TriviaPrintables

Historical Figures — Easy

40 questions · Answers revealed below each question · Print this set

  1. 1.Which historical figure improved the telescope and defended heliocentrism?

    • A. Deng Xiaoping
    • B. Galileo Galilei
    • C. Richard the Lionheart
    • D. Che Guevara
    Show answer

    Galileo Galilei

    Did you know? Galileo Galilei improved the telescope and defended heliocentrism (1564-1642).

  2. 2.Which historical figure developed the first commercially practical light bulb?

    • A. Francisco Pizarro
    • B. Queen Victoria
    • C. Thomas Edison
    • D. Lech Walesa
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    Thomas Edison

    Did you know? Thomas Edison developed the first commercially practical light bulb (1847-1931).

  3. 3.Which historical figure was the first emperor of Rome?

    • A. Augustus
    • B. Ibn Battuta
    • C. Oskar Schindler
    • D. Martin Luther King Jr.
    Show answer

    Augustus

    Did you know? Augustus was the first emperor of Rome (63 BC-AD 14).

  4. 4.Which historical figure started World War II in Europe by invading Poland?

    • A. Kublai Khan
    • B. Adolf Hitler
    • C. Tsar Nicholas II
    • D. Hammurabi
    Show answer

    Adolf Hitler

    Did you know? Adolf Hitler started World War II in Europe by invading Poland (1889-1945).

  5. 5.Which historical figure had six wives and broke with the Roman Catholic Church?

    • A. Galileo Galilei
    • B. Nelson Mandela
    • C. George Washington
    • D. Henry VIII
    Show answer

    Henry VIII

    Did you know? Henry VIII had six wives and broke with the Roman Catholic Church (reign 1509-1547).

  6. 6.Which historical figure conquered the Inca Empire with fewer than 200 men?

    • A. Che Guevara
    • B. William the Conqueror
    • C. José de San Martín
    • D. Francisco Pizarro
    Show answer

    Francisco Pizarro

    Did you know? Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire with fewer than 200 men (c. 1478-1541).

  7. 7.Which historical figure founded the largest contiguous land empire in history?

    • A. Louis XVI
    • B. Yitzhak Rabin
    • C. Leif Erikson
    • D. Genghis Khan
    Show answer

    Genghis Khan

    Did you know? Genghis Khan founded the largest contiguous land empire in history (c. 1162-1227).

  8. 8.Which historical figure led India to independence through nonviolence?

    • A. Erik the Red
    • B. Attila the Hun
    • C. Rosa Parks
    • D. Mahatma Gandhi
    Show answer

    Mahatma Gandhi

    Did you know? Mahatma Gandhi led India to independence through nonviolence (1869-1948).

  9. 9.Which historical figure started the Protestant Reformation with his Ninety-five Theses?

    • A. Gutenberg
    • B. Martin Luther
    • C. Adolf Hitler
    • D. Louis XVI
    Show answer

    Martin Luther

    Did you know? Martin Luther started the Protestant Reformation with his Ninety-five Theses (1483-1546).

  10. 10.Which historical figure proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection?

    • A. Charles Darwin
    • B. Zumbi dos Palmares
    • C. Attila the Hun
    • D. Fidel Castro
    Show answer

    Charles Darwin

    Did you know? Charles Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection (1809-1882).

  11. 11.Which historical figure shaped East Asian thought with teachings on ethics?

    • A. Amelia Earhart
    • B. Kublai Khan
    • C. Confucius
    • D. Genghis Khan
    Show answer

    Confucius

    Did you know? Confucius shaped East Asian thought with teachings on ethics (551-479 BC).

  12. 12.Which historical figure was the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt?

    • A. Kublai Khan
    • B. Oskar Schindler
    • C. Cleopatra VII
    • D. Amelia Earhart
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    Cleopatra VII

    Did you know? Cleopatra VII was the last active ruler of Ptolemaic Egypt (69-30 BC).

  13. 13.Which historical figure wrote a famous diary hiding in Amsterdam during the occupation?

    • A. William Shakespeare
    • B. Confucius
    • C. Amelia Earhart
    • D. Anne Frank
    Show answer

    Anne Frank

    Did you know? Anne Frank wrote a famous diary hiding in Amsterdam during the occupation (1929-1945).

  14. 14.Which historical figure was the French emperor defeated at Waterloo?

    • A. Joseph Stalin
    • B. Vasco da Gama
    • C. Ibn Battuta
    • D. Napoleon Bonaparte
    Show answer

    Napoleon Bonaparte

    Did you know? Napoleon Bonaparte was the French emperor defeated at Waterloo (Emperor 1804-1814/1815).

  15. 15.Which historical figure industrialized the Soviet Union through five-year plans?

    • A. Joseph Stalin
    • B. Charlemagne
    • C. Simon Bolívar
    • D. Martin Luther
    Show answer

    Joseph Stalin

    Did you know? Joseph Stalin industrialized the Soviet Union through five-year plans (1878-1953).

  16. 16.Which historical figure was the French king executed by guillotine in 1793?

    • A. Yitzhak Rabin
    • B. Louis XVI
    • C. Charlemagne
    • D. Louis XIV
    Show answer

    Louis XVI

    Did you know? Louis XVI was the French king executed by guillotine in 1793 (reign 1774-1792).

  17. 17.Which historical figure led the United States through its Civil War?

    • A. Abraham Lincoln
    • B. Martin Luther
    • C. Catherine the Great
    • D. Ferdinand Magellan
    Show answer

    Abraham Lincoln

    Did you know? Abraham Lincoln led the United States through its Civil War (US president 1861-1865).

  18. 18.Which historical figure made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean?

    • A. Christopher Columbus
    • B. Wangari Maathai
    • C. Harriet Tubman
    • D. Attila the Hun
    Show answer

    Christopher Columbus

    Did you know? Christopher Columbus made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean (c. 1451-1506).

  19. 19.Which historical figure founded a major world religion after leaving palace life?

    • A. Neil Armstrong
    • B. Ibn Battuta
    • C. Wangari Maathai
    • D. Buddha
    Show answer

    Buddha

    Did you know? Buddha founded a major world religion after leaving palace life (c. 563-483 BC (traditional)).

  20. 20.Which historical figure conquered an empire from Greece to India by age 30?

    • A. Vasco da Gama
    • B. William Shakespeare
    • C. Alexander the Great
    • D. Erik the Red
    Show answer

    Alexander the Great

    Did you know? Alexander the Great conquered an empire from Greece to India by age 30 (356-323 BC).

  21. 21.Which historical figure united much of western Europe and was crowned emperor in 800?

    • A. Che Guevara
    • B. Charlemagne
    • C. Karl Marx
    • D. Leif Erikson
    Show answer

    Charlemagne

    Did you know? Charlemagne united much of western Europe and was crowned emperor in 800 (c. 747-814).

  22. 22.Which historical figure led Britain through most of World War II?

    • A. James Cook
    • B. Kwame Nkrumah
    • C. Winston Churchill
    • D. Isaac Newton
    Show answer

    Winston Churchill

    Did you know? Winston Churchill led Britain through most of World War II (UK prime minister 1940-45).

  23. 23.Which historical figure became the first human in space?

    • A. Nelson Mandela
    • B. Ho Chi Minh
    • C. Ferdinand Magellan
    • D. Yuri Gagarin
    Show answer

    Yuri Gagarin

    Did you know? Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space (1934-1968).

  24. 24.Which historical figure defeated the Spanish Armada and never married?

    • A. Mikhail Gorbachev
    • B. Elizabeth I
    • C. Charlemagne
    • D. Erik the Red
    Show answer

    Elizabeth I

    Did you know? Elizabeth I defeated the Spanish Armada and never married (reign 1558-1603).

  25. 25.Which historical figure ruled Britain for 63 years in the 19th century?

    • A. Ho Chi Minh
    • B. Martin Luther King Jr.
    • C. Justinian I
    • D. Queen Victoria
    Show answer

    Queen Victoria

    Did you know? Queen Victoria ruled Britain for 63 years in the 19th century (reign 1837-1901).

  26. 26.Which historical figure liberated five South American countries from Spanish rule?

    • A. Simon Bolívar
    • B. Attila the Hun
    • C. Theodore Roosevelt
    • D. Catherine the Great
    Show answer

    Simon Bolívar

    Did you know? Simon Bolívar liberated five South American countries from Spanish rule (1783-1830).

  27. 27.Which historical figure gave the "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963?

    • A. Martin Luther King Jr.
    • B. Karl Marx
    • C. Robespierre
    • D. Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Show answer

    Martin Luther King Jr.

    Did you know? Martin Luther King Jr. gave the "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963 (1929-1968).

  28. 28.Which historical figure became South Africa's first Black president?

    • A. Ibn Battuta
    • B. Nelson Mandela
    • C. Justinian I
    • D. Cleopatra VII
    Show answer

    Nelson Mandela

    Did you know? Nelson Mandela became South Africa's first Black president (1918-2013).

  29. 29.Which historical figure achieved the first sustained powered airplane flight?

    • A. Wright brothers
    • B. Catherine the Great
    • C. Henry VIII
    • D. Joseph Stalin
    Show answer

    Wright brothers

    Did you know? Wright brothers achieved the first sustained powered airplane flight (Orville 1871-1948, Wilbur 1867-1912).

  30. 30.Which historical figure was the first President of the United States?

    • A. Vladimir Lenin
    • B. Socrates
    • C. George Washington
    • D. Confucius
    Show answer

    George Washington

    Did you know? George Washington was the first President of the United States (US president 1789-1797).

  31. 31.Which historical figure refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery in 1955?

    • A. Rosa Parks
    • B. Gutenberg
    • C. Richard the Lionheart
    • D. Charlemagne
    Show answer

    Rosa Parks

    Did you know? Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat in Montgomery in 1955 (1913-2005).

  32. 32.Which historical figure conquered the Aztec Empire?

    • A. Marie Antoinette
    • B. Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • C. Tiradentes
    • D. Hernán Cortés
    Show answer

    Hernán Cortés

    Did you know? Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire (1485-1547).

  33. 33.Which historical figure co-wrote the Communist Manifesto?

    • A. Martin Luther
    • B. Wangari Maathai
    • C. Karl Marx
    • D. Francisco Pizarro
    Show answer

    Karl Marx

    Did you know? Karl Marx co-wrote the Communist Manifesto (1818-1883).

  34. 34.Which historical figure founded modern nursing during the Crimean War?

    • A. Florence Nightingale
    • B. Attila the Hun
    • C. Tsar Nicholas II
    • D. Louis XIV
    Show answer

    Florence Nightingale

    Did you know? Florence Nightingale founded modern nursing during the Crimean War (1820-1910).

  35. 35.Which historical figure opened the sea route from Europe to India?

    • A. Karl Marx
    • B. Charles Lindbergh
    • C. Vasco da Gama
    • D. Henry VIII
    Show answer

    Vasco da Gama

    Did you know? Vasco da Gama opened the sea route from Europe to India (c. 1460s-1524).

  36. 36.Which historical figure led French armies at age 17 and was burned at the stake?

    • A. Catherine the Great
    • B. Julius Caesar
    • C. Joan of Arc
    • D. Isaac Newton
    Show answer

    Joan of Arc

    Did you know? Joan of Arc led French armies at age 17 and was burned at the stake (c. 1412-1431).

  37. 37.Which historical figure led the expedition that first circumnavigated the Earth?

    • A. Mahatma Gandhi
    • B. Theodore Roosevelt
    • C. Otto von Bismarck
    • D. Ferdinand Magellan
    Show answer

    Ferdinand Magellan

    Did you know? Ferdinand Magellan led the expedition that first circumnavigated the Earth (1480-1521).

  38. 38.Which historical figure wrote Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet?

    • A. Galileo Galilei
    • B. William Shakespeare
    • C. Ashoka
    • D. Wright brothers
    Show answer

    William Shakespeare

    Did you know? William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (1564-1616).

  39. 39.Which historical figure painted the Mona Lisa and sketched flying machines?

    • A. Leonardo da Vinci
    • B. Lech Walesa
    • C. Dom Pedro I
    • D. Mikhail Gorbachev
    Show answer

    Leonardo da Vinci

    Did you know? Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa and sketched flying machines (1452-1519).

  40. 40.Which historical figure led the Bolshevik October Revolution?

    • A. Erik the Red
    • B. Vladimir Lenin
    • C. Franklin D. Roosevelt
    • D. Vasco da Gama
    Show answer

    Vladimir Lenin

    Did you know? Vladimir Lenin led the Bolshevik October Revolution (1870-1924).

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