/r/AskHistorians

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How come there isn't a large group of languages descended from Greek?

4669 upvotes • Little-Essay

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According to an NBC Article, Presidents from Truman to H.W. Bush have been asked by military commanders to launch nuclear weapons at one point during their Presidencies. What spurred this advice from military commanders and why were they so quick to recommend it, knowing the almost certain outcome?

4660 upvotes • astro124

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If you ordered a whiskey from a saloon back in the old west, like in Tombstone or Deadwood in the ~1870's, what was the likely origin and quality of what you'd be drinking?

4655 upvotes • 766AP

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In the Netflix original film "Outlaw King", the Prince of Wales is shown using the "dragon banner" to justify raping and pillaging Scottish lands with impunity. Was there such a thing as a dragon flag used by the Plantagenet kings, and what was its significance?

4654 upvotes • benetgladwin

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Why are the 12 disciples typically depicted as middle aged men, when they are most likely teenagers/yound adults?

4645 upvotes • victorpras

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Marco Polo is quoted to have said on his deathbed, "I did not tell half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed." What things may he not have described to the public and why?

4644 upvotes • philipjames11

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Forget Columbus, forget Lief Erikson. Why does nobody talk about Polynesians discovering the Americas?

4635 upvotes • Bripbropdroptop

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What pop history book has done the most damage to the study of your particular subfield?

4635 upvotes • AidanGLC

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"Sk8er Boi" (A. Lavigne 2002) argues that in high school dynamics, the so-called 'skaters' were low on the social pecking order. How accurately does this work represent turn-of-the-century teenage social order (at least in North American city/suburban schools)?

4628 upvotes • jelvinjs7

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Where did the "floor is hot lava" game come from? I remember playing this game when I was a kid back in the 60s. How long has the floor been hot lava?

4626 upvotes • moosevan

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
How come there isn't a large group of languages descended from Greek?	4669	Little-Essay
According to an NBC Article, Presidents from Truman to H.W. Bush have been asked by military commanders to launch nuclear weapons at one point during their Presidencies. What spurred this advice from military commanders and why were they so quick to recommend it, knowing the almost certain outcome?	4660	astro124
If you ordered a whiskey from a saloon back in the old west, like in Tombstone or Deadwood in the ~1870's, what was the likely origin and quality of what you'd be drinking?	4655	766AP
In the Netflix original film "Outlaw King", the Prince of Wales is shown using the "dragon banner" to justify raping and pillaging Scottish lands with impunity. Was there such a thing as a dragon flag used by the Plantagenet kings, and what was its significance?	4654	benetgladwin
Why are the 12 disciples typically depicted as middle aged men, when they are most likely teenagers/yound adults?	4645	victorpras
Marco Polo is quoted to have said on his deathbed, "I did not tell half of what I saw, for I knew I would not be believed." What things may he not have described to the public and why?	4644	philipjames11
Forget Columbus, forget Lief Erikson. Why does nobody talk about Polynesians discovering the Americas?	4635	Bripbropdroptop
What pop history book has done the most damage to the study of your particular subfield?	4635	AidanGLC
"Sk8er Boi" (A. Lavigne 2002) argues that in high school dynamics, the so-called 'skaters' were low on the social pecking order. How accurately does this work represent turn-of-the-century teenage social order (at least in North American city/suburban schools)?	4628	jelvinjs7
Where did the "floor is hot lava" game come from? I remember playing this game when I was a kid back in the 60s. How long has the floor been hot lava?	4626	moosevan