askhistorians

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The Antonine emperors famously adopted talented heirs rather than relying on their biological children, to good effect. Was this really a conscious policy decision, or a necessity forced on them by a lack of surviving offspring?	15
Multiple elections allowed President Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore to stay in power for 31 years. How free and fair were these elections? Was he legitimately popular, or just adroit at using the levers of government power to undermine his opponents?	15
Portugal rounded the Cape of Good Hope and established an incredibly profitable spice trade in the Indian Ocean. What did that look like, in practice? Were they conquering islands as supply depots? Was the whole enterprise a giant money sink until they managed to actually reach India?	15
Did the idea of "catching" germs from others exist in Classical Greece and Rome?	15
In 2001, the US refused an offer of negotiated surrender from the Taliban. How earnest was this offer? Could the US have kept the militants from playing a large role in the country’s future?	14
Were abortions legal in the 13 US colonies? What about in the early United States? When and why did abortions start to be banned?	14
US states lead the way experimenting with different political, social, and economic policies prior to the 1930s. But afterward, the federal government took over much of that role. Why did that shift occur?	14
What sort of "third places," existed in the soviet union?" Were reading rooms/libraries popular? I've heard about tea rooms. Would these have functioned as affordable and egalitarians third places? What other options were available?	14
Have US citizens historically felt their governing system was stable and likely to continue, or are periods of perceived stability the exception rather than the rule?	14
Did the burning of the US Library of Congress during the War of 1812 destroy anything valuable/irreplaceable?	14

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