query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
In the 19th century novels I enjoy, such as Dostoyevski, Ibsen or Dickens, they sometimes mention deal tables. I can find no reference in _URL_0_ or elsewhere as to what these were. (They do not seem to be card tables) | [
"Deal is a description of the material, not the form, of the desk. In this case, softwood such as fir or pine. The 1848 novel *Mary Barton*, by Gaskell, uses the word in this way: > Opposite the fire-place was a table, which I should call a Pembroke, only that it was made of deal, and I cannot tell how far such a ... | [
"I think this might be hard to get a good source on, given its specificity and the simple fact that it is a very dated colloquial phrase. I was able to find little beyond [this](_URL_1_) poem, which may not be of much help. There is also a mention of the phrase in [this](_URL_2_) page, though I fear that may be eve... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Agreed upon battlefield location? | [
"I answered this question for Classical Greece a while ago [here](_URL_0_). I hope someone else will be able to write on Rome. Meanwhile, feel free to answer follow-up questions in this thread :)"
] | [
"Same difference between color and colour. Continent-based spelling differences."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
When did people start cleaning their butts? And what makes it that animals dont do the same? | [
"Try this in /r/AskAnthropology as well, they would know more about the very beginnings of personal hygiene, which is outside the written records."
] | [
"Cat saliva has antiseptic properties. Even their asses are no match. This does not mean that anything they find in their asses won't harm them. They're prepared for most things they would find in there."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why weren't moving covers used in The First World War | [
"Just to add onto what /u/TheWellSpokenMan said, I highly recommend browsing [this book](_URL_0_). It's called \"Helmets and Body Armor in Modern War\" by Bashford Dean. Mr. Dean had actually designed some experimental armor for the US during the war (it was rejected in the end, the helmet was too similar to the St... | [
"To be a little less specific, what did people think the future in general would be like before the Industrial Revolution?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Just how often was irrumatio actually used as a punishment for adultery? What about as a punishment in general? | [
"There is no evidence of this being an actual formal punishment. I think \"revenge fantasy\" describes it well. As a side note, you shouldn't think of upper class Romans as \"nobility\" as their position was not nearly as formalized or as rigid as in the Middle Ages--we usually use the term \"elite\"."
] | [
"Related/follow-up question: did the Victorians think child sexual abuse was worse than now-accepted sexual practices that they considered immoral, like adultery or homosexuality? Or in the same league?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What would it take to beat a castle by re-routing the river it straddles entirely away? Has this ever been done? | [
"The best I can give you is Toyotomi Hideyoshi's rerouting of the river in the siege of Takamatsu Castle in the mid-late 1500s, where in around 12 days he managed to divert the river using dikes to flood the castle, resulting in a relatively swift surrender afterwards. Japanese castles are a lot different than Eur... | [
"They divert the flow of the river during construction then redirect it back to the dam once it's finished."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I visited an old church today, I asked a tour guide what the oldest thing there was. He told me that the font probably dated back to the crusades because it had carvings of elephants & lions on it (IE animals not many English would have seen in the flesh before then). Does that reasoning make sense? | [
"Which church specifically? That might help in answering the question."
] | [
"Well, the national animals of Scotland and Wales are the Unicorn and the Welsh Dragon respectively and neither are common in the wild in those countries. There used to be lions in Europe, both cave lions in prehistoric times and Barbary lions in historic times, but by the time the lion became common in heraldry it... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about English iconography and heraldry:"
} |
Nowhere in this sub is there a recommendation for the best book on the French revolution - so who wants to give it a go? | [
"You could do worse than the book that literally redefined academic history. [Lynn Hunt's *Politics, Culture, and Class in the French Revolution.*](_URL_0_) It's not exactly a breezy narrative, but it has the advantage of completely changing the field. Hunt was one of the driving forces for studying cultural histor... | [
"There is no one on this website that can help you with this. Just throwing that out there."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Say I am an author around the 1850's in the USA, and I just wrote a book, and I want it published. How would I go about that? Were there any distinguished publishing companies? Do I just make a lot of copies and distribute them in book stores? | [
"There was a fairly flourishing US publishing industry by the 1850s. For example, Melville published with Harper and Brothers (which is is extant as HarperCollins), Poe with Putnam (also still extant as an imprint of Penguin), Hawthorne and Thoreau with Ticknor and Fields, Emerson with Philips, Samson. Source: Will... | [
"Traditionally, it was very very difficult for an author to publish their book and get it sold in stores. The logistics involved in getting a printer, getting stores to buy that book, having that book shipped to stores, having the book advertised, were so complicated that it just made sense for authors to get throu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The American Presidents series | [
"I will say that some of the authors include beliefs that might be considered less objective. For example, the Warren G. Harding biography was written by John Dean of Watergate fame. While historians often consider Harding to be one of the worst presidents, Dean tries hard to present him as less of a failure and em... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Education:"
} |
Are the stories of Spartan Marcia prowess really as overblown as this video suggests? | [
"If I recall correctly that video is based on an answer that /u/Iphikrates gave in [this thread](_URL_0_). Iphikrates worked together wit Invicta to create that video. Be sure to check out the Q & A video that they also did together. Check out some of his top posts because there is a ton of interesting stuff you ca... | [
"What information do you have that leads you to believe that their depictions are accurate, and not merely full of fictional details?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Did the Byzantine Empire use the phrase SPQR after 476? If so, when did they stop using it? | [
"The abbreviation had fallen out of favor well before the Sack of Rome in 476. As far as I know, the last appearance of SPQR was on coins minted by Constantine I in the 300's. The \"S\" in SPQR, *Senatus*, was greatly diminished in power and prestige by successive emperors after the fall of the Republic, and event... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
[Meta] Against the general appeal to specificity: | [
"The problem is, of course, that very often it *does* very much depend. If someone were to ask me how manual labourers in Ancient Greece lived I'd *have to* say that it depends if the question is as broad as that. Not that I particularly want to say that it depends but unless I do, I have to go over everything in a... | [
"Not an answer but an auxiliary question: has Diamond ever addressed any of the criticisms towards his work?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What do we know about the Jomsvikings? were they real? | [
"Summoning the almighty /u/EyeStache & /u/textandtrowel from Valhalla, hopefully they'll be able to provide insight into your question as I'm intrigued as well :)"
] | [
"Noble Savage type of thing. He was a member of the Rune Society (sp?). They believed in the restoration of the ancient Germanic way. If memory serves me, he was president of the group at one time. Some of his initial support for becoming Chancellor may have come from this association."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I found this Nazi book published in 1932. Does anyone know what it is? | [
"It's a service regulation book for the \"[S.A.](_URL_1_) of the [NSDAP](_URL_0_)\" It's booklet #4, and contains the S.A. training regulations. The next page talks about the formal training of SA members and remarks how important it is to appear firm and consistent in public, like it is for the military. To ach... | [
"This is a commemorative print by the artist Dan Smith titled ‘World War - In the Service of the Nation’. You can see his signature in the centre on the right hand side. It was published in 1919. As far as I can tell, this appears to be a certificate of service for WW1 veterans. Since it contains his induction inf... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
The Cold War is usually seen as being between two monoliths(NATO and Warsaw Pact). What examples are there of major divisions between members of the alliances? | [
"France had major disagreements with the rest of NATO. They never fully left NATO, but they did remove French forces from the integrated command structure of NATO, only allowed French-NATO troops to be stationed in France, and banned foreign nuclear weapons from being housed in France (They of course kept their own... | [
"1st World - NATO-aligned states. 2nd World - Warsaw Pact aligned states. 3rd World - Unaligned states. Since the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact there really isn't a 2nd World any more."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Would anyone knowledgeable about the 1940s-50s and the nightclub scene enlighten me as to the issue with "sister acts?" | [
"\"Sister act\" comes from vaudeville and means an act where two or more women are working together, and often were (or were billed as) sisters, often twins or triplets (even if that wasn't the case); usually they would sing or dance. Sister acts sometimes featured risqué outfits and bordered on burlesque, with the... | [
"I wonder if they were more a convention in 50's movie westerns than a common reality."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage about Western saloons:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | May 11, 2015–May 17, 2015 | [
"It's actually been a storming week for Stalinist economics, with two great comments worth highlighting. * /u/llamastingray [dispelled a few myths](_URL_19_) around the onset and nature of the Stalinist industrialisation programme. * /u/Smilin_Dave bossed it with [a great summary](_URL_18_) of the key issues and li... | [
"1. The First Salute by Barbara Tuchman 2. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown 3. The Civil War by Shelby Foote 4. Reconstruction by Eric Foner 5. The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman 6. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch 7. Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War by John Ellis 8. The... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
"Yeah, see?" How do we have a record of accents and slang? | [
"We have recordings of colloquial speech going basically to the beginning of recording, then prior to that there's recordsbased on personal letters, court transcripts, and various targeted collections of regional slang made by people interested in slang for one reason or another. The other thing to remember is that... | [
"Thirteen-three-oh-three is like seven years old, and was mooted like five years ago. Can you explain the question, please?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
I'm not sure if this really goes here, but why is it that visiting foreign leaders to America no longer receive elaborate welcoming ceremonies and such? | [
"Obama just had British Prime Minister David Cameron visit last week. Looks pretty full of [pomp and circumstance](_URL_1_). Just watch the first 15 minutes, after that its just a speech. It happens all the time for big dignitaries. [Here](_URL_0_) is Chinese President Hu Jintao."
] | [
"I don't believe Hail to the Chief has to be played if it's not official government business. It can be but I don't think it typically is. [Here is a clip](_URL_0_) from one of Bush's greatest moments as president. The song is not played at all in the clip though it could have been played before that I suppose. I c... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When a country wins land in a war, what happens to the people who live on that land of the losing side? | [
"Obviously it depends on the country and situation but I can refer you to what happened to land between the Polish and German border post-WWII. In that case, German land was claimed by Poland and the German citizens were often forced to relocate. Polish citizens were then given claim to the land. In some cases, the... | [
"Sovereignty is enforced by brute force. Do you have what it take to defend your country? Tibet was a country. Taiwan was a country. Hong Kong was part of China. Vietnam was part of China. Maryland/Virginia was part of British Empire. A sovereign nation is established by brute force most of time. If you can take an... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | June 29, 2015–July 05, 2015 | [
"OK, taking a brief break from AMA duties, here is my weekly rundown! /u/keyilan on [\"For historians of Ancient China, how does the PRC government influence current historiography?\"](_URL_1_) /u/lost_scribe on [\"Where did the trope of barbarians disdaining \"decadent\" Roman/Greek/fantasy cultures come from?\"](... | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | July 24, 2017–July 30, 2017 | [
"Please read /u/commiespaceinvader's replies in [this thread](_URL_0_) on the inescapable fact that as historians, we are studying and talking about *real people* who lived, breathed, suffered, rejoiced, and died. Please."
] | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
New history student looking for some advice. | [
"My advice to you is not to think about time periods but about subjects you wish to study. I started out with history in my university because I was interested in the politics and culture of the late medieval / early modern period, but every single course I took in that time period focused on the religious aspects ... | [
"What are some of the primary sources that you have found? This sounds interesting. Would you recommend any books for a fun read?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
[Nautical History] Where can I find a good resource on 1840s Nautical Customs, specifically US Naval customs? | [
"Its not naval, but I would start with this. [_URL_0_](_URL_0_) There are also several website about the Connie herself which should have some interesting links or persons for you to look up."
] | [
"Large sailing ships continued to be used into the 1920s and only ceased to exist in regular use during the Great Depression of the 1930s. They were used to carry bulk goods over long distances. Wheat from Australia to Great Britain and Nitrates from Chile to Europe were the two trade routes where sailing ships con... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Tuesday Trivia | Idealists and Realists | [
"Here's a question - was Machiavelli an idealist or a realist? Did monarchs of his time take up his advice? If so, did it work, or did his advice come off as foolish rhetoric?"
] | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Monday Mysteries | What are the most outlandish or outrageous historical claims you've encountered during the course of your research? | [
"Gavin Menzies and his \"China discovered everything\" books. [1421 the year China discovered the world](_URL_3_) [Lost empire of Atlantis](_URL_4_) [1434: The Year a Magnificent Chinese Fleet Sailed to Italy and Ignited the Renaissance](_URL_4_) Apparently when the first book came out he was taken seriously, and ... | [
"This is a very broad question about an enormous international event. Can you narrow it down at all? Is there a particular kind of thing that you're hoping to hear about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Is there a historical consensus on the "Moon-Eyed People" of pre-Columbian Tennessee? | [
"I'm curious as well. I've only heard of them through Mooney (and through people who read Mooney) but he recorded Cherokee stories about them, then later when he worked with Kiowa, they had stories about them too—quiet, shy people that kept to themselves. I don't believe they were non-Indian, but it is interesting ... | [
"[I answered a similar question to this previously.](_URL_0_) In short--there were at least 3 major migrations of East-Asian nomads into North America via the Bering Strait, and contact between Polynesians and Native South Americans. There is no reputable evidence for any trans-Atlantic contact before the Vikings, ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How were "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" marketed when they were originally seen in theaters? | [
"Generalised follow-up: most history of animation that I'm aware of is focussed on animator biographies and the medium's technological development. When it *is* discussed as an art form, I feel like it's treated as if it exists in its own bubble. Any good sources discussing its relation to other art media? Big pict... | [
"The globetrotters appealed to kids with all the antics that would happen during their performances. The live act is a family friendly gig that would appeal to all ages. That was a great recipe for a cartoon show in the 70’s since those appealed to kids as well. Back in those days, it was common for cartoon charact... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does anyone know what method of execution this is? | [
"From what I could gather, this wasn't the actual execution, just the bodies being displayed afterwards. [Here.](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Could you find a picture of what you mean?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What was the first ranged weapon and who used it? | [
"I don't think we have that kind of precision to archaeological information. We know that the bow and sling are both pre-historical. We know that the bow has been independently re-invented across all cultures. (One should differentiate between a sling and a slingshot. If by \"slingshot\" you mean, \"[the thing tha... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How crucial was the introduction of T-51b power armor to the successful liberation of Anchorage from the Red Chinese in 2076-2077? | [
"Technically, no. T-51b were essential in combating Chinese Chimera Tanks, which had the range, durability and stopping power to hold back pretty anything but the T-51b, while Winterized T-51b users did suffer significant casualties from Crimson Dragoon ambushes, as the low visibility of the T-51b's visor combined ... | [
"The Chinese were equipped with Soviet made MiG-15 fighters. They outclassed everything that the UN could put into the air and it stayed that way largely until the introduction of the North American Sabre. While the Sabre closed the performance gap, it was by no means a superior aircraft. Source: Xiaoming Zhang, \"... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Trying to understand the rifled musket's real impact on the American Civil War. | [
"I asked a question in the same vein a few months back and got [this](_URL_0_) excellent response by /u/white_light-king"
] | [
"Time, money, resource management, getting them to the front lines would be a pain. Also, it wasnt necessarily better than the American weapons used at the time. But it shot with a fast rate of fire, a large caliber, and its ability to easily swap its barrels made it more useful for the type of combat."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How can the price of this recent, small, non-textbook work of history be so expensive? [Privateering, Piracy and British Policy in Spanish America, 1810-1830 by Matthew McCarthy] | [
"Honestly, this is a totally unremarkable price for a specialty academic monograph, and /u/davidAOP has the shape of the crappery on why that is. However, as there are so many copies in Worldcat, this is something you should try to get from your library through Inter Library Loan. Even your public library can get a... | [
"You might look into Fred Anderson's *Crucible of War: The Seven Years' War and the Fate of Empire in British North America, 1754-1766*. It is also available on Audible."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
My professor told me that Hitler Youth and League of German Girls camps were intentionally placed close together to encourage teens to "pair off" at a young age, is there any truth to this? | [
"Hitler had a long-term plan. He wanted Germany to join the United States, India, and China as a continental power. The Hunger Plan, his long-term plan to starve 100 million Slavic people and push the remnants beyond the Urals, was merely an accompaniment to his main goal, the creation of a Greater Germany with a p... | [
"Until kids go out in the world and meet other people, their best friend is mommy or sister or cousin. Our families are the first people to show us love. It's (hopefully) pure and unconditional. Your little brother didn't want to marry you because you were hot, or because he wanted to have sex with you, or because ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Looking for books on the British Empire for a high school summer course. Any suggestions? | [
"The Decline and Fall of the British Empire by Piers Brendon is pretty comprehensive and written for a \"popular\" audience, although at ~900 pages I recall it being a pretty hefty read… you might be able to cherry pick chapters, though, to assign to the students..."
] | [
"What are some of the primary sources that you have found? This sounds interesting. Would you recommend any books for a fun read?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What happened when the people chiseling words into stone made a typographical error? | [
"The most famous such error I know of can be found at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.. As you can see [here](_URL_0_), the bottom of the \"E\" was filled in to correct it back to an \"F\". [National Park Service](_URL_1_)"
] | [
"Because the Baylonians had a real hard-on for the number 60, possibly because it factors so well. Thousands of years later, we're still on their time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Why is the complex of California’s geologic and environmental history important for understanding it’s human history? | [
"If this is homework, write a bit about the assignment, give some context and give your initial thoughts. See also the [rules regarding homework](_URL_0_) and/or try /r/HomeworkHelp"
] | [
"Why are we concerned about losing forests when there are plenty of trees by my house? Why are we concerned about global warming when it's cold outside right now? My house isn't representative of world's forests, my city isn't representative of the world's climate, and Spain isn't representative of the world's popu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
I need help to identify the role of my great-grandfather in WWII | [
"Wehrmacht Sonderfuhrer, officer rank August 26, 1939 civilians with special education (linguists, engineers, doctors) but do not have sufficient military training, were allowed to enter into the army as specialists in specific areas, with the right to wear military uniforms and military personnel receive benefits.... | [
"This is a case of *confirmation bias* meaning you only notice the cases that fit your theory. Here are some things I can't get and don't want at all: - A rock from 10 miles below Kansas City - An original set of lyrics to all the McDonalds jingles - Ice cream made from lobster liver - A photo of me with your great... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about history:",
"pos": "Represent the document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Looking for books and/or articles with conservative but even-keeled critique of concept of unionization & labor union movement itself (especially private sector) (US focus) | [
"I don't have any really good conservative/free market suggestions right now, but have you read books about what the early labor movement did for U.S. (assuming that's what you are interested in?) workers? It's important to remember that no matter what these organizations turned into, they absolutely changed the ca... | [
"Hello! Really new to this sub, so feel free to recommend some previous threads as well if you remember this being discussed here. I’m looking for books on the Reconstruction era. What I’m most interested in is progressive (but pre 20th century civil rights) policies/initiatives that were rolled back or repealed un... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
What is the source of the Oppenheimer "I am become Death" quote? | [
"/u/restricteddata talked about that passage's origins in [his answer here](_URL_0_), with attention paid to the particular translation."
] | [
"Can you explain the question like I’m five?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Old Photo of Abraham Lincoln on Cloth. | [
"What you appear to have here is a political campaign ribbon depicting Lincoln from the famous 1860 [Cooper Union portrait](_URL_2_). The image depicted in your cloth is not actually a photo, but an illustration, specifically, the same illustration [seen here](_URL_0_). While I'm not sure of when photographic pri... | [
"Sleep - Shake Unconscious - Splash Coma - Wait and Hope Vegetative State - Wait and Bury"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Good history audiobooks. | [
"Well, I would point out that we have an [extensive booklist here](_URL_0_), and while not *all of them* are available as such, you should be able to find a surprising number of them available as audiobooks! I did a random check once before, and the hit rate was over fifty percent!"
] | [
"Advertising, selling info, and premium versions of the free stuff."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Technology:"
} |
Before modern forms of technology, how did people learn laws? | [
"The Roman \"Twelve Tables\" were carved in tablets and posted in the forum for public viewing. They weren't the entirety of Roman law, but they were the most important."
] | [
"The arriving missionaries had technology like better masonry, metal and gold working, and some improvements to agriculture. When the missionaries come with significant improvements to your life, why not convert?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Historians of Reddit, has there ever been an example of any facility or military installation with a "self-destruct" capability? | [
"Not quite what you are looking for, but I'd like to bring up the Dutch Waterlinie. This was basically a system of waterways that, in the event of enemy invasion, could re-inundate a large part of the country, effectively making Holland into an island. It was also used during the 80 years war as an offensive weapon... | [
"First, control is distributed. If the capital were destroyed, there are other military control centers. Second, US and UK nuclear subs have been given written orders saying what to do if their whole command chain is destroyed. These are kept in a safe on board, and they don't require remote launch codes. An intere... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | October 29, 2018–November 04, 2018 | [
"I was a few days late with this multi part answer [on the development of the Mexican Day of the Dead celebrations](_URL_0_) - which took place just this week! As per usual with Mexican religious traditions there are connections to pre-Hispanic, European and colonial precursors that were fun to look into. Biking sk... | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about News:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about News:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
I hope this is isn't too broad or frivolous for this subreddit: Has there ever been a culture that did not use (or disapproved of) humor? | [
"It's not a case of humour being suppressed because it's viewed as subversive, but the Baining of Papua New Guinea are famous for disapproving of basically anything that isn't work. More than one anthropologist has given up studying them because they apparently do nothing except work and talk about work (which they... | [
"In my opinion (sorry if this comes across as preachy and condescending) there are way too many of these moral/sociological/opinion questions in this sub. This sub (again in my opinion) should be a place for laymen to come ask a question that has a simplified definitive answer to be supplied by someone with expert-... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Was their substance to the Red Scare of the 50's? Meaning, were their communists in levels of the US government ala the Rosenbergs? | [
"There definitely was a reason to suspect and fear the infiltration of communists in high levels government in the 40's and 50's. One need look no further than the Verona Project and the case of Harry Dexter White for example. _URL_0_ Although it was never near as widespread as Sen. McCarthy made it out to be."
] | [
"Follow up, if this warrant a new post please tell me: How did politicians and the general public react when they found out these companies were aiding Nazi forces in WW2?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is there any precedent for Hercules being a fat, cowardly buffoon? | [
"Heracles appears to have been a staple character in Old Comedy--he appears in the Birds as basically a stock character. In the Birds he's a fairly stupid oaf who's characterized more by his gluttony than anything else (Heracles' appetite was somewhat notorious in antiquity, as was his lust, at least in comedy). He... | [
"It's implying that the hat is so horrible that it would only be worn by a hobo standing in a soup line."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
According to political fact checkers it seems that today's politicians are willing to not only stretch the truth, but blatantly lie to voters. Has this been the case throughout history? Did people know they were being lied to? What are the worst examples from the past? | [
"In 64 BC Quintus Cicero wrote about how to win an election as advice to his brother Marcus, who ran for consul. 1. \"Make sure you have the backing of your family and friends.\" 1. \"Surround yourself with the right people.\" 1. \"Call in all favors.\" 1. \"Build a wide base of support.\" 1. \"Promise everything t... | [
"Because lying isn't illegal unless you're making factually inaccurate claims about a product in an effort to make people buy that product or when you're making factually inaccurate claims about a person that cause damage to that person. Don't get me wrong--I think that politicians should basically be considered to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Historiography of Fortress city life | [
"One of the best books I read last year was *The Defortification of the German City, 1689-1866* by Yair Mintzker which covers the social and cultural nature of German walls as well as their political context. Mintzker's citations should also give you some suggestions for further reading."
] | [
"Same difference between color and colour. Continent-based spelling differences."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Which French President swam in radiated waters when he was already diagnosed with terminal cancer? | [
"You may have him confused with [Manuel Fraga(_URL_0_), Francisco Franco's Minister of Tourism who in 1966 [took a bath](_URL_2_) at the area of the [Palomares Incident](_URL_1_) to prove that the beaches were safe for tourism Fraga had a very long political career that lasted until well into the 2000's and it was... | [
"They were aware that something was happening, but they had much bigger concerns at the time. They were fighting wars on several borders, and constant bombings made them more worried about their own skins than whatever might have happened to their Jewish neighbors. Source: Grandmother who lived in Dresden during t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What is the meaning of this Nazi Propaganda poster? | [
"It's a jumbled mess is what it is. It's a sheet of some kind with the stuff on the bottom commemorating the Reichsparteitag 1933 and the seal in the middle commemorating Hitler's speech on the Enabling Act on March 23, 1933. However since the middle seal spells it \"Adolph Hitler\" rather than \"Adol**f** Hitler\"... | [
"I think it might be a Chinese version of Scientology."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Second Amendment: I've heard one motivation was to enable quick suppression of slave revolts. Is this accurate? | [
"Servile insurrection was absolutely an enduring fear of the Southern slaveholders (Note: Slavery still existed in much of the North at that time, but in a considerably lesser capacity), and fear of insurrection was absolutely present in the mind during the drafting process of the Second Amendment. *But*, while som... | [
"If the failure goes too far, well, that's why it's important we have the 2nd amendment. No, I'm not kidding. That was one of the main reasons for the 2nd amendment to exist: a rogue government."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How were complex calculations made before computers? | [
"For complex calculations, it was common to have a reference book with tables of pre-calculated logarithms, trigonometric functions, square roots, and commonly-used integrals, to save the labor of manually calculating them. As far as data management, that's a broad area, but many techniques that we think of as comp... | [
"Have you never seen an analog clock before? Ever? The stopwatch was invented in the 1600s. Those were used before lasers and digital clocks."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did USSR/USA tell difference between missile/space mission? | [
"They communicated their mission launch schedules with each other. Plus, the American launches are never secret and are always made available to the public well beforehand."
] | [
"Rockets used in spaceflight are technically ICBMs, or they could be used as ICBMs. The US and Russia do some space flight exchanges because our ICBM technologies are roughly at the same level. The Europeans do their own thing because the French are a big piece of the Ariane and they have their own ICBM technology.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Historians, what are some good introductory readings on the Guatemalan civil war? | [
"Walter LaFeber's Inevitable Revolutions is an entertaining book that covers the whole region and Bitter Fruit is a decent book on the overthrow of Arbenz if you want some context to the civil war. Might be decent starting points for you. There's also Bishop Gerardi's report Guatemala: Nunca Mas."
] | [
"I'm looking for recommendations for books to read if I want an overview of the history of the LGBT+ movement in the United States but don't have any previous background knowledge in the subject."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
What subjects were commonly taught to royalty and nobles from 1700 to the early 1900s? | [
"One of the more unsual things that they learned (at least in the Austrian Habsburg family) were normal trades. For example Emperor Francis II was a gardener and Franz Josef was a bookbinder. But no idea if this was an oddity of the House of Habsburg or something that was rather common at the time and age."
] | [
"Yes. Slavery in Rome was not tied to race/skin color like it was in the United States during the 1700-1800s"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What percentage of the USSR's power - in men, material, resources, or technology - lay in the border states? | [
"Population is easy enough to figure out. Assuming that [Wikipedia's figures for the 1989 Soviet census are accurate](_URL_0_), the USSR had a population of 286,717,000, while the Russian SSR had a population of 147,386,000 - 51% of the USSR's population."
] | [
"The Ukraine was the USSR's second largest economic area, behind Russia itself, and was a major industry center: vehicles (ground, air, and spacefaring), military equipment and small arms, and a decent amount of crop production. If Russia annexed it, it would again enjoy these benefits and boost its own economy. B... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
[Slightly Meta] Does Anybody know Dan Carlins Hardcore History Podcast, and has an opinion about his methods, the podcasts accuracy, etc.? | [
"Previous threads on this subject that you might find useful: * [Dan Carlin: history or bunk?](_URL_2_) * [Dan Carlin claims that \"You could take the roman army at it's height in history and send it 1000 years forward, drop it back in europe [...] and have it mop the floor with the greatest armies of the early mid... | [
"Chronological: - Ray Harris Jr.- The History of World War 2 - Mike Dunkan - The History of Rome - Robin Pierson - The History of Byzantium (follow up podcast) - Khodadad Rezakhani - Iranologie (History of Iran) - The British History Podcast Other: - The AskHistorians Podcast (Intervies with AskHistorians contribut... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why were books released as serials in newspapers? Were there benefits for the authors in doing this, did the audience prefer this to a single release of a book? | [
"Because books were very expensive in the 18th and 19th centuries and the price of a book was out of the budget for the vast majority of people. Lending libraries existed, but you had to pay for them, too, and many could not afford it. Newspapers were inexpensive enough, and the print small enough, that more people... | [
"Most popular weekly manga series chapters are published in large anthology book every week. For example, Shonen Jump, where Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto were published, currently has 21 different manga series in each weekly volume. This means that the audience has to be able to purchase a somewhat large book... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What were political debates like 100 years ago? Or even back when the United States was founded? | [
"I don't know about most political debates. I have read all of Lincoln's speeches and writings and that includes the famous Lincoln Douglas debates. Those were a series of 7 debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas where they were competing to become the next Senator from Illinois. Each candidate was giv... | [
"The first amendment guarantees freedom of the press. It's been part of the US for as long as the US has existed."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | July 18, 2016–July 24, 2016 | [
"/u/idontplayoboe made an excellent response to [this post on the relationship between Greek and Roman pantheons](_URL_1_) /u/BaffledPlato [answered whether or not polytheists believed that some religions were \"false\"](_URL_2_) /u/Iphikrates answered [this question on the ransoming of soldiers in ancient greece](... | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about News:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Can historians agree on when the United States became a Superpower? | [
"The most common answer is when they vanquished us (Spain) in the Spanish-American war (1898-1899). That war was universally seen as the end of an empire (the Spanish) and the beginning of another (the american) with the annexation of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam and the near-annexation of Cuba."
] | [
"The \"New World Order\" was supposed to represent the rise of the United States as a global power."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Before 1950, have experts ever conceived that goods could be intangible? | [
"How do you mean by tangible? For centuries before 1950, you could buy stock or hold a patent. While there was a piece of paper affirming your ownership of the stock or patent, it merely represented an intangible idea."
] | [
"because there are still several blockbusters that were basically privately owned and not a franchise."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did RAF pilot Douglas Bader fly his Spitfire with prosthetic legs? | [
"Bader's left leg was amputated below the knee, his right leg above, but he had sufficient control of prosthetic legs to be able to drive a manual car (adapted with the clutch operated by the right foot and accelerator/brake by the left, rather than the more usual reverse). The foot controls of the Hurricane and Sp... | [
"Just a side note. You have probably seen the iconic WWII fighter planes with the shark teeth painted on. Those were the flying tigers. American pilots who volunteered to fight for China against the Japanese before the US was officially in the war."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
My late grandfather was a deck hand on a Royal navy arctic convoy ship, in his teens. What (assuming he was typical) would his daily life have been like during WW2? | [
"Can you clarify somewhat - was he on a Royal Navy operated escort vessel or rescue vessel or a Merchant Navy ship?"
] | [
"I'm not an expert but I believe that Master & Commander, while not based on any real historical occurrence, does a very good job with portraying naval warfare in the 19th century. The uniforms, the weapons, organizational hierarchy are all in line with history - there isn't really anything that's out of place/time... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Going into the Korean war, did the US ever have the goal of completely absorbing the north into the south, or was an eventual retreat from the Yalu planned? | [
"Going in was long before the Yalu. The intent was simply to keep the south from being incorporated into the north. Americans' concern was not to be embarrassed by having to retreat from Pusan. There was no UN mandate to do more which is why it was a UN police action, not a US war. Anyway, America was war weary aft... | [
"This is answered in this thread to some degree: _URL_0_ Basically it's one of the biggest reasons why the US didn't mount a full scale ground invasion of North Vietnam and settle the NVA's hash once and for all. We bombed the hell out of the country, but our military high command was worried that a ground invasion... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How do the costs of travel today compare to what it cost before the advent of the passenger plane? | [
"[This webpage](_URL_1_) lists the prices of tickets on the Titanic. A third class ticket was about $40 in 1912 money, or between $300-$700 in 2013 money. First class was $2973 for a berth, or a whopping $84,000 for a suite in today's prices. The Hindenburg was about 1000RM, or $450 one way in 1937, according to [t... | [
"Because it was very expensive. It was starting to not make financial sense, it was merely a fun thing to do for the rich and wealthy. It didn't make any sense to have it as a regular airliner anymore. And then, the accident."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
I just read an article about how I can travel across country for $213 on Amtrak. How much would the trip have cost me in, say, the mid-1800s? | [
"I'm no expert, but let me get the ball rolling. Before the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad in the 1860s, you would have had to make at least some portion of the trip by covered wagon, likely along the Oregon Trail. According to [*The Emigrant's Guide to Oregon and California*](_URL_0_) (first p... | [
"Time is money, and a taxi will get you from Point A to Point D, not Point A to B to C to pretty close to D. It's expensive, but if you don't want to burn an extra hour or more getting where you're going, the taxi is much faster. Source: My wife burns 2-3 hours a day taking the bus on what should be a 20-minute com... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
In Ernst Jungers WWI book "Storm Of Steel", he refers to great frustration at taking frequent casualties to the British flanking battery. What was the flanking battery and how was it used? | [
"Junger's description of the German line forming a salient indicates that the German line is projecting or bulging into the British line. This means that the German salient is surrounded on three sides by British forces. Assuming Junger is located at the front of the salient, or the portion of the German salient th... | [
"> Is this statement accurate? From my reading on the French Army this seems to be the case overall; piecemeal attacks or *grignotage* ('nibbling') as they were dubbed in the French Army were unpopular among the *Poilus*, so it seems the French placed much less emphasis on constant trench-raiding, unlike the BEF. T... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What was Nassau like on a day-to-day basis in 1717-1718? | [
"Have you consulted the *Journal of the Bahamas Historical Society*? IIRC, they publish annually. You might simply call the society and ask for their recommendations."
] | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Who lived in my house? | [
"This is a very common community archives question. City directories are the go-to source for this, they were published usually yearly in decent sized towns. They were the phone book before the phone, and would have addresses and people who lived there. Another especially good thing about city directories from the ... | [
"One of these is not like the others."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
During Apartide would a person with Albinism who came from a black family be treated with the rights of a black person or a white person? | [
"For future reference, the spelling is \"Apartheid.\" It comes from Afrikaans, which is related to Dutch."
] | [
"There used to be the \"one drop rule\" that meant if no matter how light your skin was, you were still considered black and had the prejudices that came with it. This carrirs over today in the way you are describing it"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Suppose I work at the American Russian embassy in 1977 and I want to defect to the USA. Assuming I don't have family back home to worry about what would be the safest way to go about it? | [
"Do you mean a Soviet embassy located in Washington, DC?"
] | [
"Edward Snowden is living in Russia and is supported by the Russian government. As he has FSB bodyguards on him 24/7, it is unlikely that unless the Russians give him to the US voluntarily, or he can be tricked out of the country somehow -- *so the CIA or FBI can arrest him* -- he will likely be living in \"exile\"... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
How did the US treat the people of its colonies (Philippines, Liberia)? | [
"Liberia wasn't a colony of America, but it was made up of former American slaves. The government of the United States never held legal jurisdiction over Liberia. The colonization/repatriation efforts in Liberia were carried out by private organizations like the American Colonization Society, though the idea of \"r... | [
"Arguably, Japan made out quite well during the first World War. At the time, Japan was an ally of the United Kingdom, and early in the war Japan arranged to strike at German territories in China and the Pacific Islands in exchange for continued occupation of those areas after the war. Japan ended up intervening (o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Finding Newspaper Sources | [
"Libraries usually offer access to newspaper archives which you can search. Often this requires a login of some type if used online, or physical presence at the library. These archives usually aren't publicly available since it takes a lot of effort to digitize newspapers from the past, and it is difficult and expe... | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Saudi Family Is Jewish -friend sent me this video. can you please confirm/deny this with actual evidence? | [
"There is nothing to actually deny, this guy provides literally no evidence that the Sauds are Jews."
] | [
"Someone please answer this question, after watching that video my heart is aching to know from someone that actually knows."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What was the back up plan if d-day failed? | [
"Given the same disposition of forces up to D-day/H-hour, but a different course of events (strategy and tactics), did Germany realistically stand a chance at all to push back the Allies into the Channel? (sorry if this broadens the question too much)"
] | [
"Followup: what happened to the farmers when they did \"forage\"? Starve to death?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What Was The Back Up Plan For D-Day? If It Would Have Failed Would They Have Tried Again? | [
"Id like to piggyback a related question: Would Operation Dragoon in southern France be cancelled if the Normandy landings failed?"
] | [
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Ada... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What does Tolstoy mean when he says a character's face is "oriental in appearance?" | [
"Searched through original text, exactly same (\"oriental type of face\") is said about Pyotr Bagration ([Portrait in wikipedia](_URL_0_)) and certanly referes to Caucasian (mountains, not race) or Tatar face features."
] | [
"//“The young princess Bolkonsky came with handwork in a gold-embroidered velvet bag. Her pretty upper lip with its barely visible black mustache was too short for her teeth, but the more sweetly did it open and still more sweetly did it sometimes stretch and close on the lower one. As happens with perfectly attrac... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
I've been seeing on Reddit the idea that Europe before WWI was a "powderkeg" of alliances. This seems to suggest that the general balance of power philosophy actually helped lead to WWI directly. How do historians view this analysis? | [
"Hey, I wrote extensively on this in the past. Check out the post and reply if you have further questions :) * [ Why was WWI considered \"inevitable\"?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Ferguson's Triumph and Turmoil is popular history for a television series. While I won't say that its on the level of Ancient Aliens, you always need to exaggerate things to make some good television. From what I understand, Ferguson makes a big deal about burgeoning Chinese nationalism. This is what he bases his ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about history:",
"pos": "Represent the document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
After the splitting of the Allied and outer planets post-Unification War, did outet planets maintain exclusively agrarian economies, or were there specific examples of ring planets that, supportive of the Alliance or not, were able to sustain industrial economies and societies? | [
"Many of the outer planets, most notably Persephone, actually have a highly slave-based economy. Much as Independent propaganda likes to diminish this, they tend to abduct a huge amount of people from less developed planets and moons and put them to work in farming and textiles. There are also some unconfirmed rumo... | [
"Tropical areas tend to be easier to cultivate and thus demand less external resources. They aren't spurned on to conquer other lands, and innovation isn't encouraged by necessity. All this together means, come the globalization era, they were colonized by militant and scientifically minded nations who saw their ma... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
England the 51st State | [
"I really haven't heard of this at all. Could you please tell where you heard this? Sounds very weird considering Churchill being such a firm imperialist."
] | [
"Nobody. after 2000 years it becomes public domain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Primary source refers to "United Nations" in 1943? | [
"The allied powers in World War Two were often referred to as the United Nations. The modern UN is named after the United Nations declaration in 1942. _URL_0_"
] | [
"British Empire -- > Post-WW2 / Cold War America -- > British and American pop culture -- > Silicon Valley."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Imagine a Anglo-Saxon lord's feast table in 1048, imagine a Norman lord's feast table in 1103. Can you tell which is which from the food? | [
"Not an answer but a question for OP, are you asking about the different in feasting tables of England in 1048 Anglo-Saxon England vs 1103 Norman England? Or a feasting table in Anglo-Saxon England in 1048 vs a feasting table in Normandy in 1103?"
] | [
"The Middle Ages is a pretty huge period that spanned centuries, so you might want to refine your question. The daily life of a monarch in the 8th century was incomparably different from that of a 16th century one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | December 07, 2015–December 13, 2015 | [
"/u/quantumcognition deserves recognition for their fascinating answer on [the legal status](_URL_1_) of thralls in Norse society. /u/XenophontheAthenian on [Alexander the Great sleeping with a copy of the Iliad](_URL_0_), learning about νάρθηξ and Athenian and Roman bookselling and copying was really interesting, ... | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
To whom belongs this emblem? | [
"[This](_URL_0_) is the emblem of the Marineflieger, the air arm of the German Navy. As you can see, there are significant similarities with your image, especially in the design of the wings. Unfortunately I know very little about the Marineflieger, but it seems likely that your image is a variant of that design, o... | [
"We can and we did: _URL_0_ There is nowhere deeper we can dive on this planet."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How did endurance hunters get enough salt? | [
"I would like to extend this question towards neolithic inland dwellers and paleo/mesolithic general population. Given the amount of salt we are consuming today, it's hard to imagine how and inland people would be able to get \"enough\" salt even without excessive sweating. Mining of salt is known to have occured ... | [
"Humans are actually much more energy efficient than most animals, partially because we are bipedal. However, since we don't have to chase our food anymore so most of us aren't in shape enough to chase down an animal. There is an interesting book on the native tribe in Mexico that regularly runs marathon distances... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What would be the "happiest" place and time to live in before the year 1000 CE? | [
"Hey man, sorry to be the bubble burster here, but this question would fall under [poll-type questions that are against the rules of the subreddit.](_URL_2_) Maybe you could split up some of the smaller questions? Such as the hunter-gatherer one - \"How idyllic was the lfiestyle of a hunter-gatherer tribe?\" The p... | [
"In which country/region? The answers to your question will be *very* different for life in Rome in 100AD and in Australia in 100AD (both areas of interest for me)."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Found what I assume to be old pottery, any archeologists who can ID this for me? (album in description) | [
"I'm not a belgian pottery expert, but I do have a smattering of typological knowledge for most of north western europe. If you ever find red glazed stuff that's samain ware, which is a dead ringer for Roman. But this could also be Greyware, which you'll never guess... Is Grey, and was their cheaper stuff. Although... | [
"I would recommend taking this to a local archaeologist, someone who can look at the size and material better. With this picture alone I can't tell what size it is. There's folks who do nothing but specialize in projectile points - I wish I could help more as I'm not one of those folks. This *is* in the area /u/Ree... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
I grew up in the Central America and there's a popular legend that Mayans used "snake-guns" to throw Fer-de-lance snakes at their enemies. Is there any record of this actually happening, or of any American civilization using animals directly as weapons? | [
"This is the first time I've ever heard of something like this. I don't think I have ever seen a depiction of such a thing happening on any of the ceramics or murals from the region. Most of the time if someone is holding a weapon it is a spear or club, sometimes even a macuahuitl. I would be interested to know if ... | [
"I mainly deal with European history and was going to chime in on the firearms, but there is just no way to generalize without being more specific. For example, the term \"musket\" covers weapons used from the 13th century up until the 19th century, and rifles are still used today. A Ming Dynasty musket and a Napo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Recommendations for Sources in Three Kingdoms Era in China | [
"You can try to google Rafe De Crespigny To Establish Peace an English translation of Sima Guang Zi Zhi Tong Jian. _URL_3_ _URL_0_ These are where you all may find SanGuoZhi biographies. These are historical. Apart from the Zi Zhi Tong Jian translated by Dr Rafe De Crespigny, _URL_2_ Here you all may find the cont... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about Education:"
} |
Max Planck said: "Science progresses not because scientists change their minds, but rather because scientists attached to erroneous views die, and are replaced." Has this proven true since the advent of the modern era? | [
"Hello! While you're more than welcome to ask this question here, you might also do well to crosspost it to /r/askscience/"
] | [
"Some theories predicted their existence, some didn't. We now know to reject the theories which were wrong, and pursue those which got it right. That's how science works. There is no direct practical impact, other than the general advancement of science."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Did the British really cut of the thumbs of weavers? | [
"This allegation started during the impeachment trial of Warren Hastings who had been governor-general of Bengal, after trials lasting 148 parliamentary days over 7 years he was unanimously cleared of most of the charges made against him and was acquitted of the rest for lack of evidence. Those who made the allega... | [
"Did sailors generally know the name of the ships they're fighting?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
If I want to learn about ancient Rome where should I start, not Dan Carlin's podcast. Things I can read. | [
"hi! until one of the Rome specialists drops by with something specific, you may be interested in checking out this sub's Book List, which includes a section on [Ancient Rome](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Chronological: - Ray Harris Jr.- The History of World War 2 - Mike Dunkan - The History of Rome - Robin Pierson - The History of Byzantium (follow up podcast) - Khodadad Rezakhani - Iranologie (History of Iran) - The British History Podcast Other: - The AskHistorians Podcast (Intervies with AskHistorians contribut... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I'm a Peasant and my village now belongs to another country | [
"u/shamanicbro covered the case of the Ottoman Empire quite well, so on that score I'll refer you to his post. & nbsp; Now, within Christian Europe? You likely wouldn't notice much of anything. The concept of a \"country,\" did not really exist as such yet, and so there wasn't a whole lot for you to be attached to... | [
"I don't think anyone wants to officially advertise that their country is evil."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What pieces of medieval/Renaissance garb still exist? | [
"A room in an Austrian castle, sealed off in the 15th century, was recently opened. It contained many textiles, including undergarments and shoes. [Check out this write-up](_URL_0_)--at this point, the publicly available information seems quite scant, but I'm eager for the publication of an article on the finds!"
] | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Announcing the 'Best of June' Answers and Awardees! | [
"Blimey, thanks very much! And congratulations to the other winners and nominees in yet another strong month of great contributions."
] | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Announcements:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Announcements:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | June 15, 2015–June 21, 2015 | [
"/u/astrogator's answer on ['Who Considered Themselves Roman?'](_URL_16_) and /u/GeorgiusFlorentius' super-detailed answer on [early Merovingian kings](_URL_17_) caught my attention this week. Both of them deserve so many more upvotes!"
] | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
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