Recent comments in /f/history

PM_ME_COOL_RIFFS t1_j14yvhr wrote

Reply to Bookclub Wednesday! by AutoModerator

Looking for a good book on the Korean War. Preferably something that focuses a little more on the political situation and not too much on the minutia of different military maneuvers.

7

the_cardfather t1_j14y11q wrote

Reply to comment by icmonkey123 in When this bridge in Fort Benton, Montana, USA was built 1888 it was required to have a swing span to allow steamboats to navigate. It was considered the furthest navigable point on Earth, more than 2,700 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. by triviafrenzy

The Missouri continues considerably further than that. Does that mean that it's not navigable, or that we've dredged it considerably since then?

10

rocky_tiger t1_j14vlow wrote

Reply to When this bridge in Fort Benton, Montana, USA was built 1888 it was required to have a swing span to allow steamboats to navigate. It was considered the furthest navigable point on Earth, more than 2,700 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. by triviafrenzy

Used to work in Fort Benton. There are still people who run from Great Falls all the way to the Gulf in Kayak and Canoe trips.

It's a neat little town, several cool museums. There are about 1500 people living in a very small area. There are no stop lights and only a few stop signs in the entire town.

Do yourself a favor and look up the Fort Benton story about the mule and the cannon for a good laugh.

21

limitless__ t1_j14swzh wrote

Reply to How were early Victorian Steam Locomotive Drivers trained and Recruited? by DearGiraffe6168

The apprentice system is what developed the drivers. You have to understand that back in the day apprenticeships could last DECADES. I grew up in a tiny village in the UK with a major rail junction and pretty much all the families there had worked in the industry for at least one hundred years. Most of the drivers were 40+ before they became drivers. Most were apprentices for 20 years. The story I was always told is the test they were given is to stop a fully loaded passenger train so the door of the first carriage would stop right in front of the inspector with no inching up. Clean stop from cruising speed, inch-perfect.

1

TheBeefofLove t1_j14pbc6 wrote

Reply to Bookclub Wednesday! by AutoModerator

My request

I’m looking for recommendations on medieval law. Specifically the idea of trials by ordeal or trials by combat. I was recently reading about the trial of Emma of Normandy who was accused of having engaged in sexual relations with Bishop Elfwine of Winchester. Emma insisted she was innocent, and she was willing undergo the ordeal of hot iron to prove it. I also recently watched the film The Last Duel which is about the last legal trial by combat held in France between Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris. These have sparked a strong curiosity in these medieval law practices.

My recommendation

I’ve been listening to The Great Trials of World History and the Lessons They Teach Us by Professor Douglas O. Linder of the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law.

It’s incredibly engaging so far. It examines famous trials throughout all points in history and analyzes why they are important for study. It’s covers trials such as the trial of Socrates in Ancient Greece, the Salem Witch trials, the Amistad trials, even the OJ Simpson trial and many more.

4

series_hybrid t1_j14p0lw wrote

Reply to comment by RonPossible in Why didn't the US adopt the STG-44 after WW2? by TurboTortois3

Whenever I hear about sub-standard ballistics from anything other than the 30-06, I have to laugh.

Studies by the Americans, British, and everyone else showed that the vast majority if "hits" in WWII were less than 100 yards.

I can understand snipers wanting more. The majority of confirmed hits by Chris Kyle was with a 300 WinMag. He said if he had a 338 Lapua available earlier, he would have preferred that.

The average soldier has a hard time hitting stationary targets that are black and white at 400m

Just before WW-One, the Navy developed a 6mm cartridge for the Lee straight-pull rifle, but the first batch sank in Cuba. Roughly .24 caliber

5

BlueApe462 t1_j14jxty wrote

Reply to Bookclub Wednesday! by AutoModerator

I’m looking to learn more about the history of the Holy Roman Empire. Any recommendations?

An engaging writing style is the most important factor. Secondarily, I’m particularly interested in the eastern border, so it gets bonus points if it doesn’t gloss over that.

6

Chicago1871 t1_j14jhox wrote

Reply to comment by Obiwan_Salami in When this bridge in Fort Benton, Montana, USA was built 1888 it was required to have a swing span to allow steamboats to navigate. It was considered the furthest navigable point on Earth, more than 2,700 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. by triviafrenzy

Thats around where the canal starts.

The actual portage was a swamp. It was only navigable after the rains in spring and dried up by fall.

You were on this.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Sanitary_and_Ship_Canal

1

joecarter93 t1_j14idku wrote

Reply to comment by Obiwan_Salami in When this bridge in Fort Benton, Montana, USA was built 1888 it was required to have a swing span to allow steamboats to navigate. It was considered the furthest navigable point on Earth, more than 2,700 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. by triviafrenzy

There were fur traders in northern Canada back in the 1700’s, but they used canoes to explore and trade. Steam ships in the 1800’s were not that common in western Canada, as the waterways that far inland tend to be too shallow. I live in Canada relatively near Ft. Benton, but our rivers mostly drain to Hudson Bay. They tried steam ships on our rivers for a couple of years, but they were prone to run aground / partially sink if the rivers were a little low, so they stopped. The railway was also built around that time, which was far more effective.

1