Wednesday Trivia

The other day we were talking about having regular weekly features on the forum. As an experiment, I am going to post a weekly trivia contest on Wednesdays. This particular installment is heavily skewed to my personal interests. If there is demand for other topics, I am happy to try and incorporate those.

Only one rule: absolutely no internet searching of any kind, please. If you'd like a hint on a specific question, let me know. I will post the answers on Monday evening.

Here are the questions...

1. In the time of Gautama Buddha, India was politically organized into a number of kingdoms and republics. The most prominent of these political entities were the 16 mahajanapadas. The territories of how many of those mahajanapadas are now substantially outside modern India?

Bonus: Name it / them.

2. How many of the old mahajanapadas were to the south of the Vindhyas?

Bonus: Name it / them.

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to "King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant, who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown. What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian Federation?

4. The chemistry paper titled On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air Upon the Temperature on the Ground was the first to talk about global warming caused by the greenhouse effect of atmopsheric carbon dioxide. In which year was this paper published?

Bonus: Who wrote the paper?

5. This person has places named after him in 18 countries in six continents. The first permanent English settlement in North
America was named for a king who in turn was named after this person. He is the patron saint of a number of countries, including Guatemala and Nicaragua. His name is spelled and pronounced differently in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Who is this person?

6. Osama bin Laden often referred to this treaty signed in 1648 and vowed to undo its consequences. Formally known as the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, this series of treaties is considered to have given birth to the modern concept of nation state. How is this treaty that concluded the Thirty Years’ War (recognized the independence of the Netherlands and Switzerland) commonly known?

7. The repeal of the English Corn Laws was the first major victory bringing this principle into practice. Ulysses S. Grant predicted that “within 200 years, when America has gotten out of protection all that it can offer, it too will adopt” this principle. Karl Marx said tounge-in-cheek that “those who wish for it desire it in order to alleviate the condition of the working class.” Name this economic principle.

8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

9. During his three years as a member of the English Parliament, his only recorded comment was to complain about the cold breeze in the chamber and request that the window be closed. He was knighted for his work at the Royal Mint. Although he took no religious vows, he is believed to have died a virgin. Name this well-known mathematics professor.

10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?

Wow..too tough.

5. St James
7. Free trade
9. Sir Isaac Newton

2. How many of the old mahajanapadas were to the south of the Vindhyas?

One - Andhra?

5. This person has places named after him in 18 countries in six continents. The first permanent English settlement in North
America was named for a king who in turn was named after this person. He is the patron saint of a number of countries, including Guatemala and Nicaragua. His name is spelled and pronounced differently in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Who is this person?

>>>>St. James?

6. Osama bin Laden often referred to this treaty signed in 1648 and vowed to undo its consequences. Formally known as the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, this series of treaties is considered to have given birth to the modern concept of nation state. How is this treaty that concluded the Thirty Years’ War (recognized the independence of the Netherlands and Switzerland) commonly known?

>>>> Treaty of Versailles (wild guess- don't think it is right). The other guess is The Edict of Nantes which I think is religious in nature.

7. The repeal of the English Corn Laws was the first major victory bringing this principle into practice. Ulysses S. Grant predicted that “within 200 years, when America has gotten out of protection all that it can offer, it too will adopt” this principle. Karl Marx said tounge-in-cheek that “those who wish for it desire it in order to alleviate the condition of the working class.” Name this economic principle.

>>>> Free market

8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

>>>> Thermopylae?

9. During his three years as a member of the English Parliament, his only recorded comment was to complain about the cold breeze in the chamber and request that the window be closed. He was knighted for his work at the Royal Mint. Although he took no religious vows, he is believed to have died a virgin. Name this well-known mathematics professor.

>>>Newton

Hmm. Tough!!

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to
"King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant,
who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown.
What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian
Federation?

Konigsberg

4. Don remember the exact year, but it is by end of last century or beginning of the 20th century. Arrhenius is the writer.

5. St. Frances?

blabberwock wrote:Hmm. Tough!!

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to
"King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant,
who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown.
What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian
Federation?

Konigsberg

>>> I guessed the same, but ruled it out because I didn't think there was a place by this name in the russian federation. It is still possible since there was a substantial etrhnic german presence in these areas. Incodentally, I think this is woody allen's real family name.

1. kamboja and gandhara totally out. Sakya (or maybe kosala) and vanga substantially out. Perhaps the Licchavi republic (forget the name...vranga?) also significantly but maybe not substantially out. Incidentally, another trivia, licchavis were the only ones to use square coins.

2. One. Pandya?

Merlot Daruwala wrote:Wow..too tough.

5. St James
7. Free trade
9. Sir Isaac Newton

All three are correct. I will give some hints for the rest.

Kris wrote:2. How many of the old mahajanapadas were to the south of the Vindhyas?

One - Andhra?

5. This person has places named after him in 18 countries in six continents. The first permanent English settlement in North
America was named for a king who in turn was named after this person. He is the patron saint of a number of countries, including Guatemala and Nicaragua. His name is spelled and pronounced differently in English, Spanish and Hebrew. Who is this person?

>>>>St. James?

6. Osama bin Laden often referred to this treaty signed in 1648 and vowed to undo its consequences. Formally known as the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, this series of treaties is considered to have given birth to the modern concept of nation state. How is this treaty that concluded the Thirty Years’ War (recognized the independence of the Netherlands and Switzerland) commonly known?

>>>> Treaty of Versailles (wild guess- don't think it is right). The other guess is The Edict of Nantes which I think is religious in nature.

7. The repeal of the English Corn Laws was the first major victory bringing this principle into practice. Ulysses S. Grant predicted that “within 200 years, when America has gotten out of protection all that it can offer, it too will adopt” this principle. Karl Marx said tounge-in-cheek that “those who wish for it desire it in order to alleviate the condition of the working class.” Name this economic principle.

>>>> Free market

8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

>>>> Thermopylae?

9. During his three years as a member of the English Parliament, his only recorded comment was to complain about the cold breeze in the chamber and request that the window be closed. He was knighted for his work at the Royal Mint. Although he took no religious vows, he is believed to have died a virgin. Name this well-known mathematics professor.

>>>Newton

2, 5, and 9 are correct. 7 is almost there; I was looking for free trade.

blabberwock wrote:Hmm. Tough!!

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to
"King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant,
who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown.
What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian
Federation?

Konigsberg

You have the correct city in mind. Its current name though is Russian; the Soviets annexed it after WWII and renamed it after the guy who was Russia's (and later the Soviet Union's) nominal head of state from 1919 to 1946. Anybody know the current Russian name of this city?

PseudoIntellectual wrote:4. Don remember the exact year, but it is by end of last century or beginning of the 20th century. Arrhenius is the writer.

Perfect! I wasn't looking for an exact year, you are close enough.

Kris wrote:

blabberwock wrote:Hmm. Tough!!

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to
"King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant,
who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown.
What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian
Federation?

Konigsberg

>>> I guessed the same, but ruled it out because I didn't think there was a place by this name in the russian federation. It is still possible since there was a substantial etrhnic german presence in these areas. Incodentally, I think this is woody allen's real family name.

I was going to use the Woody Allen name as an additional hint .

Comprehensive answer to question 1!

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:1. kamboja and gandhara totally out.

Correct. The bulk of both territories was to the west of the Khyber Pass, in today's Frontier Province, Baluchistan, and Afghanistan.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:Sakya (or maybe kosala) and vanga substantially out.

Yes, a large part of Kosala was in Nepal. A large part of Vanga is in Bangladesh today.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:Perhaps the
Licchavi republic (forget the name...vranga?) also significantly but
maybe not substantially out.

vRji was the Sanskrit name, vajji in Prakrit. Their territory spanned today's West Bengal, Bihar and eastern parts of Nepal.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:Incidentally, another trivia, licchavis
were the only ones to use square coins.

Nice... didn't know that.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:2. One. Pandya?

One is correct. It was the territory between the rivers Godavari and Krishna, known as Ashmaka, corresponding to AP and eastern Maharashtra.

The following four questions remain to be answered. I am adding a few additional hints.

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to "King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant, who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown. What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian Federation?

Hint: The German name was Königsberg. The Soviets annexed it after WWII, expelled the German population, and named it after the guy who served as the first Chairman of the Supreme Soviet (an office held later by, among others, Brezhnev, Chernenko and Gorbachev.)

6. Osama bin Laden often referred to this treaty signed in 1648 and vowed to undo its consequences. Formally known as the Treaties of Münster and Osnabrück, this series of treaties is considered to have given birth to the modern concept of nation state. How is this treaty that concluded the Thirty Years’ War (recognized the independence of the Netherlands and Switzerland) commonly known?

Hint: This set of treaties is commonly known by the name of a region in Germany. In addition to the towns of Münster and Osnabrück where the treaties in question were signed, this region includes the city of Dortmund. This region is now part of Germany's most populous state. The name of the state contains the name I am looking for.

8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

Hint: The isthmus is named for the ancient city-state on its Peloponnese side. Located half-way between Athens and Sparta, this city played a pivotal role as the primary naval power on the Spartan side in the Peloponnesian Wars. The apostle Paul addressed two of his epistles to the Christians of this city. Today, the city is most known for one of the three orders of classical Greek architecture.

10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?

Hint: Over the last five decades, Toyota has named its primary models to mean the same thing. The Japanese word kanmuri means the full-size version of whatever Corolla means.

charvaka wrote:


10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?

Hint: Over the last five decades, Toyota has named its primary models to mean the same thing. The Japanese word kanmuri means the full-size version of whatever Corolla means.

Since there is a Toyota "Crown" model in Asia, I am guessing crown.

charvaka wrote:


10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?

Hint: Over the last five decades, Toyota has named its primary models to mean the same thing. The Japanese word kanmuri means the full-size version of whatever Corolla means.

Since there is a Toyota "Crown" model in Asia, I am guessing crown.

[quote="blabberwock"]

charvaka wrote:


10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?



Since there is a Toyota "Crown" model in Asia, I am guessing crown.

You guessed it right. I checked that one long back on Internet when I brought a camry.

blabberwock wrote:

charvaka wrote:


10. Toyota's popular sedan Camry got its name as the anglicized version of the Japanese word kanmuri. What does this word mean?

Hint: Over the last five decades, Toyota has named its primary models to mean the same thing. The Japanese word kanmuri means the full-size version of whatever Corolla means.

Since there is a Toyota "Crown" model in Asia, I am guessing crown.

Yes, you got it!

charvaka wrote:

blabberwock wrote:Hmm. Tough!!

3. Founded in the 13th century, this city's German name translates to
"King's town." It was the home of renowned philosopher Immannuel Kant,
who never traveled more than a hundred miles away from his hometown.
What is the current name of this westernmost city of the Russian
Federation?

Konigsberg

You have the correct city in mind. Its current name though is Russian; the Soviets annexed it after WWII and renamed it after the guy who was Russia's (and later the Soviet Union's) nominal head of state from 1919 to 1946. Anybody know the current Russian name of this city?

That nominal head's name was Kalinin. I do not know the name of city but it going by russian names it is either Kaliningrad or Kalininberg.

This is a tough quiz. Knew only couple that were answered already. St james and Newton. (and Camry).

Q 1 and 2 are really fascinating.

Keep up the good work.

Hint: This set of treaties is commonly known by the name of a region in Germany. In addition to the towns of Münster and Osnabrück where the treaties in question were signed, this region includes the city of Dortmund. This region is now part of Germany's most populous state.

>>> Is it the Treaty of Westphalia? This is driving me nuts. I should know this



8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

Hint: The isthmus is named for the ancient city-state on its Peloponnese side. Located half-way between Athens and Sparta, this city played a pivotal role as the primary naval power on the Spartan side in the Peloponnesian Wars. The apostle Paul addressed two of his epistles to the Christians of this city. Today, the city is most known for one of the three orders of classical Greek architecture.

>>>>.Corinth?

truthbetold wrote:That nominal head's name was Kalinin. I do not know the name of city but it going by russian names it is either Kaliningrad or Kalininberg.

Kaliningrad it is.

truthbetold wrote:This is a tough quiz. Knew only couple that were answered already. St james and Newton. (and Camry).

Q 1 and 2 are really fascinating.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks. I will make the questions a little less obscure next week .

Kris wrote:Hint: This set of treaties is commonly known by the name of a region in Germany. In addition to the towns of Münster and Osnabrück where the treaties in question were signed, this region includes the city of Dortmund. This region is now part of Germany's most populous state.

>>> Is it the Treaty of Westphalia? This is driving me nuts. I should know this



8. The world isthmus – which has come to mean any short, narrow stretch of land that connects two large land masses – is derived from the name of this thin four mile stretch that connects the Peloponnesos peninsula to the European mainland. Name this original isthmus.

Hint: The isthmus is named for the ancient city-state on its Peloponnese side. Located half-way between Athens and Sparta, this city played a pivotal role as the primary naval power on the Spartan side in the Peloponnesian Wars. The apostle Paul addressed two of his epistles to the Christians of this city. Today, the city is most known for one of the three orders of classical Greek architecture.

>>>>.Corinth?

Yes, both correct. The quiz is all solved now.

Very nice questions.

Thanks.

Charvaka wrote: It was the territory between the rivers Godavari and Krishna, known as Ashmaka, corresponding to AP and eastern Maharashtra.

Interesting! Did not know this. I just googled. I guess the pandya, chera and cholas were not republics. They also find mention a little later.

I knew kant never traveled more than 100 kms from his hometown but that was not the question, ha ha.

charvaka wrote:

PseudoIntellectual wrote:4. Don remember the exact year, but it is by end of last century or beginning of the 20th century. Arrhenius is the writer.

Perfect! I wasn't looking for an exact year, you are close enough.

The year was 1896.

Huzefa Kapasi wrote:

Charvaka wrote: It was the territory between the rivers Godavari and Krishna, known as Ashmaka, corresponding to AP and eastern Maharashtra.

Interesting! Did not know this. I just googled. I guess the pandya, chera and cholas were not republics. They also find mention a little later.

I knew kant never traveled more than 100 kms from his hometown but that was not the question, ha ha.

It is likely those states were not known to the chroniclers of Aryavarta at that time.

Yes you are right. The antiquity of the chera, chola and pandya kingdoms is not under question. Thanks! this was a nice quiz. I liked the Camry question too for I am a loyal Toyota customer.