International and World Trivia Questions and Answers Including European Countries, European Cities and more.
Questions about Iceland, European Cities, European Countries, Greece, England, Hawaii, the Middle East and more.
In 1305, what did England's King Edward I decree should be used
to determine the length of an inch in shoemaking and other trades?
A: Barleycorns. According to his decree, three contiguous dried
barleycorns were an inch.
In what country was World War I German spy Mata Hari born?
A: In Holland, as Margaretha Geertrulida Zelle.
What is the northernmost city in Europe?
A: Hammerfest, Norway
How are 99 percent of the buildings heated in Reykjavik, the
capital of Iceland?
A: With geothermal power--from natural hot (140 deg. F) water from
an underground reservoir. The water (from Ice Age glaciers trapped
by hardened lava from volcanic eruptions) is piped to radiators and
hot=-water tanks throughout the city.
In what country did the windmill originate?
A: In Iran, in A.D. 644 It was used to grind grain.
Parts of which existing European countries once were included in
the nation known as Flanders?
A: France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
What famous philosopher said, "Children today are tyrants. They
contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their
teachers"?
A: Socrates, who lived in Greece from 470 to 399 B.C.
What Middle Eastern country's name includes the name of its first
ruler?
A: Saudi Arabia. Ruler Abd al-Aziz ibn Saud unified his dual
kingdoms of Hejaz and Nejd and their dependencies under the name
Saudi Arabia in 1932.
What famous philosopher is known by the name given to him by
his wrestling teacher?
A: Plato, who was originally named Aristocles. According to
historians the nickname Plato, which means "broad" in Greek,
referred to either his broad shoulders or broad forehead.
Where was Nero when Rome burned in 64A.D.?
A: At his villa at Antium (now Anxio), 35 miles from Rome. And he
wasn't fiddling--the violin had not yet been invented.
What European country was once known as the Batavian Republic?
A: The Netherlands, between 1795 and 1806, during the French
Revolutionary Wars. The name came from the Batavi, a Germanic
tribe that originally inhabited the region.
The modern artist Damien Hurst created what work of art?
A: The Mother and Child Divided
A" cable" is what distance?
A: One tenth of a nautical mile
What are Bond, Cotton Fabric and Tablet?
A: Types of what Paper
The Pied Piper played where?
A: Hamlin
What award has the words for valor on it?
A: Victoria Cross
Donald Campbell's boat recently raised from Coniston water
was named what?
A: Bluebird
The human rights organization, Amnesty International,
founded in 1961, received what in 1977?
A: A Nobel Peace Prize
What do Sarte, Neitzsche, Russell and Decartes all have in
common?
A: They were Philosophers
Casanovas did what for a day job?
A: Librarian
From which ancient language does the word alphabet come?
A: Greek (alpha beta)
On what day is St. Swithens day?
A: 15th July
Mycroft Holmes belonged to what London club?
A: Diogones
Shane Fenton gained fame using what name?
A: Alvin Stardust
How many children did Cleopatra have?
A: Four with Julius Caesar a son, Caesarian; with Mk Anthony twins,
Alexander Helios and Cleopatra Selene, and a son, Ptolemy
Philadelphus.
According to Greek legend, who cut the Gordian Knot?
A: Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.)
How is the Balinese national holiday known as Jnegi (pronounced
nn-YYEH-pee) celebrated?
A: In silence. It is the national day of silence.
What was blamed for the deaths of Emperor Claudius and Tiberius,
Czar Alexander I, Pope Clement VII and Charles V of France?
A: Mushroom poisoning.
What was Mahatma Gandhi's reply when he was asked what he thought
of Western civilization?
A: "I think it would be a good idea."
Lutetia, which means "mid-water dwelling" in Latin, is the
original name of what European city?
A: Paris. It was named Lutetia by te Romans in the first century
B.C. after Julius Caesar's forces defeated the original settlers, a
Gallic people known as the Parisii. The city became know as Paris in
the early fourth century after the Romans were defeated by Barbarian
invaders.
In 1872 what three cities, located near the Danube, merged into
one?
A: Buda Obuda, and Pest joined to become Budapest.
What mountain is the largest on earth?
A: Mauna Loa (long Mountain)., Hawaii. A 13,680-foot-high volcano,
its dome measures 75 miles by 64 miles.
In what year during this century did England have three kings?
A: In 1936--when George V died, Edward VIII abdicated to marry
divorcee Wally Simpson, and George VI began his sixteen-year reign.
