History quiz – Chaucer, sailors and the Civil War

History quiz – Chaucer, sailors and the Civil War How will you fare in this week's history quiz? Questions written by Eugene Byrne, author and journalist.

Three of these women defended their homes in the Civil War, and one did not. Who is the odd lady out? When British and Indian troops attacked the Japanese-held Ramree Island off the Burmese coast in early 1945, what, according to legend, contributed to the Japanese defeat? What did Edward III give Geoffrey Chaucer on St George’s Day 1374? In 1865, a woman was sentenced to one month in prison for the theft of two pounds of dripping, a punishment the local townsfolk considered unduly harsh. In the subsequent riot one person was killed. Where was this? Lapu-Lapu, ruler of Mactan Island, is nowadays regarded as a national hero for his resistance to European colonialism and his leadership of local forces in a battle in which a famous explorer was killed. Who? Thomas Becket is assassinated in Canterbury Cathedral; Diarmait Mac Murchada, king of Leinster dies; Saladin captures Damascus and Philip II is crowned king of France. What decade is it? Swedish sailor Carl Emil Pettersson (1875–1937) inspired the character of Ephraim Longstocking, father of Pippi Longstocking, in Astrid Lindgren’s children’s books. What was Petersson’s remarkable real-life achievement? Better luck next time.. Not bad... Amazing! How did you do? Share your result on social media to see how your history knowledge compares to other History Extra readers!

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History quiz – Chaucer, sailors and the Civil War

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