Which 17th-century African queen famously forced Portuguese envoys to negotiate with her while she sat on a servant kneeling on all fours?

History

Nzinga, the queen who used a kneeling attendant as a seat during talks with Portuguese diplomats, ruled over which two kingdoms in present-day Angola?

Queen Nzinga of Angola negotiated treaties while sitting on a stool carried by a kneeling slave, forcing European diplomats to literally look up to her.

History

What was the main reason for European colonization of Africa?

The Scramble for Africa occurred remarkably quickly; by 1914, nearly the entire continent was colonized by European powers after decades of competition.

History

What event precipitated the United States' entry into World War I?

The Zimmermann Telegram promised Mexico the return of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona if it joined Germany—it's one of history's most consequential secret messages.

History

King Richard I of England spent only about six months of his entire 10-year reign actually in England. How long was his reign as king?

King Richard the Lionheart spent only six months of his 10-year reign in England, spending most time crusading and imprisoned abroad.

History

Centuries after acquiring Greek and Indian scientific texts via Silk Road routes, medieval Islamic scholars resold this translated knowledge back to which region for enormous profit?

Medieval Islamic scholars monopolized translating Greek and Indian scientific texts arriving via Silk Road, then resold this knowledge back to Europe centuries later for enormous profit margins.

History

Which Chinese empress became the only woman in history to rule as emperor in her own right, going so far as to invent new characters to write her own name?

Empress Wu Zetian of China invented new Chinese characters to rename herself and promoted them so aggressively they vanished after her death.