Q 01/05

Queen Victoria is credited with popularising which bridal fashion at her 1840 wedding to Prince Albert?

A) A silver tiara

B) A velvet cloak

C) A white dress

D) A pearl choker

Answer · why

C) A white dress

A white dress of silk satin and Honiton lace made Victoria look like a bride rather than a monarch. Other royals had married in white before her, but ...

Q 02/05

Egypt's famous queen Cleopatra came from a ruling family whose origins lay in which ancient kingdom?

A) Macedonia

B) Assyria

C) Phoenicia

D) Babylonia

Answer · why

A) Macedonia

Macedonia was the homeland of Ptolemy, the general of Alexander who founded her dynasty. Her family spoke Greek for generations, and she is the only o...

Q 03/05

Which female pharaoh was portrayed with a false beard and built a famous temple at Deir el-Bahari?

A) Nefertiti

B) Hatshepsut

C) Nefertari

D) Sobekneferu

Answer · why

B) Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut took the full regalia of a king, kilt and beard included, and sent a trading fleet to the land of Punt that came home with live myrrh trees...

Q 04/05

Elizabeth II learned of her father's death and her accession in 1952 while staying in which country?

A) Australia

B) Malta

C) Canada

D) Kenya

Answer · why

D) Kenya

Kenya was only a stopover on a tour bound for Australia and New Zealand. The news reached her at Sagana Lodge, just after a night spent at the Treetop...

Q 05/05

Which former concubine proclaimed her own Zhou dynasty in 690 and became China's only female emperor?

A) Wu Zetian

B) Empress Wei

C) Empress Lü

D) Yang Guifei

Answer · why

A) Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian is the only woman in Chinese history to take the title huangdi, the one the emperors used. Her dynasty began and ended with her, and the Tan...