European History: Part II Trivia Quiz

Answer: Charlemagne

Clovis was instrumental in unifying the Frankish tribes under his rule in the 5th and 6th Century. Additionally, he is often considered the founder of the Merovingian dynasty. Charles "The Hammer" Martel was an important military and political leader of the Franks who was most famous for his participation in a major battle in the 700s. Leo X was the reigning pope, who died a few years before Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517.

Answer: John Calvin

John Calvin was the founder of Calvinism and he was able to institute his beliefs in the city of Geneva. Predestination is the belief (simply put) that God has alredy decided who will be saved and who will be damned. This is an important aspect of Calvinism, although the doctrine is older. John Knox was a Scottish clergyman, who is considered the founder of Presbyterianism. Zwingli was an important member of the Protestant Reformation who, like many other early Protestants, sought to reform the Catholic Church. Martin Luther is generally considered the one who sparked the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by publishing the 95 Theses, which criticized clerical abuses with emphasis on the sale of Indulgences, which was common practice at the time.

Answer: The Punic Wars

The Punic Wars were a series of three wars between the two great super powers of the time: Carthage and Rome. They eventually ended in Roman victory and the destruction of Carthage. There were no Cartho-Roman Wars or Trans-Mediterranean Wars. The Peloponnesian Wars were (sometimes only one of the wars is counted) were 1-2 wars fought between the Ancient Greek city-states.

The first one began when the city of Megara attempted to leave the Peloponnesian (Spartan-led) League to join the Delian (Athenian-led) League.

The causes of the second conflict are significantly more complex.

Answer: Divine Right of Kings

From the time of the Early Middle Ages, the conflict between monarchs and popes was one of the most important political struggles. The balance swung back and forth through time, ultimately leading to victory for the monarchs (although in the long run, both lost). Mandate of Heaven was a similar idea to Divine Right, but it was for China. (There were, of course, differences, but the idea is very similar).

As far as I know, there is no such thing as "Right of Providence" or "Pharonic Testament".

Answer: Establish a national bank

Jean-Baptiste Colbert was an important political figure who served as the Minister of Finances in France in the 1600s. He did not establish a national bank and such a thing would not be established in France until 1800 after the French Revolution. The other three (grant privileges, improve transportation systems, and improve French manufacturing) were important parts of Colbert's programs.

Answer: It halted the advance of Islam into Europe

The Battle of Tours, led by Charles "The Hammer" Martel, was an important battle which brought an abrupt halt to the advance of Islam in Europe. At the time, Islam had, only about 100 years after its founder Mohammed died, built a vast empire stretching from Arabia to Africa to southern Spain. Charlemagne was not born until about 742 CE, about a decade before this battle, so it is not even possible for him to be crowned "King of Europe". "One-Fffth of all France's knights were killed" most accurately describes the Battle of Agincourt, which occured in 1415. Feudalism would exist and be quite strong for the next few hundred years, thus this answer is clearly incorrect as well.

Answer: Augustus (Octavian)

A common mistake is that Julius Caesar was the first emperor. This is inaccurate; he was known as a dictator. The two positions were essentially the same, but words make a great deal of difference and Romans did not like dictators. Augustus Caesar ultimately won the 14 year civil war and was made the first emperor of the Roman Empire. Sulla was a dictator who ruled decades before Julius Caesar's rule.

He was very disliked by the Romans. Tiberiuswas an emperor of the Roman Empire, just not the first.

He was the emperor at time that Jesus was said to have been executed.

Answer: The Merchant of Venice

"The Merchant of Venice" is a work of Shakespeare. While Shakepseare wrote many plays based on European kings such as Richard III, Henry VII was not one of them. Don Quixote was written by Miguel des Cervantes. There is no literary work known as Decorum's Dance.

Answer: Francisco Pizarro

Bartholomew Dias is believed to have been the first European to go around the southern tip of Africa. Ferdinand Magellan's crew was the first to circumnavigate the world in 1522 (he died along the way). Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who conquered a great deal of land for Spain including the Aztec Empire.

Answer: Parthenon

The Parthenon was one of the greatest architectural wonders of the "Golden Age" of Athens, as well as the ancient Greece in general. During this period, Athens, which had been paid tribute from throughout its "empire", had a great deal of money. The Parthenon was one such result of this wealth.

The Pantheon was a temple for all gods built in the city of Rome. This is one of the many great wonders built in the city. There is no such thing as Athena Pallas or Temple of Athena at Athens (although many wonders of the ancient world were similarly named).