In light of recent events surrounding Israel, been getting a lot of questions about the conflict.

And I mean a lot.

It's fun, it's great, but if anyone sees this who's thinking of asking a question, please make sure you do your best not to come in with preconceived notions! It's ahistorical to seek to confirm one's bias by a question, and an open mind is important when seeking information. And please, please, feel free to ask follow-ups, rather than draw conclusions if you don't feel you fully understand something. I'd rather spend 3 hours clarifying some portion of the conflict than spend no time allowing people to draw un-factual conclusions that might lead to a misunderstanding of history that contributes to misunderstandings of the conflict!

How many of you actual historians out there play Paradox games and what do you think of them? It seems to be a fairly common "gateway drug", at least for redditors with an amateur interest in history.

What are everyone's favorite cures for writer's block? I've been stuck on the same dissertation chapter for weeks and the pace has been super, super slow. Hit me up with all your crazy cures, I'll try anything at this point!

Edit: Thanks for the tips everyone, much appreciated!

Fly next Friday to Ottawa in preparation to start my masters in European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at Carleton. Never been to that part of Canada before, nor do I know anyone out there. Even so, kind of getting excited to go and start school. Though packing up my stuff, and realising how many books I actually own, is not a pleasant experience. Glad I have connections so I can get it all couriered out for no cost to myself.

I'm about halfway through Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels, and I'm wondering how historically faithful they are? It won't detract from my enjoyment of the novels, but I'm curious about it.

Cornwell has lots of little details that make it look as though he's done his homework, and I guess the overall progress of the Napoleonic wars are easily researched - I've checked Wikipedia on a couple of battles - but what I'm mostly curious about is the military nitty-gritty - did it really take that long to load a flint-lock? Were rifles initially resisted as something that wouldn't catch on? Cannon - how did they transport the big field guns - they must have weighed tonnes! And would men really march into gunfire little that - he's describing sergeants dressing lines in a formation as they walk into shrapnel cannon fire.

I've checked the FAQ, but couldn't find these answers. Anyway, thanks for any info.

I've just got my hands on my copy of "The Second Punic War: a Reappraisal", and it's brought home to me that it, and most of the literature I have on Carthage and the Punic Wars, is getting a bit dog-eared, so to speak. The most recent thing I have is, I think, Hoyos' "The Carthaginians" from... 2010? On my phone so can't check.

Basically I'm wondering if there are any Carthage-proficient users on here (/u/ScipioAsina for instance) who know of anything published in the last four or five years that they'd recommend, or who could affirm my suspicion that actually there's not a whole lot left to say about a topic so thoroughly raked over and with so little new evidence to discuss.

Hi everyone. Bit of an interloper, but I just Crashc-- I mean a history video that featured this book The Art of Not Being Governed by James C. Scott. I don't know if anyone has come across the book or has any thoughts on it.

Undergrad history major here, thinking of doubling in political science. How is political science different than history? Is it more of a "hard" science as opposed to the social sciences? What should I expect if I decide to do this?

I've got one year left in high school. What are some good career options in history?

I'm new to the subreddit and I haven't read much history since high school. What are some of the more fun and accessible books on history out there?

I almost don't care what era or subject. I have always had an interest in ancient cultures like the Romans and the Greeks. I often wonder how different cuisines have developed across the world. However, I'm happy to read an engaging book on just about anything. Bonus points for well narrated audiobooks.

I checked the book list in the sidebar but it's overwhelming, so I'm asking for personal recommendations.

Thanks!

I just finished a wonderful lecture from three gentlemen from the Laperouse Society from Albi, France, who are in Juneau this week for the 288th anniversary of Jean-François de Galaup La Pérouse’s arrival here in Southeast Alaska.

Reading La Pérouse’s journals, it's amazing how modern his mindset was ... and then you come across something that reminds you that he was writing in the 18th century.