150+ History Trivia Questions and Answers — Test Your Knowledge of the Past
Think you know your history? Whether you're preparing for a trivia night at your local bar, building a quiz for the classroom, or just love testing your knowledge, history trivia questions are some of the most rewarding to answer — and the most surprising to get wrong.
From ancient civilizations to modern milestones, history is packed with fascinating stories, unlikely heroes, and events that shaped the world we live in today. The best part? History trivia works for every skill level. Casual players can tackle the well-known facts, while seasoned quiz buffs can dig into the obscure details that separate good teams from great ones.
In this post, we've compiled over 150 history trivia questions and answers covering every major era — from ancient Egypt and Rome to the World Wars and modern history. Use them for your next game night, quiz competition, or just to see how much you really remember from history class.
Easy History Trivia Questions and Answers
Start with the basics. These history trivia questions cover well-known events and figures that most people will recognize. Perfect for warming up a group or mixing into a fun trivia night.
1. Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington
2. In what year did World War II end? 1945
3. What ancient wonder was located in Giza, Egypt? The Great Pyramid of Giza
4. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson
5. What ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1912? The RMS Titanic
6. Who was the first person to walk on the moon? Neil Armstrong
7. What wall divided East and West Berlin? The Berlin Wall
8. In what year did Christopher Columbus sail to the Americas? 1492
9. Who was the British Prime Minister during most of World War II? Winston Churchill
10. What country gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States? France
11. Who led the civil rights movement and delivered the "I Have a Dream" speech? Martin Luther King Jr.
12. What event is remembered on July 4th in the United States? The signing of the Declaration of Independence (1776)
13. Who was the Egyptian queen known for her relationships with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony? Cleopatra VII
14. What was the name of the period of cultural rebirth in Europe from the 14th to 17th century? The Renaissance
15. In what year did the Berlin Wall fall? 1989
16. What empire was ruled by Genghis Khan? The Mongol Empire
17. Who discovered penicillin? Alexander Fleming
18. What was the name of the first successful English settlement in the Americas? Jamestown (1607)
19. Which country was the first to grant women the right to vote in national elections? New Zealand (1893)
20. What ancient civilization built Machu Picchu? The Inca Empire
21. Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? Michelangelo
22. What document begins with "We the People"? The United States Constitution
Hard History Trivia Questions and Answers
Ready to separate the history buffs from the casual players? These questions dig deeper into the lesser-known facts and obscure details that make history so fascinating.
1. What treaty ended World War I? The Treaty of Versailles (1919)
2. Who was the youngest person to ever serve as U.S. President? Theodore Roosevelt (age 42 upon assuming office)
3. What was the longest war in recorded history? The Reconquista (approximately 781 years, 711–1492)
4. In what year was the Magna Carta signed? 1215
5. Who was the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt? Cleopatra VII
6. What ancient city was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD? Pompeii (and Herculaneum)
7. Which U.S. President served the shortest term in office? William Henry Harrison (31 days)
8. What was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day? Operation Overlord
9. Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean? Amelia Earhart (1932)
10. What empire was known as "the empire on which the sun never sets"? The British Empire
11. In what year did the Russian Revolution begin? 1917
12. What was the name of the secret project to develop the atomic bomb during WWII? The Manhattan Project
13. Who was the first European explorer to reach India by sea? Vasco da Gama (1498)
14. What civilization invented the first known writing system? The Sumerians (cuneiform)
15. What was the "Shot Heard Round the World"? The first shots fired at the Battles of Lexington and Concord (1775)
16. Who was the Holy Roman Emperor who excommunicated Martin Luther? Charles V
17. What year did the Ottoman Empire officially end? 1922
18. What was the largest contiguous land empire in history? The Mongol Empire
19. Who led the Haitian Revolution, the only successful slave revolt in history? Toussaint Louverture
20. What battle is considered the turning point of the American Civil War? The Battle of Gettysburg (1863)
21. What was the name of the economic recovery plan for Europe after World War II? The Marshall Plan
22. In what year did India gain independence from British rule? 1947
Ancient History Trivia Questions — Egypt, Greece, and Rome
Travel back thousands of years with these history quiz questions about the civilizations that built the foundations of the modern world.
1. What was the primary purpose of the Egyptian pyramids? They served as tombs for pharaohs
2. Who was the Greek god of the sea? Poseidon
3. What Roman structure could seat approximately 50,000 spectators? The Colosseum
4. What ancient Egyptian writing system used picture symbols? Hieroglyphics
5. Who was the first emperor of Rome? Augustus (Octavian)
6. What Greek city-state was known for its powerful military and warrior culture? Sparta
7. What river was essential to the survival of ancient Egyptian civilization? The Nile River
8. Who was the Greek philosopher sentenced to death by drinking poison hemlock? Socrates
9. What was the Roman road system's most famous highway? The Appian Way (Via Appia)
10. What Egyptian pharaoh's tomb was discovered nearly intact in 1922? Tutankhamun (King Tut)
11. What war was fought between Athens and Sparta? The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC)
12. What material did the Romans perfect for building structures, some of which still stand today? Concrete (Roman concrete/opus caementicium)
13. Who was the ancient Greek author of the Iliad and the Odyssey? Homer
14. What was the Rosetta Stone's significance? It was the key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphics
15. Who led the Roman armies across the Rubicon River, sparking a civil war? Julius Caesar (49 BC)
16. What ancient Greek invention is considered the foundation of modern democracy? The Athenian democratic system
17. What massive lighthouse was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World? The Lighthouse of Alexandria (Pharos)
18. What Roman emperor made Christianity the official religion of the empire? Theodosius I (380 AD, Edict of Thessalonica)
19. Who was the Carthaginian general that crossed the Alps with war elephants? Hannibal Barca
20. What ancient Greek structure sits atop the Acropolis in Athens? The Parthenon
Did You Know? Ancient Romans used urine as a cleaning agent — they even taxed the urine trade! Emperor Vespasian famously placed a tax on urine collected from public toilets, leading to the saying "Pecunia non olet" (Money doesn't smell).
Medieval History Trivia Questions and Answers
Knights, castles, plagues, and crusades — the medieval period was anything but boring. Test your knowledge of the Middle Ages with these historical trivia questions.
1. What devastating pandemic swept through Europe in the 14th century, killing an estimated one-third of the population? The Black Death (Bubonic Plague, peaked 1347–1351)
2. Who was the legendary king associated with the Knights of the Round Table? King Arthur
3. What series of religious wars were fought to reclaim the Holy Land? The Crusades
4. Who was the French peasant girl who led the French army to victory during the Hundred Years' War? Joan of Arc
5. What document, signed in 1215, limited the power of the English king? The Magna Carta
6. What was the dominant economic system in medieval Europe? Feudalism
7. Who became the first Holy Roman Emperor in 800 AD? Charlemagne (Charles the Great)
8. What fortress served as a royal palace, prison, and armory in London? The Tower of London
9. What Viking explorer is believed to have reached North America around 1000 AD? Leif Erikson
10. What was the name of the medieval code of conduct for knights? Chivalry
11. What empire controlled Constantinople before it fell in 1453? The Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire)
12. Who conquered Constantinople in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire? Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II
13. What was the primary language of scholarship and the Church in medieval Europe? Latin
14. What English king signed the Magna Carta? King John
15. What medieval invention revolutionized warfare and eventually made castles obsolete? Gunpowder (and cannons)
16. What was the Domesday Book? A comprehensive survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror in 1086
Did You Know? During the Middle Ages, people didn't actually think the Earth was flat. That myth was popularized in the 19th century. Medieval scholars, including many within the Church, accepted the Greek understanding that the Earth was round.
American History Trivia Questions and Answers
From the founding of the nation to the modern era, American history trivia questions are staples of any good quiz night. These cover the essential events, documents, and leaders that shaped the United States.
1. What were the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called? The Bill of Rights
2. What purchase doubled the size of the United States in 1803? The Louisiana Purchase
3. Who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln? John Wilkes Booth
4. What was the Underground Railroad? A network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved people to escape to freedom
5. In what year did the United States enter World War I? 1917
6. What speech begins with "Four score and seven years ago"? The Gettysburg Address (Abraham Lincoln, 1863)
7. What event triggered the United States' entry into World War II? The attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941)
8. Who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence? John Hancock
9. What amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery? The 13th Amendment (1865)
10. What was Manifest Destiny? The 19th-century belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America
11. Who was President during the Cuban Missile Crisis? John F. Kennedy
12. What was the significance of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling? It declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional (1954)
13. What territory did the U.S. purchase from Russia in 1867? Alaska
14. Who was the U.S. President who ordered the dropping of atomic bombs on Japan? Harry S. Truman
15. What act established the national park system's first park? The Yellowstone National Park Protection Act (1872)
16. In what city was the Declaration of Independence signed? Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
17. What event on October 29, 1929, triggered the Great Depression? The Stock Market Crash (Black Tuesday)
18. Who was the first African American to serve as U.S. President? Barack Obama
19. What amendment gave women the right to vote? The 19th Amendment (1920)
20. What was the name of the conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that lasted from roughly 1947 to 1991? The Cold War
21. What was the Trail of Tears? The forced relocation of Native American nations from southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory (1830s)
22. Who served as the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court? John Jay
23. What battle was the last major engagement of the American Revolution? The Battle of Yorktown (1781)
24. What scandal led to President Richard Nixon's resignation? The Watergate Scandal (1974)
25. What amendment repealed Prohibition in the United States? The 21st Amendment (1933)
Did You Know? Benjamin Franklin was 81 years old when he signed the U.S. Constitution — making him the oldest delegate at the Constitutional Convention. He was so frail he needed help getting to his seat and had others read his speeches for him.
World War Trivia Questions and Answers
The two World Wars reshaped the entire global landscape. These world history trivia questions cover key battles, leaders, and turning points from both conflicts.
1. What event is considered the immediate trigger of World War I? The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria (1914)
2. What alliance system included Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy before WWI? The Triple Alliance
3. What new weapon was first used in combat during World War I? Tanks (first used by the British at the Battle of the Somme, 1916)
4. What was the name of the German air force during WWII? The Luftwaffe
5. What beach was the bloodiest during the D-Day landings? Omaha Beach
6. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during World War II? Joseph Stalin
7. What Japanese city was the first to be hit by an atomic bomb? Hiroshima (August 6, 1945)
8. What was the longest battle of World War I? The Battle of Verdun (February–December 1916)
9. Who was the Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII? Dwight D. Eisenhower
10. What was the Holocaust? The systematic genocide of six million Jews by Nazi Germany
11. What British naval vessel was controversially sunk in 1915, influencing U.S. entry into WWI? The RMS Lusitania
12. What pact did Germany and the Soviet Union sign before WWII, agreeing not to attack each other? The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact (1939)
13. What was the name of the German submarine fleet that terrorized Allied shipping? The U-boats (Unterseeboote)
14. What battle is considered the turning point of WWII on the Eastern Front? The Battle of Stalingrad (1942–1943)
15. What Japanese strategy involved pilots crashing their planes into enemy targets? Kamikaze attacks
16. What was V-E Day? Victory in Europe Day (May 8, 1945) — the day Germany surrendered
17. What conference divided post-war Germany into four occupation zones? The Potsdam Conference (1945)
18. Who was the Italian dictator allied with Hitler during WWII? Benito Mussolini
19. What was the "Blitz"? The sustained bombing campaign against the United Kingdom by Nazi Germany (1940–1941)
20. What intelligence operation broke the German Enigma code during WWII? The work at Bletchley Park (led by Alan Turing and others)
Did You Know? During World War II, the U.S. military developed a bat bomb — a weapon that would release bats carrying small incendiary devices over Japanese cities. The project was eventually canceled in favor of the atomic bomb, but in testing, the bats accidentally set fire to a military base in New Mexico.
20th Century and Modern History Trivia Questions
From the Space Race to the fall of the Soviet Union, the 20th century moved fast. These history quiz questions cover the events that shaped our modern world.
1. In what year did the Soviet Union launch Sputnik, the first artificial satellite? 1957
2. What was apartheid? A system of institutionalized racial segregation in South Africa (1948–1994)
3. Who was the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom? Margaret Thatcher (1979)
4. What event occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in 1979? A partial nuclear meltdown — the most serious nuclear accident in U.S. history at the time
5. What treaty established the European Economic Community, a precursor to the EU? The Treaty of Rome (1957)
6. What country did the United States invade in the Bay of Pigs operation? Cuba (1961)
7. Who was the South African leader imprisoned for 27 years before becoming president? Nelson Mandela
8. What year did the Soviet Union officially dissolve? 1991
9. What wall separating a city became a symbol of the Cold War? The Berlin Wall
10. Who was the leader of the Chinese Communist Revolution? Mao Zedong
11. What was the name of the space mission that first landed humans on the moon? Apollo 11 (1969)
12. What was the Iranian Revolution of 1979? The overthrow of the Shah and the establishment of an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini
13. What disaster occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in 1986? A catastrophic nuclear reactor explosion and meltdown
14. What trade agreement between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico went into effect in 1994? NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement)
15. What was the significance of the Camp David Accords (1978)? They led to a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel
16. What protests took place in Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989? Pro-democracy protests by students and citizens, met with a military crackdown
17. What international organization was founded in 1945 to promote peace and cooperation? The United Nations
18. Who was the first human to travel into space? Yuri Gagarin (1961)
19. What is the name of the terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001? The 9/11 attacks
20. What political movement sought to reform the Soviet Union under Mikhail Gorbachev? Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring)
How to Host a History Trivia Night
Now that you have over 150 history trivia questions, why not put them to use? Hosting a history-themed trivia night is a great way to bring people together — whether it's at a bar, school, corporate event, or house party.
Here are some tips to make your history trivia night a hit:
Pick a Format That Works
You can run a straightforward quiz with rounds, or mix it up with a game show format. Jeopardy-style boards work perfectly for history because you can organize categories by era (Ancient, Medieval, American, World Wars). Or try a Family Feud-style format where teams compete head-to-head on survey-style history questions.
Organize by Difficulty
Start with easy rounds to get everyone warmed up, then ramp up the difficulty. This keeps casual players engaged while giving the history buffs a challenge later on.
Mix in "Did You Know" Moments
Between rounds, share surprising historical facts. These keep the energy up and give teams something to talk about. For example: Did you know that Oxford University is older than the Aztec Empire? Oxford began teaching in 1096, while the Aztec Empire was founded around 1428.
Use a Digital Platform
Skip the paper answer sheets and run your quiz digitally. With Quizado, you can create a custom history trivia game in minutes — complete with scoring, team management, and game show-style presentation. It's the easiest way to host a professional-quality trivia night without the hassle.
Award Prizes
Even small prizes make a quiz more competitive and fun. Think gift cards, free drinks (if at a bar), or just bragging rights with a printed certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good history trivia questions?
Good history trivia questions balance difficulty with accessibility. They should be specific enough to have a clear answer but interesting enough to spark conversation. Mix well-known events (like the moon landing) with surprising facts (like the shortest-serving U.S. president) to keep things engaging for all skill levels.
How many questions should a history trivia round have?
A typical trivia round has 10–15 questions. For a full trivia night, plan for 4–6 rounds with different themes — easy history, hard history, specific eras, or categories like "Wars and Battles" or "Famous Leaders." This gives you 40–90 questions total, which fills about 90 minutes to two hours.
What era has the best trivia questions?
American history and World War II tend to be the most popular for trivia because they're widely taught and full of dramatic events. However, ancient history (Egypt, Greece, Rome) offers some of the most surprising and entertaining questions. The best approach is to mix eras so everyone gets a chance to shine.
Can I use these history trivia questions for a pub quiz?
Absolutely! These questions are designed for exactly that purpose. You can use them as-is or customize them using Quizado's quiz builder to create a polished, interactive experience complete with team scoring, timers, and game show presentation. Check out our guide on how to plan a pub trivia night for more tips.
What makes history trivia different from general trivia?
History trivia focuses specifically on past events, people, dates, and civilizations. Unlike general trivia that might cover science, pop culture, or geography, history trivia allows for deeper exploration of a single subject. This makes it ideal for themed quiz nights and educational settings.
Put Your History Knowledge to the Test
History trivia questions are more than just a way to test what you remember from school — they're a way to discover fascinating stories, challenge your friends, and create memorable moments at your next event.
Whether you're a quiz night host looking for fresh material, a teacher building an interactive lesson, or a trivia enthusiast who lives for the deep cuts, these 150+ questions have you covered.
Ready to take your history trivia game to the next level? Build your custom history quiz on Quizado and host a game show-style trivia night that your group will never forget.
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