/r/askhistorians

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

I've read that it was traditional in Europe for people to ride on the left side of the road until the French Revolution, when Napoleon changed it so people rode on the right (and his change spread across the continent). Is this true, and, if so, why did he change it?

149 upvotes • td4999

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why has lamb consumption been historically lower in the United States?

149 upvotes • Inverted_spin

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why is the Circassian genocide so infrequently discussed, even, it seems, academically?

149 upvotes • HowdoIreddittellme

Mark as read: Add to a list

What were the causes of the civil war in Tajikistan (1992-1997)?

149 upvotes • George_S_Patton_III

Mark as read: Add to a list

What processes made Damascus steel unique in the 12th-13th centuries CE? What price would a Damascus steel knife or sword command, compared to a typical European knife or sword? How would it compare to Toledo steel, or Scandinavian pattern-forged blades?

149 upvotes • S_Jeru

Mark as read: Add to a list

Were there antecedents to Christian monasticism in the ancient world, or was monasticism something peculiar that arose out of Christianity itself?

149 upvotes • CalibanDrive

Mark as read: Add to a list

A recent article quoted a historian as saying that the year 536 was "the worst year to be alive." How could one objectively measure such a thing? Can a legitimate argument be made that a different year was worse?

149 upvotes • _Booster_Gold_

Mark as read: Add to a list

If scriptures in the Torah are to be sung, not spoken, how do we know the tune to sing them?

149 upvotes • askingformomtoday

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why would Germany be collecting barcodes in the 80’s

149 upvotes • wadmeup

Mark as read: Add to a list

Many of the well known European food items (such as potatoes in Ireland or Tomatoes in Italy) came from the New World. What were common food items in Europe before the Americas were discovered?

149 upvotes • StingtheSword

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
I've read that it was traditional in Europe for people to ride on the left side of the road until the French Revolution, when Napoleon changed it so people rode on the right (and his change spread across the continent). Is this true, and, if so, why did he change it?	149	td4999
Why has lamb consumption been historically lower in the United States?	149	Inverted_spin
Why is the Circassian genocide so infrequently discussed, even, it seems, academically?	149	HowdoIreddittellme
What were the causes of the civil war in Tajikistan (1992-1997)?	149	George_S_Patton_III
What processes made Damascus steel unique in the 12th-13th centuries CE? What price would a Damascus steel knife or sword command, compared to a typical European knife or sword? How would it compare to Toledo steel, or Scandinavian pattern-forged blades?	149	S_Jeru
Were there antecedents to Christian monasticism in the ancient world, or was monasticism something peculiar that arose out of Christianity itself?	149	CalibanDrive
A recent article quoted a historian as saying that the year 536 was "the worst year to be alive." How could one objectively measure such a thing? Can a legitimate argument be made that a different year was worse?	149	_Booster_Gold_
If scriptures in the Torah are to be sung, not spoken, how do we know the tune to sing them?	149	askingformomtoday
Why would Germany be collecting barcodes in the 80’s	149	wadmeup
Many of the well known European food items (such as potatoes in Ireland or Tomatoes in Italy) came from the New World. What were common food items in Europe before the Americas were discovered?	149	StingtheSword