query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1 value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
What is the oldest invention which has been credited to a specific person, instead of a general ancient culture? | [
"This is a tough question...the Encyclopedia of Cryptography mentions one Aeneas Tacticus (300s BC) as being the first to develop relatively secure means of military communication. Polybius's *Histories* describes how he invented the hydraulic semaphore, which was a sophisticated device/system capable of transmitti... | [
"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 title:",
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Can anyone recommend a good biography of the Marquis de Lafayette? | [
"I quite enjoyed Lafayette by Harlow Unger. It was exciting and paced really well. If I had a criticism it would be that it was a bit hagiographic."
] | [
"> or a Washington Bolivar? Generally regarded as one of the most important men in history and was called the \"Washington of South America\" by Lafayette."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why is Glasgow Scotland's biggest city but Edinburgh isn't? | [
"When Edinburgh was established as the Scottish capital its port was the focal point of Scottish trade with the continent. For centuries Edinburgh was dominant and Glasgow was an obscure back water. It wasn't until the 16th c that Glasgow started to become a notable town. But when the Kingdoms of Scotland and Engl... | [
"Paris - Capital City of a First World Country, also known as the City of Lights, a premier tourist destination. Brussels - Capital City of a First World Country, also HQ of the EU Compare those places to... Syria. A god forsaken hell hole in a god forsaken region that most people probably can't pinpoint on a map."... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Who was the person who OK'd the launch of STS-51-L, which ended in a catastrophe, despite warnings from scientists about the O-rings? And what happened to him afterwards? Where is he now? | [
"One of the engineering courses I took went into some detail about this. It boiled down to they were still in acceptable parameters but the engineers still didn't like it due to the cold temperatures and the effect they could have just in case. One particular engineer (a contractor) really strongly opposed it due t... | [
"Good question... They had different goals/objectives on each mission. Everyone in that program got \"a piece of the pie\" and had to study the shit out of it/make it happen. Also, just sort of FYI, the crews did rotate (some people flew mutliple times). For example, Mike Collins could've walked on the moon but ch... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
HBO's John Adams implies Hamilton and others rigged the first US Presidential Election to give Washington a landslide, in the interest of national unity. Were they basing this on anything historical? | [
"Follow up question: Does anybody have any info on how early elections were overseen to avoid electoral fraud?"
] | [
"They're correct. The popular vote is technically useless. The people elect representatives in their states to vote in something called the Electoral College. In fact, the members don't actually have to vote for what the people voted for! But they always do. In the case where no candidate gets enough electoral vote... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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Was the Prince Regent really as gormless as the show Blackadder III made him out to be? | [
"The character George in Blackadder III was clownishly stupid, and recognized himself to be so. He knew his mental limitations, but was willing to give anything a try, perpetually failing at the task. George IV was not the same. He was recorded as being a smart student, but tended to fail at the big picture issues ... | [
"I think the Duke of Edinburgh is more into hula-hoops than the Queen, from what I read on The Onion."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What did the armies of The Battle of Tours consist of? | [
"The Muslim forces would have been almost exclusively armored cavalry with lances and long swords. They would have planned to simply charge and disperse the Frankish infantry. In the Middle Ages, infantry could usually not stand up to armored cavalry. The Frankish infantry were arranged in a tight square and would ... | [
"Because many empires have attempted to wage war there. Empires who have had great success in war have been defeated in what we now call Afghanistan. This quote from the princess bride sums it up fairly well. > You only think I guessed wrong! That's what's so funny! I switched glasses when your back was turned! Ha ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
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} |
Libertarians in the Confederate States of America | [
"Not sure if libertarians is the correct term to use here, he maybe referring to the likes of North Carolina governor Zebulon Baird Vance and Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown both of whom resisted Jefferson Davis and were believers in state's rights. Brown was particularly bad, trying to prevent Georgia state troop... | [
"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 question:",
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Best of June Award Winners | [
"Woo! This means more to me than receiving an entire year's worth of tribute from Tochtepec! Thanks to all who voted and to all the other candidates who wrote up fantastic answers."
] | [
"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 about Announcements:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Announcements:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why do so many cultures refer to sunshowers as "fox's wedding" or of some other animal? | [
"To clarify for those not familiar with the tradition: this refers to a rain shower while the sun is shinning. I have heard that referred to as \"the Devil is beating his wife,\" but a recent [online dialect test](_URL_0_) suggests that is from the deep South - a long way from me and my roots. I'm not sure animals ... | [
"It comes from a group of fables that are spread over many cultures, all involving the moon's reflection in water. The fables usually concern one creature tricking another into thinking that the moon's reflection is a chunk of cheese in the water. Several other variations are about just one creature giving up real ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
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} |
Was there a drop in Budweiser sales during WWII due to the Germanic name? | [
"I couldn't speak to WWII, but beer sales suffered badly during WWI. In 1917 America, beer was seen as German drink by the American public. Most brewers were German and most German immigrants and German-Americans drank beer. Beer was labelled in propaganda and political cartoons as a German vice (ignoring the fact ... | [
"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 Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
In Japan, German is a common language among doctors, all be it for professional use, for example prescriptions being written in German. How did this come to be? | [
"what evidence do you have to backup your assertion that German is a common language among Japanese doctors? This was not my experience from living in Japan."
] | [
"It's just so incredibly useful in business, science, etc, that many countries mandate English classes in primary and/or secondary education. It's required in the the Netherlands and Sweden, for instance, as well as a bunch of other countries. In other times, one might have preferred to study French or German, as t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Did alliances make WWI global? If not, what did? | [
"I would say that alliances made it pan-european; the fact that all of these european countries also had empires stretching around the world made it global. Also, there was plenty of actual fighting around the world, especially naval conflicts."
] | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What is the oldest verifiable children's drawing? | [
"The Rouffignac cave in southern France has evidence of children's art. The cave is estimated at 13,000-14,000 years BP. There's a type of prehistoric cave art called finger fluting, which refers to the lines left behind when a person runs their fingers across a soft wall within the cave. Here's what it looks like ... | [
"Do you have a specific place or country in mind?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Did William the Conqueror really explode during his funeral? | [
"[So was recorded (apparently) by a monk.](_URL_1_) [Well it does happen.](_URL_0_) All those juices inside the human body go a bit funny after death. That's partly why we embalm people before burial, I think."
] | [
"They were cultivated by Dutch breeders in the 17th century, to honour William of Orange. No, really. I swear I'm not making this up."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What are the critiques of Max Weber's 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism'? | [
"My answer would be that the foundation of capitalism was born in the Mediterranean several centuries before Protestantism, in the Commercial Revolution of mid 13th to late 14th centuries. EDIT: sorry. More. It also overlooks the fact that Spain owned half the world until the 1830's. EDIT EDIT: I'm an advanced PHD... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
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} |
Event in early 2nd century Roman Britain | [
"I was a bit surprised by this as well, so I did a bit of detective work and I must conclude that the introduction is confused. According to chapter 8 of the Historia Augusta biography, Marcus Aurelius faced a frontier war in Britain when he first assumed the position of emperor. He dispatched one Calpurnius Agrico... | [
"Which events? He describes many events in the film."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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What is the oldest version of Shelob-like giant Spiders in western mythology? | [
"Giant Spiders were also a staple of Conan the Barbarian, which was around the 1930s."
] | [
"Significance? It's a creature (or monster, or entity, or however you'd like to call it) that appears in the stories written by H.P. Lovecraft."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Can any recommend any books to do with US economic development in the late 19th century (Gilded Age)? | [
"What kind of scope are you looking for? One that my advising professor has been touting for a while is Alfred Chandler's *The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business*. I'll be reading it this week but haven't yet. Otherwise a lot of the literature I'm already familiar with from this era combi... | [
"Follow up question (please don't delete) how influential were nobility titles on economic upward mobility in the Europe of that same time?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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What differences led to the history of East Germany and North Korea diverging so much post-WW2? | [
"Obviously a cult of personality was a big factor in North Korea's development. Other sources seem to point to the Kim family's power being imposed by the Soviets. Why did a similar situation not occur in East Germany?"
] | [
"Could the rebuilding of Japan after WWII be considered a partial colonization by the United States?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Homophobic slurs in turn-of-the-century/WWI Britain? | [
"Just to clarify, in the TV show Deadwood, the profanity was anachronistic (in other words, no \"cocksucka\"). The show creator chose to go this route because he felt using period-appropriate slang would have sounded silly rather than profane. _URL_2_"
] | [
"hi! there's lots of room for more input but you may be interested in a few earlier posts * [Did ancient peoples \"go to the beach\" as we do today?](_URL_1_) - Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Polynesia (surfing), 19th c Britain & France * [When did we start going to the beach?](_URL_6_) - various * [Question about b... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Who is the longest ago person that we have hard evidence lived? | [
"There's definitely more to be said, but there is a [part of our FAQ](_URL_1_) which has some answers which address similar questions to these: * [What's the oldest recorded part of history that is so old that we literally can't obtain any information on anything older (ie. then up to religious interpretation)](_UR... | [
"It is absolutely possible in theory. However, we have found no evidence that it happened. As far as we can tell, all the life that's ever been on Earth is related."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The Greedy Scots, where does the stereotype come from? | [
"As a red blooded Scot I am unaware of a \"greedy\" stereotype. Do you mean \"miserly\"?"
] | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
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} |
Looking for primary and secondary sources on the tactical usage of crossbows | [
"Have you checked the book list in the sidebar? I know there are at least two or three books there under the Middle Ages bracket which should give you some direction."
] | [
"Welcome to the one of the strongest arguments against the prohibition of firearms."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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In the movie The Bounty, Captain Bligh is on trial for the mutiny of his crew. Were captains of this time tried so and similarly? | [
"Strictly speaking, Lieutenant William Bligh and several of his crew were obliged to face a court martial inquiry into the loss of his ship, HMS Bounty. i.e. He wasn't on trial for the mutiny of his crew, although that was the cause of the loss. & #x200B; The court martial was held aboard HMS Royal William, moore... | [
"This answer will violate subs rules, but my response is based on years of studying naval tactics, battles, etc. A ship captain was in total command of his ship, he was responsible for literally everything, the crew, the ship, the provisions, the training, the sailing, the navigation. Everything. So, if something w... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
I've just started watching Spartacus. In it, there are black men and women mixed in with fellow humans (as it should be). In Ancient Rome, was it really like this? | [
"Yes. Slavery in Rome was not tied to race/skin color like it was in the United States during the 1700-1800s"
] | [
"It's the easiest shortcut to mark a person as 'foreign' without having to put up with a film of subtitles. For better or worse, people, in general, aren't interested in reading their movies, but we'd still like to know that these aren't just Americans running around up there. I think more modern films (300, Troy) ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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} |
When was the first recorded reference of a fart in all of human history? (Serious replies only) | [
"Is this the first reference? I don't know, but you may be interested in an ancient Sumerian joke - see the first 3 posts in this FAQ section * [Jokes and humour in history](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Donate money to a good history department of a university. (Serious answer)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Education:"
} |
Can someone help me out with converting 1051,89 Austro-Hungarian krone in 1888. to todays euro? | [
"The krone was introduced in 1892 at a rate of 2 kronen to 1 gulden/florin, the previous currency. On January 1, 1888, the U.S. Treasury Department announced an exchange rate of $0.34 gold dollars to one Austrian florin. [Source](_URL_0_). That should get you most of the way there."
] | [
"You are using Franc (later known as Ancien Franc) as currency. Bread costs: F 0.38/Kg Milk:F 0.3/L Eggs: F 1.37/12 source: _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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I'll be teaching IN medieval Europe this summer. What am I teaching and who do I teach it to? Do I have an office? | [
"Rabelais give a very interessant story of the life of a student / teacher in the late Medieval Time, early Rennaissance (in Gargantua I think)."
] | [
"If you love it, go for it. But wait until you try out some senior-level university courses, since that's when you first start getting a taste of actual historical study. Graduate school is pricey and it can be hard to get a teaching position. It varies a lot, though. You almost *have* to be willing to move and lea... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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Why did California remove Article VIII from its constitution? | [
"Follow up, what did Article VIII even say? All I can find from googling is that it was repealed in 1966."
] | [
"It was the convention held in the United States which lead to the drafting of the Constitution. Do you have a more specific question?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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King James I gave the Virginia Company 6 million acres in North America in 1606, but how did he have claim to that land to begin with? | [
"Can't speak to the King's actual thinking, but that issue is somewhat discussed in the US Supreme Court case Johnson v. M'Intosh, which expounded the \"Discovery Doctrine,\" under which it was understood that the natives only had a right of occupancy while the European nation that \"discovered\" the land gained al... | [
"Money. English explorers were incentivized to colonize the new world with the promise of land ownership. This, combined with accounts of the vast riches available in the Americas, persuaded a lot of people of means to risk the travel. Of course, they were ill prepared to deal with the hardships of colonization an... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
When I went to college I learned that a lot of what I learned in previous grades (especially elementary) with regards to US history was wrong, how did that happen? | [
"In some cases it is due to simplification of complex issues (the American Revolution was about taxation without representation), in some it's moralistic fairy tales (George Washington and the cherry tree), in many it's dues to outdated texts and elementary teachers ignorant of history. In the case of a teacher who... | [
"Well, if the point of history is to prevent it from repeating itself - I don't think anyone is going to 'rediscover the americas'. From that perspective, I disagree with that being the reason history is taught. History, IMO, is taught because it represents why many decisions are made, culturally, politically, etc.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When did humans start exercising and working out for the sake of getting fit/in shape? | [
"We have extensive evidence of gym training in Ancient Greece, as described on [this](_URL_0_) previous thread. This may not be the oldest, but it is certainly a direct ancestor of modern fitness culture; our word \"gym\" comes from Greek. Edit: OP, could you clarify whether you are referring to exercise in genera... | [
"For starters, you need to specify what kind of workout. That is, Weightlifting, or Cardio. Weights are used to build strength and muscle mass, while cardio is exercise that involves maintaining a high heart rate to burn calories, get in shape, and (depending on what kind of cardio you do) tone muscles. You need to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why are playing cards red and black? | [
"On the colors: Black and red inks were the cheapest. Black ink was made my mixing soot (Carbon black) with linseed oil, and red ink by mixing powdered cinnabar (Mercury sulfide) with linseed oil to make ink. Cinnabar is a mineral dye, so it is doesn't break down or fade over time on exposure to light. Also, red st... | [
"Addition: why are black people's upper lips black while their lower lips are pink?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Media Mondays: Age of Empires Expert AMA | [
"Games like Age of Empires tend to encourage a tactical rock-paper-scissors (crossbow beats sword beats pike beats horse beats crossbow) kind of approach down to quite a detailed level, with units having very specific strengths and weaknesses against each other. To what extent was this reflected on the actual medie... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:"
} |
Following American Independence, and the early successes of the French Revolution, did people consider the British Empire to be in a state of decline? | [
"I don't think there was much of an Empire as we know it before finding and Colonising the Americas (and the Indies), most of what is considered the British Empire was sought out and colonised after and because of losing the Thirteen Colonies. I think, from what I've read, Canada and The Thirteen Colonies are refer... | [
"I can only answer the second part of your question, the answer is no except for Japan where I am not sure. The French revolution can be seen as being some what accelerated due to French participation in the American Revolution, but it was already well on the way and their involvement was not the crucial factor. It... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Cheap Armor for the Less Than Wealthy Soldier | [
"I cannot speak to the earlier part of the Middle Ages, but for the later Middle ages you may be interested in these previous answers from me: You may be interested in these other posts: * [What portion of soldiers would be armoured in late medieval battles?](_URL_1_) * [English Arms and Armour in the 100 Year's Wa... | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
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What are some examples of secret weapons in warfare from before 100CE? | [
"I have a book that I think you would love to read, it is called \"Greek Fire, Poison Arrows & Scorpion Bombs: Biological and Chemical Warfare in the Ancient World\" The lengths we go to to kill other people can be amazing!"
] | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
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How effective was the "Tachanka" for the Soviet Union? | [
"> Though I do know that the Russian strategy during WW2 was just \"throw people at it until it stops shooting at us\" so it makes sense as a cheap way to employ heavy weapons. Uh oh, I think you're going to attract some criticisms here... This myth has been often debunked and is not pretty popular here. The FAQ o... | [
"On this topic, how accurate is the description of life at the front, in \"All Quiet on the Western Front\"?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
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What do we know about humans 50k years ago? | [
"Hi there! While we do have some Anthropologists who contribute here, and hopefully will show up, you might want to consider X-posting this to /r/AskAnthropology as well, since they have more contributors who focus on pre-history such as this!"
] | [
"Nice question. Perhaps it is evolutionary since we have been using fires for 300,000 years."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
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} |
1789 Revolution - question regarding the Constitution | [
"Yes they did, but like most other declarations of rights the right it contains can be limited by law (articles 4 and 5) and the declaration permits imprisonment as punishment (article 7), so infringing on someone's rights legally and as part of a punishment for something that needs to be illegal for the good of so... | [
"Download RES. It allows you to. The link is at the bottom under tools."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
This is my Grandad. Does anyone know what regiment this is? (UK, I guess around 1915-ish?) | [
"The fellow in the center is wearing what appears to be a drummer's plaid (which is abbreviated from what piper's normally wore). The tartans worn by the guys at either end are not matched, and insignia doesn't appear to be matching for any of them (although it is unclear). The tall fellow in the back could be a dr... | [
"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 ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Bayonet charges vs bayonet *battles* | [
"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... | [
"Government rules making it illegal. besides, we have mma, boxing, wrestling,Sumo, karate tournaments ,bull fighting and rodeo and gladiator movies"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
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} |
Americans sent a small force to aid the Whites during the Russian revolution. Was this in-line with the behavior of other nations at the time and other nations' reaction to the revolution? | [
"You might like to look at two posts I have made on this subject, although I'd be happy to answer any further questions. [This one looks specifically at America's role and motivations in the civil war.](_URL_0_) [This puts it into perspective alongside the other Allied powers.](_URL_1_)"
] | [
"The coup largely came about because of the Iranian decision to nationalize its oil industry. This upset the British greatly and the decision to attempt to overthrow the government was decided. The British convinced the US that Iran was close to falling to Soviet influence and as a result decided to assist in regim... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about History:"
} |
Help identifying coat of arms scroll [x-post r/whatisthisthing] | [
"A brief Google search would lead to the Hislop family from Scotland. Having a search of the motto, I get the following: [link to discussion](_URL_1_). [House of names has a page with a very similar coat of arms](_URL_0_). It seems like a relatively popular family name. Is it possible that her maiden name / one of ... | [
"Hi, it would be worth x-posting to /r/heraldry (or possibly /r/genealogy) for their thoughts, but there have been a few similar questions in this sub, so check out previous responses here * [Does anyone know more about this?](_URL_4_) - /u/Gadarn has bad news for you, if it's for an English surname * [Historians o... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Did the major nation leaders involved in WWI, meet before it? | [
"You are thinking about the funeral of England's King Edward VII on May 20th 1910. Barbara Tuchman devotes a full chapter to this funeral in her book \"The Guns of August\". Of the nine crowned monarchs that attended that funeral, one was his son, King George V, seven were nephews of Edward VII, and the only king t... | [
"At the end of World War 1 there were no good guys. There was this geo political issue. Former ally Russia was now Soviet and looking to carve out its own empire. Former ally Japan was invading Manchuria carving out its own little empire. Ally Italy was also trying to carve out its own piece of Africa in Ethiopia. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
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I'm trying to make a map of the Greek cities that had victories in the ancient Olympics. I'm having trouble finding the location of the six cities. Can someone help me? | [
"Question: do you have a draft version of the map you could share? It's an interesting concept and I'd love to look at it? Just purely out of interest, I'm not able to help you with locating these cities."
] | [
"This question came up recently - see my answer regarding the Greek side of things [here](_URL_0_). The short of it is that casualties averaged about 5% on the winning side and 14% on the losing side, suggesting that the great majority of casualties were suffered in the rout (which is confirmed by narrative account... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Is the idea of "American Anti-Intellectualism" tied to American academia's rejection of European eugenicists after WWII? | [
"American anti-intellectualism is much older than eugenics. Hofstadter (_Anti-Intellectualism in American Life_) traces threads of it back to colonial times and the myth of the virtuous farmer. Hofstadter's book was written in 1963, and was a reaction mostly to the perceived anti-intellectualism of conservative pun... | [
"Can you clarify what type of policymaking you're wanting to get into? While I can give you some suggestions for, say, foreign policy, I won't be of much help if you're interested in, for example, urban redevelopment. I wouldn't suggest you read Said's *Orientalism*. While it's an important work, there's no need to... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Was heat stroke deadly in Classical Rome? | [
"At this point in time, Virgil was already old and feeble. And to add to that, he had also contracted some form of disease on his journey from Greece to the italian peninsula. So in conclusion a heat stroke in itself probably wasn't deadly, but when combined with old age and sickness, it most likely could become le... | [
"Are you sure they were defeated at all?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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How much truth is there to Rasputins death story(s)? | [
"I personally haven't done much research into it, but from what I have learnt, they are just legends. Some level of luck can allow people to survive improbable circumstances, of course, but it is very unlikely. It is much more likely that, as quite an imfamous figure at the time, it has slowly become embellished an... | [
"Simon Sebag Montefiore and Sheila Fitzpatrick at least both mention Stalin's webbed feet. Montefiore says that he was so embarassed by them that when doctors would examine them at the Kremlin, he would cover the rest of his body and head with a blanket. As far as it being \"a sign of the devil in Russian folklore\... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What's some good reading on the Eastern Front during WWI? | [
"Geoffrey Wawro's *Mad Catastrophe* is an excellent start. Norman Stone's *Eastern Front: 1914-17* is still a classic, but growing dated. Prit Buttar has two books out, about the Eastern Front in 1914 and 1915, part of a planned trilogy. Timothy Dowling's *Brusilov Offensive*, Graydon Tunstall's *Blood on the Snow:... | [
"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 | {
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What made someone support the Boston Braves over the Red Sox? | [
"The Braves had more of a working class reputation. The Red Sox tended to be the better team with the better players and their ticket prices reflected that. The Braves were the cheaper option. Now obviously, please understand that this is a generalization and not a hard and fast rule. As an interesting historical a... | [
"Follow up: What *were* his reasons for siding with the British?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Did early sailors believe the ocean was an entity that either A) Looked out for them or B) Was out to get them? | [
"Pre-Conversion Scandinavians saw the open ocean personified as a couple of gods; Aegir and his wife Ran. Aegir was the brewer of the gods (with his enormous bubbling cauldron; see the symbolism?) and generally a decent sort. His wife, however, was known as the seawitch and would cast her net, pulling unlucky sailo... | [
"Some animals have been domesticated. They have been bred for years and years to live in harmony with humans. If I let this dog out to run through the streets of Chicago, he is going to die within hours. I am not keeping him here to punish him or to entertain myself, I am keeping him here so he does not die."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What would it have been like to live in London in the 17th Century? | [
"I recommend reading the Diary of [Samuel Pepys](_URL_0_). His [diary](_URL_1_), being a diary, describes his personal day-to-day interactions in the 1660s, but he does it in enough detail to give a good feel of what life was like in London for a government clerk in his 30s. He gets a bit crass occasionally, but hi... | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What is the prevailing opinion on "Why the West Rules... For Now" here on AskHistorians? | [
"[I liked it](_URL_0_). And I think you are misunderstanding his point at the last chapter, I don't remember him ever saying that in 2070 Germans will in unison cast Goethe into the fire in favor of Chinese novels. He does say that the lopsided cultural balance between West and East will start altering, which I thi... | [
"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 | {
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What makes *Why the West Rules, For Now* a good introduction to general history? | [
"/u/Tiako has frequently championed Morris's book. [Here](_URL_2_) is their review of it. See also, eg., two further threads discussing it ([1](_URL_1_), [2](_URL_0_))."
] | [
"Can you clarify what type of policymaking you're wanting to get into? While I can give you some suggestions for, say, foreign policy, I won't be of much help if you're interested in, for example, urban redevelopment. I wouldn't suggest you read Said's *Orientalism*. While it's an important work, there's no need to... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
When/how did American-British relations turn from negative to positive? | [
"Check some of the answers under Anglo-American relations, some good answers are recorded there. _URL_0_"
] | [
"It boils down to the fact that France and Britain used to be rivals that constantly fought to be the dominant power of Europe. Nowadays we can think of it as a kind of \"best friend\" relationship where they can jab at each other In good spirit. Other western countries make fun of the French because much of it is ... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Victorian gentlemen are often represented using a walking stick, so much so that this accessory has become an icon of the period. What made this custom become fashionable? | [
"As social rules of behavior changed, so did laws to reflect that. In 1702 legislature in London required a license to carry a cane. It was treated as a privilege to carry one and thus the cane itself was also a sign of proper behavior. [1] This some 380 years of popular use only worked to solidify the idea of clas... | [
"Fashionable women were wearing very tight corsets that made it harder for them to breathe. As such, it became more easier for them to faint. That being said, fainting couches were more for the very wealthy, and not THAT common over all."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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When did the bow come to Britain? | [
"There have been at least 6 prehistoric bows found in the British Isles - 3 in England (Meare Heath, Ashcott Heath, Eddington Burtle), 1 Scotland (Rotten Bottom), 2 in Ireland (Barrysbrook, Drumwhinny Bog). For a summary and references to publication covering these finds, see _URL_0_ There have also been many finds... | [
"One of these is not like the others."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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During the WWII, were there third party arms dealers that sold to both sides? | [
"Essentially none of any importance. Each country was overwhelmingly supplied by it's national arms industry (and some were assisted by American Lend Lease.) Additionally worldwide naval dominance of the Allies (except in the Japanese sphere) meant that few countries had a choice of which side they traded with. The... | [
"Towards what end? They have rugged, mountainous terrain unsuitable for tank battles and mandatory military service for all able-bodied male citizens. Their military is also open to women, though I don't think it was in the 1930s. It's a lot of work for not much. The germans prefered to work with neutral Swiss bank... | eli5_question_answer | {
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How much, in today's money, would the all the property of a Medieval lord cost? | [
"Hard to say. Some lords owned a lot of land, some owned a little. Some had a peaceful realm, and some were always at war (wars are expensive, even back then). There's a difference if you were a vassal to another lord or if you were directly under the king/emperor. You'd have to add up all of the castles, towns, f... | [
"I would say he wasn't, basically he had 200 million sesterces and an income of around 12 million sesterces a year. The best way to compare fortunes across time is not tons of grain (since machinery means grain is relatively cheaper to produce now for example) or just adjusting for thousands of years of inflation; ... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What was the pre-Civil War life of General Pettigrew? | [
"The Pettigrews are a Tyrrell county family and the town of Columbia (27925) is very proud of them. I would start your research by going out there and asking about records at the courthouse and library. The staff at both locations is very friendly and would be happy to help you out. The library does a good deal of ... | [
"I'd suggest a couple of first-person accounts. All should be available from used book sources online: * **Emily The Diary of a Hard-Worked Woman** , by Emily French. It's from 1890, a bit later than the \"first wave\" of Colorado settlement, but shows just how terrible conditions could be for a divorced woman in t... | eli5_question_answer | {
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History majors of Reddit I have a question.... | [
"Hmmm... what did I do with my degree? I put it in a folder on my bookshelf and got a job in the semiconductor industry so I could afford a house to put the bookshelf in. But honestly, I wouldn't be where I am without the degree. The study of history is fundamentally an exercise of paying attention to detail and kn... | [
"They don't use Reddit, they use Dota instead I think"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Did any British soldiers get to the Falklands via air bridge during the 1982 conflict? | [
"There was an RAF air bridge in operation during the Falklands War, carrying troops and supplies to Ascension Island. They also brought wounded men and prisoners back to the UK. It was based mainly on the RAF's Hercules C.1 and C.3 of 24 and 30 Squadrons. These were accompanied by 13 VC.10s from 10 Squadron, as wel... | [
"If it's a war that your country isn't involved in, they might well organize some kind of evacuation by whatever means could be arranged. The Royal Navy evacuated British and other tourists from the Lebanon in 2006 and Lybia in 2014 during fighting following the coup against Gadaffi."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Friend acquired some of his grandfathers possessions; we found this Nazi medallioin from 1943. Can AskHistorians help shed some light on its history? | [
"Cheap junk most likely made long after the war either as some form of collectible or by neo-nazis. Worth: $0 I don't know who this \"Adolph\" dude was but Hitler spelled his first name \"Adolf\", not a mistake the germans would have made in -43."
] | [
"The first photo is a is a Grand Army of the Republic Pin (issued post-Civil War to Union Veterans) and indicates service in the 3rd Division of the 5th Corps. The owner was a staff Colonel based on the full Eagle rank insignia. I can't read the inscription on the back, unfortunately. Wiki Link: _URL_0_ Second Item... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Why is Malcolm X barely mentioned in american secondary education? | [
"I think any answer to this question would be purely an opinion, which makes it impossible to ask in /r/AskHistorians. Unless someone here happens to write history books or know someone that does."
] | [
"If you're interested in Precolumbian history 1491 is a good start. If you are looking for modern revisionist history you can look to Howard Zinn's work, especially \"A People's History...\" Were you looking at the treatment of any subject in American history in particular?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Crucial moments in the dechristianization of Revolutionary France | [
"The clearest, most definite one is the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, which was essentially the turning point for the Revolution. It divided the populace, caused the King's support to waver, and was the key event which resulted in support for the counter-revolution. The Decree against Refractory Priests (May 27... | [
"The French Revolution in regards to the mindset of modern culture. The Industrial Revolution when it comes to technological advancements."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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In need of some recomendations. | [
"Be sure to check out our Booklist! _URL_0_"
] | [
"Is it against the rules to ask for book recommendations on this topic? if not I would like to do so."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What was Edison doing during the civil war? | [
"He was a hawker, then a telegrapher, for the Grand Trunk Railway. He had started working selling papers and whatnot in 1859 to travelers, even going so far as to \"produce\" his own paper to augment what he sold. In 1862, a grateful telegraph operator in Mount Clemens (MI) thanked him for saving his son's life in ... | [
"To be a little less specific, what did people think the future in general would be like before the Industrial Revolution?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Some help with Columbus | [
"In my view, as a teacher, and former professor, the purpose of an interview requirement is to use primary sources: asking people who were there. Otherwise, you can efficiently read a historian's account. Did the teacher approve your topic already?"
] | [
"This video by grey goes over the creation as well as other things concerning the us Canada border _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Was it possible for a "peasant" in Medieval England to hunt wild game without violating some Lord or King's territorial claim? | [
"Country-folk were for the most part farmers, and so didn't necessarily need to hunt in order to survive. Though deer and other larger game were considered the property of the Norman Lords and King, a Saxon peasant could hunt small game without an issue. English yeoman were actually required to practice at the arch... | [
"The answer to this is going to vary with time and place, and have a lot to do with how desperately the lords needed someone to cultivate their land and how desperately the peasants wanted land to cultivate. If you were formally someone's serf, that is, you swore an oath of fealty to them, they did have the obligat... | eli5_question_answer | {
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The Guns of August and new WWI historiography | [
"I have a book recommendation: I have recently read and enjoyed *The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went To War In 1914*, by Christopher Clark - it is an informative and comprehensive account of the actions of the people who took Europe to war: the foreign ministers, ambassadors, heads of state and various nationalistic... | [
"Are there any good introduction books to historiography in general? JFK in particular? Thank you"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Any background info on this Greek artifact? | [
"Probably a krater, illustrated with satyrs. Here they are pouring wine ( or, more precisely, likely wine mixed with water, from just such a krater). As satyrs were supposed to be constantly looking for sex ( therefore hypersexuality in men was once called satyriasis) it is perhaps a humorous comment on this one's ... | [
"Do you have a source for that claim?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What motivated the Apportionment Act of 1911? | [
"We are required to allocated US representatives based on Article 1, Section 2, Clause 3 of the US Constitution. After each 10 year census, Congress is required to create a law that sets the process of apportionment for the next decade. Apportionment Act of 1911 set the representatives for that decade. This act was... | [
"The President can Veto Legislation Passed by Congress. Congress can Impeach the President. The President Appoints Judges to the Supreme Court who must be approved by Congress. The Supreme Court can Overturn Legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. No one Branch has all the Power. There is a Bal... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Chinese conquests of Korea. | [
"I don't want to discourage further discussion, but this is at least the fifth time this has been asked today. You may find the answers in [this thread](_URL_0_) in particular to be interesting."
] | [
"Not have most of their forces across the Atlantic ocean?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Cardinal Richelieu is often thought of as an evil, villainous character, due to his portrayal by Dumas in "The Three Musketeers." Would this be accurate in any sense? | [
"/u/kmjn answered a related question about the Cardinal's omnipotence [here](_URL_0_)."
] | [
"Written history is probably the most valuable source for figuring out what important historical figures were like as people. For example, Giorgio Vasari is famous for keeping extensive notes on the lives of fellow Renaissance and Baroque painters such as da Vinci & Caravaggio, collected in his most famous work, \"... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Can someone explain why there are Inuit people in Greenland and Canada? | [
"The ancestors of the modern Inuit are descended from a people now called the [Thule people](_URL_1_), that migrated eastward through the Arctic from Alaska [sometime after 1000AD](_URL_2_). There are [related groups](_URL_0_) around the Arctic Ocean from eastern Siberia to Greenland. Wiki links for general informa... | [
"It's not. Theres a big difference between people from the North of Queensland and the people from South Australia."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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During the Great Northern War, why did the British switch sides in 1719? | [
"This is off memory, but I believe the British were primarily interested in defending Hannoverian interests in North Germany, which put them at conflict with Sweden. After Hannover took control of Bremen from the Swedes, thus giving them access to the sea, the British & Hannoverians negotiated the treaty of Stockho... | [
"It was hard for them to work together due to the huge geographic distances between them. There were some long range submarine cargo missions, supplying things like rubber and tungsten. And some designs for aircraft ended up in Japan too. When Japan attacked the US, Germany declared war on the US in the hope that J... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Did the Stasi really compromise all locks built in or imported into the GDR? | [
"Hi there, while I don't claim to be an expert, I have studied the GDR extensively and I have not come across this anecdote before. It seems unlikely to me, for the following reasons: * Any goods imported into the GDR would have most likely been manufactured within the Communist Bloc, and therefore of questionable... | [
"So some basic facts here: * Germany was divided into East and West until 1989. West Germany was an American ally, and East Germany as a Soviet ally. * The city of Berlin was also divided into East and West. * But - and this is very important - Berlin was not located on the border between East and West Germany. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
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The Wikipedia article for El Tajin mentions that it might have been built by the "Xapaneca". I haven't come across them before while looking into Mesoamerica: Who were they and how do they fit into our understanding of the region. | [
"Wikipedia cites only some English language guidebook to El Tajin and a Spanish work, but who knows if those citations are actually related to the claim (wikipedia sourcing being notoriously dubious). There is, however, a reference to \"Xalapanecas\" in Camargo's *Historia de la Tlaxcala* ( and appears to have bee... | [
"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... | eli5_question_answer | {
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In the movie 'For a few dollars more' Lee Van Cleef's character uses a revolver attached to a rifle stock. Did this actually happen during the 1860s/1870s? | [
"That style of gun is called a carbine. Carbines are long-handled guns that are bigger than pistols, but smaller than a full rifle. They were popular in the Old West because they're much easier to shoot from horseback than a full rifle. Check out the [1855 revolver carbine](_URL_1_) and the [1873 revolver carbine]... | [
"He's referring to his guitar. The whole song he's drawing parallels between his life as a rockstar and being an old West outlaw/cowboy, so he added \"loaded\" to invoke imagery of a six shooter."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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When is the last time a state-sponsored assassination of a foreign head of state/government succeeded? Not counting sponsored revolutions, just attacks on the head of state like the Blue House raid in Korea. | [
"How could we possibly know that? Isn't a successful assassination one when no one knows that it was one, because the target had a car accident or a heart attack?"
] | [
"A few reasons: The extrajudicial killing of a foreign head of state is a defacto declaration of war. Executive order 11905 prohibits the government from engaging in political assassinations. (Leaders of organizations, rather than states however, are somewhat of a gray area). Speaking on maintaining diplomatic rela... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What was the most likely fate of Legio IX Hispana? "The missing Legion?" | [
"You may want to check some existing answers to the same question. For instance, this one by /u/XenophonTheAthenian _URL_1_"
] | [
"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 post about History:",
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The American trench gun | [
"I've written a bit about the trench-gun and German protest [here](_URL_0_) and [here](_URL_1_) which might be of interest."
] | [
"This isn't an explanation but newfoundland Canada also has a half hour time zone"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Is it possible Elizabeth Bathory was innocent? | [
"Hopefully someone will see and be able to respond to your question shortly, but in the meantime, you may find this earlier discussion helpful: [Was Elizabeth Báthory framed?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"Yes. There was a book by a man whose penis was removed in a botched circumcision. Raised a girl and suicidally depressed with dysphoria. \"As Nature Made Him\" was the title."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Recommended reading on environmental history | [
"Ok - a great place to start is Carolyn Merchant's textbook, [Major Problems in Environmental History](_URL_1_). It's a fantastic mix of documents and essays, and to a certain degree also gives you an idea of what directions the field has come from and where it's going. If you are interested in any specific sub-gen... | [
"Welcome to the one of the strongest arguments against the prohibition of firearms."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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When people used ravens as a way of communication between distant posts, how were the ravens taught how to get to each point? What stopped them from flying off or getting killed/captured? | [
"Outside of Westeros, when were ravens ever used for communication? We may be confusing fiction with history."
] | [
"It doesn't really work that way. Homing pigeons can carry messages, but only in one direction - home (hence the name.) If you live in London and want to send a message by pigeon to Cambridge, you have to use a pigeon from Cambridge. That pigeon will only fly to Cambridge and no where else. If you want want to send... | eli5_question_answer | {
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"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
Need help identifying a historical figure in a photograph. | [
"Looks a lot like Wisconsin Governor and Senator Robert M. Lafollette , ( 1855-1925) who would certainly be a noted Progressive of the time."
] | [
"I would assume this is all talking about the 19th century; is this a typo?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What are some good history books I ought to own, that could be good in the future for childen as they get older? | [
"*A Little History of the World* by E. H Gombrich seems right up your alley. A brief rundown on the formation of European civilisation with, if I remember correctly, quick diversions to India and China. It was written for children but a lot of adults read it too, myself included. I wish I had read it at a younger a... | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Did people get carriage-sick like you can get car sick? | [
"Apparently people did. From [A History of the Horse Drawn Carriage](_URL_0_): 'The commonest French coach of this time seems to have been the borbillard...such a carriage was hung low, and would have swung from side to side, giving such passengers as were \"bad sailors\" a fit of nausea.' (from 1652) So yes, there... | [
"And why don't I need it when I fall asleep on the couch?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:"
} |
In Japan, only certain classes we allowed to have weapons. Was there a black market for arms among lower class in Japan? Were there similar laws against peasants owning weapons in Europe? | [
"I'm not sure what era you're going for, so I'll take \"peasants\" and run with it. ;) There weren't laws as such against owning weapons in medieval Europe. Cost would have made the purchase of nicer weapons prohibitive for a lot of peasants, certainly. But even the Jews of the 11C Rhineland had access to swords an... | [
"The biggest benefit was not becoming a colony of a foreign power. That was one of the main reasons that the policy was out into place. The bakufu had heard stories about the Philippines and did not want to end up like that. So they banned Christianity, and shut off the boarders except for a small port that only al... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Thursday Reading & Research | March 01, 2018 | [
"hi, first time every commenting on /r/askhistorians. exciting. I was looking for a book on the silk road, as well as a book on how different cultures influenced each other. I appreciate that the second point is a bit vague- I have looked through the book list, and really enjoyed Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eura... | [
"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 Literature:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
When were WW1 and WW2 actually given their titles? Would we know if we are living through WW3? | [
"WWI was originally called *The Great War* or *The World War.* It was the largest war, in terms of participants, in recent history. Especially as the casualties began to mount and trench warfare set in. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died at the *Battle of the Somme*, far more than ever fathomed. The Oxford Eng... | [
"Depends on where you learn your war history. U.S. History emphasises the U.S. role. Australian history emphasises the Australian story. Would be interesting to hear from someone in france how it is described there. Russian kids don't call it WWII - it is called the Great Patriotic War."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Do we know of any pre Columbian games from the Americas? (Thinking chess or dominoes style, rather than sports like lacrosse) | [
"There was a game called chunkey. It involved rolling a round stone on the ground while participants either shot arrows at it or threw spears. I used to be an archaeologist, and found one on a site that dated to around 1000 ad. This particular stone had a circle engraved in it that was about 2 inches in diameter. T... | [
"Can someone recommend books on the history of games? I'm looking for both survey books and books on early games (so things like ancient board games and games of chance in Mesopotamia, China, India, Africa and the Americas). I'm looking pretty broadly so anything about the chronology, or about games' social relevan... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
Was scalping usually fatal? | [
"Usually, yes. The trauma and blood loss alone would result in the deaths of many victims, and even those who survived initially would face a myriad of complications and would almost certainly [die if the skull remained uncovered](_URL_0_). Septicemia, meningitis, and necrosis were all worries when dealing with a s... | [
"In which countries is it even done this way, except the US?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
how do military historians or historians determine consequences if a military commander made a different choice? | [
"It's like the \"what if\" questions. You cannot answer them because there are too many things that can happen. Sure you can assume some stuff but if you think of it, everything could possibly happen."
] | [
"Modern warfare does utilize motivational speeches to generate morale among the troops. The content of these speeches are likely to include nationalist sentiments, self-professed martial superiority, focus on broadly shared values(ex:importance of protecting family.) Antequated warfare did as well. Alexander Suvoro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
How has the historiography of the working class in Australia & New Zealand evolved since the end of WWII? | [
"Could you explain your question a little more? I am having trouble deciding what it means. Do you want to talk about how academics have theorised the concept \"the working class\" from structural understandings through modernism, then into the Linguistic Turn?"
] | [
"What are some of the most important contributions to the study of U.S. history by non-U.S. scholars? Are there any good analyses of trends in specifically non-U.S. scholarly views of American history?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Found this photo of my grandfather in his WWII uniform, can anyone tell me anything from these photos? | [
"What I can gather from the picture is the following: Your grandpa is wearing a SS uniform, his cover has a Totenkohf or Death's Head, with what should be the Reich eagle above it but since it's blurry I am not too sure it is [Example](_URL_3_). The second thing is his collar insignia, it appears he was a Corporal... | [
"What you have in your possession is an American Class A tunic, more known as a dress jacket (or tunic). He would not have worn this in action. The patch on the right chest signified a honorable discharge from the Armed Forces and it is very likely that the uniform was worn by the veteran at reunions. The two patch... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How far, technologically speaking, could a society advance without access to metal? | [
"I don't know about all these fictional examples, but check out the [Mesoamerican Cultures](_URL_4_), namely the [Aztec](_URL_1_), the [Maya](_URL_3_), and the [Inca](_URL_0_). They did have access only to soft metals - gold, silver, copper, but not to harder ones, such as iron. Therefore, their weapons and tools c... | [
"The actual reason for this phenomenon is roughly understood. One of the leading theories for this behavior is that it imitates their spaceships. The ones they used over 2000 years ago to make contact with the ancient Egyptians and enslaved them to create beautiful statues."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When was the US public made aware that the USS Nautilus was powered with a nuclear reactor and had the ability to launch nuclear missiles? | [
"Small point of correction. But the Nautilus as an SSN was a nuclear powered Attack Sub, and both did not carry nuclear tipped cruise missiles, nor was it built with SLBM tubes. While the USN did develop a nuclear torpedo it would not enter service for several years after the Nautilus was launched. [The USS Geor... | [
"It is technically possible and most space vessels already have a small nuclear reactor called Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (RTG). The reasons why we are not using them exclusively for propulsion are mostly political. Project Orion did research a nuclear powered spacecraft and was canceled due to the Limit... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about science and technology:"
} |
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