World History Mixture Trivia Quiz

Answer: The 95 Theses

Martin Luther posted the 95 Theses (or arguments) regarding the inappropriateness of the church's sale of indulgences (or forgiveness of sin) on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517, which led to the Reformation. Martin Luther King, Jr (charasmatic civil rights leader) was responsible for the "I Have a Dream" speech, in which he foresaw a time when Americans could live together harmoniously regardless of superficial traits like color of skin.

Answer: Catherine the Great (Catherine II)

Catherine II considered herself an "enlightened despot," or a ruler who applied ideas of the Enlightenment (like reason, justice, individual freedom, etc.) to her policies and practices. After the Enlightenment encouraged the French Revolution, however, Catherine quickly changed her tune.

She was one of the most successful pre-Soviet leaders of Russia and played a key role in extending the country's role as a great power.

Answer: Qing Dynasty

It was under the Qing Dynasty that China and Britain fought two wars over the importing and sale of opium. British-controlled India produced opium and sold the addictive drug to China, gradually increasing the number of impoverished and addicted Chinese citizens.

Answer: Euphrates and Tigris

Mesopotamian civilization developed in the region known today as the Middle East, specifically between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on a patch of land known as the Fertile Crescent. The land was called this because the shape of the land between the two rivers resembles a crescent, and the land was very fertile as it was nestled between two great rivers.

Answer: Whig

Presidents William Henry Harrison (1840) and Zachary Taylor (1848) were members of the Whig party. Harrison, the 9th U.S. president, served for 30 days, 11 hours, and 30 minutes- he had caught a cold (which developed into pneumonia and pleurisy) during his inauguration. Zachary Taylor, the 12th U.S. president, served 16 months in office before dying of an ailment strongly resembling cholera or typhoid fever. To make a long story short, elected Whig presidents served a total of 17 months in office, which may be why the party dissappeared! Martin Van Buren was a Free Soil candidate for the presidency in 1848- he had already been elected President for the Democratic party in 1836.

The most famous of the Populists is probably William Jennings Bryan- who campaigned for, ran in, and LOST 3 Presidential elections. Millard Fillmore (Know-Nothing Party), vice-president to Zachary Taylor, actually served as President following Taylor's death, but was never elected to the office of President. Maybe it was the unfortunate name of his political party!

Answer: The Holocaust

The Holocaust was the large-scale extermination of European Jews during World War II. (Some people include all victims of the Nazis). World War I was originally called "The Great War" (because it involved all the major European powers) and "The War to End All Wars" (as the devastation, loss of life, and financial cost of the war were the greatest ever seen- so great, most people thought no civilization would want to make such sacrifices again, and thus this war would end all wars).

It was NOT called World War I until the start of World War II- after all, no one knew it would be the first of a duo of wars. (For example, the first Lethal Weapon movie is just called "Lethal Weapon", not "Lethal Weapon 1", until a sequel comes out.)

Answer: Toussaint L'Ouverture

Simon Bolivar is credited with liberating Venezuela (among other South American countries); Aristide was the Haitian President from 2000-2004, when (he claims) he was forced out of the country by U.S. government agents; and Queen Anacaona (along with her husband Chief Caonabo) attempted to fight off colonial Spanish rule- she was captured and executed by the Spanish in front of her own people. L'Ouverture was inspired by France's own Revolution- he figured if the ruling nation of Haiti couldn't even keep its own people from revolting, Haiti was probably long overdue for autonomy.

Answer: The Strait of Magellan

Ferdinand Magellan (nee Fernão de Magalhães ) was the first to navigate the tempestuous strait in service to the Spanish King. Since the Panama Canal did not yet exist, this route gave Spain the quickest access to the Pacific Ocean. The Panama canal, first attempted by the French and later completed by the U.S. in 1915, allowed for expedited navigation between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

The Straits of Gibraltar are a narrow sea route running between southern Spain and northern Morocco. The English Channel is yet another narrow sea route, but it runs between France and England.

Answer: South Africa

Apartheid in South Africa ended in the early 1990s after the release of Nelson Mandella, a series of negotiations, and democratic elections in 1994.

Apartheid involved total racial segregation (except for domestic servants). Laws prescribed where black South Africans could live and work. They had to attend schools for blacks only, and segregation also applied to hospitals, public transport, seating at public entertainment in parks and other public places and so on. Sexual intercourse between people of different races was strictly forbidden by law.

Answer: Hinduism and Islam

About 80.5% of the country's population, are Hindu. Muslims make up 13.4%. Other religious groups include Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and others.