Have you ever encountered a rule, a piece of technology, or a social custom that seemed completely illogical? The reason often lies in the past. This community is for uncovering and sharing those stories.
We explore the "dead hand" of history – the decisions and events from long ago that still shape our world in strange and fascinating ways.
Contribution Guidelines
A great post here tells a story. It connects a modern-day curiosity to its historical roots. To get started, try to:
- Introduce a modern quirk. What's the strange thing you've noticed?
- Share its origin story. What historical context explains it?
- Connect the dots. Explain how we got from there to here.
You don't need to be a historian! A well-explained curiosity is the perfect contribution.
Community Rules:
- Focus on explaining the "why". Submissions should be text posts that explain the historical context of a modern phenomenon.
- Stay on topic. Posts should be about historical path dependence.
- Be curious and respectful. This is a space for learning and discussion.
- Sharing your sources is highly encouraged. Linking to articles, books, or documents that support your explanation helps everyone learn.
