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Kuwait History Trivia Quiz

Since the Gulf War many more Americans have become interested in this small, Arab country! Find out what you know!

A multiple-choice quiz by americanq8ty. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
americanq8ty

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
326,050

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
292

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Kuwait's Failaka Island was originally colonized by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. What did the Greeks call this island? (Hint: feathers, wax, and the sun). Hint

Corfu

Kefalonia

Ikaros (Icarus)

Skiathos

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Starting in the 16th century, Kuwait was influenced by a variety of European countries, which used Kuwait to develop their trade routes. Which was the first documented European country to use Kuwait for this purpose? (Hint: the name is the base of the Arabic word for 'orange'). Hint

Denmark

Portugal

France

Sweden

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Question 3 of 10

3. In the beginning of the 18th century, the British had major control over the trade routes between Europe and Asia. What was the name of the British company that was largest trading company? Hint

British Trade International

Indi-Brit Ocean Caravans

Far East Trading

East India Company

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. It is generally accepted that Kuwait officially became a country in 1752, with the appointment of Sheikh Sabah I. When he died in 1762, he was succeeded by whom? (Hint: who would be the most likely candidate?). Hint

Abdullah I (his son)

Ahmed Al-Jaber (his nephew)

Salem Al-Mubarak (his brother)

Muhammad the Great (his brother-in-law)

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Question 5 of 10

5. After a succession of four sheikhs between 1762 and 1892, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Sabah took power in 1892. He only ruled until 1896, when he died. How is he generally believed to have died? Hint

Assassinated by his half-brother

Drowned while pearl diving

Tuberculosis

Kicked in the head by his camel

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Question 6 of 10

6. Sheikh Mubarak is known as the founder of "modern" Kuwait. Kuwait was small country with a strategic position on the trade routes between India and Europe. Due to increasing instability in surrounding areas, Mubarak sought an agreement of protection from which Europeans? (Hint: they were great colonizers). Hint

British

Germans

Ottomans

Russians

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Question 7 of 10

7. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the emir of Kuwait when its future wealth was discovered. What was discovered in Kuwait in 1938? Hint

Gold

Oil

Diamonds

Pearls

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Until 1959 Kuwait used the Indian Rupee as its currency, but then the British introduced a new monetary unit, especially for use in the Persian Gulf countries. What was the currency used in Kuwait called from 1959 to 1961? (Hint: where is Kuwait located?). Hint

The British Rupee

The Arab Rupee

The Persian Rupee

The Gulf Rupee

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Kuwaiti Dinar was first set-up in 1961. If the Dinar is equivalent to the US dollar, what is the name of their coin equivalent to the US cent? Hint

Dinaries

Fils

Al-centos

Centorinos

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Question 10 of 10

10. Kuwait took sides during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Which side did Kuwait support? (Hint: ironic!) Hint

Iran

No one

An external coalition of Islamic nations to stop the war

Iraq

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Kuwait's Failaka Island was originally colonized by the Greeks in the 3rd century BC. What did the Greeks call this island? (Hint: feathers, wax, and the sun).

Answer: Ikaros (Icarus)

Ikaros (Icarus) and his father, Daedelus, were in exile on the Isle of Crete. Daedalus made wings from wax and feathers for himself and his son. Ikaros flew too close to the sun, and the wax melted and all the feathers fell off. Ikaros fell into the sea.

The reason for this name being applied to this island is not very clear, but some speculate that it is because of the extreme heat.

Answer: Portugal

From the 16th to 18th centuries, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Great Britain all used Kuwait as as port on major routes for their trade to the Far East. The Arabic word for orange is 'burtuqaal' - and since there is no "p" sound in Arabic, you can hear the similarity more if you pronounce burtuqaal with a "p" at the beginning!

3. In the beginning of the 18th century, the British had major control over the trade routes between Europe and Asia. What was the name of the British company that was largest trading company?

Answer: East India Company

The East India Company traded silk, cotton, tea, and opium, among other things. One of the trade routes between the East and West went through the Persian/Arabian Gulf. This influence of Indian trade is still evident in Kuwait today, as many traditional clothing styles and foods have a distinctive Indian flavor.

Answer: Abdullah I (his son)

Abdullah I is considered the true founder of Kuwait, as he was the one who commissioned the building of the walls around the city. Abdullah also gained a great number of weapons and ships for Kuwait, which were used in the battle of Al-Riggae, between Failaka and Bubyan Islands.

5. After a succession of four sheikhs between 1762 and 1892, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Sabah took power in 1892. He only ruled until 1896, when he died. How is he generally believed to have died?

Answer: Assassinated by his half-brother

According to local historical tales, Sheikh Muhammad was a kind leader, and beloved by his citizens. His half-brother, Mubarak, entered Muhammad's home and assassinated him in his bedroom. Mubarak (also known as Mubarak the Great) was feared by many Kuwaitis, but had strong control on events and maintained safety and security from foreign sources.

Answer: British

On January 18, 1899, Mubarak signed an agreement with the British - while not technically a colony, Kuwait was to be protected. Kuwait could continue to grow, without fear of being conquered by foreign powers, most notably the Ottomans or Russians.

7. Sheikh Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah was the emir of Kuwait when its future wealth was discovered. What was discovered in Kuwait in 1938?

Answer: Oil

It was 1934 when the search for oil in Kuwait began and in 1938 large amounts of oil were found. The first shipment of oil left Kuwait in 1946. There are no gold or diamonds to be mined in Kuwait. Pearl-diving was a traditional source of wealth in Kuwait until the mid 1900s.

Answer: The Gulf Rupee

Many of my students in Kuwait do not even know the history of the money used in Kuwait. The Gulf Rupee was issued by the Indian government and held the same value as the Indian Rupee.

9. The Kuwaiti Dinar was first set-up in 1961. If the Dinar is equivalent to the US dollar, what is the name of their coin equivalent to the US cent?

Answer: Fils

There are 1000 fils in 1 Dinar. When the Dinar first was introduced, it was pegged to 1 British Pound Sterling. With a variety of peggings throughout its history, since 2007 the Dinar has been pegged to a basket of international currencies. As of 2010, the Kuwaiti Dinar is the 'heaviest' currency in the world. It is available in 1/4, 1/2, 1, 5, 10, and 20 Dinar denominations.

10. Kuwait took sides during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Which side did Kuwait support? (Hint: ironic!)

Answer: Iraq

Kuwait sent billions of dollars of aid to Iraq during their war with Iran. Iran attacked Kuwaiti oil tankers, causing Kuwait to ask the US to send warships to protect them. Ironically, it was Iraq, under its leader, Saddam Hussein, who invaded Kuwait in August of 1990, under 2 claims - that Kuwait actually WAS a territory of Iraq, and that Kuwait was drilling side-ways into Iraqi oil fields.

Guess it just goes to show, be careful who you take as friends!

Source: Author americanq8ty

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