Forgotten Countries #1 Online Trivia | Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. This state came into being in 1112 under Hermann. In 1806, it was given the status of Grand Duchy following the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. It ended its sovereignty by joining the German Empire in 1871, though officially it remained a separate state through 1945. What country, now combined with W�rttemberg and part of Germany, is this?

Answer: Baden

Unfortunately for Baden, its entire western border is made by the Rhine, which is also Germany's border with France. During the rule of Louis XIV, Baden was ransacked and several major cities were razed. After Napoleon took over France, Baden was hit once again by a vastly superior force, and by 1805 Baden was actually fighting with Napoleon. Baden was on the fence during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, and after the Prussian victory, quickly joined the German Empire.

After the Nazis took over Germany, the country was united as a whole, and Baden lost its status as a separate state.

2. One of the ancient kingdoms of Ireland, this current province of Ireland comprises of 5 counties. From the 5th to 12th centuries, all of its leaders were members of the U� Bui�in and U� Fiachrach clans. In 1227, Henry III of England granted it to a Norman baron. It was finally divided into shires in 1576. What kingdom was this, now the western province of Ireland?

Answer: Connaught

Connaught (also spelled Connacht) was originally ruled by the ancient line of Connaught kings, but that changed in the 4th century AD when the Tara dynasty displaced them. Turlough O'Connor and his son Rory O'Connor were the most powerful rulers of Connaught, both becoming the High King of Ireland. Rory was the last High King without opposition, because in 1175 he signed the Treaty of Windsor with King Henry II of England, giving half of Ireland to the Normans.

In 1225 it was invaded and colonized by the Normans in full.

3. This African trading empire was ruled by the Sayf dynasty until it died out in 1846, when Umar I ibn Muhammad al-Amin took over. The vast majority of its history was discovered by Heinrich Barth in the "Diwan," which listed 69 rulers and many events over the centuries. What empire was this, which was conquered by Sudanese forces in 1893?

Answer: Kanem-Bornu

The Kanem-Bornu Empire is sometimes split into 2 separate historical empires. The Kanem Empire existed from sometime in the mid-9th century to the late 14th century, when the Bulala forces from the east pushed them out of Kanem. The Sayf dynasty moved to Bornu, and existed there until 1846, when a civil war put Umar of Bornu in power. Umar's son could not hold off Sudanese warlord Rabih az-Zubayr, who conquered Bornu in 1893, ending the Kanem-Bornu Empire.

4. The golden age of this country spanned from its creation in 830 AD to 894. At its peak, it incorporated lands from what is today Poland all the way to Romania. It was resurrected in a much smaller form in 1029 as part of Bohemia, and joined the Czech Republic in 1993. What once-major medieval kingdom is this?

Answer: Moravia

Great Moravia was created by Prince Mojm�r I, and expanded rapidly under his successors Rostislav and Svatopluk. It was powerful enough during Rostislav's reign that the Byzantine missionaries Cyril and Methodius were invited to spread Christianity to the region, and accepted. Following Svatopluk's rule, Great Moravia fell apart, and a Magyar attack in 906 was the final blow for the kingdom.

5. Existing from 1336-1646, this empire, which controlled virtually all of southern India, was named after its capital city, now located in the state of Karnataka. Its power decline came after defeat in the Battle of Talikota to allied Deccan sultanates in 1565. What empire was this, which gave birth to the Mysore Kingdom after its collapse?

Answer: Vijayanagar Empire

Established by King Harihara Raya I in 1336, the Vijayanagar Empire spanned four dynasties, though the Aravidu dynasty came into power after the Battle of Talikota. Fearing the Deccans would storm the capital, King Tirumala Deva Raya emptied the treasury and left for Penukonda with it all on the backs of around 550 elephants. Within the next 100 years, the capital would change from Vijayanagara to Chandragiri and later to Vellore, but the name remained the same.

In 1646, the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golkonda conquered the empire, bringing about its end.

6. Established around 1010 AD, the ruling line of this country named every male descendant Heinrich. It was split into the Elder, Middle, and Younger lines in 1564, though the Middle line ended in 1616. In 1815, both lines joined the German Confederation, and after World War I, it was incorporated into Thuringia. What state, which shares a name with a Swiss river, is this?

Answer: Reuss

In 1673, the leaders of the Reuss Elder and Younger lines were both named counts to the Holy Roman empire, attaining the closest position they had ever received to their namesake in Henry VI. Both would also attain the title of prince, though the Elder (1778) would receive it before the Younger (1806). On April 4, 1919, directly following World War I, the territories merged into the People's State of Reuss, but on May 1, 1920, both were absorbed by the newly-established Thuringia.

7. Ruled by the Arsacid dynasty, this precursor to Iran existed from 247 BC to 224 AD. The Parni tribe entered the region after Alexander the Great's death, and held control until they were overthrown by the Sasanians. At its height, this empire owned land from present-day Oman to Turkey, to Afghanistan in the east. What empire was this, which defeated the Roman Empire soundly in 53 BC?

Answer: Parthian Empire

Roman general Marcus Licinius Crassus attacked the Parthian Empire because of his desire for the great wealth that the Iranian state held. Unfortunately, the Parthian commander Surena set a trap for the Roman forces and in the Battle of Carrhae that followed, both Marcus Crassus and his son Publius were killed.

Despite that military power, the Parthian Empire fell to the Sasanians in 224, when leader Artabanus IV was killed. The leader of the Sasanian forces, Ardashir, created the Sassanid Empire in its place, which lasted until 651 AD.

8. This state emerged initially at the city Gao (in present-day Mali) around 1000 AD, and was eventually freed from the Mali Empire around 1340. By 1500, it encompassed land from the Atlantic Ocean to Niger, and as far north as Mauritania. Which empire was this, which was succeeded by the Dendi Kingdom?

Answer: Songhai Empire

Songhai was a very powerful Muslim state in Africa during its existence. The Sonni dynasty conquered the remnants of the Mali Empire in the 1460s, leading to Songhai becoming larger than all of western Europe. Askia Muhammad the Great fought wars against the Mossi, Borgu, the Diara, Fouta-Toro, and Hausa states during his reign.

While not the greatest military tactician, Askia was incredibly powerful, and died at the age of 96 (having been deposed at age 80 by his son). Invading Moroccan forces crushed Songhai in 1591 using firearms despite being vastly outnumbered.

The Dendi Kingdom was then set up by the Songhai people, and it lasted until it was conquered by the French in 1901.

9. This massive dynasty ruled from the Atlantic Ocean all the way to India, encompassing the Iberian and Arabian Peninsulas and all of northern Africa. The second of the 4 Islamic caliphates, it only existed from 661-750 AD, and was overthrown by the Abbasid Caliphate. What dynasty was this, which then created the Caliphate of Cordoba in 756 after its fall?

Answer: Umayyad Dynasty

The Umayyads, despite their small ruling lifespan, went through 2 different branches of the family. The Sufyanids launched a campaign against the Byzantine Empire, though they were ultimately unsuccessful. The end of the Sufyanids came in 684, when a civil war caused the death of Yazid I and Mu'awiyah II.

The Marwanids took over and reigned until the end of the dynasty in 750. 'Abd al-Malik saw the greatest expansion of Umayyad control, conquering lands from India to Morocco, all the way up to France. Following defeat to the Byzantine Empire in 717, the decline began. Eventually, the Abbasids took over the Umayyads, and the entire Umayyad dynasty was hunted down. 'Abd ar-Rahman survived and created the Caliphate of Cordoba in Spain, which lasted until 1031.

10. This monastic state originated in Palestine in 1190, but moved its center to eastern Europe in 1211. Slowly, it grew by absorbing Livonia, Pomerania, and Neumark at separate times. In 1525, it was dissolved with the coming of the Protestant Reformation (due to its Catholic roots) and became Prussia. What powerful medieval state was this?

Answer: Teutonic Order

The Teutonic Order, formally called the "Fraternal House of the Hospitalers of Saint Mary of the Teutons in Jerusalem," started in the city of Thorn, in what is today Poland. There, they helped Conrad of Mazovia conquer the "heathen" Prussians, and slowly conquered lands all along the Baltic Sea. Both Poland and Lithuania grew somewhat hostile to the growing power of the Teutonic Knights (yet another name applicable to them), since both were cut off from the Baltic Sea by the Order.

In 1466, Poland finally defeated the Order, and ceded much of its land to Poland.

The remainder of the Teutonic Order became a vassal of Poland, and in 1525 the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights, Albert of Brandenburg-Ansbach, adopted the Lutheran faith and took the title of Duke of Prussia.

Source: Author illiniman14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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Forgotten Countries #1 Trivia Quiz

Throughout history, many countries have existed that fell on their own, were taken over by others, or evolved into the countries we know today. This quiz celebrates those forgotten countries.

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