askhistorians

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It's often said that the jester is the only one that can speak truth to the king. Historically speaking though, has that ever been the case, using comedy or satire to persuade or inform an absolute monarchy or similar form of authority?	3860
What was the most hated colonial assignment in the empire for a British soldier?	3236
How did royal tutors in medieval Europe maintain order in their classes? Are there records of tutors earning the lifelong enmity of their former students? What discipline and/or incentive methods were available to them?	757
During the Black Plague, was there ever a resurgence of pagan beliefs in the face of church impotence?	712
What allowed the Japanese royal family to survive for at least 1500 years?	263
Why did anarchism seemingly disappear from American discourse around the 1930's, especially given the major public events (the Sanco and Vanzetti Trial, the Wall Street Bombing, etc) it was involved over the past decade?	224
If I'm an infantryman of common birth in an middle ages European army, is there a such thing as a tour of duty? Am I expected to fight in the army throughout the entire campaign or is there some of contract, verbal or otherwise, that dictates the limit of what is expected of me?	213
Most of us are familiar with stories of WW2 Japanese soldiers located on far flung pacific locations that didn't realize the war was over. Were there any examples of other axis or even allied soldiers becoming isolated and not realizing the war was over?	205
When did casual reading arise in western societies among the general public?	195
Supposedly the guillotine was invented for quicker, more humane executions. With that in mind, what were the problems with executions prior to this that prompted inventions and innovations along these lines?	189

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