question, but you people are always able to respond with so much more interesting answers.

I'm mostly Irish by heritage, and most of those Irish ancestors arrived in Canada and the US between 1840-70.

I also have a fair fraction of Swedish and Finnish, and I'm curious why so many Nordics left their homes at this time. I'm aware Minnesota in the States is very ethnically and historically Scandinavian, as are certain parts here in Canada.

I know German has always been a large group in the US, since it's beginning and beforehand - what made people from today's Germany emigrate in such large numbers?

The Chinese also came in huge numbers to the West Coasts of Canada and the US, mostly the US. I always hear they were indentured to build rail roads, but I think this is possibly a misconception. What caused their leave?

Also, how long did these voyages tend to take?

Edit: thank you for all of your great answers!

Just finished reading The Devil in the White City. Burnham was on the Olympic and they were going to come help but it says Ismay had them go back on regular course to no upset the titanic victims.

At what point did Universities become seen as being a place where 'left-wing' or liberal attitudes were welcomed and embraced?

Hello /r/AskHistorians,

I was recently reading two books of the same series one titled Battles of the Medieval World, the other Battles of the Oriental World. My question came to being because while the Battles of the Oriental World delt a good deal about how primitive gunpowder weapons were fielded with spears and samurai, the Medieval World title never mentions them being fielded.

So my question is, are there historical battles in Medieval europe where gunpowdered weapons were fielded along with spears and knights? I have some knowledge about hand cannons being used in eastern Europe by the turks and Ottomans so I believe there is at least some basis. However when I think about historic European warfare there is a drastic shift between armored knights and uniformed collumns of rifles muskets, and nothing inbetween.

I'm a subscriber on /r/warshipporn and it seems that every 10th ship or so is a ship that used to belong to a previous nation that is now under the ownership of a new nation.

Did this only become common after the creation of large warships or was it common to find outdated swords, or armor in the hands of allies as it was replaced.

In my ROTC class in school my SASI is getting ready to teach us about one of the "Great battles of history". Our first battle we're going to talk about is the Battle of Cannae with some guy named Hannibal and Rome. What happened and why was it such a big deal? I want to learn before he teaches it. It sounds interesting!

Reposted with an acceptable question, sorry! I would love a few examples (I have my own but there are so many in answer to this question), I have had absurdly long arguments with friends about precisely this issue. I don't want to reveal my leanings and biases, instead I would love fresh viewpoints and ideas. Thanks!