/r/askhistorians

Title	Upvotes	Author
In Leonardo Da Vinci's 1503 Map of Valdichiana there is a large body of water that no longer appears on satellite imagery. What happened to the large lake at the center of the map?	319	AsmallDinosaur
The citizens of France gifted the Statue of Liberty to America, paying for all of it through private donations and building it themselves. Are their any other examples in history of one country gifting another country such a lavish and privately funded gift?	319	El_Monstero29
The later models of B-29 had automated gun sighting so one person could aim multiple machine gun turrets at a single target. Are there any accounts of this being successfully used? How accurate was it? Was it a reliable defense system or did the plane more benefit from its altitude and speed?	319	senrnariz
Do we have any evidence of ancient Indian stories like the "Mahabharata" and the "Ramayana"? What is the chance they are based on true events, rather than pure legends?	319	premeddit
For decades in America, hitchhiking was common and deemed reasonably safe. However, it is virtually non-existent today. What caused the shift in opinion?	319	facadesintheday
Is there any explanation why cold/temperate countries tend to be more developed than warm weather countries and why this trend reversed from ancient times?	319	acvdk
Is there any archaeological evidence of Queen Boudicca aside from a few lines in Tacitus' writings?	319	jamesmith452116
When coffee was beginning to catch on in Europe in the seventeenth century, was it used as a “working drink” (as today) or just a recreational one? Would a Dutch merchant have done his paperwork with a cup of coffee on his desk?	319	Ormond-Is-Here
The founding of the Iroquois Confederacy is usually dated around 1450, but some push it back to the 1100s. What are the arguments for and against both positions?	319	Xaminaf
Much is made of the Roman Legions' techniques, equipment, technological superiority, martial prowess, etc., but it seems the Gauls truly terrified them. How is it that a few tribes of undisciplined, likely ill-equipped bunch of borderline hunter-gatherers managed to repeatedly destroy Roman legions?	319	EndTimesRadio

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