AskHistorians

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William Henry Harrison infamously died from complications due to pneumonia some 30 days into his presidency. Was his health or age (at 68) ever a significant issue during his bid for office?	2267
Homer repeatedly refers to Greek ships as 'black-bellied', 'black benched', or simply having a 'black hull'. Is this poetic license, or does this indicate a particular tradition of ancient Greek shipbuilding?	738
In the film Patton, the German command is depicted as being almost obsessed with the American general up to tracking his movements as signs of the next Allied invasion. Is this accurate?	727
A game like Crusader Kings allows for the adoption of a distinct 'Outremer' culture in the Crusader States. Were there "settled" Crusaders that were appreciably different in their culture and practices to their European origins?	232
Depictions of Crusader soldiers often have them wearing armor or clothing with a cross upon the chest as a 'uniform' of sorts, where does this depiction stem from, and how common was it really?	215
Maritime Historians: How often do you deal with the trope of egalitarianism at sea, and how accurate is it in your studies of ships' crews?	87
What did the Hagia Sophia look like under the Latin Emperors? Were there any significant changes in iconography, architecture, or layout? Was it used for Catholic services?	81
How do historians define "Baathism", and was it a widespread force in the Middle East? How extensive was contact and cooperation between the Syrian and Iraqi branches in power?	69
In the film Rashomon, a murdered samurai gives his testimony to a court as a spirit through a medium. Would this sort of testimony have ever been possible or permissible in feudal Japan?	50
I have read before that the later regime of Ceaușescu made small but gradual efforts to steer Romania from the Soviet bloc, and more under his own personal control. Did Romania have any unique or differing relationship with the USSR, or within the larger Warsaw Pact?	41

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