AskHistorians

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There were an estimated 20 - 50 million deaths during the Mongol conquests. Have any mass graves or huge killing fields been discovered that date from this era?	683
Who made the weapons and armor used by the Mongols during their conquests in the 1200s? Related question, Were the Mongols as opposed to industrial pursuit as they were agains agriculture? How does nomadic lifestyle reconcile with the need for weapons industries?	250
During the Persian invasion, Themistocles at one point threatened to move the entire population of Athens to Italy. Was this a real option, or just a bluff? Was there a realistic location in Italy that they were planning to evacuate?	179
How do historians distinguish a powerful chiefdom from a minor kingdom? Is this only a familial distinction? How long ago did "kingdoms" arise?	86
Why did Latin take hold in France and Romania, but not Britain? Also, did Latin gain much traction in North Africa before the Arab conquests?	47
What is the expected lifespan of a typical cemetery?	25
Is there any evidence for prehistoric or pre-literate "empires"?	24
[THEME] Why were so many major islands near the mainland colonized by non-Africans (most in recent times)? Why didn't Africans colonize those places prior to arrival of the Arabs, Indians, Europeans, or Austronesians?	20
How 'unique' is Greek philosophy and learning (geometry, mathematics, science, medicine, etc.)? What evidence exists of borrowing from other cultures? Asked another way, how much of the Greek (Western) "portfolio" is novel?	12
Is there any evidence for a belief by Genghis Khan in cultural or martial continuity between himself and Attila?	5

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