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

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Sad women comforting themselves with chocolate is a common stereotype. Before the arrival of chocolate in the old world, was there another food stereotypically desired by sad women? And when did the chocolate stereotype come from to begin with?

3762 upvotes

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How was the concept of "Mutually assured destruction" viewed in the Soviet Union? Were Soviet citizens aware that a war with the US would likely involve millions of dead on each side, or did they believe they'd stomp the US?

2265 upvotes

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The tricorn hat seemed to have gone from being THE hat of the 18th century to almost disappearing over night in the 19th century. Was this a case of tricorns being "so last century?"

408 upvotes

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I've heard the claim that in the middle ages, married women were "encouraged" to take female lovers rather than male since there would be no risk of pregnancy. Is there any truth to this at all?

145 upvotes

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Did "knights" in late medieval armies fight in groups or were they spread out amongst the ranks of "common" soldiers?

115 upvotes

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Adolf Hitler was a well-known austrian who had enlisted in the German army, did many other austrians do this?

90 upvotes

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I'm a commoner in the 14th century and get drafted for war, how do I get my arms and armour?

90 upvotes

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Would post-viking era Scandinavian armies and soldiers be organized and equipped any differently than other "western" medieval armies?

73 upvotes

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The border between the Netherlands and Belgium have a lot of enclaves/exclaves. In ww1 most of Belgium was occupied but the Netherlands remained neutral, what happened to the dutch enclaves in occupied Belgium?

46 upvotes

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Why was France's navy so devastated by the revolution?

38 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Sad women comforting themselves with chocolate is a common stereotype. Before the arrival of chocolate in the old world, was there another food stereotypically desired by sad women? And when did the chocolate stereotype come from to begin with?	3762
How was the concept of "Mutually assured destruction" viewed in the Soviet Union? Were Soviet citizens aware that a war with the US would likely involve millions of dead on each side, or did they believe they'd stomp the US?	2265
The tricorn hat seemed to have gone from being THE hat of the 18th century to almost disappearing over night in the 19th century. Was this a case of tricorns being "so last century?"	408
I've heard the claim that in the middle ages, married women were "encouraged" to take female lovers rather than male since there would be no risk of pregnancy. Is there any truth to this at all?	145
Did "knights" in late medieval armies fight in groups or were they spread out amongst the ranks of "common" soldiers?	115
Adolf Hitler was a well-known austrian who had enlisted in the German army, did many other austrians do this?	90
I'm a commoner in the 14th century and get drafted for war, how do I get my arms and armour?	90
Would post-viking era Scandinavian armies and soldiers be organized and equipped any differently than other "western" medieval armies?	73
The border between the Netherlands and Belgium have a lot of enclaves/exclaves. In ww1 most of Belgium was occupied but the Netherlands remained neutral, what happened to the dutch enclaves in occupied Belgium?	46
Why was France's navy so devastated by the revolution?	38