Ask A Historian

[Pyrrho]

I know you recommend Richard Carrier's On The Historicity of Jesus.  But I am curious, are you familiar with G.A. Wells and his books regarding the idea that Jesus never existed?  If so, what do you think of them?

[Longhorn]

Min, can you tell me a little about the Danubian culture? or generally prehistoric Europe? I'm fascinated by the topic

[cocunningham]

Was WW1 really completely pointless/avoidable?

Pointless? Probably.  Avoidable?  Probably not.

Yeah I don't think WW1 was avoidable. Tensions had been rising between France/Great Britain and Germany for years prior. Even if the 1914 crisis hadn't occurred something else would have set of that powderkeg. I think that animosity is clearly shown in the sanctions and reallocation of lands applied to Germany that led to the 2nd world war.

[Nope]

Min, is there any historical event that are of the strange but true variety that had a major impact on history?

Nothing comes to mind.  I guess the problem is the term 'major impact.' There are lots of implausibles in history; like why didn't the Confederates march on Washington after First Bull Run.  But when you look a little more closely you find that they were almost as fucked up by winning as the union was by losing.  They weren't marching anywhere.

Do you know any good, salacious gossip about historical figures that most people don't know?

You mean like George Washington having mistresses?  I suspect that all powerful men had the vices which powerful men repeatedly show throughout history.  What makes it gossip?

 

I didn't know that George Washington had mistresses but it doesn't surprise me either. 

By gossip, I mean all the interesting tidbits that teachers leave out of their lessons or the little facts that make historical figures appear more human

[Alex K]

Min, can you tell me a little about the Danubian culture? or generally prehistoric Europe? I'm fascinated by the topic

That's a good one! I had never heard about the Danubian culture until I recently read a book about the origins of writing, where they were mentioned as a culture which developed it astonishingly early.

[Minimalist]

I know you recommend Richard Carrier's On The Historicity of Jesus.  But I am curious, are you familiar with G.A. Wells and his books regarding the idea that Jesus never existed?  If so, what do you think of them?

I haven't read Wells.  I probably should but I already agree with him so it would amount to "bouncing the rubble."  Still.  I should.

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Min, can you tell me a little about the Danubian culture? or generally prehistoric Europe? I'm fascinated by the topic

Not really.  Not my primary area of interest.  Archaeology has uncovered many artifacts indicating they were surprisingly advanced.

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Nothing comes to mind.  I guess the problem is the term 'major impact.' There are lots of implausibles in history; like why didn't the Confederates march on Washington after First Bull Run.  But when you look a little more closely you find that they were almost as fucked up by winning as the union was by losing.  They weren't marching anywhere.





You mean like George Washington having mistresses?  I suspect that all powerful men had the vices which powerful men repeatedly show throughout history.  What makes it gossip?

 

I didn't know that George Washington had mistresses but it doesn't surprise me either. 

By gossip, I mean all the interesting tidbits that teachers leave out of their lessons or the little facts that make historical figures appear more human

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index...741AAULo1m


Let's face it.  The nights were cold and there were no video games.

[Dystopia]

What do you think is the most unexpected/unpredictable event/s in human history? (If it's hard to answer just name one you consider relevant yourself)

[Crossless2.0]

Do you have any favorite contra-factual historical speculations?

[Pyrrho]

Have you read David Hume's History of England?  If so, what do you think of it?

[Minimalist]

What do you think is the most unexpected/unpredictable event/s in human history? (If it's hard to answer just name one you consider relevant yourself)

The moon landing.

Do you have any favorite contra-factual historical speculations?

That the Black Death actually benefited Europe in the long run by damaging the power of the church and feudalism.

Have you read David Hume's History of England?  If so, what do you think of it?

No.