The Total Quiz has now started. Good luck to all participants. The link to the questions page can be found here:

http://www.allempires.com/TQ/totalquiz.php - http://www.allempires.com/TQ/totalquiz.php

Round 1 is completed - Total Quiz is temporarily deactivated.

Scores are updated, and I've added the hint for question 11. Sorry: had some problems with my computer...

Anyway, here are the answers for the round 1 questions:

Question 1
He is a famous political philosopher, who was very influential in shaping the thoughts of an era. Among the most famous concepts he introduced is the idea that the mind is a blank slate and people get their ideas from education. Who is he? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: John Locke

Question 2
Separated from a conquistador expedition, this explorer was the first to sail along the length of the Amazon River. Who is he? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: Francisco de Orellana

Question 3
His attempted religious reforms were supported by the state but were so hated by a part of the religious community, that they caused a schism within the Russian Orthodox Church. Who is the reformer and what are the dissidents commonly known as? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: Patriarch Nikon, Old Believers (or raskolniki)

Question 4
The Farmer and the Nobleman. Legend has it that a simple farmer once saved a boy from drowning. The boy’s father, a famous nobleman, came to thank the farmer, but the farmer who refused a reward for the deed. Nevertheless, the nobleman wanted to express his gratitude, so he decided to give the farmer’s son a good education. That education saved humanity, a proof that what goes around comes around. Although the legend may not be true, it is touching and, ironically, the farmer’s son saved the nobleman’s son once more in the future. Name the farmer’s son and the nobleman’s son. (Question by poirot)
Answer: Although the legend is probably false, it is so touching and well known. The farmer’s son is Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of Penicillin, and the nobleman’s son is Sir Winston Churchill, son of Lord Randolph Churchill. When Winston Churchill was stricken with pneumonia during World War II, he was saved by the miracle of Penicillin. (Difficulty = Easy Category = Modern History and Great Men)

Question 5
Master and Commander. I was one of the most accomplished naval officers in my country's history. As a pioneer, I modernized the navy with new technology. As an officer, I took a major role in a war against a neighboring country, participating in the successful occupation of an important seaport, an event that opened up a path to the enemy's capital. As a "diplomat", I made a dazzling display of ships, subsequently opening up a far away land to trade. Who was I? (Question by poirot)
Answer: Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, of the United States Navy. Perry helped integrate steamboat technology into the U.S. Navy. During the Mexican American War, Perry's ships helped capture Veracruz, opening up the path to Mexico City for Winfeld Scott's army. Perry's steamboats also sailed to Japan, where they made such an lasting impression that representatives of the Shogun agreed to open up more ports to trade with the West. (Difficulty = Easy; Category = United States History and Military History)

Question 6
A Tale of Bitter Rivals. One eccentric man came to work for another eccentric man, and was promised a big bonus if he succeeded on a project. The project was a success, but the bonus never came. Feeling cheated, the first eccentric man quit, and thus began a lifetime rivalry. Despite both men¡¯s pioneering efforts, neither received the ultimate prize of recognition, because neither wanted to share it with the other. Without the much needed recognition, the first eccentric man died poor and alone. Name the two men. (Question by poirot)
Answer: Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. Tesla was promised a $50,000 bonus if he succeeded in developing Edison¡¯s dynamos. Tesla succeeded, but Edison simply told him the promise was a joke. Tesla and Edison¡¯s rivalry ran deep, as Tesla proposed AC current while Edison adhered to DC current. It was believed that Edison refused being named for the 1915 Nobel Prize in physics upon hearing that the prize was to be shared with Tesla. As a result, neither was awarded. After a lifetime of being cheated and underappreciated, Tesla died alone and destitute in his hotel room. (Difficulty = Fairly Easy; Category = Great Men and Scientific History)
 
Question 7
He was one of the greatest minds of his age: a scholar, a theologian, a scientist, a historian as well as a poet. His reputation was so great that after his death, he was honored with 2 impressive titles: one for his learning and one for his character. He is now remembered with a certain nickname, which is due to a mistranslation of his tombstone. (Question by Decebal)
Answer: The Venerable Bede (category Medieval Europe- cultural, difficulty medium)

Question 9
Descent and Disintegration. His name was partially derived from his birthplace, but he was more or less remembered for writing accounts of his country’s great tragedy. A once great empire crumbled to pieces; a once flourishing civilization succumbed to petty thieves; a once glorious city lay in ruins. Exiled, he spent much of his time chronicling those tragic events and the hundred years preceding them, giving us students of history a good glimpse of his times. Who was he? (Question by poirot)
Hint: He is prominently featured in a recent work of fiction by an author who also wrote about a certain monastery
Answer: He was Nicetas Choniates, Byzantine historian. Born in Chonae, Nicetas Choniates fled to Nicea after the fall of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade, and spent much of his time writing a history of his era, especially chronicling the fall of the great city from the Byzantine perspective. Incidentally, he was prominently featured in Umberto Eco’s Baudolino. (Difficulty = Medium Category = Medieval and Byzantine History)

Question 10
Slings and Arrows. A wealthy and cultured city felt threatened by a neighboring rising power, which was known for its growing military might. The city sent for help, in the form of a famous military man with a nickname, who claimed blood ties to an even greater military man. Forces of the famous military man and the rising power clashed, and although the military man won the day through brilliant maneuvering, all was not well. His men were greatly decimated, while the enemy seemed unshaken even in defeat. The results of the battle gave birth to a famous expression still used today. Name the military man, the battle, and the famous expression. (Question by poirot)
Answer: The military man was King Pyrrhus of Epirus, nicknamed "The Eagle", who claimed to be a cousin of none other than Alexander the Great. When the city of Tarentum was threatened by Rome’s growing power, Pyrrhus came to the rescue. Upon arrival, Pyrrhus realized that he was up against a strong opponent, but his brilliant tactical maneuvering provided the upper hand in battle. Nevertheless, Pyrrhus’ forces were limited, while waves and waves of fresh Roman troops were sent to war. When congratulated upon his apparent victory at the Battle of Asculum, Pyrrhus shook his head and said “If we defeat the Romans in one more such battle, we shall be totally ruined.” The results at Asculum gave birth to the expression “Pyrrhic victory", used to describe a victory at too great a cost. (Difficulty = Medium Category = Ancient Mediterranean and Military History)

Question 12
He was a politician and a man of learning so respected, that to this day he is remembered by an honorary title referring to his administrative abilities. Elevated to a high rank, he was the real power in a great empire. Due to his initiatives, his impact on culture and learning is hard to match. There are many stories surrounding his death, but the most popular one has him being the victim of a famous group. (Question by Decebal)
Answer: Abu Ali al-Hasan al-Tusi Nizam al-Mulk or Nizam al-Mulk for short: Grand Vizier of the Seljuk Empire, assasinated by the Assasins (category great men/cultural, Classical Middle East)

Question 13
Back and Forth. I served a country caught in a political dilemma as war waged between two rival powers, one rising to its height, the other falling to the ground. The ruling royalty of my country had blood ties to the falling power, but I wisely led a faction supporting the rising power. When the rising power took a neighboring region from the falling power, I was ordered, against my will, to lead an expedition against the rising power and invade that region. Instead of following orders, I stopped at the border and marched back to my capital, staging a coup that brought me ultimate power. I renamed my country to begin a new era and was the first in a long line of rulers. Who was I, and what was my country’s new name? (Question by poirot)
Answer: I was Yi Seonggye, Taejo of Joseon or Choson. In the last days of Goryeo, the Korean peninsula was split between the rising Ming Dynasty in China and the falling Yuan Dynasty Mongols. The Goryeo royalty had blood ties to the Mongols after years of forced intermarriage, while many officials such as Yi Seonggye felt that Korea had better chances siding with Ming China. When Ming forces took what is now Manchuria from the Mongols in the 1380s, Yi Seonggye was ordered to attack Ming China. Instead of following orders, Yi stopped at the Yalu River and marched back to the Goryeo capital to stage a coup. After setting up a few puppet rulers under his control, Yi finally proclaimed himself king. Thus began the Joseon/Choson Dynasty in Korea, which lasted more than five centuries. (Difficulty = Hard Category = East Asia and Politics)

Question 14
She was a heroic figure, a symbol of resistance against an occupying power. Famed for her beauty, she ruled her land after her husband's death. Caught in the middle of tumultous events, she took up arms against the opressor. After losing her lands, she fled to join another army, only to die heroically in battle. Who is she? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: Rani Lakshmibai, of Jhansi (category India- great women, difficulty medium/hard)

Question 16
In a land of great cities, he was a scholar and a holy man. As the mentor of a young king, he wanted the latter to implement some religious reforms. But the king was worried and attempted to assasinate him. The holy man escaped and rallied a huge army around him. He then started a holy war which ended up creating a massive empire, which united the great cities, among other lands. Who is he? (Question by Decebal)
Hint: his example motivated a whole series of holy wars which lasted for almost another century after his death
Answer: Usman Dan Fodio (category Africa -religion/great men, difficulty hard)

Question 17
In a land divided among the members of a family, she was a princess from another kingdom who married within the family. Her husband treated her very cruelly, and her sister, who had also married in the family, was assassinated by another woman who was to become the princess' nemesis. The nemesis took the princess' sister's place and married within the family thus becoming a princess as well. The princess and her nemesis waged a war for decades, plotting against each other and trying to get their sons and grandsons to ruling positions in the realm. Eventually the nemesis died, but years later the nemesis' son finally defeated the princess and let some animals kill her. The story of the princess and her nemesis became legend, and served as the basis for a great epic, which has inspired much art and song. What were the names of the princess, her nemesis and the great epic? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: princess: Brunhilde, nemesis: Fredegund, epic: Nibelungs (category Medieval Europe- great women, difficulty very hard)

Question 19
His father had been a great empire builder, who used an alliance to fill a power vacuum caused by the dissapearance of a great empire. He was a great ruler himself, establishing his empire's capital and greatly expanding his realm. He interfered in the affairs of a neighboring great empire by marrying the other emperor's daughter and fighting off the other empire's enemies. He died from too much drinking. It was under him that his people started calling themselves by the name we know them today. His son's reign marked the golden age of his empire. Who is he? (Question by Decebal)
Answer: Bayanchur Khan of the Uighur Empire
 

Congratulations everyone, especially to Knights and Praetor for the performance. Also congratulations to Dawn for another solid showing and to New User for an excellent first outing! Looking forward to seeing all of you on future quizzes.

I guess poirot and myself got a little carried away with the questions this time around... We tried to make the quiz as varied as possible, which may account somewhat for its difficulty. Please let us know if you'd like the quiz to be easier next time around, or at least contain a higher ratio of easy/medium questions.

On another note, I'm sorry if I missed on some periods of the quiz. Personal life and computer problems got in the way...

Thanks for all the kind words folks well done to Knight, Praetor and Dawn. Big thanks to all that set the quiz it was great fun, would I be wrong in assuming that was Poiret and Decebal? If so thanks, I for one enjoyed the difficulty of it.