History Grab Bag - Part One Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1969

Concorde was the first supersonic passenger plane, and was a joint venture between the British and the French.

Concorde first flew in 1969, piloted by Andre Turcat, but didn't go into regular service until 1976. Through its 27 years' service, Concorde flew regular transatlantic flights from London Heathrow, and Paris Charles de Gaulle airports, to New York JFK and Washington Dulles airports.

Answer: Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan lived from 1165 to 1227. During his lifetime, he conquered more territory than any other conqueror, establishing the largest contiguous empire in history. Even today his legacy continues in Asia, for without Genghis Khan there would not be a Mongolia.

Answer: Highgate Cemetery, London

Karl Heinrich Marx was born in Trier, Germany on May 5 1818, and died in 1883. He is revered as being one of the greatest philosophers of modern times.

"On the 14th of March, at a quarter to three in the afternoon, the greatest living thinker ceased to think. He had been left alone for scarcely two minutes, and when we came back we found him in his armchair, peacefully gone to sleep - but for ever.

An immeasurable loss has been sustained both by the militant proletariat of Europe and America, and by historical science, in the death of this man. The gap that has been left by the departure of this mighty spirit will soon enough make itself felt."

Extract from the Eulogy by Marx's close friend Friedrich Engels.

Answer: German

The teachings of Martin Luther rocked the Holy Roman Empire during the early 16th century, by challenging the authority of the papacy, and declaring that the Bible was the only infallible source of religious authority, and that all baptized Christians are a 'priesthood of believers'.

These ideas were the inspiration behind the Protestant reformation, which changed the course of Western civilization.

Answer: Helen Keller

Helen Keller was quite an incredible woman. Despite being struck both deaf and blind at the age of 19 months, she fought through her severe disability, and on 28 June 1904, graduated from Radcliffe College, becoming the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

A life history of this incredible woman can be found here
http://www.rnib.org.uk/xpedio/groups/public/documents/publicwebsite/public_keller.hcsp

Answer: She was the first "Miss World"

Kiki Haakonson was the first winner of the Miss World beauty pageant, for which she won £1000 and a pearl necklace. Over the years, the pageant has attracted much media attention, and a lot of scorn from women's rights activists!

Answer: The Alamo

Davy Crockett was well known throughout Tennessee as a hunter. In Texas though, he will always be remembered as a hero at the Battle of the Alamo. He was born on 17 August 1786 in what is now the state of Tennessee. He married at age 18 and raised several children.

Answer: India

The word "thug" - meaning a violent murderous gang member, comes from the ancient Indian sect of "Thuggees". They were a psuedo religious cult that terrorised travelers throughout India, from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Answer: China

Throughout the 19th century, China was dominated by foreign powers, each claiming a right to parts of the country. This led to the forming of a secret society amongst the Chinese, known as the "Fists of Righteous Harmony". They were nicknamed the "Boxers" by the foreign powers, due to their martial arts fighting skills.

In the early months of 1900, thousands of Boxers roamed the countryside attacking Christian missions, and slaughtering foreign missionaries and Chinese converts. They moved toward the city of Beijing and almost overthrew it, until they were eventually crushed by an army sent from Europe and USA. The invading army however, went on to commit one of the worst ever disgraces of war, when they looted and ransacked the "forbidden city".

Answer: End of fighting in World War I

Fighing in World War I ended officially at 11am on the 11 November 1918, under the terms of an armistice between Germany and the Allies in a railroad car outside of Compiègne in France. This date is now remembered annually all over the world, as a day on which to honour and remember all those who have fallen in the name of peace.