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Quiz about Ancient Weapons
Quiz about Ancient Weapons

Ancient Weapons Trivia Quiz


Laser guided bombs? Predator drones? Forget them because ancient warriors used more "face-to-face" weapons. Let's have a look.

A multiple-choice quiz by CmdrK. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
CmdrK
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
322,416
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
3244
Awards
Top 5% quiz!
Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (8/10), Guest 65 (9/10), Guest 148 (10/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Sometimes the weapon you use is whatever you have at hand. There was this skinny shepherd kid faced with doing combat against a well-armed, and armored, giant. What weapon did he use? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In hand-to-hand combat, ancient warriors sometimes used this ancestor of the brass knuckles. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. This weapon evolved from being made of stone to one of bronze, then iron, then steel as metallurgy advanced. It was designed for close combat either by foot soldiers or mounted cavalry. It was also a favorite of Gimli in "The Lord of the Rings."
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. What weapon was developed to counter hardened steel used in armor in the Middle Ages?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Close combat produces a lot of casualties so weapons, such as the crossbow, were designed that would let the user be some distance away from the opponent. What is the proper term for the projectile fired from a crossbow? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The U.S. military uses Hellfire missiles. What weapon did the Byzantines have on their ships? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Not all weapons of war were inanimate. Hannibal, for instance, used this large animal to great advantage in the Second Punic War.
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. This old-style weapon was swung by a warrior; the idea being to slash or cut, rather than thrusting it directly at an enemy. What is it? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. This relative of the mace had a ball, often spiked, attached by a chain to a handle. What is this weapon?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The invention of gunpowder changed the type of weapons used in warfare. Gunpowder itself was to be the weapon used in the "Gunpowder Plot." Who is the man associated with it?
Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 92: 8/10
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 65: 9/10
Mar 12 2024 : Guest 148: 10/10
Mar 03 2024 : Guest 31: 9/10
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 96: 9/10
Feb 17 2024 : takujohnny: 7/10
Feb 15 2024 : Guest 12: 8/10
Feb 13 2024 : Guest 24: 0/10
Feb 04 2024 : kstyle53: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Sometimes the weapon you use is whatever you have at hand. There was this skinny shepherd kid faced with doing combat against a well-armed, and armored, giant. What weapon did he use?

Answer: a sling

The Bible tells us that David took five smooth stones from the river, put one in a sling, spun it and slew Goliath. We won't get into the physics of the sling as a force-multiplier here.
2. In hand-to-hand combat, ancient warriors sometimes used this ancestor of the brass knuckles.

Answer: cestus

The Greeks used cesti that were leather thongs tied around the hand. The Romans added spikes and iron plates. They were also used in Roman gladiator bouts until banned in the first century B.C.
3. This weapon evolved from being made of stone to one of bronze, then iron, then steel as metallurgy advanced. It was designed for close combat either by foot soldiers or mounted cavalry. It was also a favorite of Gimli in "The Lord of the Rings."

Answer: battle axe

One of the "melee" (close combat) weapons, the battle axe could be either single-, or double-, edged. Its weight was usually in the 1 to 6 pound range so it could be easily swung. It was used in one form or another by peoples around the world.
4. What weapon was developed to counter hardened steel used in armor in the Middle Ages?

Answer: war hammer

As armor was hardened, sword blades tended to bounce off or only deliver a glancing blow. A war hammer could deliver full impact to the opponent. A spike was added to one end to make it even deadlier.
5. Close combat produces a lot of casualties so weapons, such as the crossbow, were designed that would let the user be some distance away from the opponent. What is the proper term for the projectile fired from a crossbow?

Answer: bolt

A bolt looks like an arrow but is heavier and usually shorter. The heavier construction of a crossbow and the weight of the bolt are what gives it its power.
6. The U.S. military uses Hellfire missiles. What weapon did the Byzantines have on their ships?

Answer: Greek fire

Greek fire (sometimes called Roman fire) was petroleum based and fired at enemy ships through pressurized tubes. It was responsible for destroying two separate Arab fleets which attacked Constantinople in the eighth century. It was so viscous that water would not disperse it. The formula was such a closely-guarded secret that it was lost within three generations. Modern scientists have been unable to reproduce it.
7. Not all weapons of war were inanimate. Hannibal, for instance, used this large animal to great advantage in the Second Punic War.

Answer: elephants

Hannibal is considered one of the most talented military commanders in history. In the Second Punic War, he and his troops crossed the Alps from Gaul (modern-day France) to Italy using elephants as pack animals, then used them to trample and confuse the enemy in battle. Elephants were used until, finally, cannons were powerful and accurate enough to kill them from a distance.
8. This old-style weapon was swung by a warrior; the idea being to slash or cut, rather than thrusting it directly at an enemy. What is it?

Answer: broadsword

Broadswords weighed between 2.5 pound and 4.5 pounds, not the exceptionally heavy weights claimed by some writers. They were wielded by infantry and mounted knights alike. Their blades were usually 30 to 36 inches long, although the Scottish Claymore had blades of 42 to 54 inches. The name Claymore comes from the Scottish Gaelic "claidheamh mor" which means "very big sword"!
9. This relative of the mace had a ball, often spiked, attached by a chain to a handle. What is this weapon?

Answer: flail

A flail could be swung with great force, multiplied by the free-swinging ball on a chain. One variation, the "holy water sprinkler", was favord by King John of Bohemia, who was blind. He swung it around himself until it hit something; one does not need to see one's enemy to use it, hence the phrase "flailing about."
10. The invention of gunpowder changed the type of weapons used in warfare. Gunpowder itself was to be the weapon used in the "Gunpowder Plot." Who is the man associated with it?

Answer: Guy Fawkes

The "Gunpowder Plot" was a plan devised by a group of Catholics led by Robert Catesby, and to be executed by Guy Fawkes, to blow up the English Houses of Parliament, with King James I and much of the English nobility in it on November 5, 1605, with a view to placing a Roman Catholic on the throne. Fawkes holed himslef up in the basement of Parliament on that day with 36 barrels of gunpowder.

He was arrested when authorities received an anonymous letter about the plot. Guy Fawkes Night (or Bonfire Night) is celebrated each November 5th in England and former British colonies around the world. Any excuse for a party, perhaps.
Source: Author CmdrK

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