"Remembrance of Things Past" in Geography Quiz

Answer: Carthage

Queen Dido of Carthage, celebrated by Virgil in his "Aeneid", was the legendary founder of the city.

The ruins of Carthage can be found in the commune of the same name, located on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis, about 15 km (9.3 mi) from the capital of Tunisia. The city, founded by the Phoenicians in the 9th century BC, became the capital of an empire that encompassed large areas of the western Mediterranean - including parts of Spain, Sicily and the North African coast. After its defeat by the Romans in the Third Punic War (146 BC), the city was destroyed, and subsequently rebuilt. It was destroyed a second and final time in 698 by the armies of the Umayyad Caliphate.

Answer: Borodino

The Battle of Borodino (7 September, 1812) represents the deadliest page in the annals of the Napoleonic Wars, resulting in at least 70,000 casualties. It was the Russians' last main attempt to defend Moscow, and resulted in their withdrawal. Many of the French wounded later succumbed through starvation.

Although Napoleon's Grande Armee had a technical victory at Borodino, they were exhausted, and were forced to abandon Moscow within weeks of entering it, due to loss of their supply chain, crippling casualties and the approaching winter.

The outfit issued to the foot soldiers was largely inadequate for the bitter cold.

Answer: Kingdom of Sardinia

The Kingdom of Sardinia was a small Iberian state before its acquisition by the Duke of Savoy in 1720. It consisted of a number of what later became the Italian States of Savoy, Piedmont, Corsica and Sardinia, with its final capital being Turin. During the Napoleonic Wars, the mainland possessions were annexed by France, the King abandoned hope of retaining his lands there, and retired to the island of Sardinia.

After Napoleon's defeat, the mainland states (and other regions) were returned to the House of Savoy, which regained its pre-eminent place in society; ultimately the Kingdom of Sardinia changed its name to the Kingdom of Italy.

Answer: Fort Ticonderoga

Fort Ticonderoga was built (1754 - 1757) at a strategic location commanding a narrows at the Southern end of Lake Champlain, restricting canoe portage (necessary to avoid the dangerous rapids of the area). Built in a star-pattern near the Lake Champlain marsh, the fort was originally a defense against the local people in the French and Indian War, was the scene of the Americans' first victory during the Revolutionary War, and later was part of the 1812 War, in the fight to control the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Answer: Here be Dragons

Strangely there are only three surviving instances of the term, the Hunt-Lenox Globe, which now is housed in the New York Public Library, and the Globus Jagellonicus. It also appeared on a carved ostrich egg, made to represent the globe. To "Imagine Dragons" in unexplored areas, especially with stories from China (now known to relate to dinosaur fossils) and possible sightings of Komodo Dragons in what is now Indonesia, is entirely understandable.

Other early charts warned of lions, deadly serpents and cannibals on the uncharted areas of their maps.

Answer: Brindisi

Named after Appius Claudius Caecus, the first section of the Appian Way was opened in 312 BCE. After the First Samnite war the Romans found they could not supply their troops due to the barrier of the marsh (Pontine Marshes). Their solution was to strategically place new settler villages, and supply them with spear, sword and provisions by means of a patrolled Roman road.

This was eventually to extend all the way to the sea. Spartacus and his army (escaped slaves) were destroyed here in 73 BCE, and the Apostle Paul walked to Rome in chains about A.D.34.

Answer: Yosemite Valley

The Yosemite Valley is an area of great natural beauty, with tall granite cliffs, many waterfalls, giant sequoia, and pristine lakes and creeks. Known to European Americans since the early 19th Century, it was under threat from horse and buggy days, with early settlers fencing in their claims. It took some special people to recognise the threat to this hidden valley.

Ansel Eason Adams was a committed environmentalist, long before the concept became fashionable. He was a landscape photographer, whose black-and-white photographs of the American West and particularly the Yosemite National Park area, are still widely reproduced. Due to continued work by Adams and a few like-minded artists and self-appointed guardians, the wilderness atmosphere of this region is being rigorously defended by the National Park Service.

Answer: Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has gone through many changes since its inception as a church in the seventh century. In 1042 Edward the Confessor started rebuilding St Peter's Abbey on the area, and it was consecrated just one week before his death in early 1066. Harold II was probably crowned here, before William the Conqueror's coronation at Westminster on Christmas Day of the same year. Construction of the present church was commenced by Henry III in 1245. Ann Neville, Princess of Wales, then later Queen to Richard III, is buried here.

Answer: Marrakesh

Marrakesh, Morocco was established by Abu Bakr ibn Umar in 1062. Its sandstone walls have earned it the title of "The Red City". Marrakesh is the fourth largest city in Morocco, but it has been the country's capital on two occasions, and some of the important buildings attest to its former glory. It continues as a vibrant and thriving city.

Answer: Florence

Catherine de Medici was the daughter of Lorenzo, and became Queen of France as the wife of King Henry II. The Medici palace in Florence (Palazzo Medici Riccardi) was built between 1444 and 1484 and is an example of Renaissance architecture. It is now the seat of the Metropolitan City of Florence and an important museum.