Today:
Welcome to this week's instalment of /r/AskHistorians' Sunday Digest (formerly the Day of Reflection). Nobody can read all the questions and answers that are posted here, so in this thread we invite you to share anything you'd like to highlight from the last week - an interesting discussion, an informative answer, an insightful question that was overlooked, or anything else.
I was searching for posts relating to Einstein’s life and stumbled upon this interesting unanswered question relating to statelessness at the turn of the 20th century by u/SanguozhiTongsuYan. Would love to see it get a response!
Gather round one and all and feast your eyes on the Sunday Digest! The finest collection of history threads put together each week by the most dedicated of mad men. Grab yourself a drink, pull up a seat, and immerse yourself in some fascinating history!
Also, to the awesome user who PM’ed me 3 times this week to say nothing EVER gets answered, this ones for you comrade. Enjoy the treasure trove of threads.
Don’t forget to thank those brilliant authors and upvote your favorites!
/u/WRQuinn joined us for a fantastic AMA in I am Dr. William Quinn, co-author of 'Boom and Bust: A Global History of Financial Bubbles', here to discuss the history of financial bubbles and crises. AMA!
Then check out perhaps one of the most important Rules Roundtables yet (IMO). Rules Roundtable XXIV: What Can a Non-Flair Do to Help?
We have a fantastic new AskHistorians Podcast Episode 154 - The Sasanian Empire.
It was a pretty busy Thursday Reading and Rec thread.
Anniversaries, education discussions and more! It’s the Friday Free For All!
/u/CommodoreCoCo tackled the weekly META thread in How come sometimes I'll see a question on this sub, it'll say there are multiple comments, but then when I open the question, it's just the auto-mod?
/u/swarthmoreburke has the spotlight in the Saturday Showcase!
Once again that wraps up my work this fine Sunday. Enjoy the historical haul of threads, stay safe during the week, and I’ll see you next weekend folk!
#The Real Questions
Well, I've been largely awol on this subreddit the last few weeks—partially because I have little sense of time in the age of corona, and partially because of video games—so I haven't kept up this weekly series as well as I'd originally intended. But I'm trying to keep better track, so let's get back to it. (I've also recently learned that no one actually gets notified if you tag more than three people in a comment, so I guess now I finally understand /u/gankom's format for these things and may or may not be about to steal it.)
Here, we honor the more atypical questions that get asked here: the bizarre, abnormal, strangely niche or oddly specific, interestingly worded or built on uncommon premises, or otherwise amusing questions that make me say, "Finally, someone is asking the real questions." We look at little-known customs, unexpected historical anecdotes, unusual cultural traits, and other more unique questions that go beyond the regular brand of sociopolitical history that this subreddit so fabulously covers.
I don't have many this week, but check below for all my entries. And let me know for what you think deserves the title for the realest questions of the week!
Take some time to take a look at those interesting yet overlooked questions that still cry out for an answer. Feel free to post up your own, or any other question that’s caught your eye but still waits for a post.
/u/screwyoushadowban asked Does it matter whether or not Frederick the Great* would be considered gay by contemporary standards?
/u/Withmyrespect asked During the age of sail, did letters of marque actually offer any legal protections to captured pirates?
/u/piece_of_water asked How did Canada react to German unification in 1871 ?