askhistorians

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Could people of Classical antiquity ever encounter the art of prehistoric cultures? If they did, could they possibly recognize it as such?	578
Given the current state of archaeology, what is the likelihood of discovering a previously completely unknown civilization? Is the entirety of the globe pretty much accounted for by now?	150
It is said that Mongol warriors used rhymed poetry to remember and carry oral orders. Are there any surviving examples? Is there any research into the subject and its literary aspect?	127
Maurice Delafosse writes that everywhere across Africa the native people said the land does not really belong to them: their ancestors came from the east, and the original population were "little men of reddish tint and large heads". What the hell is he talking about?	94
Pynchon's "Mason & Dixon" describes the hostile popular reaction to 1752 conversion of England to the Gregorian calendar: people thinking it's a conspiracy to steal 11 days. Did anything like this happen in real life? What was the popular reaction to the calendar switch?	77
Historically, have other religions pushed for the idea that "Thou shalt have no other gods" before the Abrahamic ones?	61
Do we know how Pompey was able to end the issue of piracy so quickly? What was it that prevented Rome from taking care of them before that?	42
I read an opinion that recent studies have disproven most technological progress attributed to the Middle Ages (water mills, metallurgy, etc.) and instead attributed them to the antiquity. How true is this?	39
After the fall of Constantinople, why didn't the European traders go through Russia to avoid the Ottomans?	24
I often see statements that ancient people did not have a sense of history. Is that so?	19

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