AskHistorians

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As an avid museum visitor, I'm amazed at the preponderance of dueling pistols. Did gentlemen keep them as a form of masculine jewelry or were duels really that common in 18th Century Europe, Russia or America? Were duels tantamount to spontaneous road rage of today or were they much more calculated?	2101
Why did the English hold on to Ireland so stubbornly? Are there natural resources they didn't want to lose or was it just pride?	1725
Was the typical Roman soldier during Caesar's time aware of the Battle of Thermopylae and the reputation of the Spartans? Did the Romans respect/revere the Spartans fighting reputation?	1088
During the empire building building era, it seems like the Dutch and Portuguese were off to a fast start but floundered. What kept them from leaving a larger impact like the British and Spanish?	320
This amazing WW2 photo is often touted as being real. I think it is a composite of 3 images. Can you shed some light on it and how photos were manipulated for propaganda purposes?	102
Churches in medieval England, Spain, France, Italy were often known to be rife with corruption in terms of accumilating wealth and abuse of power. Is there any evidence of similar drama in the muslim world during the time period?	98
Why did New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston become the power cities in American history when Charleston and Atlanta have better weather and are not as swampy?	69
In 1864, the Confederate sub HL Hunley sank a warship. It was over 50 years until a submarine sank another warship. What were the other attempts made by subs to sink combatants in those 50 years?	31
Early iron ships 1860-1880 must have had challenges with rust and leakage. How did they make the paint and water resistant caulking?	28
Before 1000 AD, Were average citizen/subjects rewarded for inventions or innovations like advances in farming, husbandry or weapons that enhanced the kingdom/empire?	22

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