/u/Ozymandias1818's posts in /r/askhistorians

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

Why is there this new cult appreciation of Tesla? Was he really as amazing as people make him out to be?

1308 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Realistically, how profitable was it to be a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy?

965 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Did ancient military's have "elite" units like the SAS or SEAL Team Six of today?

808 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

The first 15 and previous 18 Presidents of the United States are usually depicted as clean-shaven. However of the 12 Presidents from 1861-1913, 10 had some form of facial hair. Is there any reason why beards became so popular, then suddenly so unpopular in American politics during these times?

376 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Were human sacrafices in Mesoamerican societies voluntary or were they slaves? Was it honourable to be sacrificed?

212 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why is JFK so beloved in modern culture? Was he successful as a President or does it come from being memorialized from his assassination?

165 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

It's well known that Xerxes I was hated in Greece, but how did people in the Persian Empire like him? Do we have any sources?

148 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

What caused the Medici family to lose power in Florence during the end of the Renaissance Era?

113 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

In the past before cars were there any laws against riding a horse while drunk?

100 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

In David McCullough's "John Adams", he writes that the British countryside of the 1780's was plagued by highwayman, but in comparison the roads of the United States were generally quite safe. Is this accurate, and if so, why?

81 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Why is there this new cult appreciation of Tesla? Was he really as amazing as people make him out to be?	1308
Realistically, how profitable was it to be a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy?	965
Did ancient military's have "elite" units like the SAS or SEAL Team Six of today?	808
The first 15 and previous 18 Presidents of the United States are usually depicted as clean-shaven. However of the 12 Presidents from 1861-1913, 10 had some form of facial hair. Is there any reason why beards became so popular, then suddenly so unpopular in American politics during these times?	376
Were human sacrafices in Mesoamerican societies voluntary or were they slaves? Was it honourable to be sacrificed?	212
Why is JFK so beloved in modern culture? Was he successful as a President or does it come from being memorialized from his assassination?	165
It's well known that Xerxes I was hated in Greece, but how did people in the Persian Empire like him? Do we have any sources?	148
What caused the Medici family to lose power in Florence during the end of the Renaissance Era?	113
In the past before cars were there any laws against riding a horse while drunk?	100
In David McCullough's "John Adams", he writes that the British countryside of the 1780's was plagued by highwayman, but in comparison the roads of the United States were generally quite safe. Is this accurate, and if so, why?	81