askhistorians

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Before being burned by Muslim invaders, The Nālandā and Vikramashilā monasteries were the heart of Indian Buddhism. They had thousands of monks, enormous libraries with millions of texts, and thriving universities. Were they science/innovation hubs or just theological centers? What did they produce?	75
So many babies were abandoned in Medieval Europe that many churches provided drop-off places for mothers to safely leave newborns so they wouldn't be taken as slaves or killed by the elements/wild animals. What happened to these kids in the church's care? Were they all destined to be monks?	73
Lions are prominent in the art of Bronze Age European cultures, such as the Myceneans in Greece. Aristotle and Herodotus mention lions. Were there really prides of lions roaming Europe? Do we know much about them and their interactions with humans? Did they have cold-weather adaptations?	72
Paramount's "1883" features a wagon train of settlers crossing the Great Plains 1883. Were people still taking wagons west at this late date? Were trains a viable option? When did settlement travel stop being a wagon-focused endeavor?	72
Medieval Christians were clearly comfortable with violence and war. Were attempts made to justify this deviation from "turning the other cheek?" How did they justify mass violence to themselves?	71
What's so villainous about yellow stockings and being cross-gartered?	71
The US resettled 1,600 German scientists and engineers in the U.S. through Operation Paperclip, a boon to its nascent rocket program. The Soviets relocated 2,000 scientists and engineers to Russia. Did the Soviets get as much value from "their Germans" as the US got from theirs?	70
The Byzantines were repeatedly trounced by the Turks up until the disastrous battle of Manzikert. Afterward, the Komnenos dynasty seemed to be able to go toe to toe with the horse nomads. What factors lead to this military turnaround?	70
Santa Anna served as Mexican President four times before seizing power as a dictator. After his defeat in the Texas Revolution, he managed to make a comeback and win election seven more times between 1839 and 1855. Why was he so popular, and how did he hold on to power?	69
How were old world metal-based currencies affected by the massive influx of gold and silver from the new world via the Spanish treasure fleets?	69

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