askhistorians

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The first Harry Potter movie, with a budget of $125 Million, began production just two years after the first book by a completely unknown British author was first published. How did the Harry Potter series explode in popularity so incredibly quickly compared to other similar book series?	4762
In 1947, a group of 33 Japanese Soldiers on the island of Peleliu finally surrendered, three years after the US won control of the 5 square mile island. How were these individuals able to stay undetected and supplied for three years? Did they have any contact/support from the outside?	2752
In Midsummer Night's Dream, Theseus decides to watch the Rude Mechanicals' play specifically because he expects it will be entertainingly terrible. Nowadays many watch movies like "The Room" for the same reason. Just how old is the idea of "so bad it's good" entertainment?	1909
It seems like many, if not most, religions in history revere the sun in some fashion. Were there ever any cultures, perhaps in hot climates, that viewed the sun as an enemy?	1582
How and why did the common public portrayal of Frankenstein's creature be that of a mindless monster, especially considering the central premise of the novel is that he's intelligent and misunderstood?	627
Many Japanese soldiers in WWII, cut off from the chain of command, didn't believe the reports of surrender in 1945, some continuing to fight as late as 1974. What do we know about these holdouts psychology? How did they rationalize 30 years of radio silence from Japanese leadership?	542
It's 1875. King Ludwig II, and by extension all of the German nobility, is obsessed with the latest Wagner opera. I'm a Hard of Hearing German noble. Do I attend the opera and pretend to follow along? Can I read a plot summary somewhere and pretend to appreciate it? How do I cope, socially?	272
A top response in an askreddit thread about great lies in history claims that Kim-Il Sung (Kim Jung Un's grandfather) was very likely an impostor. How much legitimacy is there to this claim?	200
In Revisionist History, Gladwell claims that, prior to Brown v Board of Education, black schools were no worse than white schools and the narrative that they were was, itself, racist propaganda. How much truth is there in this perspective?	181
Googling "riots after elections" led to a number of sites (of questionable legitimacy) predicting riots at the conclusion of the US presidential race. Is there any history of riots in the US triggered by the results of a presidential election?	160

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