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

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It's 1900 or so, and I'm a "proper," accredited historian with a thorough education and an extensive knowledge of the sources available to me. What's the biggest misconception I have about the past, from a modern perspective?

3796 upvotes

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What did J.R.R. Tolkien think of later fantasy fiction?

2125 upvotes

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What led to the proliferation of tacky small-town tourist attractions?

55 upvotes

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It's the mid-1800s, and I'm a middle-class, white New Englander. How much do I know about the ongoing genocide on the frontier? Have I heard about the massacres and deportations, or do I just know vague, Karl May-esque cliches about brave pioneers fighting savage indians?

35 upvotes

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It's the mid-1800s, and I'm a middle-class, white New Englander. How much do I know about the ongoing genocide on the frontier? Have I heard about the massacres and deportations, or do I just know vague, Karl May-esque cliches about brave pioneers fighting savage indians?

20 upvotes

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Do all domestic animals of a particular species have a common ancestor, or were there multiple domestications in prehistory?

11 upvotes

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At the turn of the previous century, the default black stereotype was of a shiftless, dim-witted gambler with a thing for fried chicken and watermelon. A hundred years later, the laziness and stupidity are there, as is the food--but what happened to gambling?

5 upvotes

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What sort of a military was Tupac Amaru facing when he revolted against Spain? And what forces did he have at his own disposal?

4 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
It's 1900 or so, and I'm a "proper," accredited historian with a thorough education and an extensive knowledge of the sources available to me. What's the biggest misconception I have about the past, from a modern perspective?	3796
What did J.R.R. Tolkien think of later fantasy fiction?	2125
What led to the proliferation of tacky small-town tourist attractions?	55
It's the mid-1800s, and I'm a middle-class, white New Englander. How much do I know about the ongoing genocide on the frontier? Have I heard about the massacres and deportations, or do I just know vague, Karl May-esque cliches about brave pioneers fighting savage indians?	35
It's the mid-1800s, and I'm a middle-class, white New Englander. How much do I know about the ongoing genocide on the frontier? Have I heard about the massacres and deportations, or do I just know vague, Karl May-esque cliches about brave pioneers fighting savage indians?	20
Do all domestic animals of a particular species have a common ancestor, or were there multiple domestications in prehistory?	11
At the turn of the previous century, the default black stereotype was of a shiftless, dim-witted gambler with a thing for fried chicken and watermelon. A hundred years later, the laziness and stupidity are there, as is the food--but what happened to gambling?	5
What sort of a military was Tupac Amaru facing when he revolted against Spain? And what forces did he have at his own disposal?	4