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Indonesia History Trivia

Indonesia History Trivia Quizzes

2 Indonesia History quizzes and 25 Indonesia History trivia questions.

Indonesia's Colonial Past

Multiple Choice

10 Qns

I made this quiz out of curiosity to see what average non-Indonesians and non-Dutch nationals know about a crucial part of the past of Indonesia. I think it is rather easy, but who knows...

Average, 10 Qns, Oblomov, Jul 03 12

Average
Oblomov
1381 plays

Modern Indonesian History

Multiple Choice

15 Qns

Major events and important people in Indonesia's recent history, with a focus on political history.

Average, 15 Qns, buguru, May 04 12

Average
buguru
1341 plays

Indonesia History Trivia Questions

1. Which Europeans were the first to set a foot in Indonesia?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Portuguese

A tiny part of Indonesia, East Timor, never fell to the Dutch, but remained in the possession of Portugal well into the second half of the 20th century.

2. What was Indonesia called in the first half of the twentieth century?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Dutch East Indies

The Dutch controlled much of what is now Indonesia by the end of the 19th century.

3. Which part of Indonesia were those earlier European conquerors most interested in?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Moluccas

What the Portuguese and the Dutch were primarily after, in this first stage of the colonization, were condiments like nutmeg, much asked for in Europe at that time.

4. Which nation invaded Indonesia in 1942?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Japan

It was part of Japanese expansionism during World War II.

5. In the beginning of the 17th century the Dutch founded a settlement on the north-western coast of Java. Which name did they give to this rapidly expanding township?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Batavia

The new town was founded on the ruins of a Javanese town called Jacatra, or Jakarta (hence the name of the present capital of Indonesia).

6. On what date was Indonesian independence proclaimed?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: 17 August 1945

Sukarno was basically forced to proclaim independence by some of the young freedom fighters.

7. As in nearly all colonial empires, besides direct Dutch rule there was also an indirect rule by means of local indigenous potentates, sultans, or lords of lesser rank. What was the most important sultanate of the whole of Indonesia?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Jogyakarta

Pontianak was a sultanate on Dutch Borneo (now: Kalimantan), Atjeh (now Aceh) in the North of Sumatra. Surakarta is, like Jogyakarta, a sultanate on Java. The two last sultanates are not that old: they were formed in the 18th century out of the sultanate of Mataram under Dutch pressure, who felt comfortable by dividing this kingdom ("divide et impera!").

8. For approximately how long did Indonesians have to fight (physically and diplomatically) for their independence from the colonial power?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Four years

After declaring independence, the Indonesians had to fight from 1945 until 1949.

9. At the end of the 18th century the Dutch possessions in Indonesia were taken over by the Dutch state from another institution. Which was that institution, to which those - already quite extended - possessions had hitherto belonged?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie

In fact the same happened as in the case of the British East India Company, which was dissolved and whose possessions were handed over to the British State - albeit half a century later.

10. Who was Indonesia's first president?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Soekarno

Soekarno was a great orator who inspired his people, but during his leadership Indonesia struggled to gain ground economically.

11. Which political party received an outright majority in the 1955 elections?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: None

Four parties received roughly 20 percent of the vote each.

12. Whom did the 'Thirtieth of September Movement' kill?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Six Generals

It was actually early in the morning of the first of October (1965) that the kidnappings and murders took place. A seventh general, Nasution, escaped because his aide impersonated him.

13. Around 1925 a young nationalist began his first political actions against colonial rule; his daughter would one day, much later of course, become a president of Indonesia. What was his name?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: Sukarno

Sukarno (or Soekarno, as he always spelled his name in the Dutch way) was the first president of Indonesia, and his daughter Megawati Sukarnoputri fulfills this function now (2003, with two presidents between them). He can rightly be described as the founder of modern Indonesia.

14. In the pogroms of 1965 and 1966, approximately how many people were killed?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: 250,000 to 1,000,000

The pogroms were aimed at wiping out Communists. Estimates of the number of people killed vary greatly, but many estimates are near the 500,000 mark.

15. As the first president's power waned, which person assumed the presidency?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: General Soeharto

General Soeharto's rule lasted approximately 32 years.

16. After the recognition of Indonesian independence by the Netherlands a part of present Indonesia remained under the Dutch rule for more than a decade. Which part was that?

From Quiz Indonesia's Colonial Past

Answer: West Irian

Between 1949-1961 the Dutch government tried to prepare the inhabitants of West Irian (ethnically different from the Indonesians, and much more akin to the inhabitans of Papua on the eastern part of the island) for independence. This was a justifiable intention in itself, but in view of the treaty with the Indonesians and the intentions of Sukarno formally and politically untenable. There is a "Free Papua" movement, and sporadic fighting, but the chances for independence or union with (Eastern) Papua are very slim, to put it mildly.

17. Which territory did Indonesian troops go into on the 7th December 1975?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: East Timor

Indonesia controlled East Timor for about 24 years.

18. In 1998, who became Indonesia's third president?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: BJ Habibie

Habibie was vice president when Soeharto resigned. According to Indonesia's constitution, he was the person to take over running the country.

19. How long did the third president stay in office?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: About 17 months

When Habibie first came to power, he said that there would be elections within 6 months. However, it wasn't until 17 months later that the elections were held, and Habibie was booted out.

20. During the New Order regime, there were only three political parties allowed. How many political parties participated in the 1999 general election?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: 48

More than one hundred parties applied for registration, but less than half of them were accepted. Nevertheless, 48 parties is a great leap from three.

21. Which Muslim cleric became Indonesia's fourth president?

From Quiz Modern Indonesian History

Answer: Abdurrahman Wahid

Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid's nickname) came to power with the aid of the Poros Tengah (Middle Axis) - a conglomeration of parties that fell apart not long after he gained office. Hamzah Haz was head of the Development Unity Party, Akbar Tanjung was head of Golkar, and Zainuddin MZ is a Muslim preacher.

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