In a broader sense and as a non-historian I think I have a very broad idea of what orientalization is and how it influenced tales about the far east, but what about the opposite? were Eastern countries "westernalizing" europe? In which way?

edit: Eastern merchants awed by what THEY saw*

Suppose an ancient language is newly discovered. Given that nobody understands anything on the script, how exactly do historians know where to look and how to find information about it to understand it?

I know this is a very niche and specific question but it has been in the back of my mind since forever. I have tried searching for this online but all I've found are modern examples. I can guess they would use a system of wheels or pumps. I'm looking for a more detailed explanation on how the process is done.

I'd imagine they would have receive an immense amount of usable material from one. Probably able to make dozens of canoes or something, idk. No idea if they even had the tech to knock one down tbh

My Mother has always wanted me to watch it, she always said it was one of her favorite movies. Then I finally watch it, and I was very uncomfortable. It seemed to fairly downplay how bad slavery was, making it seem more kind. Now I would be fine with a movie from the perspective of a plantation owner in the confederacy, but they seem to have done it extremely wrong, but I’m not too sure. Is this movie as bad as it seems to me? Or am I just overthinking/ overreacting over details?

Hi there,

I was wondering, when historians refer to Victorians as ‘Janus Faced’, is this in the same way as the Roman deity, as in having two faces and having differing and contrasting characteristics. Does anyone have any examples of where this would be applicable in Victorian history?

I understand that proponents of "Free silver" believed that by putting more silver into circulation their money would be inflated and make the nation prosperous. But how would inflating their currency be a good thing? Also, how would it be inflated if there was hard money in circulation. I think I am misunderstanding inflation. When I hear the word I think of Iranian currency or the Weimar republics currency.

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Also, I want to know what the consensus on the movement is now. Were these people misguided? If we had kept the silver standard would we be as rich as we are today?

Some person that I knew personally died and they set aside some nonzero amount of money and physical property to me in their will. How would this work before the advent of a central legal authority and bureaucracy?

I'm reading the Dame Shirley letters, and many times she mentions having oyster dinners, oyster soup, and so on. She also mentions how difficult and expensive it was to bring supplies up to Rich Bar. Would these have been tinned oysters, or would the restaurants have made an especial effort to bring fresh oysters up from the bay area?

From my very limited knowledge it seems like Western Germany was doing better in many regards than Eastern Germany. Was the matter of uniting Germany as one country one of nationalism to "restore" Germany, a territorial valuation issue, or something else altogether?

And what type of supplies would be available to buy?

Would anyone be familiar with any books on the Bleeding Kansas border war? Specifically I'm looking for a more Kansas-centered text. I'm more interested in knowing about what the living conditions, and day-to-day lives of people on the Kansas-Missouri border were like, as opposed to the military history of the conflict, so biographies and memoirs would also be helpful.

I have read about more "complex" locks/safes being used during the Renaissance period to protect valuable objects. What would these locks/safes have looked like, and how would they have worked?

(Scenario: A very wealthy man living in 15th-16th century Florence must protect a valuable object, so he has a master locksmith craft him a special safe. What cutting-edge lock/safe might the locksmith have designed?)

(Any guidance on where to find additional information about old locks/locking mechanisms would be very much appreciated.)

I’m talking ‘perfect’ teeth, very tall (I know not all body builders are 6ft plus but this one is), steroid enhanced super low body fat etc. do people from history find this unusual? Can be male or female.

Its well known that Caesars Opponents like Cato and Brutus were stoics. But is there mentioned anywhere in what philosophy Caesar was interested himself? I read somewhere that Caesar was an Epicurean and in an other book that he favored the teachings of Aristotle. But I have no idea how much truth is to this statements

In the great war, many Scottish and Canadian soldiers wore kilts as part of their uniform. For the Scots, how new of an experience would this be? In the late 19th and early 20th century how common was kilt wearing in Scotland, in cities and towns in particular? If I were in Aberdeen or Glasgow in 1910 would I see men in kilts going about their business, working etc or were kilts reserved for people living very traditional shepherding lifestyles in the Highlands and formal/ceremonial occasions like weddings, funerals and social events?

Based on my limited understanding of Norse Mythology and their views of the afterlife, Norsemen who died in battle have a 50/50 chance to go to Valhalla or Fólkvangr. However, if one died from sickness or old age, they would end up in Hel.

Would my wound earned in battle which subsequently develops a bacterial infection count as dying in battle? Would it count as dying from a sickness? Would it depend on how long after battle the wound kills me?

Also, let's say, in another example, I trip and die from splitting my head open on a rock while charging the enemy line. Would this count as a battle death or something else? Would it matter how far from the enemy I was when I died?

I know Ottoman historians talk about "Ottoman Orientalism", but I don't know much about it.