Short Answers to Simple Questions | December 18, 2019

by AutoModerator

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Please Be Aware: We expect everyone to read the rules and guidelines of this thread. Mods will remove questions which we deem to be too involved for the theme in place here. We will remove answers which don't include a source. These removals will be without notice. Please follow the rules.

Some questions people have just don't require depth. This thread is a recurring feature intended to provide a space for those simple, straight forward questions that are otherwise unsuited for the format of the subreddit.

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  • The only rule being relaxed here is with regard to depth, insofar as the anticipated questions are ones which do not require it. All other rules of the subreddit are in force.

corruptrevolutionary

What happened to kill the American passenger rail system but keep the freight railway system strong (43% of all cargo is moved by trains)

While the European passenger rail system is strong but freight is weak (11% of cargo is moved by trains) which is especially weird given how expensive fuel has always been there.

Grandma_puncher

I am a naval officer with deep pockets in 1810. What is the most powerful spyglass I could outift my ship with? And what was the power of the typical spyglass?

unpopularhispanic

Who is considered a genuine historian? A teacher friend of mine has a bachelors in history, and he teaches history at a high school. He calls himself a historian, is this accurate? What are the credentials a true historian must possess?

AtlasClone

When, and how was Earth popularised as the name of the planet, and why didn't we pick something cooler?

Martin7431

Maybe a stupid question?

Would the Romans have had accents similar to Italians today, or would they sound foreign to a modern Italian (not in language, in accent)?

AH_LA_questioner

Is there a modern equivalent of a classic "chronicle" being maintained by any organization (s) right now in the world?

By that I mean a recorded, mundane description of everything that is happening, and being maintained specifically to keep a factual record?

I'm sure this exists in part through many outlets, but I'm wondering if there's any groups out there trying to specifically record all of human history in a bland, factual chronology.

evin_cashman

Rewatching The Pacific and when Eugene Sledge was sent to Pavuvu prior to the invasion of Peleliu, his friend Sid Phillips was there and had previously fought on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester. But Phillips was sent home prior to Peleliu, but in the show and according to his Wikipedia he wasn't wounded.

What reasons would soldiers have been sent home during the 2nd World War if not for treatment (or prison for discipline I suppose) and how would the soldiers have been selected? Was it just luck that someone may be needed for the Home Front?

AH_LA_questioner

Anyone here have an opinion on "Heroic Failure and the British" by Stephanie Barczewski?

I was pointed to it by an online recommendation engine. It seems to me to be "serious history" told from an accessible POV. But I also wonder if it's too "pop history"-ish.

AH_LA_questioner

Did Argentina attempt to recruit any other nations as allies against the British in the Falklands War?

comix_corp

Orwell was reported to have small tattoos on his hands. Do we have photos of them?

TacSponge

When does 'to' (or an equivalent) appear as a marker for infinitive verbs in English (or its predecessors), as we would use it now.

Slendiepancake

I'm looking for the name of the man who said he was going to "put Tucker into the dirt". Talking about Tucker, I mean Preston Tucker, creator of the Tucker 48'. He was a senator but that's all I know about his background. If it helps, he also filed a subpoena against Howard Hughes. I've been looking for hours for this guy's name but I can't seem to find him anywhere. Please and thank you in advance!

SmithProduction

What was the date that the first cable box in history was invented?

Noir20

Who was the first person to celebrate their birthday and why

cheeza89

Did people really spin during one-on-one sword fighting during the medieval period or is this just flair for films/TV?

BmoreDude92

I am a computer scientist that actually started out as a History major, I regret changing. Liberty university has online Masters and PhD's, would you all say those are respected. I want to get a graduate level degree just for fun. Do you think an online PhD is respected?