AskHistorians

Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
The "Filles du Roy" were a group of orphan girls sent to colonise New France with Financial and Logistical backing from the State. Most of these orphanages were urban. How did these girls adapt to life on the "wild frontier" in New France?	31
By modern standards, how structured, centralised and sophisticated was the Roman Empires spy network?	30
By the early 1500s, how regulated was the sale, and re-sale of papal indulgences? Was there a black market? Were counterfeit indulgences a problem?	28
As the use of gunpowder grew in Europe from the 15th to the 17th centuries, where and how was the necessary saltpeter obtained?	27
Is there any truth to the notion that the Inuit produced seagull wine? If so, in what context was this consumed and could it be considered a variation on Kiviak?	26
What do we know about water rights and tenure in Imperial Rome? Was all water public or could water be private property?	25
Was there a lively folklore and belief in witches in New France, akin to that seen in the American colonies [e.g. Salem]?	25
It’s 1750 and New France is defended by both regiments of regular soldiers and militiamen. What would have been the working relationship between the regulars and the militia? How was each type of unit used? Overall. How effective was each type of unit?	24
How did Imperial Rome respond to epidemics (Antonine plague, etc)?	24
Roman dramas such as those of Plautus designate certain characters as "parasites". Is this usage meant as ironic or humorous? Would members of roman society as Plautus knew it have considered themselves parasites? What exactly did this status of parasite entail and how widespread was it?	24

« < > »