/r/AskHistorians

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I've seen Viking skulls with filed-down teeth. Do we know how common this was, and why the Vikings did it? Wouldn't it have made chewing difficult?

471 upvotes • RusticBohemian

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In Saving Private Ryan (1998) Tom Hanks (b. 1956) and Ted Danson (b. 1943) play U.S. Army/Airbone characters with the rank of Captain. Was it common for men in their early 40s to early 50s to be in such active combat roles in the US military during WWII?

471 upvotes • MF_Bfg

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Are there known events where a court jester actually made a difference?

471 upvotes • Koekjesplant101

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Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese WW2 holdout who surrendered in 1974, had an incredible true story. But in 2005, Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 85, emerged from the Philippine jungle and claimed to be holdouts as well. Was their story ever verified?

471 upvotes • killahamron

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In the classical world, were there any "barbarian" philosophers?

470 upvotes • SovietTr0llGuy

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How did the Woman fighting in the Red Army during WWII feel about the mass rape committed by the Soviets?

470 upvotes • IrishEv

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It seems like Zhukov did a lot for Berlin after the war and was fair to them saying "Hate the Nazism but respect the German people" So how was Zhukov seen by the German population after the war? Did they hate him for winning or respect him?

470 upvotes • vertexoflife

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When and why did households in the United States change from multigenerational being the norm, to being something unusual, weird and (often) distasteful?

470 upvotes • maskull

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In the early Middle Ages the belief in Witchcraft was condemned as "unChristian" by high-ranking churchmen, as well as by Charlemagne. At the same time, both secular and canon law decreed that Witchcraft existed, had power, and deserved punishment. How were these contrary positions resolved?

470 upvotes • boffcheese

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Stalin disappeared for several days following Hitler's invasion of Russia. Was he blackout drunk, expecting to be overthrown, or was he planning brilliant counterattacks in secret meetings? I've heard both versions, and they both sound like propaganda.

470 upvotes • st_sebastian

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
I've seen Viking skulls with filed-down teeth. Do we know how common this was, and why the Vikings did it? Wouldn't it have made chewing difficult?	471	RusticBohemian
In Saving Private Ryan (1998) Tom Hanks (b. 1956) and Ted Danson (b. 1943) play U.S. Army/Airbone characters with the rank of Captain. Was it common for men in their early 40s to early 50s to be in such active combat roles in the US military during WWII?	471	MF_Bfg
Are there known events where a court jester actually made a difference?	471	Koekjesplant101
Hiroo Onoda, the Japanese WW2 holdout who surrendered in 1974, had an incredible true story. But in 2005, Yoshio Yamakawa, 87, and Tsuzuki Nakauchi, 85, emerged from the Philippine jungle and claimed to be holdouts as well. Was their story ever verified?	471	killahamron
In the classical world, were there any "barbarian" philosophers?	470	SovietTr0llGuy
How did the Woman fighting in the Red Army during WWII feel about the mass rape committed by the Soviets?	470	IrishEv
It seems like Zhukov did a lot for Berlin after the war and was fair to them saying "Hate the Nazism but respect the German people" So how was Zhukov seen by the German population after the war? Did they hate him for winning or respect him?	470	vertexoflife
When and why did households in the United States change from multigenerational being the norm, to being something unusual, weird and (often) distasteful?	470	maskull
In the early Middle Ages the belief in Witchcraft was condemned as "unChristian" by high-ranking churchmen, as well as by Charlemagne. At the same time, both secular and canon law decreed that Witchcraft existed, had power, and deserved punishment. How were these contrary positions resolved?	470	boffcheese
Stalin disappeared for several days following Hitler's invasion of Russia. Was he blackout drunk, expecting to be overthrown, or was he planning brilliant counterattacks in secret meetings? I've heard both versions, and they both sound like propaganda.	470	st_sebastian