ROUND 3: History

Enlightenment thinkers from Scotland, Germany, and France

1. This Scotsman was an empirical philosopher and a proud agnostic
   who wrote a sceptical essay called "On Miracles". He also wrote
   long books on human  nature and understanding - and makes an 
   appearance in the Monty Python Philosophers' Drinking Song.

A. David Hume


2. This German philosopher wrote a pamphlet titled "What Is
   Enlightenment?" He said that reading Hume impelled him to 
   formulate his philosophy. In huge tomes he attempted to reconcile
   empiricism with the human faculty of reason. He is also featured
   in the Philosophers' Drinking Song.

A. Immanuel Kant


3. Which writer of the French Enlightenment was responsible for
   writing and editing much of the Encyclopedia, and wrote plays such
   as Jacques the Fatalist, dialogues such as Rameau's Nephew, and
   pornographic novels? Catherine the Great was an admirer of his,
   but he doesn't show up in the Philosophers' Drinking Song.

A. Denis Diderot


Canadian commemorative coins


4. The 1949 Canadian silver dollar depicted a sailing ship.  
   Name the ship or its captain.

A. the Matthew; John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto)


5. The 1964 Canadian silver dollar bore the names of two cities,
   along with the figures "1864" and "1964".  Name either city.

A. Charlottetown or Quebec 


6. The 1967 Canadian Centennial silver dollar depicted what animal,
   other than, of course, a human being? Alternatively, name the
   artist who designed the coin.

A. Canada goose; Alex Colville


Central America

7. In 1954 Jacobo Arbenz, the president of Guatemala, was overthrown
   in a coup widely believed to have been engineered by the CIA.
   Arbenz had angered the US by attempting to nationalize some the
   holdings of which American corporation?

A. United Fruit (Company)


8. In which country did Violeta Chamorro succeed a well-known
   revolutionary as president?

A. Nicaragua (Daniel Ortega)


9. In 1969 Honduras and El Salvador fought a war that lasted only
   about 100 hours. By what curious name is this war popularly known? 
   It was named after another fractious event that the two countries
   were participating in at around the same time.

A. The Soccer War (La guerra de fútbol)


Iraq: winners and losers

10. Most of the journalists who are sending us pictures and reports 
    of the bombing of Baghdad are staying at the al-Rashid Hotel. 
    Give the full name of the Iraqi leader, mentioned in the Arabian
    Nights, that the hotel is named after.

A. Haroun al-Rashid (Caliph of Baghdad in the 8th century)


11. The most famous Kurdish hero is also Saddam Hussein's hero,
    because he recaptured Jerusalem from the Crusaders. (Saddam has
    his own face put onto portraits of this man.) He appears in
    European literature as a chivalrous knight. Name him.

A. Saladin [also Salah ed-Din, Salah ul-Din]


12. Saddam Hussein compares US troops to the horde who destroyed
    Baghdad and murdered its population in 1258, on their way to
    invading Russia and Central Europe. According to CNN and the
    newspapers, Saddam calls US troops the new -- what?

A. Mongols

 

Protestors

13. A group of people in England known as The Women of Greenham 
    Common set up a peace camp in 1981 and occupied it for 19 years.
    What sparked their protest?

A. stationing of cruise missiles OR nuclear weapons 
   at Greenham Common and other air bases


14. Who returned his MBE (that is, Member of the British Empire)
    award to the Queen in 1969 to protest Biafra, Vietnam and
    declining sales of his new band's hit single?

A. John Lennon


15. Who were the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, who rallied in 
   that square daily for years, concerned about?

A. the "disappeared" (in Argentina)