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

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

In Hamilton, there's a line from Eliza stating "I wrote to the General a month ago" referring to George Washington. Would this have been possible? Could someone just send George Washington a letter and have it delivered? Did relatively "famous" people deal with spam letters from armchair generals?

1718 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

In both "The Great Escape" and "Bridge Over the River Kwai", whistling seemed to be very important to troop morale. Is this historically documented?

378 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why does the US border extend across this lake in northern Minnesota? [album included] How do the people on the other side of the lake deal with being surrounded by Canada while being US citizens? Is there any interesting history here?

94 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Was it considered at the time dishonorable for George Washington to attack on Christmas Day by crossing the Delaware?

64 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Where does the urban legend of human tasting like pork come from? “Long pork” etc.

14 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

When Newton "discovered" calculus, was he merely filling in the gaps of mathematics or did he truly discover it for himself?

5 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

If we had not found the Rosetta Stone, would we still not have figured out hieroglyphics?

2 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Compared to the modern day industry of mint rookie cards selling for millions and NFTs being sold for thousands, is there any record of "collectibles" from antiquity?

2 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu states, "There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combination of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard." How does this fit in with the modern octet? Was music theory in Ancient China very different?

2 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

What was the most strategic retreat in military history?

1 upvotes

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In Hamilton, there's a line from Eliza stating "I wrote to the General a month ago" referring to George Washington. Would this have been possible? Could someone just send George Washington a letter and have it delivered? Did relatively "famous" people deal with spam letters from armchair generals?	1718
In both "The Great Escape" and "Bridge Over the River Kwai", whistling seemed to be very important to troop morale. Is this historically documented?	378
Why does the US border extend across this lake in northern Minnesota? [album included] How do the people on the other side of the lake deal with being surrounded by Canada while being US citizens? Is there any interesting history here?	94
Was it considered at the time dishonorable for George Washington to attack on Christmas Day by crossing the Delaware?	64
Where does the urban legend of human tasting like pork come from? “Long pork” etc.	14
When Newton "discovered" calculus, was he merely filling in the gaps of mathematics or did he truly discover it for himself?	5
If we had not found the Rosetta Stone, would we still not have figured out hieroglyphics?	2
Compared to the modern day industry of mint rookie cards selling for millions and NFTs being sold for thousands, is there any record of "collectibles" from antiquity?	2
In The Art of War, Sun Tzu states, "There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combination of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard." How does this fit in with the modern octet? Was music theory in Ancient China very different?	2
What was the most strategic retreat in military history?	1