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Quiz about Now You See It
Quiz about Now You See It

Now You See It Trivia Quiz


Some empires, dynasties and régimes last for centuries, while others are not so lucky. This quiz takes a look at a few of these less fortunate creations.

A multiple-choice quiz by bronzewolf22. Estimated time: 7 mins.
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Author
bronzewolf22
Time
7 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
367,299
Updated
Feb 17 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Very Difficult
Avg Score
4 / 10
Plays
368
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. The fall of a great empire is a fertile ground for the creation of new states. Which of these kingdoms, which came into being with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, lasted the longest? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Charlemagne created a vast empire before his death in 814, going so far as to have himself crowned emperor in Rome. After his death, his sons and grandsons were not able to keep his empire together, and within sixty years Western Europe was as fragmented as it had ever been. The death of which ruler, in 888, marked the end of Charlemagne's Frankish Empire? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The early history of Ireland does not contain many instances where the whole island was unified under one native ruler. The exception occurred under this man, who died in battle in 1014. Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Before the Normans took their turn, the Danes made a concerted effort to conquer England. They were successful enough that, at least during this king's lifetime, the crowns of Denmark and England were united in one person. Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1204, the Fourth Crusade ended with the capture of Constantinople. In the subsequent division of former Byzantine territory, which was NOT one of the states created? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Under their great warrior leader, Genghis Khan, the Mongols and their allies conquered much of Asia and Eastern Europe. Even so, their conquest of China was not completed until 1279, and the dynasty proclaimed by Kublai Khan 8 years before would only rule until 1368. What is the name of this short-lived Mongol-Chinese dynasty? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon which followed it, spread chaos and change across Europe. In 1806, Napoleon decided that the Holy Roman Empire was due for liquidation. What organization of German states did he create to replace it (at least in part)? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 1856, American adventurer William Walker led a small private army to Nicaragua in an attempt to create what ambitiously named polity? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 1943, the allies invaded Italy. The Fascist government of Benito Mussolini was overthrown, and Italy officially changed sides. Not willing to let a good puppet go to waste, Hitler had Mussolini kidnapped and made him the ruler of what insignificant client state? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union backed the formation of friendly governments wherever they could. In Afghanistan, the Soviets installed a pro-communist regime in 1978, and invaded the country a year later to keep it in power. After ten years of fighting, the Soviets were forced to withdraw in 1989, leaving their Afghan allies to fight alone. How long did the communist government, which called itself the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, manage to last following the Soviet withdrawl? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The fall of a great empire is a fertile ground for the creation of new states. Which of these kingdoms, which came into being with the fall of the Western Roman Empire, lasted the longest?

Answer: Visigothic Kingdom

The Vandal Kingdom was centered in North Africa, and was absorbed by Byzantium in 533. The Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy didn't last much longer, with the last king dying in 552/553. The Burgundian Kingdom, in what is now eastern France, lasted until 534, while the Visigoths, located in Spain, managed to hold on until the coming of the Muslims in 711.

The region of Burgundy, the heart of the former Burgundian kingdom, remains a distinct area even today. Burgundy can also refer to the wine made in the area, as well as to a shade of red.
2. Charlemagne created a vast empire before his death in 814, going so far as to have himself crowned emperor in Rome. After his death, his sons and grandsons were not able to keep his empire together, and within sixty years Western Europe was as fragmented as it had ever been. The death of which ruler, in 888, marked the end of Charlemagne's Frankish Empire?

Answer: Charles the Fat

The idea of reviving the Western Roman Empire survived the demise of the Frankish emperors. The German Otto I had himself crowned emperor in 962, marking the beginning of the Holy Roman Empire, which had a long, more or less continuous existence.
3. The early history of Ireland does not contain many instances where the whole island was unified under one native ruler. The exception occurred under this man, who died in battle in 1014.

Answer: Brian Boru

Not surprisingly, Boru is the subject of many Irish songs and legends. His death in battle against a joint force of Irish and Viking rebels marked the end of a united Ireland, until the final English conquest six centuries later. Boru proclaimed himself Emperor of the Irish in several surviving letters: one wonders how his empire would have turned out had he survived.
4. Before the Normans took their turn, the Danes made a concerted effort to conquer England. They were successful enough that, at least during this king's lifetime, the crowns of Denmark and England were united in one person.

Answer: Cnut the Great

Cnut's heirs were more focused on politics in Denmark, allowing Edward the Confessor to become England's king. Had the two countries stayed united, subsequent events involving a certain Norman duke might have turned out very differently.
5. In 1204, the Fourth Crusade ended with the capture of Constantinople. In the subsequent division of former Byzantine territory, which was NOT one of the states created?

Answer: Empire of Nicaea

The amazing thing about these states is that they lasted as long as they did. Facing strong local opposition, Crusader remnants managed to remain in Greece until the mid 15th century. Poul Anderson's novel, "Rogue Sword", is set in the Greece of this period.
6. Under their great warrior leader, Genghis Khan, the Mongols and their allies conquered much of Asia and Eastern Europe. Even so, their conquest of China was not completed until 1279, and the dynasty proclaimed by Kublai Khan 8 years before would only rule until 1368. What is the name of this short-lived Mongol-Chinese dynasty?

Answer: Yuan

The Song dynasty were the rulers of southern China whom Kublai defeated in 1279. The Ming were the successors of the Yuan, and the Qing followed the Ming in 1644. Like the Yuan before them, the Qing were not native Chinese.
7. The French Revolution, and the rise of Napoleon which followed it, spread chaos and change across Europe. In 1806, Napoleon decided that the Holy Roman Empire was due for liquidation. What organization of German states did he create to replace it (at least in part)?

Answer: Confederation of the Rhine

Like many Napoleonic political creations, the Confederation of the Rhine didn't last beyond Napoleon's fall. Even so, the Holy Roman Empire did not return. It was replaced by the German Confederation, with the Austrian Empire as the senior power, but in 1866 it was challenged and defeated by Prussia, which proceeded to unify Germany (without Austria).
8. In 1856, American adventurer William Walker led a small private army to Nicaragua in an attempt to create what ambitiously named polity?

Answer: Central American Empire

Walker's Central American Empire didn't get very far off the ground. Walker himself was executed by the Nicaraguan government. The Empire of the Americas and United Republic of Central American States are both made up. Grand Columbia was a nation whose successor states include Columbia, Venezuela, and Ecuador.
9. In 1943, the allies invaded Italy. The Fascist government of Benito Mussolini was overthrown, and Italy officially changed sides. Not willing to let a good puppet go to waste, Hitler had Mussolini kidnapped and made him the ruler of what insignificant client state?

Answer: Republic of Salo

The Republic of Salo, also known as the Italian Social Republic, was never more than an Italian Fascist rump state. Mussolini was never able to win popular support, and was forced to rely heavily on German troops for his survival.
10. During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union backed the formation of friendly governments wherever they could. In Afghanistan, the Soviets installed a pro-communist regime in 1978, and invaded the country a year later to keep it in power. After ten years of fighting, the Soviets were forced to withdraw in 1989, leaving their Afghan allies to fight alone. How long did the communist government, which called itself the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, manage to last following the Soviet withdrawl?

Answer: 3 years

Najibullah managed to outlive his government by four years. He was eventually taken from the UN compound in Kabul, castrated, dragged behind a truck through the streets, and hanged from a traffic light.
Source: Author bronzewolf22

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