askhistorians

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In the early-mid 20th century, belts and suspenders seemed to be running neck and neck for most popular means to keep men's pants up. Today, belts have all but won. How did belts catch suspenders with their pants down?	66
Leaving aside the party line, why has China historically wanted to control/absorb Tibet?	63
During the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, a huge number of immigrants came from Europe to the U.S. "in search of a better life." Why did they believe life would be better in America, and, statistically speaking, were they right?	63
A trope from 19th and early 20th century literature is a sanatorium stay for consumptives. What was a typical stint at such sanatoria like, what treatments would a patient receive, what was the cost, and how effective were they?	59
Are there particular historical factors (e.g., clans, castes, culture), that led to Japan having a much wider variety and complexity of surnames than the rest of the Sinosphere?	56
In Silver Age Batman comics (and the 1960s TV show), Dick Grayson is referred to as Bruce Wayne's "youthful ward." What exactly was the "ward" of a private individual, and why do we not hear of such a regime anymore?	53
Why do we credit writers as the primary creative source in theater, television, and music, but directors in film? Has this been the case since the inception of cinema, or did things shift over time?	50
At what point in European history did artisans such as blacksmiths and weavers begin having attached "storefronts" where they would sell ready-made items, as opposed to solely working for hire?	50
Why has fighting traditionally been allowed in ice hockey, but not in other major sports (bar combat sports like boxing)?	49
How did the "standard" rock ensemble come to include guitar(s), bass guitar, and drums, but not, other common instruments, such as piano/keyboard, brass instruments, or violin?	49

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