Hit the Road, Bob Multiple Choice Quiz | Geography

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Bob's journey begins in one of the most unique cities of the world, which along with being the largest city in Turkey is also the only city to lie on two continents, Europe and Asia. Which of the following is NOT one of the names by which the city has been known over the ages?

Answer: Thessaloniki

Initially a Greek colony named Byzantium, the city was expanded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I and renamed Constantinople. The city not only lay along the land trade route from Asia to Europe but also connected the Black Sea to the Mediterranean. Its ideal location helped promote its growth and expansion and at different points in time it was the capital of the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire and the Ottoman Empire. With the formation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the capital was moved to Ankara and the city of Constantinople was renamed Istanbul. All former names of the city were formally outlawed in 1930 by the Turkish Postal Service Law. Stamboul is a variation of the current name Istanbul.

Bob is glad he doesn't have to remember all the old names, the new one is a lot easier to spell and pronounce.

2. Continuing on his journey, Bob reaches Aleppo - the third largest city of the former Ottoman Empire and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. Which west Asian country is Bob in?

Answer: Syria

Although not as well known as the neighbouring city of Damascus, Aleppo is the largest city in Syria. Excavations have revealed that the city has been occupied since 5000 B.C. making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. Rising to prominence because of its location, the city was one of the main centres of the Ottoman Empire. The importance of Aleppo as a trade centre began to decline after the Suez Canal was built in 1869 and most of the trade was carried out along the sea route.

Bob stayed back an extra day to admire the various landmarks of the ancient city of Aleppo.

3. After a brief stay, Bob makes his way to the next city on his list - Baghdad. Though ravaged by war in recent times, the city still retained some of its historic monuments. Which country did Bob reach?

Answer: Iraq

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq and is located along the banks of the Tigris river. The city was founded in the 8th century by the Abbasid Caliphate. The Golden Gate Palace was built in the centre of the city as a residence for the Caliph and the city was protected by walls on four sides. The ancient city of Babylon is situated to the south of Baghdad.

4. At his next stop, Bob is amazed to find a city seemingly untouched by the passage of time. Located in the foothills of the Alvand Mountain, Hamadan has a history dating back to the 11th century BC when it was occupied by the Assyrians. Which Asian country, formerly known as Persia, is this city found in?

Answer: Iran

Hamadan is situated to the southwest of the Iranian capital of Tehran. The city was the capital of the ancient Median Empire and also finds a mention in the Biblical book of Ezra. A tomb believed to belong to the Jewish queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai is also found here.

5. Samarkhand, the ancient Persian city that was captured by Alexander the Great in 329 BC, has at various times been ruled by the Turks, Arabs, Mongols and Russians. In which doubly landlocked central Asian country is this city located?

Answer: Uzbekistan

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Samarkhand has been dubbed as the 'Crossroads of Cultures'. The Registan (literally translates to 'Sandy Place'), a public square, was the centre of the city when it was part of the Timurid Dynasty. The square is home to three madrasahs (centres of Islamic learning) that were built during different periods by the rulers of the time and reflect the architectural styles then prevalent.

Other structures of note in the square are the mausoleum of the rulers of the Shaybanid dynasty and the Choru trading dome which stands as testament to the importance of Samarkhand as an ancient trading centre.

6. Which city that was formerly the capital of Kazakhstan was named after the apples that grow abundantly in the regions surrounding it?

Answer: Almaty

Almaty is Kazakhstan's largest city. It has been regarded as the commercial capital of Kazakhstan and since the shifting of the country's capital to Astana, is also referred to as the Southern Capital. Coins minted in the 1st century AD have been found in this region and by the 10th century the city was home to an official mint which can be attributed to its importance as a trade route.

Along with taking in the historical significance of the city, Bob was happy to sample the different varieties of apples on offer.

7. Bob's next stop is the largest city in the Hazarajat region of central Afghanistan and the capital of the province of the same name. Eager to see the large Buddha statues carved into the cliffs of this ancient Buddhist site, Bob was disappointed to hear that the statues were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. Which city has Bob reached?

Answer: Bamyan

Bamyan (alternately spelled as Bamiyan) lies between the mountain ranges of the Hindu Kush and the Koh-i-Baba. The city was an important point for ancient trade as all major routes connecting China to the Middle East passed through it. At one time, the city belonged to the Buddhist Kushan Empire which accounts for the large statues of Buddhas, popularly known as the Bamyan Buddhas, found here. In 2001, the statues were blown up by the Taliban as they were regarded as idols and Islam prohibits idolatry.

While efforts have been made to restore the statues, Bob was sad to see these historical artworks destroyed so wantonly.

8. Crossing the historic Khyber Pass, Bob finds himself in the country of Pakistan. Which Pakistani city, nicknamed the "Frontier City", is located at the eastern end of the Khyber Pass?

Answer: Peshawar

The Khyber Pass connects Pakistan and Afghanistan and has hence been of strategic importance, along with being a pivotal part of all major trade routes. Peshawar is the capital of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province.

The presence of various Buddhist and Hindu sites and Sikh gurudwaras alongside Islamic mosques are testament to the different dynasties that controlled this city over the years.

9. Bob finally reaches the eastern terminus of this famous trade route. Which Chinese city, known as one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China and home to the Terracotta Army, is Bob in?

Answer: Xi'an

Xi'an first became a major political centre in China in the 11th century BC under the Zhou Dynasty. It retained its place as an important trading and cultural centre under the subsequent dynasties of Han, Sui, Tang and Ming. The construction of the wall encompassing the city was begun under the Han dynasty and the wall was fortified by subsequent rulers.

10. The cities in Q1-9 all lie along a famous trade route connecting Europe and East Asia, which was named after the main commodity traded along this path. What was it called?

Answer: Silk Road

The Silk Route consists of a network of routes connecting Europe and Asia that developed with the trade of Chinese silk gaining momentum during the Han dynasty. The term Silk Route was coined by German traveller, Ferdinand von Richtofen in the late 19th century.

While this quiz has focused on the cities lying along the land routes, maritime routes also played a significant part in this trade helping to connect other cities in the southern parts of Asia.

Source: Author zorba_scank

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

Hit the Road, Bob Trivia Quiz

Seeking new adventures, Bob has now set out on a journey tracing one of the most travelled trade routes of the ancient world. The answers to Q1-9 will help you figure out the name of this route.

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