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History of International Law Trivia Quiz

A quiz on significant events in the development of international law, from the Queen of Sheba to Sputnik.

A multiple-choice quiz by tkane82. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
tkane82

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
191,869

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
679

Last 3 plays: Guest 163 (5/15), Guest 80 (9/15), Guest 87 (10/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. One of the first examples of a diplomatic mission is found in the Bible. Which Israelite king was visited by the Queen of Sheba? Hint

King David

King Herod

King Saul

King Solomon

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Question 2 of 15

2. The origins of modern public international law can be traced directly from the work of Roman Jurisconsults in the 2nd Century AD. Whose work was particularly influencial in providing an early distinction between civil and international law? Hint

Cicero

Marcus

Iulius

Gaius

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Question 3 of 15

3. What name did the Romans give to their concept of international law? Hint

Ius gentium

Ius civile

Lex talionis

Dominium

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Question 4 of 15

4. The fall of the Roman Empire was a serious blow to the development of international law until the late 11th Century. What event sparked its resurgence? Hint

The great schism forces greater consideration of diplomatic relations

Pope Urban II urges the First Crusade

Omar Khayyam publishes his" Rubaiyat"

The discovery of a complete copy of Justinian's Code in Pisa

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Question 5 of 15

5. Another event that sparked a rapid development in the international law was the capture of the Portuguese galleon, the Santa Catalina, by a ship from the Dutch East India company in 1601. This was argued to be a breach of the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas because the Dutch vessel was in Portuguese waters. Where did the incident take place? Hint

In the Straits of Malacca

In the South Atlantic, near Sao Paulo

Off the coast of Lisbon

In the Gulf of Cambay

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who was the young Dutch lawyer hired by the Dutch East India company to prepare their defence for the capture of the Santa Catalina? Hint

Peter Stuyvesant

Baruch Benedictus de Spinoza

Hugo de Groot

Pieter Corneliuszoon Hooft

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Question 7 of 15

7. The spread of international law to the world was facilitated by the Ching Dynasty ordering the translation of what text into Chinese in 1864? Hint

The Prince

Justinian's Code

Elements of International Law

The Law of War and Peace

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Question 8 of 15

8. Commodore Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853 marked a watershed in Japanese history in many respects. More significant to the development of international law in Japan was the arrival and tenure of which American Consul-General? Hint

Townsend Harris

Nathan Algren

William Atherton

John Logan

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Question 9 of 15

9. Following World War I, Woodrow Wilson came to the post-war negotiations with a plan for a League of Nations to prevent another war between major powers. Which of the following is NOT true about the League of Nations? Hint

Its creation coincided with the formation of the Permanent Court of International Justice

It failed spectacularly in the 1930s

It was initially founded with just 18 members

The United States did not join

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Question 10 of 15

10. The United Nations Charter was signed on the 26th June 1945 in what city? Hint

Geneva, Switzerland

San Francisco, USA

Rome, Italy

New York, USA

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Question 11 of 15

11. The UN Charter brought in more than just the General Assembly and Security Council. Which of the following was also created? Hint

The Trusteeship Council

The International Labour Organisation

The World Health Organisation

The International Monetary Fund

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Question 12 of 15

12. Cassese notes that there were two dominant plans regarding how the United Nations was going to preserve world peace. Whose theory has become dominant in the structures of the UN? Hint

Neither plan is really represented in the modern structure

The United Kingdom

The United States of America

A balanced synthesis of the US and UK plans

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Question 13 of 15

13. Which of the following signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court had ratified it when it came into force on 1st July 2002? Hint

Zimbabwe

The United States of America

Argentina

The United Arab Emirates

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Question 14 of 15

14. One of the main purposes of the United Nations is to prevent future wars. Which provision of the UN charter actually prohibits the use of force in international relations? Hint

Article 2(4)

Article 1(2)

Article 51

Article 11

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Question 15 of 15

15. Following the launch of Sputnik in October 1957, a whole new frontier was opened up for exploration, exploitation and international law. What is the acronym for the United Nations committee that quickly formed in response? Hint

UNPROFOR

UNPAC

UNOSC

UNCOPUOS

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Nov 12 2024 : Guest 163: 5/15
Oct 17 2024 : Guest 80: 9/15
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the first examples of a diplomatic mission is found in the Bible. Which Israelite king was visited by the Queen of Sheba?

Answer: King Solomon

The story of the arrival of the Queen of Sheba can be found in the 1st Book of Kings, Chapter 10. Ancient accounts describing the protocols for diplomacy were also produced by the ancient Greeks, Indians and Chinese.

Answer: Gaius

It was Gaius, the Aristotelean scholar who in the "Institute of Gaius" provided this early distinction. His work was later used and reinforced by Justinian in the creation of his famous Code.

3. What name did the Romans give to their concept of international law?

Answer: Ius gentium

"Ius gentium" is generally translated as "the law of nations" and prescribed how citizens who lived in the empire should be treated. The "ius civile" or municipal law applied in the state of Rome itself. The "lex talionis" is the law of punishment and retribution, and "dominium" is the concept of ownership.

4. The fall of the Roman Empire was a serious blow to the development of international law until the late 11th Century. What event sparked its resurgence?

Answer: The discovery of a complete copy of Justinian's Code in Pisa

The discovery of Justinian's comprehensive text led to the establishment of a highly influential School of Law in Bologna.

Answer: In the Straits of Malacca

The Straits of Malacca were argued to be a closed, private sea, and hence the sole property of the Portuguese under the Treaty of Tordesillas.

6. Who was the young Dutch lawyer hired by the Dutch East India company to prepare their defence for the capture of the Santa Catalina?

Answer: Hugo de Groot

Hugo de Groot (or Hugo Grotius), was later to become known as "the Father of International Law". The rest of the choices were famous Dutchmen. Spinoza was a philospher, Hooft a poet and playwright, and Stuyvesant an early governer of New York.

7. The spread of international law to the world was facilitated by the Ching Dynasty ordering the translation of what text into Chinese in 1864?

Answer: Elements of International Law

"Elements of International Law" was written by Henry Wheaton in 1836. The translation was done by William Martin, an American Missionary. It is a particularly interesting translation because rather than being word perfect, it was compressed into a set of basic ideas and commentaries so as to be more convenient for use by government officials.

Answer: Townsend Harris

Townsend Harris gave instruction to the Japanese in international law. This was, incidently, the first European legal concept to be introduced to Japan. His journal from this time was compiled and published in 1930 by M.E. Cosenza. The other choices are incidentally all names connected with the film "The Last Samurai".

Answer: It was initially founded with just 18 members

Despite having been founded enthusiastically with 42 members, the League of Nations was a wonderful idea that seemed doomed to failure in the troubled circumstances of the 1930s.

10. The United Nations Charter was signed on the 26th June 1945 in what city?

Answer: San Francisco, USA

The UN Charter was signed by 50 nations and forms the basis for the modern system of public international law.

11. The UN Charter brought in more than just the General Assembly and Security Council. Which of the following was also created?

Answer: The Trusteeship Council

Along with the UN itself, the UN Charter also created the General Assembly, the Security Council, the International Court of Justice, and the Trusteeship Council.

12. Cassese notes that there were two dominant plans regarding how the United Nations was going to preserve world peace. Whose theory has become dominant in the structures of the UN?

Answer: The United States of America

The United States Plan was championed by US Secretary of State Cordell Hull and President Franklin Roosevelt. It called for, among other things, the dismantlement of colonial empires, the establishment of a universal organisation of "peace loving nations", and a global police role for the leading victors of WWII: the UK, France, USA, China and Russia.

13. Which of the following signatories to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court had ratified it when it came into force on 1st July 2002?

Answer: Argentina

The Rome Statute finally received enough ratifications to enter into force on the 1st July 2002. If a country does not ratify the treaty then it is substantially more difficult for the International Criminal Court to excercise jurisdiction on its citizens.

14. One of the main purposes of the United Nations is to prevent future wars. Which provision of the UN charter actually prohibits the use of force in international relations?

Answer: Article 2(4)

It is article 2(4). Article 51 provides the exception of self defence (which is frequently invoked), Article 11 grants the General Assembly the ability to put situations of concern on the Security Council agenda, and Article 1(2) refers to self determination.

Answer: UNCOPUOS

The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space was established in 1958 on encouragement from the United States. It eventually became a permanent committee and still exists, now with over 100 member countries. An interesting feature of UNCOPUOS is rather than taking votes, it tries to make all its decisions on consensus.

Source: Author tkane82

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