The History of Kiev Trivia Quiz

Answer: A Slavic prince

Historical evidence matches the local tradition somewhat but not entirely, and leaves many unanswered questions much open to speculation. However, it is known that around the 5th century there were Slavic settlements in what is now Ukraine and Kiev. Kyi is believed to be the oldest son of a king who founded Kiev with his brothers and one sister. Since Kyi was the oldest child, the city was named after him.

Some historians believe Kiev was founded a few centuries later by Magyars. The Khazars, nomads who lived primarily around the Silk Road, are another group sometimes named as Kiev's founders as the city would have been an ideal outpost for them.

Answer: Oleg of Novgorod

Not much is known for certain during Kiev's early years. Everything we know about the region comes from a text called "Primary Chronicle" which was written in 1113 mostly from tradition passed by word of mouth. Oleg of Novgorod was a Varangian (that is, Viking) prince and the leader of Rus'.

When he conquered Kiev in 882 and moved the capital there, the region became known as Kievan Rus', which lasted until 1240.

Answer: Batu Khan

Batu Khan was the grandson of Genghis Khan who founded the Golden Horde dynasty of the Mongols. Under Batu Khan, the Mongols expanded their already vast empire further into Eastern Europe. Kiev was a city the Mongols wanted badly but their efforts to take the city without damaging it failed miserably when the Kievan soldiers fought back unexpectedly.

Answer: Battle of Blue Waters

The Battle of Blue Waters took place in what is now Ukraine although not directly in Kiev itself. Algirdas, the Duke of Lithuania, was able to successfully take several principalities the Mongols had in Ukraine before taking Kiev. The amount of casualties and exactly how the battle was fought is unknown but it is commonly believed that Algirdas was able to gain control of the Dnieper River, which would have been essential to winning. With Kiev and other Ukrainian territories in the hands of Algirdas, Lithuania had access to the Black Sea and a new rival with the Duchy of Moscow.

Answer: Jewish people

Poland had an increasingly large influence over Kiev during this time period and Poland had close ties to the Jewish Community. The Orthodox and Catholic churches were already fighting each other for control of Kiev and other cities mainly in Eastern Europe, when Sigismund II, Grand Duke of Lithuania, granted Jewish people citizenship in Kiev because they paid city taxes.

The Jews in Kiev were supported by the Polish Orthodox Church, which was steadily gaining in power at the expense of the Catholics.

Answer: Catherine the Great

The Russo-Polish War ended in 1667 with the Truce of Andrusovo which temporarily gave Kiev to Russia for two years. However, by 1686, Kiev was still under Russian control and Russia essentially bought Kiev for 146,000 roubles to permanently make Kiev part of Russia until the 20th century. Catherine and other Russian leaders sought to strengthen Russian control over Kiev by weakening the city politically and culturally.

Answer: Bolsheviks

The Bolsheviks were seeking to return Ukraine to Russia under Soviet rule. They marched into the city to stop the democratic elections that were scheduled to take place to the Ukrainian Central Rada. The Polish Army was successful in keeping them out for a short while until the Soviet Army sent troops. Kiev fell under Soviet power in 1921.

Answer: Helicopter

Sikorsky came to the United States in 1919 after believing his desire to start an aviation industry would be hampered in Eastern Europe. After several failed attempts, Sikorsky finally successfully got his helicopter, the Vought-Sikorsky VS-300, to take off.

It was constructed in Kiev because the United States government was skeptical of Sikorsky's ability to actually build a working helicopter as many previous attempts by both him and others had failed.

Answer: False

Although Chernobyl was some distance away, radioactive dust fell in Kiev. Initially, no one in the city was told of the potential dangers of the radioactive material and everyone was told to carry on as normal. People who lived in or near Chernobyl were relocated mostly to Kiev as Chernobyl and the surrounding area are no longer liveable.

Answer: Orange Revolution

Viktor Yushchenko was accused of voter fraud and intimidation amongst other things when he defeated his rival Viktor Yanukovych 52%-44%. The Orange Revolution erupted in Ukraine and was characterized by peaceful sit-ins and protests, not violence. It is called the Orange Revolution because orange was the color used by Yushchenko during his campaign.

In February 2014, Yanukovych, was removed from office with people comparing his ouster to the Orange Revolution, even though these protests were violent.