/u/Jerswar's posts in /r/askhistorians

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When and why did impersonations of Elvis Presley become such a thing?

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I'm strolling through London in 1860. What manner of insults might I overhear people throw at one another in fits of anger?

19 upvotes

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Was Ulysses S. Grant a drunkard or not?

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Was a glove slap really used to challenge someone to a duel? And is this related to the expression "Throw down the gauntlet"? How did those two ideas come about?

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When did the words "gentlemen/ladies" start being used as generic terms, as opposed to referring specifically to upper-class people?

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Is there a reason why the Varangian Guard consisted mostly of Norsemen? Did they bring some special benefit that made it worth it to recruit warriors across such a large distance?

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WW2: Was the Russian retreat a planned manoeuvre, or was it just a retreat? Did they always intend to let the winter ravage the invading Germans, or did it just work out that way since the Russians managed to hold out?

18 upvotes

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Did pre-modern people really make significant use of message-carrying birds?

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WW2: Why were the Japanese generals so stubbornly opposed to surrender?

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What lay behind the Norse expansion of the Viking Age?

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
When and why did impersonations of Elvis Presley become such a thing?	22
I'm strolling through London in 1860. What manner of insults might I overhear people throw at one another in fits of anger?	19
Was Ulysses S. Grant a drunkard or not?	19
Was a glove slap really used to challenge someone to a duel? And is this related to the expression "Throw down the gauntlet"? How did those two ideas come about?	19
When did the words "gentlemen/ladies" start being used as generic terms, as opposed to referring specifically to upper-class people?	19
Is there a reason why the Varangian Guard consisted mostly of Norsemen? Did they bring some special benefit that made it worth it to recruit warriors across such a large distance?	19
WW2: Was the Russian retreat a planned manoeuvre, or was it just a retreat? Did they always intend to let the winter ravage the invading Germans, or did it just work out that way since the Russians managed to hold out?	18
Did pre-modern people really make significant use of message-carrying birds?	17
WW2: Why were the Japanese generals so stubbornly opposed to surrender?	17
What lay behind the Norse expansion of the Viking Age?	17