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Quiz about A History of Kurdistan
Quiz about A History of Kurdistan

A History of Kurdistan Trivia Quiz


The unofficial country of Kurdistan is still working towards gaining official status. Here is an overview of the history of this proud group of people known as the Kurds.

A multiple-choice quiz by chessart. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
chessart
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
295,877
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
360
Last 3 plays: Guest 162 (0/10), Guest 110 (3/10), Guest 37 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. During the Middle Ages Kurdistan consisted of a collection of semi-independent states called emirates. The first formal division by outside powers was formalized in the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab. Who were the parties to this treaty? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the victorious Allies undertook to carve up the former Ottoman Empire into separate countries. The original 1920 treaty with the Ottoman Empire would have created a country of Kurdistan. What was the name of this treaty? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne replaced the original peace treaty and settled the boundaries of countries in the area of what would have been Kurdistan. Who were the two primary parties that negotiated this treaty? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. As a result of the boundaries that were drawn, Kurdistan now consists of an area that includes parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. In which of these countries are most of the Kurds located?

Answer: (one word)
Question 5 of 10
5. Iraqi Kurds were subjected to horrendous persecution by Saddam Hussein in the 1980's. Following the Gulf War of 1991, the Iraqi Kurds achieved a measure of autonomy. What policy of the United States helped the Kurds to achieve this autonomy? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. From 1994 to 1996 a civil war raged off and on between two Kurdish groups in Iraq. What are the names of these two groups? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. By what name are the Kurdish guerrilla fighters usually called? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In order to avoid the appearance of any unofficial recognition of Kurdistan, Turkey has changed the Latin name of one of its animals from Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica, to Vulpes Vulpes. Which animal had its name so changed? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Which term best describes the Kurdish people? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. An old saying says that "Kurds have no friends but the _____________." Fill in the blank. Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 162: 0/10
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 110: 3/10
Mar 01 2024 : Guest 37: 6/10
Feb 06 2024 : PurpleComet: 6/10
Jan 31 2024 : Guest 82: 3/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. During the Middle Ages Kurdistan consisted of a collection of semi-independent states called emirates. The first formal division by outside powers was formalized in the 1639 Treaty of Zuhab. Who were the parties to this treaty?

Answer: Persia and the Ottoman Empire

The exact boundaries between these two entities would never be firmly established, however. During the four centuries prior to the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, there were an amazing total of 18 different treaties which attempted to resolve the various boundary disputes.
2. Following the defeat of the Ottoman Empire in World War I, the victorious Allies undertook to carve up the former Ottoman Empire into separate countries. The original 1920 treaty with the Ottoman Empire would have created a country of Kurdistan. What was the name of this treaty?

Answer: Treaty of Sevres

Separate treaties were negotiated by the Allies with each of the losing countries. The treaty of Versailles was with Germany, the Treaty of Trianon was with Hungary, and the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye with Austria. The Treaty of Sevres was negotiated with the Ottoman Empire; unfortunately for the Kurds, this treaty was never implemented.
3. The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne replaced the original peace treaty and settled the boundaries of countries in the area of what would have been Kurdistan. Who were the two primary parties that negotiated this treaty?

Answer: Turkey and Greece

The dispute was primarily between Turkey and Greece, and they settled their mutual boundary and provided for the protection of each of their citizens living in the other country. Somehow Kurdistan disappeared as a result of the boundaries drawn by this treaty. Winston Churchill lamented that Armenia wasn't provided for, but the disappearance of Kurdistan doesn't seem to be equally lamented.
4. As a result of the boundaries that were drawn, Kurdistan now consists of an area that includes parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. In which of these countries are most of the Kurds located?

Answer: Turkey

Exact numbers are hard to determine, but it is clear Turkey has more Kurds than any other country. The Kurdish minority in Turkey has been periodically persecuted by the Turkish government, but pressure from the European Union has improved life for the Kurds in Turkey in the 21st century.
5. Iraqi Kurds were subjected to horrendous persecution by Saddam Hussein in the 1980's. Following the Gulf War of 1991, the Iraqi Kurds achieved a measure of autonomy. What policy of the United States helped the Kurds to achieve this autonomy?

Answer: no-fly zone

The United States and its allies patrolled the skies, and a weakened Saddam Hussein basically left the Kurds alone following his 1991 defeat in the Gulf War. When the U.S. and its allies invaded Iraq in 2003, the Kurds were supportive of the effort.
6. From 1994 to 1996 a civil war raged off and on between two Kurdish groups in Iraq. What are the names of these two groups?

Answer: The KDP and the PUK

The KDP (Kurdistan Democratic Party) and the PUK (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) entered into a peace agreement brokered by the U.S. in 1998. As a result, the shooting has mostly stopped, although there remain deep and persistent divisions between the two groups.

The PDPA and the the mujahedin were groups active in Afghanistan following the 1978 coup. The senderistas and the rondas are Peruvian groups. Hamas and Hezbollah are groups operating in the Middle East in support of the Palestinians.
7. By what name are the Kurdish guerrilla fighters usually called?

Answer: Peshmerga

Literally meaning "those who face death", the Peshmerga have been around since the 1920's. The Euskadi Ta Askatasuna are Basques, the Maquisards are Algerians, and the Fedayee are Armenians.
8. In order to avoid the appearance of any unofficial recognition of Kurdistan, Turkey has changed the Latin name of one of its animals from Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica, to Vulpes Vulpes. Which animal had its name so changed?

Answer: red fox

Turkey has consistently (and adamantly) opposed any autonomy for its Kurdish citizens.
9. Which term best describes the Kurdish people?

Answer: non-Arab Muslims

They practice a moderate brand of Islam.
10. An old saying says that "Kurds have no friends but the _____________." Fill in the blank.

Answer: mountains

Kurdistan is very mountainous, and is believed to contain the final resting place for Noah's Ark. The mountainous terrain has enabled the Kurdish people to maintain a semblance of independence, in the absence of any actual political autonomy.
Source: Author chessart

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