History Trivia Quiz

Think you know History? Here are 50 History trivia questions with answers — then play them live against real players in the free Triviarena quiz app.

1. In 1979, what happened to the US-allied governments of Iran and Nicaragua?
   • They were toppled
   • They gained power
   • They signed treaties
   • They joined the USSR
   Answer: They were toppled
2. Which is the most accurate number of casualties (including killed, wounded or lost) of World War II?
   • 11,147,000
   • 16,354,000
   • 7,457,000
   • 9,127,000
   Answer: 16,354,000
3. The US Federal Governments deficit in 1983 exceeded $250 billion?
   • False
   • True
   Answer: False
4. Which American Civil War clash remains the bloodiest single day in US military history?
   • Battle of Gettysburg
   • Battle of Antietam
   • Battle of Shiloh
   • Battle of Bull Run
   Answer: Battle of Antietam
   The Battle of Antietam resulted in 22,727 dead, wounded, or missing in a single day, making it the bloodiest day in American history.
5. Which film won the Best Picture award at the 2006 Academy Awards?
   • Brokeback Mountain
   • Crash
   • King Kong
   • March of the Penguins
   Answer: Crash
6. What name is given to the devastating 1932–1933 famine that killed millions of Ukrainians?
   • Holodomor
   • Great Purge
   • The Ruin
   • Red Terror
   Answer: Holodomor
   The Holodomor was a devastating, man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932 to 1933 that resulted in the deaths of 4 to 5 million Ukrainians.
7. What musical name was given to Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of non-intervention in the late 1980s?
   • The Sinatra Doctrine
   • The Presley Principle
   • The Lennon Directive
   • The Dylan Decree
   Answer: The Sinatra Doctrine
   The 'Sinatra Doctrine' (referencing 'My Way') allowed Warsaw Pact states to determine their own internal affairs.
8. Which 19th-century German businessman famously excavated the ancient city of Troy?
   • Heinrich Schliemann
   • Arthur Evans
   • Howard Carter
   • Hiram Bingham
   Answer: Heinrich Schliemann
   Heinrich Schliemann began excavating the site of Hisarlık in 1870, discovering the ruins of Troy.
9. In 1898, Britain leased the New Territories of Hong Kong from China for how many years?
   • 99 years
   • 50 years
   • 150 years
   • 999 years
   Answer: 99 years
   The New Territories were leased to Britain for exactly 99 years, a timeline that ultimately forced the 1997 handover negotiations.
10. What is the meaning of 'Jin' in the name 'Zijincheng'?
    • Royal
    • Golden
    • Prohibition
    • Heaven
    Answer: Prohibition
    The provided content explicitly defines this part of the name, stating 'Jin refers to a prohibition or taboo.'
11. What name did American colonists give to the punitive laws passed after the Boston Tea Party?
    • Stamp Acts
    • Townshend Acts
    • Navigation Acts
    • Intolerable Acts
    Answer: Intolerable Acts
    The British government responded to the protest by passing the Intolerable Acts, which closed Boston's port and ended local self-government in Massachusetts.
12. Which two cultures developed the earliest practical writing systems in the Bronze Age?
    • Greece and Rome
    • Indus Valley and China
    • Maya and Aztec
    • Mesopotamia and Egypt
    Answer: Mesopotamia and Egypt
    Mesopotamia developed cuneiform script, and Egypt developed hieroglyphs, marking the earliest practical writing systems.
13. What was William Wallace's primary defense when tried for treason by King Edward I in 1305?
    • He never swore allegiance to Edward
    • He was a citizen of France
    • He was acting under divine orders
    • He was not present at the battles
    Answer: He never swore allegiance to Edward
    Wallace argued that he could not be guilty of treason against King Edward I because he had never sworn fealty to him as his king.
14. Which 1954 battle did General Võ Nguyên Giáp win to end French rule in Indochina?
    • Battle of Dien Bien Phu
    • Battle of Khe Sanh
    • Battle of Inchon
    • Battle of Waterloo
    Answer: Battle of Dien Bien Phu
    Giáp's siege of the French garrison at Dien Bien Phu resulted in a decisive victory that ended the First Indochina War.
15. What were the fortified towns built by Alfred the Great to defend against Vikings called?
    • Shires
    • Fiefs
    • Burhs
    • Baileys
    Answer: Burhs
    Alfred the Great established a network of fortified settlements known as 'burhs' (or burghs) to protect his people from Viking raids.
16. The first full-length episode of this popular TV sitcom premiered on Fox on December 17, 1989.
    • Full House
    • Step By Step
    • ALF
    • The Simpsons
    Answer: The Simpsons
17. Did Warsaw surrender to German troops in 1940?
    • Yes
    • No
    Answer: No
18. To create bronze, ancient civilizations typically alloyed copper with which metal?
    • Iron
    • Silver
    • Tin
    • Zinc
    Answer: Tin
    Bronze is primarily an alloy made by combining copper with tin, though arsenic was also used early on.
19. Which ancient wonder of the world was located in Babylon?
    • Colossus of Rhodes
    • Lighthouse of Alexandria
    • Mausoleum of Halicarnassus
    • Hanging Gardens
    Answer: Hanging Gardens
20. Six gigantic guns were created during World War II, with the help of general Karl Baker. They were called Karl Monsers and were used in the Brest-Litovsk and Warsaw uprisings. What was their other deployment during the War?
    • The defence of Berlin
    • The siege of Stalingrad
    • The siege of Moscow
    • The siege of Sevastopol
    Answer: The siege of Sevastopol
21. Which two nations were the initial focus of the 1947 Truman Doctrine's pledge of aid?
    • Greece and Turkey
    • France and Germany
    • Japan and South Korea
    • Italy and Spain
    Answer: Greece and Turkey
    President Truman specifically asked Congress to provide economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey to prevent them from falling into the communist bloc.
22. Which French king was executed during the Revolution?
    • Karl X.
    • Louis the Strong
    • Ludwig XVI.
    • Napoleon Bonaparte
    Answer: Ludwig XVI.
23. As Secretary of State, John Quincy Adams negotiated an 1819 treaty acquiring which territory?
    • Florida
    • Louisiana
    • Alaska
    • Texas
    Answer: Florida
    The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 successfully transferred control of Spanish Florida to the United States.
24. The tea dumped during the 1773 Boston Tea Party was owned by which powerful British corporation?
    • East India Company
    • Hudson's Bay Company
    • Virginia Company
    • South Sea Company
    Answer: East India Company
    The tea destroyed during the Boston Tea Party belonged to the East India Company, which had been granted competitive trade advantages in the American colonies.
25. What name was given to the first local government established in Buenos Aires on May 25, 1810?
    • Primera Junta
    • Council of Regency
    • Supreme Directory
    • National Congress
    Answer: Primera Junta
    After forcing the resignation of the Spanish Viceroy, the revolutionaries established a new governing body called the Primera Junta.
26. This Italian poet, considered one of the fathers of the Renaissance, is also regarded as the father of alpinism.
    • Castiglione
    • Machiavelli
    • Petrarch
    • Dante
    Answer: Petrarch
27. Since 1928, President Andrew Jackson's portrait has been featured on which U.S. paper currency?
    • $20 bill
    • $10 bill
    • $50 bill
    • $100 bill
    Answer: $20 bill
    Andrew Jackson's portrait has appeared on the face of the U.S. $20 bill, though plans have been made to replace him with Harriet Tubman.
28. In what year did the French Revolution begin?
    • 1789
    • 1693
    • 1724
    • 1637
    Answer: 1789
29. Who completed the first circumnavigation after Magellan's death?
    • Juan Sebastián Elcano
    • Vasco da Gama
    • Christopher Columbus
    • Amerigo Vespucci
    Answer: Juan Sebastián Elcano
    After Magellan was killed in the Philippines, the Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano took command and completed the return journey to Spain.
30. Roman women were jealous of the captive-women from the German tribes that their men captured. That is why they used to cut off the captives long blond braids and used them as this.
    • Home decoration
    • Dress ornamentation
    • Pillow filling
    • Part of their own hair
    Answer: Part of their own hair
31. At which 751 battle did the Abbasid army defeat Tang China, halting Chinese westward expansion?
    • Battle of Tours
    • Battle of Talas
    • Battle of Ain Jalut
    • Battle of Manzikert
    Answer: Battle of Talas
    The Abbasid victory over the Tang dynasty at the Battle of Talas in 751 ended Chinese influence in Transoxiana.
32. In 1936, Gone With the Wind was first published. Who was the author?
    • Margaret Mitchell
    • Terry Pratchett
    • Jane Austen
    • J.D. Salinger
    Answer: Margaret Mitchell
33. In which month of 1940 did the Soviet Union occupy Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia?
    • May
    • June
    • August
    • September
    Answer: June
34. What was John Adams's primary role regarding the Declaration of Independence in Congress?
    • Its primary advocate
    • Its sole author
    • Its official scribe
    • Its main opponent
    Answer: Its primary advocate
    While he assisted Jefferson in drafting the document, Adams's main role in Congress was as the Declaration of Independence's primary advocate.
35. The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned in 1806 following which major French military victory?
    • Battle of Austerlitz
    • Battle of Waterloo
    • Siege of Orléans
    • Battle of the Somme
    Answer: Battle of Austerlitz
    Napoleon ordered the construction of the monument shortly after his decisive victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.
36. NASA selected this astronaut to command the first Columbia flight. He was a veteran of two Gemini and two Apollo missions and considered to be NASAs most experienced astronaut at the time.
    • John Young
    • Byron Lichtenberg
    • John Glenn
    • Bob Crippen
    Answer: John Young
37. What was Marco Polo's nickname, which also became the Italian title of his famous book?
    • Il Magnifico
    • Il Milione
    • Il Viaggiatore
    • Il Leone
    Answer: Il Milione
    He was nicknamed 'Milione' because he constantly described Kublai Khan's wealth in the millions.
38. At which 1485 battle did Henry VII defeat Richard III to win the English crown?
    • Battle of Bosworth Field
    • Battle of Hastings
    • Battle of Agincourt
    • Battle of Waterloo
    Answer: Battle of Bosworth Field
    Henry VII won the English crown after defeating the last Yorkist king, Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth Field on August 22, 1485.
39. Which blood-clotting disease spread through European royalty via Queen Victoria's descendants?
    • Haemophilia
    • Sickle cell anemia
    • Thalassemia
    • Porphyria
    Answer: Haemophilia
    Victoria was a carrier of Haemophilia B, a genetic mutation that affected several of her descendants, including Russian and Spanish royals.
40. Which country was invaded by Germany on September 1, 1939?
    • France
    • Poland
    • Norway
    • Denmark
    Answer: Poland
41. Who established the Principality of Hungary in the late 9th century?
    • King Saint Stephen
    • Khagan Bayan I
    • Batu Khan
    • Álmos and his son Árpád
    Answer: Álmos and his son Árpád
    The content states that the Principality of Hungary was established by Álmos and his son Árpád.
42. What major global economic event was triggered by Arab nations during the 1973 war?
    • An OPEC oil embargo
    • The Great Depression
    • The dot-com bubble burst
    • The Asian financial crisis
    Answer: An OPEC oil embargo
    Arab members of OPEC reduced oil production and declared an embargo against countries supporting Israel, causing a massive energy crisis.
43. Adolf Hitler was born on which date?
    • February 6, 1889
    • April 20, 1889
    • April 16, 1889
    • June 12, 1889
    Answer: April 20, 1889
44. Which armed uprising in Kenya during the 1950s was directed against British colonial rule?
    • Mau Mau Uprising
    • Boxer Rebellion
    • Zulu War
    • Indian Rebellion of 1857
    Answer: Mau Mau Uprising
    The Mau Mau Uprising was a major armed rebellion in the 1950s against the British colonial government and European settlers.
45. By 1983, less than 10% of all movie theaters in America had only one of these.
    • Stadium seating theater
    • Ticket register
    • Concession stand
    • Screen
    Answer: Screen
46. In what year did UNESCO designate the Palace of Versailles a World Heritage Site?
    • 1789
    • 1830
    • 1979
    • 1914
    Answer: 1979
    UNESCO recognized the palace and its park as a World Heritage Site in 1979 for its historical importance.
47. At which Washington D.C. monument did Martin Luther King Jr. deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech?
    • Lincoln Memorial
    • Washington Monument
    • Jefferson Memorial
    • U.S. Capitol
    Answer: Lincoln Memorial
    During the 1963 March on Washington, King delivered his famous speech to a massive crowd gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
48. The Battle of El Alamein, the Battle of Narvik, and the Battle of Crete were fought during this war.
    • WWI
    • WWII
    • Great Poland Uprising
    • Polish-Lithuanian War
    Answer: WWII
49. Ancient Egyptian texts frequently praised the warriors of Kush for their skill with what weapon?
    • Chariot
    • Spear
    • Crossbow
    • Bow and arrow
    Answer: Bow and arrow
    The Kushites were renowned for their archery skills, using powerful bows that sometimes required their feet to bend.
50. Which peace treaty officially ended the Crimean War in 1856?
    • Treaty of Paris
    • Treaty of Versailles
    • Treaty of Ghent
    • Treaty of Utrecht
    Answer: Treaty of Paris
    The Treaty of Paris, signed on March 30, 1856, officially ended the Crimean War and prohibited Russia from basing warships in the Black Sea.