askhistorians

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What made melee cavalry so effective in ancient times? Was there much variation in their usage before the advent of gunpowder?	19
How did almost a thousand years of intermittent conflict between Britain and France finally end at the beginning of the 20th century?	18
Most people think of pre ~20th century music as formal, somber and low tempo. Is this stereotype true? Do we have any examples of medieval (or other time period) music that would make the listener want to get up and shake their booty?	17
According to the BHP when a Viking band was successful in an area other bands/groups of scoundrels would travel from across europe to join up. How would one band hear about anothers success and how would they safely make their way to the new bad and join up?	11
In the Roman Era towns were generally protected by strong walls and warfare involved sieging and taking towns. During the the medieval era however war revolved around castles, i.e. relatively small defensive structures which did not encompass whole downs. What caused this shift?	11
How does historical corruption in the west compare with modern corruption in third world countries?	11
If helmets are designed to protect against shrapnel, why do modern helmets not follow the brodie-type shape, which seems optimal to protect against shrapnel coming from above?	10
What is the history of tricolour flags and why have they gotten more popular over time?	9
When was the tipping point which caused war go from something which was seen by the public as glorious and honourable to something which was seen as a tragedy?	7
What are the forces behind the polarisation of American politics? (Pre 1998)	7

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