Untold History Trivia

Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast

108 | Untold History Trivia

00:00 / 16:51

As we work our way through Black History Month, I’m struck by all the stories being presented that never showed up in our history books. At least, not the ones used in Elementary and High School. So, I got to thinking, what other stories are out there? What are we missing? So, this episode is dedicated to the untold stories. The weird, the unusual, and the uncomfortable. So, whos is ready for Untold History Trivia?

Due to popular demand, I’ve added the show’s transcript with links to more material and reading. If you’re inspired, please read more.

This one is going to be a little harder than our usual fare, but bare with me, I think you’ll like learning something new if you didn’t know it before. If you did know it, great you’re probably reading a lot more than most of us.

As always, it’s three rounds of ten questions each. If you need rules or a score card, visit the show’s website at dorkygeekynerdy.com.

If you want to dive deeper into any of these topics, check out our Extra Credit section below.

Extra Credit Podcasts & Videos

It’s an extra big helping of Extra Credit podcasts this week. I know this was a tough episode, so feel free to dive deeper into the topics and subjects we covered. Black history, women’s history, and much more.

Previous Episodes

Episode Transcript/Quiz

Greetings and salutations. This is the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. I’m your host, Brian Rollins, and this week, for episode 108, we’re going to try something a little different.

As always, it’s three rounds of ten questions each. If you need rules or a score card, visit the show’s website at dorkygeekynerdy.com.

I think that’s all the setup we need for this week’s show, so let’s get started.

The Dorky Round

1. Columbus didn't land in what we now call America. Where did he actually land in 1492?

The Bahamas

2. Native American populations were decimated in the years before the founding of Plymouth colony by what?

A plague. The cause is unknown, but it left the native peoples unable to repel European colonizers.

3. The Mormon Church officially renounced what in 1890?

Polygamy. Though the practice continues today in fringe religious groups.

4. While 6 million jews were killed under Hitler, between 7 and 9.5 million jews were killed under what other dictator?

Joseph Stalin

5. In 1952, who was offered the position of President of Israel?

Albert Einstein

6. Roman Emperor Gaius wanted to name what animal to the Senate?

His Horse. Gaius is more commonly known as Caligula

7. What famous speech begins with 'I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.'

Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have A Dream” speech

8. What continent was originally called 'Alkebulan'?

Africa. The current name was given by the Greeks and Romans

9. Prior to 2021, what was the only time a living US President skipped out on their successors' inauguration?

1869 when Andrew Johnson refused to go to Ulysses S Grant’s inauguration. Much like Donald Trump, Johnson was also impeached and openly hostile to his successor.

10. Why did Franklin D. Roosevelt have the Resolute desk altered?

He added a panel in the front to hide his leg braces.

The Geeky Round

1. W.E.B. Du Bois led a group of Black intellectuals that founded what civil rights group in 1905?

The Niagara Movement. It’s considered a forerunner to the NAACP.

2. White soldiers returning from World War I to find they had been replaced at their jobs by Black men led to what?

The Red Summer of 1919. Riots broke out in over ten cities

3. What was the first US State to abolish slavery?

Rhode Island in 1774 (Technically, they were still a colony back then)

4. How many US states have never allowed slavery?

Only 9.

5. Even though 13,200 homes and 87 churches were destroyed and 70,000 people were left homeless, only 6 deaths were reported from what disaster?

The Great London Fire of 1666

6. The shortest war in history was fought between what two countries?

England and Zanzibar. It lasted all of 38 minutes

7. What two nations were engaged in the longest war in history?

The Netherlands and Sciliy. They were at war from 1651 to 1986. There were no casualties.

8. The NAACP was founded in what year?

1909

9. The Grand Mosque in Mecca was seized by Militants in what year?

1979. The event, which led to over 200 deaths, is pointed to as a turning point for Saudi Arabia and what may have radicalized Osama Bin Laden.

10. The world's oldest parliament is located in what country?

Iceland. It was established in the year 930.

The Nerdy Round

1. In 1961, the US Air Force almost nuked what state?

North Carolina. The bombs were dropped by accident, thankfully a switch malfunctioned and they didn’t go off.

2. What was the first country to permanently abolish slavery?

Haiti, in 1804. Which makes sense, since they are the only successful slave revolution in history.

3. Karl Marx was a correspondent for what US newspaper?

New York Daily Tribune

4. Black History Month began as what in 1926?

“Negro History Week” It was created by Carter G. Woodson an African American historian, scholar, and educator. It became a Black History month in 1976.

5. The Chinese massacre of 1871 occurred in what city?

Los Angeles, CA. Between 17 & 20 Chinese immigrants were killed. 8 men were convicted of manslaughter, though all of those were overturned.

6. Who was Jim Crow?

A fictional character created by Thomas D. Rice as a racist, stereotype of African Americans. It was popular in the mid 1800’s. Jim Crow laws were built around using this derogatory image of Black people in the US.

7. What African nation began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society?

Liberia. Many former slaves were freed, only to be sent to Africa, whether they wanted to go or not.

8. What currently stands on the site of Seneca Village, a community of African American homeowners?

Central Park. New York used eminent domain to buy the land and move the original owners out.

9. Japanese man, Tsutomu Yamaguchi holds what distinction?

He survived both atomic blasts in Japan, 1945. He was on a business trip to Hiroshima, survived the August 6th bombing, went home the next day to Nagasaki where it too was bombed on August 9th.

10. In 1941, the Soviet Union and the British launched a joint invasion of what country?

Iran, who was neutral during World War II. Both nations were desperate for oil.

Outro

And that’s it for the questions. History is filled with weird tales and horror stories. We learn from both the triumphs and failures of those that came before us. If you’re inspired to do more reading or research, go for it. If you don’t swing by the website, you might not see the “Extra Credit” podcasts that I share every week. These are other podcasts that relate to the topic of the week. I’ll have plenty this week to help you dive into Black History or other histories that aren’t told as often.

We’ll be back again next week for another show. No hint. No clue. Next week is our two year anniversary. If you were here last year for our one-year, you know what you’re in store for. If not, you get a surprise (or go back to our episode from last year to find out).

This has been episode 108 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy trivia podcast. The music, for one last time, is Big Blues by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com. It’s carried us all year and I want to thank Jason for letting us use the song. I usually cut it off, but this week, I’ll let it play out.

I’m your host, Brian Rollins. Thanks for listening.