query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What are the historical inaccuracies of Marco Polo - A Netflix Original? | [
"Not to discourage further discussion, but [this thread](_URL_0_) where a similar question was asked a few months ago has some detailed responses."
] | [
"Star Wars Episode VII: The Jar Jar Binks Adventures"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Iran-Iraq war doc. Is this all real footage ? | [
"I don't know a whole lot about Iranian equipment, but what I saw looked appropriate to the time period. It's hard to believe, but the Iran/Iraq war began in 1980. This is as many years away from now as the end of WWII was to 1980. Having said that, if someone was to tell me that either or both sides were using WWI... | [
"there's a documentary on Netflix about this. I forget the name but also NatGeo's Underworld, Inc might answer your questions on this."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How fearsome were Croatian warriors actually? (detailed inside) | [
"Ive heard that the germans had that 2nd saying about Swedes. They were quite fearsome in that same war. Perhaps for the southern germaners."
] | [
"Mounted archers from horse cultures were probably the most effective units in all of warfare till gunpowder. See the Battle of Carrhae for a very cool example. And the whole Mongols thing."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Can anyone recommend a good comprehensive World War II documentary? | [
"You might enjoy [The World at War](_URL_0_). It's an older series, but covers a wide range of topics and theatres. Most, if not all, episodes should be available on YouTube."
] | [
"Just asked this in the other sticky, but maybe this is the better place for it: Does anyone have any good book recommendations about the Nigerian Civil War or about Biafra as a country?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:"
} |
(X-post from r/AskSocialScience) When debating about social equality in the early 20th century, what was the "Man To Brother" argument? | [
"It's 'men and brother' argument. It's a reference to the famous 18th century anti-slavery [image](_URL_0_) of a kneeling black man in chains, with the slogan 'Am I not a man and a brother?' printed above it. In this context (contrasting the letters of the '\"men and brother\" type of argument' with the letters tha... | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
How long after the War of Independence did it take for the USA and Britain to reconcile? | [
"Like Irishfafnir, I'm not 100% sure what you mean by reconcile. [Here's a section of the FAQ](_URL_0_) which covers Anglo-American relations, perhaps that's what you're looking for? If not, try being more specific. Hope that helps!"
] | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How far back goes science fiction, or rather the idea of future technological breakthroughs playing a significant role in art? | [
"there's a section on scifi in the FAQ*; I don't recall offhand whether there are answers focused on tech breakthroughs, but it'll get you started on the background: [What was science fiction like in the past? How did ancient people imagine the future?](_URL_2_) actually, I recall there being other posts asking abo... | [
"Science fiction often functions as a sort of thought experiment. The premise of a science fiction story can often be summarized as \"What if...?\" What if we could predict the future? What if humans colonized other planets? What if we could upload our minds to computers? *What would the world be like then?* This s... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How did private explorers, such as Ibn Battura or Marco Polo, finance their journeys? | [
"Marco Polo was brought along on a trading mission by his uncles. While in the Mongol Empire he impressed Kubla Khan and became a government official. Most of his traveling was done as a representative of the Mongols. For the return trip to Europe Maro Polo and his uncles, all wealthy after many years trading in Ch... | [
"There has been trade between Europe and Africa, directly or indirectly, for thousands of years. Africa, Europe, and Asia are all connected by land or very short ocean distances. Diseases had already been shared between Europe and Africa long before Europeans began colonizing Africa. Africa was not 'discovered' in ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about History:"
} |
Using Nêhiyawêwin/Cree Names | [
"Hey there! Just wanted to say--if you don't get any responses, this would be a good question to ask in our Friday Free-for-All thread on...Friday. You might also see if /r/IndianCountry has an FAQ or earlier posts that could be a useful guide. And good luck with your writing! :)"
] | [
"Using reddit search I found: ELI5: Jehovah's Witnesses _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
During early modern history, why did militaries expose themselves to fire by using a line formation? | [
"From an earlier post about bows versus muskets that might help. > I have [written](_URL_5_) quite [a bit](_URL_1_) on [the subject](_URL_6_) of [bows over muskets](_URL_4_). Perhaps also looking at these would help. /u/elos_ wrote [this post that I highly enjoy](_URL_3_). [Another post](_URL_2_) that you might hav... | [
"During the Battle of Borodino, the Russians set up several heavy fortifications on the Radevsky redoubt in order to force the French into an attritional battle rather than a battle of movement that was Napoleon's style of combat. In order to take each of the three redoubts, the French would have to focus artillery... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
I'm looking for examples (Sources) of literature which typify Colonialist attitude? To use as a reading in Church. | [
"Hi! I think the best example i can think of would be Rudyard Kipling's *White Man's Burden*. You can find it on the internet but here's a link anyway: _URL_0_ Cheers!"
] | [
"Do you mean a contemporary society to themselves, or can they include past societies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I'm a British soldier in WW1. The signal has been made for us to go above the trenches and attack. I refuse. What happens? | [
"All four answers here so far have been against our subreddit rules. Remember, answers must be in-depth and comprehensive. A 1-line sentence doesn't cut it."
] | [
"So there's a chain of command: - The Field Marshal orders the Generals where to send their armies \"you, take five divisions to Turkey\" etc.. - The General tells their Major Generals where to send their divisions \"you, attack with the 3rd division from the north, you attack from the west with the 4th division an... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Elizabethan Government and the Jurisdiction held by Lesser Powers | [
"I've had the same issues myself. David Loades has a good book on [Tudor Goverment](_URL_1_), and that breaks things down. I haven't read [Ian Mortimer's Guide to Elizabethan England](_URL_0_) but I have read his Mediaeval Guide, and there was a very useful section on Law there which helped my understanding of the ... | [
"Coward. Barry., The Cromwellian Protectorate, (Manchester: Manchester UP, 2002) Durston. Christopher., Cromwell's Major-Generals, Godly Government During The English Revolution, (Manchester: Manchester UP, 2001) Gaunt. Peter., Oliver Cromwell, (Oxford: Blackwell, 1996) Hill. Christopher., God's Englishman: Oliver ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Tomorrow: AMA with Experts on the History of the Wright Brothers from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum | [
"I won't be able to make it. Will someone asks them about Gustave Whitehead? I am also interested in the deal the Smithsonian has with the Wright estate that gives them exclusive rights to the first in flight status."
] | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How were the ancient techniques of lighting a fire underwater transferred from the days of Spongegar to the residents of Bikini Bottom today? | [
"To put it simply, oral tradition. It's well known that several customs of the time, including the sport of jellyfishing, were passed down due to a combination of a strong local community and the ability to reproduce by budding. It's generally assumed that firemaking techniques were handed down in a similar matter.... | [
"There's always somewhere else to explore. In the 1400s I'm sure the could have spent money to solve the problems of their time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What do historians have to say about the destruction of the National Museum of Brazil? | [
"I'm Brasilian and I'm a historian. I never had the honor to work there but losing that place felt like loosing a family member. It's gone, it's all gone my children, my grandchildren and so on will never see it. We lost 20 Million Artefacts, including Ancient Roman paintings, Egyptian Mummies and 1/3 of all Ptero... | [
"What do you want to hear more about? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Israel vs. Palestine situation? The Arab Spring? The recent attacks on US embassies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What did the front lines of WWI look like where they met the sea? | [
"There is always more to write, but in the meantime here is a short [answer](_URL_0_) I wrote to a similar question from a few months back. The links even have photos! The long and short - the lines definitely did reach to the beach at Nieuwport in Belgium. The end of the lines were mostly sandbags and concrete bun... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I once heard about Arizona briefly going to war with California over water. Can anyone tell me more? | [
"I studied this briefly in a class specifically about Arizona but unfortunately cannot recall most of it. I do remember Arizona \"deploying\" a Navy due to tensions regarding water rights. Edit: [This article](_URL_1_) has some information including a picture of one of the sweet naval warships. [Here](_URL_0_) is... | [
"Because we have the Hoover Dam. It provides 80% of water and electricity to Nevada and about 25% to Arizona. Without it, Nevada would dry up and Arizona would struggle for a few days. This is just basic information I know, because of my green technologies class. I can get some sources if asked. Also I'm from Arizo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Ive been going to a history lecture, but i have some questions that the teacher cant anwser. | [
"I'm not quite sure what you mean by the second question, could you write in Swedish?"
] | [
"Whew where to begin... this is not an easy issue and I damn sure wouldn't try to explain it to a five year old ...lol _URL_0_ b this explains it very well and I would be glad to explain anything you don't understand, but this should help you in on the long and short of it Edit: to clarify its not just one issue, i... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
I have a serious inquiry as a history major. | [
"Existential questions are great, actually! It means you're thinking on the subjects you are learning, and how to apply those lessons to your own life. One thing I will point out is that a *lot* of people had existential questions in the face of the Holocaust, so you shouldn't feel alone on that front. And your re... | [
"This seems like a legitimate question a five year old would ask."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text about biology:"
} |
What's the driving force behind Russia's expansion? | [
"> The vast area of Siberia provided little commercial opportunities. On the contrary. Siberia is home to a large number of animals, which can be hunted for their fur. Russia had a long history of trading fur even before the conquest of Sibera, and fur was a highly prized commodity at the time, so expanding into Si... | [
"You made the mistake of thinking that the primary intention of the US government when going to other countries is to promote freedom."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Why did Da Vinci not use woad as a paint? | [
"He could afford the material. Lapis was expensive, but gives a much deeper color. But for dyes, lapis was sometimes reserved for robes of figures of christ and the virgin mary (again, very expensive stuff) Da Vince went for quality. Indigo and Woad give greener blues, purples. **When mixed with oil it fades in s... | [
"Pigments, which come from a variety of sources. The cochineal is a popular one for red color."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The USA and UK are very close allies in modern times, but of course their diplomatic relations began in just about the worst possible manner. Is there a key historical event which led to this drastic positive shift in the relationship between the two nations? | [
"There is a [section of the FAQ](_URL_0_) dedicated to the Anglo-American Relations with threads that might contain the answer you're looking for. HTHH :)"
] | [
"It's been seventy-five years since world war two. Pearl Harbour - when Japan attacked the US - occurred in 1941. That's a whole lot of water that's flowed under the bridge, and more than plenty of time for the leadership and political philosophy (where China moved over to Communism) of both countries to change sub... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Did Roman Orgies Exsist? | [
"They did, but the portrayal is a bit skewed (it wasn't something that just happened all the time). This is from an AMA on this subreddit on \"The History of Sexuality\". > A lot of the notion that Rome was full of debauchery comes from the early days of archaeology. Remember, archaeology as a science is relativel... | [
"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:"
} |
Did hair ever get in the way of beheading? | [
"Yes, it did. Beheading was notoriously inaccurate in medieval Hungary, so much so that it was the custom that if the convict survived three strikes he was free to go. A story to illustrate: László Hunyadi (first son of Governor János Hunyadi) was sentenced to death by the King (Posthumus) László V, Hunyadi's suppo... | [
"Isn't it just another way to take your mind off it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Health:"
} |
Have any athletes ever perished during the Olympic Games? | [
"Do you mean something like a runner having a heart attack on the track? If not, there was the Munich massacre in '72, but I don't want to answer a question you're not asking."
] | [
"They win gold medals at the summer Olympics. Kenya knows what I'm talking about."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
How many people would you have working in a renaissance armoury? | [
"To answer your follow-up questions first: * Regarding the source of metal plates and the general workflow, steel/iron plate of the 15th and 16th century was not, generally, produced 'in house'. I talk about this and the steps of making armour (from ore to harness, and all the hands it passed through), [here](_URL_... | [
"You could learn how to make a rudimentary, but working copy. Then start looking for investors"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did Ice Houses work? | [
"Ice houses were thick-walled structures packed with insulation - often saw dust. Large blocks of ice were cut from frozen lakes and placed in the ice house, packed/separated from one another by sawdust to prevent them from freezing together. The ice lowered the temperature in the ice house and slowed the melting p... | [
"What's to explain? Why we have it? How it works?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
How long did it take for the relations between England and America to recover after the revolutionary war? And what were some significant milestones in that process? | [
"On a government level, we signed the Jay Treaty during the Washington administration which gave favorable trade terms to the British. Under John Quincy Adams, we drafted the Monroe doctrine (JQA doesn't get credit for it since he lost re-election soon after it was ratified) which told Europe to stay out of the wes... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
To what degree should the slave economy of the antebellum South be considered capitalism? | [
"Hi there -- while there's always more that can be said on this topic, this [older answer](_URL_0_) from u/sowser touches on the subject and may be of interest to you."
] | [
"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 text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How did native peoples who used the land bridge to settle in North America not die of scurvy? | [
"You can derive plenty of vitamin C from rare-cooked fresh meat, especially liver. The first settlers were probably following herd animals and thus getting vitamins from them."
] | [
"Finding food. Early humans were hunter-gatherers, they didn't figure out yet how to grow their own food. When the population became large enough there wasn't enough food to go around, so they started migrating to find new places to live in. Edit: By the way, you have it the other way around. Humans originated in A... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Wednesday What's New in History | March 09, 2016 | [
"A seal dating to about 500 BCE and clearly belonging to a woman (as in, it has her name on it) has been found in Jerusalem's Old City: _URL_0_"
] | [
"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:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Why did the term Yahweh go out of practice? | [
"The practice is pretty old. Already by the time the Septuagint was written (first few centuries BCE), it was common practice was to not say the name. The Septuagint translates it as \"Lord\", which is in accordance with how Jewish texts pronounce it (though there it's in Hebrew). Similarly, scribal practices in th... | [
"Allah means the one and only God. Christian and Jewish Arabic speakers also say Allah, but English speaking Christian and Jewish people tend say God. It's maybe just because it's easier to identify with God rather than Allah. I watched a video a while ago that said the Gideon bible when translated into Arabic ref... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Book recommendation requested - Napolean | [
"The Campaigns of Napoleon by David Chandler is a classic. It is not quite like Tuchman's book, though. Tuchman took a very small segment of time (a couple of months) and covered it in great detail, from all angles. Can't really do that with Napoleon since his military career spanned over two decades. Well you can ... | [
"Yes to both your questions. See: Spy satellites."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Historians, if I want to go grad school, what should I be doing now in undergrad? | [
"> I am already pretty sure on what I want to study within history What language work does it require? Get them languages. (Even if you're studying modern Anglophone, you may well have to pass a proficiency exam in at least one other language). Remember, it's not just about \"getting in\" (even if it feels like th... | [
"Your requirements are going to depend on what university you attend. They're all a bit different. I had to take college algebra and statistics, but some universities only require one math class, and I'm sure there are some that require more. I know figuring out program requirements can be a pain in the ass, and it... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What really was Bushido? | [
"Not to discourage other answers but /u/bigbluepanda and /u/ParallelPain discuss Bushido in these answers from the FAQ _URL_0_ _URL_1_"
] | [
"Surrealness for the sake of surrealness. What are you confused about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Reasonably Accurate Prehistoric Fiction? | [
"You might like Sarum: The Novel of England by Edward Rutherford. It's set in a single location and spans prehistory through the 20th century."
] | [
"High Crime + Dwindling Population + Crumbling Infrastructure + Diminishing Jobs = Perceived Shithole."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Mom found this old photo, Eisenhower? | [
"This was when Eisenhower was supreme allied commander, so taken somewhere between '43 and '45. Guys in rear, maybe RAF uniform? Edit: He's got five stars on, so this is after his promotion to General of the Army at December 20 '44. Judging by their clothes and the weather, this photo probably took place spring of ... | [
"Ellie is a lucky teenager who met the reddit admins as a birthday present, the logo is of her own design source: _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How stringent was the Ancient Spartan eugenics program? | [
"The problem with the Spartans is that we know very little about them in reality. The vast majority of the image you probably have of Spartan society, particularly with the *agoge* and the strict communal living situation, comes from sources writing centuries after the fact in an environment of intense romanticizat... | [
"Could the rebuilding of Japan after WWII be considered a partial colonization by the United States?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
During the Age of Exploration did the wealthy ever fund private, personal trips like the one SpaceX is currently planning for next year? | [
"Most of the expeditions if the age of exploration were privately funded. Portuguese traders in Africa and Spanish conquistadors were almost entirely self-financed. Even Colombus was mostly privately financed. Most early modern monarchs had almost no money to fund standing armys or navys. In this period, monarchs t... | [
"If you had enough money to design and build a functional space ship, following all the safety regulations and permits and laws, the government (and many private companies) would probably contract you to deliver some of the satellites and supplies and science projects / scientists to space. That's what SpaceX and o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why has western philosophy philosophy pivoted away from society providing basic human needs to all citizens? | [
"This is a really interesting question, but I bet it has a lot to do with the present day; and even for the historical parts of your question you might have better luck in /r/asksocialscience."
] | [
"Government is just a system of rules for people to live amongst each other and work towards common goals. Beyond that, whether it is based on the threat of force, divine right, or consent of the people varies by place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why aren't there Spanish sea shanties from the Age of Discovery and so but there are dozens of Sritish sea shanties? | [
"I think one question I have to ask before trying to give a stab at explaining this. Do you speak Spanish and have you consulted Spanish-language books on this subject?"
] | [
"In a similar vein, how about Irish work songs? The Irish were often used as indentured servants, so did they have 'work hymn'-type songs?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Was their every any equivalent of diss tracks in 19 or 20th century Europe or even America ? | [
"A little while ago, I wrote an answer to the question [I've seen people claim that rap music originated from flyting, is there any truth to that?](_URL_0_) which discusses the pre-history of 'diss tracks', which you might find helpful."
] | [
"I wonder if they were more a convention in 50's movie westerns than a common reality."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post about Western saloons:"
} |
Any historian who has access to Roosevelt and the Sultans: The United States Navy in the Mediterranean | [
"Are you asking whether the dissertation asserts that on the given page? Or asking for confirmation from a different source? The diss is open-access PDF online, [downloadable from here.](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Osprey Publishing, which tends to be more 'accessible' and image-focused tends to have volumes upon volumes dedicated to Uniformology. They have multiple volumes for the various Armed Forces of World War II. A few of their titles that may interest you: \"The Romanian Army in World War II\" by Mark Axworthy \"The R... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I'm trying to source a quote supposedly from Metamorphoses and I'm having trouble. | [
"It's not from the *Metamorphoses*, it's from another Ovid poem, *Remedia Amoris*. The actual Latin quote is \"Optimus ille animi vindex laedentia pectus / Vincula qui rupit, dedoluitque semel\", Remedia Amoris 293-4. ([A recent translation](_URL_0_): \"He’s his own best liberator who snaps the chains / that hurt h... | [
"I remember reading in my ancient history text book at university, that there is a grafitti found in Pompeii on a brothel wall, which says \"Here I got a sour one\". I'll see if I can find any other source on this."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Tuesday Trivia | Everybody Poops | [
"Oh I have a great poop related historical fact! The death of Uesugi Kenshin. Kenshin was a 16th century Japanese daimyo who is notable for many things in his life but his death is what applies to this thread. How he died is not entirely agreed upon by historians. The generally accepted theory is that a stomach can... | [
"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:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Confucianism and the Philippines | [
"South East Asia is generally divided into two parts Mainland/Maritime South East Asia. The latter consisting of Indonesia, Malaysia, East Timor, and the Philippines. the two grew up culturally different, latter was more prone to Islam and other traders(the moros in southern Philippines consider themselves part of ... | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Apart from advisors, we're there ever any Russian troops in the Vietnamese War? If so, did any die? | [
"Soviet data: 6359 officers and generals, 4500 soldiers and sergeants. 13 died. Comparing numbers of officers and soldiers, the latter weren't active combat units, just batmans(heh, I like this word) and bodyguards. EDIT: sources. [A book](_URL_0_) \"Vietnam war: view through the years\". Issued by Institute of Mil... | [
"Russia did not send their regular army in, and they didn't involve their air force or other branches of their regular army. What they did do was allow volunteers from all over Russia and Europe (even some from western countries like France) to pass through their border with Ukraine and join the rebels. Many of th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How did we first make wax? have we developed other techniques? | [
"What do you mean by \"make wax\"? The original waxes used by humans were from bees, whales and sheep (lanolin). Probably by far bees wax was most prominant. In modern times we make synthetic wax from petroleum products (Paraffin). This is the most common type of \"wax\" you would see these days I would guess."
] | [
"We do know how to make it and actually can make better with modern processes. This is one of those yarns about ancient technology being mysterious and better. Total BS."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happened within the arctic circle in WW2? | [
"While it wasn't part of those naval operations, one of my favorite forgotten campaigns of World War II was that fought in mostly within the Arctic Circle, over in Greenland. You might find [this piece to be of interest](_URL_0_)."
] | [
"Origins World War Two V for victory meaning the end of the war and hopefully a new lasting peace to follow."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Early 20th Century N. America, Childs' company? | [
"Yes I do! They were a carriage maker that went by the name Wilson Childs & Co. My great-great grandfather and great-great-great grandfather both worked there as wheelwrights. The shop was located at 2nd & Hancock Sts in the Kensington section of Philadelphia. I have more information available, I'll try to look it ... | [
"British Empire -- > Post-WW2 / Cold War America -- > British and American pop culture -- > Silicon Valley."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Book recommendations on Sun Yat-Sen, Deng Xiaoping and Lee Kuan Yew? | [
"For the Deng Era, I'd recommend \"Deng Xiaoping and the Transformation of China\" by Ezra Vogel. It's fairly dense and not entirely chronological, but it's excellent for understanding the Deng Era. Be warned, however, you're going to want to have at least a basic background in the characters and politics of the er... | [
"I actually just wrote a paper on this. Heavy industry in China actually underwent incredible growth during this period, with heavy industry output increasing by 230% from 1958-60. Global output of resources such as coal and steel increased, resulting in China becoming a global leader in those industries. The numbe... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Has every US president been familiar with, or at least shaken hands with, every immediate predecessor all the way back to Washington? | [
"We know that George Washington thought shaking hands was beneath the dignity of the office of the President, so he stuck to bowing instead. That said, we can't say for certain that he *never* shook hands with even his close friends. Funnily enough, there was already a thread asking this question. _URL_0_ I like /u... | [
"Durring Washington's first term, people didn't know how to address the president. He was the head of state, but not a king. There weren't cultural standards for that at the time. Various options were thrown around including \"you grace\", \"your honor\" and some comically long ones that I can't remember off the to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is there any evidence of Roman gladiators from the same stable (or known to each other) making fight 'arrangements' in order to survive? | [
"Follow-up (or addonial) question: Would it be actually common for gladiator fights to result in death of gladiator(s)? I'm aware that games could include basicaly execution (throwing prisoners sentenced to death to animals etc.), but I assume that properly trained gladiator would be rather expensive and, ethics as... | [
"Actually answering the question is problematic! Most of our extant literary sources focus on the moral/philosophical issues surrounding gladiatorial combat in general, rather than specifics of the arena. And even fewer go into the lives of the gladiators. What I can tell you is that popular opinion of certain suc... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer about history:"
} |
British morale during WWI | [
"/u/NMW writes about British propaganda [here](_URL_1_). See also the comments of /u/RenoXD [here](_URL_0_) (soldiers' motivation, mutinies) and [here](_URL_2_) (effect of gas masks on morale)."
] | [
"They were in slow decline for a long time after the industrial revolution but what finally brought them down was losing WWI."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did the Huns come to Europe instead of staying in the east? | [
"> Why didn't the Huns just stay there in China The Huns didn't come from China. We actually do not know exactly where they came from, just that they were living east of the Volga River prior to their migration westwards."
] | [
"The Turks created them. Back in the late 18th century, they were brought to Europe straight from the Ottoman Empire."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Did the movie Top Gun actually boost recruiting for the US Navy? | [
"This question has been asked and answered before here, and after a bit of research, I can't find a more conclusive answer than this poster (/u/itty53) gave. _URL_0_"
] | [
"They... are fighter pilots. Becoming a Blue Angel starts with being a pilot for the US Navy or Marines. That being said the skills the Blue Angels practice have little to do with being an effective pilot."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Why did the Island of Anjoaun try to rejoin France in 1997? | [
"For those looking it up elsewhere, they are Anj*oua*n and Mohéli (though Google search for \"Moheli\" finds that second one)."
] | [
"By demise of \"its ally\" are you referring to the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 or Napoleon seizing control?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Unemployment rate GDR 1950-1990 | [
"The reason you cannot find statistics on GDR unemployment is that there were not any. The SED claimed that unemployment was a symptom of bourgeois capitalism and sought full employment via its vast network of state enterprises. Therefore, the GDR economy was often highly over-staffed and very unproductive. The sta... | [
"Because expenditure was less than revenue which is the definition of budget surplus. 1,721,728 1,652,458 69,270 1,827,452 1,701,842 125,610 2,025,191 1,788,950 236,241 1,991,082 1,862,846 128,236"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
The Polar Bear Expedition of 1918 was basically an allied invasion of Russia, why did it have such limited ramifications? | [
"See [here](_URL_0_) for a good description of the expedition, which was only one part of Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War. The Allied intervention was too small to defeat the Bolshevik forces directly, but it had drastic ramifications in the long term. Through the Stalinist period, there was an attitud... | [
"The Bay of Pigs Invasion was an attempt to oust Fidel Castro from power in Cuba. The CIA trained Cuban exiles and said exiles launched an attack in a bay called the Bay of Pigs (hence the name). The invasion was a failure and most of the attackers were captured or killed. There were several issues that led to this... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How many men in Britain protested WWI? What kind of treatment did they recieve? | [
"A fantastic book on the subject of war protestors is Adam Hochschild's *To End All Wars.* From what I remember, there was a small but vocal minority of conscientious objectors, but not all of them had fought in the war - many opposed it on principle, and then some followed Sassoon's example. The idea of silencing... | [
"I asked a WWI question a while back with no luck: how did Australians, Canadians and other members of the Commonwealth feel about being sent to fight a far off European war? Did they remember the wartime conscription debates differently after the war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
In "Minnie The Moocher," the eponymous Minnie dreams about the King of Sweden, who gives her a diamond car with platinum wheels and a gold and steel house. Did these images have any meaning at the time or where they simply meant to be Minnie's opium induced hallucinations? | [
"Why do these threads always say they have a couple comments but there's nothing here? Are people shadow banned?"
] | [
"Because it's rare, it's portable, it's easily identifiable, and rich people like to dangle it from their bodies and fashion their belongings out of it, all of which makes it a perfect candidate for a kind of unbacked universal currency."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Economics:"
} |
In Les Misérables, Victor Hugo claims that children were kidnapped during the reign of Louis XV, and rumours were whispered of the King's 'purple baths'. What is Hugo referring to here and would the rumours have been common knowledge to a reader at the time? | [
"Is there any science to support the idea that bathing in blood would do anything at all for leprosy? It's mostly water, some protein, some salts... You would hope that if a person tried this and it did nothing, they would stop."
] | [
"The only example that comes to mind could be Gilles de Rais. He self identified as evil, a Satanist in the medieval France, and possibly a serial killer of children. This 15th century French knight accompanied Joan of Arc and was allegedly shaken when she was accused of witchcraft and executed. This could make a d... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I saw an offhand reference to incredibly high fertility rates after the 14th century Black Plague, and that observers remarked that almost every woman of childbearing age was pregnant. Any sources on this? | [
"It's probably from Jean de Venette's *Chronicle* (section [available here](_URL_0_)). He was a Carmelite in Paris, writing ca. 1360 CE. In the section linked, he talks about women \"conceiving beyond measure,\" etc. Overall, it's unlikely that there's any truth to it. Jean's text is a polemic about how the world ... | [
"To some extent, they didn't menstruate as much. I wish I could find the article, it was in New Scientist some years ago, but the basic premise was that from menarche most women were either pregnant, or lactating. While breast-feeding doesn't universally suppress periods in modern well fed women, it does to a much ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
In the years after WWII the US was the only nuclear power, how did this affect their foreign policy? | [
"The US was far more liberal in discussing the deployment of nuclear weapons. Once the US monopoly was over, and there was concern over nukes being used against itself you see a shift to viewing them as a weapon of last resort."
] | [
"It was a proxy war. The US wanted to slow the expansion of communism as much as they could in those ~20 years. Past that the reasons are mostly to benefit certain individuals for the most part."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Looking at the picture linked in the text, from what nationality and era is the pictured soldier? | [
"American during the World War I era, possibly a member of the 92nd or 93rd Infantry Divisions, or any number of other segregated Army units. The [M1912 coat](_URL_0_) and puttees gives it away. Was there any more information on the photo?"
] | [
"Could you give an approximate year or period of the Empire when a citizen would be traveling?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Was the CSA doomed to be ruled by the most powerful states? | [
"Well, this is all what-ifs and hypothetical, but I don't think that larger states like Virginia would begin to annex neighboring states for a few reasons. 1. Whereas the Holy Roman Empire was once comprised of hundreds of very very small states and kingdoms, the CSA was comprised of relatively large states. There ... | [
"For clarification purposes, are you asking whether Southern Hospitality is the result of the South losing the Civil War, and their subsequent occupation by the North -- necessitating the boarding of Northern soldiers in Southern homes?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did historians view D-Day's tactical success before Operation Ultra was disclosed in the 1970s? | [
"To be honest with you, I don't think that Ultra had that much effect on the outcome of D-Day. Ultra was codebreaking,whereas D-Day relied on a massive [deception program](_URL_0_) to achieve tactical surprise. A good place to start reading would probably [Operation Neptune](_URL_1_). From there, you can expand out... | [
"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 Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
I have to analyze this primary source, but I'm not getting anything from it. What do you think Historians? | [
"whats the context we are looking for. what are you trying to achieve with this?"
] | [
"I would jump in (I did my college final on this subject) but I don't want to do your homework either. To give us some help to see where you are in your research... what do you have, both pro and con as to why the DominoTheory was valid? What do you think?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Resources on Pre-Christian Russia | [
"The one major one you are going to find, or will read about in secondary sources, is the *Russian Primary Chronicle*. It was a transcription of happenings by a monk that dated before the conversion of Vladimir I to Christianity and then subsequent years. A dense book, but a trove of knowledge, is *Medieval Russia... | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How is the historical community reponding to The Untold History of the United States | [
"All these comments are panning the series, but no one is giving any specific examples of inaccuracies."
] | [
"What do you want to hear more about? The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? The Israel vs. Palestine situation? The Arab Spring? The recent attacks on US embassies?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
When did being 'smart' (i.e.: nerdy) become an object of scorn? Is this a feature of mid-20th century culture, or do the roots run deeper? | [
"Richard Hofstadter discusses this topic in \"Anti-Intellectualism in American Life\" he argues that some discontent between the intellectuals (smart nerdy types) and the common working man has always existed. In America this Anti-Intellectualism (distrust or scorn for educated elite) was shaped by our puritan root... | [
"Because obsessive helicopter parenting is a recent development in a relatively small part of the world's population. Letting your kids sleep alone while regularly checking up on them is only neglect in hindsight combined with a lack of perspective."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why were armies so expensive during the early seventeenth century in Europe? | [
"A large standing army wasn't often done in the 16th and 17th Century until military reforms beginning in the 18th Century (Even then Armies were considered too expensive to actually fight battles), previously it was mainly done by overwhelming amounts of mercenaries and levies. For instance almost 15% of the adult... | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:"
} |
How did the Seminole Indians give the USA government/military such a hard time? | [
"The same reason the Viet Cong could hold off the United States Military. Fast hit and run tactics demoralize troops and make it hard to win decisive victories. On top of this you also have the fact that most of the attacks that the Seminoles carries out were on horseback with bows and arrows, giving them the edge ... | [
"Did the US ever attempt the systematic genocide of Native American people? No. Did the US: * Make treaties with tribes and then dishonor them and end up forcing the natives onto reservations where they would have no economic opportunity? * consistently make war with tribes in the US' relentless push Westward? * In... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why did the Nazi Zeppelin program used bauhaus designs? | [
"One more thing to consider: weight. The Bauhaus style naturally lends itself to an environment where weight is at a premium. Even if someone had wanted to create a more \"ideologically pleasing\" design, there would have been serious engineering constraints in doing so."
] | [
"The Hindenburg was a German Airship. At the time, the nazis were the ruling party. Hence the swastika."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How accurate does modern movies depicts small unit military tactics? | [
"I can't vouch for to many movies, but band of brothers (series on HBO) is excellent if you would like to see what small unit tactics for airborne and other \"light\" infantry was like. One really good example I can think of is the Brécourt Manor Assault, which is covered excellently in the series that shows a good... | [
"Marines are a part of the Navy, historically they support naval operations, i.e. capturing key parts of the coastline, exploring and specializing in amphibious assault. That is why in space epics and video games they are always space marines."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about movie accuracy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage about movie accuracy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
At which point the rise of China today (against the U.S) is comparable to the rise of Germany one century ago (against the U.K?) ? | [
"Can you clarify or expand on the question a bit? It seems to be asking if there is a structural parallel in contemporary Sino-US relations (which is off-topic for this sub, actually) and Anglo-German relations circa WWI. But, I don't see any meaningful parallels there, given how wildly different the countries, cul... | [
"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 title about History:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about History:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What caused Reagan to so misread the USSR in 1983 | [
"I'm sorry but I don't fully understand the question. Misread how? In the sense of the robustness of the Soviet economy? My understanding is that the CIA and others grossly overestimated the size of the USSR economically. In the sense of the foreign policy goals? In their technological advancement? Can you elabora... | [
"Do you mean: \"Did the fear of communism enable the working class to obtain improved social conditions in 1950s until the 1980s in Western Europe?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What group of warriors are said to have ran up to their enemies and slit their own throats to scare said enemy? | [
"What you have said is partly true, yet partly untrue. It was the army of the Chinese King Goujian of Yue who lived circa 500 BCE, ruler of the Chinese State of Yue during the Spring and Autumn Period (which spawned from 8th Century BCE-5th Century BCE) > King Goujian's army was known for scaring its enemies befor... | [
"The Vietnam war was known for guerrilla tactics. Instead of your pals being shot and stabbed, you got to see them fall into spiked pits, impaled by spiked balls, crushed by log traps, etc. Not to mention the Vietcong could jump out of the trees and slaughter everyone at any moment."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
I half remember hearing how a Turkish sultan banned dancing in France during his lifetime. Did I make this up or is there some truth to it? | [
"Suleiman the Magnificent wrote a letter to the king of France when he heard about the waltz: \"I am, who the khan of forty-eight kingdoms, Kanuni Sultan Suleiman Khan. According to report was given by ambassador, I heard of it was danced by your people as cling each other, men and women. Because of we are contiguo... | [
"For a while there they were threatening to wipe Israel off the map every twenty minutes or so. That might have something to do with it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Did the hydrogen bomb completely replace the atomic bomb when it comes nuclear weapons? | [
"The yield of nuclear weapons has been decreasing since the 1960's as better guidance systems have been introduced. The yield of the [smallest](_URL_10_) H-bombs and [boosted fission weapons](_URL_9_) deployed are much smaller than the [largest A-bomb](_URL_8_) deployed, so yield is not the single criterion to cons... | [
"Aside from Fat Man and Little Boy being the only two nuclear weapons that existed at the time, it really wasn't that powerful compared to modern nukes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
List of historic life expectancies? | [
"You are correct that a lot of these statistics are based on \"life expectancy at birth\" which is generally skewed very low because of high infant mortality rates. Generally, however, people who make it past infancy into late childhood have a much higher life expectancy, so it isn't even necessarily life expectanc... | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Perhaps an art historian/someone who knows about food in the 17th century can help me identify some strange objects in a painting? | [
"UPDATE: The cookies are speculaas! Gingerbread, representing the chocolate letters that Santa/Sinterklaas delivered. [Source](_URL_0_) , pages 194-5"
] | [
"It's complex and also involves a lot of what has survived over the years as well as ideas about the purpose and function of artwork. Take a look at the Fayum Mummy Portraits if you want good examples of realism way before the Renaissance."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
The other day I was watching a YouTube vid about Caesar's aborted attempt to take Britain in 54BC. The narrator said before the expedition there were people in Rome/Greece who thought Britain might be the edge of an entire continent, is that true? | [
"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."
] | [
"It was as obvious that the earth was round back then as it is now. The Greeks had even calculated the circumference (quite accurately in fact) a thousand years earlier. I mean you can literally see that the earth is round with your own eyes. All sailors knew that the first thing you see of an approaching ship is t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Similar to how there are Negro Spirituals, songs sung during forced labor, are there any recordings or records of Chinese railroad workers in the west? | [
"In a similar vein, how about Irish work songs? The Irish were often used as indentured servants, so did they have 'work hymn'-type songs?"
] | [
"To piggyback on this question, I know there was a booklet that helped African Americans on road trips, were there any suggestions in that booklet about air travel?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Are there any records of collateral damage due to air to air combat? | [
"you may be interested in some previous discussions on this - see this post, which has links to few more * [I imagine dogfighting between two planes would create a huge ammount of stray bullets travelling a good distance. Are there recorded cases of civilians or soldiers dying because of them?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"In case they ever need to use them... in addition, to learn how to defend against possible viruses and bio-weapons that may be used against them. Both offense and defense."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph about Technology:"
} |
How was the Malleus Malificarum received by the Catholic Church directly after its publication? | [
"Define \"directly after\". Within a few years it had been deemed heretical nonsense, which was pretty quick back then."
] | [
"Martin Luther had a history of announcing theological debates this way even before the thesis. This was simply a way to announce publicly to the church and town about him wanting to challenge the traditional beliefs and practices within the church. There was nothing special about doing it this way. Source: \"Here ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What would female doctors in the 1940's wear? | [
"What country? Is the character affiliated with a military hospital? Here are a few pages with images relating to [Toronto](_URL_0_), [Pittsburgh](_URL_2_), and [Australia](_URL_1_)."
] | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Was their any common use of overland wind-powered transportation? | [
"Yes, [wind-power assisted wheelbarrows](_URL_3_) were widely used in China. However, wind-powered transportation has severe limits. Apart from being dependent on the wind, you need a rather flat, wide surface and a vehicle with limited friction to take advantage of it. Beaches or great plains would work and were t... | [
"You really have to take into perspective of how massive the roman populations expanded to at that time. And it's not exactly to say they built cruise ships, but smaller more manageable ships and boats; *as well as* the high level of slave driving and forced prisoner labor that took place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why are many powerful modern societies based in cold, sometimes inhospitable climates? | [
"I would just like to point out that you can't possibly call English winter 'brutal', especially with regard to the Russian one."
] | [
"More of the American territory is habitable. The overwhelming majority of the Canadian population lives within 200 miles of the border because further north is just too inhospitable for most people to be comfortable."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Economics:"
} |
How did money work in 18th century England? | [
"One of the hardest things for modern people to process about British currency at the time is that it does not operate under a base-10/decimal format. One shilling was worth twelve pence, but it took twenty shillings to make a pound (rather than 24 or 36, if it were a base-12 system). A guinea was a gold coin worth... | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Considering grad school in history, what programs might be a good fit? | [
"I usually don't discourage anyone from going for a PhD if they had this life-long dream of being a historian or something near it. But in your case, you really need to think about this. Keep in mind that you need a lot of passion for history to get a PhD. Researching and writing history is different from Economics... | [
"> Why do a lot of colleges promote large study abroad programs? to try to appear worldly and cultured to the people they want to impress. to make money > Does studying abroad apply mostly to people studying the language or culture? Not exclusively, although many language majors will study abroad in the country w... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What caused the decline in geographic expansionism through military aggression since World War II? Am I wrong in my assessment? | [
"Since the end of World War II, international law has renounced \"war of aggression\" and it is in fact considered a crime. The United Nations Charter calls on the Security Council, and all signatory nations, to reject aggression and resolve disputes peacefully. In the most famous violation of this tenet, the Iraq... | [
"Would you mind clarifying the question a little? Are you asking if the American participation in the Vietnam War is responsible for the recession of communism *now*?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about History:",
"pos": "Represent the document about History:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How do I begin learning about historical military strategy? | [
"For a good, readable, basic book i recommend John Keegans \"A history of warfare\". It's got info about most of what you seek and it will prepare you well for seeking further information. It's cheap too: _URL_0_ The book has a fairly large treatment of phalanx warfare which is sort of pikemen. Another book of Kee... | [
"Before I write stuff for this, can you maybe give a bit of background on how much you know about atomic orbitals themselves?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Was there ever a big problem with people yelling fire in a crowded theater? | [
"Not sure if you can categorise it as a big problem, but there was certainly an instance with loss of life. From the official online history of Sadler's Wells in London (_URL_1_): \"There was tragedy, however; on October 15th, 1807 when a drunken brawl was eagerly heralded by onlookers with a joyous \"A fight! A fi... | [
"a better question would be who thinks it's a good idea to go to times square on NYE at this stage?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is war necessary for advancement of technology (and possibly for society?) | [
"What about cellophane, LSD, and velcro? Surely those count as well-known. That other countries have overshadowed them isn't really to the point - Switzerland is a very small country, after all. Germany hasn't been at war with anyone for nearly 70 years, and they seem to be doing rather well. War is something of a ... | [
"Well, the most obvious reason would be to study alien technology to gain technological advantages , which would give a political and offensive advantage over other countries."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How far back in time could you go, before modern English becomes unintelligible to inhabitants of the British Isles? | [
"Not to say there is nothing left to be said on the subject, but the FAQ has a question about \"How far back could I go and still communicate?\" that links to [this question](_URL_2_) answered by /u/bloodswan that might be interesting to you. :) Edit: The automoderator reminded me to give credit to the user who ans... | [
"Because the written form of the language does not change as fast as the spoken form. Go far enough back, most of them were pronounced."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How viable was an Umayyad occupation of France, even if Charles Martel had lost the Battle of Tours? | [
"The Battle of Tours is widely touted, along with Salamis, as a *battle that saved western civilization.* This really is not the case. I've phrased it this way on this subreddit before, but the Umayyad war machine was grinding to a halt by the time armies crossed the Pyrenees. Supply lines were massive, especially... | [
"Is there any evidence that the legion was lost? and not just destroyed at Carrhae? There is no evidence that I know of, of any kind of incursion of Romans in Han China at the time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Were there any facial expressions commonly used in the past, that are no longer used now? | [
"There's a new book out called \"Laughter in Ancient Rome\" by Mary Beard, University of California Press, in which she suggests that Romans didn't smile. There was no Roman word for smiling, no mention of it anywhere. Absence of evidence is, of course, not evidence of absence. But it would contradict the hardwire... | [
"Typically they are words from other languages, or from older versions of our language, so they had meaning in their original context but don't in our time and place."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Is historical knowledge a burden? | [
"Keep in mind, that everybody on this planet, everyone you have ever met or will meet, knows several somethings that you don't. To use a stereotype, maybe Bubba-Joe thinks the Revolutionary War was fought during WWII, but he could know more about car engines than you ever will. Or think of people like Hawking or M... | [
"Not really an explanation, but here's an interesting way to put it: Pre-modern: This is the truth. Modern: We can find the truth. Post-modern: There is no such thing as truth."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
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