askhistorians

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At various points throughout history, silver was more highly-valued than gold - until it shifted towards gold becoming more treasured. When and why did this shift occur?	12
Was there any resistance from the Catholic Church in response to the rise in influence and fame of female mystical theologians such as Hildegard von Bingen, Theresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, Gertrude of Helfta, Bridget of Sweden and Julian of Norwich?	12
The inhabitants of Easter Island were the only people of the Pacific Islands to develop a distinctive system of written language - Rongorongo. What led to the creation of this enigmatic script?	12
For much of the 20th Century, jazz was the musical genre of the American zeitgeist - until it wasn’t. What caused jazz to recede in popularity, and when did that happen?	12
The Thugees were purportedly a cult/secret society that worshipped Kali and lived as brigands. Did this group actually exist, or were they more of an urban legend or the product of colonial propagandists?	12
Are the Vinča symbols of the Vinča culture of the Balkans believed to have been proto-writing or writing? And did were any of the scripts that later developed in the region influenced by the Vinča symbols?	11
Why did Switzerland become a center for watch production, how does Calvinism relate to this development?	11
Is there historical consensus as to the origins of the signs of the zodiac? Which culture originated the twelve astrological signs we know today (Aquarius, Gemini, Sagittarius, Virgo, etcetera)?	11
An upcoming historical dark comedy film by Yorgos Lanthimos entitled “The Favourite” is purportedly about the “madness” of Queen Anne during the midst of her reign. Why was Queen Anne thought to be mad or unstable, and is that description of her fair?	11
How did ancient societies view infertility?	10

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