Tag: history

When—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions i posted earlier.

These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.


Cartoon depicting Leopold II and other imperial powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

Answer: 1880s; Leopold II and Belgium

Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State in 1885, seizing the land as his personal possession. His brutal reign, characterised by forced labour and widespread atrocities, led to international condemnation and the eventual transfer of control to Belgium in 1908.

Two

On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

Answer: 1971; Alan B. Shepard Jr., Stuart A. Roosa or Edgar D. Mitchell

Apollo 14, the third lunar landing, successfully landed in the Fra Mauro formation after overcoming malfunctions. Shepard and Mitchell collected Moon rocks and deployed experiments, while Roosa orbited the Moon.

Three

On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

Answer: 1850s; Saint Petersburg

The New Hermitage Museum, part of the larger Hermitage Museum complex in St. Petersburg, was reconstructed between 1840 and 1852 and opened to the public in 1852. The museum is housed within five interconnected buildings, including the Winter Palace and the Small, Old and New Hermitages. The city was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and named St. Petersburg, which it stayed until 1914 when it became Petrograd to reflect Russian patriotism during World War I by avoiding the German-sounding ‘Petersburg’. In 1924, the name changed to Leningrad in honour of Vladimir Lenin after his death, which it was until 1991 when the city’s population voted to return to the original name.

Four

United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

Answer: 1910s; Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith.

United Artists, founded in 1919, was established to allow actors more control over their own affairs. It was acquired by MGM in 1981 and later revived as United Artists Releasing in 2019. However, Amazon, MGM’s parent company, folded UAR into MGM in 2023. On 26 July 2024, Amazon MGM Studios announced the company’s revival.

Five

The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

Answer: 1900s; Bakelite

Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, invented Velox photographic paper and Bakelite, a versatile plastic, earning him the title ‘The Father of the Plastics Industry’. Bakelite, developed in 1907, became a commercial success due to its mouldability, heat resistance, and electrical nonconductivity. Its creation revolutionised the chemical industry and inspired the development of other synthetic plastics.

When

These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.

Contemporary cartoon.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

Two

On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

Three

On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

Four

United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

Five

The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Here and There—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier posted questions.

All of today’s questions relate to February 4th, and each of them has at least one place in the answer, although there may be other requirements to the answer.

Flag of Sri Lanka.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

The flag shown above represents a modern country which gained independence from Great Britain on this date in 1948. What was the country’s name at independence, and to what was that name changed in 1972?

Answer: Ceylon; Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia. It gained independence from British rule in 1948 and became a republic in 1972. Despite a prolonged civil war, Sri Lanka has emerged as a developing country with a strategically important location in the Indian Ocean.

Two

Roman emperor Septimius Severus died at Eboracum on this date in 211 CE. What modern city was Roman Eboracum, and in what country is it located?

Answer: York, England, United Kingdom

Septimius Severus led a military campaign in Caledonia, facing hardships but achieving significant gains before his death in 211. His death led to the abandonment of the campaign and the withdrawal of Roman forces from Caledonia.

Three

The Yalta Conference opened on this day in 1945 in the final stages of Second World War and was the second meeting of the ‘Big Three’ allied leaders. On what peninsula is Yalta located and who were the three allied leaders?

Answer: Crimean Peninsula; Franklin. D Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin.

Yalta, a resort city on Crimea’s south coast, is today internationally recognised as part of Ukraine but controlled by Russia. It is known for its historic significance, including the 1945 Yalta Conference held in February 1945, which was a meeting of the US, UK, and Soviet Union leaders to discuss the postwar reorganisation of Germany and Europe. The conference aimed to establish collective security and self-determination for liberated European nations.

Four

In what year was Facebook founded, and which university campus did it originally launch from?

Answer: 2004, Harvard University.

Facebook was founded on this day in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg and a small group of fellow students while they were attending Harvard University. It originally began as a social networking site exclusively for Harvard students before quickly expanding to other universities and eventually becoming a global platform with billions of users worldwide.

Five

Charles Lindbergh was born on this day in 1902. He was an American aviator who made the first non-stop solo transatlantic flight in his aircraft, Spirit of St. Louis. In what decade did he make this flight, and where were his departure and destination locations?

Answer: 1920s; Roosevelt Field, Long Island, New York, United States to Le Bourget Aerodrome, Paris, France.

Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo transatlantic flight, departing from Roosevelt Field on Long Island and landing at Le Bourget Aerodrome in Paris. The flight, lasting over 33 hours, involved navigating through fog, icing, and fatigue, with Lindbergh relying on dead reckoning for navigation. Upon landing, he was greeted by a massive crowd, who damaged the Spirit of St. Louis in their excitement.

Here and There

All of today’s questions relate to February 4th, and each of them has at least one place in the answer, although there may be other requirements to the answer.

Image Wikimedia Commons

One

The flag shown above represents a modern country which gained independence from Great Britain on this date in 1948. What was the country’s name at independence, and to what was that name changed in 1972?

Two

Roman emperor Septimius Severus died at Eboracum on this date in 211 CE. What modern city was Roman Eboracum, and in what country is it located?

Three

The Yalta Conference opened on this day in 1945 in the final stages of Second World War and was the second meeting of the ‘Big Three’ allied leaders. On what peninsula is Yalta located and who were the three allied leaders?

Four

In what year was Facebook founded, and which university campus did it originally launch from?

Five

Charles Lindbergh was born on this day in 1902. He was an American aviator who made the first non-stop solo transatlantic flight in his aircraft, Spirit of St. Louis. In what decade did he make this flight, and where were his departure and destination locations?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Truth Will Out—Answers

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

Simply choose today, are the statements below either true or false?

Stena Line’s Jutlandica in Gothenburg.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

True or false: ferries operating between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Frederikshavn in Denmark cross the Kattegat.

Answer: True

The Swedish company Stena Line operates between Gothenburg/Frederikshavn in Denmark. The Kattegat is a 140-mile (225 km) long strait which is linked to the North Sea by the Skagerrak and to the Baltic Sea by the Øresund.

Two

True or false: Humphrey Bogart’s character name in The African Queen (1951) was Charlie Allnut.

Answer: True

The African Queen was a John Huston film based on C.S. Forester’s 1935 novel of the same name. Bogart starred as Charlie Allnut alongside Katharine Hepburn as Rose Sayer.

Three

True or false: Harald Hardrada was the king of England who died at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

Answer: False

Hardrada was an epithet of Harald Sigurdsson, king of Norway, who did die in England that year, but on 25 September 1066 when he was defeated by the forces of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Godwinson, aka Harold II, king of England, died at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066 to be succeeded by William I (William the Conqueror).

Four

True or false: the film The Exorcist was based on the novel of the same name written by Stephen King.

Answer: False

The Exorcist (1973) is a horror film about a young girl’s demonic possession and the priests’ exorcism attempt. It was based on a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, which itself was based on his 1971 novel of the same name.

Five

True or false: pangolins are only native to Africa.

Answer: False

Pangolins are armoured placental mammals found in tropical Asia and Africa. They are nocturnal, feed mainly on termites, and defend themselves by rolling into a ball. Pangolins are the only mammals covered in scales and are threatened by poaching not only for meat but for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine. They are also believed to be a potential intermediate host for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The Truth Will Out

Simply choose today, are the statements below either true or false?

Stena Line’s Jutlandica in Gothenburg.
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

True or false: ferries operating between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Frederikshavn in Denmark cross the Kattegat.

Two

True or false: Humphrey Bogart’s character name in The African Queen (1951) was Charlie Allnut.

Three

True or false: Harald Hardrada was the king of England who died at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066.

Four

True or false: the film The Exorcist was based on the novel of the same name written by Stephen King.

Five

True or false: pangolins are only native to Africa.

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Good Herb—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

These five questions are all related to today’s date, January 30th.

MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

On 30 January 1945, the greatest maritime disaster in history occurred as the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk. In what body of water was this sinking, and approximately how many people perished?

Answer: Baltic Sea; ≈ 9,000 lives were lost

The MV Wilhelm Gustloff, a German ocean liner originally built as a cruise ship for the Nazi Strength Through Joy organisation, was sunk by a Soviet submarine S-13 in the Baltic Sea on 30 January 1945, during Operation Hannibal. The ship, carrying an estimated 10,000 people, including refugees and military personnel, sank in one hour after being hit by three torpedoes. This disaster resulted in the greatest maritime disaster in history, with an estimated 8,761 to 9,343 casualties. Despite the high civilian death toll, the sinking is not considered a war crime due to the presence of military personnel and weapons on board.

Two

On this day in 1847, Yerba Buena became what North American city?

Answer: San Francisco

Yerba Buena (good herb), now San Francisco, was claimed by the US in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. The city became a US military territory in 1848 and was admitted to the Union as a state in 1850.

Three

Charles I, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was executed in London. In what decade did this occur?

Answer: 1640s

Charles I, King of England, Scotland, and Ireland from 1625 to 1649, believed in the divine right of kings and clashed with Parliament over his policies, including taxation without consent and religious reforms. His actions led to the English Civil War, his defeat, and his execution for high treason in 1649. The monarchy was abolished but restored in 1660 with his son, Charles II.

Four

Oliver Cromwell was one of the regicides responsible for Charles I’s execution. What happened to Cromwell two years after his own death?

Answer: He was disinterred and ritually executed.

Oliver Cromwell, who had died in 1658, was subjected to a posthumous execution. His body was disinterred, hanged at Tyburn, and beheaded. Then it was thrown into a pit and his head placed on a spike at the end of Westminster Hall facing the spot where Charles I had been executed.

Five

On this day in 1931 City Lights premiered. The film was written, produced, directed by, and starred whom?

Answer: Charlie Chaplin

City Lights is a 1931 American romantic comedy-drama film written, produced, directed by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film, which follows the Tramp’s misadventures, was released with a synchronised musical score and sound effects despite the rise of talking pictures. City Lights was a critical and commercial success, and is considered one of Chaplin’s greatest films.

Good Herb

The post title is the translation of Yerba Buena, which is now the city of San Francisco. See question two.

Good Herb

These five questions are all related to today’s date, January 30th.

MV Wilhelm Gustloff.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

On 30 January 1945, the greatest maritime disaster in history occurred as the German ocean liner Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk. In what body of water was this sinking, and approximately how many people perished?

Two

On this day in 1847, Yerba Buena became what North American city?

Three

Charles I, king of England, Scotland, and Ireland, was executed in London. In what decade did this occur?

Four

Oliver Cromwell was one of the regicides responsible for Charles I’s execution. What happened to Cromwell two years after his own death?

Five

On this day in 1931 City Lights premiered. The film was written, produced, directed by, and starred whom?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Today’s the Day—Answers

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

All of today’s questions are related to the date, January 28th.

Flag of Canada.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

On this day, Charlemagne, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, died in Aachen, Germany. In what century did this occur?

Answer: 9th Century

Charlemagne, an 8th-century Frankish king, united most of Europe, restored the Western Roman Empire, and facilitated a cultural renaissance. He was crowned ’emperor of the Romans’ by Pope Leo III in 800 CE.

Two

In 1813, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first published in the United Kingdom. The novel features Mr and Mrs Bennet and their family. How many daughters do they have, and what are their names?

Answer: Five; Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine ‘Kitty’ and Lydia Bennet

Pride and Prejudice follows Elizabeth Bennet’s character development as she learns about hasty judgements and the difference between superficial and actual goodness. The novel examines the societal pressures on the Bennet family, particularly the expectation that their daughters must marry well to secure their future.

Three

On this day, a proclamation by the Monarch of Canada officially introduced a new Canadian flag. In which decade was this, and which monarch made the proclamation?

Answer: 1960s; Queen Elizabeth II

On this day in 1965, Queen Elizabeth II, in her role as Queen of Canada signed the Royal proclamation of the national flag of Canada. The hand written illuminated document on vellum had ben flown to the United Kingdom for the signing.

Four

In 1896, Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, U.K., became the first person convicted of speeding in a horseless carriage after a police chase on 28th January. At what speed was he driving?

Answer: 8mph

Guinness World Records highlights several key points about Walter Arnold’s offence. He received this first speeding ticket on January 28, 1896, for driving at 8 mph in a 2 mph zone. Arnold was charged with multiple violations, including operating a locomotive without a horse, operating it with fewer than three people, exceeding the speed limit, and failing to display his name and address. Found guilty on all counts, he was fined £4 7s, with 10 shillings specifically for speeding. Adjusted for inflation, this total fine would amount to £507 today, as of December 2025.

Five

Pippi Långstrump, a 1945 Swedish children’s novel, was first published in English in 1950. What English title was it published under, and who was its author?

Answer: Astrid Lindgren

Pippi Longstocking, a beloved children’s book by Astrid Lindgren, follows the adventures of a strong, independent nine-year-old girl living alone with her monkey and horse. The book, originally published in Swedish in 1945, has been translated into numerous languages and adapted for film and television. On this day in 2002, Astrid Lindgren died at the age of 94.

Today’s the Day

All of today’s questions are related to the date, January 28th.

Flag of Canada.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

On this day, Charlemagne, the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, died in Aachen, Germany. In what century did this occur?

Two

In 1813, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was first published in the United Kingdom. The novel features Mr and Mrs Bennet and their family. How many daughters do they have, and what are their names?

Three

On this day, a proclamation by the Monarch of Canada officially introduced a new Canadian flag. In which decade was this, and which monarch made the proclamation?

Four

In 1896, Walter Arnold of East Peckham, Kent, U.K., became the first person convicted of speeding in a horseless carriage after a police chase on 28th January. At what speed was he driving?

Five

Pippi Långstrump, a 1945 Swedish children’s novel, was first published in English in 1950. What English title was it published under, and who was its author?

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