Q 01/05

The shortest recorded war, between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasted roughly how long?

A) About 6 hours

B) About 2 days

C) About 40 minutes

D) About 3 weeks

Answer · why

C) About 40 minutes

British ships opened fire at 9:02 in the morning and the sultan's palace had surrendered by about 9:40.

Q 02/05

Teaching at which university is documented as early as 1096?

A) Oxford

B) Harvard

C) Heidelberg

D) Salamanca

Answer · why

A) Oxford

That makes it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Tenochtitlan's traditional founding date is 1325.

Q 03/05

The Great Fire of London in 1666 started in a bakery on which street?

A) Fleet Street

B) Bread Street

C) Cheapside

D) Pudding Lane

Answer · why

D) Pudding Lane

It destroyed more than 13,000 houses and St Paul's Cathedral, yet only a handful of deaths were officially recorded.

Q 04/05

Which agency, approved by Lincoln the day he was shot, was founded in 1865 to fight counterfeit money?

A) The Federal Bureau of Investigation

B) The Secret Service

C) The U.S. Marshals Service

D) The Pinkerton Detective Agency

Answer · why

B) The Secret Service

It only took on presidential protection after William McKinley was assassinated in 1901.

Q 05/05

By legend, Caligula planned to give which office to his favourite horse, Incitatus?

A) Senator

B) Consul

C) General

D) High priest

Answer · why

B) Consul

Ancient sources say it never actually happened. The story may have been a joke at the Senate's expense.