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Quiz about May 13th Throughout History
Quiz about May 13th Throughout History

May 13th Throughout History Trivia Quiz


This quiz will test your knowledge of events that occurred on May 13th (my birthday). Best of luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by Triviaballer. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Triviaballer
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
378,940
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
868
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. On May 13, 609 a famous Roman building was converted into a Christian church. Which building, renown for its massive concrete dome and oculus, was this? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which Dutch politician, influential in his country's push to independence from Spain, was executed on May 13, 1619 after a kangaroo court convicted him of treason?

Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. A particularly influential preacher in Florence, Italy was excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI on May 13, 1497. Closely associated with bonfires of the vanities, who was this preacher that sought to reform the Catholic church? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. The nation of Chile is particularly prone to a natural disaster due to its location. What disaster hit the country on May 13, 1647 near the city of Santiago? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. On May 13, 1787 Captain Arthur Phillip left Portsmouth, England for Australia with eleven ships. Which of the following was true regarding nearly 800 of the passengers on these ships? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. The national anthem "Maamme" was composed by Fredrik Pacius and it was first performed on May 13, 1848. Which country, the site of the 1952 Summer Olympics, has "Maamme" as its national anthem? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The ending date of the American Civil War is often said to be April 9, 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered in Appomattox, Virginia. However, a battle was fought over a month later on May 13, 1865 between Union and Confederate forces. What was the name of this engagement that was fought on the banks of the Rio Grande east of the city of Brownsville, Texas? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. A famous speech was made on May 13, 1940 in which a world leader proclaimed that he had nothing to offer but "blood, toil, tears and sweat". Who was the individual that uttered these words that helped motivate fellow politicians to follow his leadership? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. On May 13, 1981 an influential world leader was shot four times in St. Peter's Square. Who was this individual that survived the assassination attempt and later famously forgave the man that tried to kill him? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. A famous mountaineer reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 13, 1995 becoming the first woman to accomplish the feat alone without supplementary oxygen or help from sherpas. Who was this woman who would die three months later while descending from the summit of K2? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. On May 13, 609 a famous Roman building was converted into a Christian church. Which building, renown for its massive concrete dome and oculus, was this?

Answer: Pantheon

The Pantheon was constructed between 118-128 CE under the leadership of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon to St. Mary and the Martyrs in 609 after the building was gifted to the papacy by Byzantine emperor Phocas. Of all the ancient Roman buildings, the Pantheon has been one of the best preserved because of its constant use in church services.
2. Which Dutch politician, influential in his country's push to independence from Spain, was executed on May 13, 1619 after a kangaroo court convicted him of treason?

Answer: Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was one of the main supporters politically of William the Silent in the revolt against Spain and he also fought in the Dutch army. After the Dutch independence from Spain in 1581 religious and political conflicts were pervasive and Johan van Oldenbarnevelt had many enemies.

These enemies arrested him and his main supporters and then stacked the court with judges who shared their enmity. The court found Johan van Oldenbarnevelt guilty of treason and pronounced a death sentence on him.
3. A particularly influential preacher in Florence, Italy was excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI on May 13, 1497. Closely associated with bonfires of the vanities, who was this preacher that sought to reform the Catholic church?

Answer: Girolamo Savonarola

Savonarola was a very influential friar of the Dominican Order and he was outspoken about corruption in the church, exploiting the poor, and destroying secular works of art. After Savonarola was excommunicated he was tortured and forced to deny his prophecies and visions that he had. On May 23, 1498 Savonarolla and two other friars were hanged and burned to death at the main square in Florence.
4. The nation of Chile is particularly prone to a natural disaster due to its location. What disaster hit the country on May 13, 1647 near the city of Santiago?

Answer: Earthquake

Unfortunately the 1647 Santiago earthquake is just one of the many earthquakes that have hit Chile. In 1960 the first recorded earthquake in human history to reach a 9.5 magnitude battered the city of Valdivia in Chile.
5. On May 13, 1787 Captain Arthur Phillip left Portsmouth, England for Australia with eleven ships. Which of the following was true regarding nearly 800 of the passengers on these ships?

Answer: They were convicts.

The 1787 voyage led by Arthur Phillip was intended to establish a penal colony in Australia and it has become known as the 'First Fleet'. The journey took around 250 days before landing in Botany Bay. Male convicts outnumbered female convicts nearly three to one. Shortly after landing Arthur Phillip was named Governor of New South Wales and he helped transform the area from a prison camp to a functioning settlement.
6. The national anthem "Maamme" was composed by Fredrik Pacius and it was first performed on May 13, 1848. Which country, the site of the 1952 Summer Olympics, has "Maamme" as its national anthem?

Answer: Finland

The title "Maamme" translates as "our land" and the lyrics to the song were written by Johan Ludvig Runeberg. Runeberg may be best known for "The Tales of Ensign Stål" which is an epic poem that is well-known throughout Scandinavia and from which many songs have been derived.
7. The ending date of the American Civil War is often said to be April 9, 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered in Appomattox, Virginia. However, a battle was fought over a month later on May 13, 1865 between Union and Confederate forces. What was the name of this engagement that was fought on the banks of the Rio Grande east of the city of Brownsville, Texas?

Answer: Battle of Palmito Ranch

Although the Union army outnumbered the Confederate army 500 to 300 the battle is typically credited as a Confederate victory under the leadership of Col. John Salmon Ford. John J. Williams who was killed during the battle on May 13, 1865 is considered to be the last solider killed in the American Civil War.
8. A famous speech was made on May 13, 1940 in which a world leader proclaimed that he had nothing to offer but "blood, toil, tears and sweat". Who was the individual that uttered these words that helped motivate fellow politicians to follow his leadership?

Answer: Winston Churchill

This famous speech was delivered to the British House of Commons just three days after Churchill had become Prime Minister. Throughout World War II Churchill provided many motivating speeches and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 for "mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values".
9. On May 13, 1981 an influential world leader was shot four times in St. Peter's Square. Who was this individual that survived the assassination attempt and later famously forgave the man that tried to kill him?

Answer: Pope John Paul II

In addition to the attempted assassination of John Paul II, Mehmet Ali Aðca murdered a journalist named Abdi Ýpekçi in 1979. Aðca was released from prison in 2010 and in 2014 he visited the Vatican and paid his respects to the tomb of John Paul II.
10. A famous mountaineer reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 13, 1995 becoming the first woman to accomplish the feat alone without supplementary oxygen or help from sherpas. Who was this woman who would die three months later while descending from the summit of K2?

Answer: Alison Hargreaves

In addition to this accomplishment, Hargreaves was also the first person to climb the six great north faces of the Alps alone in a single climbing season. In total six climbers died on August 13, 1995 from a storm that ravaged the mountain K2. One of the climbers that survived was Peter Hillary, son of Sir Edmund Hillary, because he had turned back before the summit after he felt the weather was going to get worse.
Source: Author Triviaballer

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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