/u/prk0991's posts in /r/askhistorians

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The US lost just over 50,000 in both World War 1 and Vietnam. The latter prompted widespread outrage at the number of casualties, whereas we hear little about the former. What shifted in the American psyche between those conflicts? Why is the US more casualty averse today?

372 upvotes

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In Meditations on Divine Love, Julian of Norwich says she "sorrowed to die" because she was "in youth yet" at the age of 30. But I thought life expectancy in the middle ages was such that 30 would be considered older? What was the actual life expectancy for a common person in 14th century England?

18 upvotes

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Seafaring has been filled with superstition through out history, and remains so even today. But when did this start? Were, for example, ancient Greek sailors very superstitious?

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Title	Upvotes	Mark as read	Favorited	Rating	Add to a list
The US lost just over 50,000 in both World War 1 and Vietnam. The latter prompted widespread outrage at the number of casualties, whereas we hear little about the former. What shifted in the American psyche between those conflicts? Why is the US more casualty averse today?	372
In Meditations on Divine Love, Julian of Norwich says she "sorrowed to die" because she was "in youth yet" at the age of 30. But I thought life expectancy in the middle ages was such that 30 would be considered older? What was the actual life expectancy for a common person in 14th century England?	18
Seafaring has been filled with superstition through out history, and remains so even today. But when did this start? Were, for example, ancient Greek sailors very superstitious?	13