/u/allfangs's posts

Year:

Only show posts with narrations

In 58 BC the Helvetii in what is now Switzerland burned their villages and left on a carefully planned migration to southwest Gaul. Why and how could an agricultural society without a strong central government somehow convince or coerce practically everyone into abandoning their homes?

2113 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

The stereotype of a 19th century gold prospector is oddly specific: an eccentric, hunchbacked old man with a long beard, a tattered hat, and missing teeth. Does this image come from one particular person or fictional character, was it a stereotype of a real phenomenon?

548 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

In the 17th century, many European wars lasted longer than a decade. In the 18th century, only a few did. What changed? Why were 17th century wars so long in the first place?

296 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

Why does Wyoming exist?

82 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

The Soviet Union captured thousands of Japanese prisoners at the Battle of Khalkin Gol in 1939. However, Japanese soldiers were captured only in small numbers by Allied forces in even the largest battles of the Pacific War. What explains this discrepancy?

58 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

A semi-professional, relatively cheaply equipped formation of pikemen could refute extremely expensive, professional mounted knights. Why then did cavalry and not pikes dominate European battlefields until the 16th century?

56 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

The Warsaw Uprising triggered massive reprisals by the Germans and led to the destruction of most of the city. Why did the Home Army launch the uprising if the Red Army was on the verge of capturing Warsaw anyway?

18 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

Were the Allies surprised that Spain didn't join the Axis during World War II? What were their plans if they did?

15 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

The devastation to the European powers caused by World War 2 is often cited as the reason their global empires collapsed. If this is the case, why didn't their empires fall apart after World War 1?

13 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

The medieval Middle Eastern practice of using slaves as professional soldiers often led to those slave-soldiers mutinying or even seizing power (e.g. the Janissaries and Mamluks). Why did those rulers resort to slave militaries in the first place?

10 upvotes • r/AskHistorians

Mark as read: Add to a list

Title	Upvotes	Subreddit	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
In 58 BC the Helvetii in what is now Switzerland burned their villages and left on a carefully planned migration to southwest Gaul. Why and how could an agricultural society without a strong central government somehow convince or coerce practically everyone into abandoning their homes?	2113	AskHistorians
The stereotype of a 19th century gold prospector is oddly specific: an eccentric, hunchbacked old man with a long beard, a tattered hat, and missing teeth. Does this image come from one particular person or fictional character, was it a stereotype of a real phenomenon?	548	AskHistorians
In the 17th century, many European wars lasted longer than a decade. In the 18th century, only a few did. What changed? Why were 17th century wars so long in the first place?	296	AskHistorians
Why does Wyoming exist?	82	AskHistorians
The Soviet Union captured thousands of Japanese prisoners at the Battle of Khalkin Gol in 1939. However, Japanese soldiers were captured only in small numbers by Allied forces in even the largest battles of the Pacific War. What explains this discrepancy?	58	AskHistorians
A semi-professional, relatively cheaply equipped formation of pikemen could refute extremely expensive, professional mounted knights. Why then did cavalry and not pikes dominate European battlefields until the 16th century?	56	AskHistorians
The Warsaw Uprising triggered massive reprisals by the Germans and led to the destruction of most of the city. Why did the Home Army launch the uprising if the Red Army was on the verge of capturing Warsaw anyway?	18	AskHistorians
Were the Allies surprised that Spain didn't join the Axis during World War II? What were their plans if they did?	15	AskHistorians
The devastation to the European powers caused by World War 2 is often cited as the reason their global empires collapsed. If this is the case, why didn't their empires fall apart after World War 1?	13	AskHistorians
The medieval Middle Eastern practice of using slaves as professional soldiers often led to those slave-soldiers mutinying or even seizing power (e.g. the Janissaries and Mamluks). Why did those rulers resort to slave militaries in the first place?	10	AskHistorians