History Challenge & Journal

[STEVE G]

From my time in the Royal Navy, I remember that it's flown off the Jack staff of a warship whilst in in harbour between sunrise and sunset, hence the name.
The only place it was ever flown at sea in those days was on the Royal Yacht Brittania when the Queen was on board.

[dtaai-maai]

15th century Flanders was responsible for the reintroduction of something that is now commonplace and hugely popular in most countries.

Any ideas?

[migrant]

Windmills??

[richard]

Sprouts?

[dtaai-maai]

15th century Flanders was responsible for the reintroduction of something that is now commonplace and hugely popular in most countries.

Any ideas?

[Siani]

Chips ....French fries...mayonnaise

[Frank Hovis]

Wasn't the potato a 16th century 'invention' - I could be wrong as most of my history is learned from Blackadder.
Wasn't Flanders famous for woollen products, I can't remember if they imported English wool and made it into jumpers or if they exported wool for the English to make into jumpers.
Either way you can stick wool onto dogs for a nativity play if you are short of sheep (a cunning plan indeed).

[dtaai-maai]

Not a product, well not a consumable, more an activity.
A money-making activity.

[Frank Hovis]

When you say 'a money-making' activity do you mean actually making money?
Was Flanders the birth place of paper currency in Europe?
I thought it was the Swedes (after the Chinese tried it and failed)

[dtaai-maai]

Not so literal, more a way of, erm, collecting some money to help run the country while making a handful of citizens jolly happy.

[caller]

Well I guess that means a lottery?

[Frank Hovis]

I first thought VAT - that was the Belgians but only recently.

Makes money for the govt but still makes a few citizens happy - it's got to be a state run lottery - as long ago as the 15th century though? Seems unlikely but fits the description.

Or is it tax on beer? Belgians are famous for beer and beer taxes, but that was more recent that the 15th century as well, or did they start beer taxation?

[dtaai-maai]

Makes money for the govt but still makes a few citizens happy - it's got to be a state run lottery - as long ago as the 15th century though? Seems unlikely but fits the description.

http://willmann.com/~gerald/history.pdf

[Siani]

No cheating or Google please

Which is the largest inhabited castle in the world?

[richard]

Windsor