askhistorians

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In chess, the Queen is a powerful figure and the King is fairly weak. Was this a form of social commentary, and if so, what were the circumstances of the time that would have led to this?	462
What happened from 1824 to 1828 to increase voter turnout in the US Presidential election from just over 25% to just under 60%?	92
Right now, the elderly are generally considered much more socially conservative than the youth. Have there been periods in history in any cultures where the youth were more socially conservative than the elderly?	27
Is it a coincidence or a result of trade that both East Asian cultures like ancient Japan and European cultures like medieval Sicily had string-shaped noodles?	10
Most US Presidents after leaving office seem to make their money through speaking fees, or work with charities/nonprofits/etc. Have there been Presidents that returned to more traditional jobs (lawyer, professor, executive) after the presidency?	9
Why did Isocrates establish his school in Cius rather than Athens when Athens was much more established as a hub for Sophists, philosophers, and civic/political discourse?	6
When did the tradition of showing virginal blood on the bedsheets on the wedding night to demonstrate the bride's chastity/virtue die out? How widely was this even practiced in the first place?	5
When did gold acquire its status as the chief emblem of wealth and currency? Why does this seem to be relatively universal across cultures? Why not other shiny things like silver or copper?	4
What led to the expulsion of William K. Sebastian from the US Senate in 1862 (for supporting the Confederacy) being reversed in 1877?	4
What were the circumstances surrounding Julius Caesar's offer to Cicero to be a member of the Triumvirate? (which I assume would have made it a Quadrivium or something)	3

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