History questions
Use these examples to check whether the topic has stuck. Review why each answer is right or wrong, then start the drill when you are ready to answer without hints.
False
True
Correct answer
Explanation
Until 1215, there were few formal limits on the king's power. King John was forced by his noblemen to sign the Magna Carta, which established that even the king was subject to the law.
The Reform Act
The Reform Act of 1832 expanded voting rights, over six centuries after 1215
The Black Death
The Black Death arrived in Britain in 1348 and killed about a third of the population
Magna Carta
In 1215 King John was forced by noblemen to sign the Magna Carta, limiting royal power
Correct answer
The Domesday Book
The Domesday Book was William the Conqueror's survey of England, compiled in 1086
Explanation
The Magna Carta was a charter drawn up by King John's noblemen. It laid down basic rights that still prevail today.
False
True
Correct answer
Explanation
In 1215 King John was forced by his noblemen to agree to the Magna Carta, which limited the powers of the monarchy.
1478
1478 is incorrect; the Wars of the Roses continued for several more years and concluded with the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
1485
The Wars of the Roses ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, when Henry Tudor defeated Richard III and became King Henry VII.
Correct answer
1462
1462 falls within the Wars of the Roses, not at their end; the conflict continued for over two more decades until 1485.
1455
1455 is when the Wars of the Roses began, not when they ended; the civil war was started that year between the Houses of Lancaster and York.
Explanation
The Wars of the Roses (1455–1485) were a civil war between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose). They ended at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, where Henry Tudor defeated Richard III and became Henry VII.
False
True
Correct answer
Explanation
People came to England during the Middle Ages from abroad to trade and work, including weavers from France, engineers from Germany, glass manufacturers from Italy and canal builders from Holland.
The Great Charter
Magna Carta is Latin for 'The Great Charter'; it was signed in 1215 and established that even the king was subject to the law.
Correct answer
The King's Charter
'Magna' means great or large in Latin, not 'king's'; the king's name in Latin would be 'Rex', giving 'Carta Regis', which is different.
The Small Charter
'Magna' means great or large in Latin, not small; 'small' in Latin would be 'parva', making this the opposite of the correct meaning.
The Big Charter
While 'magna' can mean large, the accepted English translation is 'The Great Charter', not 'The Big Charter', which is informal and incorrect.
The first person in England to print books using a printing press
Caxton set up England's first printing press at Westminster in 1476.
Correct answer
The first person to sail singlehanded around the world
Francis Chichester sailed solo around the world; Caxton was a printer.
The inventor of the television
John Logie Baird invented television; Caxton lived in the 15th century.
A poet who wrote about a group of people going to Canterbury on a pilgrimage
That describes Geoffrey Chaucer, who wrote The Canterbury Tales.
Explanation
William Caxton was the first person in England to print books using a printing press.
King Richard I
Richard I (the Lionheart) reigned 1189–1199, 300 years before the Wars of the Roses.
King Henry VII
Henry Tudor became Henry VII after defeating Richard III at Bosworth Field in 1485.
Correct answer
King Richard III
Richard III was killed at Bosworth Field; Henry Tudor then took the throne.
King Henry VIII
Henry VIII was Henry VII's son and succeeded him; he did not win the Wars of the Roses.
Explanation
In 1485, Henry Tudor, the leader of the House of Lancaster, became King Henry VII after defeating King Richard III of the House of York at the Battle of Bosworth Field.
1485
The Middle Ages are broadly defined as ending around 1485, when the Tudor period began.
Correct answer
1595
1595 falls in the Elizabethan era, over a century after the accepted end of the medieval period.
1495
1495 is ten years after the conventionally accepted end date of the Middle Ages.
1385
1385 is within the Middle Ages; the period continued for another century.
Explanation
The period after the Norman Conquest up until about 1485 is called the Middle Ages (or the medieval period).
In 1400
By 1400 English had become the language of the royal court and Parliament, replacing Norman French.
Correct answer
In 1567
1567 is too late; English became the court language around a century and a half earlier.
In 1345
By 1345 English was gaining ground, but it took until 1400 to become dominant at court.
In 1300
In 1300 Norman French was still the language of the ruling class and official documents.
Explanation
By 1400, in England, official documents were being written in English, and English had become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament.
The Battle of Trafalgar
Trafalgar (1805) was a naval battle where Britain defeated France and Spain, unrelated to Scotland.
The Battle of Waterloo
Waterloo (1815) was Wellington's defeat of Napoleon; it was not a Scottish battle.
The Battle of Bannockburn
Robert the Bruce led the Scots to victory over the English at Bannockburn in 1314, preserving Scottish independence.
Correct answer
The Battle of Agincourt
Agincourt (1415) was Henry V's English victory over France during the Hundred Years War.
Explanation
In 1314 the Scottish, led by Robert the Bruce, defeated the English at the Battle of Bannockburn.
Knights, who were usually smaller landowners
Knights and smaller landowners sat in the House of Commons, not the Lords.
Farmers and blacksmiths
Farmers and tradespeople were not parliamentary members during the Middle Ages.
Wealthy people from towns and cities
Wealthy townspeople were elected to the House of Commons, not the Lords.
Great landowners and bishops
The nobility, great landowners and bishops sat in the House of Lords during the Middle Ages.
Correct answer
Explanation
During the Middle Ages, great landowners and bishops sat in the House of Lords.
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