Historical and Genealogical questions
When Queen Victoria lost her husband, Prince Albert, she entered a period of deep mourning which lasted the rest of her life. She also boosted a trend of mourning culture which would reach into every aspect of Victorian life. Queen Victoria in black mourning dress Say what you will about Victorians, but they sure knew …
Read the full post →“Cemetery Symbolism: What Do Those Mysterious Momuments Mean?”
What is the origin of citizen’s arrest? A citizen’s arrest is an arrest made by a private citizen – that is, a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval England and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to …
Why are Israel and Azerbaijan allies? Israeli–Azerbaijani ties strengthened since the very early 1990s. The strategic relationship included cooperation in trade and security matters, cultural and educational exchanges, etc. Relations entered a new phase in August 1997 during the visit of the then Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Baku. Why did Turkey help Azerbaijan? …
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How did the Freemasons influence the American Revolution? The masons were essential in providing military camaraderie during the wars leading up to the American Revolution and during the Revolutionary war through their military lodges and inclusive stance. Military Lodges provided support and boosted morale for soldiers during the War for Independence among other wars. What …
Did the Romans have accurate maps? Ancient practice The Romans and ancient travelers in general did not use maps. While they may have existed as specialty items in some libraries, they were hard to copy and not in general use. When did maps become accurate? With the Age of Discovery, during the 15th to 18th …
How did Chinese emperor Qianlong respond when Lord Macartney arrived? “Our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its borders. There was therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce.” This was the Qianlong Emperor’s response, in part, to British Lord …
When did bar codes start? The first barcode, with a design like a bullseye, was invented in 1948 by two Drexel University students named Norman J Woodland and Bernard Silver. They were interested in tackling the problems of the supermarket industry, which sorely needed a better method of inventory management and customer check-out.Nov 19, 2015 …
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How was prostitution viewed in ancient times? Prostitution in ancient Rome was legal, public, and widespread. Even Roman men of the highest social status were free to engage prostitutes of either sex without incurring moral disapproval, as long as they demonstrated self-control and moderation in the frequency and enjoyment of sex. Was prostitution legal in …
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What percentage of people are religious? Adherents in 2020 Religion Adherents Percentage Christianity 2.382 billion 31.11% Islam 1.907 billion 24.9% Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist 1.193 billion 15.58% Hinduism 1.161 billion 15.16% How many religions exist? There are an estimated 10,000 distinct religions worldwide. About 84% of the world’s population is affiliated with Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, or some …
Who said a sword is the soul of the samurai? general Tokugawa Ieyasu Seventeenth century general Tokugawa Ieyasu said the iconic curved blade was the “soul of the samurai,” symbolizing a warrior’s devotion to his art. Why is the sword the soul of the samurai? A Samurai’s sword represented his soul. The sword was the …
Read the full post →“Who started the “katana is the soul of the Samurai” meme?”