Cumulative PM-based History Quiz

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1) What do Cambyses, Augustus, Umar bin al-Khattab, Al-Muizz and Selim Yavuz (among many others) all have in common with relation to one country in the Eastern Mediterranean?

2) Why would Pontius Pilate's status have prevented him entering the Senate?

3) Why is Zhang Qian (Chang K'ien) often considered an important figure in the history of the "Silk Road"?

4) Who was Khalid Ibn al-Walid?

5) Who was the Great Khan when the Franciscan envoy of St Louis, that is, William of Rubruck, arrived at the court in Karakorum?

6) Also Franciscans, which Westerners immediately preceeded William, this time as envoys of Pope Innocent IV, in journeying to the Great Khan's court (and recording it)?

7) He was a Tangerine, and is often styled "the Islamic Marco Polo." Who is he?

8) What did the "Treaty of Wedmore" do to the political geography of England?

9) It is probably the finest city anywhere for studies in Late Antiquity. 8 sites in or near this city are protected by UNESCO: the Arian Baptistry, the "Cathedral Baptistry", the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the 6th century "Archiepiscopal Chapel" and three 6th century churches known as the Basilica di San Vitale, the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe. What is the name of the city?

10) Who was appointed head of the whole German navy in early 1943, later succeeding Hitler as the head of Germany?
 
OK, I've had four submissions so far. I'm still waiting on aanimion00, Seleucus Nicator's (if he's allowed) and XIII's. You have another day or so.
 
OK...i'll wait for another 10 hours or so....i have to go to sleep. AFter that I'll post the results and the answers :D
 
1) What do Cambyses, Augustus, Umar bin al-Khattab, Al-Muizz and Selim Yavuz (among many others) all have in common with relation to one country in the Eastern Mediterranean?

- They all brought Egypt under their dominion.

2) Why would Pontius Pilate's status have prevented him entering the Senate?

He was an Equestrian (Knight), not a member of the Senatorial aristocracy.

3) Why is Zhang Qian (Chang K'ien) often considered an important figure in the history of the "Silk Road"?

He explored the unknown territories west of China, according to the Han Histories, in order to find allies against the Hsiung-Nu. These histories present this as a direct precursor to Han expansion into the Tarim Basin (and beyond).

4) Who was Khalid Ibn al-Walid?

Also known as Sayf Allah ("Sword of God"), he was at first an enemy of the prophet, but converted him, and took a leading role in the conquest of Iraq and Syria. He led the Arab armies at Hira (633), Ajnadin (634), Damascus (635), Yarmuk (636), as well as earlier work resubduing the Arabs after the death of the prophet. He was forced to retire by Umar, but we don't know why.

5) Who was the Great Khan when the Franciscan envoy of St Louis, that is, William of Rubruck, arrived at the court in Karakorum?

The Khan was Möngke, called "Mangu" in the record of William of Rubruck. Someone said the Möngke was a drunk...well, Rubruck's interpreter was drunk when he finally got an audience with the Great Khan. :lol:

Only Pawpaw answered this correctly.

6) Also Franciscans, which Westerners immediately preceeded William, this time as envoys of Pope Innocent IV, in journeying to the Great Khan's court (and recording it)?

John Pian de Carpine (and Benedict the Pole) set out to Karakorum in 1245, being the first notable Europeans to head that way. They witnessed the election/proclamation of Güyük (called Cuyuc) as Great Khan.

No one even attempted to answer this question.

These Franciscans are astonishingly objective and detailed (they were trained to be) in their accounts. It's ironic that European travellers tell us more about the Mongol Empire than any other sources, when the Far-West wasn't even conquered. And this in an age when West Christendom was supposed to be backward.

7) He was a Tangerine, and is often styled "the Islamic Marco Polo." Who is he?

Ibn Battuta.

8) What did the "Treaty of Wedmore" do to the political geography of England?

Divided England between the Anglo-Saxon and the Danes (meaning Scandinavians, NOT merely modern "Danes") mostly along the Watling Street, the old Roman road linking London with the legionary fortress of Deva (Chester)

9) It is probably the finest city anywhere for studies in Late Antiquity. 8 sites in or near this city are protected by UNESCO: the Arian Baptistry, the "Cathedral Baptistry", the Mausoleum of Theodoric, the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the 6th century "Archiepiscopal Chapel" and three 6th century churches known as the Basilica di San Vitale, the Basilica di Sant'Apollinare Nuovo and Basilica di Sant'Apollinare in Classe. What is the name of the city?

Ravenna.

10) Who was appointed head of the whole German navy in early 1943, later succeeding Hitler as the head of Germany?

Karl Dönitz
 
1) what was the husitte general john ziska's " handicap? "

2) demetrius I was nicknamed " poliorcetes " what does this translate too?

3) at the naval battle of drepanum 249bc, the sacred chickens refused to eat, so publius pulcher threw them over board and they drowned? what famous lined did he utter?

4) what were alexander the greats final words?

5) what was the first ( semi-legandary ) dynasty of china?

6) name the korean admiral whose ironclad turtle ships defeated 2 japanese invasion fleets in the late 16th century.

7) what was the annal of the 4 masters ?

8) how did queen dido of carthage trick king hiabas out of the land that would make up carthage

9) in 1618 2 catholic imperial coucillors were thrown out of the castle of prague's window and survived the fall. how do the catholic and protestant version of this differ?

10) in 1410ad an unlikely alliance of poles,lithuanians,tartars,ruthenians and bohemians joined together to oppose who?
 
so far:

loulong--5.5
aamimion00--5
mongoliod cow--3
seleucucnicator--3

will run to sunday morning
 
Originally posted by pawpaw
1) what was the husitte general john ziska's " handicap? "
he was blind

2) demetrius I was nicknamed " poliorcetes " what does this translate too?
beseiger or taker of cities

3) at the naval battle of drepanum 249bc, the sacred chickens refused to eat, so publius pulcher threw them over board and they drowned? what famous lined did he utter?
if they are not hungary, let them drink

4) what were alexander the greats final words?
to the strongest

5) what was the first ( semi-legandary ) dynasty of china?
xia

6) name the korean admiral whose ironclad turtle ships defeated 2 japanese invasion fleets in the late 16th century.
sun shin yi

7) what was the annal of the 4 masters ?
history of ireland written by 4 greatest historians in 17th century

8) how did queen dido of carthage trick king hiabas out of the land that would make up carthage
was allowed all the land a single bull hide could cover, so she cut it into strips and included a large area around the harbor that would become carthage

9) in 1618 2 catholic imperial coucillors were thrown out of the castle of prague's window and survived the fall. how do the catholic and protestant version of this differ?
the catholics say an angel caught them, protestants say a manure pile broke their fall

10) in 1410ad an unlikely alliance of poles,lithuanians,tartars,ruthenians and bohemians joined together to oppose who?
teutonic knights

loulong was high score
 
1/ How did Panama became independant ? (not as a colony)

2/ The Holy Alliance between Austria, Russia and Prussia after 1815 did not last past the 1830's. Why ?

3/ What country invented Currency in the Western part of Eurasia ? Bonus : how come it happened there ?

4/ Which Pope of the Renaissance started using the expression "Europe" that had disappeared since the fall of the Roman Empire ? Bonus : what was its rough "equivalent" during the middle-ages ?

5/ When was the Sikh religion created (roughly) ?

6/ What were the "5 burroughs" in early medieval England ? Bonus : can you name them ?

7/ Apart from the political regime, Sparta and Athenes had another basic difference that was often used as a "national" reason for wars and hate between the two cities. This reason is clearly expressed by people such as Thucydides? Which one was it ?

8/ What happened to the Napoleon-created German state of Westphalia after 1815 ?

9/ Mithridate of Pontus gave its name to a noun. Do you know which one and why ?

10/ During the USCW, one of the early battles attracted the attention of nearby inhabitants who came as tourists then had to flee as party. Which battle am I speaking about ?

Bonus are to help your score if you prove to be really knwoledgeable in one field so that it can average a little if some questions were completely out of your scope. Each well-answered bonus gives you + 0.5. You don't lose anything if your answer is wrong.

You cannot go higher than 10 though.

Edit : I have edited the question a bit so that they are clearer (or so they should :p ) and have a better translation.
 
Well it seems I am not lucky with the questions I ask (tried to cover some "Anglo-Saxon" fields though.

1/ How did Panama became independant ? (not as a colony)

USA wanted to dig a canal in the isthmus during the XIXth century but Comlombia that owned the Isthmus disagreed mostly on ownership. Result the US made the isthmus separate and become and "independant" state : Panama.

2/ The Holy Alliance between Austria, Russia and Prussia after 1815 did not last past the 1830's. Why ?

The reason was of course linked to opposing imperialisms and that is Greece (independance fight) that showed it when Russia did interfere to protect the orthodox southern brothers. Nothing to do with Napoleon or war between Prussia and Austria (that is 1866).

3/ What country invented Currency in the Western part of Eurasia ? Bonus : how come it happened there ?
Lydia (rich as Cresus !). The river that went through Sardis plus nearby mines were extremely rich in gold which enabled the development of value-metal coins.

4/ Which Pope of the Renaissance started using the expression "Europe" that had disappeared since the fall of the Roman Empire ? Bonus : what was its rough "equivalent" during the middle-ages ?

Pie II (Piccolomini). Original pape for he was not part of the influental families and he was a humanist. Before that Europe (more or less its geographic equivalent) was called Christendom during the Middle-Ages, mostly since Carolus Magnus.

5/ When was the Sikh religion created (roughly) ?

roughly around 1500

6/ What were the "5 burroughs" in early medieval England ? Bonus : can you name them ?

I was surprised nobody knew the answer on that one. These were the 5 cities from which the Danes controlled Southern England. Lincol, Derby, Nottingham, Stamford, Leicester. Hope I did not make any translation mistake while asking the question.

7/ Apart from the political regime, Sparta and Athenes had another basic difference that was often used as a "national" reason for wars and hate between the two cities. This reason is clearly expressed by people such as Thucydides? Which one was it ?

"Ethnicity" between Dorians (Sparta) and Ionians (Athenes). Dorians being the latest invaders.

8/ What happened to the Napoleon-created German state of Westphalia after 1815 ?

Artificial creation by Napoleon, it was nciely united for Prussia to take over, making West Prussia and adding a lot of population and wealth to Prussia.

9/ Mithridate of Pontus gave its name to a noun. Do you know which one and why ?

Mithriditization or the process of getting used to poisons or other chemical dangerous products. Mithridate for fear of being poisonned was taking a little poison everyday to have his body accustomed to it. Now it refers more to insects.

10/ During the USCW, one of the early battles attracted the attention of nearby inhabitants who came as tourists then had to flee as party. Which battle am I speaking about ?

Bull Run (aka Manassas), the first battle.

Mongoloid cow scored the highest so it is his turn.
 
I scored the highest!? :eek:

Alright...

1) What was the capital of Australia upon federation?

2) What was the first kingdom to convert to Christianity?

3) Who was the first female Pharoah of Egpyt?

4) What was the Apadana?

5) What was the 'capital' of the First Turut (First Gok Turkish Empire)?

6) Byzantium was originally a colony of which Greek city-state?

7) Which West African city had a world famous university and library?

8) What is the 'Orkhon Monument'?

9) Zoroaster was supposedly (though historically incorrectly) killed by which tribe?

10) Who was Queen Tomyris?

I'll give yous all about two days.
 
Oh... bugger it. I've got the feeling that me and the people above are the only ones actually doing any of the quizes. Here's the answers:

1) What was the capital of Australia upon federation?

Melbourne. Canberra, the modern capital, was built after federation. 0% got this right.

2) What was the first kingdom to convert to Christianity?

Armenia. 60% got this one right.

3) Who was the first female Pharoah of Egpyt?

Hatshepsut, stepmother of Thutmoses III the Conqueror. She was also one of the best pharoahs Egypt ever had. 60% got this one right.

4) What was the Apadana?

The Apadana is the main audience hall of the palace of Persepolis. 40% got this one right.

5) What was the 'capital' of the First Turut (First Gok Turkish Empire)?

Otuken (or Otugan, or any other variant of that name) 0% got this one right (although one came close)

6) Byzantium was originally a colony of which Greek city-state?

Megara. 20% got this one right.

7) Which West African city had a world famous university and library?

Timbuktu. 80% got this one right.

8) What is the 'Orkhon Monument'?

The Orkhon monument is a short, fat obelisk which records the history of the Gok Turks, with all the good and the bad. It especially warns of the dangers and peril of the decrepid and corrupt sedentary lifestyle of the Chinese. 20% got this one right.

9) Zoroaster was supposedly (though historically incorrectly) killed by which tribe?

The Dahae. Zoroaster could not have been killed by the Dahae as the Dahae appeared after Zoroaster could have possibly lived. 0% got this one right.

10) Who was Queen Tomyris?

Queen Tomyris was the Queen of the Massagetae, the greatest of the Sacae tribes. She defeated and killed Cyrus the Great of Persia after he was responsible for her sons' suicide. 40% got this one right.

It's LouLong's turn.
 
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