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1500 questions
24
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1 answer
What was the scale of eroticism in Byzantine theater?
When reading the texts of saint John the Chrysostome i found a very severe criticism of theater because of 'nude harlots' that could be seen there. I have also read some fragments of Procopius' Secret History, where he describes an infamous…
zefciu
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7 answers
Why do minor political parties in the US receive so few votes?
Reading about the election statistics in the United States I was amazed about how few votes are received by the minor parties and their candidates.
For example, Gloria La Riva received only 181 votes in a country of 300-million registered voters for…
Anixx
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24
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6 answers
Why was Napoleon not executed or imprisoned?
I wonder why the Allies did not execute or imprison Napoleon for life after both times when he was captured. Even more, they risked by granting him an island in possession. This is quite illogical given that they portrayed him as an evil murderer…
Anixx
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4 answers
How come every culture on the planet has a different calendar, yet follow the same system for a week?
I know it sounds a bit like a silly question. Every culture in the world follow a different Calendar, for instance:
Christians follow a solar calendar following the birth of Jesus Christ (2014. AD currently running)
Muslims follow a lunar calendar…
Prahlad Yeri
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24
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3 answers
Was the concept of religious freedom in the early United States applied to native American faiths?
When the nascent United States was drafting and adopting its supreme laws, several references to religion were made. For example, in the Bill of Rights:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free…
Semaphore
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9 answers
What is the earliest evidence of contact between Ireland and Egypt?
There is a folk tale of an Egyptian princess in Ireland around 1700 BC. Is there credible evidence of early contact between the two places?
Liam
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3 answers
Has there ever been a serious effort to reform the US Electoral College system?
There seems to be widespread feeling that the US Electoral College distorts the will of the people in presidential elections. Of course, that ability was part of the reason that our founding fathers introduced the system. But, ever since the rise…
Bill Nace
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8 answers
Why is no one claiming the title of Caliph?
The Ottoman Caliphate was abolished in 1924 by a reform from Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and then the title was claimed by Hejaz. Soon, however, the kingdom was annexed by the neighbor Nejd, the two of them later to form Saudi Arabia.
In a summit in 1926…
vonPetrushev
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When and how did classic "Italian" cuisine come to be?
Most people can recognize "Italian" food. Pasta, tomatoes, basil, etc. But many of the plants used in Italian food, didn't actually originate in Italy. Or even anywhere in the Old World. The tomato, for instance, is a South America plant that…
Daniel Bingham
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6 answers
Why was the bald eagle chosen as the national bird of the United States?
The bald eagle is a grand and beautiful bird of prey that once frequently soared majestically through the skies of the American wilderness. It is also very important in American Indian culture (See: The Bald Eagle is a sacred bird in some North…
user2590
23
votes
5 answers
Did Antarctica remain entirely unvisited by humans until the early 19th century?
Antarctica today is covered permanently by thick layers of ice, making it extremely inhospitable to humans. And, unlike the Arctic regions, it had no indigenous population of humans when modern man arrived there. (Presumably because unlike the…
user2590
23
votes
2 answers
What was the significance of changing the name of "Persia" to "Iran"?
As best as I understand it, the founding of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 was when Persia became Iran. What was the motivation for changing the name?
Affable Geek
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How close was the Soviet Union to collapsing during WW2?
Are there any sources or reports which explain how close the country was to collapsing under the Nazi assault? By 'collapse' I mean 'completely lacking either the willpower (as seen by France in 1940 after the fall of Paris and the collapse of the…
Evil Washing Machine
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When did Hinduism forbid overseas travel?
Reading a comment made on this site, I saw something very curious:
Why not blame it on the ancient Hindu belief that traveling overseas pollutes a person irredeemably, thereby stunting the growth of Indian naval technology and ensuring Europeans…
Joe
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Could the Russians Have Done Better at the Battle of Tsushima Straits Than They Actually Did?
In 1905, during the Russo-Japanese War, a Russian fleet sailing all the way from the Baltic was annihilated by the Japanese fleet in the Tsushima Straits. The Russian fleet was larger, with thirteen battleships (five of them "second line') to four…
Tom Au
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