AskHistorians

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Conquistadors such as Hernán Cortés used a variety of less-than-honourable methods to conquer territory in Middle/South America. Did they admit this when reporting their successes? Were their home societies aware of the tactics they used? Did they ever face disapproval or censure?	203
CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to a widespread internet outage, the AHDC2021 Keynote has been postponed until tomorrow.	196
We often hear about how the Columbian exchange profoundly changed European cuisines (such as tomatoes in Italy). But how far did the introduction of Old World foodstuffs to the Americas change indigenous cuisines in the immediate aftermath of colonisation and contact?	194
"A newly unearthed archive letter has told the story of how an early 18th century Dutchman kept an elephant in an upstairs flat in Edinburgh". I have... questions.	190
How did American slaveholders view Russian serfdom? Was there any reaction among them to the abolition of serfdom in 1861?	190
"1899 brought unexpected fatherhood for Gustav Klimt, as his models Maria Ucicka and Maria Zimmermann bore him children". What sort of women became artists models in Europe c.1900? How 'unexpected' was this kind of treatment?	126
What would the coronation of an English monarch have looked like 1000 years ago?	125
How thirsty were the ancient Greek Olympics? NSFW	123
A key plot point in Game of Thrones is children's inherited physical characteristics from their parents. How was heredity understood in medieval Europe?	115
I went to the opera for the first time last night! While enjoyable, it was soon apparent that the plot (the Magic Flute) made almost no sense whatsoever. Why? Was this always the case?	94

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