/u/fathercthulu's posts in /r/AskHistorians

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With deodorant first really coming out commercially in 1888 in Philadelphia, did most of the world just smell like armpits once the clock struck noon on a warm day?

484 upvotes

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When did Jesus earn the H in the swear, "Jesus H. Christ"?

412 upvotes

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When cars first started hitting the streets, where were people getting gas from? Was there just a central gas station for all of, say, New York?

344 upvotes

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It took me and my friends 40 hours to drive straight from California to Washington DC in 2012. How long would this have taken before the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, with the most optimal route?

318 upvotes

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Were Egyptians shirtless all the time like in The Ten Commandments?

318 upvotes

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I've read that Christ spoke Aramaic. Since his trial and sentencing and execution all had (what I assume to be) Latin speaking Romans, would he have even understood what was going on?

317 upvotes

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How did prostitutes in the Old West avoid pregnancy? Did everyone just pull out? NSFW

296 upvotes

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What were some of the Roman state secrets that they had to hide from the people? Any false flag operations?

270 upvotes

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How long after the telephone was invented did the thumb-and-pinky gesture to indicate a call become commonplace?

262 upvotes

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I've noticed that in old films (Specifically, All Quiet on the Western Front), it seems like everyone holds their spoons and forks the way they hold a sword or a dumbbell, whereas now everyone I know holds cutlery like a pencil. Is that cultural or did something happen in history to change it?

193 upvotes

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
With deodorant first really coming out commercially in 1888 in Philadelphia, did most of the world just smell like armpits once the clock struck noon on a warm day?	484
When did Jesus earn the H in the swear, "Jesus H. Christ"?	412
When cars first started hitting the streets, where were people getting gas from? Was there just a central gas station for all of, say, New York?	344
It took me and my friends 40 hours to drive straight from California to Washington DC in 2012. How long would this have taken before the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, with the most optimal route?	318
Were Egyptians shirtless all the time like in The Ten Commandments?	318
I've read that Christ spoke Aramaic. Since his trial and sentencing and execution all had (what I assume to be) Latin speaking Romans, would he have even understood what was going on?	317
How did prostitutes in the Old West avoid pregnancy? Did everyone just pull out? NSFW	296
What were some of the Roman state secrets that they had to hide from the people? Any false flag operations?	270
How long after the telephone was invented did the thumb-and-pinky gesture to indicate a call become commonplace?	262
I've noticed that in old films (Specifically, All Quiet on the Western Front), it seems like everyone holds their spoons and forks the way they hold a sword or a dumbbell, whereas now everyone I know holds cutlery like a pencil. Is that cultural or did something happen in history to change it?	193