Times Like These Trivia Quiz

Answer: Textiles

The Industrial Revolution saw the replacement of small-scale domestic production by large-scale factory production. It started in the textile industry in Britain and spread to other industries to much of Europe and North America. While for some it meant a bettering of circumstances, for others such as those skilled craftsmen whose skills became redundant it meant a decline in living standards or the outright disappearance of their means of livelihood, which were replaced by machines.

Answer: The Dark Ages

The "Dark Ages" is a popular, but outdated term for the period from c. 450 A.D. to 750 A.D. (or even later). The name is sometimes interpreted as referring to the "darkness" which followed the period of "light" i.e. the Roman Empire, and sometimes simply as a period which is obscure, due to the relative lack of written records.

However, the term has no validity beyond Western Europe, and historians prefer to speak of the "Early Middle Ages", which is less open to value-laden interpretations.

Answer: Iron Age

Chronologically, the Copper Age came first followed by the Bronze Age and then the Iron Age (the correct answer). The Iron Age is the only one that occurred AD. Most tools were being made of iron and there was a giant leap forward in agricultural practices, organised religion, and art. The Iron Age has been most closely studied, of these three, on European Continent.

Answer: U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A.

The Cold War was between the Western Bloc nations led by the U.S.A. against the communist and socialist countries of the Eastern Bloc led by the U.S.S.R. It was not a war of gunfire and bombs but rather of political tension, economic turmoil, espionage and the nuclear arms race. It was a time of great uncertainty for the world with threats of a possible World War III.

Answer: Japan

The Meiji Period occurred in Japan during the 45 year reign of the Meiji Emperor. "Meiji" means means "Enlightened Rule". Many cultural changes were promoted. To some extent the rigid class system loosened and Japan experimented, not very eagerly, with democracy. Christianity became legal, and western ideas and philosophies crept in.

Answer: Egypt

Egypt has an interesting and intriguing history. The Old Kingdom lasted from 3000-2000 B.C. It was during this time that the Sphinx was constructed. The Middle Kingdom lasted from 2000-1300 B.C. During this period great trade routes were opened up and the use of papyrus scrolls came into being.

The New Kingdom lasted from 1550-1070 B.C. The pyramids of Giza were built during this time, and it was considered to be the most affluent time in Egyptian history and the apex of its power.

Answer: The Ming Dynasty

The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) was one of the longest lasting periods in Chinese history. It was a time of great architectural advances and saw the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Agriculture and medicine both took leaps forward and religion became more organized.

Answer: Holocene

We are in the Holocene time period. It started at the end of the last Ice Age approximately 12,000 years ago. We use the geological time scale for measuring very long periods of time. These are global times as opposed to cultural times.

Answer: The Renaissance

The Renaissance was a "cultural movement" that saw a rebirth of interest in Classical Antiquity, in science, exploration and education. Many scholars believe it started in Florence, Italy and gradually spread across the rest of Europe. This "rebirth" did not start on any one day and it did not spread to other countries with the same speed.

The Northern Renaissance began much later. There is some debate as to the exact delineation of the Renaissance and whether the name is an accurate description of the times.

Answer: England

The Jacobean Era refers the period of time that James I ruled England (24th March 1603 until his death 27th March 1625). He was also James VI of Scotland (from 24th July 1567). This is an example of how periods in time are named after the person ruling the country.

It is also describes styles of architecture, art, clothing, and literature. Other examples of this type of time naming include "the Elizabethan Era" and "The Victorian Era". The word "Jacobean" comes from "Jacob" which is an alternative form of James.