askhistorians

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Why did Islam spread so readily in East Africa? What tenets made it so appealing to the people living there?	106
Before gunpowder, would the average person have been familiar with the concept of an explosion?	79
During the Civil Rights Movement, were there any African-Americans who were pro-segregation? Did any segregationist politicians use a token nonwhite supporter as proof that black people didn't really want equal rights?	79
Forgive me for my ignorance, but what exactly was the purpose of the anti-lynching laws that kept being shot down? Aren't torture, murder, and aiding in the commission of a crime already against the law?	74
The book "Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom" claims that the Qing set up "suicide stations" that had a dagger, a rope, and a placard encouraging Taiping rebels to kill themselves. That's quite a striking image. Is it true?	73
Japan went from being isolated and menaced by the Western empires to an ambitious imperial state almost overnight. How did the Japanese perception of themselves change to accommodate that? Was there a justification like the White Man’s Burden used to justify their expansion?	72
Do we have any primary accounts of the Great Dying that nearly wiped out the Native Americans?	69
Would glass have been traded over the Silk Road? Who was producing it, and who needed to have it imported? Also, was it only a product for the rich, or something available to many people?	66
What is the North Korean government's view on Nazi Germany? Is it villainized like it is in the West?	53
Would your typical Roman farmer have been affected by the fall of the Roman Republic, or would they basically have the same political power and lifestyle as before?	52

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