When did night caps (the things people wore on their head at bedtime) get phased out?

How do we decipher a newly discovered language which is not spoken or understood by anyone in the world?

Not sure if it’s a right place but, what is so special about mona lisa?

How much do we actually know about medieval peasant culture and how do we know it? It's my understanding that only wealthy people (presumably aristocrats) could afford to buy books, let alone have them written. So who was speaking for the peasants and how can we be sure that their representation was accurate?

Hi guys! When it comes to history my weak spot is what seems to be the favourite topic of a lot of history buffs: military.

Even a Total War thread is gibberish to me... do you know of any comprehensive "guide" to military history? Like warfare principles and how they changed through history... the way to wage and think about war in antiquity is very different from the Napoleonic one, who's very different from the urban war of the XX century, right?

How can I understand what a cavalry charge is and what's its purpose?

Thank you!

I've read a while ago, that besides surviving 2 books (Odyssey and Iliad), Homer wrote 10 other books that didn't survive. tried to verify with a quick google search but couldn't find anything. Did I mix up anything? what are the sources?

In the Age of the Sail, the ship's cannons must shoot in order, of they can shoot in random order? I mean, they shot for example from left to right or they can shoot when they want?

What happened to the korean royal family after japan took over?

How did black people safely travel during Jim Crow?

Which Christian countries produced the most and which produces the least the crusaders during the crusades?

Hi - I think this is a simple question, haven't found an answer after 1-2 hours of online searching though...

Why is it that in Japanese classical & medieval literature, some female given names feature the prefix O- while others don't? For example, in various readings I came across women named Okiku, Ohana, Okita, but also women simply named Tomoe, Masako or Yaeko. Considering the social status of these women and/or context in which these names were mentioned, as far as I can remember, I'm guessing the former were often commoners of low rank while the latter were nobles... if that is indeed correct, I'm curious about the origin of this naming convention & how it works exactly.

Why did the White and Black Sheep Turkomans called that? It can't be just that they had a lot of sheep in that color, can it?

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My question is regarding the Mongol Empire and where is the farthest an ethnically Mongolian has travelled to in Europe, be it for any reasons such as by scouting or sent as ambassadors. I have found out that Mongol scouts were seen in Switzerland and Austria in the Ogodei Khan's Conquest towards Hungary, but would like to find out a case recorded in history. Additionally, ambassadors were sent to Lyon, France to present a letter to the Pope but they were not ethnically Mongolians.

So, therefore, do you the good people here have any information on a person or people who managed to reach far into Europe?

Prior to WW2 with the Nazis, has there been any other documented groups in war that used drugs in order to become more effective soldiers?

How did the monneyage used by French kings to raise money in the Hundred Years War work? Did they force everyone to remind coins every year, or did it only apply to newly minted coins?

Also, reading Lord Sumption's books on the war, he often makes a distinction between the citadels in the Cité and Bourg of towns. What is the difference between these two?

How does one find a specific primary source? I know this sounds like a very stupid question, and I'm sure I've done this in the past. However, I am looking for something very specific.

I am looking for, I believe, the original French translation of Sherlock Holmes. I am specifically looking for Martin van Maële's illustrations of the stories, so it may not be the first printing.

My searches on the subject pull up what I believe to be modern reprinting of the book and I have no idea if I will find the illustrations with in them. Also I don't know any French.

I've run smack into a wall, I no longer have access to the data bases I did in college.

I feel so dumb.

What are good books about bonapartism?

Hello, I’ve looked into the question and couldn’t find anything relevant apart from lists of ships during the Golden Age. I understand that it depended on whatever they could get their hands on, but I am wondering what the most common ship was all over.

Another question which I’ve been researching for a few days, yet to no avail, is were there any frigates belonging to pirates. If so, how useful were they for plundering and pirating, as well as going into port?

I have a fair bit of research into both of these subjects and turned up nothing, so I would appreciate it if anyone could help me regarding these questions. Thanks in advance!

I have a question of religious history. My poly sci professor had mentioned this in passing once, and 15 minutes of google has failed to confirm or deny it, so I figured I’d ask here.

He said that when the concept of purgatory was introduced in the late middle ages, rich people would create hospitals and other services that were available free of charge, however, you had to spend a certain amount of time praying for the souls of the founder and their family to let them leave purgatory. Can anyone confirm of dney that this was a common practice among the elite?

Middle-Byzantine title for foreign ambassador?

so they had Logothetes tou Dromou, but what was the guy called that was sent to Charlemage's court, or traveled to samarra to discuss diplomacy with to Al-Mutasim, or make deals with Slavs?

Why did Kings allow the creation of Cadet branches of their royal houses? It seems more than likely it would cause succession crises decades later or at least competitors for the throne i.e. Bourbons vs Orleans and Lancaster vs York.

I was reading a Wikipedia article about the Influence of Buddhism in early Christianity and the first citation is: "McEvilley, p391".

It's someone's last name, not even his/her name and not the name of the book at all. I've seen this in Wikipedia a lot and sometimes in websites outside Wikipedia. Is it something normal among history scholars? I guess that this happens when an author is so famous and accepted that it's not necessary to mention the name of the book? Or maye with authors that have just one book? What's the reason?

During the Napoleonic wars, some types of cavalry regularly carried pistols. I'm wondering where these pistols would have been carried.

Would they have used a pommel holster attached to the saddle? Or would they have worn the pistol(s) on a cross belt or tucked into a sash/cumberbund around their waist? Or something else altogether?

Did it depend on the type of soldier they were (eg. dragoon, hussar or cuirassier) and/or was there any room for personal preference?

What's the name of the type of artstyle used on really old paintings/tins/signs/advertisements from the ~1800-1900's?

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https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1f/16/0d/1f160db60625da3bbf20797dda577f19.jpg Stuff like this. I don't have have anymore example on hand, sadly, but it's the really crisp, high detailed art such as in the one I linked before.

Does the The Economics of World War II: Six Great Powers in International Comparison cover the run-up to the war, and how economic pressures contributed to the conflict or is it focused on the relative economic machines that the countries had during the war?

Also, are there any other books on the economic causes of world war 2?

What did British people refer to WWI as early on in WWII? Say the first couple of years? Essentially, at what point during the war did it stop being referred to as "The War" or "The Great War", etc.?

I’m really interested in learning more about the Sacred Band of Thebes. I’m very interested in anything gay history, and considering they’re a literal army made up of gay men, I want to learn more about them.

The only book I found that focuses on the gay side is from 1862. I assume we’ve learned more about them since then! Any recommendations?

Does anyone know what happened to people in pre-modern societies who dodged taxes? Like what happened if a Publicani went to a Roman village, and the village just refused to give him anything, or only gave him a fraction of what they owed? Any insight on any society before roughly ~1700 would be appreciated.

Was there an artist from around the Renaissance era (or not long after it) who was really against sketching his artwork before painting or doing finer line works?

Instead of sketching he drew the contours of his subjects very neatly I remember. I hope someone recognize this person.

Does anyone know who this is? https://imgur.com/btYDcJY

What were popular nutjob flu-denier theories during the 1918 pandemic? It's a BuLL MOoSe HoAx - MoRE PEoPle DIe In bUGgy aCcIDentS!

What were the penalties for violating early American tariffs, such as the Tariff Act of 1789?

Did USA/USSR make a priority a continuous political "education" in West/East German militaries respectively during the mid to late Cold War? How keen were they (Germans) to even go to an offensive war?

Poverty-week question!

Quote from founding father (Jefferson?) About how people who can't afford necessities can't be free

something to the effect of "I struggle to imagine what sort of liberties could be had by someone who..."

The idea was, people who aren't economically secure aren't really 'free'

Who is this person on an aluminum pin? Text looks like cyrillic cursive. Central asia?

https://imgur.com/a/FKN5IdL

What was the longest war, or period of continual warfare, in human history? Fantasy novels often depict (especially in their histories) wars that rage for hundreds or even thousands of years - while the extreme examples of thousands of years seem obviously unrealistic to me, even the "shorter" wars of real-world history such as the Hundred's Year War have long breaks in them, as far as I'm aware.

What was the rough physical/geographical area of the Athenian Empire/Delian League? Thanks!

Did Jews and Arabs get along together in Palestine during Ottoman Empire from start until the end, to the British Mandate.

I’ve always heard mixed answers that at times there was peace but also violence happened.

Where did the name of the British political party known as "The Whigs" come from? Does the word "Whig" have any relationship to wearing powdered wigs worn by men in the 1500s and 1600s, or to any sort of hair covering?

Who invented the sandwich

Were all, or most, Europeans in the early crusades called "Franj" by people in the mid-East (from Frank)? I read it in a book and have never seen that anywhere else.

In 1770’s what methods, means, and arguments were made to convert Crown Loyalists in the American Colonies?

I hope there's no problem with re-posting an un-answered question from the last SASQ:

So, I've been picking my way through the (mostly) excellent History of Imperial China series, enjoying it very much, and very much enjoying the expansion of my knowledge of Chinese history. My reading on China prior to this was secluded to very large compendium books, so some level of detail on specific time periods is exactly what I was looking for.

However, the series focuses on Imperial China. I'm also very interested in the pre-Imperial, semi-historical periods of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States eras. I understand that primary sources are somewhat limited on these periods, but is there any good, academically sourced but more laymen friendly books on these two periods/the Eastern Zhou dynasty? I have a beginner's familiarity here, so I'm looking for something a little more in-depth, like the Imperial China series referenced at the beginning of the post.

When did spaying or neutering pets become so popular in America?

Need help finding information on this art work. https://imgur.com/gallery/pRsfP2q I believe it is a roman copy of Herakles holding the lions skin and his club. I think it made approximately around the 1st century bce but i would like to get more information about it please.

After extensive research i am still puzzled by the fact that no one online has seemed to question how Robert Kenndys, 13 days was published a year after his death? Was it his Book? was it taken from his diary? If anyone could help me find this out I will be really pleased. Thanks in advance!

Hi guys! Do you know any comprehensive book about the history of the steppe and their peoples? Apart from Grousset which I already have.

Are there any primary sources confirming "After Hitler, us!" was a slogan of the Communist party of Germany during Hitler's rise? Thanks!

What was the word used to describe when someone was given a rank based on either their social class or their aristocratic/noble title

For example when war arose someone with the aristocratic/noble title of Baronette would be given the rank of lieutenant rather than private even though they had no military experience or knowledge

Thank you for your time

In 1812, John Bellingham shot and killed the British prime minister, Spencer Perceval, in the House of Commons. You can still see the bloodstains. I remember reading something about an English company founded by his descendants that mentioned this and bitterly regret not bookmarking it. Who can tell me what the company's called?

I know that Nazi Germany censored Jewish composers’ music such as Mendelssohn’s, but did they censor Slavic composers’ music, like Dvorak’s, Chopin’s, and Tchaikovsky’s too?

What was the most popular language, in terms of number of speakers, between the 7th - 15th centuries (CE)?

What was the flag of the Visigoths under King Euric II in 476 CE, specifically during the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

Mary Jane Rathbun was a baker in San Francisco that helped during the AIDS crisis by baking pot brownies. Are there any books/interviews with her? I love learning about gay history, but she’s hardly mentioned! Her name is iconic- Mary Jane- but few remember why. Any help?

Are there any recommended books covering the Russian-Ottoman front of WWI (possibly, but not necessarily including the trans-Caucasian wars after Brest-Litovsk)?

Who is the samurai who committed seppuku in the 1600's to change his young and reckless master?

What version of the bible would the French Jesuit missions and the English missions use in their conversion of the Haudenosanee confederacy in the colonial period prior to the war of independnce?
I am looking for what bible they would have used as I am assuming it will be different to the one that is in wide circulation today? Due to the Jesuits being catholic I am assuming they used some form of 17th century catholic bible and the English missions I would assume would use the King James Bible?

Anyone that might have links, names or more knowledge on this area I would greatly appreciate hearing from!

What Type of Hat is This Commander (Iván Hindy) Wearing?

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/34/65/be/3465be24ad7abbc7a11bd0db47f4979b---october-world-war.jpg

What is the best book currently available re Henry VIII's wives? One accessible to a more public audience?

What was the difference between the Grand Châtelet and the Grand Châtelet in 14th century?

According to Wikipedia, the first castle built in 1124 at the site of Chateau de Saint-Germain-en-Laye was called the Grand Châtelet. Meanwhile, in the middle of Paris was a stronghold/court/prison of the same name.

Was there confusion on the matter, or was one of them called something else?

I just bought Bart van Loo's Napoleon and Wellinton the iron duke by Holmes Richard. Now I was wondering if there is a good book about naval warfare during the napoleonic wars. My specific interests go out to the used and preferred tactics.

I’m a Cheyenne teenager in 1850. What’s my daily meal plan?

I’m a homesteader in 1868 What’s my daily meal plan?

Do we know whether FDR wore diapers?

Hi. My question is pretty simple, but one that no one can seem to answer. What are the earliest preserved (not found) texts/documents/etc. ideally with some kind of confirmable date on it (rather than applied by experts after the fact). The earliest things I can find usually end up around 1800 for the discovery (things like the pyramids for example), and some maps that go back to the 1500s, along with some texts from the 1600s. Is there anything earlier? Did people just have no idea of history before then? was there nothing written down?

The reason I'm asking my question is that I always like to find the source for things, and every single topic whenever I check, always stems back to some european historians in the 1800s, and rarely stuff prior to that. Is that really all our understanding of history is based on? some archaelogical finds of historians from the 1800s?