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Quizzes > History

European history quiz: test your knowledge

Quick, free European history trivia. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Carolyn BurnleyUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art collage of European history quiz icons landmarks maps books question marks on teal background

This European history quiz helps you test what you know across empires, revolutions, and wars. See your results instantly and pick up useful facts along the way. Want to explore more? Try our British history quiz, a focused French Revolution quiz, or take a quick WW2 quiz.

In which year did the Battle of Hastings take place?
1066
1415
1215
1314
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Where was the Magna Carta sealed in 1215?
York
Westminster
Runnymede
Canterbury
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Who is credited with introducing the movable-type printing press to Europe?
Aldus Manutius
William Caxton
Johannes Gutenberg
Martin Luther
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At which battle in 1815 was Napoleon Bonaparte finally defeated?
Leipzig
Borodino
Waterloo
Austerlitz
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In which country did the Industrial Revolution first begin?
Great Britain
Germany
Belgium
France
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Who led the Nationalist forces to victory in the Spanish Civil War?
António Salazar
Francisco Franco
León Trotsky
Manuel Azana
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Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the German invasion of which country in 1941?
Poland
Soviet Union
Yugoslavia
France
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Which empire captured Constantinople in 1453, ending the Byzantine Empire?
Ottoman Empire
Habsburg Monarchy
Mongol Empire
Safavid Empire
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In what year did Martin Luther publish his Ninety-Five Theses, sparking the Reformation?
1534
1492
1517
1555
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Which statement accurately describes the 1588 event that marked the defeat of the Spanish Armada?
The English fleet under Elizabeth I defeated Spain
Spain destroyed the Dutch fleet at the Scheldt
France annihilated the English Channel Squadron
Portugal routed the Venetian navy
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Which Austrian statesman was a principal architect of the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)?
Klemens von Metternich
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
Otto von Bismarck
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The 'Charge of the Light Brigade' occurred during which conflict?
Boer War
World War I
Seven Years' War
Crimean War
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In which city did the Easter Rising of 1916 take place?
Dublin
Belfast
Cork
Galway
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Which Russian tsar abdicated in 1917 during the February Revolution?
Paul I
Peter II
Nicholas II
Alexander III
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The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended which major European conflict?
Seven Years' War
War of the Spanish Succession
English Civil War
Thirty Years' War
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Where was the German Empire proclaimed in 1871 following unification?
Hofburg Palace, Vienna
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Hall of Mirrors, Palace of Versailles
Frankfurt Parliament, St. Paul's Church
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Which clause in the Treaty of Versailles assigned war guilt primarily to Germany and its allies?
Article 99
Article 5
Article 231
Article 10
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By what official name was the Marshall Plan known?
Postwar Relief Initiative
Western Aid Compact
Atlantic Reconstruction Act
European Recovery Program
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The Battle of Lepanto (1571) was a naval victory for which coalition over the Ottoman Empire?
The League of Cambrai
The Hanseatic League
The Quadruple Alliance
The Holy League
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Which monarch led relief forces that helped lift the 1683 Siege of Vienna?
John III Sobieski of Poland
Louis XIV of France
Charles XI of Sweden
Leopold I of Austria
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Major European Events -

    Test your memory of key moments from ancient empires through modern revolutions to see how well you remember the turning points in European history.

  2. Identify Influential Figures -

    Spotlight the monarchs, thinkers, and leaders who shaped Europe's trajectory and strengthen your familiarity with their contributions and legacies.

  3. Analyze Causes and Consequences -

    Examine the relationships between pivotal events and their outcomes to understand how conflicts, alliances, and innovations transformed Europe over centuries.

  4. Describe Chronological Developments -

    Organize major eras and milestones into a coherent timeline, reinforcing your grasp of how each period set the stage for the next.

  5. Apply Context to Modern Europe -

    Connect historical events to contemporary European issues, sharpening your ability to see how the past informs today's political and cultural landscape.

  6. Assess Knowledge Gaps -

    Review your quiz results to identify strong areas and topics needing more study, guiding your next steps in mastering European history trivia.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The Renaissance and Humanism -

    According to Oxford University History Faculty, the Renaissance (14th - 17th centuries) revived classical art and scholarship and often appears in european history trivia. Use the mnemonic "PEARS" (Patronage, Exploration, Art, Religion, Science) to track its core themes. Mastering this will give you confidence in any european history quiz or history quizzes for adults.

  2. The Napoleonic Era and Major Battles -

    Per Cambridge Histories Online, Napoleon's reign (1799 - 1815) reshaped Europe and is a staple in european history trivia questions. Remember key battles with the "5-13" trick: Austerlitz in '05 and Leipzig in '13. This simple code will help you ace sections in a european history quiz or european history questions and answers PDF.

  3. The Industrial Revolution's Milestones -

    The British Library notes that inventions like the Spinning Jenny (1764) and Watt's steam engine (1769) launched the Industrial Revolution, frequently tested in history quizzes for adults. A quick "64-69" rhyme locks in these dates. Pulling these facts from european history quiz handouts or a european history questions and answers PDF can boost your score.

  4. Causes of World War I: MAIN Mnemonic -

    Encyclopaedia Britannica lists Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism as the four triggers of World War I, often featured in european history trivia. The acronym "MAIN" makes these causes hard to forget under time pressure. Recalling this easy mnemonic is a reliable tactic for history quizzes for adults.

  5. The Fall of the Berlin Wall -

    The German Historical Institute highlights November 9, 1989, as the pivotal date when the Berlin Wall fell, ending the Cold War divide and often appearing in european history trivia. Use the rhyme "In '89, the wall's decline" to cement this date. This key fact is a favorite in european history quiz rounds and european history questions and answers PDFs.

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