AskHistorians

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In 2010 series 'Spartacus', in a scene where Spartacus fights as a gladiator while the crowd is dancing and acclaiming him, some women are shown topless. Was it common for women in Ancient Rome to be publicly topless? Otherwise, when and why was Ancient Rome so erotized in the social imaginary?	3380
What did Lenin think of comedians and how were they treated under his rule?	162
In the anime film 'Midori' (1992) they mention a "terrible form of magic" that entered Japan through China and was fiercely prosecuted by authorities until the 19th Century. Is this any real? Do we know about any practitioners of Chinese or Central Asian magic being prosecuted in Japan?	44
I've read that the Spanish Transition to Democracy was secretly promoted by the United States, because the Government feared that Spain could face a revolution if the military held power after Franco's death. Is this true? What was the role of the United States on the Spanish Transition?	13
I've read that Crusaders from Northern Europe fought in the Reconquista in Spain and Portugal. Where did they mostly come from and how did they get there? How did they communicate with locals and how did they integrate in the military? What did they do after the wars?	7
What was the difference between colonial empires and the empires that existed before?	6
What do we know about economic growth in Antiquity? Did the Roman Empire suffer recessions?	3
In Ridley Scott's film 'Robin Hood', the protagonist, while beinh a soldier, mentions that it's very difficult to get their salary from the king. Was it usual during medieval times that soldiers were paid late?	2
Why didn't Attila convert to Christianism when he was invading the Roman Empire, as the Germanic tribes used to do? Why did they have such a different approach to religion?	2
Did the German States play any role in the American and French Revolution? What was happening during that time in what today are Germany and Austria?	2

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