askhistorians

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Democracy was invented in Greece. But did subsequent Europeans consider it a flawed system that should be avoided or curtailed until the Enlightenment?	5
I'd like to read more of the writings of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger. What are some great English translations I should check out (perhaps with commentary)?	5
What conclusions did ancient Romans come to to regarding clemency for their enemies after the civil wars and early imperial period seemed to give so many conflicting results? Was there a strong arguments for its utility, or the dangers it presented?	5
New Athenian citizens gave an oath to, "transmit this city...greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” Was this a new sentiment? Was it the basis for future approaches to citizenship emphasizing that everyone had a duty to those who would follow them, and that beauty was necessary?	5
How large a quantity of food was generally consumed by agricultural laborers in preindustrial times?	5
Turkey is currently on good terms with Russia. But the Ottoman Empire and Imperial Russia were at each others' throats for much of the 17th—19th centuries. What lead to the thawing of relations?	5
Were most Roman cities and colonies enraged that they could elect local councils and magistrates but had almost no say in their national government in Rome? I.E., taxation without representation?	5
How and when did stand up comedy become a thing? Did people become professional comedians from the getgo?	5
The Byzantine Empire was incredibly rich by medieval European standards, but most of its revenue seemed to come from land taxes rather than trade. Why didn't the Byzantines double down on trade for extra income and to compete with merchant civilizations like Venice?	5
Have US state senates historically performed a role similar to that of the US federal senate, i.e., protecting the rights of areas with small populations against the will of areas with larger populations?	5

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