query stringlengths 19 300 | pos list | neg list | task stringclasses 1
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|---|---|---|---|---|
How did people measure ingredients without having common units of measurement? | [
"Speaking for Medieval Europe-- Often, they just didn't! (or at least didn't include measurements in recipes). For example in the [Forme of Cury](_URL_0_), recipes from Richard II's cooks, there are extremely few precise measurements. [Two more](_URL_1_) from the next century are similar: it will provide phrases li... | [
"Generally speaking scales are more accurate than household volume measuring devices. however, until digital scales were invented, scales were a nuisance for some people to use. Especially for small, high precision measurements. Therefore recipes and such typically used volume, which can be measured with the cheape... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
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What is the history/reasoning behind giving corsages and boutonniere at dances? | [
"Corsages used to be tied to the bodice - the part of the dress that is pulled/tied together that you wear over your upper body. That garment was called a corsage and it resembled a corset. The flower used to be worn there. The boutonniere is just the flower that went into the buttonhole in your jacket. I'm not sur... | [
"There are lots of kinds of suits. One type of suit is called a Tuxedo. The Tuxedo is characterized by colored or black flat lapels that don't connect, bow ties, a waistcoat/low cut vest, trousers with a stripe down the side that match the lapels, diagonal buttons and a handkerchief in the pocket. The Tuxedo is the... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
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I'm doing the Archives for my Lodge and had a question about how to handle damaged documents, Help? | [
"Okay, if you're damaging the book, stop immediately. Framing is almost never ever a good preservation option, if we do frame in the archives world it isn't done with consumer level methods. Usually it traps air, you get mold, plus exposure to light for damage. Put framing out of your mind. This sounds like it sho... | [
"Just a quick note to Wagnam and anyone else waiting that I've updated the original post with the desired answer."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query about Archiving:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Archiving:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
I'm a male peasant in 13th century western Europe. My older brother has just inherited our late father's farm. I don't want to just be a poor farmhand my whole life. What opportunities for getting a better job are there, and how viable are they? | [
"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?"
] | [
"Because you were VERY likely to inherit your profession as well if you were a member of the lower class. If you father was a smith chances are pretty good he would teach you and when he died you would own his smithy and your son will be a smith as well. There wasn't a lot of upward mobility in ancient society."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
Was there a similar backlash when the first automated machines were first built in factories? | [
"Dream a little bigger! There was a disturbing trend in nineteenth-century England of rural cottage-industry types rioting against textile mills around England. These people were called Luddites and it is still a term that get's used whenever someone around me complains about the adverse effects that cell phones or... | [
"Does it matter if there is water instead of roads between a number of small towns? We have boats and bridges."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
} |
How did people pay for things while traveling abroad before modern banking? | [
"I posted a very general answer to this question a while back [here](_URL_0_) . But I am not sure about the specifics of an American traveling to China in the 1700's. The Chinese in the 18th c. saw an immense international demand for a commodity they produced ( tea) but there was no reciprocal Chinese demand for ot... | [
"Up until recently national banks had far greater perks to being a member than credit unions could ever hope for. You mention banks all over the country, but it goes beyond that. Bank of America has agreements with national banks in other countries. If you were in Germany in 1995, as Bank of America member you coul... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
After watching movies like Waterloo and The Duellists. Why do calvaries at the time wear their jackets opened up and through one sleeve only? | [
"What you have provided is a picture of a Hussar. Now a Hussar is a specific type of light cavalry that is used to mop up stragglers in battle, scout for armies/corps, and seduce women (as a Hussar was seen as highly attractive). The jacket hung over the shoulder is called a Pelisse and only worn by a Hussar. At th... | [
"Firstly The Patriot IIRC portrays every soldier wearing the exact same uniform, they didn't. Each regiment had a slightly different uniform and regimental banner. Too many American soldiers had a uniform. Most would have turned up to a battle in civilian clothes. They were also far too disciplined compared to the ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
} |
Are there any instances in history that stand out where someone's public speaking skills greatly influenced the outcome of an event? | [
"Well, in 1968 when Robert F. Kennedy was campaigning for the presidency, he made a stop in Indianapolis when he heard of Martin Luther King's death. In response, Kennedy gave an impassioned speech urging nonviolence and peace: _URL_0_ We can never really know the impact of the speech for sure, but there was riotin... | [
"What efforts do historians enact to counter the issue of \"history is written by the victors\"? How do we manage to report reliably on the causes of wars, etc, when the most frequent surviving accounts would seem to be in the favor of power at the time?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
When was air conditioning made affordable for the average citizen? | [
"The article linked below on The Atlantic said: Air-conditioning’s major public debut was at the 1939 World’s Fair. Carrier hosted the Carrier Igloo of Tomorrow expo, where 65,000 visitors would experience air-conditioning for the first time, boosting consumer interest. Over the next decade, as the air conditioner ... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
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Question about Lincoln's Popularity During the Civil War | [
"The depths of New York City's opposition to Lincoln and the Republican Party is somewhat anomalous. At the time, the city's government was heavily influenced by Boss Tweed and his Tammany Hall political machine, which supported the Democratic Party. Most of the state leaders were either Republicans (including Linc... | [
"1. The First Salute by Barbara Tuchman 2. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown 3. The Civil War by Shelby Foote 4. Reconstruction by Eric Foner 5. The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman 6. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch 7. Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War by John Ellis 8. The... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
} |
Is the popular conception of the Catholic Church's "anti-science" stance during the Galileo affair accurate? | [
"Hi, not discouraging others from answering, but fyi, there are a few threads on the subject that can get you started * [Did the Catholic Church hold back scientific and technological progress in the Middle Ages?](_URL_2_) - /u/restricteddata discusses the general question of whether the church impeded scientific p... | [
"> When a scientist’s interpretation of data does not match the clear meaning of the text in the Bible, we should never reinterpret the Bible. That's really the only passage you need to read to know that everything that follows is garbage. Biblical literacy and inerrancy are extremely fringe Christian beliefs reviv... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text about Science:"
} |
mesopotamia artefact- what is it? | [
"It looks a lot like a lock I used to have... hard to tell from the pics. I think they were sold to tourists in the Middle East. Mine was inherited from my grandmother."
] | [
"during recession - currency during extreme meltdown of society - precious metals"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Is WWII directly responsible for pulling the US out if the depression? If so, can modern wars do the same? Why haven't they pulled us out of a recession? | [
"AFAIK, there is no objectively accepted answer to this question. Economists still disagree strongly on the effect government spending has on the economy, and whether stimulus during WWII helped the economy. Anyone who tries to tell you the \"right\" answer to this without acknowledging the complex disagreements on... | [
"The best example would probably be the economic recovery of the United States during the great depression. I'm no specialist, but FDR was. He implemented a system of deficit spending, a system were the government would purposely put themselves into debt to promote public spending. This increased circulation of mo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
How historically accurate is the film Downfall? | [
"Very. Not only did people survive the Führerbunker but people like Rochus Misch, Albert Speer, and Traudl Jung told their stories. Misch only died last September at 96 years old, and he was presented well in the film. He was consulted (I remember reading) for Valkyrie with Tom Cruise, because who better to get inf... | [
"I'm not sure if it's a strictly history book, but I particularly enjoyed Mastering the Art of Soviet Cooking."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Literature:"
} |
When did the idea of aliens being "little green men" originate and why did it become so widely accepted? | [
"hi! FYI, there's a section in the FAQ* on aliens. I've given it a scan and there are no mentions of \"green\" creatures, but you may be interested in taking a look through the threads since they discuss the general topic of the emergence of the concept of aliens [Early ideas about aliens and UFOs](_URL_0_) *see th... | [
"It used to be that most of the world was illiterate. In an illiterate world, there's really not a lot of reason to wear glasses. So at one point in history, the mere act of wearing glasses indicated you cared about books, and if you cared about books, you must be intellectual. Now most everyone is literate, but t... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
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} |
Historians, are there any less well known nicknames or mononyms for people (notable or not) studied during your period of expertise? | [
"Golda Meir, the Prime Minister of Israel in the early 70s, was known as \"the mattress\" earlier in her life, because of her promiscuity. I don't think that name was really used about her during the later stages of her political career, though. [source](_URL_0_) and [source](_URL_1_), both biographies of some sort... | [
"Haha, this is a fun and difficult question. There are thousands to choose from. Let me ask a few follow up questions: What time period (medieval, modern, etc.)? What type of history? Do you simply want a political history that discusses how the structure of the kingdom changed form monarch to monarch, or do you wa... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
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What examples are there of a conquered people that achieved their emancipation without violence? | [
"> The one that comes to mind is India, with Gandhi. Not so. The Indian Independence movement had its share of violence. I'm not a historian so I'll leave it to someone else to go into more detail but I do remember from my history classes back in college that there were a fair number of movements that relied on vio... | [
"Mostly who wins. If a group of people rise up and overthrow their government, they will typically term their uprising a revolution (see: American Revolution, French Revolution, Russian Revolution). If they rise up and are unable to overcome the government, they are typically termed rebels. It's worth noting that p... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
I want to learn all that I can about the USSR. What resources would you, as a historian, recommend I look at to start? | [
"I took a USSR class in college and have some books I can recommend you. * Magnetic Mountain * The Myth of the Eastern Front * Everything Was Forever, Until It Was No More * A History of Modern Russia I would highly recommend \"The Myth of the Eastern Front\" if you want to learn about USSR and WW2. It is an amazi... | [
"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!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
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What was the justification for eliminating eliminating surnames in Communist Mongolia? | [
"The reasoning I've heard is that, due to the surnames (or clan names) being used to identify former nobility and help with clan alliances, they were eliminated to put everyone on an equal footing. Therefore, instead of clan names, patronymics became the new \"surname\", and is still used today."
] | [
"I think you should be more specific in your question. How about \"What was life like in Ethiopia under the Derg/Communist dictatorship?\""
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
} |
Did people shoot each other in the Old West as much as in the movies? Or is it another of those extremely wrong Hollywood clichés? | [
"More of course can be said, but I touched on this in [this comment](_URL_0_) which might interest you."
] | [
"In the 19th century and early 20th century there were cheap paperbacks called dime westerns that were basically the Marvel Movies of their time. A lot of them were \"based on true events\" in a way that emphasized the romantic aspects of the events they were describing while glossing over the uglier stuff. The bas... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
How much would 100,000 Scottish marks (1357 AD) be worth in today's money? | [
"It's really pretty meaningless to try to convert values of money - as is often remarked, it wouldn't matter how much cash you had in 1360, it wouldn't buy you a car. But the old National Archives calculator estimates that £1 in 1360 would be worth £363.44 in 2005. So you can multiply by about 400, give or take. Pu... | [
"[This](_URL_0_) PDF has a graph of the price of gold in Britain from 1596 to the present, which could be useful in evaluating the value of the gift. From what I can read, it seems like an ounce of gold in 1734 would be about $3,860. Since 1 rigsdaler is 1/8 of an ounce of gold, 200 rigsdaler would be , or $96,500.... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Considering how La Malinche was sold into slavery by her own people before associating with Cortés, have modern historians taken a more sympathetic view of her vis-à-vis the prevailing popular perception of her in Mexico as the consummate traitor? | [
"The book Malintzin's Choices by Camilla Townsend (2006) takes up that position by looking at her in the context of her choices and argues that in many cases she really didn't have much of a choice. Even when she did choose to assist the spaniards it wasn't as if she was capable of actively betraying the Mexican pe... | [
"Because there are white Hispanics, black Hispanics, mestizo Hispanics, indigenous Hispanics, and even Asian Hispanics. The life experience and reality of a black Hispanic is likely dramatically different from that of a white Hispanic. Calling Hispanic a race or ethnicity is as accurate as calling American a race o... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
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} |
Has a work of art (painting, song, movie, book, etc) ever been so impactful that it changed the course of history? | [
"Depends how liberally you want to define \"changed the course of history\". I think most would argue that Upton Sinclair's *The Jungle*, which included pretty graphic depictions of turn-of-the-century meat-packing industry, helped to get public sentiment behind new regulations on the food industry."
] | [
"Get thee to a museum and consider the originals! Prints and computer screens are better than nothing, but they aren't the same. I was in high school in the 60s and had a classmate; football player, super strong athlete, and he liked to draw stuff. Always doodling. He went on a field trip to a museum and saw Van Go... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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} |
Are there examples of children having imaginary friends in recorded history? | [
"Somewhat tangential, the influential [Abbess Hildegard of Bingen](_URL_0_) (1098 – 17 September 1179) says that she first saw \"The Shade of the Living Light\" at the age of three, and by the age of five she began to understand that she was experiencing visions. > Throughout her life, she continued to have many... | [
"Maybe because we know so little about it and even less about how to deal with those with mental illness."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
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My friend claims FDR's administration's policies lengthened the great depression, is there any truth to this? | [
"If I can ask a dumb question: how do you prove a counterfactual?"
] | [
"I have a bit of a tangential question. I've heard numerous times that the decision to criminalize marijuana was influenced by lobbies such as pharma, paper, textiles, etc.; however, I've never seen any reliable sources report this. Is there any validity to this claim?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
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The Soviet Union/Russia is thought to have copied American technologies such as the atomic bomb, the B-29 Superfortress (became the Tu-4), Space shuttle (renamed the Buran) Did the USA copy any new Soviet tech that we know of? | [
"Whereas /u/RestrictedData probably has something to say about the perception that the Soviets \"copied\" the atomic bomb, I once wrote a reply arguing that Buran wasn't a \"copy\" of the Space Shuttle: _URL_0_ Tu-4 really was a reverse-engineered copy of B-29 though, as far as I know."
] | [
"Yes In the early cold war - the main strategy was to use high altitude bombers to drop nuclear weapons where they could not be hit by anti aircraft fire and also be out of the operating range of most fighters. in response both sides, but particularly the Soviet union developed Surface to Air Missiles (SAM) capable... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
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How much would a Mauser C96 from WWI sell for in America around 1940? | [
"Checking the classifieds of a few old copies of American Rifleman, in the April 1938 issue one was listed for $30, another described as in excellent condition and re-blued was listed for $40, and one with the wooden holster/stock was listed for \"best offer\". Comparable automatic pistols like Lugers and 1911A1 au... | [
"With the end of the war, most of the Mosin rifles were sent back to the arsenal for refurbishment, and then crated. Some were sent to allies as military aid. Most ended up in storage for WW3. With the easing of import laws to the US for Curios and Relics in the 1980s, and more importantly the collapse of the Spvie... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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Prior to our understanding of static electricity, what did people think it was? | [
"Hi! This is one of the most common questions in this sub, but we're still looking for some really comprehensive answers. For now, check out the story so far in this post, wherein /u/OldWorldGlory summarizes the threads in the FAQ, and there's a bit of follow-on discussion about Galen * [What did ancient people thi... | [
"There currently is no known answer to these questions. There are a bunch of theories, but scientifically, we know little to nothing of the moment of the big bang and anything that may have happened before it."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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How did grocers/butchers get reimbursed for ration stamps? | [
"The stamps weren't currency, they were permission to buy the rationed good. So you had to pay for the good, as well as present the stamp. The instructions with the US 1942 ration stamps said: > 8 - When you buy any rationed product, the proper stamp must be detached in the presence of the storekeeper, his employe... | [
"Short answer: A few states have laws that require it and therefore most coupons for national distribution just slap a cash value on there in order to comply with those states. Since the rest of the states don't prohibit cash value, they just leave the value on there for all states. Long answer: Coupons evolved fro... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
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} |
How did belly dancing come from the same culture that promotes their women be covered up in public? | [
"Hey there, this is a great question. I tried to reproduce a previous post I wrote on the topic below but the formatting gets messed up, so you'll have to make do with a link: _URL_0_ Happy to take any questions on that post, but to copy the **TL;DR**: Belly dancing is basically 19th century prostitute gyrations as... | [
"No reason, it's just a cultural norm. In other words, it is that way because that's the way it is. Breasts are not sex organs, female breasts are not more sensitive than male breasts. It's the same as some cultures requiring women to cover their hair or even their faces."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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"neg": "Represent the paragraph about Biology:"
} |
Saturday Reading and Research | March 28, 2015 | [
"I'm fairly new to reddit and to this sub in general, but just want to say I'm really enjoying it so far! Anyway, I've been obsessed with Mormonism recently. I finished up with Matthew Bowman's *The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith* and I'm currently working on Richard Lyman Bushman's *Joseph Smith: R... | [
"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 document about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
If a woman in rural western Europe (ca 1200) was in an abusive marriage, could she leave one night and leave for another village? What would the repercussions be? | [
"What part of Western Europe? Different laws regarding domestic abuse and marriage or divorce, or even moving town, or how independent women could be financially."
] | [
"It was a reflection of society. Having children used to be a lot more important that it is now. A man's wealth and station were passed on to his sons, and he needed women to bear those sons. A man who didn't want to marry and have children was letting down his family. A woman who did want to marry and have childr... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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A friend of mine claims Barbarian immigration is the reason for the fall of the Western Roman Empire, how true is this? | [
"Not being snarky or anything, but there are a lot of related questions [here in the wiki](_URL_0_). The point you make is technically true. All citizens of the empire were given Roman citizenship with the Edict of Caracalla in 212. A lot of these people were Germanic, so in some ways it's true that the Romans were... | [
"Just the US as far as I know. To the rest of the world he was just another dictator. Possibly something to do with the proximity of communism to the US."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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If I was in ancient Rome and wrote the number nine as "VIIII" instead of "IX" would the people around me roll with it, or would they call me an illiterate buffoon? | [
"The subtractive form of Roman numerals seems to have been used relatively infrequently in ancient and medieval times, only becoming the standard recently. It was used mostly to save space, and so perhaps appears on carvings more than it would otherwise. The rules were somewhat lax, so you see things like \"XIIX\" ... | [
"We use Latin for scientific names, legal terms, etc. because it's a dead language. Because it's dead, the meaning of words won't change over time. The meaning of those words is set in stone, so it allows us to give names to things that will never change. For example, if I called someone \"gay\" a couple hundred ye... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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Saturday Reading and Research | January 17, 2015 | [
"I've been reading *Indigenous Landscapes and Spanish Missions: New Perspectives from Archaeology and Ethnohistory* for a series I'm writing in another history-related community. We traditionally view Spanish missions as powerful, carceral institutions intent on extinguishing Native American culture. The essays in ... | [
"It's a bit unclear what you're interested in. (Early US education? Mann? Cremin's perspective?) But here are some resources that may help: > Binder, Frederick M. The Age of the Common School: 1830-1865. New York: Wiley, 1974. > > Glenn, Jr., Charles Leslie. The Myth of the Common School. Amherst: University of M... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Literature:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
} |
How were North Koreans convinced in just five years that the South was their enemy? | [
"The South was portrayed as merely a continuation of the Japanese regime, run by former collaborators. This was, in many respects, accurate. The USAMGIK and RoK preserved much of the machinery of state from Japanese rule, and kept a lot of the same people on. Kim and his pals in the North had solid reputations as a... | [
"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 question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
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} |
Question about the Black Death | [
"There is technically always more to be said, but you may be interested in this extremely comprehensive answer by /u/mikedash that examines why people have an erroneous impression that Poland was spared by the plague: [Why did Poland have lower rates of Black Death than other European countries during the 1300s?](_... | [
"You mean in the D & D sense?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
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How do we know Napoleon wasn't short? | [
"You should look at [this](_URL_0_), basically he wasn't short."
] | [
"Who says they did, and who says they didn't?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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Can someone explain to me how the dire wolves became the symbol of the Stark family? | [
"The North has always had a strong tie with it's native wolves. One can only imagine the first men's reactions to encountering such a formidable animal. Living amongst them must surely create both fear and respect. Ancient ballads tell of the savage War of the Wolves, where a King of Winter felled the skinchanger G... | [
"There was a parcast podcast on this. They kinda settled on the fact the Dragon is a combination of all our ancient ancestors predators rolled into one. The snake, the large lizard and large birds of prey."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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What happened to Soviet Lend-Lease equipment after the war with the onset of the Cold War? | [
"Disclaimer: This is no way answers the question. As part of my research duties this semester, I've been creating an index for a microfilm collection (~250 reels!) of State Department documents relating to the Soviet Union from the 1940s. For the last several weeks, the material has all been related to the Lend-lea... | [
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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Does anyone know what is being depicted on this Attic Greek wine/water jug? | [
"It's an Amazonomachy, or a mythological battle between the Greeks (almost certainly the Athenians) and the Amazons. In black figure vase paintings, men are conventionally shown with skin painted black, women painted white. There are no other contexts where you'd see women armed and in combat, and the Amazonomachy ... | [
"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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Historians of reddit: How did armies in WW2 get fuel to the front lines in massive quantities? | [
"Getting fuel to the troops that landed in Normandy was an interesting challenge, and one that required a lot of preparation, planning, and innovation (who would have thought a chemical engineering background would be useful on /r/AskHistorians?). The whole project, which was codenamed Operation Pluto, was devoted ... | [
"Tactical and technological superiority. They never had the numerical or industrial advantage, but they managed to overwhelm Polish and French defenders by pioneering a new kind of war that other nations weren't prepared for. France was definitely ready to fight WW1.5, with all the trenches and mustard gas and mach... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text about history:"
} |
Can anyone explain why things like this show up in medieval manuscripts and even copies of the Bible? | [
"For those who would like to see more: [this indefatigable blogger](_URL_2_) and mediaevalist has so far devoted 118 blog posts to similar diverting marginalia. Here are some [examples](_URL_2_)"
] | [
"What kinda of medieval maps? There are so many types of medieval maps."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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What do we know about ancient Mesoamerican philosophy? | [
"Hey, this doesn't include all of Mesoamerica, but you might like this post by /u/400_Rabbits: [Just how complex was Aztec philosophy?](_URL_0_)"
] | [
"How well regarded are the writings of Joseph Campbell by historians?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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In many fantasy stories, female warriors wear "boob plates," or armor that is shaped around their breasts. In real life, what did female warriors in medieval times wear while fighting? | [
"I can't think of any medieval female warriors. Who might be an example?"
] | [
"Like most of our incorrect impressions of the medieval era, it came from the Victorians. Real knights would have worn something like a coat of plates, which is basically a thick vest with metal plates sewn to the inside. _URL_2_ Really rich knights might supplement that with mail, a bunch of rings woven together. ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Has anything like the European Union been attempted before? | [
"Depending on how \"like\" you're looking for, there are a few examples. But the lack of warfare limits the choices somewhat. The United States under the Articles of Confederation is one, while the Revolution gains them independence, the articles were a fairly loose organization that were entered without a fight. ... | [
"To be a little less specific, what did people think the future in general would be like before the Industrial Revolution?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
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} |
Donald Trump was on CNN and said that General Pershing had a problem with Islamic terrorists in the Philippines in 1919 and that he handled in a very brutal way. What is he talking about? | [
"He is referencing (and possibly believing) an urban legend that General Pershing dealt with Islamic Terrorists in the early 20th century by executing a a series of them with bullets coated in pigs fat, then letting some go to tell the tale. Another retelling is that he buried them with pigs. Either way, the story ... | [
"He lied to the nation to start a war against Iraq, and he was seriously considering dressing up some navy seals in Iranian uniforms, putting them on a faked Iranian boat, and having them attack a US naval vessel, possibly getting killed in the process, in order to provoke a war against Iran. Then there's the time ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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} |
Help with handwriting from 1840 | [
"It's defiantly *erry. You can compare the ery to the word 'certify' above"
] | [
"Would you like a list starting in 1867 or including pre-1867 British Canada?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
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Has the UN ever forced the USA to do something it opposed? | [
"No, the UN really is not or ever been capable of forcing the USA to do anything. There are two main parts to the UN: the General Assembly, and the Security Council. The General Assembly is not capable of creating binding resolutions, meaning the General Assembly could never force the USA or any other country to do... | [
"Laws require someone in a position of authority to enforce them. If I say that everyone who wears a red shirt must go to jail, no one would take me seriously. If the US government says that, then it matters a lot. International law works the same way, except there is no higher power than any given country to tell ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
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} |
A History of Korea between 1900 and 1950 | [
"That's a huge range, with a *lot* going on. It would be helpful if you could at least let us know what you've already read about, or if you have some specific questions. In the meantime there is also a [Korea section](_URL_0_) in the reading list."
] | [
"1. The First Salute by Barbara Tuchman 2. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown 3. The Civil War by Shelby Foote 4. Reconstruction by Eric Foner 5. The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman 6. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch 7. Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War by John Ellis 8. The... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
} |
French WWI / Holzminden camp medal found in my yard, anyone have background info on this? | [
"Holzminden Internment Camp was a camp for foreign nationals within Germany during WWI; French, Belgian, Polish, even some British civilians were interned there during the war. As to why the medal was given out, it could be a commemorative piece; beyond that I'm afraid I can't help you."
] | [
"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 | {
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Why did it take so long for the Spanish Reconquista to take Granada? | [
"Mostly, they stopped bothering. In 1236, Cordoba fell to the Castillians, and Granada realised which way this was going, and aligned themselves with the Castillians as a tributary state (meaning they paid money to not be conquered, essentially), allowing the Castillians to focus on taking Sevilla. By 1252 Granada ... | [
"The Phillipines was part of the Spanish empire for over 300 years. It was even named after King Philip II of Spain."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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We've seen a shocking number of Westerners joining ISIS lately. Did WW2 see many British, French, Russians, or Americans defect to Nazi Germany? | [
"While this doesn't answer your question outright, you may be interested in this previous answer to a [similar question here. \"How many US citizens of German descent fought for Germany in WW2? Thinking of this scene in Band of Brothers where the American soldiers meet a German POW... who speaks perfect English.\"]... | [
"I don't know exactly what poster(s) you're talking about, but I've seen similar stuff before and think I can answer. There are a lot of black people in the US vs. Italy and there were black US army units fighting in WWII, so the association of the US with blacks would have been plausible to Italians. Taking advant... | eli5_question_answer | {
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Are there examples from the history of the United States of the people using guns to protect themselves against our own government? | [
"[The Ludlow massacre] (_URL_0_) involved armed skirmishes between striking miners and national guards. Notice how all the ones listed so far seem to end in failure or involve a massacre or both. From what I've read of rebellions and armed attempts to prevent the imposition of authoritarian rule (Paris Commune, Sp... | [
"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 | {
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I'm walking the streets of Rome in 467. What (if anything) will see to indicate the Empire is in dire straits? | [
"How aware was the Roman citizen of the political intrigues going on at the time? Did they know anything about Ricimer and his control of the emperors of that era?"
] | [
"There were some pocket holdouts of polytheism in Greece into the ninth Century, but any that survived after that would be very scattered. During the days of the Roman empire in the second Century, Christianity took hold in a major way and eventually, it was written into the law that polytheistic worship was illega... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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} |
How did the denial of the moon landings become a thing? | [
"More can be written, but at least for discussing the *start*, you might like [\"Did people believe the moon landing was a hoax when it first happened? Was this opinion ever considered more than a silly conspiracy theory?\"](_URL_1_) by \\[deleted], and [\"Did people start accusing the moon landing of being fake as... | [
"The Communist Party USA has no influence whatsoever on either American policy or the economy. This is literally the longest version of this explanation one could give."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
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How similar are China and Pre WW1 Germany? | [
"Ferguson's Triumph and Turmoil is popular history for a television series. While I won't say that its on the level of Ancient Aliens, you always need to exaggerate things to make some good television. From what I understand, Ferguson makes a big deal about burgeoning Chinese nationalism. This is what he bases his ... | [
"Where do you mean? Europe? The US? Middle East? Africa? Eastern Asia?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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what would now endangered animal populations have been like in size and distribution, thousands of years ago? | [
"You may be better served to ask this in r/askscience as this is more of a biological question rather than a historical one."
] | [
"There used to be different species of humans (Neanderthals are a common example). However humans inevitably compete for the same resources and compete with each other. So the modern humans won out vs any other human species that might have existed. Another reason is that humans have appeared very recently, revolu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about biology:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about biology:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
} |
I have some family heirlooms that I'm not sure what they are, I was wondering if you could help me identify. | [
"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... | [
"I believe it has something to do with the light setting off a reaction in the paint because of the materials they used when painting them. It causes it to decay and fall apart. I'm not entirely sure though, so if I'm wrong someone please correct me."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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What were some of the common insults/swears of history | [
"Questions like this have come up *a lot* in the past, so I've created [a new section of the FAQ](_URL_0_) for them, which I have reluctantly not titled \"Fucking Cussing and Shit.\""
] | [
"If the research I have done is accurate, mostly on wacky hijinks followed by learning heartwarming life lessons."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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What is the difference between "Your Highness" and "Your Majesty"? | [
"I can answer for Italy, though. *Sua Altezza Reale* (S.A.R., \"Your Highness\") and *Sua Maestà* (S.M., or \"Your Majesty\") cannot be used interchangeably as they were/are employed when addressing different people - the first title was/is used to refer to any member of the Royal Family, while the latter was reser... | [
"* Dehydration from low fluid intake * Slow blink rate, causing dry eyes * Poor body posture * Hey. Hey. Hey Listen. Hey. Look. Hey. Hey. Hey. Look. Hey. Listen. Listen. Hey."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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How did pirates become an acceptable icon for children? | [
"I've written somewhat about this [here](_URL_0_) as a response to a very similar question. (I've also written [this post](_URL_1_) since then that goes into a lot more detail about real pirates and their real views and interactions with race that I think is relevant to some things I mention). If anyone has any ot... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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Writing a historiography paper on the North African campaign of World War II, where should I start? | [
"*War Without Hate: The Desert Campaign of 1940-43* by John Bierman and Colin Smith is an excellent book and has plenty of sources."
] | [
"What are the must read books about the American revolution published within the last five years? What are the current arguments being discussed by historians who study the era?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument about Literature:"
} |
How has United States "overthrown" or disrespected other states and their leaders when they democratically elect a leader? | [
"Not exhaustive by any means, but look at Iran (1953), Guatemala (1954), Chile (1973), Nicaragua (initially a revolutionary government, but meaningful elections were held in 1984), Venezuela (2002 - no direct intervention, but support for and recognition of those behind the coup was not insignificant). There were ... | [
"Well, immediately after WWII we rebuilt the governments of both (West) Germany and Japan (staffing them with people friendly to us), gave them massive economic aid, and stationed our military to protect them. Russia considers the US a geopolitical rival principally because the US heads what Russia sees as an anti-... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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How much would it cost to raise, train and supply an army in medieval times? | [
"I think you're misunderstanding how medieval armies were raised. These were not permanent, standing armies that turned untrained, unequipped men into soldiers. Medieval armies were largely ad hoc affairs, made up of some combination of personal retainers, mercenaries, and levied fighting men gathered together for ... | [
"Because it is worth a lot of money to the government!"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
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What exactly was the role of a Commissar in the Soviet Red Army, and how long were they a part of the Russian military? | [
"Commissar's were political officers that represented the Communist Party on the battlefront. They worked in a system called dual command in which all military generals shared command with a CPSU appointed commissar. They were around from 1918 - 1924, 1937 - 1940, 1941 - 1942 before being abolished. However, the Re... | [
"Since nobody else has mentioned it, I frequently hear about conscripted forces being used to man the defenses at Normandy. Is this true? What is the ratio of conscripted to german troops?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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What did Gilgamesh's contemporaries drink at breakfast? | [
"Beer, all day every day, was the staple for Mesopotamians. 'Day' beer (as in, what people drank throughout the day) wouldn't be very strong, probably around 0.5-1.5% ABV, but it would be safe to drink and hydrating. [See this article about beer in the ancient world](_URL_0_)."
] | [
"They don't eat that way all the time."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Historians, how accurate is the new show Ancient Impossible on the History Channel? It seems legit to me, what is your opinion? | [
"It clearly tries to be accurate in the information it gives. The language and visuals are just designed to be dramatic ... sometimes a bit melodramatic. But I know its makers want historic accuracy in what they presents and they look for expert opinion and take it seriously. Disclaimer: I'm a contributor to the s... | [
"Not only is that \"theory\" not true, it's not even a theory. There was a question asked on this just a few hours ago. Go have a look for an explanation as to why."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
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Do we have any leading theories of why the New World's technologies never matched the sophistication of the Old? | [
"We get this question all the time. Here's a [link](_URL_1_) to a response I made in the most recent one. It includes a link to [the relevant section of the our FAQs](_URL_0_)."
] | [
"You're just defining \"technologically advanced\" as being the state that we are in now. There have been tons of technological advances along the way. The Bronze Age was pretty advanced in its time, as was the Industrial Revolution."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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What was stopping people from copying a King's wax seal and using it to wreak havoc during times of war? | [
"Livy talks about such an event in roman times with the consuls seal. Consul Marcellus was killed in an ambush and Hannibal Barca got his ring. He sent a letter with the seal to Salapia for them to be ready for the consul the following night. Hannibal had the vanguard of his army made of roman deserters, speaking l... | [
"The monarchy saw the writing on the wall and realized that if they didn't give up their power, the commoners and aristocrats would rise up and take it by force. So they made a deal to transfer governmental power to the parliament in exchange for keeping their hereditary titles, massive landholdings, and bomb-ass p... | eli5_question_answer | {
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AskHistorians Podcast 130 -- The Taiping Rebellion. | [
"Glad to have been involved, and thanks for having me on! Feel free to AMA, just expect a slightly slow response because I'm in a different timezone."
] | [
"1. The First Salute by Barbara Tuchman 2. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown 3. The Civil War by Shelby Foote 4. Reconstruction by Eric Foner 5. The Proud Tower by Barbara Tuchman 6. Parting the Waters by Taylor Branch 7. Brute Force: Allied Strategy and Tactics in the Second World War by John Ellis 8. The... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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I've done some research on my end, but there aren't a lot of good resources out there for identification. Can /r/askhistorians help me uncover any information about this Civil War bayonet I inherited? | [
"That appears to be an 1876 pattern Martini Henry bayonet (especially the scabbard). The blade markings indicate it was made in Britain (the broad arrow and W.D.). The crown over the E and 27 is the inspectors mark. The 1 over the 77 indicates it was accepted in January 1877. A quick way to tell is to determine th... | [
"I would recommend taking this to a local archaeologist, someone who can look at the size and material better. With this picture alone I can't tell what size it is. There's folks who do nothing but specialize in projectile points - I wish I could help more as I'm not one of those folks. This *is* in the area /u/Ree... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
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Did America offer offer France any assistance during the French Revolution (Or France asking for US aid) and how did the political elite of the US react to the demise of its ally. | [
"By demise of \"its ally\" are you referring to the defeat of Napoleon in 1814 or Napoleon seizing control?"
] | [
"Look at where it comes from not it's meaning today. Land of the free originates from around the 1810's in the song Star-Spangled banner after overthrown the rule of the British and forming their own country. At that point in time Belgium was under the rule of the first French Empire which was an absolute monarchy... | eli5_question_answer | {
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How did they extract a iron cannonball in a muzzle loader after a misfire e.g. the powder inside the cannon was bad? | [
"It would seem that, normally, a cannonball or a shell was not a tight fit, and since the cannon was being swabbed out after every shot, the bore was never foul enough to make it tight, either. From one [manual:](_URL_0_) > Section 272, Unloading. The piece having been run from the battery, the instructor directs ... | [
"in order for the turret to turn, it isn't attached, its just sitting on there...and it does happen, when the ammo inside cooks off....I've witnessed this in a training accident when a magazine if shells caught fire, the crew set off the internal fire suppression system and escaped, but it went off anyway...m1a1, n... | eli5_question_answer | {
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When did "I'm coming " or "coming" in general, begin to take on a sexual connotation in the English language? | [
"This question might be a better fit at /r/etymology."
] | [
"Common sayings and proverbs don't have to make semantic sense. Ex: \"It's raining cats and dogs\". In this case though, it does make sense. Think of the 'have' as meaning 'keep' You can't keep your cake, and eat it too. Historically speaking, the proverb existed both with 'have/eat' order, and 'eat/have' order. Bu... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
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} |
Why does Sulla have 'Felix' in his name? | [
"Its a Cognomina ex virtute, a kind of formalised nick name adopted later in life to celebrate some trait or achievement. In this case Felix means fortunate or successful and was adopted to celebrate his military victories."
] | [
"His father held the cognom 'Strabo,' which means 'cross eyed' (Pothecary,1999). As his father was a relative new comer to the higher tiers of the gens Pompeia, they may not yet have acquired a particular familia epithet/cognom, and held them in the traditional sense of being named for a characteristic or deed. I w... | eli5_question_answer | {
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What was the reaction of the American public when Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy married Aristotle Onassis? | [
"I always heard the marriage was not consummated and was strictly a means of supporting her after JFK was assassinated. Is that true or was it a media cover story? Was Onasiss a friend of the family when JFK was alive? Was the marriage based on some sort of chivalrous tradition?"
] | [
"No. Al Capone, gangster, is referred to by two names. Same goes for Jeffery Dahmer, Jim Jones, Charles Manson, Saddam Hussein, and Elizabeth Bathory. Hitler and Stalin just get one name. Sometimes people just go by three names, like Jamie Lee Curtis, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Neil Patrick H... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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How did the religious class view Benjamin Franklin's scientific experimentations during his retirement? | [
"I'd suggest that that documentary was probably lying, or at least misrepresenting things. People have offered naturalistic explanations of lightning for as long as people have been writing about lightning, and I don't think they would have created a dichotomy between \"God did it\" and \"lightning is a result of X... | [
"What are the must read books about the American revolution published within the last five years? What are the current arguments being discussed by historians who study the era?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
} |
Question about British area codes and telephone numbers in the 1950s! | [
"No subscriber trunk dialing or post codes in the 1950s, and a city the size of Bath would have only needed a single telephone exchange and four-digit phone numbers. So the stationery would merely read \"Marlborough Hotel, 152 Royal Crescent, Bath. Telephone 4490. Telegrams: Marlborough Hotel, Bath.\" If you were i... | [
"What drugs were popular in 19th century Britain?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
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Did American teenagers in the 1950s actually play "chicken" by driving their cars toward a cliff like in the movies? | [
"i was under the impression \"chicken\" was to drive head on into another car or something until the \"chicken\" or coward, turned."
] | [
"Hopefully this isn't forbidden in the rules, but may I ask a question? Are there any urban legends which have been proven true? For instance, has there been a murder by gang members when an individual flashed their lights at a car one night? Did a scuba diver get sucked up in a fire fighting helicopter and plunge... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
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} |
How respected are Jeff Shaara books by historians? I'm reading Rising Tide about WWII by him now, just would love to know how well he did his homework. | [
"might also be a good idea to post this on /r/badhistory `s mindless monday."
] | [
"Since it is Thanksgiving I doubt many will see/answer this, but here goes. I just got a collection of essays by Barbara Tuchman, called Practicing History, detailing her methodology and philosophy of history. I'm curious if anyone else has read it and has any thoughts on her approach."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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} |
Prior to widespread public literacy how did shops (etc) indicate the nature of their business? | [
"They had paintings of things to indicate their name or what they sold. Or a symbol, like the red and white striped poles that indicated a barber. You'll see today lots of pubs keep up this tradition. Like a classic old pub, The Eagle and Child, that dates from the 17th century in Oxford. It has a painting of an ea... | [
"The happy imagery is designed to get you to want the product they are selling. The dangerous side affects is to conform to federal regulations related to advertising of medications."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the query:",
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Were early muskets more accurate than later ones? | [
"It's still smoothbores firing ball bearings by igniting black powder right? In that case, no. It's not going to be more accurate. The mini-ball and rifling were the innovations when it comes to accuracy."
] | [
"I mainly deal with European history and was going to chime in on the firearms, but there is just no way to generalize without being more specific. For example, the term \"musket\" covers weapons used from the 13th century up until the 19th century, and rifles are still used today. A Ming Dynasty musket and a Napo... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
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} |
In Band of Brothers, during the briefing scene for Market Garden, the Americans seem to be annoyed that the operation was under Montgomery's command. Was this a reaction to Montogomery himself, or American forces being under British command? | [
"Was this historically accurate? I only remember reading that the argument was resources going to Montgomery in the north rather than Patton further south."
] | [
"Read \"Black Armor\" written by the White Commander of the Sherman unit. He talks about what the 'real situation' was for these men. It was hard as hell for him to get any of his men promoted to officers, they had more NCO's that Commissioned Officers. Yet they were one of the highest decorated tank units during W... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
Did hoplite helmet plumes mean anything? | [
"It appears that hoplites nearly universally wore it front to back, and then the Spartiates began wearing it transversally (the rest of the spartan army would have worn it front to back still). Originally just a Spartan thing, the other greek states started using it in limited amounts during the mid 400s b.c. It's ... | [
"They aren't at all. The Lambda motif is unique only to the Spartiate Similars, who adopted the blazon sometime around 425, B.C. during the Peloponnesian War. It stands for Lacedaemon and was a method to identify Spartiates on the battlefield. Your ordinary hoplite would have had a personal blazon on his shield."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
On Roman Centurion Galea helmets, did the direction of the plume signify anything? | [
"Follow up questions: Did the colour of the plume (red, blue, yellow, black...) meant something? What was the penalty if it were dirtied/damaged outside of combat?"
] | [
"It appears that hoplites nearly universally wore it front to back, and then the Spartiates began wearing it transversally (the rest of the spartan army would have worn it front to back still). Originally just a Spartan thing, the other greek states started using it in limited amounts during the mid 400s b.c. It's ... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Digging up history on grandfather, German WW2 veteran | [
"You should try contacting the Wehrmachtsauskunftsstelle with a private matters request: _URL_0_ They are the official institution tasked with tracing and documenting the history of former German soldiers during WWII. You only need name and date of birth of your grandfather, but any additional information you can ... | [
"Wanting to kill the shit out of Germans drives innovation."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Expressing Emotions in Roman times | [
"She is mistaken. *Rideo* is often translated \"to laugh\" in dictionaries (and thus *risio*, the noun), but it also means \"to smile,\" \"to smile at,\" and \"to mock.\" Greek is even less ambiguous: while Greek has several words for laughing, Homeric μειδάω only means \"to smile,\" and γελάω has pretty much the s... | [
"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 passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
How iron mining differed from bog iron harvesting? | [
"There were bloomeries in Delaware that smelted bog iron in the early 19th century. And there’s a document saying 6 men dug out 574 tons of ore in 5 months, that is about **750 kg of bog ore in a day per worker**. > An estimate of Collins' operations may be gained from the field account of ore raised at Smith's be... | [
"* quality of product * supply and demand * oil stability (usually coincides wars) * cost to supply product and on a local scale * government taxes * petrol station fees"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
} |
How tolerant was the Pre-Constantine Roman Empire of supposed sorcerers, wizards, and petty magic users? | [
"I don't want to be \"that guy,\" but when, exactly? \"Pre-Constantine\" consists of nearly the entirety of Roman history. The attitudes of various people towards witchcraft are not at all consistent across these periods. Furthermore, among whom? While witchcraft was prohibited by law as far back as the *lex Cornel... | [
"Which \"magicians\" are you referring to? The court-magicians of the Pharaoh in Exodus (Exod 7.22)? The witch of Endor (1 Sam 28)? The \"magi\" in Luke's nativity? Or are you wondering more generally about historical practitioners of magic (inc. wonder-workers, exorcists, healers, etc.) during the Biblical period?... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
I've seen pictures of Australian soldiers bringing kangaroos and even a koala to Egypt during World War I. Why was this done and how did they keep the animals fed and healthy in that environment? | [
"Do you have a link that contains examples of these images?"
] | [
"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 title:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Did the thick jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula prove to be a challenge to Hernán Cortés and his forces? | [
"Well... Cortes never really was in the yucatan. His conquest of the Aztec empire instead followed a straight route from Veracruz in eastern Mexico to modern Mexico City."
] | [
"Cortes had thousands of Tlaxcallans on his side as well as other groups that had been conquered by the Aztecs and did not like living under their rule. Cortes also dismantled and had porters carry Narvaez's vessels and cannon from Veracrus to Lake Texcoco and rebuilt the boats in order to hammer away at the city u... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
What is the earliest instance of a folding pocket knife as we would recognize it today? | [
"Depends on what you mean by locking. The modern Opinel (_URL_0_) is about the simplest you could make and there have been folding knives similar to this for thousands of years. Also most folders historically did not lock open as we think of it today with a mechanism preventing the blade from closing without diseng... | [
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
} |
Where could one find out about North America's pre-coumbian history? | [
"I'd recommend Charles Mann's *1491* as the best general book on both continents prior to European and African contact. If you are interested in a specific region, many more possibilities open up."
] | [
"Are you considering the 18th century to be in conjunction with the great divergence?"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the comment about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
Niall Ferguson's 'Civilization' racist? | [
"I don't think so. He takes a historical proposition that is hard to dispute--that Europe, and particularly Britain, dominated the world after 1800--and tries to work backwards from that. Ignoring the reality of European dominance won't make it go away. That being said, his thesis doesn't explain anything and is de... | [
"Overall, a bad person. Hitchens does a great job dissecting why... Mother Teresa: Hell's Angel - _URL_0_"
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
} |
With the death of Charles Manson, a lot of people are making posts partially crediting him with ending the Hippie Era. What did end it and how? | [
"Followup question. I just read this comment in another thread. Is there any truth to this? > From what I read, Atkins and Watson didn't even blame Manson until the police put that idea in their heads. Similarly the young women didn't blame Manson or say he brainwashed them until the cops inferred that he did. I s... | [
"The entirety of Nathan's book essentially tackles this question so it's not something that can be answered simply. Did he want to restore power to the emperor? Certainly. Did he think he was going to be effective in doing so by holding people hostage? Almost certainly not. Nathan essentially argues that his variou... | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
What caused the eventual demise of the CNT anarchist movement in Spain? | [
"The Republicans loss in the Spanish Civil War and repression by Franco's regime in the following years can certainly be cited as a reason for their decline. The CNT/FAI does still exist, I know for a fact they have an office in Barcelona. I'm not entirely sure what they're up to these days, but I know it is labor ... | [
"Technically speaking, a commune with no written laws is anarchy. Recent examples of anarchist communes would be Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War, and the Ukrainian Free Territory for a short time after the October Revolution."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
} |
How did the Iroquois use hemp rope when hemp was native of the old world? | [
"Several different materials were used to make ropes and bindings, but one of the most common and wide-spread would have been made from the fibers of *Apocynum cannabinum*. The early English colonists at Jamestown called the plant \"silkgrass,\" though that name has fallen out of favor. Today it's more commonly kno... | [
"By growing crops that were native to the area. They didn't eat stuff that would grow well in the fields of Nebraska. For example, the corn that ancient Central American people grew would generally not be recognized as corn by people in industrialized countries today except in a vague sense."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
} |
Why didn't the founding fathers put the U.S. capital where it is and not in a strategic location like in the mountains or something? | [
"Washington, D.C. is located in what was roughly the center of the nation at that time."
] | [
"At the time the White House was built, Washington DC *was* smack dab in the middle of the United States."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
} |
What's France's northern coast like, in relation to an apparent historical lack of major ports in this region? | [
"Right now, there a lot of harbors in northern France _URL_1_ _URL_0_ Including the second biggest port in France, le Havre which is an historical port, founded in 1517 by king Francis 1, the French king of France. The port of Calais was also pretty important So I'd argue there were ports in northern France."
] | [
"New Zealand is somewhat close to Antarctica in roughly the same way as Paris is somewhat close to the Arctic, and has a broadly similar climate."
] | eli5_question_answer | {
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the comment:",
"neg": "Represent the comment:"
} |
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