AskHistorians

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I recently read Sir Richard Francis Burton's translation of Arabian Nights. Women cheating on their husbands, particularly with black men, seems to be a theme running through many of the stories. Is this accurate to the original tales, or a weird predilection inserted by European translators?	27
Most houses in South America have interiors covered in tile, with few rugs or wooden floors. Was there a historical reason for this?	27
The ancient Olympics had a "heraldry," competition. Did they compete in reading out the same message and shouting it as far as they could?	26
Most of Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America require school uniforms. The United States, Canada, and Europe mostly don't. How did this divide come about?	26
Was there controversy — or even much public debate — over the choice of any of the presidents for inclusion on Mt. Rushmore?	26
In "The Three-Body Problem," a Chinese physics professor is attacked in a communist "struggle session," accused of teaching the theory of relativity, which "represented the black banner of capitalism." Did Chinese revolutionaries actually attack scientific principles as anti-communist?	26
I'm an Italian-American who's spent a lot of time in Italy. Italian-Americans have a unique culture, but it doesn't seem an evolution of Italian culture so much as something unique to descendants of Italians living in the US. Where did Italian-American culture come from?	26
Beethoven's late string quartets were derided when they were first released, but today are considered some of Beethoven's best work. What were the earlier critics missing that modern appreciators get?	26
Were there any public parks/gardens in ancient Rome, or private gardens that were opened up to the public?	26
The Athenians boldly invaded Sicily in the midst of their decades-long conflict with Sparta. The expedition ended in disaster and probably lost them the Pelopeniasn War. Do historians think the plan was strategically flawed, or merely doomed by incompetent leadership and infighting?	26

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