AskHistorians

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Did the Post-Classical Maya have any cultural memory of the Classical period?	15
In George RR Martin's books set in Westeros, "songs" seem to be the primary vehicle of recounting history for the illiterate. Given that Westeros is meant to resemble the High Middle Ages in France and England, were histories transmitted by song in that time and in those places?	15
What was the role and position of the French Left during the decolonization period? France fought harder to maintain its colonies than other European empires but at the same time my impression is that its Left was more numerous and stronger than e.g. the UK or the Netherlands.	15
Ivan the Terrible once resigned as Tsar for a year and put a Genghisid, Simeon Bekbulatovich, on the Russia throne during the period. Does this imply that Muscovy/Russia at the time didn't have a as negative impression of Mongol rule/the "Tatar yoke" as it would in later centuries?	15
Bowing died out in the West, but stage actors still bow after a performance. Whence comes this? Is this a revived custom or is it a relic?	14
So many Roman Emperors get assassinated - so why did guys keep going after the job? Did they think they wouldn't assassinated or was the motivation "sure I'll die, but at least I'll be emperor for a bit"?	14
The Barmakid family that supplied viziers and administrators for the Abbasids were originally hereditary abbots of a Buddhist monastery in modern Afghanistan. How does that work? Was celibacy not required in Afghan/Bactrian Buddhism?	14
Chemists in the 19th and early 20th centuries seem to have had no inhibitions with regards to putting newly synthesized chemicals in their mouths to see what would happen. What were the consequences of this? What was the professional mortality rate for research chemists?	13
How available was milled flour in the Indian subcontinent historically? Did watermills or windmills exist at all?	13
Since the failed attempt of the Dominican Republic to join the US during Grant's term, has any foreign, independent country tried to join the US or given it serious internal discussion?	13

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