They Lived and Died by the Sword Online Trivia | World

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1. A certain group of Norse warriors had the ability to work themselves into a frenzy prior to battle. This fearsome behavior was such that they would bite the edge of their shields in anticipation of combat. What were these warriors called?

Answer: Berserkers

The phrase "to go berserk" comes from the name for these warriors. Most Vikings used their shields as the first line of defense, using the sword to block an enemy's blows only as a last resort. In creating the blade of the Viking sword, the swordsmith was a superb welder.

He took iron strips of different compositions then twisted them together in order to forge the strips into the core of the blade. This allowed the swordsmith to control the blade's hardness and flexibility.

2. Japanese warriors were always accompanied by their swords. They had many from which to choose, but the katana was the primary weapon. What were these Japanese warriors called?

Answer: Samurai

Japanese swordsmiths were highly skilled at designing swords. The blades of the swords were light, sharp, and strong. They were also removable, attached to the handle by a wooden or bamboo peg. When not in use, the sword was placed in a wooden scabbard.

The samurai used swords with different types of blades depending upon the job that needed to be done. For example, there was the Hachiwara, or helmet breaker, and Kubikiri, or head cutter. Cavalry and infantry had their own swords.

3. Over a thousand years ago, in a region that is now Korea, a martial art was developed that combined a code of ethics and the pursuit of honor. Young warriors spent their youth training to become students of the sword. They were known as what?

Answer: Knights of Silla

The Silla knights practiced Kumdo which means "way of the sword". Kumdo is a type of martial art that descended from Kendo. These knights used a variety of fighting styles that incorporated the use of different types of swords such as the crescent sword and spear sword.

4. Islamic in origin, this term for a ruler means "power" or "authority". These rulers had wealth and powerful armies with weapons made of the finest metals and precious stones. By what name were these rulers known?

Answer: Sultan

Sultans have conquered areas as far west as Spain and Morocco all the way to the farthest regions of the East including India, China, and Malaysia. The arms they used were many and varied. One favored sword was the scimitar which had a curved, saber-like blade.

Other weapons used were maces designed with hidden swords and knife-blade battle-axes. The best sword makers of the Middle East used Damascus steel to create weapons of incredible strength, precision, and beauty.

5. The most feared mercenaries of Old Europe were highly paid and well-trained fighters. They fought on most of the continents between the late 1400s and the late 1600s. These mercenaries were known by what name?

Answer: Landsknechts

Landsknechts had the reputation for being elite wielders of the sword. It is no wonder, since they were so highly trained in weaponry use. They fought with pikes and halberds and the Zweih�nder, a large sword translated from German to mean "two-hander." The dreaded mercenary known as Doppels�ldner used this weapon to great effect. Doppels�ldner means double mercenary since these particular mercenaries were fearless, highly trained, and cost twice as much gold to hire as regular troops.

6. In the Congo region of Africa there once lived a group of people who were fierce warriors. They wore frightening masks and were eager to do battle. These warriors were divided into three castes. What was the name for this group of warriors?

Answer: Salampasu

At the bottom of the pecking order were the hunters, then came the warriors, and finally at the top of the caste were the war chiefs. The type of mask designated the caste. The Salampasu used throwing swords as a weapon. These swords were designed to fly through the air with accuracy and balance. What made these swords especially threatening was that each had at least one hooked blade to strike down the target.

The war chief was never without his sword since this weapon symbolized his power and dominance.

7. In feudal Japan there was a special class of warriors who used the cover of night to carry out their deadly missions. These assassins became known as what?

Answer: Ninja

Surprise, stealth, and deception was the way of the ninja. The samurai warriors differed from the ninja in that they obeyed strict rules of combat. Honor was very important to the samurai. Like most warriors throughout history, the ninja utilized many different weapons for combat.

The jutte was a strong parrying weapon that could break a samurai blade with a good hit. Jutte jutsu was the art of defeating a fully armed samurai with a jutte. The primary weapon of the ninja was the ninja-to, a short sword with a straight blade.

It was put to best use when paired with other weapons such as a hamidashi, a dagger used to slash an opponent's neck, or a sai, an especially dangerous three-pronged dagger.

8. This medieval warrior was a dominant force on the battlefield. Whether on foot or on horseback, he mastered the use of the sword in conquest and defense, all while practicing chivalry. Who was this medieval warrior?

Answer: Knight

Knighthood was granted by head of a monarch or a political leader primarily for use in a military capacity. Knights used spiky battle swords which seems to indicate that these swords were used like a mace or club. They also used two-handed battle swords and swords of different shapes and sizes, depending on the job that needed to be done.

The finer the sword, the higher the rank and status in the medieval hierarchy.

9. Not all warriors were men. Around the first century BC, legend tells of a beautiful warrior queen of ancient Ireland. She was as ruthless as she was beautiful. By what name was she known?

Answer: Maeve of Connacht

Maeve had once been married to the King of Ulster, a region of Ireland. It was she who started the T�in B� C�ailnge, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, in order to capture a prize bull in Ulster. Maeve sent many men to their deaths in the process. She armed herself with a death spear, or g�e bulga, a spear with five sharp points. Ancient Celts also used harpoons and swords.

10. As the dark ages of mass migration ended, Europe witnessed the formation of states and the rise of monarchies. Who were the men at the head of these monarchies?

Answer: Kings

The sword was the defining weapon of this era. Kings used swords to defend their castles and, beyond the castle walls, during a crusade or conquest. They also used the sword to bestow the honor of knight to a worthy male. The swords used by kings were usually handed down from ancestors. If a king were wealthy enough he could commission a sword to be created just for him.

The king kept a sword by his side from the time of his coronation to his death when it would be buried alongside him. Many swords had an embellishment called "blood groove," which added to the sword's strength and lightness.

Source: Author nmerr

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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They Lived and Died by the Sword Quiz

Swords have been an important part of weaponry for thousands of years. Who used these swords? The descriptions should help.

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