FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Fun Flags From the Past
Quiz about Fun Flags From the Past

Fun Flags From the Past Trivia Quiz


What do the flags of France, Belgium, Italy, Japan and many other countries have in common? Well, they're all rather familiar. Here we take a look at some rather more interesting designs on flags of some states that are now extinct.

A photo quiz by EnglishJedi. Estimated time: 5 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. World Trivia
  6. »
  7. Flags and Symbols
  8. »
  9. World Flags

Author
EnglishJedi
Time
5 mins
Type
Photo Quiz
Quiz #
374,737
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
668
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 82 (8/10), Guest 62 (10/10), gogetem (7/10).
-
Question 1 of 10
1. The picture shows the flag of the Republic of Ciskei, a nominally independent Bantustan state that existed from 1981 until 1994. Within which modern-day country was its territory? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. The pictured flag belongs to the breakaway State of Katanga, which declared its independence in 1960. Its capital was the city of Élisabethville, which is now called Lubumbashi and is the capital of the Katanga Province and the second-largest city in which African country? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Unfortunately, the wonderful flag pictured here belonged to a state that lasted only six weeks. Declared in November 1897 with its capital at San Miguel in Bulacan province, the Republic of Biak-na-Bato was established during the revolution against the Spanish in which modern-day country? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The flag pictured here belonged to the Banten Sultanate, established in 1527 and lasting until 1813 when it was annexed to the Dutch East Indies. On which Asian island was this independent sultanate? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Founded in 1526 following Babur's victory in the first Battle of Panipat, this empire (which lasted more than three centuries) encompassed an area of more than 1.2 million square miles (about the size of modern-day India). The last remnants of which empire were taken over by Britain in the 1850s? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Founded by peasant rebels in 1644, it would be almost another half century before this absolute monarchy reached their zenith, at which point they controlled some 5.6 million square miles, an area larger than Antarctica. Which great dynasty/empire did the pictured flag represent? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. No, it's not the alternative version for a "Jolly Roger", although it is rather scary. This was the flag of a fairly short-lived republic, lasting from 1755-1769. Indeed, use of the flag was virtually banned in 1769. Which European island declared itself independent and used the pictured flag? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Isn't this a truly superb flag? First settled sometime around 1200, most of the population of this independent state was wiped out by a combination of slave traders, smallpox and tuberculosis. The republic to whom the pictured flag belonged was annexed in 1888 and remains so still today. Which island nation once flew this flag? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Our next flag was the banner for a much more recent independent state. Just a few months after the breakup of the Soviet Union in March 1991, the Republic of Gagauzia and their neighbors, Transnistria, began moves to break away from their nominal nation. It was not until 1994 that the three autonomous regions settled their differences and agreed to proceed as which republic?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. We finish with another very unusual flag: this belonged to the Republic of Ragusa, established in 1358. Protected by the Ottoman Empire through the 15th and 16th centuries, it survived as an independent city state until conquered by Napoleon in 1807. Over which modern-day city did this flag once fly? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




View Image Attributions for This Quiz

Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 82: 8/10
Mar 18 2024 : Guest 62: 10/10
Mar 01 2024 : gogetem: 7/10
Mar 01 2024 : Pikoyboy: 8/10
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 68: 2/10
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 98: 10/10
Feb 17 2024 : Buddy1: 10/10
Feb 13 2024 : ZG1968ZG: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The picture shows the flag of the Republic of Ciskei, a nominally independent Bantustan state that existed from 1981 until 1994. Within which modern-day country was its territory?

Answer: South Africa

Bantustans, or Bantu homelands, were territories set aside during the apartheid years for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia, which was administered by South Africa at the time). There were ten such territories in each, and four of those in South Africa (Ciskei, Transkei, Bophuthatswana and Venda) were declared independent, although that status was recognized only within South Africa.
The name Ciskei means "on this side of the Kei River". By contrast, the neighboring Bantustan state of Transkei, had its territory on the other side of the Great Kei River.
The capital of Ciskei was the city of Bhisho (the local word for buffalo), which is now the capital of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province.
The bird on the flag of Ciskei is a blue crane.
2. The pictured flag belongs to the breakaway State of Katanga, which declared its independence in 1960. Its capital was the city of Élisabethville, which is now called Lubumbashi and is the capital of the Katanga Province and the second-largest city in which African country?

Answer: Democratic Republic of the Congo

The State of Katanga lasted from 1960 until 1963. Élisabethville/Lubumbashi was/is at the heart of the mining industry in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly the Belgian Congo), and Katanga's independence was primarily financed and supported by Belgian mining interests.

However, not even Belgium officially recognized the new state, despite providing it with military assistance. Located in the extreme southeast of the country, near the Zambian border, Lubumbashi is now a thriving city with population estimates of around 1.5 million.

The flag of Katanga Province still includes the three croisettes, which are based on the area's traditional currency, the Katanga Cross.
3. Unfortunately, the wonderful flag pictured here belonged to a state that lasted only six weeks. Declared in November 1897 with its capital at San Miguel in Bulacan province, the Republic of Biak-na-Bato was established during the revolution against the Spanish in which modern-day country?

Answer: The Philippines

The Republic of Biak-na-Bato was established during the Philippine Revolution (called the Tagalog War by the Spanish) of 1896-97. Declared on November 1, 1897, the republic was established with the Philippines' first constitution. A peace treaty signed with the Spanish on December 15 that included the exile of the republic's President to Hong Kong.
A stylized version of the 8-ray Sun from the Biak-na-Bato flag appears in yellow on the Philippine flag of today. Each of the original eight rays represented one of the eight provinces that the Spanish had placed under martial law.
4. The flag pictured here belonged to the Banten Sultanate, established in 1527 and lasting until 1813 when it was annexed to the Dutch East Indies. On which Asian island was this independent sultanate?

Answer: Java

The port city of Banten on the northwest coast of Java was once one of southeast Asia's major trading centers, particularly of pepper. Over time, its importance became overshadowed by the city of Batavia (now Jakarta) and the sultanate was eventually swallowed up by the Dutch East Indies.
The territory encompassed by the Banten Sultanate has now become Banten Province in Indonesia with its capital at Serang. The Grand Mosque of Banten, located in what is now called "The Old City" is an important destination for tourists and pilgrims.
5. Founded in 1526 following Babur's victory in the first Battle of Panipat, this empire (which lasted more than three centuries) encompassed an area of more than 1.2 million square miles (about the size of modern-day India). The last remnants of which empire were taken over by Britain in the 1850s?

Answer: Mughal Empire

Started thirty years earlier, the strongest period for the Mughal Empire began in 1556 with the ascension of Akbar the Great. The reign of Shah Jahan, the fifth emperor who reigned from 1628 until 1658, was the golden age of Mughal architecture. Several large monuments were built during this period, most notably the Taj Mahal at Agra, completed in 1653. His successor, Aurangzeb, who reigned for almost fifty years, saw the empire expand to encompass almost a quarter of the world's population at the time (about 150 million).
6. Founded by peasant rebels in 1644, it would be almost another half century before this absolute monarchy reached their zenith, at which point they controlled some 5.6 million square miles, an area larger than Antarctica. Which great dynasty/empire did the pictured flag represent?

Answer: Empire of the Great Qing (China)

It was known as the Empire of the Great Qing, the Qing Dynasty or the Manchu Dynasty. Seizing power from the Ming dynasty in 1644 by capturing their capital city, Beijing, it was not until 1683, under Kangxi, the fourth emperor, that the rest of China was conquered.

A series of rebellions, revolts and unsuccessful wars against foreign powers eventually led to the demise of the empire and the last emperor abdicated in 1912.
7. No, it's not the alternative version for a "Jolly Roger", although it is rather scary. This was the flag of a fairly short-lived republic, lasting from 1755-1769. Indeed, use of the flag was virtually banned in 1769. Which European island declared itself independent and used the pictured flag?

Answer: Corsica

There is more than one variation on this flag depicting a Moor's head. In the traditional emblem, the bandanna covers the eyes, but it was moved to above the eyes in 1755 to symbolize the liberation of the Corsican people. In 1769 (co-incidentally also the year that Napoleon was born on the island), the French forced the Genoans to well the island to settle their debts. During the following twenty years of French rule, the citizens used the blindfolded version of the flag in protest. This flag was re-adopted in 1980 as the Corsican regional banner.

A similar Moor's head (but facing to the right) is also used on the flag of Sardinia, with the image in each quarter of the flag of Saint George.
8. Isn't this a truly superb flag? First settled sometime around 1200, most of the population of this independent state was wiped out by a combination of slave traders, smallpox and tuberculosis. The republic to whom the pictured flag belonged was annexed in 1888 and remains so still today. Which island nation once flew this flag?

Answer: Easter Island

Exactly when humans first arrived on Easter Island is a matter for conjecture, but the latest archaeological opinion is that it was around 1200. That the Polynesians could have made the 1,600-mile trip across open ocean in little more than canoes is, in itself, a remarkable story. The Dutch, Spanish and British all visited the island in the 18th Century, but it was Peruvian slavers who arrives in 1862 who virtually decimated the population. Not only did they take away about half of the population, they left behind diseases which killed many more.
Chile annexed Easter Island in 1888 and it remains today a 'special territory' of that nation.
The Easter Island flag (or the flag of Rapa Nui), features a red 'reimiro', a wooden pectoral ornament once worn by the women of Rapa Nui. In 2006, Easter Island adopted a revised version of their old republican flag, without the black figures in the corners.
9. Our next flag was the banner for a much more recent independent state. Just a few months after the breakup of the Soviet Union in March 1991, the Republic of Gagauzia and their neighbors, Transnistria, began moves to break away from their nominal nation. It was not until 1994 that the three autonomous regions settled their differences and agreed to proceed as which republic?

Answer: Moldova

Sandwiched between Romania to the west and Ukraine on its other three sides, the Republic of Moldova became independent in March 1991. A few months later, though, and this relatively small country (a little bigger than Belgium) virtually fractured into three states, Gagauzia, Transnistria and what was left of Moldova. Following elections in 1994, the new government was able to reunite the country with the two breakaway states being given a large degree of autonomy.
10. We finish with another very unusual flag: this belonged to the Republic of Ragusa, established in 1358. Protected by the Ottoman Empire through the 15th and 16th centuries, it survived as an independent city state until conquered by Napoleon in 1807. Over which modern-day city did this flag once fly?

Answer: Dubrovnik (Croatia)

The Republic of Ragusa was a maritime state centered in the Adriatic-coast city of Dubrovnik in modern-day Croatia. The name Ragusa comes from the Latin word for 'community' (Ragusina). At its height, the republic controlled an area of around 600 square miles (about two-thirds the size of Luxembourg) in what is now the southern part of Croatia's Dalmatia province.
Source: Author EnglishJedi

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
3/29/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us