AskHistorians

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The founder of the modern Japanese education system, Mori Arinori, reportedly wished to replace Japanese with English. Was this just a pipe dream project or was it a serious proposal that might have been implemented had he not been assassinated?	508
In 1832 Letitia Lewis, the daughter of Virginia governor John Floyd converted to Catholicism, triggering a wave of conversion in some of the most influential families of the South. This occurred at a time when Catholicism was widely despised. What was the attraction of Catholicism for them?	107
Is there a direct link between the homosexual art and literature popular in the "floating world" of Edo Japan and the Japanese Yaoi genre of today? NSFW	16
When the United States Congress passed the Hart–Celler Act of 1965, prominent supporters claimed that it would not effect the democratic makeup of the United States, which it ultimately did. Was this a cynical ploy or a genuine misevaluation?	13
Odoric of Pordenone travelled to the Indian subcontinent in the 14th century and claimed that Hindu devotees would cast themselves beneath the wheels of Juggernaut cars to be crushed to death by the er, holy roller. Can we say whether this was likely to be accurate?	9
The Bucolic War, a peasant revolt in Egypt during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, was led by Isidorus, an Egyptian priest. What about the role and social significance of an Egyptian priest during this period would make them a candidate for rebel leader? Which might the end goal for this priest be?	5
When the Meiji government instituted the "Shinbutsu bunri" (separation of Shinto and Buddhism) policy in 1868, it triggered a much wider anti-Buddhist movement. Was this hatred towards Buddhism universal or targeted at only the most parasitic examples? Did Buddhism have any social utility by then?	3
In ancient Rome, prominent citizens would often build temples to show their piety and civic spirit, but a temple needs priests and upkeep. Would supplying these in perpetuity be the job of that citizen or the state?	2
How accurate is the idea that religious converts usually despised their former religion in Late Antiquity?	1

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