AskHistorians

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While we're used to seeing ancient sculptures as only white marble pieces, back in their day they were painted. Do we have any good descriptions and mentions of this colourful world of Roman and Greek art?	66
Why was English the language of choice for the correspondence (and spoken communication?) between Tsar Nicholas II. and his his wife, Tsarina Alexandra?	63
Fragments of a lost play by Aeschylus were found in wrappings of a mummy. Were papyri in Egypt (say around 50 BC) used just as "whatever paper we can find" or was there meaning in what was inscribed on the wrappings of mummies?	62
Are there any examples of morganatic marriage ( marriage between people of unequal social rank) of European royalty, where the higher status is held by the bride? Was it even remotely thinkable, let's say in the 14th century?	62
It's 1850 and I want to make a postcard with an iconic image of Paris. Without the Eiffel Tower being there, what is the best choice of an image? Was Arc de Triomphe known well enough?	62
What would be the most probable career path of someone who aspired to become a personal cook for a member of the royal family in 15th century England? How could one become known for his or her cookery?	60
Were all freed slaves in Rome created equal? Or were there differences in how well the freedmen integrated into Roman society, based on their ethnicity or other characteristics? What usually earned the slave his freedom?	59
How did fainting in the Victorian era become so gendered? What social conventions led to the loss of consciousness to be so strongly identified with women?	59
[META] What kind of questions do you guys like to answer?	57
After being framed, going through horrible ordeal on Devil's Island and then being pardoned and reinstated as a major in the French army, did Alfred Dreyfus face any further problems within the army? Was the case (and anti-semitism) still a hot issue when he rejoined the forces during WWI?	57

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