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Poland History Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Poland History Quizzes, Trivia

Poland History Trivia

Poland History Trivia Quizzes

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8 Poland History quizzes and 90 Poland History trivia questions.
1.
  The History of Krakow   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Krakow may not be as well known as Poland's capital Warsaw, but the truth is Krakow was an instrumental city in Poland for centuries.
Average, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Jun 22 15
Average
Joepetz gold member
319 plays
2.
  History of Warsaw    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Poland's capital of Warsaw has spent much of its history in a power struggle between east and west. How much do you know about this tumultuous city's past?
Tough, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Jul 01 21
Tough
Joepetz gold member
Jul 01 21
182 plays
3.
  Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Mighty Monarchs VII covers the various princes and then kings and queens of the Kingdom of Poland from its conversion to Christianity in 966 AD to its extinction in 1795 AD. Good Luck!
Average, 10 Qns, hund, Mar 09 23
Average
hund
Mar 09 23
1265 plays
4.
  A Stroll Through Polish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The history of an often overlooked European country.
Tough, 10 Qns, sierot, Sep 17 09
Tough
sierot
1607 plays
5.
  Poland Under Communist Rule    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This test covers the years 1945-89 in Poland under Communist Rule. Hope you enjoy!
Average, 15 Qns, allieetal, Nov 20 06
Average
allieetal
1465 plays
6.
  Ten Centuries in a Flash - A History of Poland    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In its history Poland has experienced many ups and downs - in fact so many that the historian Norman Davies nicknamed it "God's Playground". I hope you enjoy this journey through the ages.
Average, 10 Qns, Markizxd, Nov 04 13
Average
Markizxd
509 plays
7.
  Poland 1807-1813    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is quite tough, enjoy!
Difficult, 15 Qns, ogonczyk, Jan 06 03
Difficult
ogonczyk
873 plays
8.
  A Polish Timeline (950-2000)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz that takes you through some key moments in Polish history.
Average, 10 Qns, nick888, Apr 18 21
Average
nick888
Apr 18 21
757 plays
trivia question Quick Question
In the early 18th century, Warsaw was constantly invaded and occupied by various forces during which conflict?

From Quiz "History of Warsaw"




Related Topics
  Poland [Geography] (8 quizzes)

  Polish Language [World] (6 quizzes)


Poland History Trivia Questions

1. The first documented settlement in what is now Warsaw, Poland dates back to the 9th century. It was a small village called Brodno. What happened to Brodno?

From Quiz
History of Warsaw

Answer: It burned down

Brodno was founded sometime around the end of the 9th century (or possibly early 10th). It was a very small settlement located near where the present-day neighborhood Brodno is located. The original Brodno had walls but, nonetheless, it was burned down in the mid 11th century by warring princes. A similar fate befall other early small settlements in what is now Warsaw.

2. Krakow was believed to have been founded by Krakus, a mythological hero, who was said to have killed Smok Wawelski. Who or what is Smok Wawelski?

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: A dragon

The legend goes that Smok Wawelski was a dragon who lived on what is now Wawel Hill in Krakow. The dragon would destroy homes and eat villagers, especially young virgins. Krakus fed the dragon a poisoned lamb, which killed him, and the city was saved. Wawel Cathedral currently displays, what are claimed to be, the bones of Smok Wawelski, but it is unknown where exactly the bones came from.

3. During the 1890s about 4 million Poles migrated to which country?

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: United States

Four million Poles migrated during the 1890s, mainly to the United States. Migration on a large scale continued until 1914.

4. In which year was Poland christianized?

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: 966

The ruler of Poland who decided to introduce Christianity, thus establishing a country, was Mieszko I.

5. What was the official name of the Polish state created by Napoleon in 1807?

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: The Duchy of Warsaw

Contrary to common (and erroneous) usage, the adjective "Grand" never was a part of the Duchy's official appellation.

6. In 966 AD this prince of Poland converted to Christianity (Roman Catholicism). Which individual was it?

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Mieszko I

Mieszko I (r. 960-992 AD) was married to Dobravka, daughter of Wenceslaus, the Saint, Duke of Bohemia. He estalished the Piast dynasty which held the throne of Poland until 1370 AD.

7. At the conclusion of WWII, the western border of Poland was shifted approximately one hundred and fifty miles to the west. What was this new border called?

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: The Oder-Neisse Line

The new Polish border was decided on by the Big Three (USSR, Great Britain and the United States) at the 1945 Yalta and Potsdam Conferences. The Soviet Union gained what had been Eastern Poland. Poland was compensated for its territorial losses by gaining 150 miles of what had been Germany. The Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) did not recognize this new border until 1970.

8. When Warsaw became the capital of Masovia in 1413, the city began to grow considerably. In its early capital days, Warsaw was divided along what line?

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Income

Warsaw was an extremely divided city based on the income of its residents. The city was ruled by extremely wealthy princes and aristocrats while most of the residents were extremely poor tradesmen and their families. In 1525, the peasants revolted and secured a power-sharing deal establishing a house of government for the lower class. This agreement was short lived because the last Masovian prince was likely poisoned by the Polish Crown and Warsaw became part of Poland as a result, although this body of government remained with changes.

9. Who is the patron saint of Krakow, who as Bishop of Krakow in 1079, was murdered by King Boleslaw II?

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Saint Stanislaus the Martyr

Stanislaus and King Boleslaw II had a number of disputes, mostly with the men accusing each other immoral acts. King Boleslaw believed, which historians now believe is correct, that Stanislaus was conspiring to oust him and take more power for himself. King Boleslaw ordered Stanislaus to be executed but none of his soldiers were willing to kill the bishop. King Boleslaw killed Stanislaus himself while the bishop was celebrating mass.

10. The Statute of Succession issued by Boleslaw III Wrymouth (reigned 1102-38) in 1138 included a provision which, though it may have appeared sensible to this duke of Poland, resulted in almost 200 years of decline for the Polish state. What was it?

From Quiz Ten Centuries in a Flash - A History of Poland

Answer: Dividing the country between his sons

Boleslaw was for many years involved in a struggle for supremacy against his elder brother Zbigniew, so to prevent such issues in future he divided Polish lands between his four sons. His will was broken soon after his death as the brothers became enemies. German crusaders were in fact invited to Poland, with even more dire consequences, but the one responsible for this act was Conrad of Mazovia - one of Boleslav's descendants.

11. When did the Soviet Union invade Poland?

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: September 17, 1939

The invasion attacked the eastern areas of Poland without a formal declaration of war, sixteen days after the beginning of the Nazi German attack on Poland. It ended in a victory for the Soviet Union's Red Army - and for Nazi Germany.

12. When was the first Polish king crowned?

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: 1025

This was Boleslaw Chrobry. He had ruled Poland since 996, but was crowned in 1025 - the same year that he died.

13. Who was the nominal ruler of this state?

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: Frederick August, king of Saxony

Napoleon chose the Saxon king partly because of the past historical connections between Poland and Saxony. Nevertheless, Frederick August was just a figurehead, the Duchy was in fact ruled by Napoleon himself.

14. Which prince of Poland began a plan to eliminate pagans who lived in Prussia?

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Boleslaus IV, the Curly

Boleslaus IV wanted to acquire some of the land that was inhabited by Prussian pagans. His crusade was not successful, although later rulers attempted similar campaigns to Christianize the Prussians from 1217-1274.

15. Krakow was nearly destroyed and abandoned in 1241 after Poland lost the Battle of Chmielnik to which large empire?

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Mongol

This was the first Mongol invasion of Krakow. Two more followed in 1258 and 1287. By the time of the 1258 invasion, Krakow was destroyed again just after having been rebuilt two years earlier. The Mongols failed to take the city in 1287 and Krakow started becoming a stable city from then on.

16. When did the reign of Duke Mieszko end?

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: 992

Their is no record of when the reign of Duke Mieszko began. In 966 he converted to Christianity after marrying Dabrowka of Bohemia.

17. What was the first capital city of Poland?

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: Gniezno

It's a rather small city with a nice Romanesque cathedral.

18. The Polish army, newly created in 1807, consisted of three...

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: legions

In the military terminology of that period "legion" signified a mixed unit including all the main branches of service (infantry, cavalry, artillery).

19. The cultural height of the medieval Kingdom of Poland was during the reign of this monarch. They were the last of the Piast dynasty. Which individual was it?

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Casimir III, the Great

Casimir III (r. 1333-1370 AD) truly earned his title of Great. He issued the first Polish legal code, abolished serfdom, and the University of Cracow was founded (1364 AD). He also encouraged European Jews to settle in his kingdom (the countries of western Europe were periodically persecuting and expelling their Jewish populations). This increase led to Poland being the center of Jewish culture in eastern Europe. His only major failure - he left no legitimate heir to the throne.

20. In February of 1956, this Soviet Communist leader denounced Stalin at the Twentieth Congress of the Soviet Communist party. His denunciation led to "the thaw" throughout Eastern Europe, including Poland. Who was this Soviet leader?

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: Nikita Khrushchev

Nikita Khrushchev, the successor to Stalin, was the only Soviet leader not to die while in power until Gorbachev. He was deposed in 1964 and replaced by Leonid Brezhnev. Georgi Malenkov was his main competitor for the position of Soviet Communist party chief. Yuri Andropov was the Russian ambassador to Hungary during Khrushchev's rule and played a vital role in the crushing of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.

21. The 1656 Battle of Warsaw is widely regarded as the start of which region's military dynasty?

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Brandenburg-Prussia

The Battle of Warsaw was fought between Polish-Lithuanian forces against the Swedish-Prussian coalition. Although, Sweden and Brandenburg-Prussia won the battle, the victory was insignificant as Polish forces led by John II Casimir quickly fled the battlefield with only about 2,000 casualties. However, the battle was one of the first major wins for Brandenburg-Prussia despite being vastly outnumbered. Prussia quickly established itself as a major military force in Eastern Europe. The battle is also notable because it was one of the first skirmishes the future Polish King John III Sobieski fought in. He would later become one of the most important Polish kings in history. John III Sobieski brought stability to Poland and led military campaigns that successfully fought off invaders such as the Ottoman Empire.

22. What is the name of the traditional Jewish quarter of Krakow that was founded in 1495 after a large fire destroyed most of the Jewish buildings and synagogues in the city?

From Quiz The History of Krakow

Answer: Kazimierz

King Jan I Olbracht gave permission for the Jewish community to leave what is now called, the Old Town, which had been completely burned and demolished, and move to Kazimierz, which was later put aside specifically for the Jews. The Jewish people built walls around their quarter and it became known as Oppidum Judaeorum, the Jewish City.

23. In what year did Nicolaus Copernicus publish "On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres?"

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: 1543

Nicolaus Copernicus was a famous astromoner from Poland. He was born in Torun on February 19, 1473.

24. Who invited the Teutonic Knights to Poland?

From Quiz A Stroll Through Polish History

Answer: Konrad Mazowiecki

The knights were supposed to introduce Christianity to Lithuania, but remained there long after achieving their initial goal.

25. In February 1807 Napoleon ordered the creation of a Polish cavalry regiment to be included into the Imperial Guard. What was the original character of this unit?

From Quiz Poland 1807-1813

Answer: Light horse

The Polish light horse regiment (also known as chevaulegers) received lances only in the fall of 1809; originally it was armed with sabers and pistols. Its greatest triumph took place on 30 November 1808 in the Somosierra pass in Spain, where one of its squadrons captured four consecutive gun batteries and thus opened the way to Madrid.

26. On Feb 18, 1386 AD Jadwiga, the young Queen of Poland (she was 12), married this Grand Prince of Lithuania. This marriage would unite the two states to form the largest territorial power in all of Europe. Which individual was it?

From Quiz Mighty Monarchs VII (Poland)

Answer: Jagiello

Jadwiga (r. 1384-1399 AD) marriage terms: the queen was to receive a powerful protector (a husband) and in return Jagiello would convert to Christianity (Roman Catholicism) along with his people. For Jagiello the marriage offered an alliance against the Teutonic Knights. Jagiello was baptized (Feb 15, 1386 AD) and took the Christian name of Ladislaus. Ladislaus II (r. 1386-1434 AD) would outlive his wife. Note: the union of Poland and Lithuania was only a personal union. Each were ruled separately until the Union of Lubin (1569 AD) officially united the crowns into a single kingdom.

27. This individual was head of the Polish Communist Party from 1947-56. He was an ardent Stalinist, known for his brutal use of the secret police. Who was he?

From Quiz Poland Under Communist Rule

Answer: Boleslaw Bierut

Boleslaw Bierut was one of the Muscovite Communists who dominated Polish Communist politics. He died in March of 1956. His eventual successor was Gomulka (1956-70), a nationalist Communist. Edward Gierek(1970-80) succeeded Gomulka after widespread rioting over increased food prices forced him out of office. Gierek, in turn, was forced out of office when the Polish economy took another down turn in the late 70s. Stanislaw Kania held office very briefly following Gierek until he was replaced by Jaruzelski.

28. In the early 18th century, Warsaw was constantly invaded and occupied by various forces during which conflict?

From Quiz History of Warsaw

Answer: Great Northern War

The Great Northern War was fought by Sweden and Russia during the first two decades of the 18th century with Poland getting caught in the middle. Warsaw was invaded by both Sweden and Russia numerous times during the conflict. Warsaw's struggles can be attributed to Polish King Augustus II's negligence of his kingdom as he focused on the worldly affairs of Saxony and elsewhere in Europe. Polish aristocrats were unhappy with Augustus who sided with Russia while the noblemen sided with Sweden. Augustus was dethroned when Sweden captured the city but reinstated when Russia took it. Warsaw was heavily damaged throughout the war, was constantly rebuilt only to be destroyed again.

29. What was the capital of Poland before it was moved to Warsaw?

From Quiz A Polish Timeline (950-2000)

Answer: Krakow

The capital was changed between 1596-1609. Krakow is filled with galleries, pubs, and cafes. In 1795 Krakow became part of the Austrian empire. It is one of the best preserved large cities in Poland and has for centuries been an important centre of Polish cultural life and of science and scholarship.

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Last Updated Mar 23 2024 5:46 AM
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