askhistorians

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Is it true that in some battles of the First English Civil War, pikemen on both sides would just "wave their pikes around" pretending to be fighting, and hoping their commanders wouldn't notice it?	4783
In the chaos of Age of Sail naval battles, I imagine that sometimes two enemy ships would sink next to another. Would the surviving sailors keep the fight going in the water, trying to drown one another? Or would they drop the animosity and chat about the battle, while trying to survive together?	4264
While living, Muhammad chose Ali as his successor. But some followers met while Ali was at his funeral and decided that Abu Bakr would be their leader, and their actions caused Ali's wife (Muhammad's daughter) to miscarry and die. Why did many Muslims nevertheless accept the succession of Abu Bakr?	3575
Homer Simpson said "I feel like St. Augustine of Hippo after his conversion by Ambrose of Milan". However, Augustine says his conversion was a miracle which happened when he was alone. Is Homer wrong, or does the credit really go to Ambrose (and the "miracle" was just a rhetorical creation)?	3202
Picture a Roman soldier: odds are that you're thinking of a man wearing a lorica segmentata, a rectangular scutum and a gallic helmet. Out of a millenium of evolution in Roman military technology, how did this specific set of 1st/2nd century equipment become so iconic? You don't see it in older art.	2521
The famous diarist Samuel Pepys is routinely abusive towards women, taking advantage of his maids (sometimes young girls), groping even when resisted, cheating on his wife, etc. Were 17th century men that abusive towards women and young girls, or was Pepys an especially bad example even for his age?	2357
We all know about Saint Peter, the first Pope. But what do we know about the man who succeeded him? Who was Pope Linus, the second Bishop of Rome, and what did he do? Why and how was he chosen? And most importantly, is there evidence that he actually existed?	2228
It's kind of crazy to think that an ancient Germanic people once ruled parts of Algeria, Libya and Tunisia. Did the Vandals leave any mark - in language, culture, architecture or similar - that might be recognizable today in those regions?	2185
In 1974 the Portuguese army went from fighting for a far-right regime against African leftist guerrillas, to deposing it and leading leftist revolutionary policies in Portugal itself. How did this dramatic ideological shift happen in the army of a regime which censored leftist news, books and music?	2156
When architect Stanford White was shot and killed in 1906 at Madison Square Guarden, the confused crowd cheered "as elaborate party tricks among the upper echelon of New York society were common at the time". What kind of tricks? Was there a prank culture among the early 20th century NYC elites?	1808

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