Questions tagged [europe]
It is the second smallest continent, forming the Western extension of Eurasia.
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When did people start using open bookshelves or bookcases without doors?
I'm interested in how books have been stored throughout European history, specifically the transition from enclosed bookcases (with wooden or glass doors) to open bookshelves that leave books exposed ...
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How did Vlad III Dracula’s brutality coexist with his political comebacks in Wallachia? What internal and external factors enabled his restorations?
Vlad III of Wallachia (r. 1448, 1456–62, 1476) is infamous for his use of impalement and terror, yet he returned to power three times — even after being imprisoned by King Matthias Corvinus of Hungary....
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What was Charlemagne's pound? (489.6g, 408g, 411.36g, 459.35g, 483.33g, 367.2g, 435g, something else?)
John Munro (c. 2001, all bold font mine) states:
He [Charlemagne] created a new pound weight that was virtually 1.5 times heavier than the Roman pound: according to Fournial, it weighed 489.6 grams (...
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To what extent were electric streetcars used to transport goods in European cities before the introduction of trucks
I'm curious if, in the intervening period between the replacement of horse-drawn carriages with electric street cars and the introduction of automobiles, the street cars were used to deliver goods to ...
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Why were the effects of wars won in India so different from those won in Europe?
In India, after winning battle of Buxar, the BEIC took over all of Bengal. Most wars in India were like this, only a single battle decided the fate of an Empire. But, in Europe, for example in 7 years ...
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With what arguments did Lanfranc propose the integration of medicine with surgery; what were the counterarguments?
Guido Lanfranchi (Lanfranc of Milan) is noted for defending the integration of medicine and surgery. What were the primary arguments he put forth to propose this integration; additionally, besides ...
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Were most people in pre-industrial societies in chronic pain?
My understanding is that, prior to the industrial revolution (and, indeed, for a fair while after), most people in Europe did not have a nutritionally balanced diet (if they were not calorifically ...
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Were there (licensed) female medicine practitioners in the Middle Ages?
I'm reading A History of Medicine by Lois N. Magner (2nd edition). On page 154 there is a line saying:
For example, in some parts of France, women could practice medicine or surgery if they passed an ...
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Do wreaths have special significance in seals?
I'm currently working on designing a personal wax seal for use on correspondence and when wrapping gifts. I am basing it primarily upon the heraldry of one side of my family (which, if it helps, is ...
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Are there any instances of Christians fasting on pagan holidays besides the Kalends?
I'm interested if early Christians fasted on pagan festivals because I've read some primary sources that instruct Christians to fast on the New Year's aka the Kalends of January but I couldn't find ...
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Reference books to read for persecution of Jews in 16th century Europe to 20th century Europe? [closed]
I am from South Asia but I am interested in the history of other countries as well. There is a lot of media coverage since many years on Israel- Palestine issue and a lot of anti-Semitism and hatred ...
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What is the first (black,red,yellow) flag on this poster?
In the poster below (dated around 1960), I can identify all flags except the very first one. It is a tricolor flag with vertical stripes, being black, red and yellow/gold from left to right. ...
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How did people keep salt in Eastern Europe's rural communities in the 1940s?
In a collection of testimonies (Alexievitch's Last Witnesses, I believe), I have read about balls of salt in accounts of life in rural communities in the forties in Eastern Europe, but trying to ...
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In the 18th century Letters of Recommendation were used as a means of introduction. Was there anything equivalent used in 17th century Europe?
Benjamin Franklin wrote many such letters for people wanting to travel to the US when he served as ambassador in Paris .
I have not found any reference to such letters in the 17th century. When a ...
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Was there an economic reason for Protestants' iconoclasm?
Europe underwent major economic upheavals during the creation of Protestantism (cf. E. Michael Jones, Barren Metal or Goy Guide to World History). Is this one reason why Protestants upheld iconoclasm? ...
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