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History Trivia Questions — page 27

2,004 trivia questions with answers, all ages. Multiple-choice trivia with answers, sorted by topic and level. Reveal the answers below, pick one at random, or present them full-screen.

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  1. 1301.

    Who was the first president of Kenya?

    • ATom Mboya
    • BDaniel Moi
    • COginga Odinga
    • DJomo Kenyatta
    Answer: Jomo Kenyatta
  2. 1302.

    What was the objective of Operation Sea Lion?

    • AMining of the Norwegian coast to avoid German invasion
    • BThe conquest of Britain
    • CCutting British supplies at sea
    • DCommando raid on Dieppe to test Atlantic Wall defenses
    Answer: The conquest of Britain
  3. 1303.

    This group is known for their 1984 song Were Not Gonna Take It.

    • AQuiet Riot
    • BRatt
    • CRough Cutt
    • DTwisted Sister
    Answer: Twisted Sister
  4. 1304.

    Joseph Stalin had a criminal past doing what?

    • ARobbing Trains
    • BIdentity Fraud
    • CMurder for Hire
    • DTax Evasion
    Answer: Robbing Trains
  5. 1305.

    In order to get the Generation-X car buyers, this cross-over SUV was made by GM from 2001-2005. It was a financial failure.

    • APontiac Sunbird
    • BFireStar
    • CMontana
    • DPontiac Aztek
    Answer: Pontiac Aztek
  6. 1306.

    Scythian monk Dennis the Little, who lived in the sixth century invented this.

    • AThe horse-pulled plow
    • BTaking a census every decade
    • CNumbering years according to the life of Jesus
    • DThe concepts of Feudalism
    Answer: Numbering years according to the life of Jesus
  7. 1307.

    Which of these did not happen in 1941?

    • AThe siege of Leningrad began.
    • BMount Rushmore was finished.
    • CThe microwave was invented
    • DThe Jeep was invented.
    Answer: The microwave was invented
  8. 1308.

    Dorothy Good, who was the youngest person to be accused of witchcraft, was how old?

    • A4
    • B12
    • Can infant
    • D21
    Answer: 4
  9. 1309.

    In which country did the name Gustav originate?

    • ASweden
    • BNorway
    • CDenmark
    • DFinland
    Answer: Sweden
  10. 1310.

    Which of the following battles is often considered as marking the beginning of the fall of the Western Roman Empire?

    • ABattle of Thessalonica
    • BBattle of Constantinople
    • CBattle of Adrianople
    • DBattle of Pollentia
    Answer: Battle of Adrianople
  11. 1311.

    This significant battle on the WW II Eastern front is largely regarded as the largest armed conflict of all time.

    • AThe battle of Moscow
    • BThe battle of Leningrad
    • CThe battle of Sevastopol
    • DThe battle of Kursk
    Answer: The battle of Kursk
  12. 1312.

    The first hominids could be described as:

    • Aquadrupedal pongids.
    • Bquadrupedal knappers.
    • Cbipedal quadrupeds.
    • Dbipedal apes.
    Answer: bipedal apes.
  13. 1313.

    The great Mayan king Pacal built temples in the city of Palenque in order to:

    • Adisplay his generosity to the common people, since they were allowed to live in the temples.
    • Bsatisfy the powerful Mayan astronomer priests.
    • Cfrighten away enemies, in particular the Spaniards.
    • Dlegitimize his kingship, since his father was not royal.
    Answer: legitimize his kingship, since his father was not royal.
  14. 1314.

    Which one of these was not part of the Million Dollar Quartet, formed in 1956 by Sun Records?

    • AJohnny Cash
    • BWillie Nelson
    • CJerry Lee Lewis
    • DCarl Perkins
    Answer: Willie Nelson
  15. 1315.

    The creator of the Enigma Cypher and Machine was of what nationality?

    • ABritish
    • BPolish
    • CAmerican
    • DGerman
    Answer: German
  16. 1316.

    On October 16, 1978, the Papal Conclave elected Karol Józef Wojtyła, who became known as Pope John Paul II. How old was he when this happened?

    • A68
    • B58
    • C38
    • D48
    Answer: 58
  17. 1317.

    Which Nation did NOT have a Colony in modern-day North America?

    • ANetherlands
    • BSweden
    • CSpain
    • DPortugal
    Answer: Portugal
  18. 1318.

    Early evidence of complexity in Mayan societies is suggested by the appearance, around 2650 B.P., of:

    • Afinely carved obsidian statuary.
    • Bthe introduction of chocolate into the Mesoamerican economy.
    • Cdecorated stepped platforms.
    • Da ritual ball game in which the losers were sacrificed to the gods.
    Answer: decorated stepped platforms.
  19. 1319.

    What do the amounts of rainfall in the Maya homeland, as reflected in variations in oxygen isotopes in a stalagmite in Yok Balum Cave in Belize, correspond to?

    • Asevere drought and a decline in construction at Maya ceremonial centers
    • Bincreased warfare and the abandonment of the entire region
    • Cincreased rainfall and severe flooding that led to the collapse of Maya ceremonial centers
    • Dincreased rainfall and increased storage of surplus food from agriculture
    Answer: severe drought and a decline in construction at Maya ceremonial centers
  20. 1320.

    Which of the following best describes an anthropologist who studies the human skeleton in order to solve crimes?

    • Alinguistic anthropologist
    • Bpaleoanthropologist
    • Chistorical archaeologist
    • Dforensic anthropologist
    Answer: forensic anthropologist
  21. 1321.

    Markings found on the mud-bricks of Huaca del Sol are probably:

    • Ainstructions for the builders written there by the engineers.
    • Bsimple arithmetic performed by carpenters on the building site.
    • Cintended to identify the local group that had produced them.
    • Drandom scratches and not a meaningful script or written language.
    Answer: intended to identify the local group that had produced them.
  22. 1322.

    What President signed legislation on July 29, 1958 to create NASA?

    • AEisenhower
    • BKennedy
    • CTruman
    • DNixon
    Answer: Eisenhower
  23. 1323.

    In what battle did the Highlanders have their last successful charge?

    • AHeights of Abraham in 1759
    • BClaverhouse at Killiecrankie in 1689
    • CBonnie Prince Charlie at Falkirk in 1745-46 campaign
    • DMarquis of Motnrose Alastair MacColla at Kilsyth in 1644-45 campaign
    Answer: Heights of Abraham in 1759
  24. 1324.

    What was a unifying element to the Chavin culture?

    • Awoven textiles displaying common motifs
    • Ball the above
    • Cworked metal objects
    • Dartistic styles incorporating the same creatures
    Answer: all the above
  25. 1325.

    On September 27th, 1779 this politician was appointed by American Congress to start negotiating peace with the British.

    • AThomas Jefferson
    • BBen Franklin
    • CJohn Jay
    • DJohn Adams
    Answer: John Adams
  26. 1326.

    What does the Arabic term Al Qaeda mean?

    • Ajustice
    • Bthe revenge
    • Cthe struggle
    • Dthe base, or foundation
    Answer: the base, or foundation
  27. 1327.

    The first full-length episode of this popular TV sitcom premiered on Fox on December 17, 1989.

    • AFull House
    • BALF
    • CStep By Step
    • DThe Simpsons
    Answer: The Simpsons
  28. 1328.

    This great 1949 movie was remade into a 2006 movie flop starring Sean Penn, James Gandolfini, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Anthony Hopkins.

    • AThe Interpreter
    • BAll the Kings Men
    • C21 Grams
    • DCrossing Over
    Answer: All the Kings Men
  29. 1329.

    Henry Kissinger held this US post from 1974 to 1977.

    • ANational Security Advisor
    • BSecretary of State
    • CPresident of the Senate
    • DSpeaker of the House of Representatives
    Answer: Secretary of State
  30. 1330.

    This was the first joint flight of the two rivals in the race to the Moon. It was also the first international manned spaceflight. A Soviet and an American spacecraft were joined to test the compatibility of their rendezvous and docking systems.

    • AGemini-Voskhod
    • BApollo-Luna
    • CMercury-Salyut
    • DApollo-Soyuz
    Answer: Apollo-Soyuz
  31. 1331.

    What is the estimated frame of time in which the Great Pyramid was constructed?

    • Amore than 40 years
    • B30 - 40 years
    • C15 - 20 years
    • D10 - 15 years
    Answer: 15 - 20 years
  32. 1332.

    Who was the king of Sparta and leader of the 300 Spartans at the famous battle at Thermopylae?

    • ALeonidas
    • BAristides
    • CPericles
    • DPhilip I
    Answer: Leonidas
  33. 1333.

    Which one of these people holds several patents for fishing lures?

    • ACharlton Heston
    • BGary Burghoff
    • CJonathan Winters
    • DJamie Lee Curtis
    Answer: Gary Burghoff
  34. 1334.

    What Mariah Carey and quartet Boyz II Men song remained at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks?

    • AOne Sweet Day
    • BWithout You
    • CHero
    • DDreamlover
    Answer: One Sweet Day
  35. 1335.

    In what year was the last natural case of smallpox documented?

    • A1977
    • B1980
    • C1990
    • D1982
    Answer: 1977
  36. 1336.

    Which of the following countries was the first to send an object into space?

    • AGermany
    • BRussia
    • CUSA
    • DChina
    Answer: Germany
  37. 1337.

    What is the wild progenitor of maize?

    • Ateosinte
    • Beinkorn
    • Clegumes
    • Demmer
    Answer: teosinte
  38. 1338.

    What designation for a pottery style was eventually applied to an entire cultural complex that moved across the Pacific?

    • AClovis
    • BMicronesian Pottery Tradition
    • CLapita
    • DNenana Complex
    Answer: Lapita
  39. 1339.

    When did the Cuban Missile Crisis occur?

    • AOctober 1962
    • BNovember 1961
    • CApril 1963
    • DAugust 1964
    Answer: October 1962
  40. 1340.

    Who was the first prime minister of Canada?

    • AJohn Abbott
    • BAlexander Mackenzie
    • CRobert Borden
    • DJohn Macdonald
    Answer: John Macdonald
  41. 1341.

    The idea of Socialism was articulated and advanced by whom?

    • AVladimir Lenin
    • BKarl Marx
    • CVladimir Putin
    • DJoseph Stalin
    Answer: Karl Marx
  42. 1342.

    This actor, who died in 2000, played the role of Major Frank Burns on the TV series M.A.S.H.

    • AAlan Alda
    • BHarry Morgan
    • CLarry Linville
    • DLarry Gelbert
    Answer: Larry Linville
  43. 1343.

    Samurai warriors usually carried two swords- a big and a small one. The small one was called wakizashi and was the honour blade of the samurai. He would carry it everywhere and would even sleep with his wakizashi under his pillow. What was the name of the big sword of the samurai?

    • AJo
    • BYari
    • CKatana
    • DNaginata
    Answer: Katana
  44. 1344.

    The crossing of the Delaware, that preceded the Battle of Trenton, was aided by a regiment of boatmen from this Massachusetts town.

    • AWooster
    • BMarblehead
    • CBoston
    • DSalem
    Answer: Marblehead
  45. 1345.

    This man is famous for the quote, I came, I saw, I conquered.

    • AAlexander the Great
    • BNeither
    • CJulius Caesar
    • DBoth
    Answer: Julius Caesar
  46. 1346.

    In 1956 Bette Nesmith Graham invented Mistake Out which later became known by what name?

    • AWhite Out
    • BErasermate Pens
    • CPost-it Notes
    • DLiquid Paper
    Answer: Liquid Paper
  47. 1347.

    She popularized the mini.

    • AMarie Brizzard
    • BMarilyn Monroe
    • CTwiggy
    • DMary Quant
    Answer: Mary Quant
  48. 1348.

    What was the first recorded object to ever reach space?

    • ABumper-WAC
    • BAmerican Manhole Cover
    • CSputnik I
    • DSputnik II
    Answer: Bumper-WAC
  49. 1349.

    It was still the custom in the 1960s for many people to not eat meat on Fridays. McDonalds could not stand to lose these customers on Friday so this product was developed.

    • AThe Hula Burger
    • BThe Big Soy Burger
    • CThe Friday Soy Burger
    • DThe Meatless Chunk
    Answer: The Hula Burger
  50. 1350.

    In which country was the Statue of Liberty built and exported to the United States of America?

    • AGermany
    • BSpain
    • CEngland
    • DFrance
    Answer: France

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Questions adapted from OpenTriviaQA (CC BY-SA 4.0), Open Trivia Database (CC BY-SA 4.0), MMLU (Hendrycks et al.) (MIT), edited for clarity. This collection may be reused under the same terms — see sources & licenses.