/u/Spam4119's posts in /r/AskHistorians

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The idea of bandits and other nefarious people robbing travelers and then going back to their bandit camps or bandit towns is a staple in the fantasy genre. Is there any basis for this in the "medieval" eras?

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Did the Chonmage (top knot hairstyle of Samurai in the Edo period) ever cause problems with sunburn on top of the head? Were there any ways to prevent sunburn, or did Samurai just wear hats all the time?

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How did the Viking Longships cross large expanses of open water? Looking at them they look like glorified rafts. How did they cross oceans with such a small, single deck craft?

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Having a hand cut off for the crime of thievery seems to be a pretty common punishment throughout many periods. How deadly is this punishment?

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What is the origin of the "wolf whistle"?

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Why so many different forks and spoons and knives? In fine dining and throughout history the upper class had so many different utensils for every little thing... How come? Where did this start? When did it start becoming a large list of different utensils for a single meal?

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How come Africans were chosen as slaves by American colonists? How did the slave trade start?

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Is there any evidence for artists painting their noble and aristocratic patrons as more attractive than what they actually were?

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The Mir Space Station was in orbit from 1986 to 1996 and housed both Soviet Union (and later) Russian astronauts and American Astronauts. Were there any political problems back on ground that caused problems with the astronauts on board? If so... how did they resolve these conflicts?

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What is the history of the high five?

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
The idea of bandits and other nefarious people robbing travelers and then going back to their bandit camps or bandit towns is a staple in the fantasy genre. Is there any basis for this in the "medieval" eras?	10
Did the Chonmage (top knot hairstyle of Samurai in the Edo period) ever cause problems with sunburn on top of the head? Were there any ways to prevent sunburn, or did Samurai just wear hats all the time?	10
How did the Viking Longships cross large expanses of open water? Looking at them they look like glorified rafts. How did they cross oceans with such a small, single deck craft?	10
Having a hand cut off for the crime of thievery seems to be a pretty common punishment throughout many periods. How deadly is this punishment?	9
What is the origin of the "wolf whistle"?	8
Why so many different forks and spoons and knives? In fine dining and throughout history the upper class had so many different utensils for every little thing... How come? Where did this start? When did it start becoming a large list of different utensils for a single meal?	8
How come Africans were chosen as slaves by American colonists? How did the slave trade start?	8
Is there any evidence for artists painting their noble and aristocratic patrons as more attractive than what they actually were?	8
The Mir Space Station was in orbit from 1986 to 1996 and housed both Soviet Union (and later) Russian astronauts and American Astronauts. Were there any political problems back on ground that caused problems with the astronauts on board? If so... how did they resolve these conflicts?	8
What is the history of the high five?	8