/r/askhistorians

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

English has a series of obscure collective nouns ostensibly used to describe groups of animals e.g. "a murder of crows." What is the background to these words? Were they ever in common use?

438 upvotes • normie_sama

Mark as read: Add to a list

New Snoo Sunday: Introducing Viola Snoomond, Snoosé Rizal, and Jane Snoosten

438 upvotes • Georgy_K_Zhukov

Mark as read: Add to a list

The ninth amendment of the United States Constitution states that any rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution does not imply those rights do not exist for its citizens. I don't think I've ever heard this amendment cited in common discourse. Has it ever been historically significant?

438 upvotes • com2420

Mark as read: Add to a list

How did the tiny tiny population of Slovenia, which was under the rule of Austra for centuries avoid being completely Germanised, while for example the comparatively larger Brittany all but lost their Celtic culture and language?

438 upvotes • megakaos888

Mark as read: Add to a list

My relatives were killed at Auschwitz transported from Lviv, Ukraine. However, there was one survivor. Her hand written intake card says home: Paeschinko. I believe that’s in the Ukraine…but can’t find it anywhere on the web. Anyone know where that is?

438 upvotes • SeymourGlassy

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why are there so many Smiths, Millers, Bowmans, and Carpenters but so few Cobblers, Soldiers, Butchers, and Farmers?

437 upvotes • GnosticGnome

Mark as read: Add to a list

How different is food preparation/taste 2,000 years ago vs today?

437 upvotes • wisgary

Mark as read: Add to a list

In civilizations such as ancient Rome in which money was only in coin form, how were vast amounts of wealth stored and spent?

437 upvotes • Pigmund_Freud

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why after WWII did Europe move toward stronger Consumer Protectionism, while the US seemingly moved toward greater corporate protection?

437 upvotes • FriendlyBeard

Mark as read: Add to a list

Julius Cesar died by the senate stabbing him to death. But wasn’t he basically emperor at that time? How weren’t there guards always protecting him and why does he have to meet with senate, weren’t they useless at the time?

437 upvotes • mr_poopybuthole

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Author	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
English has a series of obscure collective nouns ostensibly used to describe groups of animals e.g. "a murder of crows." What is the background to these words? Were they ever in common use?	438	normie_sama
New Snoo Sunday: Introducing Viola Snoomond, Snoosé Rizal, and Jane Snoosten	438	Georgy_K_Zhukov
The ninth amendment of the United States Constitution states that any rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution does not imply those rights do not exist for its citizens. I don't think I've ever heard this amendment cited in common discourse. Has it ever been historically significant?	438	com2420
How did the tiny tiny population of Slovenia, which was under the rule of Austra for centuries avoid being completely Germanised, while for example the comparatively larger Brittany all but lost their Celtic culture and language?	438	megakaos888
My relatives were killed at Auschwitz transported from Lviv, Ukraine. However, there was one survivor. Her hand written intake card says home: Paeschinko. I believe that’s in the Ukraine…but can’t find it anywhere on the web. Anyone know where that is?	438	SeymourGlassy
Why are there so many Smiths, Millers, Bowmans, and Carpenters but so few Cobblers, Soldiers, Butchers, and Farmers?	437	GnosticGnome
How different is food preparation/taste 2,000 years ago vs today?	437	wisgary
In civilizations such as ancient Rome in which money was only in coin form, how were vast amounts of wealth stored and spent?	437	Pigmund_Freud
Why after WWII did Europe move toward stronger Consumer Protectionism, while the US seemingly moved toward greater corporate protection?	437	FriendlyBeard
Julius Cesar died by the senate stabbing him to death. But wasn’t he basically emperor at that time? How weren’t there guards always protecting him and why does he have to meet with senate, weren’t they useless at the time?	437	mr_poopybuthole