AskHistorians

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In a rare display, the Northern Lights are visible across parts of Ireland and Britain. Did people outside of the far north make much of these infrequent displays on the occasions that they made their way south? Did they speculate on why they may appear less frequently outside of the far north?	17
Various indigenous American cultures plucked their facial hair using tweezers or other implements. How did they craft these tools, and how did trade with Europeans shift indigenous grooming practices (e.g. did they gain access to different materials with which to craft tools for grooming)?	17
What is the origin of "crossover" episodes in television, and how did they evolve over time?	15
The term "echolocation" was coined in 1944; what did people think echolocation was before we studied the phenomenon? It's observable without any special equipment: for instance, sound pulses emitted by sperm whales are so strong that a swimmer in their path can feel them pass through their bodies!	13
A preface in my copy of the New American Bible states, "[apocalyptic literature] enjoyed wide popularity in both Jewish and Christian circles from ca. 200 B.C. to A.D. 200." Why? What made literature about the apocalypse so popular in these circles during that specific timeframe?	11
A 14th century sarcophagus was discovered beneath Notre Dame Cathedral. Church burials were reserved for the elite, "with a location nearest the choir being the most desirable." Why near the choir? And how would such a burial have been conducted? Did they have to dig up the floor to inter the body?	10
When and why did Swahili in Tanzania and Kenya diverge? A recent BBC article stated: "Tanzanians, especially those from Zanzibar, tend to speak what is regarded as 'pure' Swahili. Kenyan Swahili on the other hand is more colloquial - thought by some of Kenya's neighbors to be sloppy and uncivilized"	9
To paraphrase an American activist: Mississippi is especially racially divided today because "Black people resisted white supremacy more militantly there than any other state." What is this referencing? How did black Mississippians respond to pressure from white supremacists from Reconstruction on?	9
The blending of the Greek and Roman pantheons is a famous example of religious syncretism, but I realized I haven't learned about many other instances of this (presumably!) common occurrence. Historians, what are some of the most impactful examples of religious syncretism in your area of expertise?	8
In World War 2, the US and USSR spent 53% an 61% (respectively) of their GDPs on the war effort. During the Vietnam War—the last war America fought using conscripts—the US spent 2.3% of its GDP on the war. What changed about the way America went about fighting wars that caused such a sharp drop?	5

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