A Brief History of the World

Last updated · 8 min play time

Have you ever heard the phrase “history never dies”?  It lives on in the hearts and minds of those who learn about it. That’s why we’ve put together this world history quiz! Created by our resident history master, Regina Munch, our fun history of the world quiz will test your historical world knowledge. Regina has a master’s degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it never truly dies. People, events, and ideas always have relevance to the current events of today, and there is always something new to learn, no matter how much you already know.

So if you love learning (and we have a feeling you do!), jump in and test your knowledge with this collection of world history trivia. Who knows, you may surprise yourself with how much you remember from your high school history classes.

Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

World History Quiz Questions

28 Questions · 1.5M Plays · 13 Comments

Question 1

What French Emperor was notorious for both his height and his temper as he came into power after the French Revolution?

  • A
    Napoleon Bonaparte
  • B
    Louis XIV
  • C
    Philip II
  • D
    Hugh Capet

Question 2

Let’s swing back to North America. What explorer sailed to the continent in 1492?

  • A
    Amerigo Vespucci
  • B
    Edmund Hilary
  • C
    Christopher Columbus
  • D
    Leif Eriksson

Question 3

John F. Kennedy is one of the most popular American presidents in history. Who assassinated him?

  • A
    Sirhan Sirhan
  • B
    Lee Harvey Oswald
  • C
    Tamladge X Hayer
  • D
    James Earl Ray

Question 4

The group of men that not only drafted the Declaration of Independence but also built a new system of government under the Constitution are now known as what?

  • A
    Founding Fathers
  • B
    Forerunners
  • C
    Daughters of the American Revolution
  • D
    Freedom Fathers

Question 5

What is the only country to have ever used an atomic bomb on an enemy?

  • A
    Germany
  • B
    China
  • C
    Russia
  • D
    United States

Question 6

Landing on the moon was a pivotal moment in human history. Who was the first man to step foot on the moon?

  • A
    Neil Armstrong
  • B
    Buzz Aldrin
  • C
    John Glenn
  • D
    Pete Conrad

Question 7

The USSR and the United States faced a global stalemate during what infamous conflict?

  • A
    World War II
  • B
    Gulf War
  • C
    Cold War
  • D
    Red Dawn

Question 8

The 1917 Bolshevik Revolutions shook which country to its core?

  • A
    Russia
  • B
    Germany
  • C
    Iran
  • D
    France

Question 9

After World War II concluded, what organization was created to prevent such conflict from ever breaking out again?

  • A
    World Health Organization
  • B
    United Nations
  • C
    League of Nations
  • D
    International Maritime Organization

Question 10

What US president led the country through the Civil War, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest leaders of all time?

  • A
    Woodrow Wilson
  • B
    Theodore Roosevelt
  • C
    Abraham Lincoln
  • D
    Andrew Johnson

Question 11

During Louis XVI’s rule, preceding the French Revolution, there was a great famine. What was the name of his wife who is credited with saying, “Let them eat cake”?

  • A
    Marie Antoinette
  • B
    Eugenie de Montijo
  • C
    Queen Margaret
  • D
    Queen Josephine

Question 12

Certain British rulers have been…unkind to their wives. What British King is known for either ordering the execution or divorcing four of his six wives?

  • A
    King Henry VIII
  • B
    Edward II
  • C
    King Louis II
  • D
    King Henry VI

Question 13

Germany rebounded from WWI thanks to the (nefarious) work of what chancellor?

  • A
    Otto von Bismarck
  • B
    Joseph Goebbels
  • C
    Adolf Hitler
  • D
    Vladimir Lenin

Question 14

Native Americans experienced oppression in the 1830s which culminated in the Trail of Tears. What was this event?

  • A
    The mass murder of Native American children
  • B
    Mass enslavement of Native Americans
  • C
    Forced migration to what we now call Oklahoma
  • D
    Deportation of Native Americans to England

Question 15

What legendary Scottish warrior was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the 1995 film 'Braveheart'?

  • A
    Jamie Fraser
  • B
    William Wallace
  • C
    Argyle Wallace
  • D
    Lord MacClannough

Question 16

What United States President ushered in his "New Deal" to help sculpt the shape of America for generations to come?

  • A
    Theodore Roosevelt
  • B
    Ronald Reagan
  • C
    George H.W. Bush
  • D
    Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Question 17

Who penned the majority of the United States' Declaration of Independence?

  • A
    George Washington
  • B
    John Adams
  • C
    Thomas Jefferson
  • D
    James Madison

Question 18

Let's jump back in time several years now. What Austrian's assassination kicked off World War I?

  • A
    Franz Ferdinand
  • B
    Gavrilo Princip
  • C
    Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • D
    David Lloyd

Question 19

What great event occurred during 1400-1650 in Europe?

  • A
    The French Revolution
  • B
    The Industrial Revolution
  • C
    The Renaissance
  • D
    The Great Depression

Question 20

Which country was NOT a member of the losing "Axis Powers" in World War II?

  • A
    Japan
  • B
    Germany
  • C
    Italy
  • D
    Soviet Union

Question 21

At its peak, what empire conquered more of the world than anyone else in history?

  • A
    Rome
  • B
    Greece
  • C
    British
  • D
    China

Question 22

What man effectively created Protestantism by nailing the Ninety-Five Theses to a church entrance?

  • A
    Pope Pius VI
  • B
    Pope Francis
  • C
    Martin Luther
  • D
    John Calvin

Question 23

Robert E. Lee is considered one of the Confederacy’s finest soldiers. From where in the country did his army originate?

  • A
    Southern Minnesota
  • B
    Northern Mississippi
  • C
    Southern Tennessee
  • D
    Northern Virginia

Question 24

Virginity was sacred to royalty hundreds of years ago. What ruler is known as "The Virgin Queen"?

  • A
    Elizabeth I
  • B
    Daenerys Targaryen
  • C
    Mary II
  • D
    Victoria

Question 25

Now for more North American history. Who was the King of England when America won its independence?

  • A
    King George II
  • B
    King George III
  • C
    King Louis II
  • D
    King Louis III

Question 26

In what year did the British destroy the Spanish Armada, turning Great Britain into a superpower?

  • A
    1742
  • B
    1588
  • C
    1492
  • D
    1776

Question 27

Which event in American history was known to the British as the "Incident on King Street"?

  • A
    Lincoln Assassination
  • B
    Boston Massacre
  • C
    Boston Tea Party
  • D
    Inauguration of President Washington

Question 28

Here's our last Presidential question. Which politician first made the phrase, "Let's Make America Great Again", famous?

  • A
    Donald J. Trump
  • B
    George H.W. Bush
  • C
    Ronald Reagan
  • D
    Bill Clinton

Comments (13)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.

Great Test to remind me of what I have learned and need to knowl.

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My Mom came from Leeds England after the 2nd WW being a war bride and marrying my Dad while he was stationed in England.

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i enjoyed it. the one about the indians was sad . my great grandfather came here from wales back in the 1860 nd he settled right here in southern ohio and we are still here. thank you lord....

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@mcsa : good dude

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i iam proud of myself for this thing

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This one really had my brain working and still didn't do too well, lol ??

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I thought it was fun and it got me to think on a few of the questions. I could see where doing something like this on a daily basis would be good to exercise your brain.

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I enjoyed it.

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Half of this is US history. There's nothing about South America, Africa, Asia, Australia or even Canada for that matter. I would rather call this "Western History of which mostly American History Quiz" and not "World History Quiz"

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WHAT WE LEARNED IN THE PAST ABOUT HISTORY IS NOT RELEVANT TO WHAT WE LEARNED IN SCHOOL ,THERE ARE SO MANY QUESTIONS ON WHAT IS FACT OR FICTION .

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IT WAS FUN,HAD TO THINK A LITTLE,OK CALL IT A BRAIN ****.

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Some of the questions were challenging for sure.

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Very good questions in regards to history.

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