/r/AskHistorians

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I have heard Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel. Don Quixote itself is a parody of books I would consider novels. What differentiates these pre-modern novels from modern novels?

3616 upvotes • Fumblerful-

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How did CollegeBoard manage to get its SAT and AP tests to be such important steps in getting into most universities in the US?

3614 upvotes • tecrush

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Did any Native American civilization possibly know that there was land and people beyond the Americas? Did they have any mythological tales about the rest of the world?

3614 upvotes • theSmartPenguin23

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Did Americans Start Viewing Alcohol as a “Nighttime Drink” Because of Prohibition?

3614 upvotes • gingerella19

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1) Did private detectives like Sherlock Holmes, a person without police background, actually exist and 2) would police have ever called them in to help with tricky cases?

3614 upvotes • Taivasvaeltaja

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It is said the stoic philosopher Chrysippus died of laughter after seeing a donkey eating figs. What's the joke here?

3613 upvotes • TcheQuevara

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I'm a Roman soldier fighting another Roman in the numerous civil wars. Do I feel remorse for fighting and killing my countrymen rather than the "barbarians"? Or is the concept of "countrymen" anachronistic during Antiquity?

3612 upvotes • Legitimate_Twist

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People say they want historically accurate "medieval fantasy". NSFW

3611 upvotes • Tigaget

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Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia, first brewed as a drink in Yemen, and was first introduced to Europe by the Turks. How then did "Java", an Indonesian island, become the source of a popular name for the drink while no other place had that happen?

3611 upvotes • derstherower

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will someone please help identify and provide context on my polish grandmother’s papers from when she was sent by father to work at a nazi camp?

3608 upvotes • grayyy_cee

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
I have heard Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel. Don Quixote itself is a parody of books I would consider novels. What differentiates these pre-modern novels from modern novels?	3616	Fumblerful-
How did CollegeBoard manage to get its SAT and AP tests to be such important steps in getting into most universities in the US?	3614	tecrush
Did any Native American civilization possibly know that there was land and people beyond the Americas? Did they have any mythological tales about the rest of the world?	3614	theSmartPenguin23
Did Americans Start Viewing Alcohol as a “Nighttime Drink” Because of Prohibition?	3614	gingerella19
1) Did private detectives like Sherlock Holmes, a person without police background, actually exist and 2) would police have ever called them in to help with tricky cases?	3614	Taivasvaeltaja
It is said the stoic philosopher Chrysippus died of laughter after seeing a donkey eating figs. What's the joke here?	3613	TcheQuevara
I'm a Roman soldier fighting another Roman in the numerous civil wars. Do I feel remorse for fighting and killing my countrymen rather than the "barbarians"? Or is the concept of "countrymen" anachronistic during Antiquity?	3612	Legitimate_Twist
People say they want historically accurate "medieval fantasy". NSFW	3611	Tigaget
Coffee was first cultivated in Ethiopia, first brewed as a drink in Yemen, and was first introduced to Europe by the Turks. How then did "Java", an Indonesian island, become the source of a popular name for the drink while no other place had that happen?	3611	derstherower
will someone please help identify and provide context on my polish grandmother’s papers from when she was sent by father to work at a nazi camp?	3608	grayyy_cee