/r/AskHistorians

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Albert Einstein described China as "a peculiar herd-like nation" and its residents as "more like automatons than people." How long have westerners expressed similar views of China as being an "overly orderly" place? Why has this type of misperception been so persistent?

142 upvotes • TendingTheirGarden

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Today, Neo-Nazis and white supremacists have taken a liking to Viking iconography. With that in mind, what were the Vikings' views on race?

142 upvotes • HistoryLord

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When did it (if it even is now) become legally expected of you to be able to read?

142 upvotes • GendryTheStagKnight

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With regards to European nobility, "minor nobility" is sometimes referenced (e.g. John came from a family of minor nobility). What exactly makes them "minor" in comparison to other nobles and how would their lives differ?

142 upvotes • krushkingdom

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The Kingdom of Kongo was by all accounts a powerful 15th century polity. What did their social hierarchy and administration look like? What were the most important parts of their economy? How did the triangle trade change these things?

142 upvotes • lcnielsen

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When the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, as this bomb was a top secret project, what was the reaction of the American and worldwide civilian population to the existence of the weapon?

142 upvotes • flyingbarmitzvah

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Would a scholar living in classical Greece know more about the personal life of Homer than a modern scholar? When was information about the composer of the Iliad and Odyssey lost?

142 upvotes • Mr_Quinn

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In 1942, the USMC was preparing to invade Guadalcanal from New Zealand but had to improvise because the dock workers were on strike. With the Japanese winning at that point, what gave the local workers confidence to undermine the war effort despite the enemy at their doorstep?

142 upvotes • jsu152

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Could King Henry VII of England speak Welsh?

142 upvotes • Sata1991

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When did Spoilers start becoming a thing? Would people intentionally ruin the ending to Casablanca or Gone With The Wind? How about the latest Sherlock Holmes, or the Odyssey?

142 upvotes • TeHokioi

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Albert Einstein described China as "a peculiar herd-like nation" and its residents as "more like automatons than people." How long have westerners expressed similar views of China as being an "overly orderly" place? Why has this type of misperception been so persistent?	142	TendingTheirGarden
Today, Neo-Nazis and white supremacists have taken a liking to Viking iconography. With that in mind, what were the Vikings' views on race?	142	HistoryLord
When did it (if it even is now) become legally expected of you to be able to read?	142	GendryTheStagKnight
With regards to European nobility, "minor nobility" is sometimes referenced (e.g. John came from a family of minor nobility). What exactly makes them "minor" in comparison to other nobles and how would their lives differ?	142	krushkingdom
The Kingdom of Kongo was by all accounts a powerful 15th century polity. What did their social hierarchy and administration look like? What were the most important parts of their economy? How did the triangle trade change these things?	142	lcnielsen
When the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, as this bomb was a top secret project, what was the reaction of the American and worldwide civilian population to the existence of the weapon?	142	flyingbarmitzvah
Would a scholar living in classical Greece know more about the personal life of Homer than a modern scholar? When was information about the composer of the Iliad and Odyssey lost?	142	Mr_Quinn
In 1942, the USMC was preparing to invade Guadalcanal from New Zealand but had to improvise because the dock workers were on strike. With the Japanese winning at that point, what gave the local workers confidence to undermine the war effort despite the enemy at their doorstep?	142	jsu152
Could King Henry VII of England speak Welsh?	142	Sata1991
When did Spoilers start becoming a thing? Would people intentionally ruin the ending to Casablanca or Gone With The Wind? How about the latest Sherlock Holmes, or the Odyssey?	142	TeHokioi