/r/askhistorians

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In the show Vikings, Ragnar Lodbrok is very tolerant of Christianity. How realistic is this?

691 upvotes • Eggfibre

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Why didn't Elizabeth I want to name a successor?

691 upvotes • LockeProposal

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How did Siam (Thailand) avoid colonization by Europeans?

690 upvotes • beatles-in-space

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AMA on the Napoleonic Wars

690 upvotes • estherke

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Did white Christians denounce the terrorist actions of the KKK during the Civil Rights Movement?

690 upvotes • J2quared

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I was taught that Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) was black because of the soot. Wikipedia says it was because Santa was often depicted taming demons, and that evolved to show him 'taming' a black moor instead. The sources are mostly in Dutch. What is the true origin of Zwarte Piet?

690 upvotes • Puzzleheaded_Ice_947

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how would medieval fighters/warriors/military recognize friend from foe?

689 upvotes • WFOpizza

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In the 15th and 16th centuries, many Kings and Queens would have a marriage of convenience, such as Henry VIII marrying Catherine of Aragon. How would the couple communicate? Would they constantly have interpreters around, or would they simply not speak to each other?

689 upvotes • George_S_Patton_III

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American Boy Toddlers today often love trains, planes and automobiles. Were there any "universal" loves in 1800 before these items existed?

689 upvotes • DeliciousFold2894

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Were weaponized trains ever used?

688 upvotes • datTrooper

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Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In the show Vikings, Ragnar Lodbrok is very tolerant of Christianity. How realistic is this?	691	Eggfibre
Why didn't Elizabeth I want to name a successor?	691	LockeProposal
How did Siam (Thailand) avoid colonization by Europeans?	690	beatles-in-space
AMA on the Napoleonic Wars	690	estherke
Did white Christians denounce the terrorist actions of the KKK during the Civil Rights Movement?	690	J2quared
I was taught that Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) was black because of the soot. Wikipedia says it was because Santa was often depicted taming demons, and that evolved to show him 'taming' a black moor instead. The sources are mostly in Dutch. What is the true origin of Zwarte Piet?	690	Puzzleheaded_Ice_947
how would medieval fighters/warriors/military recognize friend from foe?	689	WFOpizza
In the 15th and 16th centuries, many Kings and Queens would have a marriage of convenience, such as Henry VIII marrying Catherine of Aragon. How would the couple communicate? Would they constantly have interpreters around, or would they simply not speak to each other?	689	George_S_Patton_III
American Boy Toddlers today often love trains, planes and automobiles. Were there any "universal" loves in 1800 before these items existed?	689	DeliciousFold2894
Were weaponized trains ever used?	688	datTrooper