Tamerlane Mix Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kesh

Kesh, now known as Shahrisabz, is in the Transoxiana area of Asia. At the time it was part of the Chagatai Khanate and is now in southern Uzbekistan. It is about 50 miles south of Samarkand.

Answer: 17 million

At the time that was 5% of the world's population! Estimates of world population between 1300 - 1400 vary between 300,000,000 to 430,000,000. Renowned historian and demographer, Colin McEvedy (1930 - 2005), wrote and produced various books, reference books and atlases (e.g. "The Atlas of World Population History (with Richard Jones)), estimated it around the 300,000,000 mark.

Answer: 35 years

Timur's reign lasted from 1370 to 1405. As the son of a minor chieftain, Timur, achieved greatness and a vast empire, encompassing Central Asia, Russia, Iraq, Mesopotamia, India, Syria and Turkey. With his sights set on conquering China, Timur's reign ended abruptly, in a badly timed assault against the Chinese. He was taken ill and died, in 1405, in Kazakhstan.

Answer: Mongol Empire

Timur wanted to restore Genghis Khan's great empire. His dream never came true, though. Although not directly descended from Genghis Khan, Timur, exploited his tenuous lineage to promote restoration and expansion of the Mogul Empire. However, his ulterior motive was really to pillage and loot. He never set up any form of imperial government and consequently his empire never achieved longevity after his death.

Answer: Babur

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, or Babar, founded the Mughal Empire that ruled India for 331 years. He was descended from Timur on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother's.

Answer: Samarkand

Samarkand is the second largest city in Uzbekistan. It was conquered by Alexander the Great in 329 BC and is still an important city to this day.

Answer: Ottoman Empire

Bayezid was taken prisoner and later died in captivity. Timur's reason for invading Anatolia and fighting the Battle of Ankara was to restore Seljuk authority over the region.

Answer: Ming

Hongwu, the Ming emperor, sent a letter to Timur addressing him as a subject.
Timur had the ambassadors who delivered it detained and their 1,500 bodyguards executed.

Answer: Khalil Sultan

Khalil Sultan earned Timur's favour during his campaign in India. He was given control of Ferghana Valley. Timur cast his appointed sucessor aside and made Khalil his heir.

Answer: Ottomans, Serbians, Wallachians, Albanians

The Serbians, Wallachians and Albanians had been conquered previously by the Ottomans and provided support for Bayezid's armies. Bayezid was taken prison and died in captivity. His defeat and subsequent death were welcomed by the rulers of Europe. However, they now had to worry about Timur's hordes perched on their doorstep! The defeat of the Ottoman empire, interrupted their progression and expansion into Europe, which they could only continue after Timur's death.