250+ Best History Trivia Questions and Answers (Easiest to Hardest)

History provides context for the world around us. By studying past events, we can understand the origins of current political systems, social norms, and cultural practices.

However, it can be tiring sitting behind a history book studying about events that happened long before you were conceived. This history trivia game is one way to test your knowledge of history and learn new things while having so much fun.

Gather friends and family this weekend for an exciting and enthralling session learning about history with our list of best history trivia questions and answers. Would you want to emerge the history trivia champion? Study these questions and answers, now.

Is history trivia?

Yes, while trivia often covers a wide range of topics, history trivia qualifies as trivia itself. Trivia typically involves testing knowledge on obscure or specific facts, and history offers an endless well of such details about events, figures, dates, and cultural aspects throughout time.

Questions are designed to be short, quick, and often lighthearted, testing general knowledge and recall.

However, history trivia specifically focuses on historical events, figures, and knowledge. Questions can range from general factual recall to more in-depth analysis and interpretation of historical events.

History trivia games can be fun and engaging. It can also be educational and thought-provoking, encouraging a deeper understanding of the past.

Hence, while history trivia shares some characteristics with general trivia, its specific focus and potential for learning make it a distinct category. It’s like a specialized branch of the trivia tree, offering a unique blend of entertainment and intellectual stimulation.

This history trivia is a comprehensive list of world, women, easy, and hard history trivia questions for seniors, teenagers, and kids.

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World History Trivia Questions and Answers

1. What was the name of the writing system used by the ancient Egyptians?
   • Answer: Hieroglyphics
2. Which city was the center of the Minoan civilization, known for its advanced architecture and frescoes?
   • Answer: Knossos
3. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. In which modern-day country were they located?
   • Answer: Iraq
4. The Qin Dynasty unified China under the first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. What famous landmark did he order to be built?
   • Answer: The Great Wall of China
5. The Colosseum was a massive amphitheater in ancient Rome. What types of events were held there?
   • Answer: Gladiator contests, animal hunts, public executions

Medieval and Early Modern:

6. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, was a landmark document that limited the power of the English monarch. What principle did it establish?
   • Answer: The rule of law and protection against arbitrary imprisonment
7. The Black Death was a devastating plague that swept through Europe in the mid-14th century. What percentage of the population is estimated to have died?
   • Answer: Around 30-60%
8. The Renaissance was a period of cultural and intellectual rebirth in Europe. What city is often considered its birthplace?
   • Answer: Florence, Italy
9. Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, believing he had reached the East Indies. Who sponsored his voyage?
   • Answer: Queen Isabella of Spain
10. The Thirty Years’ War was a major religious conflict in Central Europe that lasted from 1618 to 1648. What were the two main religious factions involved?

• Answer: Catholics and Protestants

Modern and Contemporary:

11. The American Revolution was a war for independence from British rule fought in the late 18th century. What document declared the colonies’ independence?

• Answer: The Declaration of Independence

12. The French Revolution of 1789 overthrew the monarchy and established a republic. What famous slogan was associated with the revolution?

• Answer: Liberté, égalité, fraternité (Liberty, equality, fraternity)

13. The Industrial Revolution brought about major changes in manufacturing and society. What invention is considered a key driver of this revolution?

• Answer: The steam engine

14. The two World Wars of the 20th century were global conflicts that resulted in immense casualties. Which countries were the main Allied powers in World War II?

• Answer: The United States, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union

15. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked the end of the Cold War division between East and West Germany. What type of government did East Germany have?

• Answer: Communist

16. Which ancient empire was built by Genghis Khan, stretching from Eastern Europe to China?

• Answer: The Mongol Empire

17. The Silk Road was a network of trade routes connecting East and West. What goods were commonly traded along this route?

• Answer: Silk, spices, precious metals, ideas

18. The printing press, invented by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century, revolutionized communication and the spread of knowledge. What was its main impact?

• Answer: Mass production of books and printed materials

19. The first successful human flight was achieved by the Wright brothers in 1903. Where did this historic event take place?

• Answer: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

20. The formation of the United Nations in 1945 aimed to promote international cooperation and peace. What are its main goals?

• Answer: Maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations, and achieving cooperation in solving global problems.

21. What Roman emperor was assassinated by his son, Brutus?

Answer: Julius Caesar

22. Which historical figure is credited with discovering penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic?

• Answer: Alexander Fleming

23. What ancient Egyptian pyramid is the tallest and only surviving wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

• Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza

24. The city of Carthage was the main rival of which ancient civilization for control of the Mediterranean?

• Answer: Rome

25. Deciphered in 1822, the Rosetta Stone helped unlock the secrets of which ancient language?

• Answer: Egyptian Hieroglyphics

26. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were supposedly built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for which queen?

• Answer: Amytis

27. Which ancient civilization developed a complex writing system called cuneiform and built ziggurats?

• Answer: Sumerians

28. Which historical figure led the Indian independence movement from British rule through nonviolent civil disobedience?

• Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

29. The first successful human spaceflight, carrying cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, occurred in which year?

• Answer: 1961

30. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a pivotal moment in the collapse of what political system?

• Answer: Communism in Eastern Europe

31. The first World Wide Web server was launched in 1991 at which research institution?

• Answer: CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)

32. The September 11th attacks in 2001 were the deadliest terrorist attacks in human history, targeting which buildings in the United States?

• Answer: The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon

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Easy history trivia on Leaders

1. Who was the Egyptian pharaoh known for building the Great Sphinx?
   • Answer: Khafre
2. Which Roman emperor famously declared, “Veni, vidi, vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered)?
   • Answer: Julius Caesar
3. Genghis Khan was the founder and emperor of which vast empire?
   • Answer: Mongol Empire
4. Queen Elizabeth I ruled England during which period, known for its cultural and artistic flourishing?
   • Answer: Elizabethan Era
5. William the Conqueror, who invaded England in 1066, hailed from which European country?
   • Answer: Normandy (France)
6. Mahatma Gandhi led a nonviolent movement for independence in which country?
   • Answer: India
7. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years imprisoned for fighting against racial segregation in what country?
   • Answer: South Africa
8. Winston Churchill served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during which major world conflict?
   • Answer: World War II
9. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech during which civil rights march?
   • Answer: March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
10. Margaret Thatcher, known as the “Iron Lady,” was the first female Prime Minister of which country?

• Answer: United Kingdom

11. Who was the first president of the United States?

• Answer: George Washington

12. The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 involved a tense standoff between the leaders of which two countries?

• Answer: United States and Soviet Union

13. Mother Teresa dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in which city?

• Answer: Calcutta (Kolkata)

14. Fidel Castro led a revolution that overthrew the U.S.-backed government in which Caribbean island nation?

• Answer: Cuba

15. Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed a historic peace treaty between their countries in 1979, ending decades of conflict. Which countries were they leaders of?

• Answer: Egypt and Israel

16. Who was the first woman to be elected Prime Minister of a country?

• Answer: Sirimavo Bandaranaike (Sri Lanka, 1960)

17. Which leader famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”?

• Answer: John F. Kennedy

18. Who was the first African president of the United States?

• Answer: Barack Obama

19. Which world leader won the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to combat climate change?

• Answer: Al Gore (shared with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

20. The current Secretary-General of the United Nations is from which country?

• Answer: Portugal (António Guterres)

21. Who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai?

• Answer: Moses

22. Cleopatra was the last pharaoh of which ancient Egyptian dynasty?

• Answer: Ptolemaic dynasty

23. Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March in which year?

• Answer: 44 BC

24. Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous land empire in history. What was his given name?

• Answer: Temüjin

25. Queen Elizabeth I was the longest-reigning monarch of England, ruling for over 44 years. What was her nickname?

• Answer: The Virgin Queen

26. William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded England in 1066 and became its king. What battle secured his victory?

• Answer: The Battle of Hastings

27. Joan of Arc, a teenage peasant girl, led the French army to several victories during the Hundred Years’ War. What was her nickname?

• Answer: The Maid of Orleans

28. Queen Elizabeth I of England and King Philip II of Spain were rivals for power and influence. What was their main point of contention?

• Answer: Religion (Elizabeth I was Protestant, Philip II was Catholic)

29. Peter the Great modernized Russia and expanded its territory. What title did he give himself in 1721?

• Answer: Emperor of All Russia

30. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, is often associated with the phrase “Let them eat cake.” Did she actually say this?

• Answer: No, there is no historical evidence to support this claim.

31. Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during World War II. What was his famous wartime slogan?

• Answer: Blood, Sweat, and Tears

32. Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa and a prominent figure in the anti-apartheid movement. What was his nickname?

• Answer: Madiba

33. Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader in the United States who advocated for racial equality through nonviolent means. What was his most famous speech?

• Answer: “I Have a Dream”

34. Margaret Thatcher was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. What was her nickname?

• Answer: The Iron Lady

35. Which world leader is known for saying “Ich bin ein Berliner”?

• Answer: John F. Kennedy, President of the United States

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Family history trivia questions

Family History Trivia is a game meant to be both fun and educational! Teach your kids and have fun spending time as a family with these trivia questions about your family, childhood, and parenthood.

Get to know more about your parent’s early days with these questions below

1. What is the age difference between you and your closest sibling?
2. Do you have any family nicknames or inside jokes?
3. What is the most common profession in your family across generations?
4. Is there a specific family recipe or dish that’s been passed down?
5. What is your family’s go-to activity for celebrations or holidays?
6. What was the name of your childhood pet?
7. What was your favorite childhood toy?
8. What was the name of your elementary school?
9. Where did you go on your first family vacation?
10. What was your favorite after-school activity as a child?
11. What was the street name you grew up on?
12. Describe the landscape and environment of your childhood home.
13. What was your favorite local hangout spot as a teenager?
14. Was there a particular park or nature area you frequented in your childhood?
15. What was the name of your favorite local restaurant or store?

History trivia for kids

1. What was the name of the big ship that sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg?

• Answer: The RMS Titanic

2. Who was the first person to walk on the moon?

• Answer: Neil Armstrong

3. What famous building in Paris is a symbol of love?

• Answer: The Eiffel Tower

4. What prehistoric creatures lived millions of years ago and are known for their giant bones?

• Answer: Dinosaurs

5. What ancient Egyptian pyramid is the tallest and only surviving wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World?

• Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza

6. What delicious treat was accidentally invented when a teenager dropped candy into a pot of boiling peanuts?

• Answer: Snickers candy bars

7. Who painted the famous Mona Lisa with a mysterious smile?

• Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

8. What was the name of the little engine that thought it could?

• Answer: The Little Engine That Could

9. What historical event led to the building of the Great Wall of China?

• Answer: Attacks by the Xiongnu nomads

10. What sport uses a round ball, two teams, and a large net?

• Answer: Football (Soccer)

11. What is the name of the famous clock tower in London that chimes every hour?

• Answer: Big Ben

12. Who wrote the famous children’s book series about a boy wizard named Harry Potter?

• Answer: J.K. Rowling

13. What is the name of the world’s largest ocean?

• Answer: The Pacific Ocean

14. What was the name of the Roman emperor who gave his name to July?

• Answer: Julius Caesar

15. What is the name of the spiky fruit that grows on chestnut trees?

• Answer: Conkers

16. What is the biggest land animal on Earth?

• Answer: The African elephant

17. What is the name of the first successful vaccine, developed by Edward Jenner in 1796?

• Answer: The smallpox vaccine

18. What is the name of the famous children’s story about a rabbit who lives in a hole under the ground?

• Answer: Winnie-the-Pooh

19. What is the name of the tallest mountain in the world?

• Answer: Mount Everest

20. What is the name of the colorful festival in India that celebrates spring?

• Answer: Holi

21. What is the name of the prehistoric monument in England consisting of a large circle of standing stones?

• Answer: Stonehenge

22. What is the name of the cartoon mouse who always says “Meep, Meep!”?

• Answer: Jerry

23. What is the name of the first video game console released by Nintendo in 1985?

• Answer: The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

24. What is the name of the famous children’s book about a very hungry caterpillar?

• Answer: The Very Hungry Caterpillar

25. What is the name of the sport played with a bat and a ball, where players try to hit the ball out of the field?

• Answer: Baseball

26. What is the name of the currency used in the United States?

• Answer:

27. What was the name of the queen for whom King Nebuchadnezzar II supposedly built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?

• Answer: Amytis, a Median princess who married Nebuchadnezzar II. The Hanging Gardens are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, although their exact location and appearance are still debated by historians.

28. Which ancient civilization developed a complex writing system called cuneiform and built ziggurats

• Answer: The Sumerians were the first civilization in Mesopotamia to develop cuneiform writing, which used wedge-shaped symbols to represent sounds. They also built ziggurats, which were temple complexes with stepped pyramids.

29. What percentage of the European population is estimated to have died from the Black Death, a devastating plague that ravaged the continent in the mid-14th century?

• Answer: Between 30% and 60% of the European population died from the Black Death, which was caused by the bubonic plague.

30. Which ancient civilization built the Great Wall of China?

• Answer: The Qin Dynasty in China.

History trivia for seniors

1. What event triggered the start of World War I in 1914?

• Answer: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria.

2. What was the name of the devastating economic downturn that began in the late 1920s and had a major impact worldwide?

• Answer: The Great Depression.

3. Who was the first person to successfully fly across the Atlantic Ocean nonstop in 1927

• Answer: Charles Lindbergh.

4. Who was the American president during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, which drew the United States into World War II?

• Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt.

5. What was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944, which marked a major turning point in World War II?

• Answer: Operation Overlord (D-Day).

6. What major technological advancement was made in 1957 with the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to orbit Earth?

• Answer: The beginning of the Space Age.

7. Who was the American president during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, a tense standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union? Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev

• Answer: John F. Kennedy.

8. What was the name of the civil rights movement leader who delivered the iconic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963?

• Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.

9. What year did the first humans walk on the moon, marking a historic milestone in space exploration?

• Answer: 1969.

10. Who was the first female American astronaut to travel to space in 1983?

• Answer: Sally Ride.

11. What was the name of the political and ideological conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted roughly from 1947 to 1991?

• Answer: The Cold War.

12. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during most of the Cold War, known for his hard-line policies?

• Answer: Leonid Brezhnev.

13. What was the name of the devastating nuclear reactor accident that occurred in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986?

• Answer: The Chernobyl disaster.

14. What year did the Berlin Wall fall, marking a symbolic end to the Cold War and the division of Germany?

• Answer: 1989.

15. Who was the first African-American president of the United States, elected in 2008?

• Answer: Barack Obama.

16. What major historical event happened on October 29, 1929, that had a profound impact on the global economy?

• Answer: The Stock Market Crash of 1929.

17. Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932?

• Answer: Amelia Earhart.

18. What was the name of the first successful vaccine, for what disease, developed by Edward Jenner in 1796?

• Answer: Smallpox.

19. Who was the British Prime Minister during World War II, known for his wartime leadership and inspirational speeches?

• Answer: Winston Churchill.

20. What major technological advancement was made in 1969 that revolutionized communication and information access?

• Answer: The internet.

21. Which iconic photograph captured the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945? Answer: Joe Rosenthal’s “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.”

22. What major music festival held in Woodstock, New York, in 1969 became a symbol of the counterculture movement? Answer: Woodstock Festival.

23. What was the name of the devastating economic depression that gripped the United States and other countries in the 1930s? Answer: The Great Depression.

24. Which Cold War proxy war took place in Southeast Asia from the 1950s to the 1970s? Answer: The Vietnam War.

25. Who was the first Soviet leader to visit the United States in 1959, marking a thaw in relations between the two superpowers? Answer: Nikita Khrushchev.

26. What was the nickname given to the first successful test of an atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945? * Answer: Trinity Test

27. Who was the British Prime Minister during World War II, known for his wartime leadership and famous speeches? * Answer: Winston Churchill

28. The Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union led to significant advancements in technology. What was the name of the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth, achieving this feat in 1961? * Answer: John Glenn

29. The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw numerous influential figures fighting for racial equality. Who was the iconic singer and activist known for her powerful voice and anthems advocating for justice and freedom?

Answer: Nina Simone

30. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a pivotal moment in world history, symbolizing the end of the Cold War division between East and West Germany. What was the iconic phrase associated with this event, expressing a desire for unification and freedom?

Answer: “Tear down this wall!” (spoken by US President Ronald Reagan)

Womens history trivia

1. Who became the first female Secretary of State of the United States, appointed by President Clinton in 1997?

Answer: Madeleine Albright

2. Who took over management of Columbia Sportswear Company in the late 1930s, when it was near bankruptcy, and turned it into the largest American ski apparel company worth $4 billion in 1972?

Answer: Gert Boyle

3. Who was the first woman in modern history to lead a major Native American tribe, the Cherokee Nation?

Answer: Wilma Mankiller

4. Who was the first American woman poet whose poetry was published in London in 1650?

Answer: Anne Bradstreet

5. Who is considered the first American woman to be ordained by full denominational authority in 1864, and who also campaigned vigorously for full woman suffrage?

Answer: Antoinette Blackwell

6. Who was the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress and was a founding member of the National Women’s Political Caucus?

Answer: Shirley Chisholm

7. Who was the ecologist writer whose path-breaking book, “Silent Spring” in 1962 initiated the environmental movement?

Answer: Rachel Carson

8. Who was the first black woman and the youngest poet laureate in American history when she was appointed in 1993?

Answer: Rita Dove

9. Who was imprisoned and then hanged for her Quaker faith in Boston in 1660, and 400 years later her statue was placed in front of the state House?

Answer: Mary Dyer

10. Who was the female lawyer who worked for equal rights and suffrage, co-founded the ACLU in 1910, and helped write the Equal Rights Amendment?

Answer: Crystal Eastman

11. Who led the fight to criminalize lynching, helped form the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), and aided many black people who migrated from the South to Chicago?

Answer: Ida B. Wells-Barnett

12. Who became the first female president of Harvard University when she was named its 28th president in 2007?

Answer: Drew Gilpin Faust

13. Who became the first woman vice-president candidate on a major political party ticket when selected in 1984?

Answer: Geraldine Ferraro

14. Who volunteered as a nurse during the Civil War, earning the nickname “Mother,” and after peace became an attorney advocating for veterans?

Answer: Clara Barton

15. Who was the United States delegate to the United Nations who championed and won approval of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948?

Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt

16. Who earned a graduate degree from Oberlin College in 1888, was the first black woman to serve on a Board of Education (in D.C.), sued to integrate restaurants in the 1950s, integrated the American Association of University Women at age 85, and was a founding member of NAACP?

Answer: Mary McLeod Bethune

17. Who wrote “The Feminine Mystique” in 1968 and became a leading figure in the Women’s Movement?

Answer: Betty Friedan

18. Who was the first woman promoted to brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force (1971) and the first female major general in any armed forces in 1973?

Answer: Jeanne Holm

19. Who was a Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy credited with developing the COBOL computer language, and with coining the phrase “debugging” to fix a computer?

Answer: Grace Hopper

20. Who was one of the first black physicians in New York City and the first black woman to graduate from Bellevue Hospital medical school in 1926?

Answer: Dr. Susan McKinney-Steward

21. Who was the free-thinking woman who was forced out of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and sought sanctuary in Roger Williams’ Rhode Island in 1637?

Answer: Anne Hutchinson

22. Who is the architect of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., which she designed when she was only 21 years old?

Answer: Maya Lin

Who was the astronomer who discovered a comet, named for her, on October 1, 1847, and who was the first woman elected to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1850), and the first professor of astronomy at Vassar College?

Answer: Maria Mitchell

25. Who was the first black woman lawyer in the United States and the first woman admitted to the District of Columbia bar in 1872?

Answer: Belva Lockwood

26. What woman met Elizabeth Cady Stanton at the International Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840 and worked with her for women’s equality for the next half century?

Answer: Lucretia Mott

27. Who worked with W.E.B. DuBois’ Niagara Movement and was one of the few white co-founders of NAACP in 1910?

Answer: Mary White Ovington

28. What woman attended the Seneca Falls Convention in 1848, signed the Declaration of Sentiments, and lived to see women win the vote in 1920?

Answer: Elizabeth Cady Stanton

29. Who ran a plantation in South Carolina and successfully introduced the cultivation of indigo as a commercial staple?

Answer: Eliza Lucas Pinckney

30. Who was the first black prima donna soprano at the Metropolitan Opera, starring from 1961 to 2007, the first black singer to earn the top fee of $2750 for each performance (second only to Birgit Nilsson who got $3000), and winner of 19 Grammy awards?

Answer: Leontyne Price

31. Who became the first female rabbi in the U.S. and the second in the world when she was ordained in Cincinnati in 1972?

Answer: Sally Priesand

32. Who sculpted the full-scale marble statue of Lincoln which is in the Capitol Rotunda, becoming the first female and youngest artist to receive a commission from the government for a statue?

Answer: Vinnie Ream

33. Who was the first black woman symphonic composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra – her Symphony in E Minor was performed in 1933 by the Chicago Symphony?

Answer: Florence Price

34. Who was the Zionist leader who founded Hadassah, an organization working on health issues for Jewish people in Palestine, and also rescued thousands of children from Germany in the 1930’s?

Answer: Henrietta Szold

35. Who was the female Brigadier General who was the driving force behind the establishment of the Women in Military Service for America Memorial Building in Arlington Cemetery which opened in 1997?

Answer: Wilma Vaught

36. What woman wrote the first novel by an American to sell more than a million copies, “The Wide, Wide World”?

Answer: Susan Warner

37. Who was the friend of Abigail Adams who fostered political agitation with her satirical plays and then a three-volume history of the American revolution in 1805?

Answer: Mercy Otis Warren

38. Who was the first Native American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 for her work in decreasing infant mortality and decreasing tuberculosis?

Answer: Sascha Bruin

39. Who was the author of “Our Nig,” published in 1859, the first novel by a black person in English, which described racism in the treatment of free blacks in the North by abolitionists?

Answer: Harriet E. Wilson

40. Who was the first woman mountaineer to climb over 23,000 feet on Nun Kun in the Himalayas in 1906, a record unbroken until 1934?

Answer: Fanny Bullock Workman

41. Who is the first woman conductor of a large orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony, appointed in 2007?

Answer: Marin Alsop

42. Who introduced America to French cooking in her books and television series from 1963 through the 1990’s?

Answer: Julia Child

43. What woman has won a total of 56 Grand Slam tennis competitions events and 9 Wimbledon women’s singles titles?

Answer: Steffi Graf

 44. Her 1939 Easter Sunday concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial drew a crowd of 75,000. Who was she, and why was she singing there?

Answer: Marian Anderson (b. 1902), who had earlier been barred from the singing in the Washington’s Constitution Hall because she was Black. Her open–air concert was a triumph over bigotry for this international star.

45. Who printed the first copy of the Declaration of Independence that included the signers’ names?

Answer: Mary Katherine Goddard (1738–1816) 

46. Clara Barton (1821–1912) is best known for founding the American Red Cross, but she also played a vital role during the Civil War. What did she do?

Answer: Clara Barton (1821–1912) solicited donated supplies and took them directly onto battlegrounds, to get food, bandages, and medical supplies to the wounded. She also helped document the 22,000 men killed or missing in action so their families could be notified.

47. She is regarded as the greatest ballerina born in America. Her father was the Chief of the Osage Indians. Can you name her?

Answer: Maria Tallchief 

48. Why is Rachel Carson (1907–1964) considered the mother of the environmental movement?

Answer: Rachel Carson (1907–1964), a writer and biologist, touched off an international controversy about the environmental effects of pesticides with her 1962 book, The Silent Spring. 

49. Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976 with a friend for their efforts against violence in Northern Ireland?

Answer:  Mairead Corrigan Maguire 

50. Who was the founder of the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press in 1972 and an activist in Women’s Strike for Peace?

Answer:  Donna Allen

This day in history trivia | Jan 25

1. 1536: On this day, in what city was England’s King Henry VIII declared the Supreme Head of the Church of England, breaking with the Catholic Church?

Answer: London

2. 1786: What composer, known for his operas like “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni,” was born in Salzburg, Austria on this day?

Answer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

3. 1890: On this day, the first official game of what sport was played in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between the Pittsburgh Athletic Club and the Allegheny County Athletic Association?

Answer: American football

4. 1905: What revolutionary event, marking the beginning of the 20th century’s anti-colonial movements, started on this day with the Battle of Mukden in the Russo-Japanese War?

Answer: The First Revolution of China

5. 1917: On this day, what Danish territory was sold to the United States for $25 million, becoming the U.S. Virgin Islands?

Answer: The Danish West Indies

6. 1938: What influential singer and actress, known for her roles in films like “Casablanca” and “Singin’ in the Rain,” was born on this day in Pasadena, California?

Answer: Doris Day

7. 1955: On this day, what historic event, marking the beginning of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, occurred in Montgomery, Alabama?

Answer: Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a bus to a white man

8. 1964: What rock band, known for their psychedelic music and influential albums like “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” held their first press conference in London on this day?

Answer: The Beatles

9. 1973: On this day, what groundbreaking event occurred when the first American space station, Skylab, was launched into orbit?

Answer: Launch of Skylab 1

10. 1980: What rock band, known for their punk rock sound and anthems like “London Calling” and “Should I Stay or Should I Go,” released their third album, “Sandinista!” on this day?

Answer: The Clash

11. 1986: On this day, what space shuttle, tragically exploding shortly after launch, claimed the lives of its seven crew members?

Answer: Space Shuttle Challenger

12. 1995: What influential operating system, marking a major shift in user interface design, was released on this day by Microsoft?

Answer: Windows 95

13. 2004: On this day, what unmanned spacecraft landed on Mars, becoming the first successful landing on the red planet since 1976?

Answer: Spirit rover

14. 2011: On this day, what revolution began in Egypt, eventually leading to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak?

Answer: Egyptian Revolution of 2011

15. 2015: On this day, what historic event occurred when Greece became the first developed country to default on its debt to the International Monetary Fund?

Answer: Greek government debt default

16. 2017: On this day, what major earthquake struck Central Italy, causing widespread damage and claiming the lives of 138 people?

Answer: Amatrice earthquake

17. 2018: On this day, what landmark agreement, aiming to combat climate change, was signed by 195 countries at the United Nations headquarters in New York City?

Answer: Paris Agreement

18. 2020: On this day, what major winter storm, known as “Bomb Cyclone,” caused widespread power outages and blizzard conditions in the Northeastern United States?

Answer: Winter Storm Gail

19. 2021: On this day, what historic event occurred when the first female and first person of color, Kamala Harris, was inaugurated as Vice President of the United States?

Answer: Inauguration of Kamala Harris

20. 2023: On this day, what landmark event occurred when the James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful telescope ever built, released its first full-color images of the universe?

Answer: Release of James Webb Space Telescope’s first images

European history trivia

1. What Roman city was buried by ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD? (Answer: Pompeii)
2. Who was the Frankish king who united much of Western Europe and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD? (Answer: Charlemagne)
3. What was the name of the plague that ravaged Europe in the mid-14th century, killing millions? (Answer: The Black Death)
4. What English document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the monarch and established the rights of citizens? (Answer: Magna Carta)
5. Who was the Byzantine empress who ruled from 867 to 912 AD and is known for her scholarship and promotion of learning? (Answer: Zoe Carbonopsina)
6. What was the name of the religious movement that began in Germany in the 16th century, challenging the authority of the Catholic Church? (Answer: Protestantism)
7. Who was the English queen who ruled from 1558 to 1603 and saw England become a major maritime power? (Answer: Queen Elizabeth I)
8. What was the name of the 30-year war that ravaged Central Europe from 1618 to 1648? (Answer: Thirty Years’ War)
9. Who led the French Revolution in 1789, eventually becoming Emperor of France? (Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte)
10. What was the name of the industrial revolution that began in Britain in the late 18th century and transformed the economy of Europe? (Answer: Industrial Revolution)

11. What was the name of the unification movement that led to the creation of a unified German state in 1871? (Answer: German unification)
12. Who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914, sparking the outbreak of World War I? (Answer: Gavrilo Princip)
13. What was the name of the totalitarian regime led by Adolf Hitler in Germany from 1933 to 1945? (Answer: Nazi Germany)
14. Who led the Soviet Union during World War II and played a key role in the Allied victory? (Answer: Joseph Stalin)
15. What was the name of the Cold War division of Europe between the communist East and the capitalist West? (Answer: Iron Curtain)

16. What was the name of the single currency adopted by many European countries in 2002? (Answer: Euro)
17. What year did the European Union (EU) officially expand eastward, welcoming several former communist countries? (Answer: 2004)
18. Who was the British Prime Minister who led the UK out of the European Union in 2020? (Answer: Boris Johnson)
19. What is the name of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine that began in 2014? (Answer: Russo-Ukrainian War)
20. What major environmental disaster occurred in France in 1986, causing widespread radioactive contamination? (Answer: Chernobyl nuclear disaster)

21. Which European city is known for its canals and gondolas? (Answer: Venice, Italy)
22. What is the tallest mountain in Europe? (Answer: Mount Elbrus, Russia)
23. Which country in Europe is known for its chocolate and yodeling? (Answer: Switzerland)
24. What is the name of the prehistoric monument located in England, consisting of large stone circles? (Answer: Stonehenge)
25. Which European city was the capital of the Roman Empire? (Answer: Rome, Italy)
26. Who painted the Mona Lisa? (Answer: Leonardo da Vinci)
27. What is the national anthem of France called? (Answer: La Marseillaise)
28. Which European country has the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites? (Answer: Italy)
29. What language is spoken in the majority of European countries? (Answer: Indo-European languages)
30. What is the name of the currency used in the United Kingdom? (Answer: Pound Sterling)

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Challenge friends and family to a history trivia game night with this list of easy, and hard history trivia questions.

Get informed while having so much fun learning about history. Whether you are a seasoned trivia master or a newbie, this list of trivia history questions will have you questioning your mastery level. Try it out now!!

References

• Britannica.com – World History Quizzes
• Trivia Nerd.com – 170+ Best History Trivia Questions & Answers
• Thought Catalogue.com – 250+ History Trivia Questions and Answers
• National Women History Alliance.org – Women’s History Quiz

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