Total Quiz XI

Archived questions and answers to AE's history contest
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The Total Quiz XI Series consisted of four separate quizzes held from July 2005 to April 2006. Under a new quiz moderator, the style and format of the contest was redefined in several aspects. Total Quiz XI "Part 2" introduced a new style in which questions were arranged from easy to difficult in order to attract greater participation from those who might be intimidated by difficult questions early in the quiz. In addition, more emphasis on question-writing was gradually placed on the moderator as opposed to reliance on user-submitted questions.

-- Summary and Results --
Total Quiz XI Series Champion1: Dawn
Title Date Champion Moderators
Total Quiz XI-4
April 2006 
 Decebal Imperator Invictus, Poirot
Total Quiz XI-3 
 Jan. 2005
Decebal, Dawn  Imperator Invictus
Total Quiz XI-2 
 Oct. 2005 
 Poirot Imperator Invictus
Total Quiz XI-1 
 July 2005 
 Dawn Imperator Invictus
1This title was discontinued after TQ XI, the last quiz title to be divided into multiple parts.

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Total Quiz XI Part 1

1. First I had a military career. Then by applying some of the skills learn there, I became the "Father" of the modern version of this pursuit.. I had many names including Augustus. I was definitely influenced by a fellow into evaluation, into details. I died at the turn of the century and it took 30 years for my countrymen to catch up with my standards. Who am I?
Answer: General Augustus Henry Lane-Fox Pitt Rivers Extra Info: Augustus Henry Lane Fox Pitt Rivers (14th April, 1827– 4 May 1900) was an English army officer, ethnologist, and archaeologist. He was noted for his innovations in archaeological methods, and in the museum display of archaeological and ethnological collections. (Wikipedia)
2. His burial place states the three cities: where he was born, where he died, and where his body lies. He spent the last years of his lifetime working on a poem commissioned by a certain ruler. He was unable to complete the poem at his death, and thus wished it to be destroyed. But this work was already so magnificent that the emperor saved it from destruction, and survived to become one of the most famous poems. Name the great poet who wrote works on "Pasturelands, countrysides, and leaders."
Answer: Vergil (Publius Vergilius Maro, or the Medieval spelling: "Virgil"). His great work was the Aeneid, comissioned by Augustus. Following his death, the poem was "finished" by his colleagues. His tomb reads "Mantua me genuit, Calabri rapuere, tenet nunc Parthenope: cecini pascua, rura, duces." (Mantua gave birth to me, Calabria took it, Parthenope/Naples now holds me: I sang of pasturelands, countrysides, and leaders). The last part of the Latin is usually translated less literally as "Pastures, fields, and heroes," but I did not want to make the question a keyword search in Google.
3. If we are to believe his accounts, then they would stand among the greatest journeys. Curiosity drove him into Mongol lands, where he met a Khan whose empire would fracture after his reign. After returning, he would later enter Mongol lands again and even took part in royal matters. Other area he visited included Byzantium, Samarkand in Central Asia, the Far East, the sea routes of the Indian Ocean, and a city orignally a camp for Kel Tamasheq nomads. Name this traveler.
Answer: Ibn Battuta. (Marco Polo would fit all the description, EXCEPT the last location mentioned in the question - Timbuktu). (This of course, was designed to be something of a trick question. Marco would be too simple of an answer for a question this long!)
4. A manuscript illustrated by Sicilian monks, which now rests in Spain, tells the story of a particular emperor who distrusted his son, who might have been illegitimate. During a hunting trip, the emperor discovered that his son hid a knife in his boot. Threatened, he had his son jailed. However, his son's supporters pleaded and brought in a parrot during a banquet, which in sad tone uttered the name of the emperor's son. Finally, the emperor forgave his son and named him his successor. Name this emperor, who was also known for a written work that has the same name as a type of building.
Answer: Basil I "the Macedonian." The manuscript was written by Scylitzes. Basil was known for the "Basilica," the most important compilation of Byzantine laws since Justinian.
5. He was once one of the most powerful men of his time. However, he was put on trial before a court, presided over by his successor, and pleaded guilty to all charges. As punishment he was stripped of all his titles and after his death his body was thrown into the river. Who was he and was unusual about his trial?
Answer: Pope Formosus (891-896). He was already dead when put on trial. His decomposed corpse was dug out and brought into the courtroom.
6. He was born the son of a humble craftsman in Holland. His profession took him all over Europe and in the country, in which he died, a title was bestowed on him, that wouldn’t be given to another foreigner for many a year. He is not well known under his birth name. and even more famous is an old school friend of his. Who is he and what’s his friend’s name?
Answer: Pope Adrian VI (Adrianus Florentius) and Erasmus of Rotterdam. He was the only Dutch pope and the last non-Italian till the current one."
7. Who invented the Turtle Ship?
Answer: Yi Sunshin Extra Info: The Turtle Ship, which is also known as Kobukson or Geobukseon, is a galley that was invented in the 15th century. The Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin and Lt. Na Dae Yong is credited for inventing the turtle ship, which gained fame by successfully repelling the Japanese invading armada, against extreme odds, in the Seven-Year War (1592-98). (Source: Wikipedia)
8. 'Chinese' who lead an army into the Sahara.
Answer: Charles "Chinese" Gordon (1833-85) was an British general in the nineteenth century. During the Taiping rebellion in China, which had destroyed six hundred cities, Gordon took command of the "Ever Victorious Army" formed by the merchants of Shanghai and saved the city from the Taiping advance in 1864. He worked in Egypt opening up vast portions of the Nile and, in 1877, was appointed governor of the Sudan. For several years he fought against slavery, eventually returning to England. In 1884 the Mahdi, a self proclaimed Islamic prophet calling himself the "expected one," leading a popular revolution defeated the Egyptian Army. Gordon was sent to Khartoum to evacuate the small British garrison but instead chose to defend the city. Month after month surrounded by the Mahdi's numberless hordes, the city finally fell and he was slain.
9. What ethnic group founded the Jin (Gold) dynasty of China?
Answer: The Jurchen
10. Who and when carried first bombing raid on Berlin in WW2.
Answer: In june 1940 French Navy sent a single bomber (Farman 223.4 named Jules Verne) which flow from Bordeaux, over english channel toward Baltic Sea from and approached Berlin from the north. From Berlin french bomber flow over Germany to Paris where landed safelly on Orly Airfield. Alternative Answer: "Poland, Wednesday Sept 16 1939," which predates the answer given by the question writer.
11. This was the great capital of a great European empire. The city was named after the beloved wife of its ruler. What is the name of this city?
Answer: Medina Azahara or Medina Al-Zahara, capital of the Western Caliphate. The city of Cordoba was the previous capital. Moderator's Note: Alternative Answer: Nicaea, since it was named for the wife of Lysimachus, and it was a relocation of a "European Empire." The Empire of Nicaea itself had possessions in Europe, so I think it's enough for a stretch, at least not far from the Caliphate of Cordoba being considered European.
12. What do the following people have in common : Edward the Black Prince of Wales; Henry Plantagenet, then Earl of Derby; Thomas Beaucamp, Earl of Warwick; Sir John de Grailly, Vicomte de Benanges et Castillon; Ralph. 1st Earl of Stafford; Roger (Mortimer), 3rd Earl of March?
Answer: They are all founding members of the order of the Garter
13. This "War" was fought in the 19th century and its global influence lasts until this day. On one side was a great innovator who aggressively promoted his ideas in his country, resulting in the death of several animals and a particularly "awful" execution. Despite his prestige at the time, he ultimately lost to another brilliant innovator born on the borderland of Austria-Hungary
Answer: War of Currents. It was a marketing conflict between Thomas Edison and Tesla about whether electricity should be in Direct Current or in Alternating current.
14. As a Prince, he struggled to hold his inherited homelands. As an outcast, he rallied his men and returned to power in foreign lands. As a poet, he composed his autobiography to remind future generations of his hardships and victories. As a man, he was one of the greatest of his time. Who was he?
Answer: Zahir-ud-din Mohammad Babur "Tiger" (or "Beaver"), founder of the Mughul Dynasty. Having lost his homelands, he went south and defeated the Delhi Sultanate, eventually consolidating his rule as the Mughul Empire. The Baburnama is his autobiography which tells the story of his life and campaigns.
Question Authors: (user who contributed the question) 1. Not Available; 2. Imperator Invictus; 3. Imperator Invictus; 4. Imperator Invictus; 5. Komnenos; 6. Komnenos; 7. Gubuk Janggoon; 8. Paul; 9. Gubuk Janggoon; 10. Mosquito; 11. cavalry4ever; 12. Dawn; 13. Imperator Invictus; 14. Imperator Invictus;

Total Quiz XI Part 2

1. What is the name of the trade route that once ran between China and the Roman Empire?
Answer: The Silk Road
2. The Treaty of Andrusovo ended what war and when it was signed?
Answer: Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth signed it in 30 January 1667. It ended the struggle over Ukrainian territories.
3. Who Founded the Shilla Dynasty?
Answer: Bak Hyeokkose.
4. I commanded the Tang troops at the Battle of Talas in 751 A.D. Although I served under the Tang Empire, I am Korean in origin. I was beheaded at the start of the Anlushan Rebellion. Who am I?
Answer: Gao Xianzhi, or Kao Xianzhi, or any spelling close to this will count as correct
5. I founded the great Swedish fortress in a province of Finland in 1747. The fortress became my life work. I died in 1772 at the age of 62. Who am I and what are the names of the fortress?
Answer: I am Swedish Field-Marshal August Ehrensvärd. (1710-1772) The fortress has been called Sveaborg and Suomenlinna.
6. This question has three parts: I was one of the major figures of a major revolution in a country south of the United States. I did not survive past 1960. Bad weather was attributed to my death, but there have been speculations that my death was ordered by another major figure of the same revolution. 1. What is the country that I refer to? 2. Who is the other major figure who many speculate may have ordered my death 3. Who am I?
Answer: 1. Cuba 2. Fidel Castro 3. Camillo Cienfuegos
7. Over the 20th century, quite a few of countries have called themselves 'People's Republic' (For example: Yemen, Belarus and Algeria). But which 'People's Republic' has been the longest-living one so far? Give the country, plus the years in which the people's republic was proclaimed, and (if applicable) discontinued.
Answer: Mongolia, 1924 - 1992
8. At one point, it became somewhat common for Roman emperors to call themselves "unconquerable." One Emperor, however, was so great that he was not merely unconquerable. One of his feats is that he had his title "Imperator" proclaimed and renewed more times than any other Roman emperor had in history. Who is this Emperor and how did he modify his title, after a victory that convinced him that "unconquerable" was not enough?
Answer: The Emperor is Constantine (IMPERATOR CAESAR FLAVIVS CONSTANTINVS PIVS FELIX INVICTVS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX MAXIMVS PATER PATRIAE PROCONSVL). Constantine had his title "Imperator" proclaimed and renewed 30 times, which is the most of any Roman Emperor. The word Invictus (unconquerable) was used by various emperors after Alexander Severus. After winning the entire empire for himself, Constantine replaced "Invictus" with "Victor" (conqueror). Since the wording is somewhat vague, "Maximus" was accepted (but not "Pontifex Maximus," since that's another title) which was added after the victory at Milvian Bridge.
9. This person was born in midst of the 15th century. She married the Prince of a neighbouring kingdom. She was the brother of the ruling king and with difficulties gained the throne. She fought against nobles, neighbours and furious clerics but most of the time had the support from the lower classes. She created the basis for an united kingdom. She had the respect of one pope who ruled at the most of the ruling time of the person. Most of her children died from small ages. She died a few years after Columbus' fourth voyage. Who was she?
Answer: Isabelle of Castille
10. He rose from a humble beginning to become a prophet and a king. For a short time, he ruled a new Jerusalem, establishing a new Zion.
Answer: John of Leyden. He was a Dutch innkeeper who became a prophet. A group of Anabaptist led by Bernand Rothmann took control of Munster and proclaim John of Leyden King of New Zion. The displaced Bishop of Munster gathered an army and sieged the city for a year and a half, until a group of citizens within the walls open the gates to his army. The corpse of the Anabaptist leaders were hung on a cage hanging from the tower of St. Lambert's Church Chadwick, Owen. "The Reformation" Pinguin Books, Middlesex, England. 1972. Pages 190-192.
11. I am the only Chinese emperor who, although belonging to the same dynasty, did not share the same surname as my predecessor. I was adopted as successor by the previous emperor and the name of the dynasty stayed the same after I ascended the throne. Who am I?
Answer: Emperor Shi Zong (Shizong) of Zhou, during the Five Dynasties Period. The name is Chai Rong. The predecessor's name was Guo Wei. After the death of Chai Rong, a military officer named Zhao Kuangyin usurped the throne, and thus began the Song Dynasty in China. Both Shi Zong (Shizong) and Chai Rong were accepted as the correct answer!
12. According to legend, what Englishwoman learned in the sciences who lectured in Saxony, Rome, France and Greece was elected to the most unlikely job in the world for a women to do."
Answer: Pope Joan, who reigned as Pope John VIII 853-855. But was found out to be female went she went into labour when traveling through the city.
13. "Amun", "Ra", "Ptah" and "Seth" are names of Egyptian Gods. One time, Amun, Ra, Ptah and Seth got into an interesting situation. Ra was badly attacked and fled, but the Ptah and Seth were able to save the day. What event in history is this referring to?
Answer: The Battle of Kadesh between Ramses and the Hittites. Amun, Ra (Re), Ptah, and Seth were names of divisions of the Egyptian army. The Ra division was ambushed and routed.
14. What links the following together: Marcus Licinius Crassus (1st Century BC), Charles Ewart (19th Century), Hermann Goering (1940), Helmut Rosenbaum (1942)and why?
Answer: Eagles. First century BC-Marcus Licinius Crassus the battle of Carrhae in 43 B.C.E., when the Triumvir Marcus Licinius Crassus was treacherously defeated by the Parthians, losing (according to Plutarch’s Life of Crassus) some 30,000 men, of whom 20,000 were slain and 10,000 taken captive and a couple of eagles 19th- century-Charles Ewart Sergeant Charles Ewart captured the Imperial Eagle standard of the French 45th Regiment after a desperate fight and well deserved the commission which he was later given by the Prince Regent. 1940-Hermann Goering In August 1940 he confidently threw himself into the great offensive against Great Britain, Operation Eagle, convinced that he would drive the RAF from the skies and secure the surrender of the British by means of the Luftwaffe alone 1942-Helmut Rosenbaum U-73 departed under Helmut Rosenbaum from La Spezia on 4th Aug 1942 and arrived back at La Spezia four and a half weeks later on 5th Sep 1942. Helmut Rosenbaum hit one ship on this patrol from convoy WS-21S. On 11th Aug 1942 he sank the British 22,600 ton HMS Eagle, a member of convoy WS-21S
15. Father and Son: It was a bad day in the office for the whole family: The father died, the son was so badly injured that he only could run the family business for another few weeks, before his brother-in-law had to take over. This brother-in-law, who although was the first to bear an impressive title, lost it all as well after a couple of years. Who were the three (name the Father, his Son, and his Son-in-law), and what happened to the father after his death?
Answer: Father: Nikephoros I (Emperor: 802-811) Son: Stauracius (July 811-Oct 811) Son in law: Michael I Rhangabes (811-813)was the first ever to use the title"Emperor of the Romans"("Basileus Romaion") Nikephoros died at the battle of Pliska 26th July 811, and his skull was allegedly turned into a drinking vessel by the victorious Khan Krum. His son was completely paralysed in the battle.
Question Authors: (user who contributed the question) 1. Imperator Invictus; 2. Rider; 3. Gubook; 4. Poirot; 5. Rider; 6. Poirot; 7. Yan; 8. Imperator Invictus; 9. Rider; 10. Hugoestr; 11. Poirot; 12. Paul; 13. Imperator Invictus; 14. Submitted by Dawn, from another source; 15. Komnenos;

Total Quiz XI Part 3

1. In 1492, who set sail from Spain to the "new world"?
Answer: Christopher Columbus
2. What important revolutionary leader fought against Spanish colonial control in South America and was known as "The Liberator"?
Answer: Simon Bolivar
3. What 12th century Muslim leader is known for his leadership against the crusaders and whose achievements include the recapture of Jerusalem and victory at Hattin?
Answer: Saladin
4. The Charge of the Light Brigade: In which war and battle did the charge happen? Who was the commander of the Light Brigade? What was the units name that supported the Light Brigade (French unit)? Who is the author of the original poem, 'Charge of the Light Brigade'? (Answer all four parts to receive full points)
Answer: The charge happened in the Crimean War, in the year 1854, at the Battle of Balaclava. The Commander was Earl or Lord of Cardigan. The supporting unit's name was Chasseur d'Afrique (Hunters of Africa). The author of the original poem is Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
5. The capital of Korea has been approximately located at the same area since the Joseon dynasty. When Yi Seonggye went out searching for a capital, he first went to the Daejeon area. While there, a geomancer informed him that he could not make his capital there, as it would be the capital of the next dynasty. Taking this in mind, he arrived in what is now present day Seoul and made that his capital. The current capital of South Korea has gone through numerous name changes. In Baekje times it was called Wiryeseong, in Joseon it was called Hanseong, and in modern day South Korea, the city is referred to as Seoul. What old Shilla word is the word Seoul derived from and what does it mean?"
Answer: Derived from Seorabeol. (Seorabul, Surabul, ect.) Means: "Capital"
6. These two Japanese clans, often fierce rivals, spearheaded the Meiji Restoration
Answer: The Shimazu and the Chosu; Satsuma was also accepted, although Satsuma is the name of the region and the clan was named Shimazu
7. As a teenager he went to study at the University of Oxford. However, it was a trip to another city that prompted him to compose one of the most important writings on imperial history – a work that took him about 15 years to finish. Many such as Churchill praised his work. In All Empires Forum, however, his work has seen more criticism than praise. Who was he?
Answer: Edward Gibbon. He wrote the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, published in 1776, which has become one of the most important works in western historical writing.
8. I came to court one day with a deer, and told my emperor that it was a horse. My emperor, fearing my power, had no choice but to agree with me. Who am I and who was my emperor.
Answer: Zhao Gao, the chief enunch of the Qin(Chin) Dynasty of China. The emperor was Qin Ershi, or Qin II, the second emperor of the Qin. His "calling a deer a horse" become idiomatic usage in Chinese referring to a deliberate untruth for ulterior motives.
9. I lived in a heavenly palace and had 500 wives though I forbade my subjects to have more than one. I made all property in my kingdom common so I could be called by some to be the first communist. My brother was a famous founder of christianity. Tens of Millions died in the war I started and eventually lost. The general that defeated me had a dish of food named after him that can be found on menus around the world today. Who was the general that defeated me?
Answer: Zuo Zong Tang, also known as General Tso, as in the dish "General Tso's Chicken." "I" refers to Hong Xiu Quan, who believed that Jesus was his brother whose territory from his conquest was known as the "Heavenly Kingdom". The war refers to the Taiping rebellion which was the second largest war in history in terms of casualties.
10. Troublesome times in the family and country - A nomadic power had recently invaded nearby regions. Worse yet, after the death of their father, chaos took hold of the family. The one son who inherited the throne was killed by another son with the help of nomadic allies. However, after achieving the crown, he (the latter) turned against his allies and was captured and later killed in battle. Then, another brother of the two ascended the throne, but was blinded and deposed after only a few years. Eventually, the throne passed on to a son of one of the above. Name the "family" (dynasty) in which the events took place.
Answer: The Sassanid Dynasty of Persia. The setting of the question is the late 5th century BC. The White Huns had invaded the region and had become a power east of the Sassanid Empire. In 484, the Emperor Peroz, Son of Yazdegerd II, was killed in battle against the White Huns, after which a period of political chaos ensued until the reign of Kosorau.
11. Father and Daughter. The two lived in a time of invasion, conquest, and uneasiness within the family. The father was described as a warrior of great courage in battle, who led his armies in some of the most dynamic times in history. The daughter wrote about the life and times of her father in a work distinguished for its time.
Answer: Emperor Alexius Comnenos and his daugher Anna Comnena. Alexius was the emperor of Byzantium at around the time of the First Crusade, a troublesome time for the empire. He probably had the highest reputation of warrior abilities among the emperors: "First to Charge and last to flee." His daughter, Anna, wrote the Alexiad, a history of Alexius' reign. Anna is known as one of the first female historians.
12. What ancient artifact, which bears the words of a child, was unearthed during a time of war between powers on a continent across the sea from where it was buried? Due to the outcome of the war, the artifact had to be surrendered to another power, although with great reluctance. Name this important artifact, whose name today has reached symbol status.
Answer: The Rosetta Stone. The Rosetta stone bore the decree of the Pharoah Ptomely V, who was 8 years old at the time. It was discovered during the period of the Napoleonic wars by French scientists who accompanied Napoleon to Egypt. The Rosetta Stone was eventually surrendered to the British. The significance of this artifact is that it contained both Hieroglyphics and Greek versions of the same text, allowing the deciphering of the ancient Egyptian writing.
13. I am associated with the most powerful men of my time. I am probably the most famous ruler of my very old kingdom and my death brought the end of an era. My successor blackened my name so thoroughly that even hundreds of years later I am still misrepresented in literature and film works. I reigned for 21 years and had 4 children.
Answer: Answer: Cleopatra VII of the Ptolemy Dynasty in Egypt. She had one son with Julius Caesar and three children with Marc Antony and ruled from 51 B.C. to her death in 30 B.C. In literature and film works, her life has been regarded as something of a tragedy.
14. Though considered a barbarian, the blood of emperors ran through his veins. A great warrior, his reign was part of the golden age of his country. He also founded a city named after himself which was for a while to become the capital of an even greater country than his own. Who is he? (Hint: Part of his name refers to a warrior fighting with no one by his side. His crown, still preserved today, is the subject of legends and has been used to support a controversial idea. The fact that he was a descendant of emperors must be taken literally.)
Answer: Vladimir Monomakh (AD. 1053-1125), He was the son of a daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos, with Monomachos meaning "He who fights alone." Vladimir was the ruler of Rus and founder of the city of Vladimir, an important capital of Russia. His crown was said to have been given to him by the Emperor of Byzantium, a claim used to support Moscow as the Third Rome
15. This king was given his name due to a swarm of flying insects said to have surrounded him at his birth. He built a city named after himself which was modeled on Jerusalem. The city still stands today as a place of pilgrimage and has amazing architecture, unlike any other in the world. What is the name of the king?
Answer: Gebra Maskal Lalibela of the Zagwe dynasty of Ethiopia. The saintly king was given this name due to a swarm of bees said to have surrounded him at his birth, which his mother took as a sign of his future reign as Emperor of Ethiopia. Lalibela is said to have seen Jerusalem and then attempted to build a new Jerusalem as his capital. As such, many features have Biblical names - even the town's river is known as the River Jordan. It remained the capital of Ethiopia from the late 12th century and into the 13th century.
16. This historical region takes it name from a river whose ancient name that resembles a type of animal. This region was one of the most highly contested in history and was part of many empires. According to work of a certain European poet, one of the rulers who ruled the region was a "Scythian." What is the name of this region?
Answer: Transoxiana. Transoxiana, a region in Central Asia east of the Caspian Sea, was called so because it was the land across ("trans") the River Oxus. One of the most important cities in Transoxiana was Samarkand, a rich trade city that was also capital of the empire of Tamerlane (Timur Lenk). The English playwright Christopher Marlowe wrote a play titled Tamburlaine, loosely based on the historical Tamerlaine. In the play, Tamburlaine is a scythian shpeherd. Moderator's notes: "I decided to accept Mesopotamia as an alternate answer, as it was known as the land between two rivers, one of which was the Tigris. I think semantically, the relation in the case of Mesopotamia is valid for question. It also happens that Tamerlane's empire extended into Mesopotamia. However, I was largely dissapointed in this, since having Mesopotamia as an answer makes the question much easier."
17. This is a fierce clash between the blue and gray that lasted two days and decided the fate of two historical figures. This is a tale of two opposing figures. One was a "loser" on the winning side, and became a scapegoat for his superiors, blamed for incompetent command. The other was a "winner" on the losing side, and, despite being wounded, saved his side from being relentlessly pursued by the victorious enemy. Both figures went on to accomplish more things. The loser on the winning side became a famous writer, and the winner on the losing side became a leader of a famous organization. This is a multipart question: (1.) What was the name of the battle that involved these two figures (2.) Who was the loser on the winning side? What was his most famous piece of writing? (3.) Who was the winner on the losing side? What was the name of the famous organization that he led?"
Answer: 1. The Battle of Shiloh 2. Lew Wallace; Ben Hur 3. Nathan Bedford Forrest; Ku Klux Klan; Additional Information: 1. The Battle of Shiloh, between the Union and the Confederacy in 1862 during the American Civil War, was one of the bloodiest battles in United States history. 2. The loser on the winning side was Lew Wallace, who was blamed by General U.S. Grant and the public for the heavily casualities suffered by the Union troops. Wallace was unable to position his troops at the ordered locale (Pittsburg Landing)until the fighting was almost over. As a result, he was demoted and transferred from his command. After the American Civil War, Wallace became a famous novelist, whose most popular work was Ben Hur, the best selling American novel in the 19th century. The events described in Ben Hur reflected Wallace's experience in the Battle of Shiloh. 3. The winner on the losing side was Nathan Bedford Forrest, who many claimed to be the last person wounded in the Battle of Shiloh. The cavalry units under his command successfully prevented the Union troops from pursuing the defeated confederate troops. Forrest was known to have killed the Union soldier who wounded him by using the soldier as a human shield against bullets. After the American Civil War, Forrest served as the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Clan.
Question Authors: (user who contributed the question) 1. Imperator Invictus; 2. Imperator Invictus; 3. Imperator Invictus; 4. Rider; 5. Gubook Janggoon); 6. Gubook Janggoon; 7. Imperator Invictus; 8. Poirot; 9. Poirot; 10. Imperator Invictus; 11. Imperator Invictus; 12. Imperator Invictus; 13. Dawn; 14. Decebal; 15. Decebal; 16. Imperator Invictus; 17. Poirot;

Total Quiz XI Part 4

0. Name the Roman dictator who was murdered by senators on the Ides of March.
Answer: Julius Caesar
0. What important military and political figure created a civil code for France and fought in battles such as Austerlitz and Waterloo?
Answer: Napoleon
0. Name the civilization whose magnificent capital rested at the center of a lake and whose agriculture included the use of Chinampas.
Answer: Aztecs, also known as Mexcas. Their capital, Tenochititlan rested on the center of a large lake in modern-day mexico city. The Chinampas were floating islands used for agricultural production.
0. This organization took its name from a famous temple and has been featured in numerous books and legends about famous relics. It met its doom at the hands of a certain monarch with a famous nickname. The demise of the organization created another legend, about a certain day. 1. What was the organization, 2. Who was the monarch that brought an end to the organization? 3. What was the legend about a certain day that could have been originated from the demise of this organization?
Answer: The Knights Templar, also known as The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon. The monarch was Phillip IV or Phillip the Fair of France. Legend: Legend of Friday the 13th, because Phillip arrested hundreds of Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307.
0. She probably was born a Roman Catholic but deviated from the faith throughout the course of her life. In her later years, she returned to Roman Catholicism - and to the city over which she once reigned - to rebuild a church. For this she was made a Roman Catholic Saint, one whose feast day (October 25) many Muslims celebrate as well - but not those Muslims whom she fought against. Who is she?
Answer: Katarina Velika (Queen Catherine the Great of Bosnia). "The memory of Queen Katarina, who was beatified after her death, is still alive in Central Bosnia, where Catholics traditionally mark October 25 with a mass in Bobovac 'at the altar of the homeland', and Muslims give their prayers for the Queen on the last Friday in August." (Source: Wikipedia)
0. What German priest, who led a failed uprising and ultimately ended up beheaded in the town where his rebellion began, became venerated by socialist writers centuries after his death?
Answer: Thomas Muentzer who led the peasants' rebellion in 1524. In more recent times, he was venerated by socialist writers who promoted Muentzer as an early socialist.
0. This is a tale of two different military plans adopted by two warring nations. One plan emphasized "the fighting spirit," while the other stressed punctuation and minute execution. Once the two opposite plans were executed, two belligerent armies would travel in completely opposite directions. The plan stressing "the fighting spirit" proved to be a disaster, while the other plan was almost successful, until the outcome of a famous, bloody battle spelled its doom. 1. What was the plan stressing "the fighting spirit" and who was its originator? 2. What was the plan that almost succeeded, and who was its originator? 3. What was the battle that spelled the doom of the plan in #2?
Answer: 1. Plan XVII, formulated by Ferdinand Foch 2. The Schlieffen Plan, formulated by Alfred Graf von Schlieffen 3. The First Battle of the Marne. Other commanders involved in the plans were also accepted.
0. What sea-faring people, whose expeditions include places like Britain and Iceland, had their most important base of operation at a place named for a trio of cities? The nickname of one particular leader of this group refers to the person's beard.
Answer: Barbary Coast Pirates, who operated in Tripoli ("three cities") in modern-day libya. The Barbary corsairs were a significant pirate group who ventured into many different lands, including Britain and Iceland. One of their leader was nicknamed "Barbarossa" (red beard) by western sources. The key part in this question is about Tripoli. The rest of the question was only there into fooling the reader to give "Vikings" as the answer!
0. Times of war and peace are depicted in what object, an archaeological discovery whose discoverer imagined that it was used like a flag?
Answer: The Standard of Ur. The Standard of Ur is a wooden box from ancient Sumeria that depicts military events on one side, and a banquet on another. The use of this artifact is unknown, but when discovered, the discoverer imagined that it was used like a battle standard; that is, attached to a pole like a flag.
0. I am not known for my virtue. I may have been responsible for the sudden death of my first husband. Then, I planned the murder of my second husband with my new lover. One of my sons had a famous nickname, and, as a military man, was buried so that he could forever hear his soldiers training for battle. 1. Who am I 2. What was my son's famous nickname?
Answer: 1. I am Empress Theophano of Byzantium 2. The Bulgar Slayer (i.e. Basil the Bulgar Slayer) A striking beauty, Byzantine Empress Theophano/Theophania was the wife of Emperor Romanus II, of the Macedonian Dynasty. When Romanus II suddenly died at the a young age, it was suspected that Theophano was responsible for it. Then, while serving as regent for her two young sons, Theophano married General Nicephorus Phocas to secure her position within the empire. As soon as she married Nicephorus Phocas, she conspired to kill her new husband with a new lover, John Tzimisces. Theophano/Theophania's son Basil (958 – , 1025) , who became Basil II after the death of John Tzimisces, was known as Basil the Bulgar Slayer, as a result of reportedly blinding 99 out of 100 prisoners from a campaign against the Bulgarians. A military man, Basil II recaptured many of the lands lost after Emperor Heraclius, but the empire was unable to retain them after Basil's death. Unlike previous emperors, Basil II prefered to be buried next to the cavalry training field, where he could forever hear his troops training for battle. His tomb was ravaged by crusaders from during the Fourth Crusade. During the 20th century in Greece, interest for Basil II resulted in Basil becoming the subject of a number of biographies as well as historical novels. Arguably the most popular of them is Basil Bulgaroktonus (1964) by historical fiction writer Kostas Kyriazis (1920 - ). Written as a sequel to his previous work Theophano (1963), focusing on Basil's mother, it examines Basil's life from his childhood till his death at an advanced age, through the eyes of three different narrators (all of them fictional).
0. He started out as an adventurer in the service of a great conqueror. After the great conqueror retreated from a certain part of the world, the adventurer stayed behind since he was from that region anyway. He raised an army and carved up a large empire for himself, which would outlast the empire of the great conqueror. Once he achieved everything he wanted, he renounced worldly possessions, became a monk and eventually died as a result of his privations. Who was he?
Answer: Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan empire of India. The "Conqueror" in this question refers to Alexander the Great.
0. What ancient city, once destroyed in war by a conqueror who cursed anyone who might rebuild it, later rose to become the capital of a powerful empire? The animal statues guarding its mighty gates still stand today.
Answer: Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire. At some point, the city was destroyed in the war. The conqueror of the city left Hattusa abonded, sowed it with weed, and left a curse that anyone who tried to rebuild it would be struck by lightning. However, when the Hittites came to rule the region, they chose Hattusa as their capital, which flourished as a great city. Its lion gates still stand today.
0. Writer, poet, adventurer, and businessman: I was friend to a queen and executed by a king. I was reputed to be an atheist. I earned vast estates in a place where I helped subdue rebels. I spent some time in search of gold and wrote a history of the world. Who am I?
Answer: Sir Walter Ralegh. His many exploits included the attempted colonization of Virginia, the suppression of rebels in Ireland, searching for El Dorado, and writing a book on classical history while in prison.
0. He was a foreign general fighting for a great empire. His last name indicates his place of origin (a great city), which sounded differently in the language of the empire. His first name means light in his native tongue. He rose up from humble origins, to become the great empire's most important military commander. He then rebelled against his imperial masters in a bloody war, and actually succeeded in proclaiming himself emperor, before losing it all and getting killed by his own son. After him, the great empire would never be the same. Who is he?
Answer: An Lushan, who fought as a general for the Tang Empire of China before instigating a massive rebellion in which he declared himself emperor and captured the Tang capital. However, in two years, he was murdered by his son in 757. The rebellion died out shortly later, but it marked the symbolic decline of the empire.
0. I am a man of legends, known as the father of a once glorious country. My name, which reminds one of a certain Disney movie, is partly derived from the name of a woman with unattractive looks. Who am I?
Answer: Sundiata Keita Sundiata Keita or Sunjata Keita (meaning the Lion King )(c. 1190 - c. 1255) is a semi-historical hero of the Mandinka people of West Africa and is celebrated in the Epic of Sundiata as the founder of the Mali Empire. Sundjata is also known by the name Sogolon Djata. The name Sogolon is taken from his mother, the buffalo woman (so called because of her ugliness), and Djata. In the rapidly spoken language of the Mandinka, the two names were merged to become Sondjata of Sundjata or Sundiata. The last name Keita is a clan name more than a surname. The story of Sundiata is primarily known through oral tradition, transmitted by generations of Malian griots. The famous Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta visited the Mali Empire in the years 1352 and 1353, and his account is an important first-hand written description of this empire.
0. His life was full of journeys and adventures. In exile at an isolated region of the world, he broke free from his captors and escaped. On a captured warship, he sailed across the waters of East Asia. With a small army, he ventured to a distant place and became emperor. As a rebel he died while fighting for his land. Who was he?
Answer: Moric Benosvky. (1746-86) He was born a Slovak noblemen. At one point, he went to Poland to fight with the Confederation of Bar against the Russians. He was then captured and exiled to Siberia. In his escape, captured a Russian battleship, on which he sailed down the Pacific. At Macao, he met French officials and obtained an army for an expedition to Madagascar. In Madagascar, he became a successful governor and was elected Emperor by the natives. However, many years later, he got on the bad side of the French, who sent an expedition against Benovsky. Benovsky led a rebellion of the natives, but was killed in battle in 1786.
0. I was considered a non-conformist in my country of birth. I was the only person from my birth country to be buried in a very special burial place, located at another country. I wrote a famous first hand account of a major event that took place in the country of my burial. After my death, my work was subsequently banned by a leader of the country where I was buried. 1. Who am I? 2. What is the name of my famous work? 3. Who was the leader (of the country where I was buried in) that banned my famous work? 4. Where was I buried (name the burial place)?
Answer: John Reed (1887-1920), American journalist and communist activist 2. Ten Days That Shook the World, a first hand account of the Bolshevik Revolution 3. Joseph Stalin, who believed John Reed favored Leon Trotsky in his work 4. next to the Kremlin Wall in the Red Square, where John Reed rests as the only American buried along with Soviet dignitaries John Reed was a close friend of playwright Euguene O'Neill. Reed, O'Neill, and Reed's wife Louise Bryant were portrayed in the film Reds, where Louise was played by Woody Allen staple Diane Keaton.
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