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Burma History Trivia

Burma History Trivia Quizzes

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3 Burma History quizzes and 35 Burma History trivia questions.
1.
  Modern Burmese History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
To compliment my quiz on pre-colonial Burma (aka Myanmar) I bring you this quiz whose questions relate only from the time of British colonialism to the present. These topics cover only the must-knows of modern Burmese history...please enjoy and learn.
Average, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Aug 17 05
Average
thejazzkickazz gold member
692 plays
2.
  History of Myanmar    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Myanmar's history is long and complex, but very interesting. It is a great country. Play this quiz to discover the history of Myanmar! You will also learn some Burmese language. Enjoy the quiz!
Difficult, 15 Qns, kaung30, Sep 04 07
Difficult
kaung30
452 plays
3.
  Early Burmese History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Burma, officially known as Myanmar, has a rich history characterized by eventful and momentous turns of power. The 10 questions below cover the key events that occurred within the boundaries of modern Myanmar up until British colonial rule...please enjoy
Difficult, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Aug 17 05
Difficult
thejazzkickazz gold member
702 plays

Burma History Trivia Questions
1. When Burma (now known as Myanmar) was dominated by Britain and other rulers, there were many different Burmese flags in use. Half of the flags had a symbol on their flag which was an animal. Which animal was it?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Peacock & the peacock & a peacock

The peacock was on a golden disk and various colors were used for the field and the peacock. In some cases the peacock was multi-coloured, such as yellowish-green. The peacock was in (or close to) the middle of the flag.

2. After the British took power over Burma in 1886, where did they move the capital?

From Quiz Modern Burmese History

Answer: Rangoon

The city of Rangoon was first established in the 18th century, its name means 'the end of strife'. It remains the capital under the modern regime, although the official spelling has changed to Yangon. Immediately following annexation of Burma, the British began allowing workers from the Indian sub-continent to move into Burma and particularly Rangoon. The population of Rangoon was half Indian by 1930.

3. Who were the first group to consolidate control over the central Irrawaddy valley in Myanmar, c. 800 A.D.?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Pyu

The Pyu civilization was Hindu-Buddhist in origin and began emerging perhaps as early as the 5th century B.C. The influence of the Pyu greatly declined in the tenth century when Tibeto-Burman speaking invaders arrived from what is now Yunnan, a southern province in China.

4. What was the oldest civilization in Burma (now known as Myanmar)?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Pyu

The Pyu civilization arrived in Myanmar in the 1st century BCE and lasted till a little after 800 CE. The Pyu states were peaceful. They started practicing 'Theravada Buddhism' and all children were educated in temples. So, at that time, the literacy rate was high. Later, the Pyu stated were overrun by a Chinese kingdom.

5. Civilization in ancient Burma was centered around which great Buddhist center until 1289 A.D.?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Pagan

In the year 1289, Kublai Khan's Mongol troops sacked Pagan, effectively destroying it as a political center.

6. Which politician is celebrated as the founding father of Burma despite his never having lived to see its formulation as a modern state?

From Quiz Modern Burmese History

Answer: Aung San

Aung San was assassinated along with several colleagues in July of 1947, only a half year prior to Burmese independence. He was the father of the modern Burmese champion of democratic rights, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is mentioned below.

7. In the southern region of modern Burma, and extending as far as modern Cambodia, another Hindu-Buddhist Mon-speaking state developed around the central capital of...?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Pegu

The ethnic Burmese were finally able to conquer the Mon state in the southern Irrawaddy valley by 1555 A.D.

8. On January 4th, 1948, independence was achieved for Burma. Who became the first prime minister of this newly formed state?

From Quiz Modern Burmese History

Answer: U Nu

Did you know that the term 'U' means 'uncle' or 'mister' in the Burmese language? Now you do!

9. By the beginning of the 17th century a new dynasty (actually, restored) took control of the capital at Ava and reigned for 150 years. What was the name of this dynasty?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Toungoo

In 1752, the Toungoo fell by way of an invasion of the neighboring and revitalized Mons. Even the Toungoo capital of Ava was captured during this struggle.

10. Myanmar has had many capitals, but when British ruled the country, what was the capital?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Rangoon (now known as Yangon)

Rangoon (now known as Yangon) was made the capital. Before Rangoon, the other capitals were Bagan and Mandalay.

11. A new dynasty, the Konbaung, arose in the same year that the previous one fell, 1752, and by early 1754 the capital at Ava was retaken. Who was the first great king of this dynasty?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Alaungpaya

The Konbaung was the last Burmese dynasty, reigning from 1752-1885.

12. The high imperial point of the early Konbaung empire came in 1767 when the capital of modern Thailand was reduced. What was the name of this unfortunate capital that was sacked by Burmese King Hsinbyushin?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Ayudhya

At its greatest extent during the 1760s, the Konbaung Dynasty ruled over much of modern Burma, Thailand and Laos. Hsinyushin was the second son and successor to Alaungpaya.

13. In the early 1960s, a Burmese citizen became the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Who was he?

From Quiz Modern Burmese History

Answer: U Thant

During his stint as secretary-general he helped resolve the Cuban Missile crisis that had nearly brought the United States and the Soviet Union to war. The circumstances following U Thant's death were notable. He had died in New York in 1974 and his body was returned to Burma for burial. Thousands attended his funeral procession and he was buried at Rangoon University after several days of mourning. It seems that U Thant had become a symbol of sorts for democracy and human rights, something that made the Ne Win regime rather nervous. In response, the army attacked the university, killing 135 students and arresting thousands of others, and U Thant's body was exhumed and reburied at Shwedagon Pagoda in central Rangoon. This massacre forshadowed events to come...

14. From ancient times, a ministerial council exercised executive and judicial authority for the king. What was this council called?

From Quiz Early Burmese History

Answer: Hlutdaw

The Hlutdaw usually was composed of members of the most influential families in the various Burmese kingdoms. The Wun-gyi were the four chief ministers of this council. The Bye-daik was the privy council of the king composed of four 'inside ministers', or Atwin-wun.

15. There was a group called "Rangoon University Students' Union" (RUSU). Two students called Aung San and Ko Nu were expelled from university. Why?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: They refused to divulge who wrote an article criticizing one of the senior university officials.

In a university magazine, there was an article which attacked a senior university official. The two students refused to tell the truth. This spread to Mandalay (a city in mid Burma) and a student group called "All Burma Students' Union" (ABSU) was formed. The two students joined the "Thakin" group and switched from education to politics.

16. The Japanese started to invade Burma in 1942. Just before that, in December 1941, Japan occupied which city outside Burma?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Bangkok

Bangkok was occupied by the Japanese in December 1941. Note that 'Bogyoke' in Burmese means 'leader'. Just after that, Bogyoke Aung San (a party leader) formed the BIA (Burma Independence Army) to defend the country against the possible invasion from Japan. In 1942, Japan succeeded in invading Burma.

17. The Burmese parties cooperated and formed a Burmese army. They started fighting against the Japanese on March 27. March 27 was used to be called "Resistance Day", but the military changed it to which name?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: The Armed Forces Day

March 27 is now called "The Tatmadaw Day" or "The Armed Forces Day". On that day, soldiers march around different areas, officials celebrate and there are different sports events in the streets of Myanmar.

18. Another 'problem' facing the leaders of Burma's military regime during the 1990s was the growing democratic rights movement. Which Nobel Prize winning daughter of a former Burmese politician became the figurehead of this movement?

From Quiz Modern Burmese History

Answer: Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi is the daughter of the above-mentioned Aung San. She won a Nobel Prize for peace in 1991 but spent much of the 1990s under house arrest. She was released once again in 2002.

19. In Myanmar, "July 19" is marked as "Martyrs' Day" because of the death of the heroic leader Bogyoke Aung San. Who killed him?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: U Saw

U Saw was the leader to kill Bogyoke Aung San which happened in a meeting. This is today marked as "Martyrs' Day". After his death, the Socialist leader "Thakin Nu" took over.

20. In which year did Burma gain independence from the British?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: 1948

In January 4, 1948, Burma gained independence from the British. Today, it is marked as "Independence Day". After that, Burma didn't join the British Commonwealth although its neighbors India and Pakistan did.

21. Ne Win, who is considered a rebel, transformed Burma into a 'socialist' country for what objective?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: He did it to continue making contacts with the outside world.

Ne Win failed to and so he retired from the job. U Nu took charge. Then, U Nu failed to improve and was very unpopular, so he fled to Bangkok to form an organization. Burma also faced protests from students in 1988-1990 and that was a big disaster. After that, Burma changed its name to Myanmar. Then, there was an election which "Aung San Su Kyi" won but the military stopped her from becoming leader. It became a very poor nation with a military regime.

22. Due to the pressure from foreign countries, Myanmar's former Prime Minister Khin Nyunt started to push the democratic plans forward and designed what plan?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Roadmap to Democracy

Khin Nyunt planned a seven-step road to "democracy". This invited parties of all ethnic groups. However, he was later expelled due to health reasons. The international community called the nation to move faster and to act together with its neighbors.

23. How do you say "history" in Burmese?

From Quiz History of Myanmar

Answer: Tha mine

"Tha mine" means history. "Pa Htoo Wee" means geography, "Theit Pan" means science and "Thin Cha" means Mathematics. Hope you enjoy my quiz and learned a lot about the history of Burma (now known as Myanmar). Thanks for playing the quiz!

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