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Game of Thrones battle tactic question
|
[
"No, no one has ever tried to literally encircle an enemy force with pikemen. Outflank them, yes, but the idea of forming a circle of tightly-packed pikemen with an enemy inside is ludicrous. An enemy force would have to be either pathetically tiny or you would have to thin out your own rank of pikemen to an absurd degree to achieve that literal circle of men. A commander would have to spend lots of time in drilling his men to form a big dumb circle, time and energy that would be much better spent on training your pikes to advance in the normal way, which is already effective and complicated enough that you wouldn't want to throw a giant wrench into the works. If the enemy force is small enough and its commander is stupid enough that you could even attempt to do it, you've already won."
] |
[
"For big showings. Batman vs superman, Deadpool, STARWARS. Redundancy incase the main concession area is offline."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Were there any famous pirates that were outright gay or at least confirmed married via matelotage?
|
[
"Two really good sources for this are Sodomy and the Pirate Tradition - BR Burg And Rum, Sodomy and the Lash - Hans Turley Homosexuality amongst pirates has been pondered and researched but not proven. In Villains of All Nations, Marcus Rediker convincingly argues that matelotage is more of an insurance policy to ensure that belongings made it back to families on shore, or to the right friends rather than a bond between two gay men. It is much more likely that these men were close friends than lovers. Although homosexuality probably did exist on pirate ships, at this point with the documents we have, it can't be proven, merely postured as a probability."
] |
[
"Related/follow-up question: did the Victorians think child sexual abuse was worse than now-accepted sexual practices that they considered immoral, like adultery or homosexuality? Or in the same league?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Is it true that in the more recent wars enemies commonly refrained from purposely shooting medics?
|
[
"The 1864 Geneva Convention - the very first one - clearly states: \"\"Members of the armed forces specially trained for employment, should the need arise, as hospital orderlies, nurses or auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in the search for or the collection, transport or treatment of the wounded and sick shall likewise be respected and protected if they are carrying out these duties at the time when they come into contact with the enemy or fall into his hands.\" [Full Text] (_URL_0_)"
] |
[
"War conducted by armies with leaders has rules. World War II was fought by draftees on both sides. It is logical on both sides to not harm the other sides soldiers once they are rendered harmless. Every soldier knows they could be captured any day."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
}
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Did Elizabethan ruffs have any practical uses before they became fashionably oversized?
|
[
"Before elastic knitted t-shirt was invented, undershirts would have a drawstring or smocked neckline to adjust the tightness. Since you cannot wash your outer clothes as frequently you have to make sure the undershirt is protecting your clothes from stain and sweat (particularly back of the neck). In the mid to late 1500's clothes started to have a higher neckline and the undershirt neckline would have to be drawn tighter. The gathering would form a little ruffle [like this](_URL_0_) that peeks out of the collar. That ruffle eventually became larger and larger before it finally became a detached item."
] |
[
"Here we are just looking at one big armored codpiece. Codpieces began as a piece of cloth to protect/conceal the genitals as the cut of doublets started to work their way up, leaving that area unprotected. The codpiece became prominent during the reign of King Henry VIII and during this time, codpieces became something used to accentuate and emphasize what was contained in the groin area. Codpieces grew to enormous proportions before they fell out of fashion late in Elizabeth I's reign. The codpiece here, although made of metal, is just another example of Henry VIII showing off as he so often did. [Modesty to Majesty: The Development of the Codpiece](_URL_0_)"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Was changing the course of a river ever a thing in warfare?
|
[
"Changing the flow of *waterways* was done several times during the Eighty Years' War between Habsburg Spain and the Dutch rebels. The first major instance was the flooding of dikes and sluices around Amsterdam when Farnese's army approached. Another major instance was during the Rampjaar in 1672, historically the worst year in Dutch history. An allied army of France, Cologne, and Munster bypassed fortifications around the Scheldt and attacked from the Rhine area. The Dutch army was stunned and the dikes and sluices were flooded to impede the progress of the allies. For a long time the Dutch relied on the *waterveste* system, where they would flood the dikes and sluices. There are two lines that are still well known today."
] |
[
"What do you mean by downfall? This is still a dominant part of current culture."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about history:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument about history:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
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Why didn't the CCP attempt to re-take Hong Kong?
|
[
"Interesting question. I studied a little bit of East Asian history in college, China's history in the 19th and 20th centuries is extremely interesting. Along the same lines as your question, I'm also curious to know: what were the driving factors that brought about the terms of the Joint Declaration in 1984? It seems odd that China would ever agree to the SAR and One Country, Two Systems policy. edit: late night spelling and grammar"
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit sentence:"
}
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What is with all the cigar references in texts online about mayan gods?
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[
"Hey there! Would you be able to provide some examples of the texts your're talking about?"
] |
[
"Not sure if this kind of comment is allowed, but in the i terest of starting discussion, whats the context of this? Perfume, wine, etc?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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When was the flip between the Democratic and Republican parties? What caused it?
|
[
"hi! not discouraging further discussion, but fyi, you can get started on this topic in the FAQ * [Changing role of Republicans and Democrats](_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
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{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
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Was segregation in the United States used as propaganda for the Soviet Union? If so, what was its extent?
|
[
"Hi! you might be interested in some of these earlier posts * [Did the Soviet union ever take advantage of the racial tensions in cold war america? particularly with blacks in the south?](_URL_7_) * [How did (or did) the USSR use the US's Civil Rights movement and issues like Jim Crow as propaganda?](_URL_8_) * [How did the Soviet Union seem to feel about Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement?](_URL_7_) * [Did the Soviet Union have a \"bite-sized\" refutation of Capitalism?](_URL_8_) * [Did fear of Communism play a significant role in the granting of civil rights to American blacks?](_URL_8_) * [Is there any evidence of Soviet/Communist involvement in the black civil rights movement?](_URL_8_) * [We've all heard about how the CIA meddles in foreign countries' politics, but let's flip that around. How have foreign intelligence agencies influenced US politics?](_URL_7_)"
] |
[
"Could the rebuilding of Japan after WWII be considered a partial colonization by the United States?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
}
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When William 'the bastard' and Harald Hardrada invaded England how did they justify a dynastic claim(if at all)
|
[
"Ok, I'll take a crack at Hardrada, honestly it's rather simple as to why he had a claim, so I don't need to go too in depth. Prior to England being ruled by Edward the Confessor, England was ruled by Scandinavian Kings, one of which, King Cnute (who reigned from 1016 - 1032, was related to Harlald Hardrada. Because of this, Harald took the opportunity to \"reclaim\" the land for a Scandinavian king. [This](_URL_2_) diagram may help. Also, a fourth claimant existed, which you may already know about, as you only specified the two \"foreigners\", but for those that may not he was Edgar the Ætheling, the closest living relative of Edward the Confessor. He was proclaimed king after Harolds defeat at Hastings, but was never crowned."
] |
[
"It might help if you provided some examples for us. Are you thinking of the Middle Ages or the modern period? Within my own area, I can only think of four really nasty fights over inheritance - William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson in the 11th century, Stephen and Matilda in the 12th century, Richard II and Henry Bolingbroke at the tail end of the 14th, and Richard III and Henry Tudor in the 15th. Of these, two saw stronger blood claimants successful (William and Matilda), and a third was a fight between first cousins who both had reasonably strong connections (Richard & Henry Bolingbroke). Henry Tudor is the only example I'm aware of of someone who lacked a strong blood connection seizing the throne during the Middle Ages, and that's because it was an outright rebellion, not a fight over who was the qualified heir."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
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How did people use to create light centuries ago and did they manage to get their rooms as bright as in the movies?
|
[
"I hope this comports with the subreddit guidelines. South of Paris is a chateau called the Vaux-le-Vicomte. It's purportedly the last privately owned grand chateau in France. It was built in the 1600s. They give tours and one of the features of the tours is that they they light the chateau with candlelight. And they line a mile's worth of gardens with candles as well. (That takes about two hours or so of placing and lighting candles.) Having been on this tour, which is beautiful by the way, it's quite easy to see. It's not read the newspaper easy, but the candles do adequately light the corridors, as of everything were lit with, oh, a 40 Watt light bulb. Your eye is much more adaptable to low light situations than a camera, which necessitates in general that a lot more light be thrown in order to capture the image."
] |
[
"It's not the first bulb ever made that still runs today. Early light bulbs used to last only a few hours before burning out. A specific light bulb, with low energy consumption and a thick carbon-based filament (that they're not quite sure what it's made of...) still runs after over a hundred years of continuous use, but we don't want dim light for a long time, we want BRIGHT light to illuminate our hovels, and that wears out components much more quickly."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Electrical engineering:"
}
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Western expansion in the United States post civil war, how did we manage to integrate?
|
[
"One of the main problems in westward expansion before the civil war rest in debating over whether slavery should be allowed in the new territory. With the slavery question answered after the end of the civil war, there was actually less impetus to westward expansion. The federal government encouraged westward movement with projects such as the Union Pacific railway, connecting the coasts with \"rapid\" transit, and acts such as the Homestead act, which allowed settlers to claim large tracks of land and led to events like the Oklahoma land grab of 1889. There was lack of social mobility throughout most of the east coast urban centers during this era. Populations swelled from increasing birth rates and immigrants escaping turmoil and famine in Europe. But what kept hope alive for many citizens was geographic mobility, the prospect of finding better lives far elsewhere in the country. Combined with standard intrigue and lure of the romanticized west, many people headed to new territory after the civil war."
] |
[
"Educated guess that Worldwide colonization by uk caused many parts of the world to speak the language."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
}
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How accurate is this style of combat?
|
[
"There are 15th century German fighting manuals (Hans Tallenhover's *Fechtbuch* or fight book) illustrating and showing captions that depict these kind of strikes in use. They were a technique that was apparently used by European swordsman reasonably often. I don't know enough about the subject to explain why this particular strike is advantageous. There are a number of users on ask historians that seem to have a deep knowledge of historical european swordfighting and perhaps one of them will produce a more detailed reply."
] |
[
"Is it possible to get a better picture with a little more light?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title about movie accuracy:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about movie accuracy:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
Native American Fishing Techniques
|
[
"Some quick research shows the Algonquin people fished using nets, fishing weirs, and hook-and-line. They fished both from shore and moved about the water in birchbark canoes. Algonquin peoples were also known to venture to sea and fish for cod, porpoises, and whales. They went after fish seasonally, going after fish predominately in the spring. A local museum would likely have artifacts or displays that may answer your question more specifically. The Nipmuc Nation hosts a museum, but their website says it is currently closed for construction."
] |
[
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Why did it take so long for Total War to emerge as a common practice?
|
[
"I would ask if Total War has really emerged as a common practice. If you take Germany during WW2, even though they fought until the bitter end, they never really engaged in total war. They spoke of it often but even in the end they were arguing over the proper role of women, for instance, and decided it was still in the home."
] |
[
"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 post:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
}
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Why isn't Juneteenth a national holiday in the United States?
|
[
"Juneteenth does not commemorate the actual emancipation of slaves; that happened in January 1863 for the states in rebellion, and with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in Dec. 1865. Juneteenth celebrates when news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Texas in June 1865. Initially a celebration only among Negroes in Texas, the commemoration first spread to a couple of adjacent states, and in the 20th century traveled with African-Americans from Texas as they migrated to industrial cities elsewhere. In particular, it seems to have taken hold among those who moved to the Bay Area during World War II to work in shipyards and defense industries. It seems likely that its enduring popularity owes something to the summer date, suitable for large outdoor gatherings and celebrations. Only in the last 25 years has the celebration become known nationwide. [The *Handbook of Texas* has a good summary.](_URL_0_)"
] |
[
"Why is election on weekdays instead of weekends?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
}
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How many people were in the IRA (at its height)?
|
[
"I think it would be good to specify what particular IRA you wish to know about. Are you talking about the Old IRA that Michael Collins fought with? Or the Provisional IRA?"
] |
[
"A related question were there public figures at the time who were apologists that tried to justify for the actions of the Japanese military at Pearl Harbor?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Were there famous gunslingers/cowboy equivalents in Russian history/folklore?
|
[
"/u/poob1x compares [the Russian Far East to the American West](_URL_0_)."
] |
[
"here's some info on naval battle reenactments in Rome [Were naval battles staged in the Coliseum?](_URL_0_) and, just FYI in case you're interested in how widely-spread reenactments are: [When did civil war reenactments become popular in the US? Are war reenactments ubiquitous in other modern day cultures, or is this a uniquely American phenomenon?](_URL_1_)"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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What is the best explanation as to what happened to the Roanoke Colony?
|
[
"While you’re waiting for a response I’ll point you to this thread from two years ago. The question asked is identical to yours and there is some good detail as to what is and is not known. In particular the comments from /u/rittermeister and /u/kookingpot seem helpful. _URL_0_"
] |
[
"They put out a program on the mound builders about 15 years ago which hinted that they might have been built by immigrants from the Old World. The program was sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Just about lobbed my remote at the screen."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
}
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Did England ever try to retake their possessions in France after the Hundred Years War?
|
[
"They did indeed! King Henry VIII launched two attempts during his reign to take back portions of France. Over the course of the first, he actually was able to successfully claim the \"Most Christian King of France\" title and was promised a coronation by Pope Julius II if he could secure a victory. During the second, his forces managed to take and hold the French town of Boulogne for about six years. However, all of his efforts didn't amount to much, as his alliances and support broke away on both occasions, in the first attempt with the replacement of Pope Julius II and the second with Charles V's separate peace with Francis, which forced Henry to give up the little territory he had gained."
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
How representative of the field is /r/askhistorians?
|
[
"Hiya, Some of this can be answered via our last subreddit census. It's a year old now but shouldn't be drastically different than now: [325K Census Results and the State of the Subreddit](_URL_7_). I suspect you'd be most interested in the section *The Flairs*, which talks about the demographic of the flaired users (as opposed to subscribers/readers). As for \"do we attract a certain type of historian\", I can't answer that personally, but you can see how the flaired users have been categorized, and which categories have more or less people in the [List of Flaired Users](_URL_6_)"
] |
[
"This might be a better question for /r/askscience."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage about Health:"
}
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Who was the man that went to India to see a solar eclipse and was presumed dead until he returned 4 years later?
|
[
"This sounds like the life story of the Frenchman Guillaume le Gentil. He wanted to see the [transit of Venus.] (_URL_0_)"
] |
[
"The answer is that nobody knows what happened to him and it's very doubtful if anyone will ever know, nobody was even able to identify who he is that we know of. He could have being arrested/killed by the government, or he could have decided to simply lay low for the rest of his life."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
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There was a steam wagon made in the 1860s that didn't run on rails. Why wasn't it used in the Civil War?
|
[
"Self propelled steam cars had been in development since the early 1700's. The \"horseless carriage movement\" had been a thing for a long long time. Steam cars had many technical limitations that would have restricted their military or civilian application beyond novelty. They were difficult to manage and could not go far without constant water refills. They could only carry a few people at a time. They usually required a road or flat surface to gain any appreciable speed. Basically, the locomotive was better in every way. It could carry hundreds of men long distances quite quickly and was reliable. In cases where you needed to move smaller numbers rapidly where there were no rails you could take a horse. Investing in such a device would have been a waste of time and money."
] |
[
"There is story about automobile companies buying and dismantling street care and electric rail companies to encourage consumers to buy personal vehicles. I don't know if it's true or not, but look up General Motors Streetcar conspiracy"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
}
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What was the first species to be driven to extinction by humans?
|
[
"I don't know if anyone's identified *the first* species that humans drove to extinction. And, this might be a question better answered by the anthropologists over in /r/AskSocialScience or /r/Anthropology, or even the biologists over in /r/AskScience. What I can say is that humans have a long history of being linked to species extinctions. For example: * There's the [megafauna extinction in North America about 14,000 years ago](_URL_0_), where humans appear to be involved in the extinction of [many species](_URL_2_), including bison, mammoths, and saber-toothed cats. * Similarly, there's the earlier [megafauna extinctions in Australia about 40,000 years ago](_URL_1_), where humans are linked to the extinctions of [more species](_URL_3_), including giant echidnas and platypus, and [the diprotodon](_URL_4_), the largest marsupial ever."
] |
[
"Yes, it teaches you to stay the hell away from mosquitoes, the single deadliest animal on Earth for humans."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit post:"
}
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Why do countries have national birds? How did the practice come to be?
|
[
"Not every country does. Many nations use the Eagle as a symbol, but others use Lions, Flowers, or mythical creatures instead."
] |
[
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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What was life like in 100 A.D.? Were there rent and mortgages to pay? How were the people educated? How did they get the housing?
|
[
"In which country/region? The answers to your question will be *very* different for life in Rome in 100AD and in Australia in 100AD (both areas of interest for me)."
] |
[
"Because of technological and other advancements in development. Economic growth means improvement in our standard of living. 25 years ago, few middle-class families had cell phones or internet. 50 years ago, many didn't have air conditioning or a clothes dryer. 80 years ago, you might not have had a washing machine, a refrigerator, or a car. Today, that family spends thousands of dollars a year on such things. That money doesn't just come from thin air, it is the result of economic growth that makes people more wealthy than they were in the past."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Why did the Paris Commune fail?
|
[
"Followup on the part about the marxist point of view: \"The Civil War in France\" by Karl Marx is considered the fundamental Marxist text on the Commune, how accurate is it historically? I know much more must have been discovered that Marx could not have had access to, is there a modern work that is recommended? In \"The Civil War\", Marx states that the commune failed through the lack of bold initiative, that they did not expropriate the national bank which was still paying out money to Thiers' forces and did not go on the offensive when they had the chance, but more or less waited for their doom. He also suggests that the country side supported Thiers, leaving Paris isolated. Is this an accurate analysis that has been confirmed by modern research?"
] |
[
"Follow up: What *were* his reasons for siding with the British?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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In the 1993 film "Gettysburg," a drunken confederate general is heard to say "we should have freed the slaves, then seceded." Was this a popular viewpoint?
|
[
"I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned here that Gettysburg is co-written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, who is a neo-confederate revisionist. Gettysburg and Gods and Generals both try to white-wash and re-write Civil War history. Both films (but especially Gods and Generals) are just jam-packed with inaccuracies that try to demonize the Union and paint the Confederacy as a group of saints. He is rubbish."
] |
[
"He is widely considered to be one of the best generals the US has ever produced. He was an absolutely brilliant commander (Gettysburg is the notable exception) and was a consummate professional soldier. On top of that - Robert E. Lee was never tarnished by the issues of slavery and secession. He didn't want to secede, he didn't believe slavery was right... but when Virginia voted to secede he was put in an impossible position. He thought secession was wrong... but he could not raise a sword against his home state (or as he often called it \"His Country\"). People generally seem to perceive Lee as someone who was forced to pick a side, and did his job brilliantly. The fact that he was on the losing side doesn't take away from what he accomplished. Edit: As /u/Mason11987 points out, perhaps Lee is not as noble as my initial statement indicates as he did allow his troops to capture and enslave free blacks. So rather than being totally untarnished... he just avoided the worst."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
One of my favorite parts of history is the Yugoslav Wars. What should I read or watch next to learn more about the subject?
|
[
"\"Love Thy Neighbor\" by Peter Maas is excellent, it's a war-correspondent's memories of his time in Bosnia during the war. Its a much more personal and emotive account of the war than you usually get from academic histories. It very much reads like a \"Dispatches\" for the Bosnian War. Norman Cigar's \"Genocide in Bosnia\" is short, well-written, and to the point. It rebuts a lot of the misinformation that's been circulated regarding the war. \"The War in Croatia and Bosnia-Hercegovina 1991-1995\" is a fascinating read if you want to get into the more technical aspects of the military history of the war. Its a collection of essays/speeches from the primary players in the conflict, as well as academics specializing in the conflict."
] |
[
"I'm looking for recommendations for books to read if I want an overview of the history of the LGBT+ movement in the United States but don't have any previous background knowledge in the subject."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document about Literature:"
}
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How did the ideals of the Democrats and Republicans "switch" over time?
|
[
"Hiya, Not to discourage further discussion on the issue, but you may find [this response](_URL_0_) I've written in the past on the Southern Realignment to be of interest!"
] |
[
"In \"The Radicalism of the American Revolution\" (Gordon Wood) he argues the opposite. He claims that the Revolution completely changed American society by establishing a sense of egalitarianism that was directly linked with the new political system. He says that the Revolution created a whole new environment in the Americas that transformed what were underpopulated backwaters in 1760 into the expansion and progress minded country of the early 19th century. The focus of the government shifted to focus on the needs of the people. On a side note, the system of having the state legislatures choose Senators was meant to be a check on the Federal government's powers."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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What is a "Day in the Life" of Hitler during the war like?
|
[
"Hitler's average day varied greatly from the beginning to the end of the war. I can only tell you most accurately about the end of the war however. At the end of the war he spent much of his time in his underground bunker along with the top Nazi leaders (many of which fled Germany as they realized the war was lost and left to places such as Argentina). Much of the time was spent devising plans for war and the last stand around Berlin. Some notable events that occured during these last days were Hitler's marriage and him greeting the Nazi youth some as young as 12 that would be sent into battle. During this time Hitler became increasingly depressed as he slowly began to realize that the war was over and his reign was coming to an end. Some more information here: _URL_0_ Also an assassination attempt was made on Hitler's life in his last days called Operation Valkyrie. It is quite interesting and a movie was made about it quite recently."
] |
[
"What do you want to know about them exactly?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
}
|
How in God's Name was Prohibition Ratified in the United States?
|
[
"Just as a general comment, there are lots of events in history that seem \"crazy\" to a contemporary observer. One of the lessons of history that for some reason is difficult to stick is that people in different cultures and times had wildly different values from the ones you or I may have. To project our values back on them is a common fallacy and leads to second-hand interpretations that are at odds with the primary sources of the time. So while the passing of Prohibition might seem incredible to you today, and sparks a natural curiousity to be encouraged, it should also be a good reminder that your answer lies in realizing first that what those people thought and believed and valued was probably just completely different from you, and your answer will be partially in finding out just what those differences are."
] |
[
"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 Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A Caro 9. A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan 10. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn 11. 1491/1493 Charles C Mann Sorry, couldn't keep it to 6."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title about history:",
"pos": "Represent the document about history:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
How come Spain and Portugal led the age of exploration and not any other European power
|
[
"Well if the question is earnest, then theres no such thing as a stupid question. Some related questions have already been asked and answered [here](_URL_1_) and [here](_URL_2_). There are further discussions to be read on the overall subject page found [here](_URL_0_). If you have any followup questions that aren't answered, do feel free to ask but Im probably not gonna answer, as its not my field of expertise. Edit: Automod made me aware that I should mention u/terminus-trantor, as he wrote the linked answers. To u/terminus-trantor I apologize for not doing so."
] |
[
"Spain, Portugal, France and Italy(and a few other minor countries) make up Latin Europe. The all speak romance languages which evolved from Latin after the fall of the Roman Empire. Since as you mentioned Spain and Portugal had the biggest influence on them they are subsequently known as the Latin America similar to their European counterpart."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
}
|
What significant cities have been swallowed by sand?
|
[
"I can't say fully about which cities-though I do know the Sphinx was buried for the longest time. Many Egyptian cities and artifacts of worth have actually been uncovered, either recently or hundreds of years ago by others. However, well I was looking, I found a cool website that had a list of forgotten cities _URL_0_ Anyhow. I know of others that have been lost in mudslides or disappearing among the waters (the Indian sub-continent)."
] |
[
"Persia is now known as Iran, and Arabia is now known as the Arabian Peninsula. They are two completely different places, and are separated by a body of water known as the Persian Gulf. Check out the map of Iran on Google Maps and you'll see what I mean. These two lands have had different peoples, different rulers, and different cultures for thousands of years."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
}
|
What happened to the "Guardian Angels" group that formed in crime riddled 1970s New York City? Were the effective in reducing crime?
|
[
"Not to be \"that guy\" but you could [check their website](_URL_0_). For all the lack of recent press, they have well over 100 chapters worldwide and thousands of volunteers."
] |
[
"Someone should really do a study on Asian gangs of New York China Town. In my youth (late 70s and 80s), New York city was full of Asian gangs having gang fights. People getting shot, stabbed and buildings burning down. They start to disappear in 90s, and now you don't hear about them on the east coast anymore. New York Times did a \"where are they now\" type story on former asian gang members in 2008. Most of them are doing pretty well, doing finance, law and real estate."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
|
Can you give any information about this flag?
|
[
"hi! Do consider x-posting this to /r/vexillology (the flag sub!)"
] |
[
"Do you have a source for that claim?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
}
|
I am a paratrooper preparing to drop into Normandy on June 5th 1944, the day before D-Day. What equipment am I issued by the US army, and what equipment am I likely to have that is not GI?
|
[
"Leg Bags these were a British invention issued to American units. the idea is simple, a bag full of kit strapped to your leg, after you've jumped and your 'chute has been deployed, you lowered your leg bag. this acted as a land anchor, as it was quite common for parachutist to land, and then get blown about by the wind catching their 'chute Unfortunately, they were not given any training or instruction as to the use and weight limits of the things, consequently they overfilled them, the binding and ropes snapped and many blokes lost most of their kit. pic _URL_0_"
] |
[
"To the best of my knowledge, though the 101st did technically have glider borne units, the only American troops to actually use gliders during the invasion of Normandy were part of the 82nd Airborne. That said, there is still a lot that we would need to reconstruct what life would have been like for your grandfather outside of cursory details which wouldn't distinguish him much from GI Joe. A few things would help, * Was he actually in the invasion of Normandy? * Can you find out what part of the 101st he was in? * Was he an enlisted man or an officer? * Did he serve with the 101st through the end of the war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
|
Thursday Reading & Recommendations | May 16, 2019
|
[
"I asked about [the influence of pocket borough holders](_URL_0_) earlier this week, but the question was maybe a bit specific and went unanswered, so I'm going to turn this around: Can anybody suggest a book on the history of the parliament of England/Great Britain/the UK in the period roughly between around the restoration 1660 and the voting reform act of 1832, the relative power of the houses, and parliamentary and electoral practices? A general political history with some emphasis on parliamentary politics would also work, I guess. If it covers earlier or later periods without compromising the period between 1660 and 1823, that's a nice-to-have."
] |
[
"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 Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A Caro 9. A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan 10. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn 11. 1491/1493 Charles C Mann Sorry, couldn't keep it to 6."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Literature:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
What are some good books or podcast on Julius Caesar
|
[
"Gelzer's book on Caesar is available in English, unlike his book on Cicero which has never been translated from German. Both are excellent. Meier also has a book on Caesar which I think is somewhat less good, partly because he contains no citations (or at least my copy doesn't). There's also Goldsworthy's book but frankly, despite the frequency with which it is recommended, I really don't think it's very good--Goldsworthy makes quite a lot of errors, particularly regarding political matters (he's a military historian, after all, so I don't hold it against him). It's a fairly good introduction to the material, and very readable, but many of his errors on political matters are kind of elementary or very simplistic. And of course there's the textual source material as well"
] |
[
"Just asked this in the other sticky, but maybe this is the better place for it: Does anyone have any good book recommendations about the Nigerian Civil War or about Biafra as a country?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence about Literature:"
}
|
How long after World War 2 would money printed and coined by the axis aligned governments have been accepted?
|
[
"I can't speak for the other powers, but I do know that the Nazi Reichsmark was printed and accepted until [June 20, 1948 when it was replaced in West Germany by the Deutsche Mark.](_URL_0_) East Germany followed soon after with the introduction of Ostmark. At that point, West Germany was in economic free-fall much like the Weimar Republic of the 1920's. Replacing the old currency with new currency prevented a second wave of hyper-inflation."
] |
[
"This doesn't directly answer your question but it probably ties in and is also very interesting. During ww2, the USA negotiated extremely unbalanced trade deals with France and UK and the USSR for weapons, vehicles, and equipments. The way that this exchanged happens, the U.K. Shipped thousands of tons of gold and silver bullion to the USA, and that became part of the reason we had the highest standard of living the world had ever seen in the 1960's. However, due to the Marshall plan, much of this gold and silver was shipped back into Europe, in the form of investments. Now, do modern countries ship gold and silver as a hard commodity? I wouldn't be surprised, but I'm also a little doubtful."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
}
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Where did the Sarissa come from? Did Phillip invent it? Did he develop Sarissa warfare independently or was it a developing technology before him?
|
[
"It was a developing technology before him. Philip, when he was young, was a hostage of Thebes. Thebes at this time was the strongest City-State in Greece after they defeated the Spartans. Epaminondas was the leader of Thebes and he started to implement a longer spear in his army. This spear was about 12 feet long and Philip later took this idea and adapted it into the 18 foot sarissa."
] |
[
"Many of them had been--Epaminondas worked towards diversifying the Greek army, Isocrates laid out a formation type of hoplites with lighter armor and longer spears, Xenophon in his *Anabasis* stressed the importance of light skirmishers--but ultimately no state in Greece could implement a full reform. Philip's changes were really only possible with a full time, professional army, which no other place in Greece had the economic capability to create. Specifically, Philip exploited the enormous mineral wealth of the northern Balkans to give himself the financial ability to create his new army. As for its success, the simplest answer is that no other army of the time so brilliantly applied the principles of combined arms. For the other Greeks, the real \"army\" was the phalanx, and everything else was there to support it. In Philip's system, every part is supporting each other. This principle has lay at the heart of virtually all highly successful militaries, from the Assyrians to the Romans to Cromwell."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Did the Indians invent paneer before or after British colonization?
|
[
"Paneer certainly existed before the British came to India and has long been a part of Indian culture. However, there is some controversy as to it's origins. The etymology of paneer is Persian, and according to some paneer was introduced to India during the Muslim invasions of the late middle ages. However, the Vedas and other later examples suggest Indians might have been eating something very similar to paneer well before that. However it's hard to know if they were referring to what we consider paneer, or some other dairy products."
] |
[
"Once people stopped thinking the tomato was poison (the leaves of the plant look a lot like deadly nightshade, and in fact the two plants are in the same family) the American Italians quickly adopted it and brought it back to Italy. A Dutch man in Boston invented Dutch Processed chocolate, and the Germans brought that back home and went to town, the Italians, too. The potato was one of the first to make it back to Europe by the Irish. Espresso was patented in Turin in 1884. Just thought you'd like to know... 1) Olives and sea food. Lots of sea food. 2) It's not the number one food. It influenced their cuisine, but it didn't fundamentally change them like the potato did in Ireland. They're still predominantly sea food and pasta. Italian food as represented in the Americas is a shit poor representation."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
|
When the 40h work week was first implemented, did a lot workers complain about losing hours?
|
[
"One recent example you might look at is the 1992 shift from a 40-hour to a 37-hour workweek in Denmark. I don't know in detail about how it was managed, but I believe the goal was to keep incomes relative stable across the transition. For salaried employees that was easy (they just continued to get the same salary). For hourly workers, conditions are mostly negotiated between unions and employers (the large majority of Danish workers are in unionized workplaces), and they negotiated the terms of the transition. That included a rise in the wage floor, so workers earning the minimum wage wouldn't be hurt by the reduction in hours (the wage floor went up proportionally to the hour decrease). However, I don't know the details of the agreements. Would be interesting if someone does!"
] |
[
"Early 20th century, for the US anyhow. There were a lot of protest for fair wages, and reasonable hours, after a while companies realized production and quality improved with workers who were not working 80 hours and starving."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Education:"
}
|
What was the reaction of the American colonies to the creation of the United Kingdom?
|
[
"As a related sub-question, how many Scottish colonies were there prior to 1707?"
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
}
|
Thursday Reading & Recommendations | December 06, 2018
|
[
"Can someone recommend books on the history of games? I'm looking for both survey books and books on early games (so things like ancient board games and games of chance in Mesopotamia, China, India, Africa and the Americas). I'm looking pretty broadly so anything about the chronology, or about games' social relevance or broader context is of interest to me."
] |
[
"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 Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert A Caro 9. A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan 10. A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn 11. 1491/1493 Charles C Mann Sorry, couldn't keep it to 6."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Literature:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document about Literature:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
His were household appliances (vacuum cleaners, fridges, microwaves etc) advertised when they first came out? What was the initial public perception of them?
|
[
"I really wish I had more time to do justice to your question but I have attached one online resource for a public-friendly case study in one household appliance: the trash compactor. The kitchen is indeed the most technology-intensive room of the house; in the postwar housing boom, suburban homes were increasingly outfitted with a number of appliances. The boom in household technology corresponds with the postwar abundance and consumerist abandon. New suburban homes were outfitted with new appliances, now available to be purchased by credit and with savings accumulated during the war, when few consumer goods were available for purchase (most goods went to the war effort). Anyway, for the trash compactor, see: [Trash Compactor](_URL_1_) About kitchen technologies in general see [this page](_URL_0_)"
] |
[
"Right now I'd say that it's a toy, but as it improves, it'll become more useful for the average person. There was a point in time when cars, air travel, computers, and flush toilets were toys for rich people, now everyone uses them."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment:"
}
|
What were Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's views on the annexation of Korea?
|
[
"Korea was annexed in 1910 while he was a Lieutenant, so no one asked him or cared. _URL_0_"
] |
[
"The quote is widely attributed to Admiral Isoroko Yamamoto, the man who designed the Pearl Harbor attack and the poorly conceived Midway campaign 6 months later. The specific quote, \"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve\" is from the 1970 movie Tora! Tora! Tora!, a dramatization of the Pearl Harbor attack, and there is no evidence Yamamota ever said or wrote these words. Yamamoto is widely thought to have believed Pearl Harbor was a huge gamble, one that would buy the Japanese a brief window for taking control of enough of the Pacific to own their own supply chains so the Americans and Europeans would no longer be able to threaten them with embargoes of oil and metal. The Reluctant Admiral by Hiroyuki Agawa goes into detail about Yamamoto's belief that Japan could not win a long drawn out war with the US."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
How did four become the general standard number of tines for a fork?
|
[
"I'm not sure if this is too vague for you, but Henry Petroski talks about it in his [book](_URL_0_) (google books excerpt). It kind of boils down to efficiency in picking up food without being too large or broad for the mouth, again, but it does relate to the changing function of forks (from serving meat to individual utensils). Anecdotal is probably about as good as you're going to get since there was no official standardization, though. The Oxford Symposium on food last year was about material culture. I don't know if they have any relevant papers."
] |
[
"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 Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
}
|
A question about US colonization
|
[
"You might want to check out David Hackett Fischer's *Albions Seed* which addresses how the different British Isles groups who settled in British North America determined how the different American regions developed. It is an easily readable book even for those with only a casual interest in history."
] |
[
"Additionally, do we have documents on the public perception of electricity?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
If they exist, what are the best legal and ethical avenues for owning bits of (minor) historical and archaeological significance? E.g. ancient coinage, common pottery, etc.
|
[
"Ancient coins are a big part of numismatism, and are commonly bought and sold in collector's markets. I'm not aware of any particular legal regulation regarding their purchase."
] |
[
"Any possible answer would depend entirely on what types of artifacts. In other words, if she's incredibly wealthy and has a vast collection of ancient Greco-Roman statuary acquired through quasi-legal means, the answer would be *entirely* different than if she has a salt-and-pepper shaker set that (possibly) at one point was in the possession of Grover Cleveland. Most likely would be printed documents of some sort? If so, again, it entirely depends on what sorts of artifacts."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
}
|
Monday Methods| Reading Historical Fiction
|
[
"> Will a good author tell us this information in the ~~foreword~~ *preface*? Two of my favourite authors, Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell, both write on the interpolations and intentional deviations from history and reasons for them in the afterword and give non-fiction book recommendations on the subject. I think that's a good place for it, since then the readers who care about spoilers won't be spoiled by the info, the ignorant will get set straight on what parts of the story were artistic licence and the enthusiasts get to know why the story deviated from the history they know."
] |
[
"Next Week's Theme: 'Royalty, Nobility, and the Exercise of Power' To be followed by: \"Eastern Europe\""
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
Has there ever been a case of a nation being attacked or punished as retribution for refusing to intervene in a conflict?
|
[
"I would imagine that there are plenty of cases where states have been faced with the choice of joining state X in a war against state Y or be attacked/punished by state X. See [the Melian dialogue](_URL_0_) for a classic example. The Melians were faced with the choice of assisting the Athenian war effort or be destroyed by Athens. They held onto their neutrality and were ultimately destroyed."
] |
[
"There are a bunch of rebels who don't like the government. The government doesn't like the rebels. The two groups, then, are fighting. The government, with its enormously larger resources, has inflicted heavy casualties on the rebels as well as innocent civilians. Nobody has intervened because nobody wants to get involved in a costly war in Syria. Syria also has some very powerful semi-allies such as Russia and China, which blocked a UN security council resolution to do something about the slaughter."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
"neg": "Represent the answer:"
}
|
When and how did pop culture associate all things Nuclear with the color green?
|
[
"Radioactive materials are often portrayed as green because back in the mid 20th century, there was a trend of making glowing watch faces with radioactive paint mixed with phosphorus. As you say, radioactivity is impossible to see with the naked eye and if you have Cherenkov radiation, it's a visible blue. The phosphorus interacting with the radioactive decay is what makes a green glow. As time went on, the glow of the phosphorus was associated with radiation. As was the case with these watch faces. Some were even made with radium. These sorts of watches were pretty popular and had to be hand painted. Sadly the women who made them had horrible amounts of cancer from working with all these radioactive materials. Source: _URL_0_"
] |
[
"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 Reddit question about Physics:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit answer about Physics:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit answer:"
}
|
A few more questions on Rome, especially military
|
[
"I suggest you write at least the approximate date you are looking at. Rome lasted for many hundreds of years and the culture and military changed over that time."
] |
[
"The other four are simply a repeat of the last four on the front"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post about History:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text about History:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
|
Were black children actually used as alligator bait in the South?
|
[
"Hi, not discouraging more responses here, but you may be interested in a couple of earlier responses to this question * [Saw something on FB about how black babies use to be fed to alligators in Florida. Is there any truth to this?](_URL_0_) * [Black babies as bait for alligator hunt?](_URL_1_)"
] |
[
"Sent to special schools, chained up in attics, etc"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
}
|
Were black babies really used as fishing bait in the South?
|
[
"I did some digging on this a few [years ago](_URL_0_), and was unable to turn up any evidence of the practice. Whilst slavery was an incredibly violent and dehumanising institution, this particularly abuse seems to have been one needlessly invented to create additional suffering where there was already far, far too much for us to talk about."
] |
[
"Sent to special schools, chained up in attics, etc"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
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|
Figured I'd ask here instead of r/worldbuilding, how likely would it be to have a half-Japanese character in 18th-century America (or England)?
|
[
"Pretty unlikely for the entirety of the 18th century and most of the 19th century, under the Tokugawa Shogunate Japan adopted an isolationist stance towards the outside world. The only western power allowed to trade in Japan were the Dutch and only at a single point at the port of Nagasaki. Otherwise the country was denied to foreigners. After immense American and European pressure in the 1850s contact with the outside world was restored and Japanese emigration began to the United States after the 1860s. However as late as 1880 there were only around 150 Japanese in the US, most if not all in Hawaii. Mass immigration did not begin until the closing years of the 19th century. It's not entirely implausible, just very unlikely."
] |
[
"Did you have a specific time period in mind? Because for most of the age of colonization by those powers (let's paint with a broad brush and say roughly 1500 to 1850), there was no \"Germany\" to speak of as a nation."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
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|
How much do North Koreans know about the events leading to the fall of the Soviet Union, and how did they react at the time?
|
[
"They still do major trade with Russia. In fact there are logging camps in Siberia run by North Koreans."
] |
[
"Follow up question. Boris Yeltsin was a famous alcoholic. Did this change how seriously he was taken in the days directly after the fall of the USSR?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
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|
How did the ancient Roman system of patron-client relationships actually work? How did it change over the life of the Republic/Empire?
|
[
"There are some scholars re-evaluating this relationship. People used to think clientele were hereditary and obligatory. I have heard Morstein-Marx talk about clientele and he is leaning towards thinking clientele was much more fluid than historians have usually thought - because of things like canvassing for office and mutinies in the army. If I remember what he said correctly, he thinks a patron/client relationship was very much a two way street, in which the client can walk if the patron doesn't provide enough services. In reference to your question about education, I think we are re-evaluating our notions of literacy. Many Romans would be able to read something - street names, a menu, etc. Maybe not Virgil, and maybe not Greek, but for daily activities they probably would have some capacity to function. Also, Rome was an oral culture so if you don't read you just need a friend that does. At Pompeii there are menus on the walls - they must have had practical use somehow."
] |
[
"Which historian do you think has the best explanation for the Fall of the Roman Empire? Did it collapse due to external pressures from the waves of barbarian migrations caused by the conquests of the Huns, as Peter Heather argues? Or, as Guy Halsall argues, was it actually power struggles within the Empire, and the consequent break down of systems of patronage and the political legitimacy this bestowed, which caused the tribal groupings to get drawn into the power struggles and civil wars of Rome, unwittingly leading to the downfall of the Empire from within? Edit: I studied under one of these historians, and it was always really fun to hear his forthright opinions on his counterpart."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the answer:",
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|
Tuesday Trivia | Party Hearty! History’s Best Bashes and Most Epic Shindigs
|
[
"President Andrew Jackson's inauguration celebration in 1828 was infamous. Unlike his more \"aristocratic\" predecessors, this representative of the \"common man\" invited all sorts of ordinary folks to the White House. A big vat of liquor was placed on the White House lawn. Lots of people got drunk and it was a chaotic scene. $1000 worth of china was broken. Fistfights broke out. Ladies fainted. Jackson had to slip out the back door to avoid being mobbed. It was an inauspicious way to begin his presidency. His enemies made political hay out of the party and labeled it as the logical endpoint of popular democracy."
] |
[
"High Crime + Dwindling Population + Crumbling Infrastructure + Diminishing Jobs = Perceived Shithole."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
|
Should I take ancient Chinese history with a pinch of salt because of The Mandate of Heaven?
|
[
"I'm not sure what you mean by saying \"But then I learned about the Mandate of Heaven.\" The \"Mandate of Heaven\" was a religio-political theory invented by the Zhou dynasty to justify its overthrow of the Shang dynasty, and later adopted by subsequent dynasties for their own political purposes (as well as by dissidents to support their own criticism of Chinese imperial regimes)."
] |
[
"When the US has only existed for a fraction of the length of time that the kingdoms in the British Isles have, I think you can understand just how immense the history of Blighty truly is. I say first you must commit to a time period before proceeding. Do you want Brythonic, Roman, Romano-British, Saxon, Norman, Viking Invasion, Angevin, Late Medieval, Tudor, Stuart, Civil War, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, Wartime or Modern? Simply take your pick and look for a good reading list from a library. In the meanwhile Yale University also has some recordings from old lectures available on You Tube that has a playlist on some British history that is definately worth a look into if you so desire."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query about Education:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit comment about Education:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit comment about history:"
}
|
Which two countries have been at war the most number of times?
|
[
"Sweden and Denmark have fought somewhere between 15 and 20 wars with each other, more than any two nations in the world. /u/vonadler did [a summary of them](_URL_0_) a year ago. This is counting only from the time they can be said to be unified countries. There were other conflicts before that too, I've seen estimates well over 30 if you include the viking age but for the purposes of this discussion, let's stick to unified countries. The explanation is pretty straight-forward, Sweden and Denmark are really old countries, we've had 1000 years to fight each other."
] |
[
"Firstly, we cannot really accurately list all military conflicts. It's such a broad concept, and can include everything from border wars to drug wars. After some research, I do have some numbers though. But, according to _URL_0_, there have been \"over 250 major wars\" since 1945. So, we'll use that number. Of all these wars, the US has been involved in 43 of them, which may surprise some as they would think the US has been involved in almost all of them. So, assuming there have been 250 wars since 1945, the US would have been involved in 17.2% of all military conflict since World War 2. Hope this helped!"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
What was the impact of the Naval Defence Act of 1889?
|
[
"The main effect was that the Royal Navy adopted formally a \"two-power standard,\" in which the RN would be required by law to be the equal of the two largest foreign naval powers combined. (In the event, the NDA did not necessarily have this effect in the immediate term.) The long-term effect was to (to some extent) force the RN's hand in building up its fleet to counter the German naval buildup in the run-up to World War I, though I am of the opinion that the RN would have responded to the German fleet buildup in the same way with or without the NDA of 1889."
] |
[
"I actually just wrote a paper on this. Heavy industry in China actually underwent incredible growth during this period, with heavy industry output increasing by 230% from 1958-60. Global output of resources such as coal and steel increased, resulting in China becoming a global leader in those industries. The number of technicians, engineers, and machines in China also increased greatly. Another possible benefit, that Roderick MacFarquhar examines in *Origins of the Cultural Revolution, vol 2*, is that the Great Leap Forward sort of \"galvanized\" the Chinese masses, meaning it gave the Chinese the belief that they could take control of their destinies and \"leap forward\" instead of sitting under the yoke of nature. Source: MacFarquhar, Roderick. The Origins of the Cultural Revolution. Vol 2 Oxford: Oxford University Press for the Royal Institute of International Affairs, the East Asian Institute of Columbia University and the Research Institute on International Change of Columbia University, 1983. pg 300-340"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
Book/Article recommendation on "Minor" Axis Powers: Hungary, Romania, Slovakia & Bulgaria?
|
[
"I have read this book - The Unknown Eastern front “ by Rolf Dieter Muller..it covers Finland,Hungary,Romania,Italy,Solvakia,Croatia, plus many others. This is the link: _URL_0_"
] |
[
"I can't answer, but Albania, Slovakia (as part of Czechoslovakia) and Romania were all members of the Warsaw Pact during the Cold War."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the passage:",
"neg": "Represent the passage:"
}
|
What were the long-term effects of Queen Elsa's ice entitlement in Arendelle?
|
[
"Look, I see where you are going with this, but please stop. Queen Elsa was in a difficult position and did what had to be done for the survival and future of Arendelle. The ice market was clearly already in steady decline because... well... ice. No other outcome was possible. **TLDR; Lay off Elsa.**"
] |
[
"Destructful weather. Mass extinction. Bad crops and food shortages. Little to no intercontinental travel and a seemingly post apocalyptic lifestyle in general."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about Climate science:"
}
|
Why are there no publicly available pictures for the contents of one of the oldest surviving books in the world: The Etruscan Gold Book?
|
[
"I'm very sceptical. I've never heard of it until today. I find so little information on Google, nothing on Google Scholar (except for one small reference to the same BBC text that all references seem to lead to). The museum director (who has died recently) appears to be somewhat of a controversial historian. The linguist Vladimir I. Georgiev is supposed to study the tablets, but a quick search shows he died in the 80's. It's definitely not common practice to shield pictures of ancient artefacts from the public. I think this all points to the possibility that it's a fraud."
] |
[
"A serious of scrolls that were discovered in the 1940's and are the oldest known written from of the old testament as well as various other deuterocanonical texts."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
}
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The portrayal of Haitian Vodou as evil.
|
[
"Portrayals of Haitian vodou really came into their own in the 1920s and 30s, in books like Beale Davis' [The Goat Without Horns](_URL_0_) (1925), William Seabrook's [The Magic Island](_URL_1_) (1929), and more recently works like Wade Davis' [The Serpent and the Rainbow](_URL_2_) (1985)."
] |
[
"Part of the \"horned, cloven foot devil\" imagery is an attempt to discredit some older pagan mythological figures."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
|
What have been the major aviation innovations implemented on passenger jets since the 1960s? Why are they so infrequent and seemingly trivial compared with aviation innovation up until then?
|
[
"Airframes are somewhat lighter, leading to fuel savings. Engines are much quieter and more fuel efficient and the development of engines and fuel systems enabling ETOPS (extended twin engine operations) have reduced maintenance costs materially. Better flight control and avionics have enabled flight deck crews to drop from 3 to 2. Effective aircraft ranges are far longer for every capacity class -- compare the range of a 777-300 to that of a 747-100 or that of the 737-700 to a DC-9, and regional jets to 1960s turboprops. Airline and aircraft financing have gotten much more sophisticated and the industry has been deregulated for the most part. So, all of this has meant more cheaper flights to more places at more times which are notably faster in the case of very long range non-stops and commuter hops now serviceable by regional jets."
] |
[
"A supersonic passenger jet that can hold enough passengers, quiet enough to operate in most American airports, and can be fuel efficient enough to be cost feasible would take years of development and prototyping along with billions of dollars. I'm sure airplane manufacturers like Airbus and Boeing are researching it, but it'll be a long time before we see something like that take to the skies"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Why did Josephus write in Greek?
|
[
"Greek was the lingua Franca of the Ancient Age. Not only was it the language of the highly developed Greeks, but this language was spread throughout the entirety of the (then) known world by the conquests of Alexander the Great. If he wrote something in Latin, it could be understood by the Romans. If he wrote something in Hebrew, it could be understood by the Jews. But if he wrote something in Greek, it could be understood by both of those groups, as well as everyone else."
] |
[
"Why were they sealed in the first place?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
}
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Does any Pre-Columbian philosophy or wisdom survive?
|
[
"I'd recommend [Fifteen Poets of the Aztec World](_URL_0_) by Miguel Leon-Portilla. It's a collection of the surviving Aztec poetry and includes a bit of background on the poets themselves. It's not exactly *philosophy* per se, but the Aztecs considered poetry a high art form. This book will at least give you a bit of insight into their views on important philosophical questions."
] |
[
"A follow-up question for any historians of South-Asia: Was this colorism ever noted in Vedic/classican Indian sources? How old is this bias?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
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}
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Why is the "Linthorax" style of armor considered to be controversial?
|
[
"[Your question would seem to have been answered in this thread.](_URL_0_) Edit: by u/Iphikrates"
] |
[
"They don't; you're thinking of a different kind of battery."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
}
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How did the Catholics in India communicate with the papacy in the early church days?
|
[
"You're going to have to be more specific. Do you mean early church as in St. Thomas? If so, there would be no need to communicate with Rome. They weren't Roman Catholics and the doctrine of Papal primacy hadn't been fully developed yet. If you mean the coming of the Portuguese, they would've worked through a nuncio (i.e. Francis Xavier) who would represent the Holy See. He would send letters back to Rome for the Pope and for the Superior General of the Jesuits in the case of Xavier. The average transit time would've been around 4-6 months. So there was a serious delay, but the impact on the mission would've been minimal. Xavier would've been able to make most decisions in his capacity as nuncio and if a major doctrinal issue came up (none did) they could've waited for a response from the Pope. Source William V. Bangert, S.J. *A History of the Society of Jesus* (1986)."
] |
[
"A follow-up and related question: how about young people in other parts of the world in this time period? I.e. South Asia, China, West Africa, South America?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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What parts in HBOs tv-show “Vikings” is actually historically accurate?
|
[
"Hi, many have asked questions about the series (psst, it's not HBO, it's History Channel) and thus there is [a section of the FAQ](_URL_0_) you might be interested in exploring. There's always more to be said, though you may be more likely to get responses to questions regarding specific aspects of the series rather than the series as a whole. Experts in early medieval Scandinavia may have no / limited familiarity with the series."
] |
[
"Just for my curiosity, has the BBC made a statement Saying that this casting in an effort to be historically accurate or plausible?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
}
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Did Cleopatra bath in milk and honey?
|
[
"Not quite what you were looking for, but it was apparently a \"thing\" back then. This is from Pliny the Elder's *Natural History*: > “It is generally believed that ass milk effaces wrinkles in the face, renders the skin more delicate, and preserves its whiteness : and it is a well-known fact, that some women are in the habit of washing their face with it seven times daily, strictly observing that number. > Poppaea, the wife of the Emperor Nero, was the first to practice this; indeed, she had sitting-baths, prepared solely with ass milk, for which purpose whole troops of she- asses used to attend her on her journeys.” I couldn't find specific quotes regarding Cleopatra though. The fact that Pliny said Poppaea was the *first* to practice this would imply he was unaware of Cleopatra doing it, since she had died ~70 years before Poppaea was born."
] |
[
"Have you never stepped foot in the South? We drink gallons of sweet tea a day."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Were there any notable game-fixing scandals in sports prior to the Black Sox?
|
[
"In the 1880s and 1890s there were several major scandals that rocked the world of professional rowing. By 1900, the sport had fallen in such disrepute, it became extinct due to all of the chicanery, race fixing and dastardly cheating that went on. In 1919, that sorry series of events was within living memory of the powers to be in big league baseball. They did not want to see their sport suffer the same fate, so they came down like a ton of bricks on the Black Sox. _URL_0_"
] |
[
"Tom Brady playing with his balls doesn't necessarily mean that the rest of the roster needs to be punished as well. The NCAA is a fan of vacating wins and titles, but that's extremely rare in the pro leagues. MLB teams don't lose old wins due to steroid allegations either."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
Did the members of the Black Sox Scandal in 1919 deserve to be banned from baseball for life?
|
[
"In addition to what /u/Searocksandtrees said, the word *deserve* is as loaded as a man in a bar on payday. I don't know if it's objectively possible to say someone *deserves* anything."
] |
[
"Tom Brady playing with his balls doesn't necessarily mean that the rest of the roster needs to be punished as well. The NCAA is a fan of vacating wins and titles, but that's extremely rare in the pro leagues. MLB teams don't lose old wins due to steroid allegations either."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
When did the United States begin to view Britain as an ally/friendly nation?
|
[
"Please check the FAQ, there's a [section](_URL_0_) there that's relevant to your question."
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the text:",
"neg": "Represent the text:"
}
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Why didn't the US push China out of North Korea during the Korean war?
|
[
"Volume Two of Pres. Truman's memoir *Years of Trial and Hope* is pretty illuminating about the no-win decisions at hand. The United Nations was in a very tricky situation with Mainland China. The US could not risk all-out war with a nation that could muster almost unlimited numbers of troops. There was great concern that Russia would enter the war in support of Red China. The loss of Formosa, a possible consequence of all-out war, would be a serious problem for defensive bases in the Pacific, and there was worry that China would next attempt to take Indo-China or even Japan."
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
During the reign of Queen Victoria, did she ever appear as a character in any (specifically British) fictional works?
|
[
"That's a GREAT question, and I have no answer for you. Would you be interested in fictional works that have a kind of Victoria-ish character, like maybe one that has Britons living under queen Gloriana or something? Not that I know of any offhand, but it's a fascinating subject. Also, have you tried /r/AskLiteraryStudies ? It's not the busiest sub, but they might be able to help."
] |
[
"When the US has only existed for a fraction of the length of time that the kingdoms in the British Isles have, I think you can understand just how immense the history of Blighty truly is. I say first you must commit to a time period before proceeding. Do you want Brythonic, Roman, Romano-British, Saxon, Norman, Viking Invasion, Angevin, Late Medieval, Tudor, Stuart, Civil War, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Edwardian, Wartime or Modern? Simply take your pick and look for a good reading list from a library. In the meanwhile Yale University also has some recordings from old lectures available on You Tube that has a playlist on some British history that is definately worth a look into if you so desire."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document about history:"
}
|
Engagements between two pike & shot formations
|
[
"Well it depends on the formation. Generallly, it seems that the fight was decided by hand to hand combat. Pikemen on the front might 'fence' for a while, but swordsmen, dopplesoldners, halberdiers and other 'melee fighters' would often be deployed at this stage, to break the pike formations' pikemen, who would either continue pike fencing or draw swords, at which point it'd become a morass of struggling men, with the addition of 12 foot poles everywhere. The soldiers in a Tercio's rear would probably see what was happening. While on paper Tercios had upwards of 1,000 men, on the field they were usually deployed with around 500 men or so. They'd also move EXTREMELY slowly (Party because their hackbusiers/musketeers fired on the move) so the pushing wasn't as extreme as one might think."
] |
[
"It already meant a large quantity of material, when it was then used in the 1700s to describe a great quantity of sound. _URL_0_"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
|
Bulgaria's Military Role in WWII?
|
[
"The interesting thing about Bulgaria in WW2 is that they did not declare war on the USSR. So unlike Germany's other allies (like Romania and Hungary) they did not send troops to fight in the east. Bulgaria did declare war on the UK and US, but geography meant that they were not involved with any fighting against these nations. With the German position in the Balkans collapsing, the USSR declared war on Bulgaria in September 1944 and quickly overran the country, (effectively) taking it out of the war."
] |
[
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Adapted For. Vitamin-D Deficiency Was Very Common In Black Children In The Northern US And Europe Before Modern Technology Made Nutrients More Easily Accessible. Being Black Or Brown Outside Of The Tropics Would Have Been Maladaptive For Most Of Human History Because There Would Not Have Been Enough Sunlight For Proper Nutrient Uptake. Capital Letters."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit title:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit passage:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit passage:"
}
|
What were the chances of surviving the entire Great War?
|
[
"For a related question, see [What were your odds of surviving \"going over the top\" in a WWI trench?](_URL_0_) with a guess at the odds by /u/DuxBelisarius."
] |
[
"Are you sure they were defeated at all?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit paragraph:"
}
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Can you recommend a good biography about Alexander Hamilton?
|
[
"For Hamilton's role as Treasury Secretary I'd recommend Ron Chernow's biography. It's not as strong on Hamilton's role as a soldier in my opinion, or the political situation generally, but it really shows Hamilton's brilliance on the establishing the financial health of the new country."
] |
[
"Could you post where that quote came from? Thanks"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
}
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Peter Brown and resources on Late Antiquity?
|
[
"I guess the first question is, how are you with earlier antiquity? It's hard to grasp the events of late antiquity without an understanding of the developments before that. Brown himself is focused on the dichotomy between East and West, and primarily interested in the Roman state over other actors like the Germanic tribes or the Persians. In addition, Brown places a great deal of emphasis on the religious and cultural sides over the political, economic, and military sides. Nothing wrong with that, just represents a particular lens to approach these events from. At any rate, if you want to better understand Late Antiquity, you can post a more specific question here, and/or read a more 'detail' oriented history that focuses on the big events and people rather than trying to synthesize a cultural narrative."
] |
[
"How well regarded are the writings of Joseph Campbell by historians?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit post:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit argument:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit argument:"
}
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"Santa is Odin" - really?
|
[
"check out a few earlier discussions here [How accurate is the claim \"Santa is Odin\"?](_URL_0_) [Why were some Celtic gods like Brigid \"converted\" in to Christian saints and Norse gods were not?](_URL_1_) [Happy Festivius/Winter Solstice/Christmas/Yule, etc., etc.! Every year it comes up, so let's clear it up! What are the truths and myths behind Christmas?](_URL_2_)"
] |
[
"Come back with that one more time now?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
}
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[NSFW] A Question About Female Rights in Viking Society
|
[
"I know the post in question, and it is grotesquely incorrect. There are no provisions in either Grágas nor Gulaþingslög for castration or emasculation of offenders."
] |
[
"Being Black Does Actually Have (Relatively Minor) Health Consequences, It's Just That They're Obviated By Modern Life. There's An Energy Cost To Have Extra Melanin, Even A Small One, So If You Don't Need It It Won't Be Selected For. Melanin Reduces Vitamin-D Uptake From The Sun If Sunlight Is Lower Than You're Adapted For. Vitamin-D Deficiency Was Very Common In Black Children In The Northern US And Europe Before Modern Technology Made Nutrients More Easily Accessible. Being Black Or Brown Outside Of The Tropics Would Have Been Maladaptive For Most Of Human History Because There Would Not Have Been Enough Sunlight For Proper Nutrient Uptake. Capital Letters."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
What is (generally) the current status of Foucault among historians?
|
[
"I'm not sure it's on the FAQ list, but we've discussed this question before. I've written lengthy responses several times, since I find his work useful, important, and enjoyable, although it doesn't always get that reception on this particular forum. Still, I think his influence on the historical profession is undeniable. _URL_1_ _URL_0_ _URL_2_"
] |
[
"Can anyone suggest respected works that deal, on a theoretical level, with the concept of elites? Specifically from the standpoint of history."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the post:",
"neg": "Represent the post:"
}
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I've searched this subreddit but haven't found any answers: Was 'taking an arrow to the knee' really used as Norse slang for marriage?
|
[
"In all the Icelandic sagas I have read, as well as Skaldic poetry, I cannot say that I have ever come across this saying. Marriage was generally a positive thing, in Iceland at least, as it improved your wealth (through a dowry) and your social ties. This was very important in an honour based society (Honour was more akin to protecting your property, rather than modern ideals of it) and divorce was also an option for both males and females. Personally, I believe it to be fake, but I would love someone to prove me wrong."
] |
[
"Well, we're not completely certain. We know where it began: The Battle of Britain in World War 2, it was used to order RAF pilots to get in their planes and get in the air right the hell now. There's a chance it was a radio codeword. There's no record of that, since making records of all your secret codes makes them not so secret, but it's a solid theory. Or it may have been something that came about as slang from these guys, the same people who gave us bogeys and bandits on our six, etc. They loved making up terminology so it's entirely in-character. The other theory is that it's adapted from the older use of the word scramble, moving quickly over rough terrain and obstacles, as in \"scrambling over this rocky ground\" or \"scrambling up a cliff face.\" Scramble to your planes. The word's been around since the 1600's and probably linked to the word Scrabble too, meaning to scratch furiously at a surface. It's unlikely to be related to eggs, but you never know."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Where did the concept of "teenager" as a specific life stage come from?
|
[
"FYI, /u/american_graffiti gave a write-up on this last month; see here for that plus links to other related posts [How Has the Concept of Adolescence Come to Be?](_URL_1_) and here are a couple more posts that may be of interest [How did youth culture develop in the United States?](_URL_0_) - more from /u/american_graffiti and others [We know how teenagers rebel in today's day and age but how do you think they rebelled against their parents/society in the Victorian age or during Roman time, etc?](_URL_2_)"
] |
[
"So when and where did playing cards as we know them come into being anyways?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
|
Why is the civil war, the outcome of the 1860 US election, considered a peaceful transfer of power on Wikipedia's "List of Countries date of uninterrupted peaceful transfer of power"
|
[
"It sounds like the criteria used by the Wikipedia page is something along the lines of \"one leader or ruling party voluntarily relinquishing power in deference to a new leader or ruling party.\" That certainly occurred in the election of 1860."
] |
[
"Montenegro springs to mind, which gained independence from Serbia through a referendum in 2006. However, this breaks the 20 year rule on this subreddit so I won't go into too much detail about it. One independence I can talk about is the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992/3, which is sometimes referred to as the 'Velvet Divorce' which refers to the peaceful 'Velvet Revolution' in 1989 which led to to fall of the Communist party. On the 17th July 1992, Slovakia declared its independence from the Czechoslovakia, which was dissolved 6 days later. It was a peaceful division, and some would argue an inevitable one, due to the stark differences between the Czech and Slovak people. Most British colonies, e.g. Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand also all achieved independence peacefully through the 20th century. Portugal's colony of Brazil also achieved independence with almost full peace (there was some guerilla fighting between Portuguese troops and citizens) in 1822."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph about history:"
}
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Why is it that we identify turn-of-the-century Vienna with Modernity?
|
[
"The classic is Carl Schorske's *Fin-de-siècle Vienna : politics and culture* (_URL_17_) Modernity is such a tricky topic that I loathe to try and deal with it in a reddit post, but put short it has something to do with an awareness of one's place in history, contradictions between particularism and universality, something to do with (if you like Berman) the inherent provisionality of identity. I could go on. Schorske likes the first bit the most. In Fin-de-siecle Vienna, a coalescence of social and cultural conditions, for example an cohesive elite which held lively Salons (and was struggling to deal with social changes), conflict between Habsburg traditionalism and new politics, architects (Otto Wagner), who created an urban aesthetic which challenged notions of public space, and general cultural diversity and creativity all conspired to allow (give voice to) these new ideas which were expressed publicly."
] |
[
"\"Classical Music\" actually refers to music produced between 1750 and 1820. Russia and Europe were the cultural centers in these days, and thus they produced most of the memorable popular music for the time period. Sort of like asking \"Why does it seem like most of the big musical hits from the 50's were American?\"."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Did Britain ever oppose or feel threatened by Americas naval build up?
|
[
"America wasn't a country with a military mindset that guided everything it did. Germany was, it was an every increasing economic powerhouse and had the largest professional army in Europe. Wilhelm II also wanted a Navy that would rival England's. Britain could easily put 2 and 2 together. The US on the other hand was genuinely trying to guards it's trade and sea lanes, as well as the coasts etc. The UK was wary of American Naval power being built up before 1812 for obvious reasons."
] |
[
"Was any Asian country capable of helping the United States during the revolutionary war?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the query:",
"pos": "Represent the argument:",
"neg": "Represent the argument:"
}
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The daily life of a Roman Pleb
|
[
"The sad truth of the matter is we know very little about the Plebians in Rome, except passing references. Literacy was rare among them so we had to depend on the upper classes for their documentation. What we do know is there was a Client - Patron relationship where the clients (plebs) would go at the start of the day to receive gifts from their Patrons, and would accompany them throughout the day, specifically to the forum. They would also dine at their Patrons house from time to time (Romans loved dinner parties). I recommended a book in another thread on Rome, by [Jo-Ann Shelton](_URL_0_), which uses a lot of archeological and written records to give us a decent idea of Roman life. However, as I said above, it doesn't have a lot on the Plebians, sorry."
] |
[
"How they make a living? Working in restaurants"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
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Has there been any cases of wars won by a society/faction/civilization that was less technologically advance than their enemy?
|
[
"Add the [First Boer War](_URL_0_) to your list. Unfortunately for the victors, the British came back to wage the Second Boer War, which is why South Africans speak English today."
] |
[
"Open war just means that two nations/factions have openly declared war on each other. Cell warfare is a flash game, but I'm assuming you mean something along the lines of sleeper cells. Sleeper cells or clandestine cells just means infiltration the enemy's land/organization in order to surprise them and fight from within. Usually gets coupled with guerrilla tactics. Anyone who is infiltrating or has infiltrated the enemy and is blending in is referred to as a sleeper. Guerilla warfare is the only actual style of fighting on this list. Geurilla fighting is a style of fighting where you rely on fast surprise strikes and then quickly retreat and regroup before the enemy has a chance to organize and turn the offensive against you. Frequently used by forces that are smaller or less well equipped than their enemy. Civil war means when a nation or faction is at war with itself"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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How common has it been for the Sergeant-At-Arms to actually have to use arms?
|
[
"Do you mean strictly Canadian or anyone with the title?"
] |
[
"It might not be necessary in certain countries, but with the number of firearms and violence in the U.S., it would be pure anarchy if our police forces did not have firearms. Don't bring a knife to a gun fight."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the sentence:",
"neg": "Represent the sentence:"
}
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During WW1 what did the British believe made a good leader?
|
[
"In what sense? Politically, economically, strategically, tactically? And which segment of the British population? The military, the political elite, or the commons?"
] |
[
"If you're thinking the USA did it alone need to have a talk with your history teacher. The UK and Canada were also there in force."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the question:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
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Why were the Knights of Ni still using herrings to chop down trees when the rest of Britannia favored the larger, more durable Atlantic cod?
|
[
"It's possible that the explanation was known by contemporaries of the era, but unfortunately, they seldom lived to tell the tale."
] |
[
"Pure thickness. If your fingers were as strong as your femur you'd look like a old well trimmed tree."
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the Reddit query:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit document:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit document:"
}
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During the American Civil Rights Movement, how did local/state/federal governments coerce privately owned restaurants into desegregation?
|
[
"The Civil Rights Act did have provisions for private establishments. It outlawed \"discrimination based on race, color, religion or national origin in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce.\" The commerce clause lets the federal government do a lot, and for what it can't cover state governments would have been able to make laws about that easily, which I imagine many did gradually over time. Another factor I'd like to bring to light, however, is the way - before the act - even nominally private segregation was coercively enforced. The Montgomery Bus Boycott, for instance, was private action against segregation which the state then tried to put down by coming up with laws they could use to rationalize preventing boycotters from car pooling etc."
] |
[
"Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination by employers \"on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.\" However, Title II of the same act prohibits discrimination \"based on race, color, religion, or national origin in hotels, motels, restaurants, **theaters,** and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce.\" Congress made no attempt to enforce gender equity on the Boy Scouts, men's clubs, women's groups, restrooms, or half-way homes for \"troubled\" women. Gender discrimination is completely legal in the United States in many sectors. Employment isn't one of them, but theaters are."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the Reddit question:",
"pos": "Represent the Reddit text:",
"neg": "Represent the Reddit text:"
}
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History scholars of reddit, do you feel that your profession is unappreciated?
|
[
"Not really - there is plenty of popular interest and enthusiasm for history. What I do wish is that the media and the general public were better at drawing a distinction between pop-history and the work that real academics do. There is a lot of \"history\" out there that isn't worth the paper it's written on, but which sells exceedingly well and wins a wide audience. So it's not so much a matter of the *profession* being under-appreciated as it is a problem of *good* history being under-appreciated and bad history overvalued (usually because it's telling people what they want to hear)."
] |
[
"Just curious for everyone's thoughts. What is pop history, how do we differentiate it from academic history, and to what degree is it useful? Added query, what pop history do you find compelling or of exceprional quality?"
] |
eli5_question_answer
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{
"query": "Represent the title:",
"pos": "Represent the document:",
"neg": "Represent the document:"
}
|
What clothing are these German 16th century mercenaries (Landsknecht) wearing?
|
[
"The Germanic areas in the 16th century do have a distinct dress. Here is a page specifically following [German hose history](_URL_3_). You will find some more extreme slashed/pinked/puffed garments in France and England, but not as often, and that is generally where we get our concept of historical dress from. [This painting from 1578](_URL_0_) is a good example of a typical slashed doublet in England. [A 1620s doublet](_URL_2_) from France has the much larger openings. [Using leather](_URL_4_) also allows for numerous slashes without a lot of finishing. If you don't find an expert on Germanic fashion on this board you might try searching for some of the [re-enactment groups sites](_URL_1_). Surprisingly enough, when looking for historical fashion Pinterest is well populated with researchers."
] |
[
"The logo on the handle is the symbol of the Deutsche Jaegerschaft, the German Hunting Society, which was the official state organization for hunters. Membership in the DJ was compulsory in order to obtain a hunting licence by the end of the 1930s. Stags are a common symbol among German hunters (hence Jaegermeister--\"Master hunter\"--has a stag on its label). If you look next to the stag's skull, you can see the letter D on one side and the letter J on the other, for Deutsche Jaegerschaft. As such, it is not an official piece of military equipment, it was one of the officer's personal belongings. I'm not sure if I can answer the rest of your questions, but that should get you started."
] |
eli5_question_answer
|
{
"query": "Represent the post:",
"pos": "Represent the paragraph:",
"neg": "Represent the paragraph:"
}
|
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