query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
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|---|---|---|---|---|
[Thanksgiving question] Who invented pie and why don't we honor them? | [
"I believe the general consensus is that it was a Greek invention (Aristophanes mentions pastries in The Clouds, so 5th Century BC at least), but the pastry was used to carry and preserve the contents, rather than being designed to be one edible article. The convention of eating the crust came far later during late... | [
"If there had been, we probably wouldn't know about it, would we?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
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Was the common working man in England during the Napoleonic Wars really aware of it? Was it something that people with no direct involvement would have talked about on a daily basis? | [
"Aside from the fact there were several thousand English soldiers from all over the country serving, and at least some of them sending letters home. People of the day who had access to a Newspaper would be able to read about the events in the form of dispatches that were published. For example, after the Battle of ... | [
"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 ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Why were the British opposed to the idea of hegemony in Europe, being bought about by Germany in 1914? | [
"Because Britain's Strategy in Europe was to maintain a balance of Power. This can be seen in it's interventions against Napoleon, as well as against Germany in World War 1. Britain entered WWI because Germany violated Belgium's sovereignty. Belgium was a wonderful place to cross the channel from. Britain could fig... | [
"This question is answered in Dan Carlin's podcast. He explains that France and Germany knew that war was inevitable and both wanted Russia to be their ally. Otto Von Bismarck was successful in allying the new German Empire with Russia, but when he was out of office, Kaiser Wilhelm did not work to keep this allianc... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
To what extent was North Korea a Soviet satellite state during the Cold War? | [
"A follow up question: can we think of South Korea and Taiwan as American satellite states when they were ruled by military junta?"
] | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Question about USS North Carolina | [
"How old was your grandfather? Depending on his age, he could have worked on the *North Carolina* that was canceled in 1922. That particular battleship was laid down in 1920 at Norfolk Naval Shipyard and was under construction until requirements of the Washington Naval Treaty forced it to stop."
] | [
"OP, how about a short explanation about how you know this?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
When the U.S was segregated, if a white person went to a "colors only" restaurant, would they get service or would they be denied? | [
"Were there 'colors only' restaurants? Or were there only 'white only' places? My impression was that whites could basically go anywhere they wanted, they just didn't. And thus the follow-up question."
] | [
"White people didn't face legal repercussions for using \"colored\" fountains. There would have been a chance of social derision from the White community, due to the association with African Americans, or the significantly lower quality of \"Colored\" specific areas but nothing illegal would have happened if a whit... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
[European history] How did the fleet led by Christopher Columbus make its return to Spain in 1493? | [
"Columbus actually returned to Europe a different \"way\" than he came -- I mean, he sailed both ways, but on his return route he took a more northerly circular path, to profit from the Gulf Stream current and to avoid the area of calm airs called the Sargasso Sea in the central Atlantic. If you will forgive the Wi... | [
"Were the Europeans aware that Japan existed before Portuguese sailors came across it in 1543?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How was a 12-Pound Cannon referred to after the Metric system? | [
"The French referred to it as the Canon obusier de 12 - because the calibre was 12cm. They also used the Canon de 12 and Canon de 8, which were 12 and 8cm calibre respectively. They adopted these systems in the 1840s to 1850s, and used punds until then."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
What do we know about the Viking exploration of North America? What are the facts? What do we speculate and assume? | [
"When I learned about this particular subject, what stuck out to me is how little we know. I think all knowledge comes from two sources basically. The [Vinland Sagas](_URL_3_) and the archeological site at the [L'Anse aux Meadows](_URL_2_)."
] | [
"I recommend that you ask whether the classic Viking funeral with the burning boat ever occurred. There is plenty of archaeological evidence consisting of gravesites surrounded by stones arranged in the shape of a boat, and there are a few buried vessels used as graves, so the archaeology is good for this sort of g... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Was/Is the role of the "little boats" during operation Dynamo (the evacuation from Dunkirk) overstated? | [
"The popular view of the evacuation from Dunkirk is one of the RN and the \"little ships\" rescuing the BEF from the beaches. Although the RN were heavily involved, the bulk of the vessels used in the evacuation were conventional merchant vessels of all types, cargo ships, ferries and fishing vessels of all types w... | [
"\"The Battle of Normandy\" or \"Normandy Campaign\" is the most encompassing term, referring to the entire campaign to liberate France from the Germans and establish a foothold for the allies in Western Europe, from June to September 1944. \"The Normandy Invasion\" was the first few weeks of the Battle of Normandy... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What plans, if any, did the Confederate States of America have - or discuss - for expansion into Latin America? | [
"None that I know of, however, Southerners before the war had long had pipe dreams of an America that would extend to Panama. All of these new territories would be slave states. More realistic were attempts to gain Cuba as a slave state. One southerner, Walker, established a slave country in Nicuragua by an invasio... | [
"You will probably get a lot of differing answers, but at the end of the day it all depends on how you define \"Empire\" and if you include informal Imperialism in this definition. If you are looking for formal Imperialism, it gets a bit easier: The USA was an Empire after the Spanish-American War of 1898, when it ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
How did Commonwealth countries/nations gain independence? | [
"Hi there! There are 20+ countries that were part of the British Commonwealth and it will immensly help any expert attempting an answer here to narrow it down a bit. Thank you!"
] | [
"The independent Commonwealth Caribbean countries have been largely unsuccessful financially, regardless of how long they have been independent. For example, the country that has been independent for the longest time, Haiti, is the most impoverished nation in the region. British control, as you call it, provides a... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
How did George Washington Carver inventing peanut butter become one of the prototypical "contributions" black people have made to society? | [
"He didn't invent peanut butter. Marcellus Gilmore Edson did."
] | [
"Well we're still feeling the ripple effect from old racism and slavery. Watermelon originally came from South Africa and spread through most of Africa in ancient times. It was the moors who brought watermelon to Europe and early American settlers who brought it here to the USA. When slavery was at its peak, waterm... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
Lots of US states have laws against oral sex. Were these laws ever enforced? How? | [
"Another question, would both parties involved get in trouble, or just 1 person?"
] | [
"Because most states have laws against fetal homicide, but states are not permitted to ban abortion before the third trimester. The law is not required to be philosophically consistent."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
American bases in the Pacific I can use for my story! | [
"By 1941 and the run up to war the US had several dozen bases across the 1/2 of the world represented by the Pacific. Everything from the great fleet base at Pearl, to smaller outposts like Wake or Guam and the Philippines, to outposts in paradise like Pago Pago. What kind of base does it need to be, how big, what ... | [
"Because they'd have to take on the whole US Army?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Looking for information on Appalachian folklore. | [
"If you are looking for very, very early, there is a whole chapter devoted to folk beliefs among the Scotch-Irish immigrants that settled in Appalachia in \"Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways Into America\" by David Hackett Fischer. In particular, I remember a few about butter. The more hair, the less harm. Toss... | [
"How do you define your hints of schizophrenia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Where did the ‘stag do’ originate from? Did groups of men partake in stag do’s hundreds of years ago or is it more of a modern thing? | [
"Context for any Americans reading this: a stag do is a bachelor party. A bachelorette party is a \"hen do\". I believe a bachelor party is called a \"bucks\" in Australia? An interesting follow up question might be where all these names came from..."
] | [
"Humans across a wide variety of cultures have been manufacturing alcohol for over 5,000 years. It's built into a lot of cultural traditions, even the Bible mentions it. If it was invented 10 years ago it probably wouldn't be legal."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph about alcohol and behavior:"
} |
Visitor from /r/dnd here. What are some small events that could indicate a build-up to war? | [
"Can I suggest crossposting to /r/history? Your question is a bit outside of the normal scope of this sub and they are a bit more loose with content over there."
] | [
"A dragon is a single, large, intelligent foe that no human-sized hero stands a chance of defeating in straight combat. Even if you've got a dozen heros or an army, you still can't beat it in straight combat. To defeat the dragon, you need to be clever or quest for a magic sword - something that's worthy of a hero.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
(Viking/Scandanavian weaponry) In Marvel Comics, do any of the versions of Mjölnir accurately resemble ancient warhammers? | [
"/u/Gugg256 gives a great answer about how Vikings imagined Thor's hammer to look. To add to it, here's what actual hammers from a Viking tool chest (found buried in a bog) looked like: Sketches of the originals: _URL_3_ And a reproduction: _URL_4_ You'll notice the shape isn't so different from some of the necklac... | [
"He's the oldest, having been born before WW2 and then kept in suspended animation for a few decades. You would probably guess that Thor was the oldest, being a God and all that, but he's technically just a crippled med student named Donald Blake given the mantle of godhood on contact with the hammer of Thor (Mjoln... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Did any of Lewis Carroll's contemporaries believe or suspect he was a pedophile, or is this purely a modern idea? | [
"Follow-up question: If it is purely a modern idea, where did this idea come from, and how much validity is there to it?"
] | [
"I work a lot on Newton, although it must be confessed that I work in Intellectual History, so I don't really think much about people's lives, instead I think about their ideas. That being said, I've never heard anybody seriously suggest that Newton and Fatio's relationship was sexual. It is often remarked that New... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
Is spreading dust on scrolls historical? | [
"What you are seeing is called [pounce](_URL_0_), which is a find sand like substance used to dry the ink faster. The inks used before the twentieth century did not dry as fast as modern ink, so the pounce material would be used to prevent smearing or smudging when turning the page or folding a letter. If you look... | [
"Only Tangentially related, but is there any property specific to cat skin that makes it more suitable for holding coin?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What exactly was found when the Borgia apartments were unsealed in 1889? | [
"Why were they sealed in the first place?"
] | [
"It has been updated and renovated on several occasions since it was last burnt by the British."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
It seems like almost every US war during the 20th century had a face of the enemy who would be featured in political cartoons as a representative of the enemy: the Kaiser, Hitler, Ho Chi Minh, Hussein, Bin Laden, etc. Was there any such figure during the Korean War? | [
"During the Korean War the main figure used to represent the Communist side was Josef Stalin. Stalin was seen as the most powerful Communist figure and thought by many to be the person responsible for the war. He was also the one American readers were most likely to be familiar with. Sometimes Mao was used, mainly ... | [
"The Italian people revolted and ousted Mussolini from power when the war turned against them, and afterwards helped support the Allied war effort against Germany. As a result, they tended not to get demonized as much in post-war propaganda as Germany and Japan did."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Is there any chance the trojan horse was a fictional story | [
"While it's not specifically about the details of the Trojan Horse, you may enjoy this essay by /u/iphikrates which discusses what historians of ancient Greece think about the whole of the Iliad: [Why do some historians completely dismiss the Iliad and Homeric epics as having any historical basis?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"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:"
} |
The Council of Nicaea in 325 enacted a series of canon laws, one of which was to ban self castration. How big an issue was this for it to be one of the few things on their agenda?! | [
"I don't know how popular it was, but I know that [Origen](_URL_0_), a prominent Christian leader of the previous century, had castrated himself. So, it would definitely have been on the minds of the Council. As for why, I can see three reasons: * To promote chastity. Christian teaching then saw sin even more serio... | [
"Paul. In the Gospels Jesus is fairly clear that the old law has been abolished (see Mathew 15:11 as the standard proof text for this)- that is that those Old Testament sins are no longer sins. But, the Gospels are not the end of the New Testament. In the Epistles the Bible condemns homosexuality (and other Old Tes... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What type of paper did Shakespeare write Romeo and Juliet on? | [
"Old rags. No seriously. Old worn out hemp and linen rags would be pulped and then pressed to remove the water then pressed out into sheets and then dried."
] | [
"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 text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
Do we currently have any "real" archaeological findings related to Mathematics/Physics/Geometry from the Classical Greek Era (5th-4th century B.C.)? I mean something similar to the "encarved zero symbol" at the Gwalior temple in India? | [
"By using the term \"archaeological findings,\" you seem to be excluding the literary record. In fact, there's a huge and significant trove of ancient Greek literature on the topics you've enumerated in your list, and these resources continued to inform the study of math, science, and philosophy in the greater Medi... | [
"Did you truly mean 2500 BCE and not 250 BCE? 2500 BC predates Mycenaean Greece, even, by many centuries."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
At the end of "Hamilton" the musical, the character of Eliza Hamilton says, "Every other Founding Fathers' story gets told." Is there another Founding Father about whom the American public should know? | [
"Would John Jay count? Is he considered as influential as Hamilton in academic circles?"
] | [
"I would recommend Sarah Vowell's brand new book, *Lafayette in the Somewhat United States*. She is not a historian, she's an essayist but what I love about her is how she plays historian, historiographier, and essayist in how she melds history with public perception of the history. As such, a majority of the book ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How were ballistic machines employed before the development of physics? | [
"Physics dates back to the Ancient Greeks, who coincidentally are credited with inventing the ballista. The Persians had some sort of \"machines\" at their disposal, but we have no real idea what they were. The earliest ballistae came about from attempts to launch larger projectiles with larger and stiffer bows. Th... | [
"Almost all of our modern medicine is a result of military engineering, as well as jet airplanes, and radios."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
Does anyone have any sources to contribute to a Soviet Antisemitism research guide in the making? | [
"I don't know if this is relevant, but here are some [\"coffins\"](_URL_0_) that the Moscow State University gave to Jewish applicants in their entrance exams in the 1970s. The university used math problems that were nearly impossible to solve in order to curb the amount of Jews in their math department."
] | [
"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 query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What happened to the Picts in modern day Scotland? | [
"This is not a complete answer but it's been 7 hours and nobody has answered at all, so I will throw in what I know. There were certainly wars between Northumbria and Pictland and between Dal Riata and Pictland, and in the 12th century Henry of Huntingdon wrote; \"but we see that the Picts have now been wiped out a... | [
"Did you mean in the USA, or in Japan?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
I am an Aztec captive selected to sacrificed. What would my last days be like? | [
"[This question](_URL_0_) discusses a specific type of sacrifice, but you'll find it a useful start."
] | [
"You only remember the good and forget all the little things that made it mundane. Also you won't fully know the value of something until you no longer have it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Is there a term for the concept that people alive at the present think they are the acme of history? | [
"Do you mean a culture-wide version of the End of History Illusion (_URL_0_)?"
] | [
"I think significance is a relative term to use. The way we perceive what happens in our lifetimes depends on who and when and where we are. I imagine everyone to ever live believed their time was the most trying in human history to some standard. Sorry if that doesn't help. I do find that a fascinating question."
... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
How big of an impact did Li Shizhen's Bencao Gangmu make in Chinese medicine? | [
"I am only an acupuncturist, and my program did not include herbs. But I know that in the field today li shizhen's work is the foundation of herbology."
] | [
"The Confucian Age was in the Spring and Autumn period, this was the age of philosophers, about the time of Buddhas life and the lives of the Hebrew prophets The Sung/Song dynasty was one of the best eras in Chinese history. It had many advances in literature and the arts. Sorry, no book recommendations :("
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
According to Wikipedia, when the British left the falklands in 1774, they left a plaque claiming the islands for George III. What happened to this plaque? Is it still up? | [
"According to my copy of Martin Middlebrook's *The Falklands War* : > The plaque was later removed by a Spanish naval officer and taken to Buenos Aires. Since he says 'Spanish' and not 'Argentinian' I presumed the plaque was removed sometime before 1811 when the Spanish settlements in the Malvinas were withdrawn. ... | [
"The Falklands is a British colony, they don't have any voting rights, but are technically British citizens and the majority are of British ethnicity, and they would rather stay under British rule. Argentina believe the islands should be under Argentine rule because when they gained independence they also gained th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Incest in Medieval European Villages | [
"So first, yes, many people didn't travel far, but a lot of recent work has shown that medieval horizons were much broader than people first thought. Pulling a wife from a neighboring village would not be like venturing off to find the grail. Second, villages weren't so very small, by and large - I don't know of an... | [
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Does China have a claim on Japan? | [
"The Japanese main islands have always been inhabited by Japanese people and the only time Japanese territory was controlled by outsiders was during the Allied occupation after WWII. So, no, China does not have even a remotely valid claim on Japan."
] | [
"If you are located just to the west of it, and you don't love Japan, you call it the East Sea. If you don't think China should have any claims over it, you call it the Sea of Japan."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Were there Roman-Empire political "cartoons?" What other ancient political "cartoons" do we know about? | [
"If wall graffiti counts in this instance then yes, they did have political cartoons and attack ads in ancient Rome. [Source](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"I have a few questions for 20th century political historians: How do historians usually work with 20th century political commentators? Are they good primary sources to understand the political opinions of the general public or do they just show the commentators' opinions? Are there any works that discuss how histo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How does Washington contrast the US to Europe in his farewell address? | [
"This seems like a homework question. The address isn't long, and it's easy to find online."
] | [
"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 Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Listening to the BBC I heard a professor make the offhand remark that people did not know how to swim in the Bronze Age. Is there any truth to this statement? | [
"Of course humans knew how to swim. Babies know how to swim when thrown into water, and people on coastlines had sure as hell better know how to swim even if, like the Greeks of Hesiod's time, they're not too fond of it. The Persians at Salamis didn't know how to swim, but that doesn't mean people in the Iron Age d... | [
"As a follow up I heard it said several times that the Romans would use urine as mouthwash. Is there any truth to that?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Assata Shakur once said, “Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” Is this true? | [
"I don't recall any of the South American dictatorships of the 70s ending by war or external pressure. The case which I'm most familiar with, Uruguay, had been in a dictatorship since 1973, and in 1980 the military junta in power tried to give some legitimacy to its government, proposing a new constitution which w... | [
"TO quote John Steinbeck: \"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.\" You can't vote against the oppressors if your one secret wish is to join them one day."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
In her 1987 autobiography Assata Shakur wrote that "Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them". How historically accurate is this statement? | [
"Although answered questions can still be re-asked, this question has already been asked before, with a few answers, by /u/tach ,/u/random-dent and /u/SOAR21: _URL_0_"
] | [
"The definition of \"terrorist\" is in the eyes of the beholder, or more accurately, the dominant class in society. In South Africa, Mandela was a member of the ANC, and the ANC advocated armed resistance against the apartheid regime. Even though that regime systematically terrorized a majority of the population th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How did the anniversary of the execution of Guy Fawkes & co become a national night of festivity in the UK? | [
"Point of fact: 5 November was *not* the date of execution. The Gunpowder Plot leaders were executed later; Fawkes on 31 January 1606. 5 November 1605 is the date they were *arrested* and the plot foiled. The celebrations may have had some spontaneous content but were helped along by the [Observance of 5th November... | [
"They don't. The Chinese New Year is usually some time in February, and is widely celebrated both within China and in Chinese communities around the world. The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) is usually in September and is celebrated in Israel and by Jewish communities everywhere. The Islamic New Year is not a huge... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Thursday Focus | Historical Fiction | [
"[Fatherland](_URL_12_) is a must read, one of the earliest/most popular stories asking \"What if...?\". Harris went on to write [Imperium](_URL_11_), which is also pretty good. Also a must read (and maybe must-see?) is [Animal Farm](_URL_15_) by Orwell - the more you know about Sowjet History the better (and depre... | [
"The Art of War in the Western World - Archer Jones"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Literature:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:"
} |
1938 Peace for our time agreement with Germany. What were the alternatives and the arguments pro/against it at the time? | [
"I think its pretty simple: For - No one wanted another war, I don't even think Hitler did. Against - Hitler and the Nazis weren't to be trusted. Chamberlain was hailed as a great statesman for getting the agreement signed and \"taming\" Hitler. It all relied on Hitler keeping his word, which of course didn't happe... | [
"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 post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Russia has a huge territory just in front of Japan and not far from South Korea. Why is it that this region is not super developed/integrated with these economies? | [
"Vladivostok is the main port city on Russia's Pacific coast, and indeed does receive a lot of trade from Japan. A lot of Japanese cars are imported into the city, and most people driving use Japanese-style right-side drive, despite Russian roads being designed for left-side driving (meaning the Japanese drive on t... | [
"While very large and rich in resources, it has fewer people than Argentina, Poland, or Sudan. There are cities in China with almost as many people as Canada. In addition, culturally, politically, and diplomatically, they are similar to their close allies the US and the UK, and don't have much to add to what those ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Did people ever actually dress like they do on Game of Thrones? | [
"Related question: where did leather studs get associated with medieval times? GOT actually avoids this, but B and C level movies set in medieval times everybody and their hut mate seems to be wearing leather studs as part of their leather armor."
] | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why has this painting been mis-attributed to the French Revolution? | [
"[This podcast] (_URL_0_) from the BBC's *[In Our Time](_URL_0_)* dedicated to the historical background of Delacroix's painting might be of interest."
] | [
"I'm afraid I don't know the painter, but that's George I of Great Britain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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} |
In light of the new debates on who to cast for another Cleopatra movie, what mightve her skin color look like in real life? | [
"Not to preclude additional answers, but u/cleopatra_philopater answered this in [What is the most plausible theory on Cleopatras’ skin color?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"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 title:",
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} |
When was the barbell invented? | [
"How strict is your definition? Do you mean the modern, fixed and known weight bar and labeled weight plates, or would you accept things like using balls of varying diameter filled with different materials attached to a wooden bar?"
] | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
} |
[META] What other subreddits are like /r/AskHistorians?l | [
"The quality of the moderation can vary, and not everyone has exactly our philosophy about it, but there's a variety of other R-slash-Ask subreddits that we will redirect questions to where appropriate - /r/askscience, /r/asksocialscience, /r/askphilosophy, /r/askliterarystudies, /r/askeconomics - and we'll redirec... | [
"You might want to crosspost this to /r/AskScience."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
Why do most North Koreans seem to believe that the South (backed by the US) invaded the North first? | [
"I believe that some scholars, such as [Bruce Cummings](_URL_0_), argue that South Korean troops were first to fire. North Korean veterans would probably be unable to know if their country fired first. And, in any case, they viewed it as a war to liberate their fellow Koreans and unify the country - not as an inva... | [
"Each side wants reunification on their own terms. North Korea wants all of Korea to worship the Kim family, which isn't going to happen. South Korea wants all of Korea to be a modern country, which won't happen as long as the Kim family remains in power."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
In 775, the radioactive CO2 in the atmosphere jumped 1.2%. What does this coincide with, historically? Any unusual trends? | [
"You may want to consider posting this in Askscience as well."
] | [
"No, not every weather event will be considered to be caused by climate change. Weather events far above or far below the average will be considered to be caused by climate change. ***What proof is there?*** Ice caps are used to find out CO2 concentrations thousands of years in the past. CO2 is known to cause a gre... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post about Climate science:"
} |
Was it true that the Soviet Army didn't use any ranks at the beginning? | [
"The Red Army did get rid of 'ranks' in a more superficial sense in that someone commanding a division would be called a 'division commander', rather than 'general' (Or whichever rank commands a division, I'm not sure). There was a broad push to do away, even if just superficially, with symbols of the old order (no... | [
"Also, would her military experience be any useful in finding a job? Did women serve in the British military during World War 1 and if so, did they go back into the workforce afterwards?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
What was anti-war sentiment like at the beginning of WWI ("The Great War") | [
"Hi, Regarding Canada, I just thought I'd leave this [post](_URL_0_) here. It's actually about quebec Independence movement, but there is also something about the conscription and it shows how Canada was divided. Guess what, the French Canadians were not eager to save the Queen."
] | [
"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 argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
A while ago, I was speaking to a woman who grew up in West Germany, and she claimed that every time you made a phone call, "You could actually hear the tape recorder click on" at whatever location you were being recorded at. Is this true? | [
"West Germany had and has very strict laws for the defense of your private sphere. Secrecy of correspondence is warranted in the 10th article of the German constituion (literally: basic law) and a breach thereof is punished with up to 5 years in jail according to §206 of the StGB. So it might have been [a tongue in... | [
"After the connection is established, they would go silent. And they could be configured to be completely silent. But the nice thing about having the noise at the beginning was that you could tell when the connection had been established. There was an easily distinguished change in the noise that said \"everything ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Why was the movie "Citizen Kane" booed at the Academy Awards? | [
"Welles' film was based on William Randolph Hearst, and not in a flattering manner. Hearst used his wealth and influence to do all he could to shut down the film and discredit Welles, and succeeded in having the release of the film delayed for quite some time. Among his friends and cronies, Hearst counted many of H... | [
"Avatar would probably still win because there are more people on the planet now from when Gone With the Wind was originally in theaters."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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} |
What happened to the Academy Award for Best Actor that Marlon Brando refused to accept in 1973? Is it on display anywhere? | [
"The answer is in dispute. According to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Roger Moore (who was to present Brando with the Best Actor award) took it home with him that night but later returned it to the Academy. It was then relabeled and given to Charlie Chaplin to replace a damaged award. Comedian, a... | [
"He is considered to be one of the funniest comedians in America and he hasn't done nearly anything on TV since his show was cancelled 10 years ago."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Is there any historical significance or meaning to talking like a pirate? | [
"It originated from a Disney adaptation of Treasure Island, where Robert Newton who played Long John Silver, exaggerated his own west country accent, giving us the now distinct 'pirate voice'. I may be wrong here, because I'm really just making an assumption, but I figure that 'Arr' stemmed from that, and was neve... | [
"Native Floridian, never heard a word about this. Any sources?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
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"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Are there any interesting stories about a person's handedness (right vs. left) shaping major events? | [
"Spiral staircases in castle towers always go up clockwise. This gives a defenser upstairs a massive advantage over an attacker comingfrom downstairs because the defender will have his right hand ready to swing, while the attacker will have his right hand at the column supporting the staircase."
] | [
"Copy+paste from my reply from the last time this was asked, about a month ago: We don't know, is the only real answer. In fact, scientists don't even have a scientific definition of what it means to be left-handed. (Is it the hand which can perform a task better? Or the hand you prefer to use for a task?) There ar... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
} |
How effective were Molotov cocktails as AT grenades in WW2? | [
"The original Finnish recipe for Molotov cocktail (ethanol, tar and gasoline mixture) was effective against Russian tanks during the Winter War (before WWII started). T-28 was the biggest Russian tank during the war. The original intent of the cocktail was to blind the vision ports of the tank. It was quickly disco... | [
"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 Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
Is there any benefit to reading a textbook from a general survey course (US, world, European etc..) for somebody looking to start reading history for personal enjoyment? | [
"Textbooks tend to be dry, quite surface level and often present dubious versions of historical events very mater of factly. I would recomend looking into either a textbook that has high remarks for accessibility or into a general audience book with a broad scope (in my field the standard is Ian Shaw's \"Oxford His... | [
"I would really like to know a good book on the philosophy of history, or a place where I could learn more to contribute about the philosophy of history."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Are there any known examples of royal incest scandals such as in "A Game of Thrones"? | [
"One of the most famous cases of incest was in Medieval England was [Queen Anne Boleyn being charged of incest with her brother, George](_URL_2_). Of course, incest was against the church and often led to similar arrests or executions [(source)](_URL_3_). The Royal English bloodline had many cases of incest. If you... | [
"Generally high fantasy involves worlds where magic and fantastical creatures are common. Example: LOTR Low fantasy is when there are subtle fantastical elements in a more realistic world. Example: Game of Thrones (at least so far in the first half of book 1)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Did the USA, Mexico or any other territory in the Americas pay a compensation to their former colonizer after declaring independence the way Brazil did to Portugal? | [
"Haiti was forced to pay reparations to France in exchange for diplomatic recognition (and the removal of the threat of re-invasion). The demand was actually delivered twenty years after independence with a convoy of warships rather than the Brazilian-Portuguese method of agreeing to reparations for lost property d... | [
"> What sides were taken? The short version is that most of the area was colonized by France, England, Italy, and Spain. They did not really take side as much as go along with the colonizing powers. > How were they affected? After WWII, the colonial power had neither the strength nor the will to hold to their colo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
What actually happened during the "Golem of Prague" incident? | [
"Absolutely nothing. The idea of a Golem of Prague was an invention of several authors beginning no earlier than the 19th century. The idea that it was an instrument of rescue of the Jews of Prague from persecution originated with Rabbi Yudel Rosenberg, who in the late 19th century wrote Niflaos HaMaharal, the most... | [
"...Tell us more about the New England vampire scare. Where and when?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What are some good topic ideas for any historical subject within the theme of "religion in American politics and society" ? *HELP* | [
"William Jennings Bryan would be a really great character for you to focus on there."
] | [
"Pretty difficult task since 6th graders usually have not encountered the concept of revolution and the transition of monarchal to popular government yet. How about juxtaposing pre- and post-revolutionary Russia by listing the most important structures of both systems and the problems they faced. out of curiosity: ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:"
} |
Do off-the-grid communities still experience segmented sleep? | [
"I'd say this question is better suited to r/AskAnthropology since it's about current human behaviour rather than a question about history."
] | [
"It provides a higher quality of service and keeps them safe from frivolous lawsuits. Their job is to identify the source and severity of the condition and redirect as necessary. That way they can see more patients throughout the day."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Cartoons and children's toys often portray circus trains as having a giraffe car where the giraffe's neck sticks out through the roof. Did circuses ever actually transport giraffes like that? | [
"Not in the way that the whimsical toys would lead you to believe. Starting around the turn of the century circuses around the US had special livestock cars built to handle exotic animals. The Ringling Brothers' current fleet are built from ex Union Pacific railway post office cars with special quarters for each an... | [
"I had to do a little research for this, but apparently it has always been a circus act. It originated from the \"Cole Bros. Circus\" in the 1950s. According to circus performers, the average car can fit between 14 and 20 clowns when all the interior is stripped out, there is no use of trapdoors or the like, and th... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Question about the Americas | [
"There's a ton to unpack here, but I think a great start is /u/anthropology_nerd's [Myths of Conquest](_URL_1_) series over on r/badhistory. Also, see /u/Snapshot52 on [American Indian Genocide Denial](_URL_0_). There's also some useful information in the [FAQ](_URL_2_)."
] | [
"Arbitrary, likely measured from FPOC with the surface."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Science:"
} |
Was there an idea of career mobility in the middle ages? | [
"Working in the Royal Household in England could be similar to what you are describing. While the loftiest positions (Treasurer, Steward, Captain of the Guard, etc.) were royal appointments, many of the people in lower positions (clerks, cooks, grooms, and other servants) worked their way up the ladder of promotion... | [
"Are you considering the 18th century to be in conjunction with the great divergence?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How accurate is the portrayal of Scandinavian culture/religion in the show "Vikings"? | [
"While waiting for a new answer I recommend checking out [the How accurate is the Vikings show](_URL_0_) section in the FAQ. It has lots of flaired user comments on the show that you might find enlightening."
] | [
"Generally high fantasy involves worlds where magic and fantastical creatures are common. Example: LOTR Low fantasy is when there are subtle fantastical elements in a more realistic world. Example: Game of Thrones (at least so far in the first half of book 1)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
HISTORIANS! I humbly call upon ye to help with this quest so dire. | [
"One minor point, using human body measurements, either for research data or identification purposes, is called [anthropometry](_URL_0_), not anthropology. Anthropology is just the study of humanity and is too broad a term for your purposes. Also, you might want to add a tiny bit about [tattoos as an identification... | [
"Emeritus, we who are about to post salute you! *fistbumps* If you ever need someone to poke about anything, shoot me a PM. Best of luck with all of your endeavours, and remember! If you can't find a way....make one."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Salt as a factor in the Whisky Rebellion? | [
"Kurlansky is vastly overstating the importance of salt in the Whiskey Rebellion. Back-country farmers were using whiskey as a barter medium and a sale item. They may have traded whiskey for salt, but salt was not the only item--nor the most important one--for which farmers traded whiskey. And the revolt was absolu... | [
"Reason # 1 : Food spoils more quickly in hot climates. Spices are preservatives. Reason #2 : Not many edible and spicy plants in colder climates."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
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} |
Did Nathan Rothschild really say this? | [
"There appears to be no primary source for this quote. It also makes no sense. At the time, there was no Rothschild sitting on the board of the Bank of England. BoE appeared to have borrowed money from the Rothschilds at some point, but this does not give the Rothschilds control of the money supply any more than I ... | [
"We shouldn't be reassured by anything they say. Full stop."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
When first coming to the New World did people have solid grasp of timezones? Or did the long sea voyage distort their sense of time enough that they didn't notice? | [
"Hi there, so people didn't have a concept of \"timezones\" because timezones are an arbitrary invention. But people did understand that local time varied in different parts of the world, dating back to classical antiquity. Here is a similar question I answered awhile back: _URL_0_ Specific to ships and timing, yo... | [
"They don't \"have different time zones\". We created time zones. Once we realized how the earth moves around the sun we knew that noon was going to be at different points at different places on earth. Time zones are a way for us to make more sense out of time when we became able to move faster between different ar... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Could ancient relics depicting what looks like astronauts , spaceships and star systems be enough to prove extra-terrestrial contact? | [
"The thing with that post is that the artistic style is nothing like anything produced in the Maya region in any time period. A continuity of art style is helpful when talking about a piece and possible interpretations it may hold. That being said, the lack of similar art style coupled with the poor quality of the ... | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
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What caused the rapid expansion of Great Powers during the 1700s and 1800s? | [
"No it was NOT imperialism. Imperialism is as old as civilisation and is not a good explaination. Instead, check out Dr Niall Fergusons \"six killer apps of prosperity\" to understand why these specific empires became so powerful: _URL_0_ The culture and institutions was way more important to explain where all that... | [
"Yes. Slavery in Rome was not tied to race/skin color like it was in the United States during the 1700-1800s"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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How big was the Noah's Ark compared to the actual ships at the time the story was written? | [
"I don't know anything about ship to ship comparisons, but I can help with the matter of cubits. A cubit is an archaic measurement roughly equal to the length of a man's forearm. There have been a number of \"standardized\" cubit rods to survive until modern times, many of them Egyptian. In 1865, A German archeolog... | [
"I don't know if it has been scientifically proven, but several other cultures have stories referring to a great flood that happened at around the same time period as Noah's."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
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} |
Snow shovels, snow blowers, window ice scrapers--when and how were they invented? | [
"There's a difference between commercial/industrial snow removal and consumer products. On the consumer front, the first snow blower designed for residential use that I am aware of was the Toro Snow Hound in 1951. Toro, a Minneapolis company founded to build tractor engines, had moved into mowers by the 1920s. Afte... | [
"There are tons of seasonal companies out there. They typically only hire the bulk of their staff in the summer months and let them go when the season is over. Labor costs are by and large the biggest expense that company has. They don't keep inventory over the winter, so costs during the down season are minimal. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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} |
Thursday Reading & Research | July 05, 2018 | [
"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?"
] | [
"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 answer about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Was the power-producing potential of Nuclear technology discovered/explored when the first atomic bombs were invented? | [
"Hyman Rickover started the program to develop a nuclear power plant for ship propulsion in 1948. There was theoretical work before that, but the practical engineering program to develop a nuclear power plant wasn't started until after the atomic bomb was detonated."
] | [
"Aside from Fat Man and Little Boy being the only two nuclear weapons that existed at the time, it really wasn't that powerful compared to modern nukes."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
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} |
Do you know of any good resources about Russia between the Middle Ages and the First World War? | [
"How much depth do you want? Initially, I'd recommend Riasonovsky's A History of Russia, because it covers the entirety of Russian history in fairly good depth, but I can recommend more specific books for certain areas, which might be more useful."
] | [
"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 query:",
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} |
What conspiracies had the largest number of members? | [
"This would appear to be a \"poll type question.\" You might want to read the rules of the sub: _URL_0_ But the basic reason why it's a rule is because no one with a specialty in a particular area is going to be able to reasonably provide an answer for a question that would require knowledge about the size of every... | [
"There were many theories discussed, in response to many reports sent into the FBI. The \"What should we do if this turns out to be real?\" question is a reasonable one, without there ever needing to be aliens."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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} |
Do we know 1 member of firing squads actually received a blank round? Or is that a convenient lie told by commanding officers? | [
"As a follow up to that reply - Why did all of the riflemen miss?"
] | [
"I'm pretty sure it's so that nobody actually knows who fired the kill shot so no individual needs to feel guilty. I would assume at the very least"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
What can you tell me about Middle Tennessee during the Civil War. Specifically Humphreys County. | [
"I can point you to sources but I know nothing of that area particularly. Check out these: _URL_2_ _URL_0_ _URL_1_ However, if you really want to know, the only way would be to go to Humphreys County and check out the local archives, courthouse records (see what people were being arrested for [Also a great way to p... | [
"...Tell us more about the New England vampire scare. Where and when?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
How are historians able to piece together battle diagrams of ancient/historical battles? | [
"They draw pictures based on multiple accounts. For example, I recently researched John Barbour's epic poem \"The Bruce\" which includes an account of the Battle of Bannockburn (June 24, 1314). One of my sources (Barrie Goedhals, \"John Barbour, 'The Bruce,' and Bannockburn,\" 1968) includes a map of the battle tha... | [
"Although obviously in a different style, most Roman primary sources that cover battles will give a play-by-play of the battle, although if you're not familiar with the style of writing can be hard to understand and probably the closest to an actual after-action style report would probably come from Caesar's conque... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the document about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Education:"
} |
Before the World War I, US was considered isolationist but the country entered the war enthusiastically. Why? Did propaganda play a big role in this? | [
"There was in fact a gradual shift in US public opinion away from isolationism prior to 1917. The central issue was Germany's unrestricted submarine warfare policy, which often indiscriminately destroyed both British and neutral shipping that resulted in the death of American citizens; demonstrated most prominently... | [
"In terms of economics, Japan had spent roughly 30 years industrializing since the Meiji Restoration. An industrial economy has a huge edge over a rural economy during war time, as seen during the Civil War. Corruption had little to do with it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Which civilization is technically the first to invent paper? | [
"The surfaces for writing on in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East were papyrus, clay (where papyrus was unavailable), wax on wood (for short-term notes), and parchment. Paper didn't arrive in the Mediterranean until the 8th century CE, at which point the idea was imported from China. European paper at that ti... | [
"What color is the skin of most of the people who make and utilize those drawings? Theres your answer"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Japanese history - book recommendation | [
"I can recommend this series by John Hall which I read when I first started studying Japanese history. Hall, John Whitney et al. The Cambridge history of Japan. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1993 Volume I. Ancient Japan. 1995 Volume II. Heian Japan. 1999 Volume III. Medieval Japan. 1994 Volume IV. Earl... | [
"hi! until one of the Rome specialists drops by with something specific, you may be interested in checking out this sub's Book List, which includes a section on [Ancient Rome](_URL_0_)"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer about Education:"
} |
Empress Theodora and Procopius | [
"Oh, just found a great review showing the discrepancies between Procopius' works that I was talking about: _URL_0_ Great read!"
] | [
"Sleep - Shake Unconscious - Splash Coma - Wait and Hope Vegetative State - Wait and Bury"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I'm having a hard time seeing the comedy elements in Ovid's Metamorpheses? | [
"My favorite bit is Perseus' wedding. Perseus rescues Andromeda, and gets to marry her. Unfortunately she's already betrothed and the other suitor attacks the wedding party. The battle is like a Three Stooges form of the Iliad. Remember Perseus has the Gorgon's head the whole time. The battle is filled with people ... | [
"Is this question prompted because of Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the Hunger Games movies? Because I really want to see how they finish the third one now..."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Wikipedia claims that there were concrete structures in Finland in the 16th century, centuries before the invention of modern concrete. There is no source though. Does anybody know more about this? | [
"Fyi from a concrete mix background, the Romans were using concrete a long time before this. Modern concrete.just means using Portland cement in the concrete there are other types of concrete that existed earlier (and later). For example Asphalt (or Bitumen) is concrete using bitumen binder instead of cement binde... | [
"It's much much much older than a few decades. The best guess is 1475, although it could be older. There's a lot of competing theories as to its origin."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
} |
Whatever happened to the study of rhetoric? | [
"I studied rhetoric at University during my English degree, the module was called 'the literature of argument' but essentially it was a module on rhetoric. So, it is still being studied, at least in English departments in the U.K. It involved critical analysis of persuasive writing and recorded debates from Cicero ... | [
"How well regarded are the writings of Joseph Campbell by historians?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
When the USSR broke up, how was the military split up? | [
"As the Soviet Union officially dissolved on December 31, 1991, the Soviet military was left in limbo. For the next year and a half various attempts to keep its unity and transform it into the military of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) failed. Steadily, the units stationed in Ukraine and some other br... | [
"As far as I am aware the only time something like this happened was during the fall of the USSR. Ukraine, Belarus, and Kazakhstan all returned the war heads to Russia as far as I know."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
} |
Is there a history of foreign powers attempting to directly influence US presidential elections? | [
"In the 1892 election, a Republican operative posing as a naturalized British immigrant to the US wrote a letter to the British ambassador to the US, Lionel Sackville-West, asking which candidate would be better for British interests. Sackville-West actually fell for the trick and wrote a letter back that Democrat ... | [
"You made the mistake of thinking that the primary intention of the US government when going to other countries is to promote freedom."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
I am a fugitive who has, in your era of expertise, killed a man with witnesses seeing the event, but have successfully fled to a city 100 miles away. Am I captured? | [
"Someone asked a very similar question a while back. [There were some very good answers](_URL_1_)."
] | [
"His escape plan was to keep it going; used everything he could and made people around him involved as much as possible, just to make sure he himself could survive a little bit longer. He was 70 when they finally arrested him"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
What celebratory gestures did historic cultures use? Were high fives and fist bumps common? | [
"The High Five is surprisingly modern, only entering wide use in the late 70's. The first documented high five took place on October 2, 1977, during a professional baseball game. Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke of the Los Angeles Dodgers were the first known people to officially \"High-Five\". It is possible one happen... | [
"The gesture dates back from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, as a symbol reminiscent of sexual intercourse, and was often used towards a people as a reference to \"a male who submits to anal penetration.\" It's Latin name, *digitus impudicus* translates to the \"shameless, indecent or offensive finger.\" It is sa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
A question regarding the study of History at University... | [
"One of the best parts about college (apart from the booze) is the library system, and particularly a world catalog. I am not sure what school you go to, but in many cases, you can order books from technically all over the world for anything you are interested in. Myself, I wanted to study more about the Babylonian... | [
"Just a follow-up question to the original question - what about the reverse. What was Napoleon's view of the United States?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Before 1991, has there ever been a time where there was really only one Great Power? How likely is it that the United States is to remain the only Great Power for long? | [
"The British Empire at its height probably? They controlled the seas and at that time, that meant controlling the world."
] | [
"They are - or have been - involved in most of the same wars as the U.S. Further, if you'd had your countries virtually destroyed twice in the last hundred years, you might believe that it's important to maintain a strong military even in times of peace."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
Who came up with our 24 hour time system? | [
"You may be interested in the '[Hours, minutes, and seconds](_URL_0_)' section of the Popular Questions pages (as found in the sidebar)."
] | [
"Your assumption that all Europeans use military time is not accurate. Many still use the traditional 12 hour clock."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
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