Development of Nations Trivia Quiz

Answer: Malacca

The Malacca sultanate (1400-1511) ruled the peninsula from the founders' retreat in Temasik (Singapore) to the fall of the sultanate at the hands of the Portuguese Empire.

Answer: It marked the beginning of an age of nationalism in Europe

The French Revolution encouraged the early rise of nationalism in some parts of Europe, such as Ireland and Poland - despite the later annexations of large areas of Germany and Italy in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Arguably, the rise of Romanticism from the late 1790s on was equally important.

Answer: American War of Independence

After British settlers began to make trouble with the local natives and some colonists, a war was waged after the Boston Tea Party, which saw the disposal of tea shipments off from a ship in Boston, and the Boston Massacre. With George Washington leading the Americans and with French assistance, America won the war in 1783 and formed the United States of America, with George Washington becoming the first President of the USA a few years later.

Answer: Poland

In the late 18th century Poland was partitioned (divided) in stages between Prussia, Austria and Russia and wiped off the map altogether in 1795. It was re-established in 1918. Unlike two completely new nation-states established after World War I it has survived, despite yet another partition in 1939.

Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, on the other hand, have dissolved - in the latter case amid considerable bloodshed.

Answer: To bring stability to Europe and avoid future wars

President Wilson provided a 14 point plan for the future of Europe. From the point of view of nation-building the most important was the principle of self-determination - the principle that as far as possible people who belonged to the same cultural (and linguistic) nation should govern themselves in a nation-state of their own if the wanted to. However, this principle presented all kinds of difficulties as the various nationalties of Europe in many cases did not live in neatly separate, contiguous areas.

Here are the full Fourteen Points:

Open Diplomacy - There should be no secret treaties between powers
Freedom of Navigation - Seas should be free in both peace and war
Free Trade - The barriers to trade between countries such as custom duties should be removed
Multilateral Disarmament - All countries should reduce their armed forces to the lowest possible levels
Colonies - People in European colonies should have a say in their future
Russia - Russia should be allowed to operate whatever government it wanted and that government should be accepted, supported and welcomed.
Belgium - Belgium should be evacuated and restored to the situation before the war.
France - should have Alsace-Lorraine and any lands taken away during the war restored.
Italy - The Italian border should be readjusted according to nationality
National Self -Determination - The national groups in Europe should, wherever possible, be given their independence.
Romania, Montenegro and Serbia - Should be evacuated and Serbia should have an outlet to the sea
Turkey - The people of Turkey should have a say in their future.
Poland - Poland should become an independent state with an outlet to the sea.
League of Nations - An assembly of all nations should be formed to protect world peace in the future.

Answer: Count Cavour

Count Camilo Benso of Cavour (1810-1861) was an Italian statesman who fought to unite Italy and free some of the territories that were ruled by the Hasburg Empire, including Venetia and Lombardy.

Answer: To strengthen their armies against Prussia

Although Napoleon III (Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew) fought against the Austrians in the Italian War for Independence, he had a French garrison in Rome to secure the Papal States. However, as Otto von Bismarck of Prussia declared war on France, in 1870, the Emperor of France ordered his garrison to withdraw from Rome and to fight against the Prussians.

This paved the way for the Italian nationalists to secure Rome and unify Italy, under the rule of King Victor Emanuel I.

Answer: blood and iron

In 1862, Bismarck gave a speech of "blood and iron", in which he said that the great issues of the day would be solved by "blood and iron", meaning war. (For him, the great issues of the day included the unification of Germany under the leadership of Prussia).

Answer: Three

In 1864, Bismarck went to war against Denmark (the Second Schleswig War). Then, in 1866, there was the Seven Week's War against Austria and most other states in the German Confederation. Finally, in 1870, Prussia and France were at war with each other. Bismarck's victory in all of these wars helped Bismarck realized his goal of German unification.

Answer: Both featured multicultural rights in each country

When the Prophet Muhammad founded Medina, he introduced the Medina Charter. One of the contents presented was that Jews, Christians and Arabs were to be united with the Muslim population to maintain order to the city.

The same goes for Malaysia. As today, there are Malays, Chinese and Indians living in harmony ever since they united to gain independence on August 31st, 1957, and to form Malaysia on September 16th, 1963.