/r/askhistorians

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Where there known serial killers before the 1800s and if so, how were those crimes investigated to be able to bring someone to justice? What would have been considered modern evidence for them?

184 upvotes • K_Xanthe

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When did the identity of Han become a meaningful self-identity in the mass general consciousness in China?

184 upvotes • MrMontage

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The imperial Chinese bureauceacy is famous for its merit based examinations. But reading up on it, it seems that those exams were mainly about literary analysis of confucian literature. Why? Being knowledgable about confucian literature does not help someone in his job as a civil servant.

184 upvotes • Pashahlis

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Why did Hitler never order the use of chemical weapons, especially against the Soviets?

184 upvotes • threejollybargemen

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Why did Britain want to hold onto Ireland so badly?

184 upvotes • Viber-

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How did "crying Uncle" come to mean surrendering?

184 upvotes • Stonegrinder27

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I recently read a comment stating that "France is one city-state with extended borders that reach defensive positions. Italy is multiple city-states in one country." How accurate is this statement and how relevant is it in a discussion about the distribution of the population of those countries?

184 upvotes • GlumTown6

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How sure are we that a random notable ancient person wasn't multiple people?

184 upvotes • NErDysprosium

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I’m a mid-level bureaucrat in the Grant administration. I want to give 15 regional offices a 25 page report on some matter. Does my clerk have to handwrite the document 15 times? What sort of labor saving devices exist to help bureaucracy function?

184 upvotes • ChubbyHistorian

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Why is Frederick the Great considered great, and not just a lucky Kaiser Wilhelm II?

184 upvotes • OhCountryMyCountry

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Where there known serial killers before the 1800s and if so, how were those crimes investigated to be able to bring someone to justice? What would have been considered modern evidence for them?	184	K_Xanthe
When did the identity of Han become a meaningful self-identity in the mass general consciousness in China?	184	MrMontage
The imperial Chinese bureauceacy is famous for its merit based examinations. But reading up on it, it seems that those exams were mainly about literary analysis of confucian literature. Why? Being knowledgable about confucian literature does not help someone in his job as a civil servant.	184	Pashahlis
Why did Hitler never order the use of chemical weapons, especially against the Soviets?	184	threejollybargemen
Why did Britain want to hold onto Ireland so badly?	184	Viber-
How did "crying Uncle" come to mean surrendering?	184	Stonegrinder27
I recently read a comment stating that "France is one city-state with extended borders that reach defensive positions. Italy is multiple city-states in one country." How accurate is this statement and how relevant is it in a discussion about the distribution of the population of those countries?	184	GlumTown6
How sure are we that a random notable ancient person wasn't multiple people?	184	NErDysprosium
I’m a mid-level bureaucrat in the Grant administration. I want to give 15 regional offices a 25 page report on some matter. Does my clerk have to handwrite the document 15 times? What sort of labor saving devices exist to help bureaucracy function?	184	ChubbyHistorian
Why is Frederick the Great considered great, and not just a lucky Kaiser Wilhelm II?	184	OhCountryMyCountry