/u/RusticBohemian's posts

Title	Upvotes	Subreddit
Was beech syrup collected in large amounts in Central and Southern Europe prior to the importation of sugar, similar to how Native Americans used Maple syrup? How far back does its use go?	1	AskHistorians
Should we see the Portuguese and Spanish Atlantic trade and colonization efforts, and the technological advancement that enabled it, as stemming from jealousy of Venice's hold on Mediterranean trade? Were they frustrated and forced to think outside the box?	1	AskHistorians
What's the deal with the ancient Romans requiring their prostitutes to be blond? Was this "protection" for darker-haired locals? A reinforcement of the idea that Gauls and northern Europeans were barbarians to be used?	1	AskHistorians
How common was government corruption in 19th-century America? Was the legendary theft and bribery of the Bureau of Indian Affairs the exception or the rule? Was the same thing going on in the armed forces and civilian government?	1	AskHistorians
Hollywood depicts poisoned blowgun darts and arrows as acting almost instantaneously on humans, either killing someone or knocking them unconscious without fail. How realistic are these depictions, and what plants and animals were the poisons gathered from?	1	AskHistorians
The Kingdom of Sicily conquered a large swath of North Africa in 1146–1148 A.D. Was this related to the crusades going on in this time period? Was there a religious dimension at all? Were there many Christians left in North Africa by the 12th century?	1	AskHistorians
The Medici have a reputation as successful venture capitalists who funded "businesses," drove innovation, and created wealth. But are their results as good as the Florintine guilds? How did the guild competition for funding differ from the Medici approach?	1	AskHistorians
What's the story behind the "excessive bowing and rushing back on stage thing" in symphony orchestras?	1	AskHistorians
Did the US "force" free trade on the world after WWII in return for protection and loans? How eager were countries to drop protectionism in favor of free trade?	1	AskHistorians
Were oak trees ever bred to produce a superior, more palatable acorn (fewer tannins, larger size, sweeter taste)? Acorns were used by aboriginals and as famine food, and could produce abundantly, but never seemed to be domesticated. Was it just too much work when a famine wasn't occurring?	1	AskHistorians

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