/r/askhistorians

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

Did the use of the M1 Garand as a primary issue weapon during World War 2 give the American troops a sizable advantage considering the fact that the weapon was semi-automatic while other nations were widely using bolt-action rifles?

300 upvotes • WonderfulComplaint45

Mark as read: Add to a list

Agatha Christe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, and others wrote stories that prominently feature opium dens in London. How common were opium dens in London? Were they illegal? Or were these stories just perpetuating anti-Asian bias, common in stories at the time?

300 upvotes • ecdc05

Mark as read: Add to a list

When and how did the Japanese, Chinese and other Asian peoples come to learn of the existence of America?

300 upvotes • military_history

Mark as read: Add to a list

Did any ancient cultures actually sacrifice humans by throwing them into an active volcano?

300 upvotes • [deleted]

Mark as read: Add to a list

Where did the concept of 'jinxing' the good things in your life by speaking them out loud come from?

300 upvotes • practicaldildo

Mark as read: Add to a list

A guy at my work (who is 'Norse religion') claimed the Vikings only invaded England in order to acquire farmland. How true is this notion?

300 upvotes • [deleted]

Mark as read: Add to a list

In Nazi Germany, how common was it to end a letter with "Heil Hitler"?

300 upvotes • glasgowmichael

Mark as read: Add to a list

What was training like for Japanese Infantry during WW2?

300 upvotes • TheFrozenEmpire

Mark as read: Add to a list

What is the link between Mexican radio stations and Polka music? How did polka seem to become such a staple of Mexican culture?

300 upvotes • Spam4119

Mark as read: Add to a list

Did Archimedes really figure out buoyancy? Before him, did people just look at boats and go "Well, we have no idea how this works, or even how to go about figuring out how this works." ?

300 upvotes • ColbyStein

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Did the use of the M1 Garand as a primary issue weapon during World War 2 give the American troops a sizable advantage considering the fact that the weapon was semi-automatic while other nations were widely using bolt-action rifles?	300	WonderfulComplaint45
Agatha Christe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Dickens, and others wrote stories that prominently feature opium dens in London. How common were opium dens in London? Were they illegal? Or were these stories just perpetuating anti-Asian bias, common in stories at the time?	300	ecdc05
When and how did the Japanese, Chinese and other Asian peoples come to learn of the existence of America?	300	military_history
Did any ancient cultures actually sacrifice humans by throwing them into an active volcano?	300	[deleted]
Where did the concept of 'jinxing' the good things in your life by speaking them out loud come from?	300	practicaldildo
A guy at my work (who is 'Norse religion') claimed the Vikings only invaded England in order to acquire farmland. How true is this notion?	300	[deleted]
In Nazi Germany, how common was it to end a letter with "Heil Hitler"?	300	glasgowmichael
What was training like for Japanese Infantry during WW2?	300	TheFrozenEmpire
What is the link between Mexican radio stations and Polka music? How did polka seem to become such a staple of Mexican culture?	300	Spam4119
Did Archimedes really figure out buoyancy? Before him, did people just look at boats and go "Well, we have no idea how this works, or even how to go about figuring out how this works." ?	300	ColbyStein