Cumulative PM-based History Quiz

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Drawing up questions now.
 
1. What nearly caused the USA and the United Kingdom to go to war with each other during the American Civil War?

2. What argeement made during WW1 divided the Middle East between Russia, England and France?

3. What was Magellan's objective when he set sail from Spain?

4. What triggered the Indian Munitny of 1857?

5. What West Point Class year was called " The class the Stars fell on"?

6. What sparked the Franco-Prussian War?

7. How was James I of England ahead of his times in matters relating to health?

8. What war promted the founding of the Red Cross?

9. In the Second Opium War against China, the British did something very bad to something in Beijing, even other Europeans were shocked, what did they do and what to?

10. What battle between England and France in North America was the turning point in that theater?

Sorry if there a bit North America and Eurocentric its my area of greatest knowledge

Seventy Two Hours,
 
About Nine hours left,

Any more reponses?

Scores so Far:
BananaLee 6
Sertuan 4 1/2
NorthKing 3 1/2
Bedhead 3
ShortGuy 3
Pellaken 2
 
1. What nearly caused the USA and the United Kingdom to go to war with each other during the American Civil War?

2. What argeement made during WW1 divided the Middle East between Russia, England and France?

3. What was Magellan's objective when he set sail from Spain?

4. What triggered the Indian Munitny of 1857?

5. What West Point Class year was called " The class the Stars fell on"?

6. What sparked the Franco-Prussian War?

7. How was James I of England ahead of his times in matters relating to health?

8. What war promted the founding of the Red Cross?

9. In the Second Opium War against China, the British did something very bad to something in Beijing, even other Europeans were shocked, what did they do and what to?

10. What battle between England and France in North America was the turning point in that theater?

Answers

1. When a Union ship seized two CSA diplomats from the British Mail Steamer, Trent, what was called the Trent Affair.

2. Sykes-Picot Argeement

3. To find and capture the Molcuaa spice islands, half points if you mentioned spice islands, was not to circumnavigate the globe

4 New Cartidges, that had to be bitten, Hindus thought cow grease was on them, Musliums thought it was pig grease on them, both groups were offended and when the Brits jailed those who refused to use them a muninty broke out

5. 1915

6. A telegram between France and Russia that Bismark edited and released and the French press forced Nap III to go to war. I took some other answers and gave halfs.

7. Thought Tobacco smoking was bad for your health

8. French-austrian war of 1859 in italy by an observoer that witnessed the horrors

9. Burnt down the Summer Palace

10. Battle of Quebec, cemented English control over Quebec.

Bananalee is up
 
Okay.
I guess it's my turn again

1. In 750CE, a coup ousted the reigning Ummayad Clan from the ruling position of the Muslim lands in the Middle East. However, the Ummayad Dynasty still continued in a fashion. How is this so?

2. What the heck is "Omong Betawi"?

3. Almost everyone would know Melaka (or Malacca) to be a state in Malaysia as well as being one of the main trading ports in the Spice Islands way back when. However, there is also another Melaka. Where is it?

4. In 496BCE, an army lined itself up with a vanguard who upon charging the enemy, proceeded to decapitate themselves in front of them. Needless to say, that army gained a victory. What state/nation did this and how did they convince the vanguard to do so?

5. What is the earliest known written record of pawnbroking (you know, selling gold for ludricously cheap prices)?

6. An action made by English troops in the aftermath of Agincourt is still done on certain occasions nowadays. What did the English troops do and what was this action they left behind?

7. What did the sons of rich British aristocrats do to complete their education between the 16th and 19th centuries?

8. What is so special about a Greek tragedy entitled "The Suppliant Woman"?

9. In 1909, a package arrived at 10 Downing Street (the British PM's official residence). The Prime Minister's butler refused to accept the package. What was inside the package?

10. Given a choice, an early 19th-century Royal Navy Captain would rather take a smaller third or fourth-rate ship assignment to the West Indies and East Indies rather than a first-rate ship-of-the-line in the Meditteranean. Why?

Try it out. I know it's very non-military based but I thought it was good to have a change for a bit.. *grin*

72 hours. Keep them coming in.
 
The results so far: -

mitsho - 3
pawpaw - 2.5
shortguy - 2.5
Serutan - 2

Any other takers?
24 hours.

Are the questions too difficult? *blink*
 
Time's up. So here are the answers. Half marks were given for any answers I deemed relevant.

BananaLee said:
1. In 750CE, a coup ousted the reigning Ummayad Clan from the ruling position of the Muslim lands in the Middle East. However, the Ummayad Dynasty still continued in a fashion. How is this so?

An easy one. One of the Ummayad clan members fled the Damascus Caliphate to Cordoba in Spain. That fellow ousted the ruling Emir of Cordoba and after several generations, declared themselves Caliphs, starting an ala NES II 2 - Discovery "out-caliphing" situation.

BananaLee said:
2. What the heck is "Omong Betawi"?

It is a Malay Creole spoken in Java, Indonesia. Betawi is the Malay word for Batavia, which is incidentally, the Dutch name for the island. (or was it Jakarta?)

BananaLee said:
3. Almost everyone would know Melaka (or Malacca) to be a state in Malaysia as well as being one of the main trading ports in the Spice Islands way back when. However, there is also another Melaka. Where is it?

Melaka is the name of the largest village on Car Nicobar, the northenmost of the Nicobar Islands owned by India.
Being only 450 miles from the epicentre of the massive earthquake recently, the tsunamis had hit this island hard and the number of casualties is still unclear. Please pray for them.

BananaLee said:
4. In 496BCE, an army lined itself up with a vanguard who upon charging the enemy, proceeded to decapitate themselves in front of them. Needless to say, that army gained a victory. What state/nation did this and how did they convince the vanguard to do so?

Yue (or Yueh) state in China. The vanguard were convicts who had been dragged out of prison by the government of their home state and given a choice: become suicide troops for us right now, or we start killing your family members. Given the importance of the family in China, the convicts miserably assented and marched off to die. I'm afraid it wasn't exactly a strategy you could repeat very often - sooner or later you'd run out of convicts, but more importantly to the planners, once word got out you'd run out of shock value.

BananaLee said:
5. What is the earliest known written record of pawnbroking (you know, selling gold for ludricously cheap prices)?

Dated from the 7th-century BCE, a Babylonian text, 'Grandsons of Egibi' included pawnbroking amongst its various business interests.

BananaLee said:
6. An action made by English troops in the aftermath of Agincourt is still done on certain occasions nowadays. What did the English troops do and what was this action they left behind?

I got one or two interesting answers here.. haha
The V-sign, used by punks back in the 80s and by some Brits nowadays. The story goes that the French had taunted the British archers, stating that they would cut off the arrow fingers (index and middle finger) of every archer they captured after Agincourt. In the aftermath, the archers showed the French camp the very two fingers which the French had threatened.

BananaLee said:
7. What did the sons of rich British aristocrats do to complete their education between the 16th and 19th centuries?

They did something called a "Grand Tour", in which they travelled the capitals of various European nations. The purpose was to allow the richies to brush up on their language skills.

BananaLee said:
8. What is so special about a Greek tragedy entitled "The Suppliant Woman"?

'The Suppliant Woman', written by Aeschylus in 490BCE has the honour of being the oldest play to have survived complete.

BananaLee said:
9. In 1909, a package arrived at 10 Downing Street (the British PM's official residence). The Prime Minister's butler refused to accept the package. What was inside the package?

Women. Not bombs.
They were suffragettes and if they were willing to throw themselves in front of the King's Horse in the 1910 Royal Derby, being sent by the General Post Office's express service, which was incidentally established almost 20 years before. Next day receipt anyone?

BananaLee said:
10. Given a choice, an early 19th-century Royal Navy Captain would rather take a smaller third or fourth-rate ship assignment to the West Indies and East Indies rather than a first-rate ship-of-the-line in the Meditteranean. Why?

For the only thing that makes the world go round. Money. Being in a smaller frigate in the Indies meant more independance and a greater chance at capturing merchant shipping, hence contributing to prize money, which was distributed to the whole crew.
By stark contrast, serving in the Meditteranean meant blockade, blockade and more blockade with the absolutely unprofitable pitched fleet action in between. For the record, Nelson hated it.


And so, mitsho has the floor!
*applause*
 
Well, I'm pretty surprised to be the best. (I have no idea how you come to 3 points, but yes.. :)) And that with my first participation.

Give me some time and I'll prepare good questions. (At latest tomorrow noon ... :)

mfG mitsho
 
Well, here I am. Yesterday evening, we had a visit by a old lady. And later on, she told us how it was in the Alsace 1939 - later on. That was pretty impressive, how live was as one of 9 children and only the mother still living. First, they were bashed by the French (leave the warlike region of Alsace), then by the Germans (These French, now they were complete Germans!) and later on by the Americans (they 'worked' together with the Nazis). All crap, but still, and so she came to Switzerland.

Here are my questions:

1. King Muwatalli of the Hittites and Pharaoh Ramses II. clashed each other with their armies at Kadesh sometimes long long ago. But neither of them won. Ramses II., because in his arrogance, he trapped into an ambush of the Hatti (he had divided his army). Muwatalli, because he was too afraid to use his whole infrantry force to crush the surrounded Pharaoh. Instead, the Egyptian reinforcments arrived and the battle became a remis. But still, on the long term, it had a big influence on history. Two major features of politics were first seen there (one in the years later, the other about 17 years later). What am I talking about? Name the two features

2. Who was Omar Khayam?

3. A Roman emperor liked to talk about 'aequanimitas'. This word means the balance of mind and actions: Think before you act. Think of every possible results and do the best, not only for you, but for all the people. (--> serve the people, not yourself). Give me the name of the emperor? (tip: he also built a 'limes' (a wall)).

4. Switzerland has a founding myth, that every Swiss knows. And there are each years many many plays and so about William Tell etc. According to these stories, the founding date of Switzerland is given 1st August 1291. But what happened then?

5. And what is so wrong about that date/story?

6.Teotihuacán is the name of a ruin city in Mexico, as many of you may know. But what does that name mean and who gave it to the city?

7. Alamut is a ruin of a castle in north-western Iran (Chorasan). On it's prime time, it was said of being unconquerable. And only centuries later, the Mongols were able to do it: They also burnt it and with it, the large library it had. But who did live there, who was so mighty that all the people of the time said it is unconquerable? (second question) What was the name of the first master of the castle?

8. In the first centuries AD, there were many independent merchant cities in the Near East: Petra, Hatra and Palmyra to name the most important. They were responsible for all the luxuries that came from the East to Rome. Only the Sassanid Empire did crush them at last, by 'closing' trade to India. One of these three cities above was even able to conquer nearly the whole Eastern Part of the Roman Empire: Palmyra. Although it was a trade republic, in the late time of it's existence, there were to Palmyrian 'Kings' (one King and one Queen). Can you give me their names? Btw, They were man and wife. And What title got the first of them by the Roman Emperor. (the second, 'she' named herself just 'Augusta' Empress of the Roman Empire).

9. 1848 - the year of the revolutions. And only one state evolved from that year new and fresh and unlike all the others on the European continent: Switerland was at that time the most modern state in Europe. But of course, beforehands there was blood spilled in a Civil War called the 'Sonderbundskrieg' which translates into 'Special League War'. How long did that war go? And who won, the Decentralizationists ('Special League') or the Centralizationists?

10.There is a city called the 'Eternal city'. And there's a second and a third version of it. Name the three cities in their chronological order.

I hope it's not too easy... :) (in comparison to Bananalees questions).

72 hours first - and later on perhaps 24 or more more hours.

mfG mitsho
 
Da,
I noticed that but I couldn't help but mention that I'd score zero.. :D

p/S: Too much Swiss-oriented.. ;)
 
first overlook:

pawpaw - 6.3
mongoloid cow - 4.5
North King - 3
Dragonlord - 2

tough nobody got one of the swiss questions correct (but north king got one half correct). Perhaps they are really too detailed? ;)

a bit more time :)

mfG mitsho
 
Well, time's up, no more entries, so I congratulate pawpaw. You're up.
solutions:

1. King Muwatalli of the Hittites and Pharaoh Ramses II. clashed each other with their armies at Kadesh sometimes long long ago. But neither of them won. Ramses II., because in his arrogance, he trapped into an ambush of the Hatti (he had divided his army). Muwatalli, because he was too afraid to use his whole infrantry force to crush the surrounded Pharaoh. Instead, the Egyptian reinforcments arrived and the battle became a remis. But still, on the long term, it had a big influence on history. Two major features of politics were first seen there (one in the years later, the other about 17 years later). What am I talking about? Name the two features.
That one was pretty good solved:
The battle of Kadesh ended in a weird situation, nobody won, but as the hittite defended, they could keep the city of Kadesh. However, at home, each king/pharaoh said, he won overhelmingly at Kadesh: Ramses II built myriads of temples on which the whole situation was painted/written on. With the result that the early historians believed that the Hittites had lost the battle. Only with hittite sources, this believe could eventually be corrected. So, it was the first (recorded) use of propaganda!
17 years after the battle of Kadesh, Egypt and Hatti made a peace treaty, the first ever recorded in history. It was written on two plates, one deposed in Egypt, the other one in Hattusha. They are nearly exactly the same - but one thing is different. In the Egypt text, it says that the Hittites came and asked for a peace treaty. In the Hittite text, it says the opposite, namely that the Egyptians came and asked for peace. I think this shows relatively good the nature of peace treaties. Also, with this peace treaty, the two super-powers began to accept each other and wrote down, that it does not make sense to fight each other, because neither will win: 2-superpowers will be in balance for ever. :)
Other answers were also accepted (if they were a bit correct).

2. Who was Omar Khayam?
Omar Khayam was a persian mathematician, astronom, poet, etc. One of the best universal-scientists of the Middle Ages. He developed some mathematics rule centuries before the European did and also created a new islamic calendar which was more exact than the Gregorian one.

3. A Roman emperor liked to talk about 'aequanimitas'. This word means the balance of mind and actions: Think before you act. Think of every possible results and do the best, not only for you, but for all the people. (--> serve the people, not yourself). Give me the name of the emperor? (tip: he also built a 'limes' (a wall)).
No, not Hadrian, although he built a wall. In northernmost Scotland, there is a wall called the Antoninus-wall. It was only shortly used, so probably nobody thought of it. Pius Antoninus is one of the less known Roman Rulers, although the Roman Empire was in a 'Golden Age' under his rule: peace, safety, wealth.

4. Switzerland has a founding myth, that every Swiss knows. And there are each years many many plays and so about William Tell etc. According to these stories, the founding date of Switzerland is given 1st August 1291. But what happened then?
I laid unvoluntarily a trap here by mentioning the name of William Tell and so, now one got this right. Tell wasn't himself directly involved in what happened on August 1. 1291, but that's what went on:
Three men from three different inner-swiss valleys came together on the Rütli and made a treaty, a mutual-defense pact: They would defend each other against external (!!) dangers (= the Habsburg primarily). This we call the Rüetli-Oath.

5. And what is so wrong about that date/story?
- 1291 wasn't the first treaty, there had been many similar ones before.
- 1291 wasn't either an important treaty. So, 1307 would be more accurate.
- On the written document ('bundesbrief' - letter of federal league), it says first half of August, not August 1.
- These treaties weren't really important for the development of Switzerland.

6.Teotihuacán is the name of a ruin city in Mexico, as many of you may know. But what does that name mean and who gave it to the city?
Teotihuacán means 'Place where you become a God' or 'City of the Gods' and is Aztec (after my source).

7. Alamut is a ruin of a castle in north-western Iran (Chorasan). On it's prime time, it was said of being unconquerable. And only centuries later, the Mongols were able to do it: They also burnt it and with it, the large library it had. But who did live there, who was so mighty that all the people of the time said it is unconquerable? (second question) What was the name of the first master of the castle?
I didn't realize that someone (pawpaw) wrote an article about them, but well ok: it was the order of the assassins (hashashins) and their leader was Hassan i(bn) Sabah. Some also gave the name 'Old Man of the Mountain' which I also gave correct, but it's just a surname. For more infos: pawpaw's article about Alamut and the Assasins

8. In the first centuries AD, there were many independent merchant cities in the Near East: Petra, Hatra and Palmyra to name the most important. They were responsible for all the luxuries that came from the East to Rome. Only the Sassanid Empire did crush them at last, by 'closing' trade to India. One of these three cities above was even able to conquer nearly the whole Eastern Part of the Roman Empire: Palmyra. Although it was a trade republic, in the late time of it's existence, there were to Palmyrian 'Kings' (one King and one Queen). Can you give me their names? Btw, They were man and wife. And What title got the first of them by the Roman Emperor. (the second, 'she' named herself just 'Augusta' Empress of the Roman Empire).
Complicate question, simple answer: 'King' Odaenathus was the first ruler, he was later murdered by we-don't-know-exactly and his wife Queen Zenobia took over. Odaenathus once received from the Roman Emperor the title of a 'corrector of the orient', virtually giving him power of the eastern half of the empire.

9. 1848 - the year of the revolutions. And only one state evolved from that year new and fresh and unlike all the others on the European continent: Switerland was at that time the most modern state in Europe. But of course, beforehands there was blood spilled in a Civil War called the 'Sonderbundskrieg' which translates into 'Special League War'. How long did that war go? And who won, the Decentralizationists ('Special League') or the Centralizationists?
Unsurprisingly, nobody got that right: In 1847, the elected Swiss parliament was dominated by the left. So, as a response, the catholic conservative inner-swiss cantons of Valais/Wallis, Fribourg, Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zug under the leadership of Lucerne (a city) founded the 'Special League'. However, the central government of Switzerland couldn't accept a second factual government inside the country, so it came to war on November 3. 1847. The army (consisting of the remaining cantons with the exception of Basel-Stadt and Appenzell-Innerrhoden - yes, we are in Switzerland, so someone's got to be neutral... :)) under General Henri Dufour attacked and the Special League was defeated on November 29 1847. So, the war only lasted for 27 days and only resulted in less than 100 casualties.
The second point: So, the 'left'-'liberal'-'centralizationists' won. But- hey, we are in Switzerland - the winner made some concessions to the defeated. So, Switzerland became a semi-centralized state (for that time). But nevertheless, it was the first European state with a enduring Liberal government, although it was in the middle of Europe, encircled by some very conservative monarchies. Nowadays, it's unfortunately quite different. -> liberal, modern, Switzerland became conservative, old-fashioned. The grade of Centralization stayed the same, but today, CH is considered decentralized.

10.There is a city called the 'Eternal city'. And there's a second and a third version of it. Name the three cities in their chronological order.
easy question to finish:
Eternal city: Rome
Second Rome: Constantinople
Third Rome: Moscow

So, good luck to pawpaw.

mfG mitsho
 
1] Who and what were Mauritius and the theban legion?

2] What incident almost led to mexico joining germany against the u.s. in WW I?

3] What telegraph played a major part in the outbrake of the franco-prussian war?

4] What was the correct name for the elite ancient persian bodyguard?

5] What was the " laconia " incident?

6] Who were the helots?

7] Emperor napoleon once said there were but 7 generals in history who's battles and campaigns were worth studying? name 5, bonus for all 7.

8] During the wars of the diadochi, who was old one-eye?

9] Acromyn used for the new zealand/ australian troops in WW I & WW II?

10] Sweden lost their honor at nordlingen, the spanish kept theirs but died doing so, referes to what 17th century battle? Edit; what battle did the spanish keep theirs at.
 
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