Comments by "Harry Mills" (@harrymills2770) on "Did Roman Soldiers Get Buzzcuts? (Ancient Army Regulations)" video.

  1. The little things that nobody notices are usually more historically significant than the battles on which history typically fixates. We notice Genghis Khan's wars, but don't really notice how opening up trade routes from Kamchatka on the Bering Sea, to the gates of Europe. Same with the Romans. These terrible people came in and the people quietly got good roads and trade and technology exploded. The invention of the printing press... The invention of internal-combustion engines... The invention of the smart phone... The invention of the Internet... The interchangeable part... All of these things did more to effect social change and civilization's advance than all the generals and warlords, combined.
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  2. IIRC (and I probably don't), there were Persian mosaics showing brave, bearded soldiers marching off to war, then images of those beards being used as handles by throat-cutting enemies, then images of clean-shaven soldiers. Long hair and beard were a DARE by Norse and Danes. The modern-day equivalent is wearing a tie. It announces to the world that you intend to behave like a gentleman, because otherwise you're asking for somebody to grab that tie and kick your ass.
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