AskHistorians

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How difficult/rare was it for 2nd generation Italian or Irish or Jewish Americans to marry outside of their community in the early 20th century?	44
How was Ethiopia able to keep its practice of Christianity and its minority Jewish practices alive and thriving over the centuries despite its large Islamic neighbors?	44
Why did Catherine of Valois marry Edmund Tudor? Would there have been a massive scandal at the time with the former wife of a king marrying some noble in "backwards" Wales?	43
What was life like for barbarians residing in the Empire or joining the Legion? Were they encouraged to assimilate or did they face a lot of prejudice that reminded them of their "barbarian" status"? Did success by some "barbarians" inspire the entire community or did it offend native-born Romans?	43
Why was the U.S. Marines given the Pacific as their primary task during WW2 while the Army was given Europe? Were there any efforts to use both the Army and Marines in the Pacific Front? Were there any drawbacks to this strategy?	39
What was the point of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War? Why did governments so far away like the US or Japan or smaller nations like that of Serbia or Greece get involved? This involvement led up until 1925, did any of the troops present attempt to mutiny over a lackluster cause?	34
Why don't Europeans have the same notion "of race" that Americans tend to have? Europeans had institutions of slavery for centuries as well as decades/centuries of colonialism with repressive racist hierarchies and yet they don't see "race" in the same light as those in the United States. Why?	32
Why did Norway and Denmark join NATO whereas Sweden prefer to stay neutral despite the obvious danger of its neighbor, the Soviet Union?	31
What did concepts of "genocide" or "war crimes" mean in the ancient and medieval ages? Was it recognized as going too far across the line of warfare or human decency?	29
What's the cultural significance of Hannibal among Tunisia or North Africa in the centuries after his death? Was his success seen as symbolic or rallying cry for the people of the region in the medieval age?	29

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