1 / 10 |
Born this day in 1451, this Italian cartographer explored the world on behalf of Spain and Portugal. During his voyages, he came across a new land, which he noted down in his maps as ‘New World’. His name then became latinised and put on maps that followed after. This led to the naming of which continents, the only ones to be named after a person?

Answer : North and South America (Amerigo Vespucci)

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2 / 10 |
This country has been home to indigenous people for more than 14,000 years and is known for its high biodiversity. Only in 1819 did it take on its new name, a reference to an Italian explorer who accidentally landed on its shores. Which country is this?

3 / 10 |
This country in South America was one of the epicentres of the Mesoamerican nations, where the Mayans were prevalent. Although many countries are named after saints, this is the only one directly named after Jesus Christ. Which country is this whose name literally means ‘The Saviour’ in Spanish?

4 / 10 |
This country in the Pacific Ocean has evidence of early ancestors of humans living in caves more than 67,000 years ago. Due to its geographic location, it eventually had a mix of people from China, Polynesia and Japan. The Spanish landed in 1542, and they called it after the Prince of Asturias, who later became King Philip II of Spain. Which country is this?

5 / 10 |
Lech, Czech and Rus are three brothers, who were supposed to be the founders of three Slavic peoples, the Poles, the Czechs and the Ruthenians, in an ancient European legend. Each were settlers in a certain region of Europe, and the Ruthenians eventually became three countries. If one of them is Ukraine, what are the other two?

6 / 10 |
Tariq ibn Ziyad was an Umayyad commander, who led an army across the narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. There is a city located at the tip of the strait, which has been historically important for trade and military. The city is dominated by a huge rock that is named ‘Mount of Tariq’, in his honour. What is the English translation of this name?

7 / 10 |
The full name of this South American country refers to two entities. When Amerigo Vespucci first saw the houses on stilts here, he was reminded of Venice, so he called it ‘Little Venice’. Its full name also refers to a military officer who led the country, and five others (including one named after him) to independence from the Spanish. Which country is this?

Answer : The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

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8 / 10 |
This country in Eastern Europe was inhabited by settlers for thousands of years. It has been controlled by multiple empires — Mongol, Ottoman, Persian and Russian. Earlier known as Colchians or Iberians they became followers of Christianity in 4AD and were named after their favourite saint, who was supposed to have slain a dragon. Which country?

9 / 10 |
Özbeg Khan was the longest-reigning ruler of the Golden Horde, a nomadic empire that started off under the Mongols. Oghuz Khagan was an ancestor of the Oghuz Turk tribe. Which doubly land-locked country is thought to be named after either one of these rulers?

10 / 10 |
Saint Lucia is an island country in the West Indies, which having been inhabited for thousands of years, was fought for control between the English and the French for two centuries. It was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse as sailors landed on the feast day of St. Lucy. What makes this country the only one in the world etymologically?

Answer : The only country named after a woman.

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