AskHistorians

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In the 1960s, Texas passed a law criminalizing the display of the United Nations Flag. Billboards in Texas demanded the country leave the UN, and apparently it was seen as some kind of Communist organization. Why did Texas hate the UN so much, and why were people convinced it was a communist plot?	151
The level of physical activity among preindustrial agricultural workers was immense, and they'd need 2x5 times the caloric intake of modern sedentary people to maintain weight. Did they have access to high-calorie foods? Were they generally feasting on loads of rice, bread, potatoes?	149
Arcadia is a byword for beautiful nature free from civilization. What was the historical Arcadia like?How ungreek were the Arcadians, and what were their lives like?	147
When the Soviet Union collapsed during H.W. Bush's presidency, he never did a "victory lap," at the Berlin Wall. It's hard to imagine such restraint from American politicians today Was his restraint considered odd at the time, since he failed to mark a victory 40 years in the making?	146
The "maritime city-state with imperial ambitions" model seemed to be a winning strategy, at least in the medium term. Athens, Venice, Genoa, Pisa — they all grew prosperous and dominated overseas, but failed to hold their own hinterlands. How and why did this model work?	146
Did Roman armies usually pay for supplies from the friendly areas they were passing through, or just seize/demand them?	146
The Parthenon and the Colleseum have been in ruins for centuries, but every 20 years the Japanese tear down the 1,300-year-old Ise Jingu grand shrine in Japan and rebuild it like new. What do historians think of the "living," nature of Japanese history vs the decay of Western historical sites?	144
It seems like boarding houses were incredibly popular in 19th century America. Do we know how much of the population lived in them? Was it the housing option of choice for bachelors?	142
Alexander the great settled Greek and Macedonian soldiers in new cities throughout remote parts of Asia. Would this have been seen as a great deal for the soldiers? Or was Alexander dumping his veterans in poor, hostile areas in an attempt to install a loyal population base?	141
Much of the homeless population of the United States has problems with addiction or mental health. Did the US once accommodate these people in asylums and state-run care facilities? Did that system work well? Why was it done away with?	141

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