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Quiz about The History of Marseille
Quiz about The History of Marseille

The History of Marseille Trivia Quiz


As a port city, Marseille served as a stopping point for foreign powers seeking to enter the rest of Europe. This quiz covers thousands of years of history from the city's

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Joepetz
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
375,107
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
525
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: calmdecember (10/10), Guest 136 (1/10), Guest 103 (1/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Marseille's official founding was by which group of people who named it Massalia in 600 BC? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. What is the name of the scientist and explorer from Massalia who became the first person to study the Arctic and the North Pole? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Massalia became part of the Roman Empire after a siege in 49 BC by which Roman? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. According to local French tradition, which female biblical figure introduced Christianity to Massilia with Lazarus, her brother? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1348, when the rest of France and Europe was being devastated by Bubonic Plague, Marseille was miraculously spared.


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1481, Marseille merged with which French region, that is today known for its herb mixture? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Chateau d'If was a fortress built in Marseille in 1531. Although it was built as a military outpost to protect the city, Chateau d'If is most famous for being the setting of which classic French novel? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Which of the following best describes Marseille's role during the French Revolution? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. King Alexander I of which country was assassinated in Marseille along with French Minister Louis Barthou on October 9, 1934? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Starting in 1989, Marseille holds a film festival annually for which kind of movies? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Feb 28 2024 : calmdecember: 10/10
Feb 16 2024 : Guest 136: 1/10
Feb 16 2024 : Guest 103: 1/10
Feb 07 2024 : Guest 90: 3/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Marseille's official founding was by which group of people who named it Massalia in 600 BC?

Answer: Greeks

Massalia was also the first Greek community in what is now France. It was predominantly settled by people from Phocaea. Before the Greeks arrived, however, there were other people living in the area. The Cosquer Cave has cave paintings dating back to 27,000 BC. The Cosquer Cave is now over 100 feet underwater because the Mediterranean Sea has risen over the millennia.
2. What is the name of the scientist and explorer from Massalia who became the first person to study the Arctic and the North Pole?

Answer: Pytheas

Pytheas was born in Massalia around 350 BC. He became the first person to ever visit the Arctic on a scientific expedition. Although today he is credited for developing theories about the existence of the Midnight Sun and Polar Regions, these things were already known in Pytheas' day. He did, however, develop a theory on how the moon affects Earth's tides.
3. Massalia became part of the Roman Empire after a siege in 49 BC by which Roman?

Answer: Julius Caesar

Caesar was actually intending to take control of Hispania but to pass through Massalia along the way. When the city closed its gates to him (Massalia was an ally of Hispania and other territories Caesar wanted) Caesar attacked and took Massalia and renamed it Massilia.
4. According to local French tradition, which female biblical figure introduced Christianity to Massilia with Lazarus, her brother?

Answer: Mary Magdalene

After converting the whole region, it is said that Mary Magdalene went into seclusion in a Massilia cave now called La Sainte-Baume, which translates to the holy cave in English. While the French believe she died in Marseille, the historical evidence is inconclusive and she may have died there or in modern-day Turkey.
5. In 1348, when the rest of France and Europe was being devastated by Bubonic Plague, Marseille was miraculously spared.

Answer: False

As a port city, Marseille was receiving rat-infested ships from around Europe that were infected with the plague. Three-fifths of the city's population died, totaling about 15,000 victims. Marseille experienced quite a number of devastating and deadly plagues throughout its history, most recently in 1720.
6. In 1481, Marseille merged with which French region, that is today known for its herb mixture?

Answer: Provence

Today Marseille's region is called Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The reason for the incorporation was that Marseille was a prosperous trading post while the region of Provence was a new territory of France's, having just been acquired from Spain upon the death of King Rene.

Herbes de Provence consists of several different herbs including marjoram, rosemary, thyme and oregano. Other herbs are often included in different variations.
7. Chateau d'If was a fortress built in Marseille in 1531. Although it was built as a military outpost to protect the city, Chateau d'If is most famous for being the setting of which classic French novel?

Answer: "The Count of Monte Cristo" by Alexandre Dumas

Chateau d'If made the perfect prison because, much like Alcatraz, it was on an island and was heavily fortified. There is no record of escape from the prison, excluding the fiction one from "The Count of Monte Cristo." Today, Chateau d'If is primarily a tourist attraction and an occasional setting for films or television shows.
8. Which of the following best describes Marseille's role during the French Revolution?

Answer: Sent some troops to Paris supporting the revolution.

Marseille was supportive of the revolution and sent about 500 troops to aid the rebels, although there was no action in Marseille itself which is in the south of France far away from Paris. France's national anthem "La Marseillaise," became famous during the French Revolution as it was the battle song of the Marseille soldiers on the way to Paris.
9. King Alexander I of which country was assassinated in Marseille along with French Minister Louis Barthou on October 9, 1934?

Answer: Yugoslavia

Alexander I was in Marseille to meet with Barthous to discuss the two countries' alliance. Both men were killed by Vlado Èernozemski, a Bulgarian, who wanted to cause instability in Yugoslavia. While the assassination was not caught on film, only the aftermath was, the film reel of the incident is considered one of the first world-changing incidents recorded on film.
10. Starting in 1989, Marseille holds a film festival annually for which kind of movies?

Answer: Documentaries

The festival has separate categories for French-language and international documentaries. Past winners of the festival include "In Public" which is about dismal conditions of the Chinese public transportation system and "Le Cas Pinochet," which is about Chilean dictator Augosto Pinochet. The award given out to the winners is called the Grand Prix.
Source: Author Joepetz

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