Eritrea

context: At Buya in Eritrea, one of the oldest hominids representing a possible link between Homo erectus and an archaic Homo sapiens was found by Italian scientists. Dated to over 1 million years old, it is the oldest skeletal find of its kind and provides a link between hominids and the earliest anatomically modern humans. It is believed that the section of the Danakil Depression in Eritrea was also a major player in terms of human evolution, and may contain other traces of evolution from Homo erectus hominids to anatomically modern humans.
qas: answers: text: Buya
question: Where in Eritrea did Italian scientists find one of the oldest hominids?

answers: text: over 1 million years
question: How old was the hominid that was found in Eritrea?

answers: text: section of the Danakil Depression
question: What place in Eritrea is believed to have played a major part in human evolution?

answers: text: hominids and the earliest anatomically modern humans
question: What possible link is represented by the hominid found in Eritrea?

answers: text: it is the oldest skeletal find of its kind
question: What is the importance pertaining to the age of the hominid that was found in Eritrea?

context: The Scottish traveler James Bruce reported in 1770 that Medri Bahri was a distinct political entity from Abyssinia, noting that the two territories were frequently in conflict. The Bahre-Nagassi ("Kings of the Sea") alternately fought with or against the Abyssinians and the neighbouring Muslim Adal Sultanate depending on the geopolitical circumstances. Medri Bahri was thus part of the Christian resistance against Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi of Adal's forces, but later joined the Adalite states and the Ottoman Empire front against Abyssinia in 1572. That 16th century also marked the arrival of the Ottomans, who began making inroads in the Red Sea area.
qas: answers: text: Scottish traveler
question: Who was James Bruce?

answers: text: James Bruce
question: In 1770, who reported that Medri Bahri was a distinct political entity from Abyssinia?

answers: text: "Kings of the Sea"
question: How is The Bahre-Nagassi translated?

answers: text: geopolitical circumstances
question: What determined whether The Bahre-Nagassi fought with or against the Abyssinians?

answers: text: 16th
question: Which century marked the arrival of the Ottomans?

context: The creation of modern-day Eritrea is a result of the incorporation of independent, distinct kingdoms and sultanates (for example, Medri Bahri and the Sultanate of Aussa) eventually resulting in the formation of Italian Eritrea. In 1947 Eritrea became part of a federation with Ethiopia, the Federation of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Subsequent annexation into Ethiopia led to the Eritrean War of Independence, ending with Eritrean independence following a referendum in April 1993. Hostilities between Eritrea and Ethiopia persisted, leading to the Eritrean–Ethiopian War of 1998–2000 and further skirmishes with both Djibouti and Ethiopia.
qas: answers: text: annexation
question: What subsequently led to the Eritran War of Independence?

answers: text: 1947
question: When did Eritrea join a federation with Ethiopia, the Federation of Ethipia and Eritrea?

answers: text: Hostilities between Eritrea and Ethiopia
question: What persisted and led to the Eritrean-Ethiopian War of 1998-2000?

answers: text: Eritrean independence
question: What was the result of the War of Independence?

answers: text: modern-day Eritrea
question: What is the result of the incorporation of independent kingdoms and sultanates?

context: Excavations in and near Agordat in central Eritrea yielded the remains of an ancient pre-Aksumite civilization known as the Gash Group. Ceramics were discovered that were related to those of the C-Group (Temehu) pastoral culture, which inhabited the Nile Valley between 2500–1500 BC. Some sources dating back to 3500 BC. Shards akin to those of the Kerma culture, another community that flourished in the Nile Valley around the same period, were also found at other local archaeological sites in the Barka valley belonging to the Gash Group. According to Peter Behrens (1981) and Marianne Bechaus-Gerst (2000), linguistic evidence indicates that the C-Group and Kerma peoples spoke Afroasiatic languages of the Berber and Cushitic branches, respectively.
qas: answers: text: the Gash Group
question: What did excavations around Agordat yield the remains of?

answers: text: an ancient pre-Aksumite civilization
question: What is the Gash Group?

answers: text: central Eritrea
question: Where is Agordat located?

answers: text: linguistic
question: What type of evidence indicated that the C-Group spoke Afroasiatic languages of the Berber branches?

answers: text: between 2500–1500 BC
question: When did the C-Group inhabit the Nile Valley?

context: The Aksumites erected a number of large stelae, which served a religious purpose in pre-Christian times. One of these granite columns, the obelisk of Aksum, is the largest such structure in the world, standing at 90 feet. Under Ezana (fl. 320–360), Aksum later adopted Christianity. In the 7th century, early Muslims from Mecca also sought refuge from Quraysh persecution by travelling to the kingdom, a journey known in Islamic history as the First Hijra. It is also the alleged resting place of the Ark of the Covenant and the purported home of the Queen of Sheba.
qas: answers: text: religious
question: What purpose did stelae serve?

answers: text: The Aksumites
question: Who erected a number of large stelae in pre-Christian times?

answers: text: the obelisk of Aksum
question: Which stelae is considered the largest in the world, standing at 90 feet?

answers: text: Aksum
question: Where is the Ark of the Covenant believed to be resting?

answers: text: Aksum
question: Who eventually adopted Christianity under Ezana?

context: Eritrea is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and is an observing member of the Arab League. The nation holds a seat on the United Nations' Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). Eritrea also holds memberships in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Non-Aligned Movement, Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the World Customs Organization.
qas: answers: text: ACABQ
question: What is the abbreviation for the United Nations' Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions?

answers: text: International Criminal Police Organization
question: What does the acronym INTERPOL stand for?

answers: text: Arab League
question: Which league is Eritrea an observing member of?

context: The kingdom is mentioned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea as an important market place for ivory, which was exported throughout the ancient world. Aksum was at the time ruled by Zoskales, who also governed the port of Adulis. The Aksumite rulers facilitated trade by minting their own Aksumite currency. The state also established its hegemony over the declining Kingdom of Kush and regularly entered the politics of the kingdoms on the Arabian peninsula, eventually extending its rule over the region with the conquest of the Himyarite Kingdom.
qas: answers: text: Zoskales
question: Who ruled Aksum and also governed the port of Adulis?

answers: text: by minting their own Aksumite currency
question: How did the Aksumite rulers facilitate trade?

answers: text: on the Arabian peninsula
question: Which kingdoms did Aksum regularly enter the politics of?

answers: text: Himyarite Kingdom
question: Who did Aksum conquer in order to extend its rule over the Arabian peninsula?

answers: text: throughout the ancient world
question: Where was Ivory exported according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea?

context: In 1888, the Italian administration launched its first development projects in the new colony. The Eritrean Railway was completed to Saati in 1888, and reached Asmara in the highlands in 1911. The Asmara–Massawa Cableway was the longest line in the world during its time, but was later dismantled by the British in World War II. Besides major infrastructural projects, the colonial authorities invested significantly in the agricultural sector. It also oversaw the provision of urban amenities in Asmara and Massawa, and employed many Eritreans in public service, particularly in the police and public works departments. Thousands of Eritreans were concurrently enlisted in the army, serving during the Italo-Turkish War in Libya as well as the First and second Italo-Abyssinian Wars.
qas: answers: text: 1888
question: When was the Eritrean Railway completed in Saati?

answers: text: 1911
question: When did the Eritrean Railway reach the Asmara highlands?

answers: text: The Asmara–Massawa Cableway
question: What was the longest line in the world during its time?

answers: text: the British
question: Who dismantled the Asmara-Massawa Cableway?

answers: text: police and public works departments
question: In what areas of public service were Eritreans particularly employed?

context: Following the adoption of UN Resolution 390A(V) in December 1950, Eritrea was federated with Ethiopia under the prompting of the United States. The resolution called for Eritrea and Ethiopia to be linked through a loose federal structure under the sovereignty of the Emperor. Eritrea was to have its own administrative and judicial structure, its own flag, and control over its domestic affairs, including police, local administration, and taxation. The federal government, which for all intents and purposes was the existing imperial government, was to control foreign affairs (including commerce), defense, finance, and transportation. The resolution ignored the wishes of Eritreans for independence, but guaranteed the population democratic rights and a measure of autonomy.
qas: answers: text: United States
question: Who prompted Eritrea to be federated with Ethiopia in 1950?

answers: text: 390A(V)
question: Which UN Resolution called for Eritrea and Ethiopia to be linked via a loose federal structure under sovereignty of the Emperor?

answers: text: foreign affairs (including commerce), defense, finance, and transportation
question: What would federal government control in Eritrea according to Resolution 390A(V)??

answers: text: independence
question: Which Eritrean wishes did Resolution 390A(V) ignore?

answers: text: democratic rights and a measure of autonomy
question: What did Resolution 390A(V) guarantee the population of Eritrea?

context: Additionally, the Italian Eritrea administration opened a number of new factories, which produced buttons, cooking oil, pasta, construction materials, packing meat, tobacco, hide and other household commodities. In 1939, there were around 2,198 factories and most of the employees were Eritrean citizens. The establishment of industries also made an increase in the number of both Italians and Eritreans residing in the cities. The number of Italians residing in the territory increased from 4,600 to 75,000 in five years; and with the involvement of Eritreans in the industries, trade and fruit plantation was expanded across the nation, while some of the plantations were owned by Eritreans.
qas: answers: text: a number of new factories
question: What did the Eritrea administration open to produce products such as buttons and construction materials?

answers: text: around 2,198
question: How many factories were in Eritrea by 1939?

answers: text: Eritrean citizens
question: Who were the main employees in the factories of Eritrea?

answers: text: Italians
question: Besides Eritreans, which other nationality increased its city population because of new industries?

answers: text: from 4,600 to 75,000
question: How much did the number of Italians residing in Eritrea increase in 5 years due to factories being built?

context: Lions are said to inhabit the mountains of the Gash-Barka Region. There is also a small population of elephants that roam in some parts of the country. Dik-diks can also be found in many areas. The endangered African wild ass can be seen in Denakalia Region. Other local wildlife include bushbucks, duikers, greater kudus, klipspringers, African leopards, oryxs and crocodiles., The spotted hyena is widespread and fairly common. Between 1955 and 2001 there were no reported sightings of elephant herds, and they are thought to have fallen victim to the war of independence. In December 2001 a herd of about 30, including 10 juveniles, was observed in the vicinity of the Gash River. The elephants seemed to have formed a symbiotic relationship with olive baboons, with the baboons using the water holes dug by the elephants, while the elephants use the tree-top baboons as an early warning system.
qas: answers: text: Lions
question: What big cat is said to inhabit the mountains of the Gash-Barka Region?

answers: text: about 30
question: In December 2001, how many elephants were seen in the vicinity of the Gash River?

answers: text: olive baboons
question: What species did the elephants at the Gash River seem to form a symbiotic relationship with?

answers: text: elephant
question: Which animal herds were thought to have fallen victim to the war of independence?

context: Eritrea can be split into three ecoregions. To the east of the highlands are the hot, arid coastal plains stretching down to the southeast of the country. The cooler, more fertile highlands, reaching up to 3000m has a different habitat. Habitats here vary from the sub-tropical rainforest at Filfil Solomona to the precipitous cliffs and canyons of the southern highlands. The Afar Triangle or Danakil Depression of Eritrea is the probable location of a triple junction where three tectonic plates are pulling away from one another.The highest point of the country, Emba Soira, is located in the center of Eritrea, at 3,018 meters (9,902 ft) above sea level.
qas: answers: text: three
question: How many ecoregions make up Eritrea?

answers: text: Emba Soira
question: What is the highest point in Eritrea?

answers: text: in the center of Eritrea
question: Where is Emba Soira located?

answers: text: 3,018 meters (9,902 ft) above sea level
question: How high is Emba Soira?

answers: text: The Afar Triangle or Danakil Depression
question: What is the probably location in Eritrea where three tectonic plates are pulling away from each other?

context: It is estimated that there are around 100 elephants left in Eritrea, the most northerly of East Africa's elephants. The endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) was previously found in Eritrea, but is now deemed extirpated from the entire country. In Gash Barka, deadly snakes like saw-scaled viper are common. Puff adder and red spitting cobra are widespread and can be found even in the highlands.In the coastal areas marine species that are common include dolphin, dugong, whale shark, turtles, marlin/swordfish, and manta ray.
qas: answers: text: around 100
question: How many elephants are believed to be left in Eritrea?

answers: text: deadly
question: What type of snakes are common in Gash Barka?

answers: text: widespread
question: Where in Eritrea can puff adder and red spitting cobra be found?

answers: text: coastal areas
question: Where in Eritrea are marine species such as dolphin, turtles and manta ray found?

answers: text: African wild dog (Lycaon pictus)
question: Which dog, previously found in Eritrea, is now considered extirpated from the entire country?

context: Eritrea is a one-party state in which national legislative elections have been repeatedly postponed. According to Human Rights Watch, the government's human rights record is considered among the worst in the world. Most Western countries have accused the Eritrean authorities of arbitrary arrest and detentions, and of detaining an unknown number of people without charge for their political activism. However, the Eritrean government has continually dismissed the accusations as politically motivated. In June 2015, a 500-page United Nations Human Rights Council report accused Eritrea's government of extrajudicial executions, torture, indefinitely prolonged national service and forced labour, and indicated that sexual harassment, rape and sexual servitude by state officials are also widespread.
qas: answers: text: among the worst
question: According to Human Rights Watch, how do the human rights in Eritrea compare to the rest of the world?

answers: text: sexual harassment, rape and sexual servitude
question: According to a 500-page UN Human Rights Council report, what was widespread behavior by state officials in Eritrea?

answers: text: a one-party state
question: What type of state government exists in Eritrea?

answers: text: for their political activism
question: According to many western countries, why have Eritrean authorities detained an unknown number of people?

answers: text: 2015
question: In what year was the United Nations Human Rights Council report written?

context: In an attempt at reform, Eritrean government officials and NGO representatives have participated in numerous public meetings and dialogues. In these sessions they have answered questions as fundamental as, "What are human rights?", "Who determines what are human rights?", and "What should take precedence, human or communal rights?" In 2007, the Eritrean government also banned female genital mutilation. In Regional Assemblies and religious circles, Eritreans themselves speak out continuously against the use of female circumcision. They cite health concerns and individual freedom as being of primary concern when they say this. Furthermore, they implore rural peoples to cast away this ancient cultural practice. Additionally, a new movement called Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea aimed at bringing about dialogue between the government and opposition was formed in early 2009. The group consists of ordinary citizens and some people close to the government.
qas: answers: text: In an attempt at reform
question: Why have Eritrean government officials participated in numerous meetings with NGO representatives?

answers: text: female genital mutilation
question: What did the Eritrean government ban in 2007?

answers: text: Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea
question: What new movement is aimed at opening dialogue between the government and opposition?

answers: text: some people close to the government
question: Who, along with ordinary citizens, makes up the Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea?

answers: text: health concerns and individual freedom
question: What are the main concerns Eritreans speak about in terms of female circumcision?

context: In its 2014 Press Freedom Index, Reporters Without Borders ranked the media environment in Eritrea at the very bottom of a list of 178 countries, just below totalitarian North Korea. According to the BBC, "Eritrea is the only African country to have no privately owned news media", and Reporters Without Borders said of the public media, "[they] do nothing but relay the regime's belligerent and ultra-nationalist discourse. ... Not a single [foreign correspondent] now lives in Asmara." The state-owned news agency censors news about external events. Independent media have been banned since 2001. In 2015, The Guardian published an opinion piece claiming,
qas: answers: text: Reporters Without Borders
question: In the 2014 Press Freedom Index, what organization ranked the media environment in Eritrea as the worse of 178 countries?

answers: text: just below
question: How did Reporters Without Borders rank the media environment of Eritrea compared to totalitarian North Korea?

answers: text: Independent
question: What type of media has been banned from Eritrea since 2001?

answers: text: Eritrea
question: According to the BBC, which African country is the only one that has no privately owned news media?

answers: text: Asmara
question: According to Reporters Without Borders, where doesn't a single foreign news correspondent live?

context: Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure by asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war-damaged roads and bridges as a part of the Warsay Yika'alo Program. The most significant of these projects was the construction of a coastal highway of more than 500 km connecting Massawa with Asseb, as well as the rehabilitation of the Eritrean Railway. The rail line has been restored between the port of Massawa and the capital Asmara, although services are sporadic. Steam locomotives are sometimes used for groups of enthusiasts.
qas: answers: text: Warsay Yika'alo
question: Under which program did Eritrea develp and repair its transportation infrastructure during the war?

answers: text: more than 500 km
question: How long was the coastal highway between Massawa and Asseb?

answers: text: Steam
question: What type of locomotives are sometimes used on the Eritrean Railway to cater to groups of enthusiasts?

answers: text: Asmara
question: What is the capital of Eritrea?

answers: text: Eritrean
question: Which railway was rehabilitated under the Warsay Yika'alo Program?

context: Eritrea is a multilingual country. The nation has no official language, as the Constitution establishes the "equality of all Eritrean languages". However, Tigrinya serves as the de facto language of national identity. With 2,540,000 total speakers of a population of 5,254,000 in 2006, Tigrinya is the most widely spoken language, particularly in the southern and central parts of Eritrea. Modern Standard Arabic and English serve as de facto working languages, with the latter used in university education and many technical fields. Italian, the former colonial language, is widely used in commerce and is taught as a second language in schools, with a few elderly monolinguals.
qas: answers: text: The nation has no official language
question: What is the official language of Eritrea?

answers: text: Tigrinya
question: What was the most widely spoken language in Eritrea in 2006?

answers: text: equality
question: What does the Constitution establish of all Eritrean languages?

answers: text: Modern Standard Arabic and English
question: What languages serve as de facto working languages in Eritrea?

answers: text: English
question: What language is used in Eritrean university education and many technical fields?

context: Eritrea has achieved significant improvements in health care and is one of the few countries to be on target to meet its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets in health, in particular child health. Life expectancy at birth has increased from 39.1 in 1960 to 59.5 years in 2008, maternal and child mortality rates have dropped dramatically and the health infrastructure has been expanded. Due to Eritrea's relative isolation, information and resources are extremely limited and according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) found in 2008 average life expectancy to be slightly less than 63 years. Immunisation and child nutrition has been tackled by working closely with schools in a multi-sectoral approach; the number of children vaccinated against measles almost doubled in seven years, from 40.7% to 78.5% and the underweight prevalence among children decreased by 12% in 1995–2002 (severe underweight prevalence by 28%). The National Malaria Protection Unit of the Ministry of Health has registered tremendous improvements in reducing malarial mortality by as much as 85% and the number of cases by 92% between 1998 and 2006. The Eritrean government has banned female genital mutilation (FGM), saying the practice was painful and put women at risk of life-threatening health problems.
qas: answers: text: child health
question: Which part of Eritrea's health care goals have they been most successful in?

answers: text: 39.1
question: What was the Eritrean life expectancy at birth in 1960?

answers: text: 59.5
question: What was the Eritrean life expectancy st birth in 2008?

answers: text: female genital mutilation
question: Which practice was banned by the Eritrean government with claimes it is painful and has life-threatening health problems for women?

answers: text: 85%
question: How much did the National Malaria Protection Unit reduce malarial mortality by from 1998 - 2006?

context: Additionally, owing to its colonial history, cuisine in Eritrea features more Italian influences than are present in Ethiopian cooking, including more pasta and greater use of curry powders and cumin.The Italian Eritrean cuisine started to be practiced during the colonial times of the Kingdom of Italy, when a large number of Italians moved to Eritrea. They brought the use of "pasta" to Italian Eritrea, and it is one of the main food eaten in present-day Asmara. An Italian Eritrean cuisine emerged, and dishes common dishes are 'Pasta al Sugo e Berbere', which means "Pasta with tomato sauce and berbere" (spice), but there are many more like "lasagna" and "cotoletta alla milanese" (milano cutlet). Alongside sowa, people in Eritrea also tend to drink coffee. Mies is another popular local alcoholic beverage, made out of honey.
qas: answers: text: its colonial history
question: Where does the Italian influences on Eritrean cuisine come from?

answers: text: honey
question: What is Eritrea's popular alcoholic beverage Mies made out of?

answers: text: pasta
question: What food item did Italians bring to Eritrea during colonial times?

answers: text: "Pasta with tomato sauce and berbere" (spice)
question: How does 'Pasta al Sugo e Berbere' translate in English?

answers: text: pasta
question: What is the main food, influenced by Italy, eaten in Eritrea's capital today?

context: The culture of Eritrea has been largely shaped by the country's location on the Red Sea coast. One of the most recognizable parts of Eritrean culture is the coffee ceremony. Coffee (Ge'ez ቡን būn) is offered when visiting friends, during festivities, or as a daily staple of life. During the coffee ceremony, there are traditions that are upheld. The coffee is served in three rounds: the first brew or round is called awel in Tigrinya meaning first, the second round is called kalaay meaning second, and the third round is called bereka meaning "to be blessed". If coffee is politely declined, then most likely tea ("shai" ሻሂ shahee) will instead be served.
qas: answers: text: Red Sea coast
question: What geographical location in Eritrea has largely shaped the culture of Eritrea?

answers: text: three
question: How many rounds is coffee served in during a coffee ceremony?

answers: text: the coffee ceremony
question: What is one of the most recognizable parts of Eritran culture that can be offered when visiting friends as well as being a daily staple of life?

answers: text: most likely tea
question: What do Eritrean's offer a person who declines coffee?

answers: text: awel
question: What is the first round of the coffee ceremony called?

context: Eritrea (/ˌɛrᵻˈtreɪ.ə/ or /ˌɛrᵻˈtriːə/;, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in East Africa. With its capital at Asmara, it is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea. The nation has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi), and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands. Its name Eritrea is based on the Greek name for the Red Sea (Ἐρυθρὰ Θάλασσα Erythra Thalassa), which was first adopted for Italian Eritrea in 1890.
qas: answers: text: Sudan
question: What country borders Eritrea in the west?

answers: text: Ethiopia
question: What country borders Eritrea in the south?

answers: text: Djibouti
question: What country borders Eritrea in the southeast?

answers: text: Red Sea
question: What extensive coastline makes up a portion of Eritrea's East border?

answers: text: 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi)
question: What is the total area of the nation of Eritrea?

context: Eritrea's ethnic groups each have their own styles of music and accompanying dances. Amongst the Tigrinya, the best known traditional musical genre is the guaila. Traditional instruments of Eritrean folk music include the stringed krar, kebero, begena, masenqo and the wata (a distant/rudimentary cousin of the violin). The most popular Eritrean artist is the Tigrinya singer Helen Meles, who is noted for her powerful voice and wide singing range. Other prominent local musicians include the Kunama singer Dehab Faytinga, Ruth Abraha, Bereket Mengisteab, Yemane Baria, and the late Abraham Afewerki.
qas: answers: text: guaila
question: What is the best know musical genre amongst the Tigrinya?

answers: text: a distant/rudimentary cousin of the violin
question: What is the Eritrean traditional instrument, the wata?

answers: text: Helen Meles
question: Who is the most popular Eritrean singing artist?

answers: text: her powerful voice and wide singing range
question: What is Helen Meles noted for?

answers: text: ethnic groups
question: Who, in Eritrea, have their own styles of music and  accompanying dance?

context: During the Middle Ages, the Eritrea region was known as Medri Bahri ("sea-land"). The name Eritrea is derived from the ancient Greek name for Red Sea (Ἐρυθρὰ Θάλασσα Erythra Thalassa, based on the adjective ἐρυθρός erythros "red"). It was first formally adopted in 1890, with the formation of Italian Eritrea (Colonia Eritrea). The territory became the Eritrea Governorate within Italian East Africa in 1936. Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia in 1953 (nominally within a federation until 1962) and an Eritrean Liberation Front formed in 1960. Eritrea gained independence following the 1993 referendum, and the name of the new state was defined as State of Eritrea in the 1997 constitution.[citation needed]
qas: answers: text: Medri Bahri
question: What was the Eritrean region known as during the Middle Ages?

answers: text: sea-land
question: What is the English translation of Medri Bahri?

answers: text: 1953
question: When was Eritrea annexed by Ethiopia?

answers: text: 1960
question: When did the Eritrean Liberation Front form?

answers: text: following the 1993 referendum
question: When did Eritrea gain independence?

context: In 2010, a genetic study was conducted on the mummified remains of baboons that were brought back as gifts from Punt by the ancient Egyptians. Led by a research team from the Egyptian Museum and the University of California, the scientists used oxygen isotope analysis to examine hairs from two baboon mummies that had been preserved in the British Museum. One of the baboons had distorted isotopic data, so the other's oxygen isotope values were compared to those of present-day baboon specimens from regions of interest. The researchers found that the mummies most closely matched modern baboon specimens in Eritrea and Ethiopia, which they suggested implied that Punt was likely a narrow region that included eastern Ethiopia and all of Eritrea.
qas: answers: text: genetic
question: In 2010, what was conducted on mummified remains of baboons?

answers: text: modern baboon specimens in Eritrea and Ethiopia
question: Who was determined to be the closest match for the baboon mummies?

answers: text: oxygen isotope analysis
question: What type of analysis did the scientists use to examine hairs from the 2 baboon mummies formerly preserved in the British Museum?

answers: text: Punt
question: Where did the 2 baboons' mummified remains originate?

answers: text: region that included eastern Ethiopia and all of Eritrea
question: Where did researchers suggest that Punt was located?

context: After the decline of Aksum, the Eritrean highlands were under the domain of Bahr Negash ruled by the Bahr Negus. The area was then known as Ma'ikele Bahr ("between the seas/rivers," i.e. the land between the Red Sea and the Mereb river). It was later renamed under Emperor Zara Yaqob as the domain of the Bahr Negash, the Medri Bahri ("Sea land" in Tingrinya, although it included some areas like Shire on the other side of the Mereb, today in Ethiopia). With its capital at Debarwa, the state's main provinces were Hamasien, Serae and Akele Guzai.
qas: answers: text: Bahr Negash ruled by the Bahr Negus
question: What  domain were the Eritrean highlands under after the decline of Aksum?

answers: text: Medri Bahri
question: What was the area in the Eritrean highlands named under Emperor Zaro Yaqob?

answers: text: Debarwa
question: What was the capitol of Medri Bahri?

answers: text: Hamasien, Serae and Akele Guzai
question: What were the main provinces of Medri Bahri?

answers: text: Sea land
question: What is the English translation of Medri Bahri?

context: In 1922, Benito Mussolini's rise to power in Italy brought profound changes to the colonial government in Italian Eritrea. After il Duce declared the birth of the Italian Empire in May 1936, Italian Eritrea (enlarged with northern Ethiopia's regions) and Italian Somaliland were merged with the just conquered Ethiopia in the new Italian East Africa (Africa Orientale Italiana) administrative territory. This Fascist period was characterized by imperial expansion in the name of a "new Roman Empire". Eritrea was chosen by the Italian government to be the industrial center of Italian East Africa.
qas: answers: text: Benito Mussolini's
question: Whose rise to power in 1922 brought profounc change to the government in Italian Eritrea?

answers: text: After il Duce declared the birth of the Italian Empire
question: When was Italian Eritrea significantly enlarged?

answers: text: May 1936
question: When was the birth of the Italian Empire declared?

answers: text: industrial center of Italian East Africa
question: What was Eritrea chosen to be by the Italian government during the Italian Empire?

answers: text: Italian East Africa
question: What does Africa Orientale Italiana mean?

context: When Emperor Haile Selassie unilaterally dissolved the Eritrean parliament and annexed the country in 1962, the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) waged an armed struggle for independence. The ensuing Eritrean War for Independence went on for 30 years against successive Ethiopian governments until 1991, when the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), a successor of the ELF, defeated the Ethiopian forces in Eritrea and helped a coalition of Ethiopian rebel forces take control of the Ethiopian Capital Addis Ababa.
qas: answers: text: Emperor Haile Selassie
question: Who dissolved the Eritrean parliament in 1962?

answers: text: ELF
question: Who waged an armed struggle for independence in 1962 after Eritrea was annexed?

answers: text: Eritrean Liberation Front
question: What does the acroynm ELF stand for?

answers: text: 30 years
question: How long did the Eritrean War for Independence last?

answers: text: EPLF
question: What is the acronym for Eritrean People's Liberation Front?

context: Disagreements following the war have resulted in stalemate punctuated by periods of elevated tension and renewed threats of war. The stalemate led the President of Eritrea to urge the UN to take action on Ethiopia with the Eleven Letters penned by the President to the United Nations Security Council. The situation has been further escalated by the continued efforts of the Eritrean and Ethiopian leaders in supporting opposition in one another's countries.[citation needed] In 2011, Ethiopia accused Eritrea of planting bombs at an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, which was later supported by a UN report. Eritrea denied the claims.
qas: answers: text: stalemate
question: What did disagreements following the Eritrean War result in?

answers: text: take action on Ethiopia
question: What did the stalemate lead the President of Eritrea to urge the UN to do?

answers: text: Ethiopia
question: Who accused Eritrea of planting bombs at an African Union summit?

answers: text: a UN report
question: What supported the accusation that Eritrea planted bombs at the African Union summit?

answers: text: denied the claims
question: What did Eritrea do when it was accused of planting bombs at the African Union summit?

context: However, Eritrea still faces many challenges. Despite number of physicians increasing from only 0.2 in 1993 to 0.5 in 2004 per 1000 population, this is still very low. Malaria and tuberculosis are common in Eritrea. HIV prevalence among the 15–49 group exceeds 2%. The fertility rate is at about 5 births per woman. Maternal mortality dropped by more than half from 1995 to 2002, although the figure is still high. Similarly, between 1995 and 2002, the number of births attended by skilled health personnel has doubled but still is only 28.3%. A major cause of death in neonates is by severe infection. Per capita expenditure on health is low in Eritrea.
qas: answers: text: 0.5
question: In 2004, how many physicians did Eritrea have per 1000 people?

answers: text: exceeds 2%
question: How prevalent is HIV among the 15-49 age group in Eritrea?

answers: text: 5 births per woman
question: What is the fertility rate in Eriterea?

answers: text: 28.3%
question: As of 2002, how many births were attended by skilled health personnel in Eriterea?

answers: text: severe infection
question: What is a major cause of death in neonates in Eriterea?

context: Traditional Eritrean attire is quite varied among the ethnic groups of Eritrea. In the larger cities, most people dress in Western casual dress such as jeans and shirts. In offices, both men and women often dress in suits. Traditional clothing for Christian Tigrinya-speaking highlanders consists of bright white gowns called zurias for the women, and long white shirts accompanied by white pants for the men. In Muslim communities in the Eritrean lowland, the women traditionally dress in brightly colored clothes. Only Rashaida women maintain a tradition of covering half of their faces, though they do not cover their hair.
qas: answers: text: Western casual
question: How do most people dress in the larger cities of Eritrea?

answers: text: suits
question: How do both men and women often dress in offices in Eritrea?

answers: text: bright white gowns
question: What are zurias, the traditional clothes still worn by Christian highlander women in Eritrea?

answers: text: in brightly colored clothes
question: How do women in the Muslim communities of the Eritrean lowland dress?

answers: text: Rashaida women
question: Who are the only women who follow the tradition of covering half of their faces, though not their hair?

context: Football and cycling are the most popular sports in Eritrea. In recent years, Eritrean athletes have also seen increasing success in the international arena. Zersenay Tadese, an Eritrean athlete, currently holds the world record in half marathon distance running. The Tour of Eritrea, a multi-stage international cycling event, is held annually throughout the country. The Eritrea national cycling team has experienced a lot of success, winning the continental cycling championship several years in a row. Six Eritrean riders have been signed to international cycling teams, including Natnael Berhane and Daniel Teklehaimanot. Berhane was named African Sportsman of the Year in 2013, ahead of footballers Yaya Touré and Didier Drogba, while Teklehaimanot became the first Eritrean to ride the Vuelta a España in 2012. In 2015 Teklehaimanot won the King of the Mountains classification in the Critérium du Dauphine. Teklehaimanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first black African riders to compete in the Tour de France when they were selected by the MTN–Qhubeka team for the 2015 edition of the race, where, on 9 July, Teklehaimanot became the first African rider to wear the polkadot jersey.
qas: answers: text: Football and cycling
question: What are the most popular sports in Eritrea?

answers: text: half marathon distance running
question: What world record is held by Eritrean athlete Zersenay Tadese?

answers: text: Tour of Eritrea
question: What is the name of the multi-stage international cycling event held throughout Eritrea?

answers: text: Teklehaimanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus
question: Who became the first black African riders to compete in the Tour de France?

answers: text: Daniel Teklehaimanot
question: Who became the first Eritrean to ride the Vuelta a Espana in 2012?

context: During the last interglacial period, the Red Sea coast of Eritrea was occupied by early anatomically modern humans. It is believed that the area was on the route out of Africa that some scholars suggest was used by early humans to colonize the rest of the Old World. In 1999, the Eritrean Research Project Team composed of Eritrean, Canadian, American, Dutch and French scientists discovered a Paleolithic site with stone and obsidian tools dated to over 125,000 years old near the Bay of Zula south of Massawa, along the Red Sea littoral. The tools are believed to have been used by early humans to harvest marine resources like clams and oysters.
qas: answers: text: early anatomically modern humans
question: Who occupied the Red Sea coast during the last interglacial period?

answers: text: over 125,000 years old
question: How old were the obsidian tools that were discovered by the Eritrean Research Project Team?

answers: text: near the Bay of Zula
question: Where did the Research Project Team find the obsidian tools?

answers: text: Eritrean Research Project Team
question: What Team was composed of Eritrean, Canadian, American, Dutch and French scientists?

answers: text: to harvest marine resources like clams and oysters
question: What were the tools believed to have been used for by early humans?

context: At the end of the 16th century, the Aussa Sultanate was established in the Denkel lowlands of Eritrea. The polity had come into existence in 1577, when Muhammed Jasa moved his capital from Harar to Aussa (Asaita) with the split of the Adal Sultanate into Aussa and the Sultanate of Harar. At some point after 1672, Aussa declined in conjunction with Imam Umar Din bin Adam's recorded ascension to the throne. In 1734, the Afar leader Kedafu, head of the Mudaito clan, seized power and established the Mudaito Dynasty. This marked the start of a new and more sophisticated polity that would last into the colonial period.
qas: answers: text: end of the 16th century
question: When was the Aussa Sultanate established?

answers: text: Denkel lowlands of Eritrea
question: Where was the Aussa Sultanate established?

answers: text: Kedafu, head of the Mudaito clan
question: Who was the leader of Afar in 1734?

answers: text: Mudaito Dynasty
question: What did Kedafu establish in 1734?

answers: text: Mudaito Dynasty
question: What marked the start of a new and sophisticated polity that would last into the colonial period?

context: In the vacuum that followed the 1889 death of Emperor Yohannes II, Gen. Oreste Baratieri occupied the highlands along the Eritrean coast and Italy proclaimed the establishment of the new colony of Italian Eritrea, a colony of the Kingdom of Italy. In the Treaty of Wuchale (It. Uccialli) signed the same year, King Menelik of Shewa, a southern Ethiopian kingdom, recognized the Italian occupation of his rivals' lands of Bogos, Hamasien, Akkele Guzay, and Serae in exchange for guarantees of financial assistance and continuing access to European arms and ammunition. His subsequent victory over his rival kings and enthronement as Emperor Menelek II (r. 1889–1913) made the treaty formally binding upon the entire territory.
qas: answers: text: 1889
question: When did Emperor Yohannes II die?

answers: text: the Kingdom of Italy
question: What was the new colony of Italia Eritrea a colony of?

answers: text: the new colony of Italian Eritrea
question: What did Gen. Oreste Baratieri proclaim in the highlands along the Eritrean coast?

answers: text: 1889
question: When was the Treaty of Wuchale signed?

answers: text: 1889–1913
question: What years was the Treaty of Wuchale formally binding?

context: In the 1950s, the Ethiopian feudal administration under Emperor Haile Selassie sought to annex Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. He laid claim to both territories in a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Paris Peace Conference and at the First Session of the United Nations. In the United Nations, the debate over the fate of the former Italian colonies continued. The British and Americans preferred to cede all of Eritrea except the Western province to the Ethiopians as a reward for their support during World War II. The Independence Bloc of Eritrean parties consistently requested from the UN General Assembly that a referendum be held immediately to settle the Eritrean question of sovereignty.
qas: answers: text: Eritrea and Italian Somaliland
question: What did Emperor Haile Selassie seek to annex in the 1950's?

answers: text: as a reward for their support during World War II
question: Why did the British and Americans want to cede most of Eritrea to the Ethiopians?

answers: text: Emperor Haile Selassie
question: Who laid claim to Eritrea and Italian Somaliland in a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt?

answers: text: The Independence Bloc of Eritrean parties
question: Who consistently requested that a referendum be held immediately to settle the question of Eritrean sovereignty?

answers: text: The British and Americans
question: Who did Ethiopians support in World War II?

context: The Eritrean highway system is named according to the road classification. The three levels of classification are: primary (P), secondary (S), and tertiary (T). The lowest level road is tertiary and serves local interests. Typically they are improved earth roads which are occasionally paved. During the wet seasons these roads typically become impassable. The next higher level road is a secondary road and typically is a single-layered asphalt road that connects district capitals together and those to the regional capitals. Roads that are considered primary roads are those that are fully asphalted (throughout their entire length) and in general they carry traffic between all the major towns in Eritrea.
qas: answers: text: according to the road classification
question: How is the Eritrean highway system named?

answers: text: improved earth roads which are occasionally paved
question: What are T roads, the lowest level that typically serves local interests?

answers: text: primary (P), secondary (S), and tertiary (T)
question: What are the three levels of road classification in Eritrea?

answers: text: single-layered asphalt road
question: What are S roads, the mid-level that connects district capitals to regional capitals?

answers: text: fully asphalted (throughout their entire length)
question: What are P roads, those that carry traffic between all major towns in Eritrea?

context: According to recent estimates, 50% of the population adheres to Christianity, Islam 48%, while 2% of the population follows other religions including traditional African religion and animism. According to a study made by Pew Research Center, 63% adheres to Christianity and 36% adheres to Islam. Since May 2002, the government of Eritrea has officially recognized the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (Oriental Orthodox), Sunni Islam, the Eritrean Catholic Church (a Metropolitanate sui juris) and the Evangelical Lutheran church. All other faiths and denominations are required to undergo a registration process. Among other things, the government's registration system requires religious groups to submit personal information on their membership to be allowed to worship.
qas: answers: text: 50%
question: What percentage of Eritrea is estimated to adhere to Christianity?

answers: text: 48%
question: What percentage of Eritrea is estimated to adhere to Islam?

answers: text: a registration process
question: What do unrecognized faiths and denominations in Eritrea have to undergo?

answers: text: May 2002
question: When did the Eritrean government begin to officially recognize certain churches?

answers: text: personal information
question: What does the government's registration system require religious groups to submit about their membership?

context: Education in Eritrea is officially compulsory between seven and 13 years of age. However, the education infrastructure is inadequate to meet current needs. Statistics vary at the elementary level, suggesting that between 65 and 70% of school-aged children attend primary school; Approximately 61% attend secondary school. Student-teacher ratios are high: 45 to 1 at the elementary level and 54 to 1 at the secondary level. There are an average 63 students per classroom at the elementary level and 97 per classroom at the secondary level. Learning hours at school are often less than six hours per day. Skill shortages are present at all levels of the education system, and funding for and access to education vary significantly by gender and location. Illiteracy estimates for Eritrea range from around 40% to as high as 70%.
qas: answers: text: between seven and 13 years of age
question: What ages are officially compulsary for education in Eritrea?

answers: text: 70%
question: What percentage of school-aged children are estimated to attend primary school?

answers: text: 61%
question: What percentage of school-aged children are estimated to attend secondary school?

answers: text: 45 to 1
question: What is the student-teacher ratio in elementary schools?

answers: text: 54 to 1
question: What is the student-teacher ratio in secondary schools?

context: A typical traditional Eritrean dish consists of injera accompanied by a spicy stew, which frequently includes beef, kid, lamb or fish. Overall, Eritrean cuisine strongly resembles those of neighboring Ethiopia, Eritrean cooking tend to feature more seafood than Ethiopian cuisine on account of their coastal location. Eritrean dishes are also frequently "lighter" in texture than Ethiopian meals. They likewise tend to employ less seasoned butter and spices and more tomatoes, as in the tsebhi dorho delicacy.
qas: answers: text: beef, kid, lamb or fish
question: What meat does a traditional Eritrean stew consist of?

answers: text: Ethiopia
question: Which neighbor does Eritrean cuisine strongly resemble?

answers: text: their coastal location
question: Why does Eritrean cooking tend to feature more seafood than Ethiopian cuisine?

answers: text: lighter
question: How does the texture of Eritrean dishes compare to Ethiopian meals?

answers: text: seasoned butter and spices
question: What ingredients fo Eritreans tend to use less of than Ethiopians?