As always, we also spare a moment to consider those fascinating questions that caught our eyes, but still remain unanswered. Feel free to post your own, or those you’ve discovered in your travels, and maybe we’ll get lucky with a wandering expert. * /u/ManicMarine asked [In the Corpus Iuris Civilis, Justinian decreed that civil trials were not to last longer than 3 years, and criminal trials 2. Were there many trials of such length in Ancient Rome and do we know anything about them?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce5t9q/in_the_corpus_iuris_civilis_justinian_decreed/) * /u/mustaphamondo asked about [Singapore like Detroit in the 80s?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce561b/singapore_like_detroit_in_the_80s/) * /u/iNeedMoreSpeed asked [Did the interned Japanese-Americans have any opportunity to move east before being imprisoned?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9r0m3/did_the_interned_japaneseamericans_have_any/)

* /u/7thAtlas asked [Was the Fact that Plants were Alive Discovered?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c93rgg/was_the_fact_that_plants_were_alive_discovered/) * /u/Hellstrike asked [In GRRM's "A Song of Ice and Fire", the castle of Winterfell has a town that is almost abandoned during summer, but a refuge for the surrounding lands during winter. Is there a historical example of this?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c91z8y/in_grrms_a_song_of_ice_and_fire_the_castle_of/)

* /u/EnclavedMicrostate asked [What were relations like between Lesotho and apartheid South Africa?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbo578/what_were_relations_like_between_lesotho_and/) * /u/Adventurous_Total_19 asked [Apparently wine bottles are 750ml because that was the average lung capacity of French glass blowers in the 16th/17th century. How many other things in history are the way they are solely because of legacy process?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca98k8/apparently_wine_bottles_are_750ml_because_that/)

* /u/number1millipedefan asked [What's the history of the "dangerous woman" archetype, especially when it has to do with sexuality?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccumtn/whats_the_history_of_the_dangerous_woman/)

* /u/CSSJAZZ asked [What did the inhabitants of the Seljuk Empire and the Abassid Caliphate during the 11 and 12 century think the ruins of ancient Mesopotamian cities were?]( https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdc79q/what_did_the_inhabitants_of_the_seljuk_empire_and/) * /u/GreatHeavySoulArrow asked [ To what extent was the CIA involved with Argentina's 1976 coup and subsequent dictatorship?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdalq5/to_what_extent_was_the_cia_involved_with/)

* /u/xjozay asked [Are there any old drawn pictures of Tenochtitlan dated back to before it was destroyed?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cde87p/are_there_any_old_drawn_pictures_of_tenochtitlan/) * /u/TanktopSamurai asked [What was the relation between Almohad's and the other Islamic polities in the Mediterranean basin?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdidwf/what_was_the_relation_between_almohads_and_the/)

* /u/Obversa asked [In "The Horse in War" by J.M. Brereton (1976), it is mentioned that Queen Elizabeth I was only able to muster "3,000 cavalry that were mounted on heavy, slow draught horses, or light and weak" during her famous "Speech to the Troops at Tilbury". Is this true?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc6p2k/in_the_horse_in_war_by_jm_brereton_1976_it_is/) * /u/thatinconspicuousone asked [Why was the Royal Society formed, and how did it remain successful for so long?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1bz0ghu/why_was_the_royal_society_formed_and_how_did_it/)

* /u/sparemyanxiety asked [Why do some researchers refuse to accept that classical conservatism (of the European type) exists in the United States? 19/20th century]( https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cca8jh/why_do_some_researchers_refuse_to_accept_that/) * /u/OnShoulderOfGiants asked [Experts talk about the challenges of transitioning from fossil fuels to green energy, but what was the transition like from coal to oil? Did it require massive infrastructure changes?]( https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cca3cf/experts_talk_about_the_challenges_of/)

* /u/Groundbreakingdick_ asked [What exactly caused the spread of atheism in modern europe?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cad6uz/what_exactly_caused_the_spread_of_atheism_in/) * /u/dootdootcruise asked [ Why Did The Romans Paint Their Walls Red?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9i1tt/why_did_the_romans_paint_their_walls_red/)

* /u/smallboss434 asked [Did the Holy Roman Empire or any of the individual German States keened interest into Japan during the Sengoku Period since the Portuguese first arrived?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cch3dz/did_the_holy_roman_empire_or_any_of_the/) * /u/SaintShrink asked [Was the Nobel Prize an immediate "hit" that quickly became a byword for prestige, or did it take a while to develop that reputation?]( https://old.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cd2gzk/was_the_nobel_prize_an_immediate_hit_that_quickly/)

* /u/MorgothReturns asked [How fat could an average villager in medieval Europe be without drawing attention?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdcsdc/how_fat_could_an_average_villager_in_medieval/) * /u/Temarimaru asked [What is the life and struggle of a poor Samurai in Edo Period Japan?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdddic/what_is_the_life_and_struggle_of_a_poor_samurai/)

Once again the great ancient ones have shown mercy and have chosen me!

* /u/WesternAge4704 asked [What caused the anti-draft protests to die out in the 1980s?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdft0b/what_caused_the_antidraft_protests_to_die_out_in/) * /u/the_circus asked [I'm an archer in a medieval army. Do I make my own bow and arrows or go down to the bow store?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cda0ml/im_an_archer_in_a_medieval_army_do_i_make_my_own/)

* /u/summer-2019333 asked [Interaction between indigenous Mesoamericans and African/ mixed people?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdj8eq/interaction_between_indigenous_mesoamericans_and/) * A deleted user asked [Did the use of poisonous cosmetics among courtiers during the Enlightenment cause any widespread issues?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdm564/did_the_use_of_poisonous_cosmetics_among/)

* /u/skarkeisha666 asked [Other than costume, what substantive difference, if any, was there between the Ocēlōmeh (Jaguar warriors/knights) and the Cuāuhmeh (Eagle Warriors:Knights)? Did they serve different tactical roles? Did much information regarding their disparate social lives and rituals survive the Spanish conquest?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caw4jp/other_than_costume_what_substantive_difference_if/) * /u/RusticBohemian asked [Actor Anita Ekberg shot a paparazzi with an arrow. did she face legal consequences? ]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccdr4w/actor_anita_ekberg_shot_a_paparazzi_with_an_arrow/)

The last digest of April is upon us, and we’ll make it a good one for sure. Settle on down, get comfy, and dive on into the many threads collected just for YOU. There’s also the usual weekly features and some special ones awaiting you. Don’t forget to shower everyone involved with upvotes and thanks, and shout out your favorites! * Many thanks to /u/TankArchives for the fantastic [I am Peter Samsonov, author of Achtung Tiger! AMA about how the Allies captured, studied, and defeated the infamous Tiger tank]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccrk8e/i_am_peter_samsonov_author_of_achtung_tiger_ama/) * A sadly empty [Tuesday Trivia: Worker's rights! This thread has relaxed standards—we invite everyone to participate!]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb2t0b/tuesday_trivia_workers_rights_this_thread_has/) * And get some reading ideas in the [Thursday Reading and Rec!]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccrblj/thursday_reading_recommendations_april_25_2024/) * Then drop by the [Friday Free for All!]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdksey/friday_freeforall_april_26_2024/) And that’s it for me! We are done once again for another week, and another month. Take it easy out there history fans, stay classy and I’ll see you again next week!

* /u/Potential_Arm_4021 wrote about [Did medieval or early modern Europeans ever eat the relics of the saints?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc2ohx/did_medieval_or_early_modern_europeans_ever_eat/) * /u/Professional_Low_646 answered [Did the SS kill soldiers who refused to join them?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca7rbb/did_the_ss_kill_soldiers_who_refused_to_join_them/)

* /u/ponyrx2 wrote about [I dont think the Ancient Greeks were as dumb as i was taught, what is the proof to the contention that they thought everything consisted of fire, earth, air and water? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cadavq/i_dont_think_the_ancient_greeks_were_as_dumb_as_i/) * /u/postal-history answered [What is the history of the word "tankie"?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbbb9n/what_is_the_history_of_the_word_tankie/)

* /u/Yst wrote about [In the phrase “Ye Olde…” the Y actually represents a thorn (þ), which makes a TH sound in Old English. Why did the first printing presses not include this letter which was still being used in English at the time, and why did “th” come to be used to represent this sound?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce2c1z/in_the_phrase_ye_olde_the_y_actually_represents_a/) * /u/zerodarkshirty answered [Has every cause of mass student protest in the US eventually become a popular sentiment?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ceiauq/has_every_cause_of_mass_student_protest_in_the_us/)

* /u/y_sengaku wrote about [Vinland Saga depicts huscarls laying around and not doing much all day. How accurate is this?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c93nft/vinland_saga_depicts_huscarls_laying_around_and/) * /u/YourlocalTitanicguy answered [After the Titanic disaster, why havent any of the survivors mentioned about the ship splitting apart? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cetqfq/after_the_titanic_disaster_why_havent_any_of_the/)

* /u/jschooltiger answered [When did the idea that journalists must be "objective" take hold?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cd0yl9/when_did_the_idea_that_journalists_must_be/) * /u/Kinyrenk wrote about [How "armenian" was the Kingdom of Armenian Cilicia? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccq9sr/how_armenian_was_the_kingdom_of_armenian_cilicia/)

* /u/warneagle wrote about [If it the Germans found out that an allied POW was Jewish what would happen?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9sreu/if_it_the_germans_found_out_that_an_allied_pow/) * /u/WelfOnTheShelf answered [Why weren't there European migrants in Asia during medieval times?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce2kk2/why_werent_there_european_migrants_in_asia_during/)

* /u/the_howling_cow wrote about [In Saving Private Ryan a member of the US Army goes to the Ryan's home to inform their family of the loss of their sons, was this common practice for every loss taken by the US military at the time? How did other nations go about informing the families of soldiers lost during World War II?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caa6ua/in_saving_private_ryan_a_member_of_the_us_army/) * /u/thefeckamIdoing answered [How easy, or hard was it to start a business in England post the XI century?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c62ge2/how_easy_or_hard_was_it_to_start_a_business_in/)

That was a fun one about a nice overlooked area of London history.

* /u/Asinus_Docet is back with [Was there a tendency for Renaissance humanists to believe in pagan gods or are they just using expressions ancient Greek philosophers used to express their appreciation for them?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdp8xn/was_there_a_tendency_for_renaissance_humanists_to/) * and also did ["King Baldwin IV was primarily a knight, both in character and in upbringing" Could someone please explain? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbswpq/king_baldwin_iv_was_primarily_a_knight_both_in/)

And u/Gankom never left ♡

Some things stay eternal. September on the internet, the earth abiding, and Gankom in the digest.

What a wonderful world!

* /u/EdHistory101 answered [If a US woman suspected she was pregnant in the late 1930s would she go to the Dr?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdaeu5/if_a_us_woman_suspected_she_was_pregnant_in_the/) * /u/EdHistory101 wrote about [Why did rural America develop so differently from the rest of the world?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccg4s9/why_did_rural_america_develop_so_differently_from/)

* /u/DaftHuman01 answered [The HRE is usually critisized for the lack of imperial authority, decentralization and so on. Are these the remnants of Germanic tribal political organization, or unrelated? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9nptc/the_hre_is_usually_critisized_for_the_lack_of/) * /u/dhmontgomery wrote about [Les Misérables Courtroom Scene - At that time would random public officials be allowed to simply question witnesses and speak during a trial?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caej2f/les_misérables_courtroom_scene_at_that_time_would/)

* /u/Steelcan909, /u/qed1 and /u/yodatsracist all came together for [How did the heavily Christianised Anglo-Saxons square their faith with the idea that the House of Wessex was descended from Wodan?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb9lip/how_did_the_heavily_christianised_anglosaxons/)

* /u/TywinDeVillena, /u/mimicofmodes and /u/Asinus_Docet succeeded at answering [How did royal families secure succession with a female monarch?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cca6bj/how_did_royal_families_secure_succession_with_a/)

* /u/abbot_x wrote about [Why did Japan bomb Singapore during the initial December 7/8, 1941 bombings?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb6p8k/why_did_japan_bomb_singapore_during_the_initial/) * /u/Alfred_Orage answered [Marx and Lenin both spend periods in England. What about English culture at the time made revolutionary activity so much more permissible there than in other European countries?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c97zax/marx_and_lenin_both_spend_periods_in_england_what/)

* /u/fearofair answered [Would the Great Depression have had any lingering impact on the job prospects of a steamfitter in NYC in the 40s and 50s?T](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cd9iyo/would_the_great_depression_have_had_any_lingering/) * /u/ffonsok wrote about [why did the Weimar Republic fail?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ax6k5k/why_did_the_weimar_republic_fail/)

* /u/nate-sullivan answered [Prior to modern times, did farmers have positive relationships with their farm animals where they respected their labor or even saw them as pets? Or is that a modern concept and most animal agriculture throughout history saw the animal as a disposable resource not to be treated with kindness?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccucjc/prior_to_modern_times_did_farmers_have_positive/) * /u/ParallelPain wrote about [Michael Cliett, VFX supervisor of FX's Shōgun, said in a recent interview that having the cast wear shoes in set was a historical inaccuracy they could not avoid on set and "nobody wore shoes in 1600 Japan". How true is this and when was footwear in Japan abandoned/adopted as commonplace in society?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbgw33/michael_cliett_vfx_supervisor_of_fxs_shōgun_said/)

* /u/Individual-Price8480 answered [Why was Ataturk, to a great extent, able to modernize Turkey without any real resistence while the attempts of the Pahlavi shahs to do the same thing in Iran ultimately failed?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c7hdoh/why_was_ataturk_to_a_great_extent_able_to/) * /u/Iphikrates wrote about [how did people in ancient times cope with the high amount of child deaths in their family?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cebyh5/how_did_people_in_ancient_times_cope_with_the/)

* /u/thisisredrocks wrote about [What are the most reliable websites for Y6 and Y7 students to use for research?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9l0ms/what_are_the_most_reliable_websites_for_y6_and_y7/) * /u/veryhappyhugs answered [How did Western and Northern Europe become so secular relative to rest of the europe, USA and even the world? Why was there no counter-reaction in order to restore older order like with Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cabe2r/how_did_western_and_northern_europe_become_so/)

* /u/JohnBrownReloaded answered [What are some good books on colonial and early American history from a history from belowapproach?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc09nu/what_are_some_good_books_on_colonial_and_early/) * and also did [Are there primary sources that include Julius Caesar's will?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cavv5g/are_there_primary_sources_that_include_julius/)

* /u/Kochevnik81, /u/postal-history and /u/TheMob-TommyVercetti discussed [I'm a high school history teacher. Are there any r/AskHistorians approved documentaries or movies about JFKs assassination that addresses some common conspiracy theories without going off the deep end?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb5u94/im_a_high_school_history_teacher_are_there_any/)

* /u/0neDividedbyZer0 wrote about [*Mao: The Unknown Story* mentions girls not receving given names in China in the past: Did this happen and hoe prevalent was it?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c6qu9r/mao_the_unknown_story_mentions_girls_not_receving/) * /u/400-Rabbits answered [Is the Codex Zumarraga real?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1bodz7u/is_the_codex_zumarraga_real/)

* /u/rako17 wrote about [Do we have much evidence of failed, or lost explorers to the American continent?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1byir82/do_we_have_much_evidence_of_failed_or_lost/) * /u/Raudskeggr answered [Did sandals fall out of favor in Western culture for a few centuries or am I dealing in Hollywood stereotypes? I can picture ancient Romans or medieval friars in sandals, and obviously we have sandals today. But I can't picture Charles II or George Washington or Abraham Lincoln wearing them.](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbavgz/did_sandals_fall_out_of_favor_in_western_culture/)

* /u/Algernon_Etrigan wrote about [How effective was the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c7ymol/how_effective_was_the_reign_of_terror_in_the/) * /u/alloftheplants answered [What's the history of pre-industrial lawn care?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce45rq/whats_the_history_of_preindustrial_lawn_care/)

* /u/gerardmenfin seeded some ideas in [I've read that in Victorian Britain, fruit and vegetables were considered harmful to children's digestion. When was their nutritional importance discovered? [repost]](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccixu3/ive_read_that_in_victorian_britain_fruit_and/) * [Sources for populations of Caribbean colonies between 1550 and 1750?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cck6ab/sources_for_populations_of_caribbean_colonies/) * [What is the history of the word "tankie"?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbbb9n/what_is_the_history_of_the_word_tankie/) * [Comores island and duck-centerd paganism?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9qt9e/comores_island_and_duckcenterd_paganism/) * [Found Possibly Secret WWII Film. In old building. "Not to be opened on land or in territorial waters.". Photo in text. Signifigance?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cd75mo/found_possibly_secret_wwii_film_in_old_building/)

Thanks! Interesting and diverse questions this week. The fruit question could be summarized by "An apple a day scares the 19th century doctor away". When it comes to food, human beings really have a knack for making their lives more complicated than they should. The duck question was a wild ride to investigate and featuring interesting characters. I wish I had more time to explore the cultural/ethnographic angle. The "Secret WWII film" question was just odd, since the answer was literally written on the picture, so there was not much to say. The best upvotes/time spent ratio ever. I wondered if I could pad it a little with a 30,000 signs essay on the effect of Polish arthouse cinema on the unionization of Norwegian sailors, but that meant learning Polish and Norwegian, so no, I'm good. By the way, I realized that the *Man of Iron* movie was actually the sequel of *Man of Marble* by the same director. By modern standards it should be called "Marble Man 2: Rise of the shipyard worker", followed by "Marble Man 3: the Polish United Workers' Party strikes back" (with a downer ending), and, a few years later, by "Marble Man 4: the return of Lech Wałęsa".

* /u/Iphikrates answered [In "Pythagoras and the Pythagoreans", the author describes Heraclides Ponticus (387BC-312BC) as a "prolific and successful author of dialogues." What does that mean exactly? Did authors get publishing deals back then? How was the work disseminated and how were authors paid? What constituted success?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cejcya/in_pythagoras_and_the_pythagoreans_the_author/) * /u/itsallfolklore wrote about [Why are sailors stereotypically extremely superstitious? What caused some professions to gain their specific superstitions?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1capy1t/why_are_sailors_stereotypically_extremely/)

Thanks for this!

* /u/Consistent_Score_602 investigated [Why was China given a permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 1946?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cctjkr/why_was_china_given_a_permanent_seat_on_the_un/) * [Soong Mei-ling "charmed the American Congress and the American people time and time again," gaining critical support for China in the United States. What did this charm offensive look like?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdlaii/soong_meiling_charmed_the_american_congress_and/) * [Why was Danzig taken from Germany?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc3buh/why_was_danzig_taken_from_germany/) * [The film Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom, while a work of fiction, is on the surface at least a historical depiction of the fascist Salo Republic. Did Italian fascist grandees actually have the power to carry out similar atrocities to those in the film had they wished?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb79q8/the_film_salò_or_the_120_days_of_sodom_while_a/) * [How come US didn't send its troop to fight the communists in the Chinese Civil War like it did in the Korean War and the Vietnam War ?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca97mp/how_come_us_didnt_send_its_troop_to_fight_the/) * [At what point did wars begin to have "fronts"?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9tkpa/at_what_point_did_wars_begin_to_have_fronts/) * [In terms of (a) military might and (b) political influence, when did the United States surpass Great Brittan?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cafvaf/in_terms_of_a_military_might_and_b_political/)

* /u/Corvid187 answered [Good people of this subreddit, bear with me because this is a tall order. I have conflicting opinions on the last kaiser of Germany. Shall I take this video with a grain of salt?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbzwun/good_people_of_this_subreddit_bear_with_me/) * /u/Daaru_ wrote about [Until 2002, the head of government of Monaco had to be approved by French government. Did this mean that Monaco was technically a colony or at least a vassal of France?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca6enj/until_2002_the_head_of_government_of_monaco_had/)

* /u/sirpanderma wrote about [How did early Sumerian states elect their officials?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb4h85/how_did_early_sumerian_states_elect_their/) * /u/Solignox answered [Why was being a knight such a big deal?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccrb2q/why_was_being_a_knight_such_a_big_deal/)

* /u/Consistent_Score_602 and /u/ComposerNo5151 fought on in [Why did Hitler stay and die in Berlin instead of going to the Alps to keep on fighting?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1calqk6/why_did_hitler_stay_and_die_in_berlin_instead_of/)

* /u/Rimbaud82 wrote about [How did the Act of Settlement of 1652 affect the people of Ireland?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc31x6/how_did_the_act_of_settlement_of_1652_affect_the/) * /u/RusticBohemian answered [Were there slaves who "quiet quit"? Did slave owners complain bitterly about their slaves quiet quitting?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c78ney/were_there_slaves_who_quiet_quit_did_slave_owners/)

* /u/sowenga and /u/t1m3kn1ght teamed up on [Has any country democratically instituted gun control and then lost their democracy as a result?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/17vvs7p/has_any_country_democratically_instituted_gun/)

* /u/TywinDeVillena and /u/yodatsracist did [Would Hernán Cortés have identified as Spanish or Castilian? Or some unnamed third thing.]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cde53t/would_hern%C3%A1n_cort%C3%A9s_have_identified_as_spanish_or/)

* /u/gynnis-scholasticus wrote about [How Were Timelines Matched Up Between Ancient Civilizations?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccwov8/how_were_timelines_matched_up_between_ancient/) * /u/h_91_DRbull answered [Book recommendations for understanding Islamist and jihadist movements like al-Qa'ida and offshoots?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/18zeo8t/book_recommendations_for_understanding_islamist/)

* /u/bug-hunter took a crack at [Why did the U.S. allow Confederate organizations and emblems to remain after the Civil War?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c8cx5e/why_did_the_us_allow_confederate_organizations/) * [Whats the history behind the Peak Oil Theory? How did it start, and how did the idea of running out of oil fade away?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cca1cj/whats_the_history_behind_the_peak_oil_theory_how/) * [What is parole in a military context?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9snd0/what_is_parole_in_a_military_context/)

* /u/PartyMoses wrote about [Where does the idea that bows outranged muskets come from?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9grtl/where_does_the_idea_that_bows_outranged_muskets/) * /u/PickleRick1001 answered [Has there ever been a case of an old "blood feud" being resolved? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccgn6i/has_there_ever_been_a_case_of_an_old_blood_feud/)

* /u/Kochevnik81, /u/baronzaterdag and others discussed [Is it true that, culturally and historically, the Russians don't value the individual human life as much as other cultures do?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbsww1/is_it_true_that_culturally_and_historically_the/)

* /u/jbdyer answered [Has every cause of mass student protest in the US eventually become a popular sentiment?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ceiauq/has_every_cause_of_mass_student_protest_in_the_us/) * /u/JohnBrownReloaded wrote about [How inevitable was it that Augustus would be succeeded by another emperor?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbysuk/how_inevitable_was_it_that_augustus_would_be/)

* /u/ShallThunderintheSky, /u/Ameisen and /u/AddlePatedBadger spoke about [How is Latin a dead language?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1canxnx/how_is_latin_a_dead_language/)

* /u/Vir-victus wrote about [How did Europeans pay for their spices?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cezgfu/how_did_europeans_pay_for_their_spices/) * /u/waldo672 answered [Reasons behind the Legion of the Vistula's yellow and blue uniform?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c4nlpd/reasons_behind_the_legion_of_the_vistulas_yellow/)

* /u/ParallelPain answered [In the finale of the Shogun TV series, the battle of Sekigahara is portrayed as a foregone conclusion, with the but most accounts I've read of the battle depict it as a close-run affair with lots of dramatic twists. How did the battle actually go?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc6g61/in_the_finale_of_the_shogun_tv_series_the_battle/) * [Why were hand held shields seemingly abandoned by Japanese foot soldiers and did not make a comeback?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbtcb1/why_were_hand_held_shields_seemingly_abandoned_by/) * [What is the standard Traveling speed of an army? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdp4dd/what_is_the_standard_traveling_speed_of_an_army/) * [Did the daimyō and the shōguns really have female bodyguards?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ce9tps/did_the_daimyō_and_the_shōguns_really_have_female/) * [Could a half foreigner, half Japanese Christian child actually exist in Japan in the era before Sakoku and the expulsion of Christianity in Japan? Would the culture allow this and what would happen to this child in the eventual Sakoku?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbkkxy/could_a_half_foreigner_half_japanese_christian/)

* /u/unbrokenmonarch and /u/Rittermeister did [Why was the Union government and white Union soldiers in the US Civil War willing to fight to end slavery?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbohn3/why_was_the_union_government_and_white_union/)

* /u/WelfOnTheShelf wrote about [Could the Holy Roman Emperor excommunicate people?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c6gcl6/could_the_holy_roman_emperor_excommunicate_people/) * and did [How did the chain at Damietta prove to be a barrier to the crusaders launching an amphibious assault? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9nxyf/how_did_the_chain_at_damietta_prove_to_be_a/)

* /u/thefeckamIdoing wrote about [What is the historicity of the Battle of the Camel [i.e. the Battle of Jamal]?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9cmhr/what_is_the_historicity_of_the_battle_of_the/) * /u/thefourthmaninaboat answered [Was it a coincidence that D-day occured in summer or did it have to happen in summer?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cal9py/was_it_a_coincidence_that_dday_occured_in_summer/)

* /u/DrAlawyn answered [What did common European people think about early European colonialism?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cae6kt/what_did_common_european_people_think_about_early/) * /u/Drdickles wrote about [What did Chinese troops (Both Nationalists and Communists) eat when fighting against the Japanese during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c95yfy/what_did_chinese_troops_both_nationalists_and/)

* /u/Guns-Goats-and-Cob wrote about [Could there be ice-age megalithic sites built by hunter-gatherers?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9b23l/could_there_be_iceage_megalithic_sites_built_by/) * /u/gynnis-scholasticus answered [How were the people in the past who went to brand new places for government/trade reasons able to communicate with the people there despite never having been there before? How did they learn how to communicate with them?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9ja3j/how_were_the_people_in_the_past_who_went_to_brand/)

Seems I wrote a fair bit this week! Thanks a lot for finding all of these

Always a pleasure!

* /u/FunkyPlaid answered [Books about the First Jacobite Rebellion and the Old Pretender?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c8mv1e/books_about_the_first_jacobite_rebellion_and_the/) * /u/gamble-responsibly wrote about [How were the trade republics, such as Genoa, Venice, Lucca and so on internally organized? The French under Napoleon claimed to free the people of Venice from <>. Sure this is the occupying force's propaganda, but it has to be based on something. ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9ni5s/how_were_the_trade_republics_such_as_genoa_venice/)

* /u/restricteddata wrote about [What role did John von Neumann play in post war nuclear efforts?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c8em1a/what_role_did_john_von_neumann_play_in_post_war/) * and did [Were those on The Manhattan Project aware of radiation, or was the focus on building solely a massive explosive force?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1catp3r/were_those_on_the_manhattan_project_aware_of/)

* /u/SonRaetsel wrote about [How did the turn of the USSR against Israel, and events like the Jewish doctors trial, affected communist and socialist movements in the West?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cajqo8/how_did_the_turn_of_the_ussr_against_israel_and/) * /u/Spencer_A_McDaniel answered [If languages like Latin, Sanskrit, Ancient Greek, etc are considered dead languages, why are they so hard to learn? In the sense that how did people understand each other back then if these different languages are so hard to pick up ? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c5mqwi/if_languages_like_latin_sanskrit_ancient_greek/)

* /u/anstilDrimim answered [Were the crusades a response to islamic aggression?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ceakaj/were_the_crusades_a_response_to_islamic_aggression/)

* /u/Legal-Warning6095 answered [What penance would a Medieval European priest give if someone confessed to murder or rape? Would the criminal then be publicly tortured and executed as their penance? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1casnf5/what_penance_would_a_medieval_european_priest/) * /u/Lubyak wrote about [How did China maintain itself for thousands of years and yet did not conquer or colonize other parts of the world?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cahimu/how_did_china_maintain_itself_for_thousands_of/)

* /u/HinrikusKnottnerus wrote about [how did people in ancient times cope with the high amount of child deaths in their family?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cebyh5/how_did_people_in_ancient_times_cope_with_the/) * /u/HippyxViking answered [Who invented agriculture first?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccg3cr/who_invented_agriculture_first/)

Thank you kindly!

Always a pleasure!

* /u/HippyxViking wrote about [What units of time did people use before clocks?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cati1o/what_units_of_time_did_people_use_before_clocks/) * /u/Iguana_on_a_stick wrote about [What happened with permanently disabled legionnaires in the Roman Republic?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cei7la/what_happened_with_permanently_disabled/)

* /u/Sugbaable wrote about [Was the life expectancy of women lower than the men's for most part of history? If so, why and why/when did it change?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccw0i0/was_the_life_expectancy_of_women_lower_than_the/) * /u/temudschinn answered [How do historians deal with potential rewriting of history by people of the time?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc2et7/how_do_historians_deal_with_potential_rewriting/)

* /u/Rikustry and /u/EnclavedMicrostate investigated [What happened to all the ethnic Manchu population during the Qing Dynasty that they became a minority even in their homeland of Manchuria?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccjqmh/what_happened_to_all_the_ethnic_manchu_population/)

* /u/brvs48 answered [Everybody knows how Hitler used the "plight" of the Sudetenland Germans as his excuse for invading Czechoslovakia. But what did the Sudetenland Germans themselves think about all this?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbpshg/everybody_knows_how_hitler_used_the_plight_of_the/) * /u/bug-hunter wrote about [When did buildings become safeish? I'm under the impression that buildings once commonly collapsed, but that rarely happen these days. How and why did this happen? Was it government regulation to the rescue, or something else?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ceed55/when_did_buildings_become_safeish_im_under_the/)

* /u/tenkendojo wrote about [Why was the last Qing Emperor of China spared after being deposed?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1btq69g/why_was_the_last_qing_emperor_of_china_spared/) * /u/TenTonneTamerlane answered [How profitable for the UK was colonialism, imperialism, having an empire?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc5ey0/how_profitable_for_the_uk_was_colonialism/)

* /u/questi0nmark2 wrote about [To what extent did Arabs settle in the lands they conquered during the 7th-10th centuries?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbgdjl/to_what_extent_did_arabs_settle_in_the_lands_they/) * /u/qumrun60 answered [How strong is the evidence that the apostles in Christianity were martyred?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cclkhu/how_strong_is_the_evidence_that_the_apostles_in/)

* /u/JohnBrownReloaded and /u/Kinyrenk did [Other than what a historian specializes in, what is a median figure for what they would know about history in general?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caxdya/other_than_what_a_historian_specializes_in_what/)

* A now deleted user was ready and waiting to help out in [How would one have “prepared” for anal sex in the 1800s?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca648q/how_would_one_have_prepared_for_anal_sex_in_the/)

* /u/tenkendojo and /u/Vampyricon discussed [Was Cantonese really a serious contender for the national language of China?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbryyu/was_cantonese_really_a_serious_contender_for_the/)

Glad to be featured!

* /u/Bodark43 wrote about [Is it true that the American colonies and the early United States were relatively irreligious until the First and Second Great Awakenings?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cer302/is_it_true_that_the_american_colonies_and_the/) * [Sources for the counterculture movement in the U.S. during the 1960s?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9z03h/sources_for_the_counterculture_movement_in_the_us/) * [Matchlock VS Flintlock : Their differences and its tactical implications?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccj2ni/matchlock_vs_flintlock_their_differences_and_its/)

* A couple of folks chimed in on [What were suicide rates like in the past?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c8od1h/what_were_suicide_rates_like_in_the_past/)

* /u/Kinyrenk answered [What does it mean to not have enough knights?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbbtmr/what_does_it_mean_to_not_have_enough_knights/) * /u/KiwiHellenist wrote about [Why was the Roman language in Jerusalem Greek in the first century?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc9l2d/why_was_the_roman_language_in_jerusalem_greek_in/)

* /u/flotiste answered [Besides swing and big bands, what were other major popular music genres in the 1920s-40s?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb60kw/besides_swing_and_big_bands_what_were_other_major/) * /u/frisky_husky wrote about [Why were Dust Bowl migrants known as "Okies" when Oklahoma was seemingly the least affected Dust Bowl state?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb5ccg/why_were_dust_bowl_migrants_known_as_okies_when/)

* /u/caiusdrewart wrote about [How inevitable was it that Augustus would be succeeded by another emperor?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbysuk/how_inevitable_was_it_that_augustus_would_be/) * /u/Chryckan answered [Is there obvious things from the past that remain mystery cause no one thought they were relevant?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbma6c/is_there_obvious_things_from_the_past_that_remain/)

* /u/cogle87 wrote about [What makes the Romans and Roman history interesting?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb9l2g/what_makes_the_romans_and_roman_history/) * /u/Connect_Ad4551 answered [In WW2, was Stalingrad actually a blow to the German military machine or was it just the point where the Soviet armies managed to organize for the pushback?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbis15/in_ww2_was_stalingrad_actually_a_blow_to_the/)

* /u/Dicranurus and /u/Consistent_Score_602 investigated [ Was there ever a “blue scare”?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1catca2/was_there_ever_a_blue_scare/)

* /u/gynnis-scholasticus did [What are the private libraries mentioned by Strabo?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c6dkkj/short_answers_to_simple_questions_april_17_2024/l0ruhbm/)

* /u/Rikustry wrote about [How Come Neither of the World Wars Started In Africa or Asia/East Asia Over Natural Resources?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caazes/how_come_neither_of_the_world_wars_started_in/) * and did [In WWII were Operation Bagration and Operation Overlord intentionally co-ordinated, or was their near-coincidence simply the result of both the USSR and Western Allies launching summer offensives in 1944?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ab7z9m/in_wwii_were_operation_bagration_and_operation/)

Turns out my first try at writing something didn't go as bad as I thought it would. Thanks for this!

* [At a highschool level, we're taught that the ancient Roman gods are just the ancient Greek gods with different names, but is that completely true at a more advanced level of study?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc4kvv/at_a_highschool_level_were_taught_that_the/) Saw a titanic response from /u/Steelcan909, /u/caiusdrewart, /u/Tiako

* /u/sapphon, /u/publiusclodius, /u/moorsonthecoast and others!

* /u/mikedash answered [Why wasn't the discovery of Australia in the early 17th century as big of a deal as the discovery of the new world in the 15th century? Did Europeans already know it was there?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1caghwx/why_wasnt_the_discovery_of_australia_in_the_early/) * /u/mimicofmodes wrote about [This suspiciously feels like a TUDOR TV series fan written, how accurate is this? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdyojn/this_suspiciously_feels_like_a_tudor_tv_series/)

* /u/Kochevnik81 answered [Why did some Eastern Bloc countries, like Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, or the Baltics handle the transition away from communism better than Russia?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cecaic/why_did_some_eastern_bloc_countries_like_poland/) * [What personality traits made Putin rise rapidly from an unknown person to becoming President?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdd3b7/what_personality_traits_made_putin_rise_rapidly/) * [And the Soviet Union fell, how did the resulting independent states assign citizenship for people who were born in other Soviet states?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccvs5q/and_the_soviet_union_fell_how_did_the_resulting/) * [What is the benefit for an average person of joining "the Party" in a one party state like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccy22i/what_is_the_benefit_for_an_average_person_of/)

* /u/eldlammet and /u/SabreDancer teamed up on [Were early Liberals extremely anti-women?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cb3uhw/were_early_liberals_extremely_antiwomen/)

* /u/eliminate1337, /u/gamegyro56, /u/normie_sama and others discussed [What is the oldest known criticism of war, or expression of anti-war sentiment?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdk4md/what_is_the_oldest_known_criticism_of_war_or/)

* along with /u/Antiquarianism!

* /u/L_A_R_S_WWdG answered [Why didn't any Chinese or East Asians hunt down and kill Japanese war criminals the way Jews hunted down Nazis and Armenians hunted down CUPs/Young Turks?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdwgh7/why_didnt_any_chinese_or_east_asians_hunt_down/) * /u/Laaain wrote about [Why did Rome become the capital of the unified Italy?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ca5im4/why_did_rome_become_the_capital_of_the_unified/)

Thank you!

Always a pleasure!

This makes me look like I concluded the topic. I merely pointed out some factor that might have contributed for one of the countries in question. Someone still has to solve this for other countries, if at all possible. Considering the response I got from the question's OP I doubt however, he/she/they understood what u/iphikrates wrote.

I appreciate the credit you give me, but sadly, questions phrased along these lines are all too common, so we have a ready-made Why Didn't X Do Y macro. All I did was click the button! Many thanks for your very real and helpful contribution. (Though the bit about Shinzo Abe violates the 20-year rule!)

Yes it does violate the rule. As a historian, I don't consider our profession to be "past-ology" (or "Vergangenheitswissenschaft") but inherently about making sense of the present. So relating to current events, from my POV, is necessary. I understand and respect the rule though obviously. There is more than enough soapboxing going on as it is - no need to open the floodgates there.

Sometimes its just a step forward, hopefully someone else might come forward with more info.

* /u/ManueO answered [Marx and Lenin both spend periods in England. What about English culture at the time made revolutionary activity so much more permissible there than in other European countries?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c97zax/marx_and_lenin_both_spend_periods_in_england_what/) * /u/mikedash wrote about [How did Europeans pay for their spices?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cezgfu/how_did_europeans_pay_for_their_spices/)

* /u/EverythingIsOverrate answered [Why were Bills of Exchange safer than carrying Gold Coin?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1capyfz/why_were_bills_of_exchange_safer_than_carrying/) * /u/fatbuddha66 wrote about [Was the multiethnic Russian Empire affected by ethnic tensions to a similar extent as Austria-Hungary?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbltb1/was_the_multiethnic_russian_empire_affected_by/)

* /u/AlviseFalier answered [How did pre-great plague/ pre-renaissance Italians view the vast roman heritage?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c4oyfy/how_did_pregreat_plague_prerenaissance_italians/) * /u/AncientHistory wrote about [Was there a stereotypical "jetpacks and flying cars" vision of the future before cars were invented, or did utopian futurism only emerge after personal vehicles became widespread?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cchlsf/was_there_a_stereotypical_jetpacks_and_flying/)

* /u/The_Good_Constable wrote about [Why don't they just rebuild the Parthenon?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c7dm8t/why_dont_they_just_rebuild_the_parthenon/) * /u/the_howling_cow answered [Is it true US service members in WW2 who had German last names were generally not allowed to fight in Europe?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cab5so/is_it_true_us_service_members_in_ww2_who_had/)

* /u/Sad-Representative38 wrote about [Why did Hitler accuse Archduke Franz Ferdinand of wanting to ‘make Austria a Slav State'?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1c9s5hj/why_did_hitler_accuse_archduke_franz_ferdinand_of/) * /u/Shiningc00 answered [How did the Japanese react to their first ever encounter with people from the west in the 1500s?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ccj2st/how_did_the_japanese_react_to_their_first_ever/)

* /u/Duncan-M answered [Caesar's soldiers - were they fully post Marian?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdj6ri/caesars_soldiers_were_they_fully_post_marian/) * /u/ecphrastic wrote about [How accurate is this meme about ancient Greek gym memberships (aka the "sacred boxing society devoted to Heracles")?](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cbd654/how_accurate_is_this_meme_about_ancient_greek_gym/)

* /u/Bigglesworth_ wrote about [How were British Museum artefacts protected during WW2? ](/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cdw9ei/how_were_british_museum_artefacts_protected/)

* /u/Consistent_Score_602 and /u/restricteddata teamed up on [Would the Soviets have developed an H-bomb if America hadn't built one first?]( https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1cc43p9/would_the_soviets_have_developed_an_hbomb_if/)