Tag: history

  • In My Life

    Although spread over several centuries these questions are all related to today’s date, December 8th.

    John Lennon, 1974.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).


    Two

    The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?


    Three

    Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?


    Four

    In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?


    Five

    …an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture

    Encyclopædia Britannica

    Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • December 6th—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions which were posted earlier.

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

    Answer: Venezuela

    Hugo Chávez was a Venezuelan politician and revolutionary who served as president from 1999 until his death in 2013. He founded the Fifth Republic Movement and later the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, implementing social reforms and nationalising industries as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. While his policies initially improved poverty and social welfare, they also led to economic instability and shortages.


    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab, British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

    Answer: London, United Kingdom

    The first of these motorised cabs were electric-powered vehicles, nicknamed ‘Hummingbirds’ due to the quiet sound of their electric motors. A fleet of these cabs, designed by Walter C. Bersey, was introduced on 19 August 1897, and officially licensed by 6 December of the same year. However, London had a system for licensed horse-drawn carriages (known as “hackney carriages”) much earlier, with the first official licences issued in 1662. The 1897 date specifically marks the introduction and licensing of motorised, rather than horse-drawn, cabs. 


    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?

    Answer: The Rolling Stones

    The Altamont Speedway Free Festival in California was a counterculture rock concert intended as a thank-you to fans by The Rolling Stones. However, the event turned deadly when a security guard, a member of the Hell’s Angels, fatally stabbed Meredith Hunter. Marred by violence and three accidental deaths, the festival is often remembered as a dark ending to the 1960s counterculture.  


    Nefertiti.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

    Answer: Nefertiti

    Nefertiti, queen of Egypt and wife of King Akhenaton, played a prominent role in the cult of the sun god Aton. She bore six daughters, two of whom became queens, and is depicted in early images accompanying her husband and later usurping kingly privileges in religious rituals. The sculpture later went on display in a Berlin museum, and it became a source of controversy as an alleged plundered artefact.


    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Answer: Ulysses by James Joyce

    Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, parallels Homer’s Odyssey and chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners—Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom and Molly Bloom—on 16 June 1904, representing Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope. Published in Paris in 1922, the novel is considered a classic of modernist literature, known for its experimental style, rich characterisation, and exploration of themes like antisemitism, human sexuality and Irish nationalism.

  • December 6th

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?


    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab.

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?


    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?


    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?


    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Steamboat Willie—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

    Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
    A. Maxwell Mouse
    B. Meredith Mouse
    C. Mortimer Mouse

    Answer: C. Mortimer Mouse

    The mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse but Lillian Disney, Walt’s wife, suggested Mickey. Disney received a record 59 Oscar nominations and won 22 competitive Academy Awards – still the most for any individual in history.

    The post title Steamboat Willie is a nod to Mickey. It is the title of what was Mickey’s third film, which was the first to be distributed and so considered to be his public debut.


    Two

    Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
    A. Pope Alexander VI
    B. Pope Julius II
    C. Pope Innocent VIII

    Answer: C. Pope Innocent VIII

    The bull later helped legitimise Malleus Maleficarum (1487), one of the most notorious witch-hunting manuals of the era.


    Three

    Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
    A. Downton Abbey
    B. The Crown
    C. Call the Midwife

    Answer: B. The Crown

    The Great Smog has also inspired satirical and fictional treatments—including a Goon Show episode in 1954 and the Doctor Who audio drama The Creeping Death, both of which use the choking fog as a dramatic backdrop.


    Four

    Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
    A. F.W. Murnau
    B. Sergei Eisenstein
    C. Fritz Lang

    Answer: C. Fritz Lang

    Lang fled Nazi Germany the same day he was offered a high-ranking propaganda role, later becoming influential in shaping American film noir.


    Five

    On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
    A. Sitiveni Rabuka
    B. Frank Bainimarama
    C. Epeli Nailatikau

    Answer: B. Frank Bainimarama

    Bainimarama later served as Fiji’s elected prime minister from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the country’s return to democratic elections.

  • Steamboat Willie

    These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

    Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
    A. Maxwell Mouse
    B. Meredith Mouse
    C. Mortimer Mouse


    Two

    Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
    A. Pope Alexander VI
    B. Pope Julius II
    C. Pope Innocent VIII


    Three

    Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
    A. Downton Abbey
    B. The Crown
    C. Call the Midwife


    Four

    Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
    A. F.W. Murnau
    B. Sergei Eisenstein
    C. Fritz Lang


    Five

    On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
    A. Sitiveni Rabuka
    B. Frank Bainimarama
    C. Epeli Nailatikau

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • All at Sea—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

    Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

    Mary Celeste.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
    A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
    B. A basketball
    C. A sewing machine

    Answer: A. The ship’s sewing machine

    Its presence in perfect condition suggested the crew left suddenly rather than under attack, since pirates would never have ignored valuable portable items.


    Two

    After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
    A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
    B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
    C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially

    Answer: B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria

    Timbers from the ship were later made into the Resolute desk, used by many U.S. Presidents—an enduring symbol of Anglo-American friendship.


    Three

    What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
    A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
    B. All cargo and provisions
    C. The entire foremast

    Answer: A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment

    The loss of these items intensified the mystery, especially because the vessel was otherwise intact in the dangerous waters of the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’.


    Four

    Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
    A. Australia
    B. Belize
    C. Canada

    Answer: A. Australia

    The yacht which was travelling from Queensland to Perth, Western Australia via the north of Australia was found with food set out and the engine running, sparking comparisons to the Mary Celeste because no sign of struggle or storm damage was present.


    Five

    SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
    A. 18 years
    B. 28 years
    C. 38 years

    Answer: C. 38 years

    Sighted intermittently for almost four decades, the Baychimo was finally lost to history—its last confirmed appearance occurring in 1969 when frozen in ice.

  • All at Sea

    Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

    Mary Celeste.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
    A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
    B. A basketball
    C. A sewing machine


    Two

    After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
    A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
    B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
    C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially


    Three

    What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
    A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
    B. All cargo and provisions
    C. The entire foremast


    Four

    Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
    A. Australia
    B. Belize
    C. Canada


    Five

    SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
    A. 18 years
    B. 28 years
    C. 38 years

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Who, What, When, Where or Why—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.

    Today’s questions are simply either Who, What, When, Where or Why.

    Apollo 13 launches from Kennedy Space Center, April 11, 1970.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the only astronaut on the Apollo program to be the only person to fly to the Moon twice without landing?

    Answer: Jim Lovell

    James Lovell was an American astronaut, naval aviator, and engineer. He flew on four space missions, including Apollo 8 and Apollo 13, and was the first person to fly into space four times. Lovell received numerous awards and honours for his contributions to space exploration.


    Two

    What uninvited stony visitor injured Elizabeth Hodges while she napped on her couch in Alabama in 1954?

    Answer: Meteorite

    Ann Elizabeth Fowler Hodges, the first documented person struck by a meteorite and survive, was injured when a meteorite fragment crashed through her roof and hit her while she napped on 30 November 1954.


    Three

    When was the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan, was it (i) 11th Century; (ii) 12th Century; (iii) 13th Century

    Answer: (iii) 13th Century

    The Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, eventually covering some 9 million square miles (23 million square km) from the Pacific Ocean to the Danube River and the Persian Gulf by the late 13th century.


    Four

    Where on the planet is the farthest point from the Earth’s centre. Is it the summit of (i) Chimborazo, Ecuador; (ii) Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland or (iii) Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica?

    Answer: (i) Chimborazo, Ecuador

    Chimborazo, a stratovolcano in Ecuador, is the highest mountain in the country and the 39th-highest peak in the Andes. Despite not being the tallest mountain on Earth, its summit is the farthest point from the Earth’s centre due to its equatorial location on the planet’s equatorial bulge.


    Five

    Why was 1936 a year of three kings in the United Kingdom, and who were they?

    Answer: Abdication crisis; George V, Edward VIII and George VI

    On the death of George V his eldest son became Edward VIII but he abdicated only 326 days later and his younger brother Albert became king as George VI.
    Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor, proposed marriage to Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée, led to a constitutional crisis and his abdication in favour of his brother, George VI. After his abdication, Edward, who was made Duke of Windsor by the new king, married Simpson and they lived in France until his death in 1972.


  • Who, What, When, Where or Why

    Today’s questions are simply either Who, What, When, Where or Why.

    An Apollo launch from Kennedy Space Center.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the only astronaut on the Apollo program to be the only person to fly to the Moon twice without landing?


    Two

    What uninvited stony visitor injured Elizabeth Hodges while she napped on her couch in Alabama in 1954?


    Three

    When was the Mongol Empire founded by Genghis Khan, was it (i) 11th Century; (ii) 12th Century; (iii) 13th Century


    Four

    Where on the planet is the farthest point from the Earth’s centre. Is it the summit of (i) Chimborazo, Ecuador; (ii) Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland or (iii) Mount Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica?


    Five

    Why was 1936 a year of three kings in the United Kingdom, and who were they?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Pleading the Belly—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    These questions all relate to today’s date, November 28th.

    Anne Bonny and Mary Read, pirates. Life-size bronze statues. Image CN Statue https://www.cnstatue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Anne-Bonny-and-Mary-Read-statue.jpg

    One

    Mary Read and Anne Bonny were put on trial in Jamaica in 1720. For what were they tried, convicted, and sentenced to death?

    Answer: Piracy

    In 1720, Read and her crew commandeered a sloop, leading the Bahamas governor to declare them enemies of the Crown. Captured, they faced trial in Jamaica, where they were found guilty and sentenced to death. All the male crew members were executed by hanging, but Read and Bonny claimed pregnancy—pleading the belly, which granted them a stay of execution. Read eventually died in prison, likely from a fever, and Bonny was eventually freed.


    Two

    Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first in a series of movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, had its world premiere in what country?

    Answer: New Zealand

    The film premiered in Wellington, New Zealand—the capital of Middle-earth—on 28 November 2012. An Unexpected Journey, set in Middle-earth sixty years before The Lord of the Rings, follows Bilbo Baggins on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. The film, released in 2012, received mixed reviews but grossed $1.017 billion and was nominated for three Academy Awards.


    Flag of Albania.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    The Vlorë proclamation, issued on this day in 1912, declared independence for ____. Which country is missing from this statement?

    Answer: Albania

    Independent Albania was declared a parliamentary state in Vlorë on 28 November 1912 during the First Balkan War. Despite seeking international recognition based on ethnic rights, the London Conference of 1913 partitioned much of the claimed Albanian lands, leaving only a central region as an independent territory under Great Power protection. This led to the establishment of the Principality of Albania as a constitutional monarchy in August 1913.


    Four

    In 1582, Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant at the time, married whom in the Diocese of Worcester, England?

    Answer: William Shakespeare

    Aged 18, William Shakespeare married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway and had three children: Susanna—six months after their marriage—and twins Hamnet and Judith. After the twins’ birth, he disappeared from historical records until 1592, leading to speculation about his ‘lost years’, including deer poaching, horse minding, and school teaching.


    Five

    In World War II, the first conference of the ‘Big Three’—Winston Churchill (United Kingdom), Franklin Delano Roosevelt (United States), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)—began on this day in 1943. Which of these was the location: Tehran, Iran; or Yalta, Crimea, Soviet Union?

    Answer: Tehran, Iran

    The Tehran Conference, held from 28 November to 1 December 1943, was the first meeting of the ‘Big Three’ Allied leaders during World War II. The main outcome was a commitment to open a second front against Nazi Germany by 1 June 1944. The conference also addressed relations with Turkey and Iran, operations in Yugoslavia and against Japan, and the envisioned post-war settlement.