/u/dovetc's posts in /r/askhistorians

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Is there a period in history when swordplay was as common and well practiced as it tends to appear in popular fiction?

216 upvotes

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I heard recently that Herodotus mentioned a story wherein Phoenician sailors circumnavigated Africa in antiquity. Do modern scholars believe this anecdote to be true?

44 upvotes

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What did Medieval people think about elves?

11 upvotes

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Many walled cities throughout history are depicted on maps or still have an especially fortified Citadel type structure. What is the primary military tactical or strategic purpose of this point and are there notable instances when one of these held out long after a city fell?

7 upvotes

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How were the aftermath of battles handled from a logistical standpoint?

4 upvotes

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At what rate did the use of money/coinage spread around the world?

3 upvotes

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What were the motivating factors fueling the gold v silver debate in the second half of the 19th century in the US?

3 upvotes

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What people groups are believed to have first invented some of these most important ancient technologies: Bow and arrow, sail, wheel, bread, bronze tools, and any others you all would like to hear about?

2 upvotes

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What types and proportion of taxes (duties, excise, etc.) made up the federal government's budget prior to the 16th amendment?

2 upvotes

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What are the origins of the practice of putting one's hands together during prayer or supplication?

1 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
Is there a period in history when swordplay was as common and well practiced as it tends to appear in popular fiction?	216
I heard recently that Herodotus mentioned a story wherein Phoenician sailors circumnavigated Africa in antiquity. Do modern scholars believe this anecdote to be true?	44
What did Medieval people think about elves?	11
Many walled cities throughout history are depicted on maps or still have an especially fortified Citadel type structure. What is the primary military tactical or strategic purpose of this point and are there notable instances when one of these held out long after a city fell?	7
How were the aftermath of battles handled from a logistical standpoint?	4
At what rate did the use of money/coinage spread around the world?	3
What were the motivating factors fueling the gold v silver debate in the second half of the 19th century in the US?	3
What people groups are believed to have first invented some of these most important ancient technologies: Bow and arrow, sail, wheel, bread, bronze tools, and any others you all would like to hear about?	2
What types and proportion of taxes (duties, excise, etc.) made up the federal government's budget prior to the 16th amendment?	2
What are the origins of the practice of putting one's hands together during prayer or supplication?	1