askhistorians

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How widely known was Quint's story about the USS Indianapolis before Jaws? How close to the truth did the movie get?	6
Within 70 years of its formation, Germany had initiated two world wars. Were there fears at the time that their creation could become a significant destabilizing force among the major powers?	5
Romans were famous for their engineering, but what about architecture? Were there famous architects in ancient Rome? How would they get their training, and what would their social status be?	5
What's the backstory behind South Africa's Witchcraft Suppression Act of 1957? How big of a problem was it addressing? Was this kind of thing still an issue in the 20th century?	5
In Blueprint for Armageddon, it's mentioned that when Germany was declared a nation in 1871, Otto von Bismarck specifically didn't want Austria included in the new nation; what was his thinking?	5
Did Freemasons have a significant impact on the culture of the Enlightenment? How widespread was the organization?	5
Newspapers used to often express their political perspective in their names (The Tribune-Democrat, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, New Hampshire Union Leader, etc.). When and why did this kind of thing fall out of favor?	5
What's the history of the middle finger as an obscene gesture?	5
Before Lincoln was assassinated, no president had been; was this the shock it sounds like? He'd considered his death in office a possibility; had any previous president survived an attempt? It hadn't happened before and yet he'd considered it, did this reflect a changing view on political violence?	5
Is it true that people in the Middle Ages drank beer rather than water as their primary beverage? Had this been true prior to the Middle Ages, or was it a new development? Did this affect society in ways we would expect if everyone was walking around slightly buzzed?	5

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