Historic and Ancient Ruins IX Online Trivia | Historical Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. As the royal seat of the dominant power in the Chao Praya Basin, this city grew and prospered when King U-Thong founded it in 1350 AD. In 1767 AD, and after a 15 month long siege, it was burned and destroyed by the Burmese. What was the name of this city?

Answer: Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was established by King U-thong in 1350 AD. As it was customary to establish houses of worship in the royal residences, the construction of Wat Phutthaisawan started in 1353 AD. This would continue with successive kings building their own temples in the palace grounds.
However in 1765 AD, the Burmese began to attack Ayutthaya and in 1767 AD, after a successful siege, it was burned and destroyed by the Burmese troops.

2. Founded in 206 BC, Italica grew in prominence during the 2nd and 3rd Century AD. It was also the birthplace of both Emperors Trajan and Hadrian. In what country is Italica located?

Answer: Spain

After the Battle of Ilipa in the 2nd Punic War, injured soldiers were settled in Italica. It remained a small town, but grew in prominence during the 2nd Century AD. After Emperor Trajan's death, temples and many public buildings were built under Emperor Hadrian's orders.

A 25,000 seat amphitheatre, the third largest in the Roman Empire, was also built. The Guadalquivir River on which Italica was located changed its course and as such the town was depleted of its water supply. Seville, located nearby, grew as Italica was gradually abandoned.

Much of Italica was dismantled, including the amphitheatre, and the stones were used as construction material for the buildings in Seville.

3. Excavations have uncovered this ancient Greek trade settlement which was established during the 5th Century BC. It was located on the banks of Maritsa River and prospered until it was destroyed by the Celts in 2nd Century BC. Name the trade settlement described.

Answer: Pistiros

Established in Thrace, Pistiros was located far inland and was founded in the 5th Century BC during the reign of the first king of the Odrysian Kingdom. The ancient Greeks were allowed to set up a trading hub in Pistiros.
The Vetran Inscription which was written in the 3rd Century BC, was unearthed in Pistiros. It described King Cotys I taking an oath under Dionysus' name that he would do no harm to the Greeks or their property in Pistiros.

4. With plenty of gold in this mountainous landscape, this site was the most important gold-mining area in the Roman Empire. Aqueducts brought water from outlying rivers which were used to erode the mountains. Where was the location of this site?

Answer: Las M�dulas

Gold was used as currency in the Roman Empire and Las M�dulas was the most important gold mining site during the Roman times. Miners would dig into the interior of the mountains to form connecting tunnels. A reservoir of water would be created at the top of the mountain so it could be released when it was full. In the 3rd Century AD, mining activities were mysteriously halted.

5. This possibly earliest settlement situated on the banks of the Karatoya River in Bangladesh, served as the capital city of Pundravardhana. What was the name of this site?

Answer: Mahasthangarh

Mahasthangarh was an important ancient urban settlement surrounded by a citadel for protection of many monuments and religious buildings such as Gobhindo Bhita and Noropotir Dhap.

Mahasthangarh was located next to the Karatoya River. It was a sacred river to the Hindus and every year, many thousands would bathe in its waters.

6. Through trade and commerce, this city prospered. However in 850 AD, it was captured by a Danish viking known as Rorik. What is this city known as?

Answer: Dorestad

In the 7th and 8th Century AD, wars were fought between the Frankish and Frisian Empires. The Battle of Dorestad was one such battle that took place in 690 AD.
In 834 AD the Vikings conducted their first raid on Dorestad. Prior to that in 833 AD Lothar I, the son of the current ruler Louis the Pious had been exiled to Italy after a failed plot to oust his father. Lothar and Rurik conspired in the raid.
Lothair and Louis reconciled in 839 AD just before his father's death which was followed by a civil war resulting in the Treaty of Verdun being signed in 843 AD.
Thereafter, there was peace and Lothair had no need for Rorik. Rorik was charged with treason and sent to jail. However, he escaped and led an army which successfully captured Dorestad in 850 AD.

7. Lamu Archipelago is a group of islands situated off Africa's coastline. There are many rumours about the sinking of a ship in 1415 AD that belonged to the Chinese admiral, Zheng He. In which country is Lamu Archipelago located?

Answer: Kenya

Lamu Archipelago, consists of seven islands and numerous islets. The pace of life is very slow and transportation is usually by foot, donkeys or dhows.
For over a thousand years, it was an important stopover for Arab, Persian and Indian shipping vessels who would arrive on the annual monsoonal winds for trade.
Later on during the 17th Century AD, Lamu Archipelago came to be under the jurisdiction of the Omani Empire.
Part of the rumour of the ship's sinking is that some survivors stayed on in the Lamu Archipelago, and married local inhabitants. So strong are these rumours DNA testing is currently being undertaken to see if there is evidence of Chinese ancestry.

8. What is the name of this fertile volcanic island which was created by the merger of two volcanoes? It is located in Lake Nicaragua and has been inhabited since 500 BC, when the Nahua Indians arrived.

Answer: Ometepe

Ometepe is the biggest island in Lake Nicaragua. The Nahua Indians are believed to have arrived on the island sometime around 500 BC and have stayed there ever since.
Lake Nicaragua is the biggest lake in Central America and two volcanoes have joined within the lake making it the largest island in a fresh water lake in the world. On Ometepe, many rock petroglyphs as well as stone monuments have been found on the smaller Maderas volcano.

9. Famous for its university, this city was a prominent hub of learning during the Islamic Golden Age when education was highly emphasized. It is located on the fertile Tihama Plain in western Yemen. What was the city mentioned?

Answer: Zabid

Zabid is located on the fertile Tihama Plain in western Yemen. The mountain streams running down the highlands to the east, provided much needed water for survival as well as agriculture in an otherwise barren desert.
Zabid was founded in 819 AD. It was famed for its university, which was important as an early centre of Islamic teachings and education. Zabid was circular in shape centred around its old souq (marketplace).

10. An important royal seat during the early years of Iberia, Armazi flourished because of its accessible road networks linking to the Dariel Pass. However, Armazi was destroyed in 736 AD by the Arabs. In today's geography where would Armazi have been located?

Answer: Georgia

Armazi was an important capital city of the state of Iberia. Ancient Georgian chronicles described the founding of Armazi by Pharnavaz I.
In ancient times, Dariel Pass was an important passageway. Pliny the Elder stated that the Caucasian Gates divided the world into two parts, the civilised and the barbarians. Forts were set up at Dariel Gorge to prevent the barbarians from entering and raiding their lands.
Reference: 'The Georgian Chronicles and the Raison D'�tre of the Iberian Kingdom' (www.scribd.com)

Source: Author knightmyst

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Historic and Ancient Ruins IX Trivia Quiz

Ruins from different countries and cultures all over the world tell fascinating stories of their distant pasts. Although they may now be destroyed, their legacies still live on.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>