/u/Wireless-Wizard's posts in /r/askhistorians

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In many fantasy and adventure stories, the heroes can hitch a ride on a cargo ship. Was this common practice in the real age of sail, and if so what kind of ship would be most likely to take on passengers?

648 upvotes

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What was the first science fiction story to use "Credits" as a unit of currency?

440 upvotes

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In the Second World War, what were the most common peacetime professions of conscripted men in the British Army?

59 upvotes

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Why is it traditional for combat sports to offer an elaborate belt as a trophy?

15 upvotes

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The Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires are often characterised as undergoing long, slow declines. Is this just hindsight talking? In other words, did they really undergo severe decline, or was it just the natural ebb and flow of power?

14 upvotes

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I understand that Voltaire greatly admired Chinese culture, based on secondhand accounts. What would his sources have been, and how accurate (if at all) were they?

12 upvotes

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I am reading Richard Holmes' biography of Marlborough, and he consistently refers to the forces of the HRE as "Imperialist". Why is this?

8 upvotes

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When undertaking the Grand Tour of Europe, would a young man typically have brought servants with him? If so, which?

8 upvotes

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At several points in his life, Napoleon entertained ideas of invading India. How serious were these plans?

7 upvotes

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The Colt Navy revolver was popular with officers of the British Army in the mid 19th Century. What were the key reasons for the popularity of this model in particular?

6 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In many fantasy and adventure stories, the heroes can hitch a ride on a cargo ship. Was this common practice in the real age of sail, and if so what kind of ship would be most likely to take on passengers?	648
What was the first science fiction story to use "Credits" as a unit of currency?	440
In the Second World War, what were the most common peacetime professions of conscripted men in the British Army?	59
Why is it traditional for combat sports to offer an elaborate belt as a trophy?	15
The Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian empires are often characterised as undergoing long, slow declines. Is this just hindsight talking? In other words, did they really undergo severe decline, or was it just the natural ebb and flow of power?	14
I understand that Voltaire greatly admired Chinese culture, based on secondhand accounts. What would his sources have been, and how accurate (if at all) were they?	12
I am reading Richard Holmes' biography of Marlborough, and he consistently refers to the forces of the HRE as "Imperialist". Why is this?	8
When undertaking the Grand Tour of Europe, would a young man typically have brought servants with him? If so, which?	8
At several points in his life, Napoleon entertained ideas of invading India. How serious were these plans?	7
The Colt Navy revolver was popular with officers of the British Army in the mid 19th Century. What were the key reasons for the popularity of this model in particular?	6