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Scottish History Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Scottish History Quizzes, Trivia

Scottish History Trivia

Scottish History Trivia Quizzes

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25 Scottish History quizzes and 255 Scottish History trivia questions.
1.
Historic Realms The Picts
  Historic Realms: The Picts   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
A little rusty on your history? Come learn a little about the world's historic realms in this photo quiz series. Here we will talk about the Picts. (If you would like to have a better view of the images/maps, please click on them to enlarge!)
Average, 10 Qns, trident, Sep 15 14
Average
trident editor
772 plays
2.
  Scots Who Invented The Modern World   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Author and historian Arthur Herman believes this to be the case. Let's review his proposition and identify the Scots who were instrumental in him coming to this conclusion.
Average, 10 Qns, maddogrick16, Feb 23 13
Average
maddogrick16 gold member
1651 plays
3.
  Some Scottish History Facts   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Due to the great lack of Scottish quizzes on the site, I thought I would do another one, I hope it's not too hard, have fun!
Tough, 10 Qns, LindaG, Feb 23 13
Tough
LindaG
4543 plays
4.
  The History of Glasgow   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Even in present-day Glasgow, you can see the ancient history everywhere you look. This quiz is about Glasgow's ups and downs from ancient times to the modern era.
Easier, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Mar 25 15
Easier
Joepetz gold member
437 plays
5.
  Tales of the Stone   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The use of the Stone of Scone in Scotland for the coronation of the king may date back to the legendary Fergus, who some believe was the first King. He reportedly took the stone from Ireland to the Kingdom of Dalriada in Argyll as early as 500 AD.
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jul 12 18
Average
ponycargirl editor
Jul 12 18
177 plays
6.
  Scottish History before the Union   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This a a quiz on Scottish history before the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, hopefully not too hard and a chance to learn something about Scotland's past
Tough, 15 Qns, alan03, Feb 23 13
Tough
alan03
1975 plays
7.
  History of Edinburgh   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and its history is long and often tension-filled. How much do you know about Edinburgh's past?
Average, 10 Qns, Joepetz, Jul 09 18
Average
Joepetz gold member
Jul 09 18
367 plays
8.
  Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobites and Culloden    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite army famously fought and lost the Battle of Culloden. What do you know about this landmark period in Scottish history?
Average, 10 Qns, Radain, Feb 23 13
Average
Radain
533 plays
9.
  Eighteenth Century Scotland   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The eighteenth century in Scotland was a time of dramatic change in the economy, in society and in politics. These questions range over all of these.
Tough, 10 Qns, Quizaddict1, Jan 05 16
Tough
Quizaddict1 gold member
424 plays
10.
  Nineteenth Century Scottish History   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The nineteenth century saw great changes in the Scottish economy and society. This quiz looks at some of the biggest changes and events of the century.
Average, 10 Qns, Quizaddict1, Jan 10 16
Average
Quizaddict1 gold member
361 plays
trivia question Quick Question
1746 saw the destruction of the Jacobite cause and the virtual end of the ancient Scottish nation, which battle accomplished this?

From Quiz "Some Scottish History Facts"




11.
  A Millenium of Scottish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Scotland has a rich and interesting history, this quiz has a question on each century from the 11th through to the 20th.
Average, 10 Qns, Dizart, Mar 08 13
Average
Dizart gold member
662 plays
12.
  The Stone of Scone or the Lid of a Loo?   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Stone of Scone (or Stone of Destiny) is one of Scotland's greatest symbols of national pride. This quiz looks at its journey across the border and back again (if, indeed, the real stone ever left Scotland in the first place).
Average, 10 Qns, doublemm, Feb 23 13
Average
doublemm gold member
293 plays
13.
  Seventeenth Century Scottish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The seventeenth century was one of great turbulence in Scottish history. This quiz deals with some of these momentous events and the people involved in them.
Average, 10 Qns, Quizaddict1, May 01 20
Average
Quizaddict1 gold member
May 01 20
318 plays
14.
  Clans, Clansmen And Highland Dress    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It's a fact that for the world abroad Scotland is to a large extent a matter of ' clans, clansmen, tartan and Highland Dress'. Check your knowledge of the 'history' behind it all.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Feb 23 13
Average
flem-ish
2192 plays
15.
  The Tay Bridge Disaster   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The original bridge across the estuary of the River Tay at Dundee in Scotland, built for and owned by the North British Railway (N.B.R.), fell in a storm just over eighteen months after its official opening. Let's have a poke amongst the wreckage.
Tough, 10 Qns, Charlesw321, Feb 03 16
Tough
Charlesw321
199 plays
16.
  Scottish Battles   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My quiz is intended to highlight the famous and not so famous battles over Scotland's quite bloody history. Facts only - no Hollywood here.
Average, 10 Qns, harryofarabia, Aug 19 18
Average
harryofarabia
Aug 19 18
378 plays
17.
  Scottish History after the Union    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A follow up to my quiz on Scottish history before the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments created Great Britain. This quiz focuses on events after the Union.
Average, 10 Qns, alan03, Feb 23 13
Average
alan03
973 plays
18.
  Dundee - City and People   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
From the 12th century to the 20th, Dundee!
Tough, 10 Qns, Ashmanz, Feb 23 13
Tough
Ashmanz
467 plays
19.
  Ten Scottish Battles    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
You will be given a name of a battle fought in Scotland, and say who were the two sides fighting.
Tough, 10 Qns, Mugaboo, Jun 12 23
Tough
Mugaboo gold member
Jun 12 23
1688 plays
20.
  Scottish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A short quiz on the history of my country of Scotland. I hope it's not too difficult.
Difficult, 10 Qns, padal21, Apr 03 22
Difficult
padal21
Apr 03 22
1884 plays
21.
  St Kilda, a Vanished Way of Life    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The history of the St Kilda and its inhabitants has fascinated observers for many years. Theirs is an extraordinary story of survival.
Tough, 10 Qns, fsk, Apr 16 13
Tough
fsk
481 plays
22.
  Fun Facts on Scottish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's a quiz about ths history of one of the most beautiful places on Earth - Scotland. Enjoy it!
Difficult, 10 Qns, gacia, Apr 16 13
Difficult
gacia
953 plays
23.
  The Battle of Culloden    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you know about the battle that isn't as famous a it should be.
Average, 10 Qns, ryan222, Jan 26 16
Average
ryan222
534 plays
24.
  Perth - The Fair City   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz about the Scottish city of Perth, its people and its history.
Tough, 10 Qns, fozzie_40, Jul 15 14
Tough
fozzie_40
502 plays
25.
  Important Dates in Scottish History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
See how much you know about important dates in Scottish History!
Tough, 10 Qns, Kirsty_Anne, May 24 05
Tough
Kirsty_Anne
523 plays
Related Topics
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Scottish History Trivia Questions

1. Legend has it that before the Stone of Scone made its way to Scotland, it was used by which dreaming Biblical patriarch who as a pillow?

From Quiz
Tales of the Stone

Answer: Jacob

The Stone of Scone is also called Jacob's Pillow Stone. According to the book of Genesis, Jacob had tricked his older twin brother, Esau, out of his birthright, and was trying to put some space between himself and his brother. After receiving their father's (Isaac) blessing, Jacob fled and stopped at a place called Luz to rest; he apparently chose a stone there to use for a pillow. As he slept, Jacob had a dream (Genesis 28:12-13) where he saw angels going up and down a ladder stretching from the earth to heaven. In the dream, God promised Jacob that he would give the land to him and his descendants. When he awoke, Jacob took the stone he used as a pillow and poured oil over it. He renamed the town Bethel, and in Genesis 28:22 pledged "this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth". There is a legend that the prophet Jeremiah brought the stone with him to Ireland, and eventually it made its way to Scotland.

2. Which son of Mary, Queen of Scots, succeeded Elizabeth I when he became King of the United Kingdom in 1603?

From Quiz Seventeenth Century Scottish History

Answer: James VI of Scotland

James VI of Scotland became James I of the England (and Great Britain). He was responsible for commissioning the production of the most famous English translation of the Bible. He also published several books including one attacking the growing use of tobacco and one on witchcraft.

3. The city of Edinburgh grew around what was once an ancient Roman fort in what neighborhood, which was also home to the earliest known people in Edinburgh in 8500 BC?

From Quiz History of Edinburgh

Answer: Cramond

Cramond Roman Fort is one of the first buildings in Edinburgh. It was not in use for long, however, only for about thirty years in the mid-2nd century. It was built on the location where the Almond River meets the Firth of Forth. The most famous discovery made at Cramond Roman Fort ruins is the Cramond Lioness, a sculpture of a man being eaten by a lioness, which was found in the Almond River in 1997.

4. Construction of the bridge commenced when Britain's second-longest reigning monarch had been on the throne for 34 years. What was the date?

From Quiz The Tay Bridge Disaster

Answer: 1871

The longest reigning British monarch is, of course, the present incumbent, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II whose reign started in 1952. The second longest is Queen Victoria, who ascended the throne in 1837; the bridge was started in 1871. 1794 is 34 years after the start of the reign of the third longest, George III, and is before the railway age. 1867 is 34 years before Queen Victoria's death and is totally irrelevant.

5. In 1812 Henry Bell began the first passenger steamship service in Europe when his ship sailed between Greenock and Glasgow on the river Clyde. What name did he give his ship?

From Quiz Nineteenth Century Scottish History

Answer: Comet

The Comet was a paddle steamer which sailed on the Clyde for several years. After Bell increased its power he offered a service all the way from Glasgow to Fort William using the recently constructed Crinan Canal. Unfortunately, the ship was wrecked in an accident near Oban in 1820.

6. During the debates on the Bill of Union between Scotland and England in 1706-1707, which opponent of Union earned himself the nickname "The Patriot"?

From Quiz Eighteenth Century Scotland

Answer: Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun

Fletcher and Lockhart were both opponents of the Bill (which of course became the Act of Union once it passed both the Scottish and English Parliaments). Clerk was a supporter of Union and Queensberry was Queen Anne's Commissioner in Scotland responsible for trying to guide the Bill through the Scottish Parliament. Opponents of Union accused those who voted for it of accepting English bribes.

7. Although people have lived in the area that is now Glasgow for millennia, the city was properly founded in the 6th century by which Christian saint who is now the city's patron?

From Quiz The History of Glasgow

Answer: Saint Mungo

In some places, Saint Mungo is also known as Saint Kentigern. He founded a small church on the location that Glasgow Cathedral now stands. According to brief and sometimes unclear written accounts, St. Mungo was born on a wooden boat after his mother was thrown off a cliff by her father for being unwed and pregnant (she had been raped.) There was an anti-Christian sentiment in the region of Scotland where St. Mungo lived. Disgusted, St. Mungo left Strathclyde, maintaining his Christian principles. Unlike other saints, St. Mungo is not a martyr and died a natural death in old age in 614 A.D.

8. In 1040, King Duncan I was slain, and succeeded, by which person who was immortalised by Shakespeare?

From Quiz A Millenium of Scottish History

Answer: Macbeth

Macbeth, whose full gaelic name was Mac Bethad mac FindlaĆ­ch, killed Duncan in a battle near Elgin, Morayshire, on August 15th, 1040. His title at the time was High King of Alba. Macbeth himself was killed by the future King Malcolm III in 1057.

9. Perhaps the most famous Scottish battle, at least in Scottish eyes, took place here near Stirling in 1314. Where?

From Quiz Scottish Battles

Answer: Bannockburn

At Bannockburn in 1314, Robert the Bruce defeated the army of Edward II of England. Otterburn is a village in the north of England where a battle in 1388 had both armies claiming victory. The Battle of Glenshiel in the Scottish Highlands was a rebellion in 1719 put down by English government forces. The Battle of Holyrood takes place most days between belligerent politicians.

10. Herman postulates that the roots of modern Scottish society stems from Scottish Presbyterianism. Which individual was largely responsible for converting Scotland from a Catholic to a Presbyterian country?

From Quiz Scots Who Invented The Modern World

Answer: John Knox

John Knox (ca 1514-1572) hated Papal authority and devoted his life to removing all vestiges of the Catholic Church from his homeland. While in exile in Switzerland, he met John Calvin and inspired by his teachings, he brought a variation of Calvinism to Scotland in the early 1560s and very soon it became the Church of Scotland or Presbyterianism. In doing so, he was able to thwart Anglicanism, the Church of England, from gaining a foothold in Scotland. To Herman, this was important for a couple of reasons. Catholicism and Anglicanism were linear religions, governed from the top down. Presbyterianism was a lateral religion where everyone had the same access to God, a religion of the masses. Unless you were Anglican (and rich), access to quality universities such as Oxford and Cambridge was impossible. But in Scotland, students of all stripes could attend St. Andrews, Edinburgh or Glasgow University. This created a positive climate for a culture of knowledge and learning that became the envy of Europe. The results would soon be evident.

11. The '45 was the last serious attempt by the Stuart dynasty to regain the crown, but which king lost it?

From Quiz Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobites and Culloden

Answer: James VII of Scotland and II of England

James VI of Scotland became James I of England after Queen Elizabeth died. Charles I also lost the crown (as well as his head) in 1649, and after 11 years of republic, his son was invited to become Charles II. When Charles II died, his younger brother James became James VII & II (Scotland was still a separate country). After only three years he was deposed for being too pro-Catholic and too autocratic. James' Protestant daughters, Mary (jointly with William of Orange) and then Anne succeeded him, but his son James remained unwelcome, and George of Hanover was invited to become King George I in 1714. The Jacobites looked for an opportunity to overthrow the Hanoverians and restore what to them was the rightful king.

12. In which year did the Battle of Culloden take place?

From Quiz The Battle of Culloden

Answer: 1746

The battle was the last in the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745-46 and ended with a devastating defeat for the rebels.

13. Which King granted Dundee its royal charter?

From Quiz Dundee - City and People

Answer: William I the Lion

David, Earl of Huntingdon and brother of King William the Lion of Scotland, prayed to St Mary for mercy as a violent storm threatened to swamp his ship and change his return from the crusades to tragedy. Legend states that his prayers were answered and he was washed up on the shores of a humble fishing village called Dundee. On the Earl's recomendation the King made Dundee a royal burgh raising its status, and establishing Dundee as one of Scotland's foremost administrative and trading centres.

14. Other than the Tay, which river flows through the centre of Perth?

From Quiz Perth - The Fair City

Answer: The Almond

The other three rivers flow close to Perth, but the Almond actually passes through the city as part of the Town Lade.

15. When did the Battle of Bannockburn take place?

From Quiz Important Dates in Scottish History

Answer: 1314

The Battle of Bannockburn took place in 1314. It was a battle between Scotland and England, and was won by Scotland. In theory the English should have won this battle as they had more men than the Scottish army, but the English were badly led in battle by their leader Edward II who made a fatal mistake in his choice of battlefield.

16. St Kilda is part of which group of islands?

From Quiz St Kilda, a Vanished Way of Life

Answer: British Isles

The archipelago of St Kilda lies 66km west of Benbecula in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, making it the most remote of the British Isles. It is a very isolated place, a long way from the Scottish mainland. Interestingly, no information regarding the saint after whom the island was named has survived to the present day.

17. Who brought Christianity to Scotland?

From Quiz Fun Facts on Scottish History

Answer: St. Ninian

St Ninian (known also as Ninius or Ninus) lived in 3rd/4th century. He was born in Galloway and educated in Rome. He spent some time in France, but after the death of St Martin of Tours in 397 he went to Scotland to build St Martin's church there and spread the word of Christ among southern Picts. The church he built is said to have been the first stone church in Britain and because of its whitewashed walls was called Candida Casa - the White House. St Ninian, who was well known for his miracles, is buried in the church at Whithorn in Wigtownshire.

18. The war between the Scots and the English turned into a personal feud at the Battle of Otterburn 1388 between which two families?

From Quiz Scottish History

Answer: Douglas and Percy

In the Borders, the war between the Scots and English turned into a personal feud between the families of Douglas, from Scotland and Percy, from England. This battle became famous because it was won by a dead man. When Douglas, the Scottish leader, became mortally wounded he was worried that his death would encourage the English so he ordered his men to hide his body beneath a bush so no one could see it. The Scots won the battle and captured the English leader Henry(Hotspur) Percy. He was directed to the bush where Douglas was lying and surrendered.

19. The battle of Mons Graupius (84)?

From Quiz Ten Scottish Battles

Answer: Caledonii v Romans

The Caledonian Chief, Calgacus, was slain in the battle, won by the Romans under Julius Agricola. The Caledonii were a Pictish tribe, and were probably in alliance with the Vacomagi and Taexali. The location of the battle is unknown, possibly near the Iron age fort of Bennachie, with a Roman marching camp of Durno nearby.

20. In what year was Great Britain created by the Union of Scotland and England?

From Quiz Scottish History after the Union

Answer: 1707

King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603 and often styled himself King of Great Britain (on coins for example), but the title had no legal status until the Union of the Parliaments in 1707 during the reign of James's great-granddaughter, Queen Anne. In 1801 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was created by uniting the Parliaments of Great Britain and Ireland.

21. Who is considered to be the first King of Scots?

From Quiz Scottish History before the Union

Answer: Kenneth mac Alpin

Kenneth was king of the western Scottish kingdom of Dalriada, in c.843. He became king of the Picts too, uniting the two kingdoms as Scotia. Donald was his brother and immediate successor. Robert the Bruce was Scotland's hero-king who won Scotland's independence back from the occupying English. James was the first Scottish king to rule England also, he was James VI of Scotland before ascending the English throne.

22. The ancient settlement of Skara Brae is thought to date from when?

From Quiz Some Scottish History Facts

Answer: 3500 BC

The Skara Brae Neolithic village was discovered in the middle of the last century after a terrible storm shifted huge quantities of sand from the well preserved stone age village.

23. Which Scottish mathematician published in 1614 the book in which he described his invention of the mathematical tool logarithms?

From Quiz Seventeenth Century Scottish History

Answer: John Napier

All of these were seventeenth century Scottish mathematicians. James Gregory was also an astronomer, inventing a reflecting telescope. His nephew David became a professor of mathematics at Edinburgh and of astronomy at Oxford. In addition to his work on logarithms, Napier also invented aids to computation known as Napier's Bones, which were a predecessor of the slide rule.

24. The bridge was designed by an English engineer who, prior to the disaster, had achieved a wide reputation as a designer of railways and bridges. Who was this person?

From Quiz The Tay Bridge Disaster

Answer: Sir Thomas Bouch

Thomas Bouch was born near Carlisle and spent his working life in the north of England and Scotland. He was responsible for the world's first roll-on roll-off train ferry, across the River Forth. He was knighted after the opening of the Tay Bridge, and died within a year of its destruction. Robert Stephenson, the son of George Stephenson, was a railway engineer who designed and built many early locomotives. He helped his father design the famous "Rocket", and latterly was responsible for many miles of track and bridges. His most famous work is probably the Britannia tubular bridge across the Menai Straits. He is one of the very few railway engineers to be made an FRS. Arrol was a civil engineer who was responsible for the construction of the replacement Tay Bridge, the Forth Bridge and Tower Bridge in London. Mrs Sarah Guppy lived slightly earlier and, although not a qualified engineer (the professions were closed to women in that benighted era), offered technical advice concerning railways and nautical matters. She also produced a number of inventions, the most delightful of which was a tea urn which would also cook eggs and had a gadget for keeping toast warm.

25. Which warrior led a sack on Glasgow in 1153 during a dispute of royal succession?

From Quiz The History of Glasgow

Answer: Somerled

David I of Scotland had died and was succeeded by his grandson Malcolm IV, who was not even a teenager. The line of succession was not completely clear at the time and Somerled believed that he had a claim to the throne through some obscure lineage and his relationship with David's oldest brother. He sacked the city during the power struggle as soon as Malcolm IV, who was inexperienced, came to power.

26. The 12th century saw Scottish and English monarchs regularly cross each other's borders to try and gain territory. Which treaty of 1136 was signed to try and put an end to this?

From Quiz A Millenium of Scottish History

Answer: Treaty of Durham

The Treaty of Durham was signed by King Stephen of England and King David I of Scotland. The peace didn't last long though, and David invaded England once more in January, 1138.

27. After which Scottish battle did an English soldier fleeing from defeat perform what is known as "the soldier's leap" by jumping across the River Garry to escape?

From Quiz Scottish Battles

Answer: Killiecrankie

In 1689, Highlanders opposing the rule of William III engaged English government forces at Killiecrankie. The Soldier's Leap is part of the Pass of Killiecrankie and it attracts thousands of tourist visitors each year.

28. The Jacobite rising was known as the '45, but in which year was the Battle of Culloden fought?

From Quiz Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobites and Culloden

Answer: 1746

Although the rising started in 1745, it wasn't until April 16th, 1746 that the decisive battle was fought. The Jacobite army invaded England and travelled as far south as Derby before withdrawing to the Highlands.

29. Who were the Royal Troops fighting for?

From Quiz The Battle of Culloden

Answer: George II

Prince Charles was the leader of the Highland Army, the Army that the Royal Troops were fighting against. He was the son of James Francis Edward Stuart, who was the son of James II. Charles's opponents referred to him at the time as 'the young pretender'. Prince Charles supported his father (James Francis Edward Stuart) and he was trying to remove George II from the throne. In 1766, on the death of his father, he did in fact become the 'Young Pretender'. In the 19th century he was romanticized as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie'.

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