Hi, would anyone who works within the history field be willing to do an informational interview with me over email or pm? It's for a school assignment, I need to interview someone working in the field I'm looking to get into. The questions are literally just going to be about your work and a few about education. I can provide proof that this is a real assignment and everything if you need. Thank you.

So its time for my yearly deep dive into a Total War game. Well, historical Total War anyway, I spend a lot of time in the Warhammer one. I choose between Shogun or Troy for the simple reason being I got both for free and friends play both so theres discussion to be had.

Now I'm sure there's plenty of other Total War fans, not to mention other historical games. I've asked before about peoples weirdest or funnies stories, but what are peoples most satisfactory? What campaign took 150+ hours, but left you nodding happily to yourself?

One of mine has to be an Age of Empires 2 multiplayer game. 3V3, 3 humans vs the hardest AI. One guy disconnected 5 minutes into the match, and the other went afk as soon as the going got rough. It took 2 hours just to grind the AI down into some kind of stabilized "not on fire" situation, and another 2 to reach victory. Which coincidently was exactly how long it took for the AFK player to come back. But there's something good when a plan comes together. Defences in depth hold against waves of AI, while hit and run fighting slowly depletes the enemies resources.

I am reading Umberto Eco’s The Name of The Rose and enjoying all of the intricate historical detail WAY more than I thought i would. Especially the theological disputes between the different sects of monks and how they aligned politically with the pope and the empire, and how all of this related to the growth of secular wealth in Italy. And of course the fascinating history of how monastic libraries would collect all of these esoteric texts from around the medieval world.

Anybody have any insight into how accurate Eco’s treatment of this material is? Any nonfiction book recommendations where I could learn more about these themes in medieval history?

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Friday, September 25 - Thursday, October 01

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Here's a fun question that probably doesn't deserve its own thread:

If Lin-Manuel Miranda had read about a historical figure from your period, instead of Alexander Hamilton, who would his hit musical have been about?

I'm reading Benjamin Carter Hett's "The Death of Democracy" right now, a terrifying read about the fall of the Weimar Republic. It's exceptionally disturbing given our current political environment.

Question: does anyone know what center and center right politicians thought in retrospect of their decision to try to bring Hitler "into the state?" Did any of those politicians express regret?

I'm also interested in some further reading. One thing I enjoy about this book is each chapter begins with short vignettes drawn from actual history. These little scenes of Germans experiencing life in the Weimar Republic really make the history come alive.

Any recommendations for books that collect rememberances from German who lived through the period after Hitler became chancellor?

I'm currently reading Barzun's From Dawn to Decadence, and I'm really enjoying it. His writing style is great. Is there a similar author who has covered non-European history in a style similar to Barzun?

I know its been crossposted already, but anyone checking out this thread should also head over to r/Fantasy and see some of our hardworking mods giving an AMA! Usually we're hosting them, now is a chance for some of our great writers to get some attention themselves!

r/AskHistorians Enter Stage Right - Ask Them Anything!

Do most of you read history books on ereaders/tablets like Kindle or Nook? If so, what do you like/dislike about the experience? Or do you normally buy physical books? I prefer physical books most of the time. But digital ones are much less expensive. I wish digital books were more easily searchable and navigable.

Hey! Anyone who studies the Roman Empire, Early Christianity, Celtic History, can I get some reading recommendations?

I want to know about the period of about 330-350 AD in Britain, Ireland, Northern France. How Christianity was spreading and about the tribal celts and gauls in the area (if those are even the right terms)

A good overview book wouldn't hurt, but quick resources are good too. Thanks!

I keep seeing a feature in Medieval European castles labeled a "domestic range," but I'm not sure what it refers to. It looks like it's a row of buildings on one wall, but I don't know anything more specific. Anyone know?

I've been reading Juan Cole's blog and notice his excitement with inscriptions coming out of the rocks around Medina dating to the early period of Islam and even mentioning historic figures.

There seem to be a ton of these inscriptions, did no one notice them for centuries or were they known to local people or scholars but looked on with disinterest?

During Hanseatic league's function, did the league try to prevent Russian commercial traveler from entering Europe countries?