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Bing Pirate Quiz: 10 Questions With Answers
Piracy has been a maritime threat for thousands of years, from ancient Sea Peoples to modern-day ocean raiders. This quiz explores the history, geography, and famous figures of piracy across different eras and regions.
Looking for Microsoft's own quiz? It is on your Microsoft Rewards dashboard. This page is our own practice quiz on the same topic, so you can learn the facts first. For the daily image quiz see today's Bing Homepage Quiz.
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Pick A, B or C for each question. The right answer turns green and a short fact explains it.
All 10 questions and answers
Every question with its answer and explanation. Open “Show answer” after you guess.
1 What is the earliest documented period of piracy according to historical records?
- A 5th century AD
- B 8th century AD
- C 14th century BC
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✓ Answer: C. 14th century BC
Did you know? The Sea Peoples, a group of ocean raiders, conducted the earliest documented instances of piracy in the 14th century BC, attacking ships in the Aegean and Mediterranean civilizations.
2 Which ancient civilization had a reputation for piracy in pre-classical times?
- A The Phoenicians
- B The Persians
- C The Egyptians
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✓ Answer: A. The Phoenicians
Did you know? The Phoenicians, along with the Illyrians and Tyrrhenians, were known as pirates in classical antiquity. In pre-classical Greece, piracy was even regarded as an entirely honorable way of making a living.
3 In what year did the Romans finally defeat the Illyrian pirates?
- A 229 BC
- B 301 BC
- C 145 BC
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✓ Answer: A. 229 BC
Did you know? It was not until 229 BC when the Romans decisively beat the Illyrian fleets that their threat was ended. The Illyrians had been constantly raiding the Adriatic Sea for centuries before this decisive defeat.
4 Which famous Roman leader was kidnapped by Cilician pirates?
- A Pompey
- B Julius Caesar
- C Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus
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✓ Answer: B. Julius Caesar
Did you know? On one voyage across the Aegean Sea in 75 BC, Julius Caesar was kidnapped and briefly held by Cilician pirates on the Dodecanese islet of Pharmacusa.
5 Which seafaring group were the most widely recognized pirates in medieval Europe?
- A Vikings
- B Illyrians
- C Moors
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✓ Answer: A. Vikings
Did you know? The Vikings were seaborne warriors from Scandinavia who were the most widely recognized and far-reaching pirates in medieval Europe, raiding between the 8th and 12th centuries during the Viking Age.
6 Which strait has been a historic piracy hotspot due to its narrow geography?
- A English Channel
- B Strait of Gibraltar
- C Strait of Malacca
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✓ Answer: C. Strait of Malacca
Did you know? The Strait of Malacca is one of several narrow channels that funnel shipping into predictable routes, creating long-standing opportunities for piracy. Other historic piracy areas include Gibraltar and the English Channel.
7 What nationality were the Arumer Zwarte Hoop pirates led by Pier Gerlofs Donia?
- A Frisian
- B Danish
- C Norwegian
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✓ Answer: A. Frisian
Did you know? The Frisian pirates known as Arumer Zwarte Hoop, led by Pier Gerlofs Donia and Wijerd Jelckama, were active in the Late Middle Ages and fought against the troops of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
8 Which book, published in 1724, is credited with bringing the Golden Age of Piracy to public imagination?
- A A General History of the Pyrates
- B Peter Pan
- C Treasure Island
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✓ Answer: A. A General History of the Pyrates
Did you know? The two-volume A General History of the Pyrates, published in London in 1724, is generally credited with bringing key piratical figures and a semi-accurate description of the Golden Age of Piracy to the public's imagination.
9 Which novel, written in 1883, was inspired by accounts of piracy from the Golden Age?
- A Peter Pan
- B Treasure Island
- C Robinson Crusoe
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✓ Answer: B. Treasure Island
Did you know? Treasure Island, published in 1883, was one of the notable fictional depictions of piracy inspired by A General History of the Pyrates and has been adapted for stage, film, and television over more than a century.
10 In what year did the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise begin?
- A 2003
- B 1999
- C 2001
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✓ Answer: A. 2003
Did you know? The Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise began in 2003 and further stereotyped and popularized pirates of the Golden Age through modern cinema.
About Pirate
The earliest documented piracy dates to the 14th century BC when the Sea Peoples attacked ships in the Aegean and Mediterranean. Narrow channels like the Strait of Malacca and Gulf of Aden have long funneled shipping into predictable routes, creating ideal opportunities for pirates to strike. Historic pirate havens included Gibraltar, Madagascar, and the English Channel, where geography made attacks easier to execute and escape routes readily available.
Questions and facts checked against the Wikipedia article Piracy. How we write quizzes: editorial policy.
Pirate Quiz FAQ
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