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

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How well did people understand the nature of food allergies before the modern period? Were deaths from anaphylaxis more common?

176 upvotes

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Most European swords from the Classical period through the Industrial period had straight blades (gladius, longsword, rapier), whereas most Asian swords had curved blades (scimitar, katana, dao, talwar). Why?

170 upvotes

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How true are the stories of Mozart's feats of near-superhuman intelligence?

156 upvotes

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As a young enlistee in the U.S. Army in WWII, what would have been the most hazardous combat assignment I could receive? What would have been the least?

155 upvotes

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What is the origin of the role-playing game? Is Dungeons & Dragons the first iteration, or were people playing games like this prior to D&D?

144 upvotes

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Today, Israel's reputation among the Western political left is generally negative, while it's reputation among the political right is generally positive. Was this always the case, and if not, when did things change and why?

143 upvotes

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Many English soccer teams' fight songs/chants seem to be slightly altered (or unaltered) popular American songs and showtunes of the early 20th century. Why is this?

127 upvotes

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In the 1980s and early 1990s, Japanese business seemed to be an unstoppable juggernaut that was buying up half the West. What changed?

125 upvotes

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When and how did seiza (sitting on one's heels) become widespread as the "proper," formal method to sit in Japan?

123 upvotes

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Do we know of anyone who survived both a Nazi concentration camp and the Soviet GULag? How did he or she compare the experience?

122 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
How well did people understand the nature of food allergies before the modern period? Were deaths from anaphylaxis more common?	176
Most European swords from the Classical period through the Industrial period had straight blades (gladius, longsword, rapier), whereas most Asian swords had curved blades (scimitar, katana, dao, talwar). Why?	170
How true are the stories of Mozart's feats of near-superhuman intelligence?	156
As a young enlistee in the U.S. Army in WWII, what would have been the most hazardous combat assignment I could receive? What would have been the least?	155
What is the origin of the role-playing game? Is Dungeons & Dragons the first iteration, or were people playing games like this prior to D&D?	144
Today, Israel's reputation among the Western political left is generally negative, while it's reputation among the political right is generally positive. Was this always the case, and if not, when did things change and why?	143
Many English soccer teams' fight songs/chants seem to be slightly altered (or unaltered) popular American songs and showtunes of the early 20th century. Why is this?	127
In the 1980s and early 1990s, Japanese business seemed to be an unstoppable juggernaut that was buying up half the West. What changed?	125
When and how did seiza (sitting on one's heels) become widespread as the "proper," formal method to sit in Japan?	123
Do we know of anyone who survived both a Nazi concentration camp and the Soviet GULag? How did he or she compare the experience?	122