Can You Identify These Amazing Moments in History?
Written by Colleen Curran History Expert
Last updated · 10 min play time
Take a stroll down memory lane with this history quiz and see if you remember some of the most amazing moments in history.
This quiz was expert reviewed by Colleen Curran. Colleen earned an MA in History at Boston College in 2016. She specialized in nineteenth and twentieth-century American race and labor history. She currently works as an Editor for the Massachusetts Historical Commission and continues her education in the Sustainable Development program at the Harvard Extension School.
The subject of history is unfairly rolled into bed with terms like 'boring' and 'dull'. However, the truth is that the subject of history can be absolutely thrilling if you really dig into it. From empires rising and falling to individuals single-handedly changing the course of the world, history is what we are made out of. Today we are going to travel through time in order to take a look at, and quiz you on, some of the most incredible historic moments of our world. Are you ready for the test?
Quiz written by
Colleen CurranMoments in History Quiz Questions
28 Questions · 223.9K Plays · 4 Comments
Question 1
In 1896 ______ revived the Olympic Games.
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AGreece
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BItaly
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CUnited States
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DCanada
Greece
Inspire by the games that occurred in Olympia, Greece.
Question 2
We’re going to start by traveling backward in time to the age of empires. What empire had control of the most land area during their peak reign?
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AQing Dynasty
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BMongol Empire
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CBritish Empire
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DRussian Empire
British Empire
Great Britian had the largest global empire. The empire included territories in both hemispheres, north and south of the equator. The phrase"the empire in which the sun never sets" is about the British empire because of its vast size and the millions of people it had power over.
Question 3
This person was known as one of the most famous ‘conductors’ on the ‘Underground Railroad’. What was this person’s name?
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AHarriet Tubman
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BMargaret Garner
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CNat Turner
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DAnna J. Cooper
Harriet Tubman
Tubman escaped slavery and worked as an abolitionist who helped other escaped slaves flee to the North using the Underground railroad, which was a network of people (abolitionists) who helped moved southern slaves states to the north.
Question 4
Our last Presidential question, for now, we promise. What American President served two separate and distinct terms?
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ARonald Reagan
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BGeorge Bush
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CGrover Cleveland
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DGeorge Washington
Grover Cleveland
Cleveland was president twice (22 and 24). He was president during the Pullman Strike at the end of the 1800s.
Question 5
During the 19th century one of history’s most famous soldiers, Napoleon Bonaparte, would be born. Where was he born?
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ASouth America
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BCorsica
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CItaly
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DSpain
Corsica
Napoleon was born on an island in the Mediterranean (Corsica).
Question 6
Put on your sunglasses, we’re heading to the Middle East. In 762 the Islamic Caliphate moved their capital from Damascus to _________.
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ABaghdad
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BMedina
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CAgrabah
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DAl-Fustat
Baghdad
"The choice of a capital so close to Persia proper reflected a growing reliance on Persian bureaucrats."
Question 7
What do scholars ascribe as the Maya’s most impressive development?
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ADevelopment of math and astronomy.
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BAdvanced stone working.
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CTheir practice of healing.
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DAdvanced societal hierarchy.
Development of math and astronomy.
Mayans developed the most sophisticated system of math in the Americas.
Question 8
Known as ‘The Universal Ruler’, this great warrior led his people into becoming one of the greatest dynasties of all time.
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AAlexander the Great
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BGenghis Khan
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CVladimir Lenin
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DKing Xerxes
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was the founder of the Mongol Empire. He conquered most of East Asia and occupied most of modern day China. Genghis Khan massacred large amounts of people, destroying some civilizations.
Question 9
Speaking of famous American faces. Which U.S. President was the first ever to appear on TV?
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ARonald Reagan
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BRichard Nixon
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CJohn F. Kennedy
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DFranklin Delano Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
The TV was invented in 1927. The TV didn't become popular to consumers for many years later. (Great crash occured in 1929, the Great Depression through the 1930s, limiting the position of American consumers). FDR was president from 1933-1945. FDR appeared on TV in 1939 at the World's Fair ceremonies. The TV became a prominent media and entertainment source in the 1950s.
Question 10
Islam is the most prevalent religion in the Middle East. What country houses the ancient and sacred city of Mecca?
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ASyria
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BIraq
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CSaudi Arabia
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DIran
Saudi Arabia
Islam's holiest city.
Question 11
Continuing on with Karl Marx, what famous manifesto did he co-write?
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AThe Communist Manifesto
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BThe Marxist Manifesto
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CThe Socialist’s Manifesto
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DThe Working Class Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto
The Communist Manifesto was a political manuscript that disccuses/analyzes the class structure in Europe as a result of capitalism and the mode of production. (1848 pamphlet, the same year of the 1848 revolution).
Question 12
Let’s take a break from all of this bloodshed. Which famous canal was opened up in 1869?
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APanama Canal
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BSuez Canal
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CCanals of Bruges
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DSuzhou Canals
Suez Canal
The Suez canal is the shortest maritime route between Europe and the lands lying around the Indian and western Pacific oceans. It was a busy global shipping lane.
Question 13
Let’s shift focus over to the United States. When the Declaration of Independence was signed, which famous face was not in attendance?
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AJohn Adams
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BThomas Jefferson
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CGeorge Washington
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DBenjamin Franklin
George Washington
Washington was Commander of the Continental Army, and was defending New York City in July 1776.
Question 14
Let’s shift gears again. The 19th Century was a time of amazing progress. Which of these feats was accomplished first.
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AAbraham Lincoln pens the Gettysburg Address.
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BDarwin writes ‘On the Origin of Species’.
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CWomen in New Zealand win the right to vote.
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DThe Kingdom of Italy is established.
Darwin writes ‘On the Origin of Species’.
This work is considered the foundation for evolutionary biology.
Question 15
Frederick Douglass escaped the shackles of slavery and founded his own abolition newspaper. What was it called?
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AThe Southern Star
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BThe Union Today
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CThe North Star
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DThe Northern Commander
The North Star
Douglass was a former slave who fought for abolition as an orator and writer. He was the founder of an anti-slavery newspaper known as The North Star.
Question 16
While we are on the subject of great rulers, what was Hammurabi, King of Ancient Mesopotamia, known for?
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ACode of Law
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BVitality in battle
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CMultiple wives
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DHis beard
Code of Law
Babylonian law code of ancient Mesopotamia, dating back to about 1754 BC. (An eye for an eye).
Question 17
Alfred the Great is considered one of the greatest rulers of all time. What land did he rule over?
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AEast Anglia
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BMercia
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CWessex
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DNorthumbria
Wessex
A kingdom that was part of southern Great Britain until it was unified in the 10th century.
Question 18
Where was Julius Caesar assassinated?
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ATheater of Pompey
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BCampus Martius
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CRoman bath
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DIn his bed
Theater of Pompey
Caesar was due to appear for a session meeting at the Theatre where the plot to kill him happened.
Question 19
Let’s turn things around and avoid war for a moment. Karl Marx was a German philosopher and revolutionary. Along with _____, he helped to found the concept of Marxism.
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AFriedrich Reich
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BFriedrich II
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CFriedrich Engels
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DFriedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Engels
Marx and Engels founded Marxism. Engels was born in Prussia annd met Marx in Paris." A proletariat or socialist revolution must occur, according to Marx, where the state (the means by which the ruling class forcibly maintains rule over the other classes) is a dictatorship of the proletariat. Communism evolves from socialism out of this progression: the socialist slogan is “From each according to his ability, to each according to his work. The communist slogan varies thusly: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”
Question 20
World War I is often pushed under the rug by discussion over World War II. However, it was certainly still violent! What was the most deadly excursion during World War I?
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AThe Spring Offensive
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BHundred Days Offensive
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CBattle of Verdun
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DBattle of the Somme
Hundred Days Offensive
Do not underestimate the damage done in WWI as compared to WWII. New weapon and machine technology made WWI an extremely bloody battle. Those techonologies include: poison gas, the machine gun, tanks, tacticle air support.
Question 21
What phrase was uttered regarding the assassination of Julius Caesar?
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A“Death to the brute.”
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B“As others fall, so does he.”
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C“So ends his tyranny.”
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D“Thus perish all tyrants.”
“Thus perish all tyrants.”
The phrase has been used as a rallying cry against abuse of power.
Question 22
The Middle East has another popular nickname; can you guess what it is?
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AThe Crossroads of the World
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BThe Cradle of Civilization
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CLand of the Upright Men
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DLungs of the World
The Crossroads of the World
Major trade routes were created in the Middle East that connected Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Question 23
Fast forwarding a couple hundred years we find ourselves at the New York Stock Exchange in 1929. What stocks were sold at a loss to precipitate the Great Depression?
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AShell Oil
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BCoca-Cola
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CGeneral Motors
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DGeneral Electric
General Motors
The Great Crash occurred in 1929, dismantling the US and global economy. Land speculation, large sums of money/savings being taken out of banks by citizens following the crash, monopolies and trusts all contributed to what would become the worst economic downturn in our history, the Great Depression.
Question 24
Let’s dive back in time, way before World War I. When the Maya ruled Mesoamerica, what did they use as currency?
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ACorn
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BGold
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CGlass
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DCacao
Cacao
Cacao was first found in Latin America. Used as currency, in drinks, etc. Cacao is used to make chocolate. Today, most cacao plants are located in Western Africa.
Question 25
Despite his prowess as a military leader, Napoleon would end up dying in exile. How did he end up passing away?
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AStomach Ulcer
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BAssassination
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COld Age
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DTuberculosis
Stomach Ulcer
Following the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was exiled to an island in the south Atlantic.
Question 26
While we are still rolling around in the ancient past, let’s talk sieges. Which legendary, and deadly, siege had the most casualties?
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ASiege of Baghdad in 1258
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BSiege of Jerusalem in 1099
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CSiege of Sidon in 343 BC
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DSiege of Vicksburg in 1863
Siege of Baghdad in 1258
Baghdad was captured by Mongol forces. (The goal was to extend Mongol rule to Mesopotamia).
Question 27
1933 was the high mark for unemployment in America during the Great Depression. What percentage of America was unemployed at this time?
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A15.9%
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B35.9%
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C24.9%
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D33.9%
24.9%
Land and stock speculation, Britain's return to the gold standard, record high trading, a series of booms and busts, burgeoned purchase of stocks on margin and an influx of gold on wall street all contributed to the Great Crash. Income maldistribution, the structure of trusts and corporations, the unstable banking structure, foreign trade imbalances, and lack of economic intelligence all led to the Great Drepression.
Question 28
While the United States fought in the Civil War, China was also engulfed in bloodshed – the Taiping Rebellion. How many people died during the Taiping Rebellion?
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A5 million
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B10 million
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C500,000
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D20 million
20 million
The goals of the Taipings were religious, nationalist, and political in nature; they sought the conversion of the Chinese people to the Taiping's version of Christianity, the overthrow of the ruling Manchus, and a wholesale transformation and reformation of the state.
Comments (4)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
It was a little difficult.
très bien et un ramonage de nos méninges ! hahah
I wasn't even born on any of the questions LOL~
Good difficult questions in this quiz.