Spanish History Quiz: From Conquests to Inquisitions, What Do You Know About Spanish History?
Written by Jessica Holom
Last updated · 10 min play time
From its time as Hispania to the Kingdom of Spain, show us what you know about España with this Spanish History Quiz.
"In Spain, the dead are more alive than the dead of any other country in the world." – Federico Garcia Lorca
The lively culture of Spain began with the Phoenicians, was taken by the Visogoths, then later the Moors, before being recaptured and weeded out with the Spanish Inquisition. Through it all, the dead, like national heroes El Cid and Saint James, are very much alive through history.
What can you recall about European history? Take our Spanish History Quiz and inquire about the Inquisition.
Test your History Knowledge
"Like Spain, I am bound to the past.” – William S. Burroughs
Are you bound? Break free with this Spanish History Quiz.
If you know your Spanish history then you'll be sure to ace this Spanish History Quiz. Just a refresher: Who is El Cid? What was the Spanish Inquisition? What wars did the Spanish fight along the way? The Spanish Civil War pitted what parties against each other?
If you have the historical know-how to nail this trivia, then what are you waiting for? Learn more about the Moors and so much more with our Spanish History Quiz.
Quiz written by
Jessica HolomJessica Holom is a freelance writer and digital nomad with a background in literature, art, and writing. She believes curiosity never killed a single cat and enjoys learning, world-exploring, and writing about both.
Spanish History Quiz Questions
25 Questions · 222 Plays · No comments
Question 1
Sponsored by Queen Isabella, which famous explorer set out for the New World in the late 15th century?
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AHernan Cortes
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BWalter Raleigh
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CAmerigo Vespucci
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DChristopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Pocketing 20,000 maravedis from Queen Isabella, Christopher Columbus hopped aboard the Santa Maria and set out for the New World. He "discovered" it in 1492.
Question 2
In the 15th century, the Tribunal of the Holy Office was established by the Catholic Monarchs for what purpose?
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ASpanish Inquisition
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BWitch Trials
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CConfessionals
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DWar Crimes
Spanish Inquisition
Lasting for several centuries, from 1478 to 1834, the Spanish Inquisition was designed to root out heretics. However, in reality, it allowed the freshly unified Kingdom of Spain to consolidate power at the top.
Question 3
The Visigoths took over Spain in 500 AD, followed by which group that named Spain "al-Andalus"?
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AOccitans
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BEgyptians
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CCelts
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DMoors
Moors
The indigenous Maghrebine Berbers were known as Moors. To Europeans, the term was used for anyone who was Muslim or had dark skin.
Question 4
Later ruled by Ferdinand II, what medieval kingdom formed in 1137?
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ABiscay
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BAragon
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CNorthumbria
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DAsturias
Aragon
The medieval Kingdom of Aragon would later become the autonomous community of Aragon. It is a landlocked region, divided by the Ebro river and crowned by the Pyrenees.
Question 5
After the war between Carthage and Rome, what was the Roman province of Spain called?
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AEspaña
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BPortucale
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CSpain
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DHispania
Hispania
After the Second Punic War was fought, Rome took part of Spain and made it "Hispania." Later, the Empire would take all of Spain.
Question 6
Made up of some 150 ships and 18,000 men, Spain's "Invincible Armada" proved not-so-invincible when what country defeated it in 1588?
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AAmerica
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BPortugal
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CFrance
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DEngland
England
The Spanish Armada met its match in the English naval force when it was crushed in 1588 off the coast of France. The Armada gained the "invincible" reputation due to the fleet sailing in a crescent shape which proved difficult to attack. With fateful winds working in their favor, Lord Charles Howard and Sir Francis Drake led a successful campaign against the Armada, ending the Spanish invasion.
Question 7
Ruling for 36 years, what nationalist leader called himself “El Caudillo” (The Leader) and became dictator in 1939?
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AAdolf Hitler
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BFrancisco Franco
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CBenito Mussolini
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DNicolae Ceausescu
Francisco Franco
The Spanish Civil War ended with a Nationalist victory in 1939. Overthrowing the democratically elected Second Republic, the party's leader, Francisco Franco, became dictator of Spain. During his 36-year rule, he cracked down on media, free speech, and religion (besides Catholicism) and established a police network that spied on citizens.
Question 8
Establishing the city of Lima, what empire did Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro conquer?
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ARoman Empire
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BMayan Empire
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CMongol Empire
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DIncan Empire
Incan Empire
While Cortés was in North America, Francisco Pizarro was in South America, causing the downfall of the Incas. He killed Atahualpa, their leader, after which Spain colonized Peru and established Lima as its capital.
Question 9
Considered one of the best of its kind, what international event was held in Barcelona in 1992?
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ADancing with the Stars
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BOlympics
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CWorld Fair
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DFIFA World Cup
Olympics
The 1992 Olympic Games took place in Barcelona, and is considered one of the most successful modern Olympics, with 169 countries and 9,300 athletes participating. The Olympics also improved Barcelona beaches, parks, and telecommunication.
Question 10
With rapid economic growth second only to Japan, what was the name given to the prosperity of the '60s in Spain?
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ASpanish Shuttle
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BSpanish Flu
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CSpanish Miracle
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DSpanish Supernova
Spanish Miracle
During Franco's reign, the "Spanish miracle" rapidly grew the economy to prosperity from 1959 to 1974. All economic sectors were developed during this period, which came to an end due to the international oil crisis of the '70s.
Question 11
Calling themselves the "Mexica," which group did Hernán Cortés conquer in 1520?
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AMayans
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BIncas
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CAztecs
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DFrench
Aztecs
16th-century conquistador Hernán Cortés not only conquered the Aztecs, but he claimed Mexico for Spain. Before he led his own famed expeditions, he served on a Diego Velázquez-led mission to Cuba.
Question 12
What tragedy occurred in 2004 in Madrid, killing 193 people?
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AFire
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BTsunami
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CEarthquake
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DTerrorist attack
Terrorist attack
A terrorist attack on March 11, 2004, tragically killed 193 people and injured some 2,000 when 10 bombs exploded on trains during morning rush hour. The al-Qaida-linked attack was the deadliest on European soil since 1988.
Question 13
Called "the Prudent," what king was the self-proclaimed "protector of the Holy Roman Empire"?
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AJohn I
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BGeorge III
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CLouis IV
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DPhilip II
Philip II
Philip II's primary goal was to stop the spread of Protestantism. The uber-Catholic monarch held many titles. Not only was he king of Spain, but he was also king of Naples and Sicily, king of Portugal, and, through his wife, king of England and Ireland.
Question 14
In 1479, a royal wedding brought which two kingdoms together to officially form the Kingdom of Spain?
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AWessex & Sussex
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BAragon & Castile
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CValencia & Catalonia
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DCastile & Valencia
Aragon & Castile
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand married, bringing their kingdoms of Aragon and Castile together at last. They were officially named the "Catholic King and Queen" by none other than the Pope himself.
Question 15
During the Spanish-American War, which Spanish territory was NOT lost to the United States?
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AGuam
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BPuerto Rico
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CCanary Islands
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DCuba
Canary Islands
At the turn of the 19th century, many of Spain's former colonies fought for and won their independence. And, by the turn of the 20th century, the Spanish-American War led to Spain giving up its additional territories to the United States, including Guam, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Cuba.
Question 16
Guided by King Juan Carlos, in what year did Spain become a democracy?
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A1876
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B2002
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C1978
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D1943
1978
Upon Franco's death, Spain moved from a dictatorship toward democracy. In 1978, the country established the Spanish Constitution which granted all the freedoms of democracy, including religion, speech, and press.
Question 17
The 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries saw Spain entered into multiple wars. What was NOT one of them?
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AWar of Spanish Succession
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BThirty Years' War
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CHundred Years' War
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DSeven Years' War
Hundred Years' War
In 1618, the Thirty Years' War began, followed eight decades later by the War of Spanish Succession in 1701. Sixty years later, the nation joined in the Seven Years' War against powerful Great Britain, and not long after that, the Peninsular War began in 1808. The Hundred Years' War was mainly between England and France and took place between the 14th and 15th centuries.
Question 18
With the conquest of Granada in 1492, what warring between Christians and Muslims officially came to an end?
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AWar of the Roses
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BReconquista
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CSpanish Civil War
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DThirty Years War
Reconquista
Lasting a century, the series of battles that made up the Reconquista pitted the Moors against the Christians. The Moors had ruled the peninsula since the 8th century and, by the 15th, lost their power.
Question 19
Quoted as saying, "Change can be good if you combine audacity with safety," who is the prime minister of Spain of 2021?
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APierre Trudeau
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BMariano Rajoy
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CAdolfo Suárez
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DPedro Sánchez
Pedro Sánchez
Elected in 2018, Pedro Sánchez started as the Secretary-General of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He ran on a centrist and social-liberal platform but later moved left.
Question 20
Specializing in pottery and metalwork, which industrious group introduced the iron and the potter's wheel to the region?
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ACelts
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BVascones
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CRomans
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DPhoenicians
Phoenicians
Exploiting the natural resources in southwest Spain, the Phoenicians are believed to have established Gadir and Cádiz. They were prosperous Mediterranean traders who flourished from 1500 to 600 BC.
Question 21
Considered a Spanish national hero, El Cid retook what city from the Moors?
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AParis
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BValencia
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CSegovia
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DGranada
Valencia
The 11th-century national Christian hero of Spain was considered the "embodiment of knightly honor." El Cid retook Valencia from the Moors and ruled it until his death in 1099.
Question 22
Once the nation had taken a step away from fascism, what two international groups did Spain join in the 1980s?
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AUN & NATO
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BEU & UN
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CNASA & FOREX
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DNATO & EU
NATO & EU
Spain joined two important international organizations in the '80s. In 1982, the country joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and, in 1986, it joined the European Union.
Question 23
Founded in 1800 BC, what was the first civilization to occupy Spain?
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AIndus
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BMesopotamia
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CEl Argar
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DHarappan
El Argar
When gold, silver, and bronze was discovered in the Iberian Peninsula, the El Argar culture prospered there, peaking in 1700 to 1000 BC. Dealing in these precious metals, the culture traded along the Mediterranean.
Question 24
Just before World War II kicked off, which two parties fought in the Spanish Civil War?
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AFederalists and Marxists
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BRepublicans and Democrats
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CDemocrats and Nationalists
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DNationalists and Republicans
Nationalists and Republicans
With fascism and communism on the rise, all of Europe was in turmoil during the early 20th century, Spain included. In 1936, the Spanish Civil War pitted the Nationalists (supported by fascists like Germany and Italy) against the Republicans (supported by communists like the Soviet Union).
Question 25
While they were distracted with their failed campaign in Russia, from whose rule was Spain freed in the Peninsular War?
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ABritain
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BGermany
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CPortugal
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DFrance
France
Napoleon Bonaparte was wreaking havoc in the peninsula in the early 19th century. Known also as the Spanish War of Independence, the Peninsular War pitted the Spanish, Portuguese, and the British against the French and was a costly conflict for all involved, ending in a French defeat, led by British General Arthur Wellesley.
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