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Quiz about History of Zurich
Quiz about History of Zurich

History of Zurich Trivia Quiz


A ten question quiz on the long history of Zurich, Switzerland, stretching from its founding to World War II.

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Joepetz
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
384,843
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
261
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In Roman Times, Zurich was called Turicum, which means what in English? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Zurich or Turicum was a relatively small settlement in the Roman Empire but it played an important function within the empire in what capacity? This role would be somewhat ironic nowadays. Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Though not built until the 10th century, the Wasserkirche Church in Zurich was the 286 AD execution spot for Felix and Regula, Zurich's patron saints. What contribution did Felix and Regula make to Zurich history? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Which grandson of Charlemagne founded the Fraumunster Abbey in 852 for his daughter? The Fraumunster would have an increasingly important influence over Zurich in future centuries. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. The power of Fraunmunster abbey was seriously reduced in 1336 by the establishment of the Zunft zum Kambel, which is what? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The mid-15th century conflict known as the Old Zurich War was fought between Zurich and which other entity? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Beginning in the 1520s, the Protestant Reformation spread quickly through Zurich and eventually all of Switzerland mainly due to the work of which man? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The First and Second Battles of Zurich (in June and September 1799) were part of the French Revolutionary Wars. France lost the city of Zurich in the first battle to which nation only to regain it after the Second Battle? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Though it had been something of a tradition in Zurich since Medieval Times, the holiday called Sechselauten became an annual tradition in the late 19th century. Its most iconic event is the Burning of the Boogg, which can be seen as the equivalent to what American holiday? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Despite being entirely surrounded by warring nations in World War II, Switzerland managed to maintain its famous neutrality policy and avoided damage completely.



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Mar 11 2024 : calmdecember: 9/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In Roman Times, Zurich was called Turicum, which means what in English?

Answer: Water City

Turicum comes from the Celtic word "dur" which means water. Dur was then corrupted and latinized to Turegus and eventually Turicum. The word Zurich would not be used until the 9th century. It probably got the name from the many lakes and rivers that surround the city, most notable Lake Zurich.

When Zurich was founded is unknown and archaeological evidence of pre-Roman societies has been found under Lake Zurich. The earliest known evidence of the Roman Turicum is a stone tablet dating from 200 AD, but it is highly likely the city was founded in some form before then. Ancient coins dating from 100 BC were found in the area but it is unknown if they originated in the area.
2. Zurich or Turicum was a relatively small settlement in the Roman Empire but it played an important function within the empire in what capacity? This role would be somewhat ironic nowadays.

Answer: Tax collection checkpoint

Turicum's location on waterways made it a prime place for ships to harbor and a place for the Romans to collect taxes on the goods being transported. Zurich's location in the center of the continent was also beneficial and contributed to it being a tax collecting stop. Goods from all over Europe passed through Zurich's waterways and then eventually over the Alps to Rome or continued along the rivers. Zurich's position as a tax collection checkpoint seems ironic today because Switzerland has a well known reputation for being a tax haven for foreigners.
3. Though not built until the 10th century, the Wasserkirche Church in Zurich was the 286 AD execution spot for Felix and Regula, Zurich's patron saints. What contribution did Felix and Regula make to Zurich history?

Answer: They introduced Christianity to Zurich

According to legend, Felix and Regula were brother and sister who converted to Christianity as members of the Theban Legion. When the Legion was being persecuted by Emperor Maximian, they fled to what is now Zurich, Switzerland. There, they introduced Christianity to the city but were executed in 286. They are usually associated with their servant Exuperantius, who is also a martyr saint. They were beheaded and, according to legend, carried their heads up a hill before dying. Their burial site was covered by the Grossmunster Church, a protestant church.

Their tomb was raided during the Protestant Reformation and a result their bodies were lost and have not been recovered.
4. Which grandson of Charlemagne founded the Fraumunster Abbey in 852 for his daughter? The Fraumunster would have an increasingly important influence over Zurich in future centuries.

Answer: Louis the German

Fraumunster Abbey was founded by Louis the German for his daughter Hildegard. The abbey was founded mainly for women of noble rank who either did not marry or were widowed. Over time, the various leader of Zurich and Switzerland gradually granted Fraumunster Abbey more rights.

They abbey was granted the right to mint its own coins and collect tolls in 1045. This made the abbess of the convent the de facto leader of Zurich. By 1218, the abbess earned the right to appoint the Zurich mayor and also served as a judge-like figure.
5. The power of Fraunmunster abbey was seriously reduced in 1336 by the establishment of the Zunft zum Kambel, which is what?

Answer: A merchant guild

The Zunft zum Kambel was guild of small merchants established in Zurich in 1336. The guild passed the Zunftordnung laws, which stripped the abbey of most of its power, especially the ability of the abbess to pick the mayor. The guild and the laws' passage were spearheaded by Rudolf Brun who also became the city's first mayor not picked by the abbess. The establishment of the guild is sometimes called the Merchants' Revolution or Brun's Revolution. The Fraumunster abbess was not totally removed from power until the monastery was suppressed in the 1520s.
6. The mid-15th century conflict known as the Old Zurich War was fought between Zurich and which other entity?

Answer: The rest of the Old Swiss Confederacy

Zurich canton had become part of the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1351. However, it was expelled in 1440 when Zurich occupied lands claimed by Glarus and Schwyz cantons. The area in question belonged to Count Friedrich VII of Toggenberg who died intestate and without an heir to claim the lands. The rest of the Swiss cantons sided strongly with Glarus and Schwyz, and Zurich was expelled for occupying the lands and stealing the grain crop.

Zurich attempted to align with the Holy Roman Empire but that failed when Zurich was defeated at the Battle of St. Jakob an der Sihl in 1443. Zurich was eventually readmitted into the Old Swiss Confederacy in 1451.
7. Beginning in the 1520s, the Protestant Reformation spread quickly through Zurich and eventually all of Switzerland mainly due to the work of which man?

Answer: Ulrich Zwingli

Zwingli had long been a critic of the Catholic Church, particularly its influence on the people and allegedly widespread corruption in church management. Zwingli first became known in Zurich in 1522 when he campaigned against the Lenten fast. As Zwingli's influence grew and his views became more popular, he became acquainted with Katharina von Zimmern, who was the abbess of Fraumunster Abbey. As the town officials, influenced themselves by Zwingli, began disestablishing the monasteries, von Zimmern handed the Catholic Fraumunster Abbey to Zwingli, apparently supportive of the Reformation.

It is not entirely well documented what von Zimmern's position on the Reformation was. It has been speculated that she handed the abbey over to avoid a bloody war. However, historical evidence suggests otherwise. The abbess had, for years, allowed Zwingli to preach in the cathedral and in the monastery and in the years afterwards, married a friend of Zwingli's and continued to push the Reformation's ideas in Zurich.
8. The First and Second Battles of Zurich (in June and September 1799) were part of the French Revolutionary Wars. France lost the city of Zurich in the first battle to which nation only to regain it after the Second Battle?

Answer: Austria

The French Revolution inspired a similar (though significantly less violent and bloody) revolution in Switzerland, which replaced the Swiss Confederacy with the Helvetic Republic once the French took control. France was growing more and more chaotic by the day and thus was seen as a weaker power. Austria decided to take advantage of that and marched toward France. France, meanwhile, marched toward Austria.

The two forces met in Zurich with the Austrians defeating French General Andre Massena to lay claim to Zurich.

The French took it back after the second battle. Switzerland thus found itself under the control of the French, a reign that lasted until the Congress of Vienna granted Switzerland full sovereignty again in 1815.
9. Though it had been something of a tradition in Zurich since Medieval Times, the holiday called Sechselauten became an annual tradition in the late 19th century. Its most iconic event is the Burning of the Boogg, which can be seen as the equivalent to what American holiday?

Answer: Groundhog Day

The Burning of the Boogg is similar to Groundhog Day because they both are supposed to predict the weather for the months ahead. The Boogg is actually a snowman that is stuffed with explosives and sometimes sprayed with kerosene. The quicker the snowman's head explodes, the nicer the summer will be. If the snowman's head takes a while to explode, the summer will be rainy and unpleasant.

The forecast usually winds up being correct but it is sometimes wrong. In 2014, for instance, the head exploded in under 8 minutes but the summer was awful and dreary.
10. Despite being entirely surrounded by warring nations in World War II, Switzerland managed to maintain its famous neutrality policy and avoided damage completely.

Answer: False

Switzerland did remain neutral> However, it was bombed a few times. Zurich was accidentally bombed by the United States on March 4th, 1945. The Air Force was supposed to bomb a city in Germany called Aschaffenburg but went off course and believed it was flying over the German town of Freiburg im Breisgau. It was actually Zurich and the bombing killed 5 people. At almost the same moment, the Swiss city of Basel was also accidentally bombed.

The most devastating bombing of Switzerland during World War II was in Schaffhausen, which was again mistaken for a German city. That bombing left 40 people dead. There was no clear explanation for what happened. Some allies blamed the foggy weather while others said they actually thought Schaffhausen was a German city, not a Swiss canton.
Source: Author Joepetz

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