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Quiz about History of Cape Town
Quiz about History of Cape Town

History of Cape Town Trivia Quiz


Cape Town has had a bumpy ride through the past few centuries. Although it was relatively peaceful compared to other African cities, Cape Town has had its far share of lows.

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Joepetz
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
382,355
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
426
Last 3 plays: Guest 169 (8/10), fatcat49 (9/10), PurpleComet (8/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Almost nothing is known about Cape Town's early people who lived in the area before the arrival of which Portuguese explorer in 1488? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. It wasn't until 1652 that European powers started taking a colonial interest in Cape Town. Which Europeans were the first to establish a large presence in Cape Town in 1652? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The South African wine industry got its start in late 17th century Cape Town, when which people introduced wine-growing techniques when they fled Europe? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which 1795 battle saw Cape Town and all of Cape Colony fall into the hands of the British for the first time? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In addition to seeing the British regain control of Cape Town, 1806 was also the first occurrence of what now daily event? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What was unique about Cape Colony's first elected Parliament in 1854? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which diamond mogul became Prime Minister of Cape Colony in 1890 and fervently pushed pro-British policies often at the stake of native Africans? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Upon independence in 1910, Cape Town became the capital of the Union of South Africa. In what famous building did the prime ministers and, later, presidents live until 1984? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. During the apartheid era, which neighborhood of Cape Town experienced the forced removal in 1966 of tens of thousands of blacks when it was made a whites-only area? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Although a popular attraction for decades, which Cape Town landmark did not become a national park until 1998? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 169: 8/10
Feb 28 2024 : fatcat49: 9/10
Feb 06 2024 : PurpleComet: 8/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Almost nothing is known about Cape Town's early people who lived in the area before the arrival of which Portuguese explorer in 1488?

Answer: Bartolomeu Dias

Bartolomeu Dias actually sailed around Africa in an a eastwardly direction, that is down the Atlantic Ocean and up the Indian. However, on his first journey past South Africa, he was too far away to see land and didn't discover the Cape of Good Hope and the land that would become Cape Town until his return trip.

People had lived in Cape Town sometime prior to the arrival of Dias, according to archeological evidence. However, little is known about them. It is speculated these remains belong to ancient Khoikhoi people, also known derogatorily as Hottentots, a race of agricultural people who live in southern Africa. However it has also been suggested that the fossils belong to different people entirely, possibly a tribe conquered by the Khoikhoi when they migrated south from Botswana.
2. It wasn't until 1652 that European powers started taking a colonial interest in Cape Town. Which Europeans were the first to establish a large presence in Cape Town in 1652?

Answer: Dutch

The Dutch settled in the area around 1652 when Jan van Riebeeck and the Dutch East India Company built a supply stop for Dutch ships sailing around Africa to Asia. The Dutch were also the first to bring in slaves from Madagascar and their colonies in south-east Asia. Notably, they did not enslave the local people but rather often negotiated with them for cattle, crops and fish.
3. The South African wine industry got its start in late 17th century Cape Town, when which people introduced wine-growing techniques when they fled Europe?

Answer: Huguenots

Huguenots were French Protestants. During this time period, Catholic France was persecuting Huguenots. The Dutch in South Africa enticed the Huguenots to relocate from France to Cape Town by offering them farmland and free passage to the city. The Huguenots were experts in wine-growing and many of them converted their free farmland in vineyards.
4. Which 1795 battle saw Cape Town and all of Cape Colony fall into the hands of the British for the first time?

Answer: Battle of Muizenberg

The Battle of Muizenberg was short in time as the city was surrounded to the British by Governor Abraham Josias Sluysken in order to spare its destruction. The Battle of Muizenberg was indirectly caused by the French Revolution. During the French Revolution, France had occupied parts of the Netherlands. Britain then began attacking Dutch colonies and territories in order to prevent them from being handed over to the French. Cape Town was of significant importance because it was the only European-controlled city of significance in Africa on the way to Southeast Asia. Cape Colony was returned to the Dutch in 1802.

The Battle of Blaauwberg took place in 1806 and it gave Britain control of South Africa until the nation's independence in 1910.
5. In addition to seeing the British regain control of Cape Town, 1806 was also the first occurrence of what now daily event?

Answer: Firing of the Noon Gun

The Noon Gun was used originally so ships could check their chronometers against the correct time. However, this was inaccurate because the speed sound travels slowly so ship further at sea would set the wrong time. Instead, ships often set the chronometers to noon when they saw the smoke until more accurate timekeeping devices were invented.

The Noon Gun still fires everyday at noon except on Sundays and holidays. The Noon Gun even has its own Twitter under the name Signal Hill Gun. It tweets the word "BANG" when the gun is fired. The firing of the Noon Gun is sometimes subject to mishaps including times when it is accidentally set off at times other than noon.
6. What was unique about Cape Colony's first elected Parliament in 1854?

Answer: There were no race restrictions on voters

Cape Colony was governed by the Cape Qualified Franchise, a system that allowed all men who owned some sort of property to vote. The property requirement was loose and even included African tribal lands. Unlike almost all voting systems at the time, it was not restricted by race. However, many Africans lived in rural areas where there were no voting stations.
7. Which diamond mogul became Prime Minister of Cape Colony in 1890 and fervently pushed pro-British policies often at the stake of native Africans?

Answer: Cecil Rhodes

Cecil Rhodes is one of the most divisive people in British history. He was often praised during his life time for extending British power in Cape Colony. However, his treatment of native Africans drew scorn. He oversaw a period of economic growth in Cape Colony as well as built railway systems.

Rhodes was seen as a greedy diamond mogul who sought power for himself. However, he often went unchecked because of his many economic accomplishments, especially for the British families in Cape Town. Rhodes sought to consolidate power to the British by excluding Africans from the Cape Qualified Franchise.

By the end of Rhodes' reign in 1896, racial tensions were at an all time high. Africans were segregated and blamed for Bubonic Plague. In addition, gold from Johannesburg boosted that city to the rank of economic rival. Cape Town's British residents grew wealthier from trading the gold in the city's ports but the Africans grew poorer.
8. Upon independence in 1910, Cape Town became the capital of the Union of South Africa. In what famous building did the prime ministers and, later, presidents live until 1984?

Answer: Groote Schuur

Groote Schuur translates to Big Barn. The building started out as a farmhouse founded by the Dutch East India company until Cecil Rhodes acquired it two centuries later. Historically, it was the location of the signing of the Groote Schuur Minute, an attempt between Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk to work towards ending race riots, violence and move toward peace.
9. During the apartheid era, which neighborhood of Cape Town experienced the forced removal in 1966 of tens of thousands of blacks when it was made a whites-only area?

Answer: District Six

District Six was known as a downtown area during World War II. Mostly blacks lived there, particularly Muslims and members of the Xhosa people. In 1966, the Group Areas Act declared District Six to be a whites-only area and over the course of two decades, more than 60,000 blacks were relocated to the Cape Flats area. The neighborhood was leveled to make room for businesses, however foreign investors refused to do business with South Africa and it remained mostly undeveloped.

After apartheid ended, the South African government has made efforts to rebuild the lost property that was stolen from the residents decades before.
10. Although a popular attraction for decades, which Cape Town landmark did not become a national park until 1998?

Answer: Table Mountain

Table Mountain National Park features both Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope. Table Mountain had been a popular tourist attraction for a long time, especially after a tramway was installed in 1928. The mountain is also home to a rare species of frog called the Rose's ghost frog also called the Table Mountain ghost frog.
Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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