History: 46 trivia questions with sources
This set crosses ancient building and government, medieval travel and conflict, exploration, industrial change, civil rights, world wars, and landmark events in the twentieth century.
46 questions · 16 easy, 21 medium, 9 hard · 46 with a source link
Suggested round splits
5 ways to break this category into rounds. The printed sheet keeps the whole list in one run, so split it while you plan rather than while you host.
Ancient and medieval worlds
Egypt, Athens, Rome, Mesoamerica, medieval Europe, and the Mali Empire.
Routes, voyages, and discovery
The Silk Road, ocean crossings, migration, excavation, and early flight.
Rights and political change
Constitutions, emancipation, suffrage, independence, democracy, and national leadership.
War and its aftermath
Fortifications, rationing, world wars, invasions, atomic bombing, and peace treaties.
Ideas, tools, and turning points
Writing materials, printing, calendars, aviation, and modern sporting milestones.
All 46 questions with answers
46 carry a pinned source revision
During which dynasty were the pyramids at Giza built?
The Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient EgyptChecked against:
All were built during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, between c. 2600 – c. 2500 BC.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giza_pyramid_complex?oldid=1365733545Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?
ArmstrongChecked against:
Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012) was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who, as the commander of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, became the first person to walk on the Moon.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Armstrong?oldid=1365168332In which city was the Titanic built?
BelfastChecked against:
Built in Belfast, Ireland, RMS Titanic was the second of the three Olympic -class ocean liners - the lead vessel was RMS Olympic and the final ship in the class was HMHS Britannic.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titanic?oldid=1365383098#BackgroundWhat did the East German government begin constructing on 13 August 1961?
The Berlin WallChecked against:
Construction of the Berlin Wall was commenced by the government of the GDR on 13 August 1961.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall?oldid=1365168976Which empire used gladiators for public entertainment?
Roman EmpireChecked against:
(Latin: gladiator ' swordsman ', from Latin gladius ' sword ') was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator?oldid=1361865355In what year did Amelia Earhart make the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight by a woman?
1932Checked against:
In 1932, she became the first woman to make a nonstop solo transatlantic flight, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for her achievement.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Earhart?oldid=1365611830Which single ship carried the Pilgrims after Speedwell was left behind?
MayflowerChecked against:
The ensuing delays and complications restricted the Pilgrims' journey to a single ship, Mayflower.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower?oldid=1365650728Which writing material gave ancient Egypt the English word paper?
PapyrusChecked against:
Papyrus (/ p ə ˈ p aɪ r ə s / pə- PY -rəs) is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing material.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus?oldid=1364919057By what year had Lord Stanhope built the first iron printing press?
By 1800Checked against:
By 1800, Lord Stanhope had built the first iron printing press.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press?oldid=1364130523#Industrial_printing_pressesWhich city was buried by Mount Vesuvius in AD 79?
PompeiiChecked against:
Largely preserved under the ash, Pompeii offers a snapshot of Roman life, frozen at the moment it was buried, as well as insight into ancient urban planning.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pompeii?oldid=1365390096What single-route description does the article reject for the Silk Road?
A singular east-west trade route that linked China to the MediterraneanChecked against:
Despite the popular imagination, Silk Road was never a singular east-west trade route that linked China to the Mediterranean, nor was there unrestricted trade before the Mongol Empire.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road?oldid=1364944151Who issued the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States?
Abraham LincolnChecked against:
The Emancipation Proclamation, officially Proclamation 95, was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States president Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation?oldid=1365345055Which nurse became known as the Lady with the Lamp?
NightingaleChecked against:
During the Crimean War, Nightingale gained the nickname "The Lady with the Lamp" from a phrase in a report in The Times:
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Nightingale?oldid=1358730807#The_Lady_with_the_LampWhat did the Wright brothers achieve at Kitty Hawk in 1903?
The first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraftChecked against:
The Wright Flyer (also known as the Kitty Hawk, Flyer I or the 1903 Flyer) made the first sustained flight by a manned heavier-than-air powered and controlled aircraft on December 17, 1903.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wright_Flyer?oldid=1365193365What is the Constitution’s introductory paragraph called?
The PreambleChecked against:
The Preamble, the Constitution's introductory paragraph, lays out the purposes of the new government:
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_United_States?oldid=1365316885#PreambleWas the Magna Carta signed before or after the year 1300?
1215Checked against:
Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter"), sometimes spelled Magna Charta, is a royal charter of rights sealed by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta?oldid=1358721085Which queen ruled the United Kingdom for most of the nineteenth century?
VictoriaChecked against:
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death in 1901.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria?oldid=1364102268What was discovered in Egypt in 1922 by Howard Carter?
The tomb of TutankhamunChecked against:
The tomb of Tutankhamun was discovered in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 by excavators led by the Egyptologist Howard Carter, more than 3,300 years after Tutankhamun's death and burial.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_of_the_tomb_of_Tutankhamun?oldid=1363813832Which revolution inspired the French Revolution of 1789?
The American RevolutionChecked against:
The American Revolution inspired other movements, including the French Revolution in 1789, the Haitian Revolution in 1791, the Colombian War of Independence in 1810, and the Canadian Rebellions of 1837–1838.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Revolution?oldid=1364489801#Atlantic_RevolutionsWho led India’s nonviolent independence movement against British rule?
GandhiChecked against:
Gandhi is noted as the greatest figure of the successful Indian independence movement against the British rule.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi?oldid=1365511067#LegacyWhat numbered amendment gave women the right to vote across the United States?
The Nineteenth AmendmentChecked against:
The Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution prohibits the United States and its states from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex, in effect recognizing the right of women to vote.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution?oldid=1358314605Which European explorer reached India by sailing around Africa in 1498?
Da GamaChecked against:
Da Gama finally accomplished the feat when he landed at Kozhikode on 20 May 1498.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_da_Gama?oldid=1365337483What name is given to the cultural rebirth that began in Italian cities?
The RenaissanceChecked against:
The Renaissance (UK: / r ɪ ˈ n eɪ s ən s / rin- AY -sənss, US: / ˈ r ɛ n ə s ɑː n s / ⓘ REN -ə-sahnss) was a European period of history and cultural movement taking place at the end of the Late Middle Ages and the beginning of the early modern era.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance?oldid=1365516125How did a moat hinder the use of siege weapons?
Access to the wallsChecked against:
A moat made access to the walls difficult for siege weapons such as siege towers and battering rams, which needed to be brought up against a wall to be effective.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moat?oldid=1342029391#MedievalWho was canonized in 1920 and later declared a patron saint of France?
Joan of ArcChecked against:
In 1920, Joan of Arc was canonized by Pope Benedict XV and, two years later, was declared one of the patron saints of France.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_of_Arc?oldid=1365882862Was democracy in ancient Athens direct or representative?
Direct, rather than representativeChecked against:
Greek democracy created at Athens was direct, rather than representative: any adult male citizen over the age of 20 could take part, and it was a duty to do so.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athenian_democracy?oldid=1364574459#EcclesiaWas British wartime rationing restricted to food during the Second World War?
Not restricted to foodChecked against:
During the Second World War rationing - not restricted to food - was part of a strategy including controlled prices, subsidies and government-enforced standards, with the goals of managing scarcity and prioritising the armed forces and essential services, and trying to make available to everyone an adequate and affordable supply of goods of acceptable quality.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationing_in_the_United_Kingdom?oldid=1362715826Which dynasty built much of the present Great Wall of China?
The Ming dynastyChecked against:
The Ming Great Wall (Chinese: 明長城; pinyin: Míng Chángchéng), built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), forms the most visible parts of the Great Wall of China today.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ming_Great_Wall?oldid=1364720353How many years did the Hundred Years’ War actually last?
116 yearsChecked against:
The Hundred Years' War (French: Guerre de Cent Ans; 1337–1453 [116 years]) was a conflict between the kingdoms of England and France and a civil war in France during the late Middle Ages.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred_Years'_War?oldid=1364452038How did the Rosetta Stone help modern scholars?
Key to deciphering the Egyptian scriptsChecked against:
The decree has only minor differences across the three versions, making the Rosetta Stone key to deciphering the Egyptian scripts.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosetta_Stone?oldid=1363760554Which civilization developed a calendar with a Long Count in Mesoamerica?
The MayaChecked against:
The Maya calendar is a system of calendars used in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica and in many modern communities in the Guatemalan highlands, Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maya_calendar?oldid=1353459013Who became South Africa’s first Black president in 1994?
MandelaChecked against:
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (/ m æ n ˈ d ɛ l ə / man- DEL -ə, Xhosa: [ xolíɬaɬa mandɛ̂ːla ]; born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, statesman, and revolutionary who was the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela?oldid=1365645914What linked Ellis Island with millions of arrivals to the United States?
The busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United StatesChecked against:
Owned by the U.S. government, Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island?oldid=1365378410Which conflict was sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand?
World War IChecked against:
The assassination precipitated the July Crisis, which led to Austria-Hungary declaring war on Serbia and the start of World War I.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Archduke_Franz_Ferdinand?oldid=1364675945Name the two Japanese cities hit by atomic bombs in 1945.
Hiroshima and NagasakiChecked against:
On 6 and 9 August 1945, the United States detonated two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively, during the final days of World War II.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki?oldid=1365553557Who became the first female Olympic victor as a chariot owner?
CyniscaChecked against:
This allowed for horse trainer and spartan princess Cynisca to be the first female Olympic victor.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Olympic_Games?oldid=1361027575#Equestrian_eventsWhose armies does the Terracotta Army depict?
Qin Shi HuangChecked against:
The Terracotta Army is a collection of terracotta sculptures depicting the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army?oldid=1365740821Who led the army in the Norman Conquest of England?
The Duke of Normandy, later styled William the ConquerorChecked against:
The Norman Conquest of England (or the Conquest) was an 11th-century invasion by an army made up of thousands of Norman, French, Flemish, and Breton troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conqueror.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Conquest?oldid=1363795861What did Gutenberg invent a method for mass-producing around 1440?
Movable typeChecked against:
Around 1440, the goldsmith Johannes Gutenberg invented a method for mass-producing movable type for a printing press, beginning the Printing Revolution in Europe.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Printing_press?oldid=1364130523Which people established a medieval settlement at L’Anse aux Meadows?
NorseChecked against:
L'Anse aux Meadows is an archaeological site, first excavated in the 1960s, of a Norse settlement dating to approximately 1,000 years ago.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Anse_aux_Meadows?oldid=1364840253What title did Mansa Musa hold in the Mali Empire?
Mansa, 'ruler' or 'king' in MandéChecked against:
Mansa, 'ruler' or 'king' in Mandé, was the title of the ruler of the Mali Empire.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansa_Musa?oldid=1363724074#Name_and_titlesWhich peace treaty was signed on 28 June 1919?
The Treaty of VersaillesChecked against:
The Treaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed on 28 June 1919.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Versailles?oldid=1359978507How many medium-sized ships did Columbus and his crew take on their westward voyage?
Three medium-sized shipsChecked against:
For his westward voyage to find a shorter route to the Orient, Columbus and his crew took three medium-sized ships, the largest of which was a carrack (Spanish: nao), the Santa María, which was owned and captained by Juan de la Cosa, and under Columbus's direct command.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyages_of_Christopher_Columbus?oldid=1365538919#First_voyage_(1492%E2%80%931493)Which city hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896?
AthensChecked against:
The 1896 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the I Olympiad, and commonly known as Athens 1896 (Greek: Αθήνα 1896), were the first international Olympic Games held in modern history.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1896_Summer_Olympics?oldid=1357065985What code name was used for the Allied invasion of Normandy?
Operation OverlordChecked against:
Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Overlord?oldid=1365553534Which city served as the Roman and Byzantine capital from 330 until 1453?
ConstantinopleChecked against:
Constantinople, the modern Istanbul, was the capital of the Roman and Byzantine Empire from 330 until its takeover by the Ottoman Empire in 1453.
Source: Wikipedia, pinned revisionPrint source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople?oldid=1364870414