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Hi Harrison: Thanks for the info on Rhode Ilsand -- I'd never heard the connection to Greece before, and I lived in little Rhody for 3 years! Here's another question for you that I've always wanted to know: In what year did the most Swedes immigrate to the US, and how many were they? And in that year, what were the top 10 countries that sent immigrants to the US? Thanks, Harrison! =Steve. PS: Your father STILL hasn't told me about this fantastic website!! ======================= Bergie in SoCal on July 12, 2008

Which war in history killed the most American soldiers? Samanthas L and K on July 7, 2008

Do you confirm that a part of the United States of America belonged to France once a long time ago? Answer: The French and British (and Spanish) fought over North America in the 1700's, since all three (as well as the Dutch) 'discovered' it. During the French and Indian War (The 7 years War)George Washington went into the woods as a Continental officer working for the British army, to push the French back, and keep them west of the Ohio River. There he met French officers. They explained very politely to Washington that the French had claim to parts of the Americas because of Lasalle's explorations in the 1600's. Washington posed that it was the British who had claim because of the charter by the Virginia Company in 1606 (before Lasalle). They didn't exactly settle the matter then and there. And the rest is history! A Bientot! edouard on June 14, 2008

Hi Harrison - Speaking of the state names and state history...there was a time when what is now Maine and Massachusetts were parts of the same state. How did that very large state come into being? Was there a thin piece of land binding them together? And why did the state eventually break into 2 pieces? When? Who were the losers and who were the winners in the break-up? It'll be good to know this before we all go to Maine this summer. Thanks! dad-io on June 2, 2008

Hi Harrison: Two REVISED questions for you: (1) Why did I have to learn about this fascinating website from the Yale School of Management Q3 book, instead of from your father? and (2) Which U.S. state has the longest name -- and what does it mean? Your fan in California, =Bergie. Answer: 1) I'm going to have to ask my dad about that.:.) 2) The U.S. state with the longest name is Massachusetts. It is named after the local Native American tribe, the Massachuset Indians. 'Massachuset' in the Native American language means 'at the little big hill', or something close to this. It refers to the Blue Hills. The Blue Hills are where my grandma lives. Thanks for the fun question. See you this summer! Correction! I made a slight error. The REAL longest state is "The State of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations". I just learned this in Trivial Pursuits and confirmed it from Rhode Island's Office of the Secretary of State website. Rhode Island is named after the Greek Island of Rhodes. Aquidneck - the big island right off the coast - does look a lot like Rhodes. ========================= Bergie in SoCal on April 30, 2008

PLEASE no last names on the web!!! Hi Harrison - What kind of fruit did the Greeks and Romans eat? Was fruit their major source of vitamin C.Did they export any of their fruit trees or bushes to other areas and spread the growth of fruit in the world? Very interested in the answer. Your aunt Hi Anne - just back from vacation... There were 44 varieties of figs, 32 varieties of apples, and 6 varieties of pears. Also there were, plums, quinces, pomegranates, bitter oranges, and possibly lemons. And of course there were grapes, for both eating and for making wine and there were lots and lots of olives. Jujubes, carobs, and dried fruit were also part of the Mediterranean diet during classical times. Greece is actually really rocky and quite baron and dry, so it had to import most of its fruit. The Roman empire included, of course, Italy, which has very rich soil, so it could produce most of its own friut. Thanks for the tour of your school. Aunt on April 9, 2008

And speaking of Troy, who was Robert Braidwood? And what was his relation to Harrison, Historian? Answer: According to Wikipedia, Robert Braidwood was "one of the founders of scientific archaeology...He married Linda Schreiber who became his partner in the field and in his research....There is speculation that the fictional character Indiana Jones was based on Braidwood, a fellow distinguished archaeologist known for his work in exotic locales..." wow! Mom says he is Grandma's uncle! I just saw Indiana Jones (the movie) last week! Uncle Guy on April 9, 2008

I am working on memorizing a very long opera -- Berlioz' Les Troyens (The Trojans), so I am interested in the history of the Trojan War. Berlioz used Virgil, a Roman writer, as a source for the libretto of the opera. What's the difference between Virgil's account of the Trojan War and Homer's? where is Carthage and why was it so important? Was there really a Queen Dido? Were Queens unusual back then? And why do we keep singing "Italie Italie" all the time (french for Italy). Why were Aeneas and the Trojans headed for Italy? I thought Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus... P.S. "Pot Ash" is a corruption of "Potassium" which comes from "Pot ash" (re: Louisa's question) Answer: I love this question! Virgil (A Roman poet, writing about 700 years after Homer) wrote about the Trojan war, but from a Trojan's perspective, instead of a Greek's. Aenaes escapes from Troy after Troy is sacked and sets out on an 'odyssey'. Aeneas and his Trojan comrads venture to Italy because Virgil was Roman, and so his characters are Roman at heart. On Aeneas' epic journey to Rome, he's blown by a storm to Carthage, which is Rome's historic arch enemy (from the Punic Wars). The city of Carthage is in North Africa, in what is now Tunisia, right across from the toe of Italy. Queen Dido is believed to be the founder of Carthage. In the Aeneid, she's put under a spell by the gods and falls in love with Aeneas. Jupiter then commands Aeneas to leave Carthage and tend to his duties back in Rome. When he leaves, Dido commits suicide. See ya! Uncle Guy on April 7, 2008

hi! I was wondering, what languge does our languge come from? Hi Annie. Thanks for the question. Answer; Mostly German, and some Latin annie selle on April 6, 2008

Hi Harrison, My school, Marlboro College, is on a hill named "Pot Ash Hill". For some reason, farmers used to make ash on that hill.... What was pot ash used for? (I think it was also called perl ash, or purl ash....) Thanks, Louisa Answer: Potash was used for making glass, soap and fertilizer. It was made from the ash from burned up trees. Probably your 'Pot Ash Hill' used to have a lot of trees on it. When they cleared the hill for grazing or building a house on, they could burn the trees and get major mulah for the potash. Louisa on April 5, 2008

Good Morning - I still don't really understand what George Washington was doing when he came upon the French and the Half King. Which region was he trying to clear of the French? And why did the Half King kill the wounded French Commander? Thanks. Mom on April 1, 2008

Hi, Harrison. I just returned from a business get-together in Coloroado. It was a bright, stimulating group, and we discussed history, economics, wildlife, and many other subjects. Two questions for you arose: - What changed in the long history of conflict in Northern Ireland that led to peace recently? - Is it true that in England years ago, only the King was allowed to hunt peacocks? Were there any other royal-only animals? All my best to you and the whole family. Thanks! David Answer: Sorry this took a while. Back in 1922, Ireland broke from Great Britain. But not all of Ireland. Northern Ireland stayed with Great Britain. Northern Ireland was mostly Protestant, and the southern part, the part that had seceded, called The Republic of Ireland, was mostly Catholic. Well, the few Catholics that were living in Northern Ireland, wanted Northern Ireland to secede, too. And the Protestants also discriminated against the Catholics which billyed their goats. After 30 years of irratic bombings and terrorist acts, there was finally an agreement signed in 1998, called the Belfast Agreement. The Belfast Agreement had a bunch of provisions, but I think the most important ones were these two: 1) creating a Northern Ireland Assembly, which was a brand new, fully recognized branch of government, with legislative powers, that was represented by both nationalists (those that wanted to secede) and unionists (those that wanted to stay united with Britain) 2) a commitment by all parties to use exclusively peaceful and democratic means So a great example of diplomacy in action. Maybe Israel and Lebenon could learn a few things.... David S., SOM '92 on March 16, 2008

Hi Harrison I was wondering if you could tell me some details from the Battle of Hastings in 1066. I'm writing a report and I need all the help I can get. Thank you for your help and good luck on your website! Answer: The Battle of Hastings was a battle between Duke Wiiliam of Normandy (William the Conqueror) and King Harold of England. It was the most decisive battles in English history. William conquered and took the English throne. At first William was losing the battle because his archers could not weaken the English shield line. William's army retreated, and William's horse was shot out from under him. But then the English, thinking they had a rout, broke out in front of their shield wall, which made them exposed, and William also ordered his archers to shoot over the remaining shield wall. One of the arrows hit King Harold in the eye. Once the king was dead, the English were leaderless and retreated. Nice question. Thanks. Anonymous on March 15, 2008

Hi Harrison, The Salem Witch Trials in 1692 were kicked off by the strange behavior of some young girls. Observers thought that the girls had been cursed or possessed by witches. Recently a new theory has emerged connecting their behavior to a crop disease. Evidence suggests that other outbreaks of anti-witch sentiment in Europe may also be connected to this crop disease. What is the crop and what is the theory? Thanks! Sara Answer: Wow, cool. There is a fungus that grows on rye. It can cause neurological disorders such as pins and needles, spasms, hallucinations, and tense muscles. So that, in my book, would be an explanation for the behavior of these people. P.S. My Mom just told me about a book she's reading which has actual letters between John and Abigail Adams. In one of his letters John Adams warns Abigail about kids he's heard about who went into convulsive fits after being startled by a noise. He warns Abigail not to startle their little boys. Maybe this was related. Thanks Sara Laschever on March 4, 2008

Hi Again! I can't remember which of the Founding Fathers was killed in a duel. Was it Alexander Hamilton? Thanks, Ma Answer: Yes, it was. He was shot by the Vice-President Aaaron Burr. Two years before, Hamilton's oldest son was shot and killed in a duel in the same location in New Jersey. Dueling was a lot like drag racing in the 1950's. Gotta go! mom on February 27, 2008

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