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Quiz about The History of Venice
Quiz about The History of Venice

The History of Venice Trivia Quiz


This quiz is about the long history of the city of Venice, Italy, not the Republic of Venice. The quiz takes you on a journey from Venice's founding to modern times.

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
Joepetz
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
375,339
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
446
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 68 (6/10), Guest 195 (5/10), Guest 199 (6/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Venice is said to have been founded in 421 at exactly noon when which church was dedicated in the city? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Allegedly elected in 697, who is considered to be the first doge (or leader) of Venice? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Which son of Charlemagne, who was King of Italy, failed in his attempt to concur Venice in 810 and later died from diseases he caught while fighting? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Who is the patron saint of Venice who is represented by the winged lions that can be found all around the city? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. As the Republic of Venice started dominating the Adriatic Sea beginning in the 12th and 13th centuries, the city of Venice was seen as the top city for which important commodity? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Venice had a close relationship with which city from which it gained considerable power and wealth through trade and, eventually, treasures when that city was sacked in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which of the following did NOT contribute to the decline of the once prosperous Republic of Venice and the city during the 15th and 16th centuries? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. The 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio signed by Napoleon after he invaded the city gave Venice to which European nation? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Venice was considered too beautiful to bomb during World War II, so it received no attacks from either Axis or Allied forces.


Question 10 of 10
10. In modern times, Venice has become an increasingly popular locale for destination weddings. Which celebrity married human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin in Venice in 2014? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 19 2024 : Guest 68: 6/10
Oct 06 2024 : Guest 195: 5/10
Oct 03 2024 : Guest 199: 6/10
Sep 18 2024 : Guest 2: 1/10
Sep 16 2024 : dee1304: 5/10
Sep 11 2024 : Guest 86: 4/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Venice is said to have been founded in 421 at exactly noon when which church was dedicated in the city?

Answer: San Giacomo di Rialto

The city of Venice is believed to have been founded by Roman fishermen who were banned from their original cities. There is also some uncertainty about whether or not San Giacomo di Rialto actually existed in 421 as it was not mentioned in any surviving record from Venice until the 12th century. Nonetheless, those records determined that the church had been around for a time when they were written.
2. Allegedly elected in 697, who is considered to be the first doge (or leader) of Venice?

Answer: Exarch Paul

Exarch Paul, real name Paolo Lucio Anafesto, was elected as doge because he was seen as being the most capable person to defend Venice from its many invaders. Historians cannot find any conclusive evidence that Paolo Lucio Anafesto even existed during the 7th century.

Some believe that he was more of a legendary character with roots and traits similar to an actual person. However, others believe in Exarch Paul's authenticity and say that records from Venice during this time period are few and far between, which doesn't prove or disprove anything. Either way, Anafesto is considered the first official Doge of Venice.
3. Which son of Charlemagne, who was King of Italy, failed in his attempt to concur Venice in 810 and later died from diseases he caught while fighting?

Answer: Pepin, King of Lombards

Charlemagne wanted to expand his lands to include Venice and sent Pepin, King of the Lombards, to lay siege it. However, the lagoons of Venice proved to be too much for Pepin, and his troops failed to make any ground in the city. Pepin died soon afterward, leaving Charlemagne to fight for Venice against Nicephorus, Emperor of Byzantium.

The Lombards failure to capture Venice is significant because they had successfully taken nearby Ravenna in 751. With Ravenna in the hands of the Lombards, Byzantium was able to increase dealings and trade with Venice as it no longer had possession of Ravenna.
4. Who is the patron saint of Venice who is represented by the winged lions that can be found all around the city?

Answer: St. Mark the Evangelist

It is believed a merchant from Venice (not from the Shakespearean play) stole or purchased ancient relics belonging to Mark the Evangelist while in Alexandria in 828 and donated them to the basilica that would be named after St. Mark. Many Venetian place names are called such after Mark, including the famous Piazza San Marco.

The winged lions are symbolic of his courage as he is sometimes called St. Mark the Lionhearted.
5. As the Republic of Venice started dominating the Adriatic Sea beginning in the 12th and 13th centuries, the city of Venice was seen as the top city for which important commodity?

Answer: Salt

Venice was able to use its salt industry to gain the support of surrounding regions and cities, which were used as a buffer from invaders. Ultimately, because Venice controlled the salt trade, cities like Verona had no choice but to pledge their loyalty to Venice, and Venice was able to gain control of territory around the Adriatic Sea including the Dalmatian Coast, parts of Greece and even established a colony as far east as Tanais on the River Don near the Sea of Azov.
6. Venice had a close relationship with which city from which it gained considerable power and wealth through trade and, eventually, treasures when that city was sacked in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade?

Answer: Constantinople

Venice mostly traded with Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire. The two cities pledged allegiance to each other via chrysobulls, or Golden Bulls, which are written decrees. When Constantinople was sacked in 1204, merchants and traders brought their Crusade loot with them to Venice.
7. Which of the following did NOT contribute to the decline of the once prosperous Republic of Venice and the city during the 15th and 16th centuries?

Answer: A powerful earthquake flooded the city.

Venice failed to protect Constantinople from the invading Ottomans. After the Ottomans seized control of Constantinople in 1453, they cut off most ties with Venice. By the end of the 15th century, the rest of Europe was colonizing the Americas and Asia and the Republic of Venice did not because leaders felt secure with its allied colonies throughout southern Europe, primarily on the Adriatic and that the Venice-Constantinople alliance would repair itself.

When the alliance did not and Venice looked toward colonization, Venice did not have ships that were capable of sailing long distances and most of the New World had already been claimed and disputed over by other nations.

The Black Plague struck Venice twice in the 16th century, killing nearly half the population, further damaging the city's declining economy and status.
8. The 1797 Treaty of Campo Formio signed by Napoleon after he invaded the city gave Venice to which European nation?

Answer: Austria

Napoleon was known for removing restrictions on the Jewish people in Venice by giving them equal rights. Prior to his coming, the Jewish population were forced to live in a walled ghetto, although after Napoleon many Jews still lived in the ghetto, but they were not obligated to do so and conditions there were improved. Venice in Austria was short lived as in 1805, the Treaty of Pressburg gave it back to Italy under Napoleon.

It went back to Austrian possession in 1814 until 1866 when it became part of the new Kingdom of Italy.
9. Venice was considered too beautiful to bomb during World War II, so it received no attacks from either Axis or Allied forces.

Answer: False

Venice was mostly spared except for Operation Bowler when the British attacked the German Navy in Venice. Notably, the British hit all of their targets without missing, so no landmarks were damaged.
10. In modern times, Venice has become an increasingly popular locale for destination weddings. Which celebrity married human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin in Venice in 2014?

Answer: George Clooney

It was reported that the Clooney-Alamuddin wedding cost over $180 million dollars. Despite that price tag, weddings in Venice are normally inexpensive as many of the most beautiful and popular places in Venice are open to the public for free.
Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
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