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The History of Reykjavik Trivia Quiz

The capital of "The Land of Fire and Ice," Reykjavik is one of the world's oldest cities, having been in existence since the 9th century.

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Joepetz

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
372,408

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
356

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which Norseman is said to have founded Reykjavik in 870 AD with his wife Hallveig after fleeing Norway when he found himself in a feud? Hint

Rollo the Viking

Erik the Red

Ing�lfr Arnarson

Leif Erickson

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Question 2 of 10

2. According to legend, how did Reykjavik's founder decide on the city's exact location? Hint

He used an old Viking tradition involving sending pillars out to sea.

He chose the mouth of the longest river.

He selected the spot where his boat accidentally crashed on the shore.

He pillaged the land away from indigenous peoples.

3. Reykjavik can be loosely translated to mean "Smoky Bay." However, the city's original name had an additional letter it that was removed for unknown reasons around 1300. What was this extra letter? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. When Iceland fell under Danish rule, Reykjavik became isolated and its growth was stifled. Which Danish sheriff of Reykjavik helped the city find a way around the trade embargo imposed on it by Denmark and allowed the city to become somewhat self-sufficient? Hint

Sk�li Magn�sson

Sveinn Bj�rnsson

Kolbeinn Tumason

Egill Skallagr�msson

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which industry dominated Reykjavik for nearly two centuries starting in the mid-1700s and brought it out of its slump while it was under Danish rule? Hint

Shipbuilding

Wool and weaving

Beef

Tourism

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the name of the Icelandic parliament that was founded in 930, but was moved to Reykjavik in 1844? Hint

Duma

Althing

Storting

Riksdag

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Question 7 of 10

7. Why was the Icelandic Parliament moved to Reykjavik in 1844? Hint

Because most of Iceland's people lived there.

It was Iceland's only true city.

To strengthen the city in a fight for independence.

For all of these reasons

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Question 8 of 10

8. As Iceland tried to remain neutral during World War II, what events that happened in Reykjavik caused the island to struggle with its neutrality? Hint

Allied forces occupied the city and helped improve its infastructure.

Allied troops killed many people when they incorrectly thought Iceland had fallen to the Nazis.

Nazi Germany bombed Reykjavik for supporting Norway.

Japan annexed the city.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which two world leaders met in the Reykjavik for a summit in 1986 for an unsuccessful attempt at arms reduction? Hint

Reagan and Gorbachev

Thatcher and Gorbachev

Reagan and Stalin

Reagan and Thatcher

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Question 10 of 10

10. What happened near Reykjavik in 2010 that forced the cancellation of over 100,000 flights in and out of Europe? Hint

A nuclear explosion caused the air to become unbreathable.

A volcano erupted several times.

A cyberattack of the airport caused air travel to be deemed too risky.

Sea levels rose too high and flooded a majority of the city.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which Norseman is said to have founded Reykjavik in 870 AD with his wife Hallveig after fleeing Norway when he found himself in a feud?

Answer: Ing�lfr Arnarson

When exactly Ing�lfr Arnarson founded the city is unknown but it was sometime around 870. The early history of the city and all of Iceland is detailed in Landn�mab�k, which means "Book of Settlements" when translated into English.

2. According to legend, how did Reykjavik's founder decide on the city's exact location?

Answer: He used an old Viking tradition involving sending pillars out to sea.

The tradition involved sending "�ndvegiss�lur" ashore and building the farm community in the location in which they landed. "�ndvegiss�lur" are high-seated chairs with poles attached to them used as a seat by the man of the household. There are no pictures or drawings of what "�ndvegiss�lur", so all descriptions used are derived from vague accounts from old texts.

3. Reykjavik can be loosely translated to mean "Smoky Bay." However, the city's original name had an additional letter it that was removed for unknown reasons around 1300. What was this extra letter?

Answer: R

The city was originally called Reykjarvik after the hot springs and geysers that created the appearance of smoke. Reykjavik is also sometimes translated as "Smoke Cove."

Answer: Sk�li Magn�sson

Sk�li Magnusson (1711-1794) is known as "The Father of Reykjavik." He used his position as Sheriff of Reykjavik to spearhead the modernization of the city so it would no longer by crippled by the harsh trade embargo, which caused prices to skyrocket. His efforts to industrialize and modernize Reykjavik were successful and Denmark was forced to lift the trade embargo.

5. Which industry dominated Reykjavik for nearly two centuries starting in the mid-1700s and brought it out of its slump while it was under Danish rule?

Answer: Wool and weaving

Sk�li Magnusson helped found the wool industry in 1750 by using the abundance of sheep and farmland around Reykjavik. Today, Iceland's biggest industries are fishing and tourism.

6. What is the name of the Icelandic parliament that was founded in 930, but was moved to Reykjavik in 1844?

Answer: Althing

The Althing, called Al�ingi in Icelandic, was originaly founded in �ingvellir in 930 and existed until 1799. It was reorganized in Reykjavik in 1844 and it is the world's oldest parliamentary institution.

7. Why was the Icelandic Parliament moved to Reykjavik in 1844?

Answer: For all of these reasons

After what was considered harsh and unfair treatment by the Danes in the 1800s, the idea of an independent Iceland rapidly gained popularity. The Althing had been disbanded 45 years earlier in 1799 and people realized that if Iceland were to be an independent nation, Reykjavik would need to be exceptionally strong and would need a parliament to call the shots.

8. As Iceland tried to remain neutral during World War II, what events that happened in Reykjavik caused the island to struggle with its neutrality?

Answer: Allied forces occupied the city and helped improve its infastructure.

Nazi Germany had taken over Iceland's allies Norway and Denmark. Allied troops occupied the city because it was a strategic base and to save it from Germany. However, Reykjavik did not have many paved roads and had no airport. The Allies built two airports and a few naval ports.

9. Which two world leaders met in the Reykjavik for a summit in 1986 for an unsuccessful attempt at arms reduction?

Answer: Reagan and Gorbachev

The talks were ultimately unsuccessful as Reagan believed Gorbachev was trying to limit U.S. research on the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan also wanted to talk about other world issues, while Gorbachev was purely focused on arms reduction.

10. What happened near Reykjavik in 2010 that forced the cancellation of over 100,000 flights in and out of Europe?

Answer: A volcano erupted several times.

The volcano called Eyjafjallaj�kull erupted several times in 2010 including once in March that forced the evacuation of about 500 people, once in April and once in June. It has been estimated that the cancellation resulted in about a 50% decrease in travel to and from Europe during the eight-day travel ban.

Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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