askhistorians

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What's the origin of the marsh/swamp as an evil and foreboding place in film, literature and other media? For a biome with such abundant biodiversity (edible plants, fish, waterfowl) and potential for resources (peat, iron) wetlands seem to have quite the bad rep in fiction.	246
One theory propagated - as I understand it - by the historian Dan Flores concerns the idea that some Native American tribes were more agrarian ere the introduction of horses, when they hunted mainly during the bison breeding season in the summer instead of year round. Does this hold up to scrutiny?	7
To what degree does causality exist between the broadness of a secondary source and generalisations? And how common is it for broad (overview/introductory) secondary sources to generalise to such an extent it becomes detrimental to historical accuracy?	6
I was wondering what we know about the historic use of sandbags as part of field fortifications. Do we know in what war or conflict they are first recorded as being used, or perhaps more generally, in which period?	6
How did occupying forces in WW2 go about the actual appropriation of local resources and related infrastructure, and did this differ significantly between the German and Japanese occupations?	6
In Alexander (2004) one of Alexander's generals, Philotas, is executed by javelin. Is this method of execution attested in the sources and if so, how common a method was it?	4
To what extent did journalism and propaganda play a role in the establishment of Indian reservations in the United States?	3
Was is it an accepted procedure for diplomatic negotiations in the High and/or Late Middle Ages to have multiple emissaries present themselves simultaneously to compete in vying for favour with the hosting faction?	1

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