1. Which liner was sunk by a German U-Boat during the First World War, killing several Americans and strongly bolstering the pro-war lobby in the United States? Titanic Lusitania Olympic Britannic

2. The Treaty on European Union which established the international organisation, the European Union, signed on 7 February 1992, was concluded where? Paris Brussels Maastricht Rome

3. Although proceeded by three other dynasties - the Xia, Shang and Zhou - the leaders of this dynasty were the first to take the title of Emperor of China. Which dynasty is being referred to? Tang Qin Qing Yuan

4. Which revolutionary overthrew the regime of President Mobutu Sese Seko in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1997? Kengo Wa Dondo Laurent Kabila Touissant l'Ouverture Juvenal Habyarimana

5. Still in Africa, although we'll go backwards in time. In 1948 which party was elected to government in South Africa, and who was its leader? National Party led by Dr Hendrik Verwoerd National Party led by Dr Daniel Malan United Party led by Jan Smuts ANC led by Nelson Mandela

6. In the 1590s which Japanese leader deployed a large number of troops to Korea in an effort to invade Ming China? Oda Nobunaga Toyotomi Hideyoshi Tokugawa Ieyasu Ashikaga Yoshimitsu

7. Which massive cataclysm in the 1850s and 60s shook the foundations of Imperial China and made way for the ultimate collapse of the ruling dynasty in 1911? Boxer Uprising Opium Wars Sino-Japanese War T'ai-Ping Rebellion

8. Who was the first president of the Republic of Uzbekistan following its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and never been replaced? Islam Karimov Emomali Rahmonov Muhammad Solih Narsultan Narzabayev

9. Continuing to jump all over history we'll now go to medieval Europe. Which extremely powerful order of knights met defeat at the battle of Tannenberg when faced by the combined armies of Poland and Lithuania in 1410? Knights of Santiago Knights Templar Teutonic Knights Knights Hospitaller

10. Taking another random leap now - to Southeast Asia. In which year was the ancient Cambodian city of Angkor sacked by Thai forces? 1431 1331 1462 1362

11. Whilst we're on the topic of attacks on ancient cities I thought I'd throw in an easier one for you scholars of Western history. What nationality was the bellmaker who engineered the cannons that allowed the Turks to take the city of Constantinople in 1453? Byzantine Polish Hungarian Turkish

12. An unusual one now. Which was the only battle of the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic period that involved air power? Jemappes Fleurus Wagram Austerlitz

13. Which great Indian emperor's name translates to 'without sorrow'? This emperor ruled the Mauryan Empire between 269 BCE and 232 BCE. Bindusara Ambhi Asoka Chandragupta

14. Who is regarded as a black Messiah by the adherents of the Rastafarian religion? Menelik II Haile Selassie Iyasu V Touissant l'Ouverture

15. Finally, which of the following was the name of a Soviet gulag camp? Treblinka Solovetsky Archipelago Kizil'skoye Kalinigrad