query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
value | instruction dict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
How did Spartas Dual Monarchy Work? | [
"If I may add a question, why did the Spartan system of government become the way it was? It seemed to be a weird hybrid of democracy and oligarchy, which seems uncharacteristically unlike any other city state of the time."
] | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I'm interested in learning (and know next to nothing about) the (mostly debunked) Satanic Ritual Abuse scare of the 80's, where can I learn more? | [
"Here is a really good video on one of the most prominent legal cases to come it of the scare, the McMartin preschool trial. _URL_0_ Retro Report is an excellent site to check out in general, especially if you're interested in history."
] | [
"There aren't really any significant number of actual Satan worshipers. First off, you've got your disturbed teenagers that listen to heavy metal & want to piss off their parents. There's no real \"worship\" here, just doing \"naughty\" things to get attention. Secondly you have the [Anton Levey Satanists](_URL_2_)... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Help me identify a dogtag I found | [
"This is almost guaranteed to be some sort of civilian copy. First, I have never seen a WWII era dog tag that looked like that. Second, there is no reason to have rank on a dog tag. Ranks change, especially during war."
] | [
"I could be totally wrong but I've always thought of it as a shortened version of \"How did this come to be?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
According to Wikipedia, the Transcontinental Railroad cost about $100,000,000 ($2,000,000,000 today.) What was the fight over this bill like in 1862, considering the cost of war also had to be taken into account? | [
"Further, why was it so much cheaper to build infrastructure like this historically? Even when taking into account the cost of inflation? I would imagine it would cost orders of magnitude more now?"
] | [
"The civil war and the end of slavery exhausted the Southern economy. So yes, a lot of the Southern States were very poor. In fact, during the governorship of Theodore Bilbo in Mississippi(1928-1932), the state had less than $2000 in it's treasury and was over $10,000,000 in debt."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Can I get some insight to these pictures where a German soldier appears to be using another soldier to prop up his Machine Gun? | [
"This is a method of bracing the weapon allowing for a [somewhat] stable firing position in lieu of being to use the ground, wall, or other platform. While not preferable it is quick and often one cannot always find a good place to bipod, etc. IE: Such as where one is on a decline but firing at a higher or equal el... | [
"I wish to add on to this question. Did the photographers have weapons or were just people with cameras? Like were they just soldiers with cameras?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Help identifying markings on a soviet SSh-39 | [
"I can't help with the history but would like to point out that the markings you identified as either VV or 55 are actually cyrillic for BB."
] | [
"A google search leads me to believe it is a Belgian Commando Beret form the Congo"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
What shape were latifundia, fiefdoms, haciendas and plantations? | [
"Generally for these things, it depends on local geography, the wealth of the owner, land prices etc. These would nearly always be an irregular shape."
] | [
"The first thing you need to remember is that \"latifundia\" is not an ancient term, it is a modern one coined to describe an agricultural system that people in the nineteenth century thought looked like New World slave plantations. Secondly, where we actually have evidence, particularly North Africa, Asia Minor an... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How have check marks come to represent 'right' while Xs represent 'wrong'? | [
"There are quite a few theories floating around out there, but as it's not a universal standard and mainly contained within Western Europe and cultures influenced by Western Europe, I'm inclined to go with the tick / cross system being distributed by the Romans, especially given the amount of bureaucracy they bough... | [
"Because 'F' is not a grade on the scale. The scale stops at 'D', and 'F' is just an abbreviation for \"failed\", which includes anything that is not an 'A', 'B', 'C', or 'D' (i.e. anything 'D' or above is consider passing the class, and any score below is considered failing.). It's just coincidence that 'F' is nea... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Why didn't the British re-colonize the US? | [
"From the UK's perspective--what's the point? Peaceful trade with the US was giving them nearly all the same benefits as having America as a colony had, only they no longer had to deal with a bunch of uppity American colonists getting pissed about London's taxes. Also, from Britain's perspective, they had bigger fi... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
So...does anybody know how to get back to Greek Lands? | [
"If I were you, I'd negotiate with Artaxerxes. Clearchus has gone over in an embassy to Tissaphernes, who promises to convey us to the Greek cities along the coast. But to tell you the truth, my schizophrenic alter ego, I don't trust Tissaphernes and never have--it was he, after all, who spread slanders about Cyrus... | [
"And to hijack this in a related way, what were the alternatives to \"America.\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Why has no one ever done a DNA test on the child skeletons found in the Tower of London? | [
"\"DNA testing was refused on the grounds that it could set a precedent for testing historical theories that would lead to multiple royal disinterments.\" _URL_0_"
] | [
"Someone wrote a whole new book in the US, said it was buried there by ancient Jews and was the next part of the Bible. Some people believed him and here we are."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When did time differences start to become an issue? | [
"Time zones were a british invention of the early nineteenth century that only became necessary after the invention of trains and telegraph. prior to that, each town could more or less set its own time because no one could move fAst enough or communicate over a long enough distance for it to matter. they were aware... | [
"Because that would be very hard to control. It might even become a real republic."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I want to read about history, where do I start? | [
"While you're waiting for other recommendations, check out the [Books and Resources list](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"I would ask you - as I would have asked myself decades ago - what do you want to write about? That's where you start. Then you develop a good question around that. So, what do you want to write about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the post about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What historical pirate most closely aligned with our contemporary stereotype of them? | [
"which stereotype. the happy go lucky gentleman pirate? the bloodthirsty psychopath? the opportunistic mercenary? the free spirit?"
] | [
"Nothing. Robert E. Lee was a US confederate general, the military leader of the Civil War faction that advocated the continuance of black slavery. The connection between this and the anti-Semitic element of the Nazis it tenuous at best."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I am the son of a Chinese landowner in the year 1000, how do I prepare for the imperial examination? | [
"If it's okay, I'd like to ask an add-on question: could anyone, theoretically, do the exam, or was it restricted to the middle classes? I mean, clearly a peasant would probably fail because of their poor education, but were they allowed to try?"
] | [
"The Middle Ages is a pretty huge period that spanned centuries, so you might want to refine your question. The daily life of a monarch in the 8th century was incomparably different from that of a 16th century one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
What is this? (German WWII decoration) | [
"That is the \"Band\" ( Ribbon) of the Iron Cross second Class worn on the buttonhole. Higher honors were worn on the left breat pocket as you can also see in the picture."
] | [
"A google search leads me to believe it is a Belgian Commando Beret form the Congo"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is it true that in Feudal Russia, a good horse was worth 8 serfs? | [
"Could you point us to the source from which you drew your question? When you say feudal Russia what years are you thinking of? I have not heard this before personally and would be curious to see what it has to say."
] | [
"Was it possible for a peasant (older brother of a peasant=peasant?) to own/inherit a farm in that time/location? Or was land ownership reserved for higher tiers of society?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I was just listening to the NPR politics podcast in which they said presidents don't give a state of the union their first year in office. Did that apply to Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson or Calvin Coolidge (IE presidents that inherited the job mid term)? | [
"* Calvin Coolidge was sworn-in by his father, a notary public, in the early morning hours of August 3, 1923. He delivered his first State of the Union four months later on December 6. * Harry Truman was sworn-in on April 12, 1945. Although he addressed a joint session of Congress four days later on the prosecution... | [
"I think the short version is that President Garfield, and most presidents during the mid-to-late 1800s, were less politically important than they are today. During that era, Congress in general was the main moving force in national politics, and Congress was more likely to persuade the President on what to do than... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I'd like to ask whether or not Flandern still utilize pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago, as penance in their punitive system. If it is a legitimate way of seeking redemption, how far back does this tradition go? | [
"It's a little more complicated than the wikipedia page indicates and I can't really talk about the situation these days as that would be in breach of our twenty-year rule. Basically, what this jumbled info you found refers to is a project initiated in 1982 by a non-profit organisation that deals with juvenile deli... | [
"According to your morality he should be punished for what he has done. According to other moralities he should be reformed to become a good citizen again (as in two wrongs don't make a right). According to other moralities he should pay compensation for his crimes and be done with it. Others might say the punishme... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Can anyone identify the origin of this Native American symbol for me? | [
"Was it the [North America Native Museum](_URL_0_)? If so, then I'm going to guess it's an Inuit image for a couple reasons. 1. The museum's site specifically mentions the Inuit. 2. A reverse image search brought me to some German kayaking/canoeing/paddling forums where this image was being used as a profile pic by... | [
"I enjoy this kind of detective work a great deal, however, if you could provide a little more information it would make things a great deal easier. Perhaps you could provide a clearer picture of the text around the rim and some additional information on which region we're talking about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How long did things like Bailey Bridges take to get permanently replaced after the end of WW2? | [
"There was one on the A66 at Greta Bridge about a dozen miles west of Scotch Corner which carried the east-bound traffic until the late 70's, when the road was dualled, bypassing that section. For those unfamiliar with the area, the A66 is a major trunk road across the country. There is a lesser trunk road about 50... | [
"Follow up question: What other types of bootcamp training strategies would drill instructors use? Also what were training structures like when there was a massive influx of troops who needed to be trained quickly, such as when the US joined WWII after Pearl Harbor?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
When and why did the term "nuclear" supplant "atomic" in common parlance? | [
"[You can use Google Ngrams to get a good sense of this sort of thing](_URL_1_). If you break it down further, it [can reveal more specific trends about what terms changed](_URL_0_). But the short answer is, \"nuclear\" first crept into the popular parlance through \"nuclear power\" and then \"nuclear weapons.\" Th... | [
"When the media decided to leverage the negative connotations associated with 'drone' to sensationalise things."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
I've always been interested in European History. Is Dan Carlin's podcast series "Hardcore History" reliable? | [
"You may be interested in [this recent thread on the topic](_URL_0_): the top post has a bunch of links to still older threads."
] | [
"Chronological: - Ray Harris Jr.- The History of World War 2 - Mike Dunkan - The History of Rome - Robin Pierson - The History of Byzantium (follow up podcast) - Khodadad Rezakhani - Iranologie (History of Iran) - The British History Podcast Other: - The AskHistorians Podcast (Intervies with AskHistorians contribut... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Why didn't wind and water power lead to industrialisation? | [
"The industrial revolution in America ran on water power. In 1790, there were 7,500 small mills across the USA, by 1850, there were 60,000, and the average power per mill had gone up 300% to 15 horsepower (the very largest water mills could generate 250 horsepower). _URL_1_ So, in 1850, American water mills were ge... | [
"the use of steam power in the early industrial revolution is overrated. Much early progress was done with water power. Look up Richard Arkwright and the textile mills he setup, all water power. In the US, the Lowell textile mills, the largest manufacturing center in the US, was water powered well into the 19th cen... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When America entered WW2, what was Henry Ford's response, considering he was an ardent supporter of the Third Reich? | [
"More of course can be said here, but do check out [this old thread](_URL_0_) courtesy of /u/henry_fords_ghost."
] | [
"Start of WWII. He was trying to get support for increasing the build up of war materiel, training, weapons, manpower, etc. Chamberlain's government was playing the part of the appeaser at this time and Churchill did not like it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How did huge armies, like that of Santa Anna's or Alexander the Great's, manage to feed themselves over those long distances? | [
"Alexander used wagons when he first landed in modern day Turkey. As he progressed further into Persia, he would either raid for food or buy it from friendly cities. Additionally, the major Persian roads had various stops along the way that stocked food. It was used by Persian nobles who had to take lengthy trips. ... | [
"The thing that made the Mongols fearsome was their mobility. You gather a big army against them, they just ride off and attack somewhere else. But if you needed to protect just one place, like where the wall was currently being built, parking a big army there would do the trick."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about History:"
} |
In Colonial America: How did the Townshend Act compare to the earlier Sugar and Stamp Acts? | [
"The reaction was just as bad. The reasons however were more complex. For one the tax was only revenue for the English government because it taxed British goods. It did not fit with mercantilism and actually worked against it. This angered many colonists because they saw it as just money for Parliament, not for the... | [
"The Wiki entry on the Intolerable Acts is good. Two of the acts, the Port of Boston Act and the Massachusetts Government Act applied only to Massachusetts. Two other acts, the Quartering Act and the Administration of Justice Act applied to all the Colonies but were directed at problems that had been particularly t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
What did other countries think of America during the Revolutionary War and the following years? | [
"France effectively crippled themselves (economically) funding the Americans, which in turn them lead to the the French revolution due to the ideas of liberty spreading like wildfire. That is why napoleon sold off French American land so cheaply (that and the war with Britain, Austria and Prussia) because the Frenc... | [
"Maybe it's just because of where I grew up, but we learned a lot about Reconstruction, industrialization, the Spanish-American War and the various political movements that happened between 1870 and 1910. That being said, relative to the Civil War and WWI, there are more important periods in US history."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What's the oldest text we have? | [
"I'm not sure about the oldest inscription, but I do know about the oldest literature. The earliest literature that we know of is from the Sumerians, a Bronze Age Mesopotamian civilization. There was a city in Sumer called Abu Salabikh (not the name used at the time) that was excavated in the 1960's by an American ... | [
"What if you want a printed version of what was said?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about language:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about language:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How much of Anne Boleyn's reputation as a woman that 'slept around' is deserved? | [
"None at all. The only person who confessed was Smeaton and he was tortured. Everyone else denied the charges and contemporaries at the time also thought the charges couldn't be true. We have no trial documents or transcripts so we unfortunately can't be more precise than that."
] | [
"The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn by Eric Ives is a fantastic read. It's one of the most in depth accounts of her life (seeing as so many other accounts tend to look at Anne as just one in the succession of Henry VIII's wives), and he poses very convincing arguments that paint Anne's execution as a result of polit... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
suppose I went to an english person and asked them if dragons exist, what's the earliest point in time I would be likely to get a "no" from them (apart from times before the superstition existed)? | [
"I think it would end up depending on who the English person was, whether they were learned, . I know that as [early as Plato](_URL_2_), the great thinkers were arguing against the idea of dragons. Doing some research into reference books, the [1771 edition](_URL_1_) of the Encyclopedia Britannica references real c... | [
"most people don't live a hundred years. also, most people can't see farther than right in front of their face. just as a side note: any question that begins with \"why do people...\" is almost certainly futile and pointless."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post about English iconography and heraldry:",
"pos": "Represent the document about English iconography and heraldry:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why is the Marine Corp the only branch of the U.S. military without a dedicated four-year college? | [
"The Marine Corps falls under the Department of the Navy. The US Naval Academy trains midshipmen to be Marine Corps officers as well."
] | [
"Point of Clarification: + Soldier = Army + Sailor = Navy + Marine = Marine + Airman = Air Force The various services get quite upset if you refer to them incorrectly. Sailors are sailors, not Soldiers. Marines are Marines, etc. To your question: Navy Seals are the highly specialized, highly trained, combat/special... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why are people like Alexander the Great praised, while people like Pizarro are looked down upon when they did the same thing. Kill. | [
"You might be interested in some previous posts on moral judgement passed on Alexander the Great: * [*How did Alexander the Great become known as an exemplary person, but other conquerors are viewed in a more dubious or negative light?*](_URL_0_) ^([2014 Dec. 13 | 123 comments]) ^(/u/XenophonTheAthenian dissects ... | [
"The willingness to take big risks, regardless of the consequences to themselves and others. For every Hitler or Alexander, there was a Lucius Sejanus or Guy Fawkes, who took those same risks. Their luck didn't hold up, and they were labeled as criminals. Those two were successful enough to be remembered, there are... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
In the Statute in Restraint of Appeals (1532), it is declared that "this realm of England is an Empire". What does the "empire" mean in this context? | [
"To be very brief, it was not a reference to an empire as we moderns would interpret it. The statute was referring to an empire in the ancient Roman sense; a distinct kingdom of its own, ruled solely by its head, without influence from other kingdoms. This was an important legal distinction to make because the king... | [
"From the Care of King during his illness etc. Act, 1811 (51 Geo 3 c 1): > XII. Provided also, and be it enacted, That if His said Royal Highness George Augustus Frederick Prince of Wales shall not continue to be resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or shall at any time marry a Papist, then... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
When was the last time the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives voted? | [
"The last time a Speaker voted was a lot more recently than 20 years ago. Unfortunately that means this question can not be answered without violating the rules of the sub, something I am loath to do on a political question less than 4 days before an election. Therefore I suggest anyone who might be interested in ... | [
"There would be a tie and the House of Representatives would decide who the president is, according to the constitution."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Dwarfs / short people. Have there been any significant historical figure of short stature? | [
"In ancient Egypt, [dwarves commanded respect](_URL_0_), and their depiction in art was mostly very positive. For example, [Seneb](_URL_1_) was a landowner and a high-ranking court official with twenty palace and religious titles, and married to a high priestess."
] | [
"Only 0.1 percent of the world's population have down syndrome. White is the most common demographic (in most western countries). The reason why you never see a black or Asian with down syndrome is because there are simply less people total to get the condition."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
What were some merciful moments during world war 2? | [
"The book The Retreat: Hitler's first defeat by Michael Jones, mentions an incident on that happened on the eastern front on Christmas eve (December 24) 1941 . A group of German soldiers found an abandoned church and decided to clean it up and have a small Christmas eve service. A number of locals came and attended... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
When and why did English orthography stop using Þ (thorn) and ð (eth)? | [
"As far as thorn goes, early English printing presses used imported type that didn't include thorn. Printers would either use \"th\" or use a y as a thorn, which wasn't too much of a stretch (a handwritten thorn looked like a y). Sort of like how typewriters would use the same character for lowercase \"L\" and \"1\... | [
"In the year 1011, a writer named Byrhtferð ordered the Old English alphabet for numerological purposes. He listed the 24 letters of the Latin alphabet (including ampersand) first, then 5 additional English letters, starting with the Tironian note ond (⁊) an insular symbol for and: A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Which books should I read to gain an overall view on a certain period of history? | [
"If you specify which periods, I am sure the many able experts on this board can help you with general histories of their specialties. Unfortunately, there is no general history of the world that I can recommend. You could also check the [List of Flaired Users](_URL_0_) and contact directly those with expertise in ... | [
"This is a very broad question about an enormous international event. Can you narrow it down at all? Is there a particular kind of thing that you're hoping to hear about?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Why was the Domino Theory accurate? | [
"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?"
] | [
"Only if the federal government let it. See: American Civil War"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
German WW2 (?) Badges/Medals i found in the basement. Any insight on them? | [
"I've edited your pics here: [First image](_URL_2_) In red is a Silver Wound Badge. In yellow are two Eastern Front Medals. In green is a Naval Artillery War Badge. Can't identify the others; I think they are civil or political, not military decorations. [Second image](_URL_1_) Red is an Infantry Assault Badge. Y... | [
"That is a WWI era Yugoslavian/Serbian officers cockade cap badge. I believe they are pretty rare. Usually those pins had blue in the center and red on the outside. It is from the Yugoslavian \"Kingdom era\" 1918-1939 Hope that answered some questions. Edit to add example: _URL_0_ Just a little way down the page y... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
I found several copies of Der Adler and other German publishings from the 1930's - 1940's era. Is there much value in them? | [
"[According to the German wiki](_URL_1_), Der Adler was an air-force propaganda magazine published between 1939 and 1944 with a total of 146 numbers. They are not overly common and apparently, according to the [German Central Magazine Database](_URL_0_), there was a reprint in 1977. So don't be surprised if you fin... | [
"Are there any books on Berlin during 1920s?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about Literature:"
} |
Where can I find pictures or documentations of clothing of eastgoing vikings? | [
"Are you after male or female, well off or poor? I can provide you some sources and a lot of images and links. The subject is well researched in Sweden, but most sources are in Swedish. Generally, if you are well off you would wear linen undergarments, woollen overgarments and cape, decorated and coloured according... | [
"Follow up: Is there any connection to figureheads on ships, sometimes also depicting semi nude females?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Timbuktu Mosque: What Are Those Spike On the Outside of it? | [
"That mosque is not in Timbuktu. It is the [Great Mosque of Djenne](_URL_0_), in the city of Djenne which is about 500 km south-west of Timbuktu in Mali. Anyhow, those are wooden timbers called *toron*. They are used to [support scaffolding]( _URL_2_) when adobe is reapplied to the exterior of the mosque, or when r... | [
"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 Reddit question:",
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Did map makers in Europe during the American civil war include the confederacy? | [
"Here is [a German map from 1864 showing no Confederates](_URL_2_) as well as [a second from 1863](_URL_2_)"
] | [
"In actual fact nobody really is sure as to which side is north and which side is south. In Australia for example, globes can be purchased that are flipped with the southern hemisphere appearing above the northern one. I believe the reason most globes are the way they are today is largely down to the British empire... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Red Scare during 50's question. What was considered "Communist" behavior, or suspicious behavior? | [
"Having joined or attended Communist party meetings. Having a spouse as a member. Being gay, especially in the military or espionage agencies. Strangely enough, the movie Clue delves into this. Professing certain sentiments. Having ties to certain labor organizations (some had ties to the Soviet Union, but this was... | [
"Hi! you might be interested in some of these earlier posts * [Did the Soviet union ever take advantage of the racial tensions in cold war america? particularly with blacks in the south?](_URL_7_) * [How did (or did) the USSR use the US's Civil Rights movement and issues like Jim Crow as propaganda?](_URL_8_) * [Ho... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What happened to the Roanoke Colony? | [
"There have been many theories. The principle theory was that they went South to Hatteras Island (then called Croatoan) because that word was found carved on a tree in the abandoned colony. Recently, a new theory had been developed, based on new evidence. This is not yet conclusive. In 2012, the British Museum used... | [
"...Tell us more about the New England vampire scare. Where and when?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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Fictional historical people | [
"Prester John. 500 years of European stories about a Christian monarch in India, or Central Asia, or Ethiopia. The Wikipedia entry is pretty good: _URL_0_ (I've been fascinated by that guy since I first heard of him, but can't claim any expertise about him.)"
] | [
"For that matter, what were the basic personality archetypes for children?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Where does the image of a pimp wearing extravagant clothing come from, and did any modern pimps do so? | [
"hi! you may be interested in a couple of posts; they're slim on answers, but have some book recommendations * [How accurate are depictions of 1970s American 'pimp fashion' in movies like Dolomite, and how/why did the styles develop?](_URL_0_) * [Where does the stereotypical \"pimp\" image come from?](_URL_1_)"
] | [
"they were called liripipes. Most people believe it was just a fashion trend at the time, one that was capitalized by modern artists/video games/what have you whenever they want to make something look \"medieval.\" There are a few manuscripts from around the fourteenth century in which people complain about how rid... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What was sex education like in the Soviet Union? | [
"While you wait, you can read an old answer by /u/kieslowskifan to a related question: _URL_0_"
] | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Why did they make dresses and capes with such long trains? Wouldn't they get dirty and torn very easily? | [
"In Renaissance Europe, large platform shoes called [chopines](_URL_4_) were used to elevate the wearer's feet and clothing from the filthy streets. It became a fashion trend in and of itself, with the increasing height of the shoes corresponding to wealth and status"
] | [
"Let's say you're 6 foot, 300lbs of raw muscle. You aren't going anywhere you don't want to. Now let's give you a nose ring with a string on it. You now go wherever you're pulled. Why don't you see them anymore? Well would you want to wear one for that purpose? Seems cruel doesn't it?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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When did the multi-generational family household go away? | [
"Where do you mean? Europe? The US? Middle East? Africa? Eastern Asia?"
] | [
"Side question, but definitely related: Were whipping boys used outside of the English court? Also, when did the idea of using a whipping boy fall out of favor?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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I'm interested in learning about people who would submit themselves to slavery in order to gain honor and fame. | [
"I think its Mamluks (Egypt) and Janissaries (Ottomans) you're thinking of, they were the elite slave bodyguards that took power when the ruling dynastiess became weak"
] | [
"Because it was important, especially in the beginning, for them to take on as many trappings of a religion as possible, in order to be able to claim religious tax exemptions."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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In the Roman Republic, who would do long term planning (considering that the leaders would rule for only a short time) ? | [
"I wouldn't say the short terms of consuls really was too big of a deal until the Second Punic War. After being defeated at Lake Trasemine by Hannibal, the Senate of Rome appointed a dictator named Quintus Fabius. He pursued a surprisingly \"un-Roman\" plan for defeating Hannibal-- Fabius avoided a pitched battle a... | [
"I suggest you write at least the approximate date you are looking at. Rome lasted for many hundreds of years and the culture and military changed over that time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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} |
So, I want to learn more about history. What are some good books? | [
"We have lots of recommendations on our [book list](/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books) and, since you're also interested in anthropology, so does [/r/AskAnthropology](/r/AskAnthropology/wiki/readinglist)."
] | [
"What are some of the primary sources that you have found? This sounds interesting. Would you recommend any books for a fun read?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
After the Russian Revolution, and the treaty of Brest-Litovsk, many small nations formed, such as Armenia, Ukraine and Finland. How exactly did these short lived countries operate and did any of them have any real authority? | [
"I am not sure what you mean by \"short lived\" as Finland and the Ukraine still exist as nations."
] | [
"Czechoslovakia was a collection of regions historically grouped together by various empires for logistical purposes and was never truly a unified culture that could function well as a stand alone nation. After the fall of the USSR they attempted to operate as a single nation but it simply did not work due to cultu... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Why was tar so important, and what was it used for? | [
"Well, at least in my area of specialty, tar is a major component of shipbuilding. Tar is often used as a shorthand for the whole industry of \"naval stores,\" which are basically products derived from plant resin that are used in shipbuilding and maintenance. Tar in particular is used for sealing, caulking and wat... | [
"A lot of inhabited land is not near the sea, and to extract salt you need to evaporate it, which requires a warm, dry environment near the coast or near a salt mine. These aren't that common, so Salt is harder to get than seems obvious. Demand also used to be larger, as it was the only real preservation method pri... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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Why, following the Carnation Revolution in 1974, did Portugal decolonize Cabo Verde, but not the other islands of Macaronesia? | [
"Those two archipelagos were not inhabited when the portuguese landed: they were colonized by portuguese (and other europeans, but to a lesser extent), and as such, the only thing they differed from the continental people is that they were surrounded by water on all sides. This was the same with Cabo Verde, however... | [
"France has exerted a lot of effort to maintain loose and informal control over its former colonial empire in Africa. If you're looking for formal attempts to regain a colonial empire, the best example might be Spain. After the loss of most of Spain's American colonies, it kept up a series of raids and invasions f... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What developments had the greatest influence on Western individualism v. Eastern collectivism? | [
"Can you give some specific examples of what you mean? Without them, this question is impossibly vague, and rests on a highly suspect assumption of fundamental difference between \"West\" and \"East.\""
] | [
"Can anyone suggest respected works that deal, on a theoretical level, with the concept of elites? Specifically from the standpoint of history."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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[Painting] Is this King Charles III? | [
"I'm afraid I don't know the painter, but that's George I of Great Britain."
] | [
"I read this as \"What is an erection?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What is the historically accurate version of the three wise men story? | [
"Since the story doesn't exist anywhere outside of the Gospel of Matthew, you probably aren't going to learn anything more. However, one thing most people don't realize is the popular depiction of the Magi showing up in the manger shortly after Jesus is born is not even biblical accurate. They show up much later w... | [
"What period and country are you asking about? There’s no context in your question."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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What kinds of things do we think Marco Polo may have seen but refused to tell? | [
"His account was actually considerably more tame than other travel narratives. Look at, for example, [Mandeville's Travels](_URL_0_) (this is my customary plug for Mandeville's Travels, one of my all time favorite medieval texts). Most likely, the \"I did not tell half...\" was a rhetorical device (I don't know en... | [
"While we're sometimes willing to help with homework, this is beyond the pale. How on earth could we say what historical figures *you* relate to?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Is there historical context for the recent pushback to globalism? | [
"Not sure if you are violating the 20 year rule with that question, also are you asking about if history has seen a push back to globalism prior to what we have seen? I am not quite sure what you mean by context."
] | [
"There is no such thing as guilt by association in the USA."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
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} |
Was Arm and Hammer ever considered Communist or Socialist due to its name and logo? | [
"Not going to answer the question directly since I don't know the answer to that exactly, but I will provide some chronology to give you some sort of idea of an answer. The hammer and sickle was adopted as the symbol for communism by Lenin in 1923. The Arm and Hammer was adopted as the logo for the socialist part... | [
"They were founded in San Fransisco in 1966 in response to police brutality in black communities. They expanded into social programs by the end of the 60s including serving free breakfasts to children. They were brought down by a combination of leadership screwups and the FBI's COINTEL program. They were not a hate... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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Did Isabella of Valois kneel before Richard II to beg mercy for merchants from Calais? | [
"Are you sure you aren't thinking of Philippa of Hainault? She begged Edward III to spare the Burghers of Calais. Edward wanted to kill them because they had held out for longer than he would have liked when he was sieging the city. And he wanted to set an example. They story goes that after they finally surrendere... | [
"Ludlow belonged to the de Lacy family in the 11th century. When the last male heir of the family died, it passed down to two daughters of his until it came to the possession of Geoffrey de Geneville. He, in turn, passed it to his son Peter in 1283. Roger Mortimer, who married a daughter of Peter de Geneville, made... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Best history books on certain topics? | [
"Hi, if you don't get specific recommendations for all of your topics, take a look through this subreddit's [*Book List*](_URL_0_). As mentioned at the top of the linked page, the list is also available on Good Reads, which has a searchable interface"
] | [
"Chronological: - Ray Harris Jr.- The History of World War 2 - Mike Dunkan - The History of Rome - Robin Pierson - The History of Byzantium (follow up podcast) - Khodadad Rezakhani - Iranologie (History of Iran) - The British History Podcast Other: - The AskHistorians Podcast (Intervies with AskHistorians contribut... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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In Wild West movies there is often a character that has moved west to help alleviate their tuberculosis (Doc Holliday being a real life example). Was this a common practice of the time and, if so, did this influx of sick people affect how The West developed? | [
"Follow up question, and apologies if this is better suited for AskScience, but is there solid science behind this? Cursory searches are turning up evidence of this being a common practice (e.g. the prevalence of sanatoriums in western states or former ASG John W. Trask [advocating more time outdoors](_URL_1_) to c... | [
"It's not particularly recommended to get it as a kid anymore, because an effective vaccine was released in 1995 that can prevent the possible dangerous effects of contracting the disease. Chickenpox can even be fatal. The effects of the disease can tend to be more severe in adults than children, which (especially ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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How did the ballet "The Nutcracker" become "for kids?" | [
"As a follow up question: My quick google search (based on a hunch) tells me it wasn't a huge, successful piece until George Balanchine produced it in 1954. How much of its success could be attributed to Disney's Fantasia, released in 1940?"
] | [
"It's like \"It's A Wonderful Life,\" but the opposite."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Would Vikings ever have open fires on their longships, for warmth, cooking or visibility? | [
"We have not found evidence of hearths, fire-bricks, hearthstones or the like on \"Viking\"-style ships that have been excavated, but that doesn't necessarily mean that there was never any provision for a fire (we have remarkably few longships to do archaeology on). If they had had a fire, the ships (being made of... | [
"Don't know how older eras did it, but during the Viking Age (Iron Age) in Scandinavia, they huddled with animals and all for warmth inside their longhouses for the duration of the winter. They lived off supplies gathered during the spring, summer and autumn."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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Was Northern England (Britannia Inferior) more of a buffer zone between Britannia Superior (Southern England) and Caledonia (Scotland) during Roman Britain? | [
"As Martin Millet pointed out in *The Romanization of Britain* the extent to which Roman lifestyle took hold in a region is highly dependent, or at least highly correlated, with its political organization before the conquest. Southern England was divided between numerous kingdoms with distinct identifies and loci o... | [
"If you mean the ancient Gauls, then it works like this: *all Gauls were Celts, but not all Celts were Gauls. Celtic peoples lived all over Europe back then, from what is now Spain all the way east into Turkey. They were not in any sense a unified political entity, and went by different names depending on where the... | eli5_question_answer | {
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The SKS rifle and the AK47. Why did they coexist in the Soviet and Chinese armies? | [
"So the SKS was made to replace the old Mosin Nagant as the main weapon for the Soviet foot soldier. It was finally developed and deployed by the end of the 40s. However the AK was already being made and basically outdated the SKS before really being deployed. So now the Soviets have a bunch of these rifles and fac... | [
"I feel like this is a question that should be answered by a panel like this. a popular question on this subreddit is why, on the on-set of WWII, America was the only country with a semi-automatic rifle while everyone else were using bolt-action rifles. Is this an accurate depiction of the arsenals of the different... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Is there is any specific (geographical, climate-based, etc.) reason/s that the world's superpowers are located in the Northern Hemisphere? | [
"Northern hemisphere has more landforms. The Southern Hemisphere only has sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, sub-Amazon South America and a handful of archipelagos. The northern hemisphere has all of Europe, North America, Asia and sizable chunks of Africa and South America."
] | [
"I am not a native English speaker and as far as I know, continent means two things in English, while my language has different words for the two things. Continent means a land mass as well as large area of world. There's 7 of both, but America is composed of North and South American land masses/plates (plus more)... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What are some great reads on life in the British navy between 1750-1850? | [
"I've just bought *The Command of the Ocean* and *The Safeguard of the Sea: A Naval History of Britain* by N.A.M Rodger on a recommendation from this sub. Not sure if they will contain exactly what you're looking for as they appear to be quite politics/land heavy but they may change as I get through them. It's bee... | [
"Yes. Slavery in Rome was not tied to race/skin color like it was in the United States during the 1700-1800s"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Are there any historical examples of people "Fabricating Claims" on land? | [
"The most famous fabrication that I can think of would be the Donation of Constantine, which basically gave the Papacy a fraudulent claim to being the rightful successor of the whole Western Roman Empire. This is a bit more controversial, but George Garnett claims in *The Norman Conquest: A Very Short Introduction*... | [
"I'm going to ask this as a question: Are there not still legacy treaties in place between USA and Holy Roman Empire? Stemming from Revolutionary War mercenaries that performed well?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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How did the British Empire handle the dissemination of information across the empire? How did they manage centralised rule over the globe? | [
"The centre actually had surprisingly little control over the colonies, with the notable exception of India. Disraeli complained that (I am paraphrasing) \"we have all these colonies that we do not govern but we do pay for\". He was referring to the UK paying for the defence of Canada and South Africa without actua... | [
"The UK is arguably the most dominant nation of the past 1000 years, the US over the past 100. On top of that, the US has been a leader in media, technology, and commerce during the first time in history it has been easy to for the general public to communicate with people around the globe. That has gone a long way... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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suppose I'm a typical (18 year old male) Egyptian farmer in the 1390s. Am I likely to make a pilgrimage to Mecca Before I die? if "yes" how Will I get there? | [
"Related question: if I'm a typical Egyptian farmer in the 1390s, would I even be Muslim or identify as Arab?"
] | [
"They were. Syphilis was unknown to the rest if the world until it was brought back from the New World. Im sure there were more, but I cant think of any off the top of my head."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about History:"
} |
How much did Band Aid/USA for Africa/Live Aid really help starving people in Africa in the long run? | [
"There have been a couple of threads with answers on the impact of Live Aid, Band Aid, and USA for Africa, so I'll link them: u/wilbarp provides a thorough account with plenty of further discussion in [Did celebrity efforts like Band Aid's \"Do they know it's Christmas?\" and USA for Africa's \"We Are The World\" a... | [
"If it says Africa in the charity...it is a scam. Charity in Africa has become counterproductive, as corrupt African governments have come to rely on donations to feather their own beds. The amount of aid that actually goes to those that need it, is minimal at best. & #x200B; In terms that a Five year old can und... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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What nation stood to gain the most by ensuring that the 13 colonies broke away from England? | [
"France, hence their support of the colonial cause even to the point of sending troops and warships. France was not only Britain's existential rival, but had been in direct confrontation with Britain on the North American continent for years. The chance to help dislodge a massive slice of North American territory f... | [
"Why would they want or need to? Their trade and indeed their whole economy was dependent upon Britain. There also wasn't the emerging economic and political elite in Bermuda, such as existed in the 13 Colonies, who saw personal advantage in separation from Britain. Without the political self-interest of the \"Foun... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Hitler's Order on 15.4.1945. What does hitler mean with the old fate of asia? (Link inside) | [
"In context he is implying that the \"ancient fate of Asia\" is to fail at invading Europe. To my mind this brings a reference to the stopping of the Mongol expansion in the 13th century, which halted right before reaching German lands (for a variety of reasons unrelated to the Germans being good at fighting them, ... | [
"Nobody. after 2000 years it becomes public domain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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How do historians view experimental archaeologists, reenactors, SCA, ARMA/HEMA, etc.? | [
"> How do historians view experimental archaeologists, reenactors, SCA, ARMA/HEMA, etc.? With caution. Like all hobbyists some are better, some are worse. The good ones are great sources of knowledge. > Is experimental archaeology a respected discipline? Can be. Especially with replicas. Problem is with replicas ... | [
"here's some info on naval battle reenactments in Rome [Were naval battles staged in the Coliseum?](_URL_0_) and, just FYI in case you're interested in how widely-spread reenactments are: [When did civil war reenactments become popular in the US? Are war reenactments ubiquitous in other modern day cultures, or is t... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Can anybody tell me what era this ring is from? | [
"Closeup of the stones please. The concept of an angled pavillion on the back of the stone to reflect light didn't arise until the renaissance, the modern form of faceted gems didn't emerge until just before the French Revolution. I do a bit of hobby faceting, I will be able to make guesses about the back of hte st... | [
"Could you post where that quote came from? Thanks"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Where can I find primary sources on mortars/artillery in world war one? | [
"Not sure if you're an American, but have you contacted the [National World War I Museum](_URL_0_) in Kansas City, Missouri? Their collections include manuals and technical specifications from the war. Alternatively, if you're from Britain the Imperial War Museum is where I would start."
] | [
"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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[Meta] Is there a list of top experts in their respective subject floating around anywhere? | [
"Our [flaired user list](_URL_0_) can be found linked on the sidebar and in the sub's wiki."
] | [
"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 query:",
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"neg": "Represent the comment about Literature:"
} |
Where in the US did Belgian gratitude school photo's from the World War 1 era end up? | [
"This is completely and utterly fascinating! Which Lafayettes in America have you contacted people in? Were these photographs primarily being sent to larger cities, like the Indianapolis example? My first thought it that this was Lafayette, IN, because that's home of a big public US university, and a larger city. ... | [
"Thanks! Where these armies where most of the Soviet casualties occurred?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Did NASA Use Mayan Math in Preparation for the Moon Landing? | [
"What are you considering \"Mayan Math\"? The majority of Maya math was based on astronomy, so there very well may have been some calculations NASA performed that had also been preformed centuries earlier in the Yucatan. But that doesn't make it particularly Maya in any way. Math and astronomy are the same no matte... | [
"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 | {
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Can you explain the use of the word "plastic" vessels when speaking about the 4th millennium Mycenaean art? | [
"\"Plastic\" art means three-dimensional art. It has nothing to do with synthetic materials, if that is what is confusing you. It refers to any material that can be molded or formed into different shapes. The plastic arts commonly refer to sculpture and ceramics, though the use of plastic can be extended to mean al... | [
"In ancient Greece very fine olive oil was a common prize. Olive oil is transported in vases and ... cups. The image of the two-handled cup is very similar to the olive oil urn. Everything else is just derived from that idea."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Why did the US intervene in Cold War era conflicts, like Korea and Vietnam, but the Soviet Union only supported their interests? | [
"I'm confused by your question. Are you saying that the USA was not supporting its own interest in Vietnam and Korea?"
] | [
"North Vietnam by itself, no. The reason the US took such an interest in it, and fought a war costing thousands of lives, was because we were trying to limit the growing influence of communism via the USSR. The Vietnam War was part of the (not so) Cold War, one of many individual proxy wars influenced by the US and... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
I'm looking for a text on the life of Napoleon Bonaparte, would anyone with experience in this particular historiography be able to offer insight into any specific texts? | [
"A more modern publication would be Alan Schom's biography; it is a true biography, and gives equal focus to his campaigns and personal life. It can get tedious at times during the early and formative years, and the author is heavily opinionated (alternating from viscous attacks on Napoleon's character to praise of... | [
"Hi there -- rather than asking a historian here to watch all (counts ...) 201 episodes of a web series and comment on its accuracy, would you perhaps be interested in providing a summary of the main points of the series and its sourcing? Or alternatively, individual themes or episodes you'd like to have fact check... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
What were the greatest pranks/pranksters of history? | [
"[Horace De Vere Cole](_URL_0_) always seems to be mentioned as one of the greats."
] | [
"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 post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Who was the greatest prankster of all time? | [
"Odysseus? \"Surprise! The horse is full of dudes!\" \"Surprise! We're not actually sheep!\" \"Surprise! I'm not a beggar but actually me, Odysseus, greatest prankster of them all!\""
] | [
"Being a king. That applies to most parts of history."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
What are the current historiographical debates? | [
"There is a whole lot of history to debate and a whole lot of sub-fields all with their own relevant debates and discussions. Do you have any fields you are particularly interested in? You might check out *Debating the Middle Ages* by Rosenwein and Little for a 'best of' for Medieval History, though note that it is... | [
"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 document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 | [
"[There's a meta-thread for all questions concerning the Voting Rights Act on AskHistorians.](_URL_2_)"
] | [
"They do. The law requires schools receiving federal funds to provide educational programming on the constitution. Google H.R. 4818."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
My Grandfather is a US WWII veteran and came across this while helping clean out his house. Could You provide any insight onto what this is? (Picture linked in comments). | [
"The sword itself looks like a reproduction of the [Tizona del Cid](_URL_0_) (scroll down just a touch to see the hilt), which belonged to the 11th century Castilian knight Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar (El Cid Compeador). You can read more about his details at that page, but the repro swords have been popular for a long t... | [
"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 | {
"query": "Represent the query about history:",
"pos": "Represent the document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Are there specific examples from history of older generations disapproving of young people's values or actions? | [
"Here is a great answer by /u/Celebreth to a different question but it should answer yours as well. _URL_0_"
] | [
"Same sex relationships are opposed by Christianity (and likely western religions in general, but I say that with some hesitation because I'm not an expert so you should fact-check me if you want to know for sure), so while the world was influenced heavily by those religious beliefs, practices like homosexuality we... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the handedess of a warrior affect their fighting ability? | [
"[This has come up before,](_URL_0_) but unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much info on it. As is pointed out there, we have reason to believe that in a military based on shield formation, lefties would be forces to fight right handed, but that's about it. As I said in that thread, for single combat - or at l... | [
"Interested on how you thinking Chinese being first to use gunpowder and fireworks means high quality.."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
When did we first realize that cetaceans were mammals? | [
"The first publication to mention whales as mammals was the 10th edition of Linnaeus *Systema naturae*, in 1758. One of his students, Pehr Löfling, got the same idea but perished before beeing published. Source: [Aldemaro Romero, 2012, \"*When Whales Became Mammals: The Scientific Journey of Cetaceans From Fish to ... | [
"I have no idea, but elephants, magpies and great apes have been observed grieving deceased relatives, so they most likely feel complex emotions."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Were Kamikazee attacks good strategy? | [
"Hello, I have answers [here](_URL_0_) and [here](_URL_1_) that you might want to look at."
] | [
"a) Post WWII Nuremberg trials were very German centric. We also ignored Japan's war crime against China (Unit 731, Nanjing massacre, etc) & Korea, Russia's war crime against Germany (a lot of rapes), England's fire bombing of German cities, and many more. b) Nuclear bombs weren't a war crime at that time. No one g... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
My High School history teacher gave me a very different account of Franz Ferdinand's assassination than what I've heard from other sources. Is there legitimate confusion around this event? | [
"Professor in college told the following story about the assassination. The Archduke was extremely vain and his uniform was tailored to his body. The bullet had hit his jugular but the severity of the wound was not clear until they cut the shirt out around his neck. The tightness had served somewhat as a tournique... | [
"As a Brit, I've certainly not come across the idea that it was accidental. Quite the opposite. Where is that interpretation taught?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
What should I read about American revolution? | [
"I've enjoyed Edmund Sears Morgan's _The Birth of the Republic, 1763-89_. It's a classic book on the revolution and the development of the Constitution (not the same thing!), and is very short and to the point. Morgan's approach is one that I enjoy in part because it doesn't involve getting caught up in the \"drama... | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument about Literature:"
} |
A new video game is coming out that takes place from 303 BC to the rise of Augustus. The game is NOT focused solely on Rome but also Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. I know next to nothing about the events of this time period, what are some good books to inspire my gameplay? | [
"Question for OP. Since I didn't see it in the post, is the game Imperator: Rome?"
] | [
"Are you asking about the Empire (16th century to later 20th) or just about the relations of wars and the Empire. I am a bit confused to exactly what you are asking."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
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