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East Africa and Middle East Trivia Quiz

Fun, historical, meaningless facts about the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.

A multiple-choice quiz by faliero. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
faliero

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
31,982

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
2909

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Who was the last President of Somalia (meaning a leader presiding over an effective and recognized 'government')? Hint

Mengistu Haile Mariam

Mohammed Siad Barre

Mohammed Sidi Assid

Ali Mahdi Muhammad

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Question 2 of 15

2. Where are the famous rock-hewn churches of Lallibela? Hint

Eritrea

Egypt

Djibouti

Ethiopia

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Question 3 of 15

3. Which Muslim Empire held sway over much of the Eastern Africa coast from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, trading in slaves, gold, and ivory? Hint

Turkish

Yemeni

Omani

Saudi

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Question 4 of 15

4. Who was Ethiopia's last Emperor? Hint

Haile Selassie

Meles Zenawi

Mengistu Haile Mariam

Tengu Gebre

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Question 5 of 15

5. What is Eritrea's currency? Hint

Nafka

Franc

Birr

Tenka

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Question 6 of 15

6. What is Eritrea's main port city? Hint

Massawa

Mille

Keren

Assab

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Question 7 of 15

7. What is the mountainous region on the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen called? Hint

Hadramaut

Hejaz

Chouf

Nejd

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Question 8 of 15

8. In Saudi Arabia, who succeeded King Fahd? Hint

Sultan, Defense Minister

Abdullah, Crown Prince

Naif, Minister of the Interior

Majid, Governor of Mecca

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Question 9 of 15

9. King Faisal was murdered in 1975 by whom? Hint

Nephew

Son

Butler (in the library with the candlestick)

Cousin

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Question 10 of 15

10. Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, the founder of modern day Saudi Arabia, captured Riyadh in 1902 by defeating which rival tribe? Hint

Al Rashid

Al Sudairi

Al Otaibi

Al Rahmani

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Question 11 of 15

11. What year was oil discovered in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province? Hint

1935

1945

1932

1940

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Question 12 of 15

12. What word is NOT derived from Arabic? Hint

Alchemy

Algebra

Alcohol

Alum

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Question 13 of 15

13. Gonder is in which country? Hint

Sudan

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Somalia

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Question 14 of 15

14. Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt's Christians belong to what Orthodox branch? Hint

Chaldean

Coptic

Eastern

Greek

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Question 15 of 15

15. The Ark of the Covenant is believed to be in what town in Ethiopia? Hint

Mille

Gonder

Axum

Mekele

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who was the last President of Somalia (meaning a leader presiding over an effective and recognized 'government')?

Answer: Mohammed Siad Barre

There's been a number of 'leaders' since 1991, the year Siad Barre was deposed, but they are usuall self-proclaimed and not even recognized by other clans, let alone other governments. Former British Somaliland in the North seceded in 1991.

2. Where are the famous rock-hewn churches of Lallibela?

Answer: Ethiopia

Crusaders are fabled to have helped carve these beautiful churches.

3. Which Muslim Empire held sway over much of the Eastern Africa coast from the seventeenth to the nineteenth century, trading in slaves, gold, and ivory?

Answer: Omani

4. Who was Ethiopia's last Emperor?

Answer: Haile Selassie

5. What is Eritrea's currency?

Answer: Nafka

Eritrea had used Ethiopia's monetary unit, the 'birr', since winning independence in 1993 - The change to the Nafka was one of the causes that led to the current Eritrean-Ethiopian war.

6. What is Eritrea's main port city?

Answer: Assab

7. What is the mountainous region on the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen called?

Answer: Hadramaut

The Bin Ladin family is originally from the Hadramaut. Ethnically, they're more Yemeni than Saudi.

8. In Saudi Arabia, who succeeded King Fahd?

Answer: Abdullah, Crown Prince

Prince Abdullah was the Crown Prince.

9. King Faisal was murdered in 1975 by whom?

Answer: Nephew

Couldn't resist the Clue reference...

10. Abdulaziz Ibn Saud, the founder of modern day Saudi Arabia, captured Riyadh in 1902 by defeating which rival tribe?

Answer: Al Rashid

The Al Rashid tribe's headquarters was in Ha'il, in the northwest of the peninsula.

11. What year was oil discovered in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province?

Answer: 1932

12. What word is NOT derived from Arabic?

Answer: Alum

Alcohol is the most common wrong answer, I think.

13. Gonder is in which country?

Answer: Ethiopia

There are some very interesting medieval castles in Gonder. Worth a look.

14. Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt's Christians belong to what Orthodox branch?

Answer: Coptic

15. The Ark of the Covenant is believed to be in what town in Ethiopia?

Answer: Axum

In the church of St. Mary of Zion. A good book on this mystery is 'The Sign and the Seal' by Graham Hancock

Source: Author faliero

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