I am a high school history teacher finalizing my preparations for a world history class. One thing I'm trying to emphasize, is assigning my students to read primary sources for each of the regions and periods we cover in class.

I'm looking for a good primary source related to Tang dynasty China, specifically a description of the capital city of Chang'an. I'd like a primary source to showcase the city in its metropolitan glory, as the terminus for the Silk Road, with visitors from all over Eurasia.

I got Reischauer's translation of 'Ennin's Diary' (Buddhist pilgrim from Japan who visited Chang'an in mid-800s) but that barely had any description about the city and almost all of it is related to Buddhist monasteries or holidays.

Do any of you know of a primary source that would qualify here?

(Another option I'm considering, is a primary source related to the Grand Canal, given its incredible scale and importance in connecting north and south halves of China during this period. A Sui-era source related to the construction of the Grand Canal would also be great, if I could find one).

It is very standard for fantasy languages to be called simply "Common". Has any culture in history ever called its own language this?

Y'know, like Tolkien or D&D and stuff.

Hi there, I'm trying to help a friend with a question about an interesting piece of Sikh artwork (linked below). He explains the context and question in his message here:

Attached is an image of a "rumala" - a fabric draped over the Sikh holy text, the Granth Sahib, as a sign of respect. I'm told the item was acquired at a Sothey's auction, and was possibly commissioned by Sikhs settled in China, perhaps Shanghai, c.1900.

The rumala has an embroidered drawing of the conclave of the Sikh Gurus, a well-known theme. Every detail in the drawing carries meaning and is familiar, EXCEPT one: at the very centre is an object never seen in any such drawing.

The object is presumably something of significance in China, added by local craftsmen. If its inclusion in the rumala was approved by its Sikh sponsors, it means the object symbolized reverence or respect in the local culture.

Question: what does this object represent?

Object detail
Scene detail
The rumala

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Hi all, this might not be the appropriate place to ask this question but i don't know where else to post this(please do tell me if you know). I would like to know what the consensus is on this subreddit on the current controversy around the call for reddit to take action against all the misinformation e.g. . I hold the opinion of people on this subreddit in high regard and would love some insight in whether reddit taking action against this information would be a good idea or not according to historians.

How an infantry battle actually happened? (I need specific answers)

So among these scenerios👇 what was actually happened in an infantry vs infantry battle/fight?

1. One side stood and made sheild wall. The other side came charging at them. A splash sound of shield touching shields. Now both side pushing each other and poking each other into the gaps of other's shield with spear or sword. This kills a lot of soldiers. Battle ends until one line gets thinner and decides to retreat.

2. Two side slowly close in the gaps between them. Until they make a small no man's land infront of them. Now they stand and with their long spear tries to poke each other. Until one side's casualty is high and decides to retreat.

3. Two side charges at each other. Enemy is here and there inside each side's formation. Now killing starts. Expert swordsman wins this as he kills a lot.

Thanks!

How hard is the book Orientalism by Edward Said? It is possible to grasp its idea with a lay men's knowledge or not? It's essential to read it with you want to understand the Historiography about the Middle-East and Asia in general or the history of the region?

What were some of the most widely available/ popular books throughout history, aside from religious texts?

I assume various religious texts have tended to often been widely available, though some religious practices have also notoriously been more secretive.

What other books were widely available and popular through various eras of history? Again, obviously prior the the printing press widely available or popular might work on a different scale of magnitude.

(A mod said this was a better quick question than a main post previously?)

When & How did Arizona surpass New Mexico in population and economically?

Why did southern Arizona become the retirement hot ^^^^(hehe) spot and not New Mexico?

What were the world's 10 most populous "cities" at the start of the 1800's (in the year 1800, if it needs to be specific)?

Meta question - what are some sources of information about methodologies straddling the boundaries between history and prehistory? I am interested in how non-textual resources are evaluated for relevance and value. And related to this, how research from fields like archaeology and paleoanthropology are considered by historians. I assume there are different perspectives, and so I would also be interested in reading various points of view.

For someone who is casually interested in medieval Europe, would it be worth it to pick up a primary source, such as Froissart's Chronicles? I've read Tuchman's A Distant Mirror and a few other secondary sources. Are medieval texts difficult to read or get into as a layman? Thanks.

Are there tips on how to read biographies? Some biographies make references to events, places, people, organizations I am not familiar with. Should one get an overview of the period first?

I'm looking for an Illustrated history of the Middle Ages. Something similar to this picture of a page out of the times history of the world I took (https://m.imgur.com/a/sTPigxE), but specific for the middle ages. I already have a few courses and many books on the middle ages, just nothing for visual reference and laden with maps.

I've found The Cambridge Illustrated History of the middle ages and The Oxford Illustrated History of Medieval Europe, though I don't know how good either of these are.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

How aware were Meccans of Jewish beliefs? Did they have no grasp, some knowledge, or much more than we think they did?

Is it true that Dante Gabriel Rossetti never bathed? In Ford Madox Ford's novel "Some Do Not..." the protagonist makes this claim as part of a rant. Obviously this is a work of fiction but a) Ford Madox Ford was related to Rossetti somehow, nephew or second cousin or something like that, b) he wrote a monograph (which i haven't read) on Rossetti, and c) Rossetti had lot of physical and mental health problems, there are so many weird stories about him that it doesn't seem totally incredible.

My friend's mum's dad was a signalman in the Royal Navy seconded to the US Navy in the Pacific and took the signal when the Japanese sent their surrender signal. Which ship first took the signal? I'd love to be able to give them the name to help research more about him. Thank you so much!

I just signed up for History Hit TV. Are there any programs you'd recommend? I'm especially interested in the middle ages, Germanic and Celtic peoples, and ancient history.

Hello, where can I find a full translation, whether it be in spanish or english, of the Kitāb
al-ʻIbar wa-Dīwān al-Mubtadaʼ wa-l-Khabar fī Taʼrīkh al-ʻArab
wa-l-Barbar wa-Man ʻĀṣarahum min Dhawī ash-Shaʼn al-Akbār, or Book
of Lessons, Record of Beginnings and Events in the History of the Arabs
and the Berbers and Their Powerful Contemporaries by Ibn Khaldun?

A long time ago, a friend wrote a note to me containing what I now know is a variation on the Epicurean Tetrapharmakos. However, his version had an extra line—five in all—and I can’t find it anywhere. I don’t know if he invented/appended it.

It went like this:

What is good is easy to obtain What is terrible is easy able to be endured Do not fear god Do not fear death And love without reason.

Does anyone recognize this with the last line included from any historical source? Thanks!

What was the Pay like for Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the First World War? I'm especially interested in that of Austria-Hungary, Germany and the Ottomans i.e. the Central Powers as there isn't much in the way for them online.

Hello, everybody. Has anybody used these apps: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyisfun.romanempire and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.historyisfun.spartanarmy ? If so, are they good starting points for getting into the Roman Empire, and do they have good and real information(done some research on my own and the facts do match with other sources but I just want another perspective)? And does anybody have good resources for beginners for learning about the Roman Empire, preferably books? Thank you.

I am looking for a good history of the English Civil Wars. A complete history would be best, though I am not so interested in the actual tactical battlefield side of things. My favorite author is Andrew Roberts, and my favorite book is the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by Shirer. The Rise and Fall style is what I am more looking for.

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What is the English Civil Wars version of the Battle Cry of Freedom?