query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Why didn't ancient people know how the insides of our body was like if they witnessed "dissection" at war? | [
"There's a world of difference between a careful and thorough anatomical dissection as we started to gradually perform from the late 1500s onward and looking at someone's guts spilled open on a battlefield"
] | [
"If the earths atmosphere has another's couple hundred metres of breathable air why didn't we evolve to fly? Why didn't we evolve to be able to eat grass? A: millions of factors go into dictating an evolutionary path and I guess drinking salt water wasn't high on our priority list given all the fresh water on earth... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Monday Methods: "Indigenizing" a literature review | [
"The concepts of relationality and accountability are core ideas in modern anthropological work and it's difficult to find new work that doesn't strongly reflect their consideration. However, anthropological lit reviews frequently contain criticism of the shortcomings of previous work to address the authors' resear... | [
"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 post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
East German state visits to the US? | [
"It has to be after 1972/4, as the USA didn't accept statehood of the GDR before the [Basic Treaty](_URL_1_) - the GDR didn't have an [embassy in the USA before 1974](_URL_0_). Then again, those flags are probably bought in bulk, and not on a case-by-case-basis. If you want more, you'd need to tell us at least whic... | [
"They were made in chronological order from when the state became part of the US."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Was there ever a time period in North Korea's history where the majority of its citizens lived comfortable, happy lives, akin to the American middle class? | [
"I feel it's worth mentioning the 2004 documentary [*A State of Mind*](_URL_2_), which portrays a family's fairly middle-class lifestyle in Pyongyang. It's available on Netflix streaming."
] | [
"Because our country is so wealthy even the poor are pretty well off compared to the middle class in most other countries."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Interesting and Easy to read history books? | [
"One of my favourites is [The Armada](_URL_1_) by Garrett Mattingly. Exceptionally well written and entertaining, very well researched but accessible to a general audience. Bit difficult to find these days, but you should be able to order it online. And there's lots of interesting stuff in Canadian history! If you... | [
"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 post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Are there any primary source documents reporting "monster" sightings in North America during and/or before the American Revolution? | [
"/u/mikedash answered pretty much this exact question [here](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Follow up Question: Is this due to the northern boundary of Maine being disputed with Canada well into the 19th century? Or was it disputed *because* it wasn't heavily populated?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
A page in my high school history textbook shows the map of the Ottoman Empire at its peak where it extends from Algeria to Hungary to Basra, Iraq. However, Hijaz is missing. Is this an error or what was going on in Hijaz circa 17th century? | [
"Most maps of the Ottoman Empire that I've seen, even professionally produced ones, tend to have pretty arbitrary criteria for what's considered \"inside\" the Ottoman Empire and what's considered \"outside.\" Most of Hijaz was ruled by the Sharifs of Mecca, who from 1517 onward were vassals of the Ottoman Empire. ... | [
"An Assyrian is a member of an ancient civilization that was centered in what is now north central Iraq - till about 600 BC. A Syrian is a citizen of Syria, a modern country bordering Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When and why did the U.S. Military surpass the other great militaries (specifically navies) that were so superior for hundreds of years? | [
"World War 2. Before World War 2, the US was largely isolationist, and kept a small military force to defend itself from invasion. It relied on its huge geographic isolation for protection. At the start of WW2, the US had the 17th largest military in the world, behind Romania. After WW2, the US had the largest mil... | [
"I believe the US became the #1 Economic power (although it was a very close 1 2 for a while) approximately in the 1910-1915 range, just before WWI. However they also become the #1 Military power during the course of WWII, so I would say their Super Power status has been cemented since about 1944-1945. They were \"... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
With so much information available about WW2, is there anything we still don't have explanations for? | [
"Yeah the Yamashida Gold. When the Japanese occupied south east Asia they ransacked temples, banks, museums, etc for gold and artifacts. Towards the end of the war it simply vanished. We don't know where. No one does. The two main hypothesis are that it was smuggled into China and is hidden in a cave somewhere. My... | [
"But if Civilization gets slaughtered or decimated by illness who are they going to tell their history? Our knowledge of history is based mainly on documents. If we don't have them or can't decipher them (as was long the case with hieroglyphics) we won't know much. Also do WE document our history for future civiliz... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When/how/why did the social status of actors change? | [
"/u/merdre gave a [wonderful answer to a similar question](_URL_0_) a few months ago. I hope you find it helpful."
] | [
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
French paleography help | [
"Definitely (early?) 18th century writing, probably paper too. If you have it, check for a watermark and you can find out who made it (in that era in France it'd quite possibly be a Dutchman) Anyway, the more important stamp here is the one at the top \"G. DE LION\" is for the _Généralité de Lyon_ - this is a notar... | [
"It already meant a large quantity of material, when it was then used in the 1700s to describe a great quantity of sound. _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
who exactly were the blackfoot? | [
"The \"pieds noirs\" (\"blackfeet\") were French (and other European) settlers living in Algeria (mostly) or Morocco or Tunisia before these countries became independent from France. More specifically, the term is usually applied to those settlers who returned to France during or after independence (1956-1962 in th... | [
"Nobody. after 2000 years it becomes public domain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How injurious was tarring and feathering? | [
"To add in my two cents (though I think khands has rather well summed it up), there was a sailor in Boston who was tarred and feathered for informing on smugglers. Within weeks he was serving aboard the *HMS Rose.* If tar and feathering was as truly incapacitating as is often stated, it is unlikely that a man could... | [
"A related question were there public figures at the time who were apologists that tried to justify for the actions of the Japanese military at Pearl Harbor?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When were the economies of the USSR and the US most equal? | [
"Well, let's take a look at some graphs! [Here](_URL_1_) we have the USSR's economic history from 1970-1990. They peaked at ~1 trillion dollars ~1980. This is lower than any point of the US during that same period. [Same source](_URL_0_). At no point in time was the economy of the USSR close to that of the US durin... | [
"Related: how did the annual GDP growth rate compare for Eastern bloc and Western European countries throughout the Cold War? Did Eastern Bloc countries end up being poorer because they had slower growth, or because they started out poorer?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about economics:"
} |
How would ancient societies deal with people who had severe social anxiety? | [
"One thing to consider is the fact that pre-industiral societies valued introversion more than today."
] | [
"Maybe because we know so little about it and even less about how to deal with those with mental illness."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How historically legitimate are claims of a "Highly evolved human species" existing ~30,000 years ago? | [
"You may want to check out [this oddly similar post from just a few hours earlier](_URL_1_)."
] | [
"When specifically is the story set, ancient Egypt existed for over 3000 years?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Are there examples of New World ecology/culture having destructive influence on Old World ecology/culture? | [
"Tobacco is a good example. While it was a common item with pre-Columbian Native Americans, its popularity exploded after it was brought back to Europe. There, it seemed everybody was smoking it all the time. Of course, Europeans then could only speculate about tobacco's effects as only modern science would prove i... | [
"Its a really long answer - if you'd like to really understand it, I would recommend reading _Gun, Germs and Steel_ by Jared Diamond; it addresses this _exact_ question. At a high level, Europeans had better/easier access to high calorie food stuffs and animals fit for domestication, which allowed them to more easi... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Are we undergoing a revival of the Arts and Crafts movement? | [
"This question is ringing some 20-year-rule bells in my ears, so, to clarify, is your actual question something more like \"How comparable are the 'hipster' movement of today and the earlier Arts and Crafts movement?\" Because a \"revival\" implies that there is a conscious act of reviving an art movement on the pa... | [
"Could the rebuilding of Japan after WWII be considered a partial colonization by the United States?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
[META] Welcome to our new subscribers from r/AskReddit! | [
"I secretly hope this sub doesn't become a default sub... quality control would become extremely difficult."
] | [
"You might want to crosspost this to /r/AskScience."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Appreciation:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Appreciation:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why was Benjamin Franklin unable to convince the canadiens to join the revolution ? | [
"Because the British had guaranteed the rights of the French Canadians to practice Catholicism and they also had recently increased the territory available to the Canadians for expansion. The Americans could not provide similar guanantees due to natural skepticism of allying with the puritanical New Englanders and ... | [
"Follow up. If the American colonies were so upset by the raised taxes from the French and Indian war how did other British colonies view the war of independence?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about History:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about History:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why were the 20's roaring? | [
"The biggest factor in the \"Roaring 20s\" was World War 1. While the war was going on, civilians at home were able to work in factories, manufacturing bullets, guns, uniforms, etc. The result was a well-employed populace, which meant that a great deal of money was being passed around, strengthening the economy. Th... | [
"They are still pretty extravagant. You seen the 2010 one in Shanghai?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Was carving your name into a bullet widespread practise throughout any major conflict? How was the practise viewed? | [
"The phrase 'A bullet with your name on it' is the idea that out there somewhere, sitting in a box or a rifle, is the bullet that will kill you. This is an idea that has been around for a while, beginning with the phrase 'Every bullet has it's billet' first seen in print in 'E Cobhams Dictionary of Phrase and Fable... | [
"Since nobody else has mentioned it, I frequently hear about conscripted forces being used to man the defenses at Normandy. Is this true? What is the ratio of conscripted to german troops?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
92 yr old father ww2 vet wants to find info on army airborne engineering unit he transported with his glider group in CBI India into Burma 1945 | [
"Well, what was the unit's name? Commanding officer? Where in Burma was he at? Gotta have a few more specifics? In any case, I'd be excited to hear from someone who was in such a little known (but fascinating) theater."
] | [
"Im a former US Marine ... all I can say is Thank you to my battalion commander/regiment/division/etc. for never having me do any bullshit like that. Fuck drill."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Where did Caesar get the boats to sail to Britain? | [
"He *probably* built his own, although it is quite likely that he the transports he constructed were largely based on Venetic designs. In his writings he readily admits to the superiority of their ships in the situation, and in a later campaign in Spain he has his soldiers build Gallic style ships."
] | [
"The Romans didn’t like the idea of someone to rival their king. So they crowned Jesus king of the Jews and crucified him."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
American Revolution: When the red coats intially saw the hiding tactics of the americans, was it seen as constoversial as current day "terrorist" tactics? | [
"Please see this thread. It should prove illuminating to you. _URL_0_"
] | [
"You don't really. A battle would imply going toe-to-toe with an enemy which I don't think the american army has truly done since ww2. Most of what has happened since ww2 has been assymetrical warfare. All the tanks and money in the world cant protect you from guerrilla tactics, terrorism, roadside bombs, etc. Rest... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I've been trying to find the answer to this question on Google, but no luck. How much did the Vietnam war cost FOR VIETNAM? There are plenty of US defense spending statistics, but I can find nothing on the financial cost for Vietnam. | [
"We're sorry that you were upset by a comment's removal. However, we have [a rule](_URL_1_) against answers that consist primarily of a link or quote, as we want to encourage responses from knowledgeable users who can explain what they're talking about and respond to follow-up questions. Links that turned up throug... | [
"The comparison you've made isn't fitting. Spending a lot of money does not imply that your military will be in great condition. Nor does spending less money imply that your military is useless. The argument they're making is that we're spending a lot of money on old equipment and redundant jobs. If we rebuilt the ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Economics:"
} |
How 'successful' has the process of a nation splitting in the past been | [
"The textbook modern example for peaceful splits is the 'velvet divorce' between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The countries went their separate ways in 1993 after failing to work out a mutually satisfactory system for continuing their union. Despite some tension, they generally enjoy good relations today, with ... | [
"Which one? They took about 400 days to form a coalition government, longest ever in the world. This was kind of good as the caretaker government played it safe, did nothing adventurous and disagreeable. There's also the possibility of splitting into two countries based on language, not religion that separated the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
First timer here, could use some held finding a citation. All I have to go off of is "CF. bornscheuer miseriae regum, 22f. And 68 ff." I've googled this an it hand not taken me anywhere that I can understand. Where can I find the passage this citation is referring to? | [
"It appears to be from this text: Bornscheuer, Lothar. Miseriae regum. Untersuchungen zum Krisen--und Todesgedanken in der herrschaftstheologischen Vorstellung der ottonisch--salischen Zeit. Arbeiten zur Frühmittelalterforschung 4. Berlin: 1968."
] | [
"Does Keegan say in his footnotes/endnotes which book/chapter of Caesar's Gallic War he's referring to? I can't answer this one, but it'll save whoever does some time in looking up the original source quote. (I suspect a translation issue.)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Education:"
} |
Hitler's Management Style? | [
"If you're interested in the management style of Hitler and the Nazi party then you should check out the BBC documentary [The Nazis, a warning from history.](_URL_0_) Especially part 2 Chaos and Consent would interest you because it actually descibes what you're asking. A few elements of his managment style * Hitle... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:"
} |
Is there a search engine (of sorts) where you can search for the earliest recorded use of a certain word? | [
"Unless I'm mistaken, I believe that's what the Oxford English Dictionary is supposed to do. I'd check there first."
] | [
"This is really cool! Is there an easy way to search through it for a particular topic?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What was Pol Pot trying to accomplish with his "Year Zero" and all the killing in Cambodia? | [
"He was attempting to wipe out the existing culture, industry and institutions as he believed that to create a new revolutionary state and culture the old ways needed to be eradicated."
] | [
"Its completely bunk because the Khmer Rouge actively went after the pre-existing Chinese minorities in Cambodia. The Chinese in Cambodia were mostly urbanized merchants and traders which made them enemies in the eyes of the Khmer Rouge as symbols of the old order and class enemies. Not only that but Pol Pot did no... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What information do we have of North America before the European nations came to it? | [
"I know little about the whole of North America pre-Columbus, but Mexico contained the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, and Aztec civilizations throughout its history. This is probably not the answer you were looking for (since you mentioned tribes), but that's the best I can do for you. Those civilizations are talked abo... | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Who was the original romantic "gentleman thief"? | [
"When I saw this my first thought turned to Giacomo Casanova; most famous for his escape of the Doge's Palace in Venice, as well as being a notorious womanizer. The \"thief\" portion isn't entirely there, but he was certainly a gentleman, with a \"a quick wit, an intense appetite for knowledge, and a perpetually in... | [
"which stereotype. the happy go lucky gentleman pirate? the bloodthirsty psychopath? the opportunistic mercenary? the free spirit?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
What are the reasons behind some apparent time zone oddities? | [
"Afraid I can't speak for the others, but I'll stick with the Spain/Portugal example. As you suggest, it's more of a case of Spain being in the wrong time zone than Portugal. This BBC article _URL_0_ shows Spain is in the process of reconsidering moving into line with Portugal, UK, Morocco etc. The Spanish also on... | [
"It has a few different meanings in different contexts. What setting are we talking about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about finance:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | October 01, 2018–October 07, 2018 | [
"/u/TBTrpt3 answered [\"How was President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination viewed by former Confederate officials and the general population of the Confederacy?\"](_URL_1_) /u/Becca-Reyna answered [\"When would the tales in the Mabinogion likely have taken place?\"](_URL_2_) /u/dbht14 answered [\"Why wasn’t there a ... | [
"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 title about News:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about News:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What was the standard/average caloric intake in the late 19th/early 20th century? | [
"I dont think this can be given a blanket answer. America was differnt than europe or china. Is this in a city? what did the person do? I know people here in NYC who in the 20s and 30s had to work as kids (ie 8) or they didnt get much to eat we are talking a few pieces of bread and perhaps some grease so 600cals, d... | [
"No. Opium smoking started sometime in the 16th century in China, and wasn't popular enough for there to be 'opium dens' until the 18th century or so. Most accounts of opium dens in Europe are 19th or early 20th century."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Question about the monkey king in Chinese mythology | [
"It empahsis both his animalistic, childish behaviour with urination as well as his humanity and 'god hood' with his ability to write his own name. The story of Journey to the West, especially in the more modern takes of it, is about the duality of all of the characters, but especially the Monkey King in his abilit... | [
"Not sure if this kind of comment is allowed, but in the i terest of starting discussion, whats the context of this? Perfume, wine, etc?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How did this map from 1581, be pretty accurate? | [
"May I add a supplementary question and ask: What was the thing (that looks like a land mass) running across the bottom? Did they know about Antarctica? And the land mass that gets cut off near where Australia is - presumably that's Indonesia and not Australia? EDIT: It appears to be an enormous New Guinea (which ... | [
"Also: the map is not Roman itself (ie 2000 years old), but displays info about ancient Rome. It could be antique, but we would need much better images. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is 19th or even 20th century as date of creation."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When did people in Japan find out about the theory of (biological) Evolution? When did it become commonly accepted by scientists there? | [
"A tack on question: What was the Japanese perception on evolution/biology/natural sciences prior to the open door policy? How much of that perception was based around religion in particular?"
] | [
"Follow-up question: If it is purely a modern idea, where did this idea come from, and how much validity is there to it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Is the Last Kingdom Depiction of Shield Walls Accurate? | [
"Hi there, I kind of answered your question [here](_URL_0_). The simple truth is that we really don't know, but that a full-on legionary *testudo* would probably be unlikely. As opposed to the Roman *scutum*-wielding formations, an Anglo-Saxon shieldwall worked by overlapping its round shields for increased strengt... | [
"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 about movie accuracy:",
"pos": "Represent the document about movie accuracy:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
In regards to historical linguistics panel on 24.04 | [
"These are the flairs the panelists have either here or in /r/linguistics (which was heavily mined for this AMA): /u/kajkavski [Croatian dialectology] /u/keyilan [Sinitic dialectology] /u/l33t_sas [Historical linguistics] /u/limetom [Historical linguistics] /u/mambeu [Functional typology/Slavic] /u/millionsofcats [... | [
"I'd have put the matter slightly differently. The word can have either meaning, but context is going to color it in any given sentence. Or the ambiguity can be deliberate, a matter of the author's personal style. That turns up in Latin more than one might think for being such a lapidary language. Philosophy is not... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
have you ever seen this seal (emblem)? | [
"I enjoy this kind of detective work a great deal, however, if you could provide a little more information it would make things a great deal easier. Perhaps you could provide a clearer picture of the text around the rim and some additional information on which region we're talking about?"
] | [
"Follow up question- how do people see me in the street: handsome mirror timaldinho or burn that photograph timaldinho?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Are there any historical examples of a kakistocracy, or government rule by a nation's worst or least qualified? | [
"Vladimir Lenin once said, \"Any cook should be able to run the country,\" but that was more an endorsement of universal public education than a commitment to have actual cooks run the government. I think, since it's doubtful any country has ever publicly declared it was run by the least qualified people possible,... | [
"Because they are oligarchs. An oligarchy is a form of government where the power rests with a small number of people, generally wealthy people with strong political influence. Russia may put on a show of elections and such but they are really ruled by powerful businessmen which makes it an oligarchy."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Would Sporus really have been raped and murdered in a public spectacle? | [
"Another question: is there *any* relation between the \"rapes\" of sculpture and painting (meaning the kidnapping of someone) and \"rapes\" in the modern sense (sexual violation)? I mean, did Greeks and Romans understood it was implicit that kidnapped mythical girls and boys were sexually violated?"
] | [
"The Romans didn’t like the idea of someone to rival their king. So they crowned Jesus king of the Jews and crucified him."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | December 19, 2016–December 25, 2016 | [
"* /u/pangerandipanagara answered [\"If modern ideas of 'civil rights' like freedom of speech arise out of Western Enlightenment thought, what kinds of parallel or perpendicular ideals can we identify in pre-20th century \"Eastern\" cultures?\"](_URL_3_) * /u/mikedash on [\"Was everyone religious in the old days, l... | [
"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 question about News:",
"pos": "Represent the document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I have to come up with a topic for a graduate seminar...I have no idea what I am doing. | [
"What's the subject of the graduate seminar? I don't think anyone will really be able to help you unless you narrow it down a bit. Is this a class with a specific focus or is it a class where you are meant to perhaps start your first chapter in a thesis/dissertation? If you've come to graduate school you obviously ... | [
"Happy Christmas, lads. It's wonderful to be on break, so I guess it's time to get some writing done. Also, they've got me teaching Western Civ part I next semester, so I've got a lot to learn about the ancient world. Any book recommendations? I'm happy to check out anything that you guys think is interesting sinc... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Im currently watching The Pacific, in Ep.9 there is a scene where a woman is booby trapped with explosives. How common was this on Okinawa? | [
"Were US soldiers in the Pacific theatre given any info regarding how \"fanatic\" the Japanese would be or was it all word of mouth from other soldiers? I guess what I'm asking is whether the was a \"fighting the Japanese 101\" class that soldiers did."
] | [
"Yeah, Tora! Tora! Tora! is pretty good. It did though confuse even some historians into thinking Yamamoto said the Sleeping Giants quote. Pearl Harbor got so much wrong. For starters, the US didn't have modern warships stationed at Pearl Harbor. For another no US army pilots were transferred to the RAF to get comb... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Before air conditioning what did the wealthy do? | [
"They had summer homes by the water - Rye, Newport, Cape Cod, the North Shore of Long Island, the Hudson Valley - which were engineered for maximum cooling."
] | [
"Because air conditioning is not common in many parts of Europe, and people are not used to the hot weather. It is especially stressful for people who are old or sick."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How accurate is the M-4 Sherman's reputation as a death trap? | [
"More can be written on this ... well, that's the standard wording that people use, but there are currently 8 articles in the FAQ section [\"Sherman Tank and American Armor\"](_URL_3_) . The second one is [\"Was the M4 Sherman a good or bad tank?\"](_URL_3_) by /u/TheHIV123 . It is a relatively short read, and ther... | [
"Tell me... how many computers were in the P-51? How many stealth features? How about communications, sensors, and jet engines? Oh... none? (With the exception of a radio) Comparing a P-51 to an F-22 is about as sensible as comparing a Model T to a Tesla... I mean strictly speaking they do the same thing... but one... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What's the best book on the Constitution and what it all means? | [
"To go along with what /u/erissays said, if you were interested exclusively in the legal opinions on the constitution and their evolution you could check out Erwin Chemerinsky’s Constutional Law: Principles and Policies. In legal circles he’s considered the preeminent source for Constitutional law and his books are... | [
"Because there's nothing like that in our constitution or other laws."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Were there any national movements in 19th and 20th century that "died out"? | [
"A few, though some owed more to periods of crisis or to outside backing. Separatist aspirations survived in the southern parts of Italy and Germany long after unification, while there was a brief French-backed Rhineland republic in 1923. The Basque ETA and Corsican FNLC ended their 40-year armed campaigns but cont... | [
"Weak governments that never really enforced the rule of law in the 19th and early 20th centuries would be the biggest reason."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
I am an infantryman in the 1914 BEF. What do the next four years look like for me, and what are my odds of making it through the war in one piece? | [
"* [If I sign up in 1914, what are my chances of surviving the war unharmed?] (_URL_0_) * [Was the British Soldier the best equipped & trained in 1914?] (_URL_1_) Some pertinent answers I've given. If you're in the BEF in August 1914, especially in one of the six infantry and one cavalry divisions sent to France, y... | [
"Also, would her military experience be any useful in finding a job? Did women serve in the British military during World War 1 and if so, did they go back into the workforce afterwards?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
What was a typical day like for monarchy during the Middle Ages? | [
"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."
] | [
"Where would I go for material on the medieval monarchy in France? Ideally from the emergence of the Capetians to sometime in the Early Modern Era."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Literature:"
} |
How to prepare a nice exhibition about the history of numbers? | [
"You should organize it by tech. Remember that numbers are tools. You're going to end up talking about what they were for more than the maths. Navigation, architecture, calendars, all of those would develop at different rates in a civilization and have math supporting it. Just as two examples: The beginning of basi... | [
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Information regarding the plane "My Lovin' Dove" over the Pacific in World War Two | [
"[This aircraft? The B-17?](_URL_0_) I ask because there are possibly others sharing the same name. Just trying to be clear."
] | [
"The footage appears to be an extract from the documentary, \"Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam\" identified as images from the battle of Khe Sanh"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How did "tax havens" emerge? Was it created consciously by the Government of that country/territory? Which region, if any, was the world's first tax haven? | [
"I'm nut sure if this comment is allowed, but OP you could crosspost this to /r/AskSocialScience for a modern political/economic answer. Ireland's current government policy for example doesn't exactly fall outside the 20 year rule."
] | [
"Because they have no commodities and industries to trade with other countries to create GDP. They are too small to be self sufficient. The main value that they can offer to the international community is their sovereignty and the ability to set their own laws. Many colonial powers in the Caribbean have set up the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the Islamic world react to Galileo and Copernicus? | [
"To piggyback on this, if you don't mind, how did the Islamic world react to the findings of Isaac Newton? (Feel free to pick anything you're familiar with.)"
] | [
"Hi, not discouraging others from answering, but fyi, there are a few threads on the subject that can get you started * [Did the Catholic Church hold back scientific and technological progress in the Middle Ages?](_URL_2_) - /u/restricteddata discusses the general question of whether the church impeded scientific p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Recommended reading for learning about the Chinese scholar gentleman? | [
"The Confucian Age was in the Spring and Autumn period, this was the age of philosophers, about the time of Buddhas life and the lives of the Hebrew prophets The Sung/Song dynasty was one of the best eras in Chinese history. It had many advances in literature and the arts. Sorry, no book recommendations :("
] | [
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What did Hannibal Barca probably look like? | [
"Interestingly there are a number of coins that are believed to have his father's bust on them. Hamilcar was the governor of Spain after all. From [this one](_URL_0_) you might guess he looked Italian or Greek, with wavy hair and an aquiline nose. And that is consistent for what we see on many Carthaginian coins. S... | [
"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:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | July 04, 2016–July 10, 2016 | [
"Rundown: * /u/papiruscursor on [\"How could the Romans constantly raise enormous armies (in particular during the punic wars) despite not being that large of a country?\"](_URL_0_) * /u/kieslowskifan answered [\"How accurate of a depiction is the 2001 film Conspiracy of the Wannsee Conference?\"](_URL_2_) and on [... | [
"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 passage about News:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
In 1853, crossing the Atlantic, my Austrian family had their parents murdered and all their money stolen from them. What would have happened to their children, arriving in New York City? | [
"I'm guessing that your ancestors were passengers on a ship owned by the Ocean Navigation Company, a precursor to North German Lloyd, and which was dissolved by 1857. It's extremely unlikely that this type of thing would ever have happened on a North German Lloyd vessel, and your account gives insight as to why thi... | [
"Many of them tried to and some succeeded. One problem was that it was the Great Depression and not many countries were eager to let in a huge influx of German Jews. Another is that Hitler conquered some of the countries which they fled to. Anne Frank's family were German Jews who fled to the Netherlands to escape ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence about History:"
} |
How much of an impact did Gavrillo Princip really have on the start of World War 1? | [
"> how much of an impact do you think the man himself, and his co conspirators actually had in the grand scheme of things? Aside from giving the Austro-Hungarians an excuse to start a war with Serbia, their impact in the grand scheme of things was not great. Berchtold and Hotzendorff, the Foreign Minister and Chief... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Help me ID this replica? | [
"It looks like what is usually called a 'Dane Axe' or 'Bearded Axe', which is a kind of battle-axe common throughout northern Europe in the early medieval period. I think the specific design with a flat top (a 'Petersen type C', if I've got my terminology right) was most popular around the eighth to tenth century; ... | [
"Why, when restored, don't they fix this then?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
NMW (or anyone else) Why was Charles I of Austria "so tits"? | [
"Just a quick note to Wagnam and anyone else waiting that I've updated the original post with the desired answer."
] | [
"He's not. He's seeking to be democratic presidential nominee. ELyou're5: he's hoping democrats will let him be leader of their club."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I've recently heard it claimed that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was added specifically to allow slave masters to put down slave rebellions on their land. How accurate is that claim? | [
"It is a theory that I believe is primarily advanced by Carl T. Bogus, but doesn't have too much headway in academia that I've encountered. We've had a few threads on the 2nd Amendment before which you should check out. [This one](_URL_2_) by /u/fatherazerun and [this one](_URL_0_) by /u/uncovered-history are good ... | [
"Many people in the US feel that the reason for having civilians be able to own guns is to prevent a tyrannical government from taking control, because the citizens would be armed and able to stage an effective rebellion. So, they feel that government regulations on guns are not only against the spirit of the Secon... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about history:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about history:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What is the oldest game known to man? | [
"You may be interested in these questions about “[Sports and games in history](_URL_1_)” on our **Popular Questions** page (which is linked at the top of every page in this subreddit, and in the sidebar)."
] | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Has there been any consensus amongst historians as to what the ancient psychoactive substance referred to as Soma/Haoma in Vedic and Zoroastrian texts consisted of? | [
"I talked at some length about it in my recent post on [Buddhist use of entheogens](_URL_0_). I'd be happy to expand further tomorrow afternoon if need be. The short answer is that there is no specific academic consensus, and there may never be since it would be difficult to identify it without more concrete texts.... | [
"Hermeticism is a style of magic that was decended from greek and egyptian sources, based on the teachings of a mythical guy named Hermes Trismegistus. This man was seen as an avatar of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. He supposedly authored some quasi philosophical/ metaphysical texts called the Co... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How accurate is the TV show Spartacus in its portrayal of Spartacus and the Third Servile War? | [
"The sources on Spartacus aren't very detailed, so the show has to fill in a lot of holes for it to make sense and also for dramatic purposes. But it's not just what happened, a lot of the sets are based on guesswork. We're still not even positive on how Romans wore their togas. It's not really about accuracy, but ... | [
"What book are you reading? I've never heard of a \"Calvino\", and I am assuming \"Crasso\" and \"Varo\" refer to Crassus and Varus. Crassus was an important figure of the Late Republic, while Varus was the Roman commander responsible (in part) for the defeat at Teutoburg Forest in 9 A.D. Neither feature in any sch... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about movie accuracy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about movie accuracy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about History:"
} |
How would I go about identifying whether a formation/structure in my area (Northeast US) is a remnant from the Native Americans? | [
"You might want to post this question to /r/AskAnthropology as well--they have a pretty strong archaeologist contigent, including Native North America experts."
] | [
"I live in Wisconsin. Is there anywhere in the state where I could see first hand items from this era? Infrastructure or left over commercial areas?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Was reunification between the USA and the UK ever a credible possibility? | [
"This isn't a direct answer, but some basic information on Britain and America at the end of the 19th Century might clarify why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle probably longed for such a reunion. At the end of the 19th century, Great Britain's empire was very nearly at its greatest extent, but the nation was nonetheless als... | [
"Could the rebuilding of Japan after WWII be considered a partial colonization by the United States?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
In Les Misérables, Victor Hugo has an extended digression concerning his opinion of monasteries and convents. Was this related to a live political question in 1860s France? | [
"Starting with the French Revolution and continuing through the 19th Century, the French populace on the whole was weary of the church as a whole, which includes monasteries and convents. This distrust and weariness of the church stems from the church being seen as an oppressor in France. Contributing evidence to t... | [
"Looking at medieval times, philosopher John of Jandun wrote his *Treatise on the Praises of Paris* in 1323 and singles out three buildings for praise: the Notre Dame Cathedral as you mentioned, the Conciergerie, and the Sainte-Chapelle. All three buildings are on the Ile de la Cite so I think this island in its to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
In the days before ubiquitous bank accounts and ATMs, how did people travel? | [
"It's almost not a question of history as the answer for the early 20th century is the same as for the late 20th century: Travellers' Cheques. Travellers' Cheques offered greater security than cash for large sums and we're method of choice for taking larger sums of money abroad as they offered greater security as t... | [
"Up until recently national banks had far greater perks to being a member than credit unions could ever hope for. You mention banks all over the country, but it goes beyond that. Bank of America has agreements with national banks in other countries. If you were in Germany in 1995, as Bank of America member you coul... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What is *one* good, easy-to-read book on modern (or even current) world history (say, since WWII)? | [
"For Europe, *Postwar* by Tony Judt is great. Can't really give a recommendation for world history though."
] | [
"Sorry if this is off-topic, but are you referring to [this](_URL_0_) kind of anti-intellectualism? If so, at least outside the US it is common since (at least) the XVII century."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Looking for information about this poster. | [
"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... | [
"You're only seeing a portion of the full circle."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
I was reading a Time travel story that had a description of a particularly brutal hittite battle tactic, it said they'd have cauldrons of boiling cooking oil on the city wall, when people attacked they'd pour it out then throw a torch down, sort of poor man's napalm. did they really do that? | [
"Just for curiosity, what was the time travel story? Thanks!"
] | [
"Beseiging? That would've meant you were most likely working the saps. That mean digging holes, trenches and tunnels to undermine the walls. Sometimes the enemy would break through your mine and pump it full of sulphur. It smelled bad and it ruined your lungs. Sometimes you'll hit a pocket of dead air and you'll ju... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
When did testing new hires for drugs become standard practice, and why? | [
"Alrighty guys, because I've already had to remove ten comments similar to this, I'm going to leave a top-level mod post here. Please remember when posting here that this is not /r/Politics. We are not interested in contemporary politics, your opinions on current policies of countries, two word answers, one line an... | [
"Exactly the same way it always has -- the law is very clear that employers can continue to test and punish employees who use pot, if they have a rule against it. The fact that you won't go to jail has very little to do with standards employers set for their employees."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How is it that Russia was ever able to get so large? How were they able to control such a large area with a military that, until the 40's, wasn't really any stronger than its contemporaries? | [
"The only nations of comparable strength to the East were China and Japan, both of whom were suffering from severe internal issues (isolationist Japan, semi-colonized and opium addicted China) at the time. There was virtually nothing stopping the Russian advance to the East. However, when China and Japan got over t... | [
"If you are talking about actual countries, then the short answer is no. The Bolivarian revolutions which took place between 1810-1830 were the first time that colonies were successful in gaining their independence. To give you an example of the size of these armies, Bolivar lead a group of roughly 7,000 troops aga... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
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} |
I toured the bunker that was supposed to house the govt of the US in case of a nuclear strike in Washington (Greenbrier, West Virginia). I remember the guide saying that it got very close to being used for its purpose soon after it was built (1930s), but I don’t remember why or details. Any help? | [
"The bunker at Greenbrier was built between 1959 and 1962 (not 1930's), which puts its completion in the same year as the Cuban Missile Crisis. I suspect this is the incident your guide was referring to, and luckily, the crisis was averted before anyone had to hide in the bunker."
] | [
"It was just a gimmick to illustrate cold war tensions. It went up or down depending on how mad the US and the USSR were at each other that week."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Would anyone be able to tell me what Mike Duncan got wrong in his History of Rome podcast? | [
"Help us help you. What facts are you concerned about? Are you expecting people to listen through an entire podcast any give you the play by play? Have you bothered to [find out whether this has been asked before?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"As a follow up, what do historians of this board think of this channel (if you've seen any of it)? Edit: I mean in regards to historical accuracy."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Looking for book recommendations on Theodore Roosevelt. | [
"I think the big one is Edmund Morris' award winning trilogy consisting of [*The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt*](_URL_0_), [*Theodore Rex*](_URL_1_) and [*Colonel Roosevelt*](_URL_2_)."
] | [
"Washington - first president Jefferson - drafted the Declaration of Independence Roosevelt - major reformist, set up national parks and other big deals Lincoln - freed the slaves All four were very significant presidents. *edit-* Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt also set up the country to come out of the great depressio... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How did people live in a barter system? | [
"Yes, debt was the main method of paying for services, just like it is today. In barter economies, debts are integral to the fabric of the society; less so today because we tend to pay our debts shortly after incurring them with money, so the social component is mostly lost."
] | [
"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 post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Where to read Admiral Yi Sun-Shi's War Diary? | [
"An English translation was published as *Nanjung Ilgi: War Diary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin* by Yonsei University Press in Seoul in 1977. [It's not too easy to find affordable copies second hand](_URL_0_) (in fact, wow, maybe I should sell my copy), but it ought to be in larger academic and specialist libraries."
] | [
"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... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | February 23, 2015–March 01, 2015 | [
"I was very happy to get a response from /u/Shaw1935 to [my question in Friday's Free-for-All](_URL_0_) about how the long-running violence and instability in Iraq has affected the study of the region's history. Since I'm not in any way involved in professional history or archaeology it brought up some points that ... | [
"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:"
} |
No elephants at Cannae? | [
"It is unsure how many of Hannibal's elephants even survived the march across the alps. When Hannibal clashed with the Romans at the Trebia, he still had some elephants alive (the claims range from \"some\" to \"all 37\") but those that survived the battle fell ill from infections and a sudden cold snap afterwards.... | [
"Kolechians shitheads. And no rumors. Glory to Arstotzka."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Sunday Digest | Interesting & Overlooked Posts | December 28, 2015–January 03, 2016 | [
"It may have been a \"long rambling answer\" but /u/shlin28 painted an excellent portrait of a shifting and fractured world in understanding [how did Christians react to losing so many followers?](_URL_2_) /u/The_Alaskan distilled the key aspects of [collective farm life in the post-Stalin period.](_URL_1_) I'll al... | [
"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 title about News:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about News:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I would like to learn more about Vikings. Is there any contemporary literature you would recommend? | [
"You also might consider The Long Ships by Frans Bengtsson. It's fiction and a perennial best seller in Sweden. It's set in the late 10th century and Red Orm, the main character, travels all over Europe meeting the local rulers and eventually converting to Christianity. Plus, it is a hell of a fun read."
] | [
"Follow up question, if anyone has read *The Journeyer* by Gary Jennings, would they be able to comment on its historical accuracy as well?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How true is the myth of caryatids being real women abducted and subjugated | [
"Well, it's true that Vitruvius and Pliny *claim* that caryatid statues and reliefs were depictions of the women of Karyai who were captured after the city was destroyed for siding with the Persians during Xerxes' invasion in 480 BCE. They're late sources, they're not known for their reliability, they don't cite th... | [
"As far as I know during Greek and Roman times, small penises were considered more appealing and larger penises were saved for barbarians and other undesirables."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Why are the Swiss renowned watchmakers? | [
"you may also get good answers in /r/watches. there are a number of watchmakers in there who know their stuff."
] | [
"Because it is worth a lot of money to the government!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
where can i find primary sources? | [
"By following some links on our [Resources wiki](_URL_0_), I ended up on [this page](_URL_1_). Scroll down a bit for Egyptian texts."
] | [
"you see that search reddit box over there on the right? You search keywords from your question. Such as: \"search for answers about questions\" or \"how does the economy work\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
where can i find primary/secondary sources? | [
"Look in your secondary sources' bibliography. That will tell you what the primary sources are."
] | [
"you see that search reddit box over there on the right? You search keywords from your question. Such as: \"search for answers about questions\" or \"how does the economy work\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How does the Historic community view Graham Hancock's "Fingerprints of the Gods?" | [
"The historical community does not accept Hancock's thesis. Hancock's narrative is riddled with confirmation bias and coincidental evidence. Moreover, the writing is a little woody. But it's an entertaining read for those who realize it functions like any other fictional narrative."
] | [
"Well, if you want general history books about the US from the right and from the left, then read *A People's History of the United States* by Howard Zinn (left) And from the right, *A Patriot's History of the United States*."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When did it become commonplace to treat North as "up"? | [
"You may be interested in these previous questions about “[Why is north shown as \"up\" on maps?](_URL_1_)” on our **Popular Questions** page (which is linked at the top of every page in this subreddit, and in the sidebar)."
] | [
"Why would you assume that America is like the rest of the world?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Is the U.S. the only former colony that had colonies after gaining independance? | [
"It's a matter of perspective, but generally no. Australia and New Zealand both had de facto colonial holdings during the 20th century (Papua New Guinea and Samoa for example) and arguably Indonesia maintains one in West Papua and Papua."
] | [
"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 question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Thinking of hosting a viking 21st! what entertainment did vikings engage in? | [
"[Flyting](_URL_0_) can be a lot of fun, especially if you happen to come across someone with some natural talent for poetic slams. The Wikipedia article linked has some good historical examples for you to explore, but a lot of rap music has the same elements if you want more modern ideas. [Hurstwic](_URL_1_) is p... | [
"Who says it is immature? No-one I know frowns on celebrating birthdays, and we're into our 40's/50's. Of course, they parties are not quite as boisterous as they used to be..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What was the role of the U.K. within the Cold War? | [
"In the very funny and insightful British show \"Yes, Minister\" Jim Hacker, MP, says \"We don't really have a foreign policy. More of an American missile base.\""
] | [
"The main reason is because of the religious background of the United States."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I'm going to a UN Model Summit meeting as Belarus, I'm up to date with all of their current affairs and everything since they went post Soviet, but what should I know about them historically that might be informative? | [
"Are you by any chance going to NCSC? I'm just curious since I'll be there as well (as a member of the Soviet politburo during Prague Spring). Also, I know this is /r/AskHistorians, but unless your committee is set in the past, you really should just focus on the modern attitude of the Lukashenko regime and how it... | [
"To know what they're up to. Whether you're expecting a war or not you want to know what everybody is up to so you can always have the upper hand. An often-raised point here is how this is coming to light just before some big negotiations between the USA and EU. If the USA knows everything the EU really wants they... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
The Homestead Act of 1862 | [
"It referred to building a home, setting up the land for farming, adding additional irrigation, etc."
] | [
"9,638,453, of which 1,538,022 were slaves, according to the 1820 census. That's about the population of New Jersey."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why are Paul's letters dated to around 50 CE? | [
"If you don't get an answer here try the AcademicBiblical subreddit."
] | [
"I looked for and could not find any record from the time period that Jesus was alive that mentions Jesus. The first time Jesus shows up in history is, I believe, about 30-70 years after he died."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Have other countries ever tried to sanction the United States government for its foreign policy acts? | [
"The Russian boycott of the 1984 Olympics in LA might fit your criteria. The US boycotted the olympics in he USSR because of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. The USSR responded 4 years later by boycotting the LA OlympicsThe USSR announced its intentions to boycott the 1984 Summer Olympics on May 8, 1984, citing se... | [
"We are in essentially a global economy. Nations depend on one another for resources and can \"put pressure\" on each other by imposing economic sanctions, boycotting trade.etc Russia is funding the Syrian government. USA wants Russia to reduce the flow of money and weapons citing atrocities committed by the Syrian... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How and where did furries start becoming a thing? | [
"Hi everyone, while this question touches on a subject whose history very much extends into the present day, keep in mind our [20 year rule](_URL_2_). If an answer needs a modern 'coda' this can be allowed, but the bulk of any answer should address historical develops prior to 1998."
] | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
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