Amazing Trivia Quiz

Answer: A horse, Caligula

After the death of Tiberius, Caligula killed his cousin whom Tiberius had named in his will as joint emperor with him. He gained popularity and power in Rome by doing some good deeds. After being confirmed as emperor by the Senate he demanded that he and his sister, Drusilla receive worship from everyone in the empire.

Incitatus was his favourite horse and it is said that he insisted that it be invested in the Senatorial Order despite the objections of the senators. (However, it has also been suggested that this this story may well have been hostile propaganda). It is believed that Caligula was insane.

He enjoyed giving orders to cut off the heads of people. He also instigated a lot of debauchery at the palace. Eventually, his private army grew tired of his rule and he was stabbed to death by the captain of the guard. Quite amazing!

Answer: Mexico

General Santa Anna led the Mexican army in the war against the French at Veracruz. Cannons were fired and he received injuries to his left hand and leg. As a result of severe injury to his ankle his leg was amputated. After the war he arranged to have a state funeral for the burial of his leg.
He was fitted with a prosthetic leg which he enjoyed waving over his head to remind the Mexicans of his sacrifice for his country. He became president of the country five times.

Answer: The Children's Crusade

Stephen of Cloyes appeared to have been in charge of the Children's Crusade. He claimed that Jesus had given him a letter which commanded him to organize a crusade. He went to see King Philip of France in May 1212. Even though he was sent away by King Philip and told to wait until he was older he was able to gain the interest of 30,000 children by June 1212.

These children agreed to go with him despite the fact that they did not have the blessing of the Church. The crusade was a failure and none of the children who set out were ever seen again.

It is also believed that there was also a Chidren's Crusade that set out at about the same time from Germany and is sometimes said to be the event that led to the story of the the Pied Paper of Hamelin.

In other accounts, however, the two Children's Crusades are conflated into a single crusade.

Answer: No

Yuri Gagarin was the first man to go into space. He did this on April 12, 1961. Aproximately eight years later Neil Armstrong was privileged to become the first man to walk on the moon. As he took his first historic step he remarked "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".

Answer: opening a birth control clinic

Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in New York on October 16, 1916. Women were able to go there and access information on birth control, condoms, diaphragms and counselling. She was arrested along with her staff for 'maintaining a public nuisance'. Sanger never gave up her fight for birth control. In 1921 she founded the American Birth Control League which eventually became known as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

At the time, birth control was widely considered irreligious, scandalous and an aid to 'free love', immorality and the like.

Answer: World War I

Amazingly, there was a lull in the fighting in during World War I. This occurred as the French, the British and the Germans broke off hostilities in order to celebrate Christmas. These soldiers sang carols together and even exchanged gifts and played soccer with each other. The truce did not last long as hostilities were quickly resumed after Christmas Day.

Answer: The sinking of the RMS Titanic

The Titanic left Southampton for New York on April 10,1912. On April 14 six warnings of sea ice were received by the Titanic. Amazingly, the ship was still travelling close to its top speed when the iceberg was sighted. When the ship collided five of its right compartments were torn open and were flooded.

The ship was unable to stay afloat and sank in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Over 1,500 persons died. According to reports there were too few lifeboats and they were not filled to capacity because the evacuation exercise was poorly managed.

As a result of this event recommendations were made to make radical changes to maritime regulations which ensured greater safety at sea.

Answer: There was an unusual darkening of the day sky.

May 19, 1780 is recorded in history as the Dark Day. Eye witnesses reported that the sun was darkened from as early as sunrise. The darkness was extremely intense between 10 and 11 a.m. and candles had to be lit. This extraordinary darkness did not lift until the middle of the next night.

Some researchers attribute the cause to massive forest fires while some theologians apply religious interpretations to it.

Answer: Uganda

Idi Amin became president of Uganda in January 1971 when he deposed Milton Obote in a military coup. During his 'amazing' presidency he abused human rights, engaged in corruption and nepotism, mismanaged the economy and persecuted ethnic groups, among other evils. His reign of terror lasted for eight years, which ended when he was deposed and forced into exile on April 11, 1979.

Answer: the use of an atomic bomb in war

On August 6, 1945 Hiroshima was subjected to an atomic bomb attack when the crew of the 'Enola Gay' dropped an atomic bomb on the city. A total of 70,000 people died immediately and a further estimated 200,000 over the years from the effects of radiation. Another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki three days after. The Japanese sued for peace and most of the fighting in the Far East in World War II ended on August 15 of the same year with the formal surrender of Japan taking place on 2 September 1945.
The first explosion of an atomic of an atomic bomb was in July, New Mexico USA.