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European Overseas Empires Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
European Overseas Empires Quizzes, Trivia

European Overseas Empires Trivia

European Overseas Empires Trivia Quizzes

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26 quizzes and 310 trivia questions.
1.
  Whose Colony Is It, Anyway?   popular trivia quiz  
Mystery Sort
 20 Qns
From the time that Columbus first sailed into the West from Spain in 1492, the European powers colonized the Americas, Africa, and parts of Asia. Which colony belongs to which country?
Easier, 20 Qns, Reamar42, Dec 07 23
Easier
Reamar42 gold member
Dec 07 23
373 plays
2.
  Circles 'Round the Sun   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
We owe a lot to the world explorers of the past. Traveling around Earth as it made circles 'round the sun, they opened up the world to us as we know it. How much do you know about these intrepid travelers?
Easier, 10 Qns, lordprescott, Oct 26 22
Recommended for grades: 7,8,9,10
Easier
lordprescott gold member
Oct 26 22
525 plays
3.
  The Last Colonial Powers of Africa   great trivia quiz  
Classification Quiz
 10 Qns
As Phoenix Rising's Red Crew toured Africa, we learned about the colonization or rather, the decolonization of a few African countries. The answers you match will be the LAST colonial power prior to the African country's independence.
Easier, 10 Qns, jaknginger, Oct 06 22
Easier
jaknginger gold member
Oct 06 22
500 plays
4.
Tales of New France
  Tales of New France   top quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
In 1534, France began building its overseas empire in North America. What do you know about their explorations in the New World?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jan 11 16
Average
ponycargirl editor
709 plays
5.
More Tales of New France
  More Tales of New France   great trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
In 1534, France began building its overseas empire in North America, however, by 1763, most was lost to England. What happened?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jan 12 16
Average
ponycargirl editor
588 plays
6.
Tales of the Portuguese Empire
  Tales of the Portuguese Empire   great trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
In the early 1400s, Portugal launched its overseas empire, an empire that possessed colonies that are today part of sixty different sovereign states. What do you known about this bold venture?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jan 18 16
Average
ponycargirl editor
344 plays
7.
The Empire on Which the Sun Never Set
  The Empire on Which the Sun Never Set   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
By the 1920s, more than one fifth of the world's population lived within the British Empire, which covered more than a quarter of the world's land surface. It was the largest empire ever seen...
Average, 10 Qns, EnglishJedi, Jan 13 16
Average
EnglishJedi gold member
837 plays
8.
  My Colonial Name Was    
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Isn't it interesting how Europeans just assumed they could take over other lands and rename them in their own language? Match these nations with the colonial name or vice versa.
Very Easy, 10 Qns, Nealzineatser, Nov 16 18
Very Easy
Nealzineatser gold member
Nov 16 18
719 plays
9.
  Claimed   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
While Britain has many things to be proud of, it also has a darker side to its history. This quiz looks at some of the atrocities committed during the era of the British Empire, which claimed land for itself all over the world.
Average, 10 Qns, Kankurette, Nov 19 18
Average
Kankurette gold member
Nov 19 18
314 plays
10.
  The Scramble for Africa   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
At the close of the 19th century the countries of Europe engaged in a power struggle for control of "the Dark Continent" which later became known as "The Scramble for Africa". How much do you know about it?
Average, 10 Qns, alan03, Jun 11 23
Average
alan03
Jun 11 23
2525 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Which explorer, enroute to India, made such a wide swing away from Africa to avoid fierce winds, that he discovered Brazil?

From Quiz "Early European Exploration"




11.
  Tales of British Colonies   top quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
Francis Duggan wrote: "The British Empire once was Worldwide/And the proud monarchs glowed with monarchy pride/Of their great Empire where the sun never set..." Can you match the clues to the correct 17th century British colony in North America?
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Aug 04 17
Average
ponycargirl editor
586 plays
12.
  International Quiz on Colonies and Colonialism   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some stories and facts The Internationals have picked up about colonialism.
Average, 10 Qns, Upstart3, Oct 19 15
Average
Upstart3 gold member
675 plays
13.
  Begin Again   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
For centuries, parts of Asia, Africa and the Americas lived under European colonial rule. From the 19th century onwards, many of these countries become independent, often at the cost of thousands of lives.
Average, 10 Qns, Kankurette, Apr 27 19
Average
Kankurette gold member
Apr 27 19
439 plays
14.
  Countries and Their Colonization    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Just tell me what country colonized the country in question. Easy enough.
Average, 15 Qns, berbs, Feb 26 14
Average
berbs
4001 plays
15.
  We Claimed It    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz will cover colonial claims made by European powers during the colonial period beginning around the 15th century and ending in the early to mid 20th century. It will include claims made by European explorers, royalty and their allies in Africa.
Easier, 10 Qns, schudacris, Nov 01 24
Easier
schudacris
Nov 01 24
327 plays
16.
  Colonial Conquerers    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Match the colonial power with the modern country that it controlled immediately before independence.
Average, 10 Qns, biscuit_girl, Sep 15 20
Average
biscuit_girl
Sep 15 20
3980 plays
17.
  Independence Day   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Not the film but a short history of the British Commonwealth and countries that have gained independence from British rule such as Australia in 1901 and Canada in 1867. I will give you the year of independence and a general geographical location.
Tough, 10 Qns, mochyn, Jul 16 17
Tough
mochyn
1645 plays
18.
  European Colonial Empires (1560-1835)    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz tests your knowledge of World Empires spanning the Discovery, Enlightenment, and Victorian Eras, which span from about 1560, during the Age of Discovery, to 1835, when the Victorian Era began.
Average, 10 Qns, MrHistory1776, Jul 07 12
Average
MrHistory1776
658 plays
19.
  Early European Exploration    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is a quiz on the first European explorations after the Middle Ages. If you're a history buff like me you'll love it. It's not that difficult, so enjoy.
Tough, 15 Qns, GeniusBoy, Aug 05 10
Tough
GeniusBoy
2819 plays
20.
  An Empire in the Sun: I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
No other continent has had control of so much of the world as Europe. This quiz explores the many powerful European colonial empires whose influence can still be found today in their former colonies.
Average, 10 Qns, Avalice, May 09 15
Average
Avalice
468 plays
21.
  History of Colonialism    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Forgotten facts about colonialism.
Tough, 15 Qns, nappynapoleon, Jan 02 15
Tough
nappynapoleon
1837 plays
22.
  Former Colonial Territories in India    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is a quiz about former colonial territories in India. Britain, France, Holland, Portugal, Denmark and even Austria, had colonies here.
Tough, 15 Qns, author, Mar 30 20
Tough
author
Mar 30 20
866 plays
23.
  Colonies of the Dutch Empire    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Netherlands had a large colonial empire. Many people don't know how large it was. Do you know?
Tough, 10 Qns, Dcape5, May 31 12
Tough
Dcape5
370 plays
24.
  German Colonial History    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This is a quiz about the German colonies overseas. They were short-lived, German colonial history lasted only from ca. 1880 to 1914. To make it more challenging many of the questions are fill in blanks.
Difficult, 15 Qns, author, Jun 30 06
Difficult
author
636 plays
25.
  British Territorial Acquisitions 1600-1920    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
This quiz is about territories gained by Britain from 1600 to 1920.
Very Difficult, 20 Qns, author, Jan 29 11
Very Difficult
author
1662 plays
26.
  Colonial Forts    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz is about forts known from American, Asian and African history. All were built by Europeans during colonial times.
Difficult, 15 Qns, author, Feb 17 14
Difficult
author
620 plays
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European Overseas Empires Trivia Questions

1. Which previously uninhabited archipelago was discovered by Portuguese sailors in service of Henry the Navigator and is often considered to be the first territorial claim made during the initial Age of Discovery?

From Quiz
We Claimed It

Answer: Madeira

Although the islands may have been visited by Greek sailors in ancient times and later by Vikings in the 10th century it was the Portuguese who first laid claim to Madeira and thus kicked off the Age of Discovery in 1419. Today Madeira is still a semi-autonomous region of Portugal and has a rich economy based on wine production and tourism.

2. In the 18th century, Austria made an unsuccessful attempt to colonize the Nicobar Islands. Where are these islands located?

From Quiz International Quiz on Colonies and Colonialism

Answer: Indian Ocean

While the Austrian monarchy, the Habsburgs, reigned over a sizable land empire, they had almost no experience of sea exploration. The Nicobar Islands were colonized by Denmark in 1755, but in 1778 the Habsburgs - mistakenly under the impression that Denmark had abandoned its claims - attempted to colonize them in a bid to build a trade post between their Empire and Asia. They failed establish the facts of ownership, plan properly or equip the project, and after the leader of the expedition died in 1783, the project was abandoned. (Question by cairnster)

3. Henry the Navigator was from which nation?

From Quiz An Empire in the Sun: I

Answer: Portugal

Henry the Navigator was a Portuguese patron of exploration; he was also the son of King John I of Portugal. His efforts were mainly concentrated in developing trade with Africa and exploring Africa's coastline.

4. Founded in 1607, what was the first permanent British settlement in the New World (it bears the name of the ruling King of England at the time)?

From Quiz European Colonial Empires (1560-1835)

Answer: Jamestown

The ruling British monarch at the time was James I, after which the settlement was named. Roanoke was actually the first British settlement in America; however, it was abandoned by the Crown after the settlers there vanished.

5. German East Africa consisted of three units. Which were they?

From Quiz German Colonial History

Answer: Tanganyika, Ruanda, Urundi

The explorer Karl Peters made treaties with native chiefs in the area, which came under German control in 1884-85. The Germans had several conflicts with the Sultan of Zanzibar who also claimed Tanganyika.

6. In 1962 this Caribbean island became independent and Alexander Bustamante became its first prime minister. What is the name of this island?

From Quiz Independence Day

Answer: Jamaica

Originally occupied by the Spanish, the British under Sir William Penn, father of the founder of Pennsylvania, seized the island in 1655. Britain formally gained possession by the Treaty of Madrid in 1670.

7. In which European city was a conference held in 1884-5 that essentially set out the (new) rules of acquisition in Africa?

From Quiz The Scramble for Africa

Answer: Berlin

The conference was hosted by Germany and was attended by Austia-Hungary, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United States. The agreement (which was ratified by all the attendees except the USA) held that when claiming a territory in Africa each signatory should inform the others of its intentions in advance and that actual occupation was required rather than just a claim on paper or the planting of a flag. The agreement was reached in response to rising tensions between the European powers over their claims in Africa. Despite the agreement, these "rules" were frequently disregarded.

8. This territory became part of the Mogul Empire under Akbar in 1586. In the second half of the 18th century it was included in Ahmad Shah Durrani's Afghan empire. After the Sikh wars it was held by a raja as part of British India in 1846.

From Quiz Former Colonial Territories in India

Answer: Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is now divided in two parts, one Indian state and one area under Pakistani control.

9. This fort on the Coromandel Coast, Tamil Nadu, India, became the British headquarters for South India in 1746.

From Quiz Colonial Forts

Answer: Fort Saint David

On this site there was previously small fort, Tegnapatam, built by a Hindu merchant. It became the possession of the Marathas in 1677 who sold it to the English in 1690.

10. What country colonized Angola?

From Quiz Countries and Their Colonization

Answer: Portugal

11. Which country claimed the peninsula of Florida upon arriving in the New World?

From Quiz We Claimed It

Answer: Spain

The oldest continuously inhabited European city in the Americas- the city of Saint Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565. The city still bears Spanish architecture and a Spanish era fortress known as Castillo de San Marcos built in 1672.

12. Which African country was the first to declare independence? The clue is in the name!

From Quiz Begin Again

Answer: Liberia

Liberia started out as a colony in West Africa for freed African slaves, in the area formerly known as the Pepper Coast; its capital of Monrovia was named after the US president James Monroe, who was a supporter of the colonisation of Liberia. The Society for the Colonisation of Free People of Colour of America, aka the American Colonisation Society, supported freed slaves moving to Africa; however, some African-Americans protested, preferring to stay in the US and fight for their rights there, and also seeing the concept as a means of getting rid of black American citizens. Slaveholders also saw freed slaves as a potential threat. Around 3/4 of immigrants to Liberia died of disease, and there were also clashes between indigenous people and the Americo-Liberians. The ACS gradually handed more power over to Liberia, with the new state declaring independence in 1847 and former slave Joseph Jenkins Roberts being appointed its first president. Liberia was also notably one of the few states to remain independent through the Scramble for Africa by European countries.

13. "If we are going to sin, we must sin quietly." To what was the attorney general of the British administration in Kenya, Eric Griffith-Jones, referring to when he said this?

From Quiz Claimed

Answer: The torture of Kenyan prisoners suspected of involvement in the Mau Mau Uprising

The Mau Mau Uprising was a revolt against British colonisers in Kenya, led by Kikuyu, Meru and Embu people, though some Kikuyu were on the side of the British and members of the Kenya Regiment. Both the Mau Mau insurgents and the British and their supporters, committed war crimes, the most extreme case on the part of the Mau Mau was the Lari Massacre, where Mau Mau insurgents herded Home Guard members and their families into huts and set them on fire, attacking anyone who escaped with machetes. The British and African soldiers on their side carried out retaliation attacks, killing at least 400 Mau Mau. The British also responded to the uprising by detaining and torturing confirmed and suspected Mau Mau members, including US President Barack Obama's grandfather. Sexual assault and bodily mutilation were used as a form of torture against men and women; many detainees were hanged, choked to death by having mud forced into their mouths, burned alive or beaten to death. Although Griffith-Jones compared the detention camps to Nazi Germany, he still allowed insurgents to be tortured, suggesting they be beaten on the upper part of the body, avoiding damaging the internal organs. See the above quote about 'sinning quietly'. Former Mau Mau members who had been tortured or castrated later made claims against the British government, and five of them were chosen to prosecute a test case, though one of them, Susan Ciong'ombe Ngondi, died. Of the remaining four, two men had been castrated, one woman was a survivor of the Hola Massacre - in which 11 prisoners in the Hola detention camp were killed, and 77 more injured - and another woman had been tortured and sexually assaulted. Kenya became independent in 1963, and was declared a republic a year later.

14. Who was the first European to sail round the Cape of Good Hope?

From Quiz An Empire in the Sun: I

Answer: Bartolomeu Dias

At the time the Cape of Good Hope, originally called the Cape of Storms, was mistakenly thought to be the southernmost point of Africa. (That is in fact Cape Agulhas, which Dias also passed). Though Bartolomeu Dias never reached India, his goal, he did prove to Europeans that there was a possible maritime route to India, which would allow Europeans to bypass taxes imposed by the Safavid and Ottoman authorities the overland route to India.

15. In 1700 the island of Ceylon, whose regional capital was Trincomalee, was under colonial control of what European nation?

From Quiz European Colonial Empires (1560-1835)

Answer: The Netherlands

Ceylon is now known as Sri Lanka; its capital is Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte - often shortened to Kotte.

16. Germany gained two protectorates in West Africa by giving up German demands relating to Nigeria. Which were the protectorates?

From Quiz German Colonial History

Answer: Togoland and Cameroon

The colony existed as a unit for a few years (German West Africa) but was split due to the distance between the two parts.

17. According to the Peace of Paris (1763) after the British/French colonial war (1745/55-1763) Britain obtained Canada, Louisiana (east of the Mississippi except for the New Orleans area) and Cape Breton from France, in addition to this African colony.

From Quiz British Territorial Acquisitions 1600-1920

Answer: Senegal

Britain also obtained Florida from Spain.

18. This fort was completed in 1754 on the site of modern Pittsburgh. It was captured by the British in 1758 and renamed Fort Pitt.

From Quiz Colonial Forts

Answer: Fort Duquesne

Because of its strategic location Fort Duquesne was a major objective in the last of the French and Indian Wars.

19. The territories of Diu and Daman in India were outposts of what European country until a few years after WWII?

From Quiz History of Colonialism

Answer: Portugal

India annexed or repossessed the territories, along with Goa, which was also Portuguese.

20. What country colonized Madagascar?

From Quiz Countries and Their Colonization

Answer: France

21. Which country was the Navigator from?

From Quiz Early European Exploration

Answer: Portugal

Portugal was the first European country to acquire an overseas empire.

22. The massive financial failure of the 'Darien Scheme', an attempt to establish a Central American colony, probably contributed to which country deciding to join the United Kingdom?

From Quiz International Quiz on Colonies and Colonialism

Answer: Scotland

Between 1698 and 1700, Scotland tried to set up a colony on the Isthmus of Darien, also known as the Isthmus of Panama. The intention was to give Scotland enhanced access to foreign trade, because of the supposed strategic importance of the Panamanian position. This ambitious scheme failed, due to sickness, lack of food and attacks by Spaniards. The scheme had been backed by something between a quarter and a half of all the money in the country. The devastation to the Scottish economy is said to have been a major factor in the 1707 Act of Union. (Question by Upstart3)

23. Who was the first European to sail from Europe to India?

From Quiz An Empire in the Sun: I

Answer: Vasco da Gama

Vasco de Gama reached India and despite heavy sacrifice (one ship and around half the men on the expedition). He returned to Portugal with spices and other exotic goods that were worth sixty times the cost of the expedition.

24. The region in North America known as Alaska was under control of which nation in 1835?

From Quiz European Colonial Empires (1560-1835)

Answer: Russia

Over the years, Alaska was claimed by Spain, France, Britain, and the United States, but in 1835, the Russian Empire was the governor of the region.

25. In this protectorate there were Herero and Hottentot uprisings in 1889-1906.

From Quiz German Colonial History

Answer: South-West Africa & South West Africa & Namibia

The country is today called Namibia. Walvis Bay, though, was never under German control but was an exclave under the Cape Province, South Africa.

26. According to the Congress of Vienna (1814-15) after the Napoleonic Wars (1799-1814) Britain received Ceylon (in Asia) and Cape Colony (Africa) in addition to two European territories. One of them was Malta, and what was the other?

From Quiz British Territorial Acquisitions 1600-1920

Answer: Heligoland

Malta was acquired from the Knights of St.John, Heligoland from the Danes, Ceylon and the Cape Colony from the Dutch.

27. This territory was formerly often known as Nizam's Dominions. It was ruled by the Nizams since 1713, beginning with Asaf Jah, the Mogul governor of the Deccan. It came under British protection in 1798.

From Quiz Former Colonial Territories in India

Answer: Hyderabad

When India gained independence in 1947, the Nizam of Hyderabad made an unsuccessful attempt to retain autonomy. The original state of Hyderabad was reorganized and divided between Andhra Pradesh, Mysore and Maharashtra in 1956.

28. The island of Zanzibar was a possession of what sultanate until the 19th century?

From Quiz History of Colonialism

Answer: Oman

It was a slave trade post and part of the (small) Omani Empire.

29. What country colonized Peru?

From Quiz Countries and Their Colonization

Answer: Spain

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