FunTrivia History Mix: Vol 30 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hangman

A derrick, as we understand the word today, is a crane which is hinged at its base to enable the tower to swing from side to side. It also has the ability to lower the tower in order to scoop up a load, raise back up, pivot to another site, and then lower once more to deposit the load there. This amazing invention was developed by the ancient Greeks way back in the 6th century BC and has been used by man ever since.

The word "derrick" though was named after an infamous hangman who worked the Tyburn gallows in the 16th century. Thomas Derrick had been found guilty of rape, but was saved from the death penalty by the Earl of Essex if he agreed to become the hangman at Tyburn - a job everybody avoided. Derrick executed more than 3,000 criminals during the course of his sterling career and, to make his work more efficient, he invented a type of lift and pulley device (later given his name) instead of just slinging the condemned up with a rope hanging from a beam.

Question by player Creedy

Answer: Mosaic tiles

Tesserae (singular: tessera) were individually coloured, small, usually cube shaped, tiles. They were used to create elaborate mosaics on villa floors. The largest mosaic found in Britain is the Woodchester mosaic near Stroud in Gloucestershire. It is 15 square metres and is buried beneath a churchyard, although it has been uncovered several times since 1880. Romans would also play games with dice they called tesserae.

Question by player jules44

Answer: Carthage

During the First Punic War (264-241 BCE), Ancient Rome was compelled to construct its first major fleet to address growing tensions with Carthage over control of Sicily. At the time, Carthage was a dominant naval power in the Mediterranean, with a well-established fleet and advanced shipbuilding techniques. In contrast, Rome had little experience with naval warfare and relied mainly on its powerful army.

To compete, the Romans rapidly constructed a fleet modeled after a captured Carthaginian ship and introduced the "corvus," a boarding device that allowed them to turn naval battles into infantry combat, playing to their strengths. This innovation helped Rome overcome its naval inexperience and challenge Carthage's maritime dominance.

Question by player trident

Answer: Battle of Austerlitz

The famous battle near Slavkov u Brna is the Battle of Austerlitz, also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors. It took place on 2 December 1805 and was a victory for Napoleon Bonaparte over the combined Russian and Austrian forces during the War of the Third Coalition. Austerlitz is often regarded as one of Napoleon's greatest military achievements, demonstrating his tactical genius, ability to read the battlefield and use of deception.

Question by player wellenbrecher

Answer: Sailmaking

China has had a significant impact on the global world from the 1st century BC to the 15th century AD. It has been determined that during that time, four great inventions have had the largest impact on global science and technology. These include papermaking (beginning in about AD 105), the compass (beginning during the Warring States Period in 476-221 BC), gunpowder (beginning during the Song and Yuan dynasties in 960-1368), and woodblock printing (at some point before the first dated book in 868).

Question by player Trivia_Fan54

Answer: Roanoke

'The Lost Colony', which refers to The Roanoke Colony, founded in 1587, was England's second attempt at settling in the New World. Led by John White, the colony was established on Roanoke Island, off the coast of present-day North Carolina. Struggling with supplies and conflicts, White left for England to gather resources. However, upon his return in 1590, he found the settlement was abandoned.

The only clue left behind was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a post, likely referencing a nearby Native American group of the same name. The word 'CRO' was also found carved into a tree. The fate of the colonists remains unknown, with theories ranging from assimilation with Indigenous tribes to starvation or conflict. Despite centuries of investigation, Roanoke remains one of history's greatest mysteries.

Question by player Kalibre

Answer: India

India gained independence from the British Empire on August 15th, 1947. Its independence movement would inspire countless other independence movements around the world.

Question by player portgleep

Answer: Eau de Cologne

While "Eau de Cologne" is often used as a term to describe a light fragrance, the original Eau de Cologne was devised by Johann Maria Farina who had moved from his native Piedmont in Italy to work in his brother's Cologne perfume factory. The recipe remains a secret, but the mixture of citrus oils used in a base of dilute ethanol produced a refreshingly light fragrance; a welcome change from the heavy perfumes which were common in the day.

Question by player baldricksmum

Answer: Senegal

The Jolof Empire (known alternatively as the Wolof Empire) began in 1350 in Western Africa and was ruled from the capital of Lingučre. It consisted of five kingdoms, all of which bordered the Atlantic Ocean. The empire splintered after the 1549 Battle of Danki, becoming what is usually referred to as the Jolof Kingdom. Jolof fell to Futa Jallon in 1875 and was subsequently incorporated into French West Africa in 1890.

Question by player pagea

Answer: 1992

Annus horribilis is Latin for "horrible year". In 1992, Princess Anne divorced her husband. Prince Charles separated from Diana and Prince Andrew separated from Sarah. Diana's "tell all" book was published, as were topless photos of Sarah. And there was a serious fire at Windsor Castle.

The Queen described it thus: "1992 is not a year on which I shall look back with undiluted pleasure ... It has turned out to be an annus horribilis." It certainly was!

Question by player MotherGoose