Historical Geography Trivia

1. Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills were the leader and second-in-command respectively of an expedition to cross unknown territory in 1860-1861. Where did they die?

From Quiz Explorers' Places

Answer: Cooper Creek, Australia

The Burke and Wills expedition was promoted by the Royal Society of Victoria. The aim was first to travel from Melbourne to Cooper's Creek (near the area where the borders of Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia meet) and then to proceed north through unknown territory to reach the Gulf of Carpentaria, thus to complete the first journey from the south to north of Australia. Leaving a depot at Cooper's Creek, the expedition made it to the north of Queensland, but only three men made it back to Cooper's Creek. It is one of those historical tragedies that only a few hours before they arrived, the camp had been cleared and the men who had been left there had started on the return to Melbourne. Both Burke and Wills died in that vicinity, while the third man John King was found by an eventual rescue party living with a native tribe. King was the only man to complete the journey both ways. These men (Burke and Wills) are not to be confused with Burke and Hare who were notorious for obtaining corpses and selling them to Robert Knox for his Edinburgh anatomy lectures. [D]

From Quiz Countries Founded: 1990s to 2010s

Answer: Lithuania

Founded in 1009, Lithuania was once a powerful empire which dominated much of east Europe during the 14th-16th centuries. For the next two centuries, it became part of the Polish-Lithuanian confederation. From 1772 to 1795, it lost most its territories to the Russian Empire. In 1918, it became independent after WWI. In 1944, it was again annexed by the USSR after the Russians defeated the Germans in WWII. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania seceded from the USSR. On 6 September 1991, its independence was fully recognized when the USSR was dissolved. Its capital city is Vilnius.

From Quiz Famous Places - Where Are They?

Answer: Spain

The Battle Of Trafalgar was named after Cape Trafalgar in Spain. The sea battle was fought between Napoleon's combined French and Spanish fleets and the Royal Navy on 21 October 1805. It took place in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwest coast of Spain. The Royal Navy was led by Lord Horatio Nelson and the French/Spanish navies were led by the French Vice-Admiral Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve.

From Quiz The Past Is a Foreign Country

Answer: They were included in the new state of West Virginia when it was formed in 1863

The western counties of Virginia voted to split off from the rest of the state during the Civil War and formed the new state of West Virginia. They achieved statehood in 1863, with Wheeling as the capital. In 1885, the capital was finally settled in the more centrally located city of Charleston.

From Quiz New Holland

Answer: Australia

The discovery of the island continent of Australia was documented by the Netherlands (Willem Janszoon in 1606), but there are also claims by Portugal, China, France, Spain, and India that may precede that date. Documentation, however, is the key determining factor to this point. The whole of the continent was called New Holland until the establishment of New South Wales on the eastern portion of the island. From then on, the western portion was referred to as New Holland. The name Australia was suggested in 1804 by British navigator Matthew Flinders, but it would be another twenty years before it came into common use, and even then, both names continued to be used for some time.

From Quiz Walk These Ancient Streets

Answer: Jericho

Jericho is located on the west bank of the Jordan River and has been the site of ongoing conflicts between Israel, Jordan and Palestine for many years. It began around 10,000 BC as a place to meet. A spring was a focal watering point for various groups of hunter-gatherers to gather in that part of the world. Within a few hundred years, a permanent settlement began to grow there. By 9,000 BC, small, circular homes were built, burial sites were established and its society base had started to gradually move from those of hunter-gatherers to that of domesticated cereal growers. Evidence has been found by archaeologists in our modern age that reveals, even way back then, the structure of a large wall that was built around the village. That wall and its follow up improvements was to figure significantly in the later biblical story of Joshua and the Israelites. This story tells of their march around it every day for a week, before a triumphant blast on their trumpets brought it tumbling down, thus enabling that nation of people to return to the Promised Land following several centuries of dwelling in Egypt. Following the initial founding of Jericho, thousands of years of invasion appears to have been their lot in life, as the site was taken over, almost abandoned and then rebuilt on, again and again, by successive waves of conquerors. Between 4,500 and 2,600 BC the city had expanded significantly, however. By approximately 1,700 BC it had grown to be a prosperous and thriving centre, with a strong defensive wall to hold off any would-be invaders. Until Joshua came along, that is, when the city was all but destroyed by the Israelites. Yet somehow it managed to survive as small isolated groups of people and buildings. From that period until the 11th century AD, and then right up again to the 19th century AD, the bruised site continued to be occupied by other nations, ending with its subjugation and control by the Ottoman Empire. Following World War I and the fall of that empire, the city grew again, but always as a focal point between the violently clashing religions and ideologies of this troubled area. By the early 21st century, with its rich history stretching back over thousands of years, Jericho boasted a population of some 20,000 residents. Today it has banks, schools, a casino, hospitals, industries and many ancient biblical and historical sites that draw tourists like swarms of busy bees. Its population is young and strong, thriving farming communities surround the city and many groves of banana trees provide additional income. Most of all perhaps, because of its age and rich history, this ancient city is an irresistible site for archaeologists, as they strive endlessly to go back further and further into Jericho's fascinating and compelling past.

From Quiz Abyssinia in All The Old Familiar Places

Answer: Strait of Malacca

The colony came into existence in 1826. It comprised various settlements claimed by the British Empire, and included Penang, Malacca and Singapore. Later, such diverse outposts as Labuan (on the island of Borneo) and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean were added. After WWII, the geography of southeast Asia changed, with Penang, Malacca and Singapore becoming part of Malaya. Further changes saw Singapore break away to become an independent country, and the remnants of the Malayan Federation became Malaysia. Cocos (Keeling) Islands became Australian territory.

From Quiz See You On The Other Side

Answer: Asia Minor

Historically Anatolia is considered to roughly correspond to the western two-thirds of Asian Turkey. Many ancient peoples lived there before the Greeks arrived, including the Hittites, known for their iron-making skills, and the Lydians, who, according to Herodotus, made the first gold and silver coins. The land was part of the great Assyrian and Persian empires; as with most of the nearby area, Anatolia was eventually incorporated into the Roman Empire.

From Quiz Not a Penny Less

Answer: Manhattan

Manhattan Island, 22.7 square miles (59 km²) in area and 2.3 miles (3.7 km) in width at its widest point, strategically guards the entrance to the Hudson River (which provided easy access to mid and upstate New York). Dutch interests in Manhattan were originally focused on Fort Amsterdam as protection from possible attack by other European colonial powers. The Dutch sought ownership of this land to protect their farms and investments. Fort Amsterdam slowly grew into what is now New York City. The original deed of purchase has been lost so exact details of the trade goods are not known.

From Quiz Geography of Ancient Egypt

Answer: Memphis

Cairo today lies near the ruins of several ancient Egyptian cities, including Giza and Memphis. Kerma was the capital of Nubia, a kingdom to the south of Egypt. Aswan lies further upstream on the Nile, and so does Abydos.

From Quiz Went to a Garden Party

Answer: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

If they ever existed, the Gardens were probably in present day Iraq. If believed it was built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to appease his homesick wife who longed for the various plants of her homeland of Media, now a part of modern Iraq. Descriptions of the size of the garden have led ancient scholars and experts to believe that it would have required a minimum of 8,000 gallons of water a day to sustain the plants. The availability of that volume of water, in that area, is questionable.

From Quiz In My Own Little Corner

Answer: St. Helena

Located 1,200 miles to the west of Africa, in the southern part of the Atlantic Ocean, St. Helena is an incredibly remote location. When the Portuguese discovered it in 1502, the island was void of human inhabitants. It was not long before the island was used as a penal colony as well as a place of exile. The abundant flora and fauna on the island, as well as easily obtainable fresh water made this island an important haven for ships crossing the Atlantic.

From Quiz Napoleon's Geography Lesson

Answer: Corsica

Corsica's beaches, mountains, and scenery make it a beautiful place. My native Corsica has had an interesting history, being controlled in ancient times by Carthage, Greece, and Rome. It was subsequently invaded by the Vandals, Visigoths, Saracens, and the Lombards. In 756 the Frankish King, Pepin, gave it to the pope. From 1347-1729 Corsica was controlled by Genoa. My great-grandfather, Giuseppe, established a family home (Casa Buonaparte) in Ajaccio in 1682. At the time of my birth, my father, Carlo, was fighting in a guerrilla army in an attempt to free Corsica from the French, who purchased the island in 1770. Don't forget to visit my home and Ajaccio Cathedral while you are there!

From Quiz Cities and Sites of Ancient Egypt

Answer: Saqqara

In early Egypt, many pharaohs remained buried at Abydos (the traditional burial site before the unification of Egypt). However, they would leave a cenotaph, such as a pyramid or mastaba, at Saqqara.

From Quiz Historic and Ancient Ruins VII

Answer: Paderne

Paderne was built by the Moors in the late 12th century AD. When Afonso III, King of Portugal, ascended the throne in 1248 AD, he waged war against the Moorish state of Algarve in 1249 AD and succeeded in driving out the Moors. With this victory, not only did he complete the Reconquista in Portugal, but also greatly increased the land area of Portugal. During the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, Paderne Castle suffered great devastation and was left in ruins.

From Quiz Historic and Ancient Ruins IV

Answer: Morocco

Lixus, located in Northern Morocco, started out as a Phoenician colony sometime in 7th century BC. Garum was an important export commodity in ancient times and ruins of a garum factory can be seen in modern Lixus. When Cyrus the Great conquered Phoenicia in 539 BC, many Phoenicians fled to their colonies. Carthage then began to expand westwards and absorbed cities like Lixus and ended somewhere near Essaouira, famous for its purple dye from Murex snails. Phoenician in Greek means "purple dye".

From Quiz Historic and Ancient Ruins VI

Answer: Cambodia

Built in jungle surroundings, the size and beauty of Angkor in its heyday was unrivaled throughout the world. More than a thousand temples were located in Angkor itself. A huge man-made reservoir was created, which was known as West Beray. The inhabitants of Angkor cultivated rice. Fish were caught in Tonle Sap, a freshwater lake south of Angkor. To the north of Angkor was a sacred mountain range in Cambodia, known as Phnom Kulen. Sandstone from Phnom Kulen was used to build temples in Angkor. Hundreds of lingas were carved on the bed of the mountain streams, so that the streams would be sanctified and purified before reaching the temples of Angkor. Reference: "Cambodia: History of Angkor" (YouTube.com)

From Quiz Ancient Cities...Modern Countries

Answer: Iraq

When it was constructed around 2600 B.C. (after an earlier settlement in the area was abandoned) Ur was a favored land and sea center due to its location on the two mighty rivers. Over the millennia, marine regression has caused a shift in the location of the rivers and what is left of Ur is now miles inland.

From Quiz Disputed Territories

Answer: Quemoy

When the Chinese Nationalists were driven from the mainland by the Communists in 1949 they managed to retain control of Quemoy and nearby Matsu island. The heavily fortified Quemoy became a symbol of defiance to the Communist mainland by the Nationalist government in Taiwan with sporadic shelling in both direction occuring in the 1950s and 60s. Its status remains in dispute as part of the larger Taiwan -China conflict. Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 after a long period as a British colony. Hainan is a large island off the south coast of China. Iwo Jima is a small volcanic island off the SW coast of Japan and was the scene of a major battle during World War II.

From Quiz But Where Did It Happen? ( 2 )

Answer: Pakistan

Ms. Bhutto, an Oxford graduate, collectively spent around six years in prison and under detention as a result of numerous false accusations against her.

From Quiz But Where Did It Happen? (1)

Answer: Belgium

The battlefield is actually about 12km from Brussels and 2km from the town of Waterloo.

From Quiz No Longer Capitals 5

Answer: Angola

Huambo was called Nova Lisboa at the time. It was severely damaged during the war for liberation in the 1960s-70s.

From Quiz Short-lived 20th Century States

Answer: Banat Republic

The republic was proclaimed on October 31 1918 as the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed. Serbian troops entered some days later and ended this republic.

From Quiz That Island With All The Big Heads On It

Answer: Holland

The commander of the three Dutch ships that found Easter Island was Jacob Roggeveen. Sadly this first meeting resulted in some dozen islanders being shot by nervous seamen.

From Quiz Former Independent Countries

Answer: German Democratic Republic, DDR

German Democratic Republic, or DDR, was included in BRD 1990.

From Quiz Colonies and Territories

Answer: St.-Pierre and Miquelon

St.-Pierre and Miquelon was settled by cod fisherman in 1604. It covers 93-square-miles on eight islands. Its 7,000 citizens depend mainly on fishing and petroleum.

From Quiz Famous Places - Where Are They?

Answer: North Africa

The Barbary Coast was in north Africa, which now consists of the countries of Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The name derives from the Berber people of North Africa and is associated with the Barbary pirates and Barbary slave traders based there. They attacked ships and coastal settlements in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually this led to the Barbary Wars of the early 19th century, which involved the U.S. Marines and Navy in their first land action overseas. This action is referred to in the Marines' Hymn "From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli".

From Quiz Following the Blood in the Mediterranean

Answer: Naples

Naples in the Campania region of Italy gained its name from the ancient Greek city of Neopolis (meaning 'new city') established there in the sixth century BC. It lies about nine kilometres from Mount Vesuvius. Although towns like Pompeii and Herculaneum were buried by pyroclastic flows from the eruption in 79 AD, Neapolis avoided this. Naples has now expanded onto some of the areas affected by the pyroclastic flows. Since 79 AD there have been some forty eruptions with those killed running into the thousands.

From Quiz Walk These Ancient Streets

Answer: Byblos

Though Byblos has been known by many other names during its long history, the one most recognised today derives from the old Greek word for paper or books. This lovely old city appears to have been first settled 8,000-7,000 BC. Over the next 3,000 years, it developed the trappings of civilisation we would easily recognise today with pottery utensils and clay figurines found in the old houses revealed by archaeological digs, along with plastered floors and cooking implements. Silos for storing domesticated grains have also been discovered close to those homes, and by 3,000 BC, evidence of quite sophisticated architectural techniques was appearing in its many ancient buildings. Such was the degree of civilisation of Byblos through the ages, and its strong survival instinct to meld with its many invaders, the city eventually formed a strong alliance with the kingdom of Egypt. The resulting exchange of information between the two led to Byblos being recognised throughout the Mediterranean as a centre for scientific and technological advance and implementation. Then came the Assyrians, the Persians and the Greeks over the centuries that followed, closely followed by the Romans, the Muslims, the Israelites, Christians and Ottomans. Each succeeding wave of settlers or invaders brought with them their own technologies and advances, all of which were absorbed into the ever changing and adaptable nature of the people of Byblos. Now into the 21st century, this remarkable little survivor, so replete with a staggering number of historical sites, has university and schools, hospitals, the only pharmacy training centre in the Middle East, entertainment venues, restaurants, bars, a beautiful anchorage for yachts full of tourists and the wealthy, Christian and Muslim places of worship, and everything else equipped to take it confidently into the future and another 10,000 years of existence - providing it continues to survive the troubled world of the Middle East.

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Last Updated Nov 19 2024 9:29 AM

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