/r/askhistorians

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Nowadays, many racists don't like the word, "racist." Was there ever a time in America where people would call themselveves racist?

2224 upvotes • Richard8247

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In 1627 the last aurochs, or wild cow, died in the Jaktorów Forest of Poland. How did Europeans of that time understand the concept of extinction? Were they aware that these animals were the last of their kind, and their death meant the end of the species?

2223 upvotes • Mr_Quinn

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Is there any history or discovery that we are tantalizing close to bringing to light that makes you excited as a historian?

2223 upvotes • Georgy_K_Zhukov

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In the series Game of Thrones, the character Varys is shown as having spies all across the country feeding him information. How common was this in medieval Europe? How would one aquire a vast network of spies?

2220 upvotes • Execute-Order-66

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Has anyone ever actually avenged their murdered monarch parent and reclaimed their kingdom?

2220 upvotes • Gunnrhildr

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I'm wealthy aristocrat living in Republican Rome with some 'unconventional' desires. Is there anything to keep me from buying a bunch of slaves for some masochistic rape-torture session? NSFW

2218 upvotes • BreaksFull

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I'm a court jester in the 14th century in Europe. What does my role actually entail beyond being silly? Do I have any courtly functions beyond light entertainment?

2218 upvotes • LatakiaBlend

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16th century Portugal was a powerhouse; what happened over the following centuries that lead it to become the weak (militarily) country that it is today?

2218 upvotes • Juxtaposition_sunset

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Ramesses II had a very distinct physical appearance, (red hair, exceptionally tall for his time, aquiline nose) is this something other Egyptians exhibited? Where did it come from?

2218 upvotes • ZuluGolfSierra

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It's 1943 in Western Europe and I'm a disillusioned German Officer. How would I go about defecting to the Allies? What would happen to me next?

2218 upvotes • azangi700

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Nowadays, many racists don't like the word, "racist." Was there ever a time in America where people would call themselveves racist?	2224	Richard8247
In 1627 the last aurochs, or wild cow, died in the Jaktorów Forest of Poland. How did Europeans of that time understand the concept of extinction? Were they aware that these animals were the last of their kind, and their death meant the end of the species?	2223	Mr_Quinn
Is there any history or discovery that we are tantalizing close to bringing to light that makes you excited as a historian?	2223	Georgy_K_Zhukov
In the series Game of Thrones, the character Varys is shown as having spies all across the country feeding him information. How common was this in medieval Europe? How would one aquire a vast network of spies?	2220	Execute-Order-66
Has anyone ever actually avenged their murdered monarch parent and reclaimed their kingdom?	2220	Gunnrhildr
I'm wealthy aristocrat living in Republican Rome with some 'unconventional' desires. Is there anything to keep me from buying a bunch of slaves for some masochistic rape-torture session? NSFW	2218	BreaksFull
I'm a court jester in the 14th century in Europe. What does my role actually entail beyond being silly? Do I have any courtly functions beyond light entertainment?	2218	LatakiaBlend
16th century Portugal was a powerhouse; what happened over the following centuries that lead it to become the weak (militarily) country that it is today?	2218	Juxtaposition_sunset
Ramesses II had a very distinct physical appearance, (red hair, exceptionally tall for his time, aquiline nose) is this something other Egyptians exhibited? Where did it come from?	2218	ZuluGolfSierra
It's 1943 in Western Europe and I'm a disillusioned German Officer. How would I go about defecting to the Allies? What would happen to me next?	2218	azangi700