/r/askhistorians

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Several photos of Iranian women before the Islamic Revolution circulate the internet. But I've seen people refute the view that Iran was progressive by saying this was limited to a small rich elite, and that the great majority of women had no substantial rights. Is this true?

2997 upvotes • Red_Galiray

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Confederate politicians were quite unambiguous in their defences of slavery. However, by the end of the 19th century, some Confederate veterans were insisting the Civil War had been about "states' rights." What was the contemporary reaction to these attempts to whitewash the Confederacy?

2996 upvotes • Vladith

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In Orwell's 'The Road to Wigan Pier', he rails against 'sandal-wearing... pistachio-coloured shirts... vegetarians... doing yoga exercises...' types of people ruining the socialist cause. We'd call them hippies today, but Orwell wrote this book in the 30s. Who were these inter-war hippies?

2995 upvotes • vorgan

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Why are ancient and medieval recipes so vague? Often lacking amounts, instructions, or times, they seem quite vague. Were they intended to be some sort of inspiration, rather than direct instructions?

2995 upvotes • Pen-Money

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What popular Christmas traditions haven't survived to the modern day?

2992 upvotes • fireballs619

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Watching the new Aladdin (which according to the Disney wiki is set during the Islamic Golden Age), there are scenes where the princess says she wants to rule the kingdom. I know we are not talking historical realism here but what would have been the reaction if a woman said such during the era?

2992 upvotes • Chicken_Spanker

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Did the Romans know that the Great Pyramid of Giza was 2500 year old?

2991 upvotes • M4N0LOL

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What could you actually buy for 30 pieces of silver in circa AD 30 Jerusalem?

2991 upvotes • Withmyrespect

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1960s: Could a white male 18-year-old American really get a union factory job with good benefits just by more-or-less showing up at the factory in a suit with his HS diploma in hand?

2991 upvotes • Kufat

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Why did the Chinese switch from using forks in the Shang dynasty to using chopsticks in the Han?

2991 upvotes • HugeLegendaryTurtle

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Several photos of Iranian women before the Islamic Revolution circulate the internet. But I've seen people refute the view that Iran was progressive by saying this was limited to a small rich elite, and that the great majority of women had no substantial rights. Is this true?	2997	Red_Galiray
Confederate politicians were quite unambiguous in their defences of slavery. However, by the end of the 19th century, some Confederate veterans were insisting the Civil War had been about "states' rights." What was the contemporary reaction to these attempts to whitewash the Confederacy?	2996	Vladith
In Orwell's 'The Road to Wigan Pier', he rails against 'sandal-wearing... pistachio-coloured shirts... vegetarians... doing yoga exercises...' types of people ruining the socialist cause. We'd call them hippies today, but Orwell wrote this book in the 30s. Who were these inter-war hippies?	2995	vorgan
Why are ancient and medieval recipes so vague? Often lacking amounts, instructions, or times, they seem quite vague. Were they intended to be some sort of inspiration, rather than direct instructions?	2995	Pen-Money
What popular Christmas traditions haven't survived to the modern day?	2992	fireballs619
Watching the new Aladdin (which according to the Disney wiki is set during the Islamic Golden Age), there are scenes where the princess says she wants to rule the kingdom. I know we are not talking historical realism here but what would have been the reaction if a woman said such during the era?	2992	Chicken_Spanker
Did the Romans know that the Great Pyramid of Giza was 2500 year old?	2991	M4N0LOL
What could you actually buy for 30 pieces of silver in circa AD 30 Jerusalem?	2991	Withmyrespect
1960s: Could a white male 18-year-old American really get a union factory job with good benefits just by more-or-less showing up at the factory in a suit with his HS diploma in hand?	2991	Kufat
Why did the Chinese switch from using forks in the Shang dynasty to using chopsticks in the Han?	2991	HugeLegendaryTurtle