text: [Themes: edutainment, quiz, historical]
  
  It is the 11th of June 323 B.C.
  
  It is very hot. You are standing amongst a great group of sweating generals, officers and soldiers in the palace of Nebukadnezzar in Babylon. Well, not exactly in the middle of the group but luckily behind a large curtain or tapestry. In the middle of the fairly large and nicely decorated room is a bed upon which a young and very pale-looking young man is laying. It is obvious that he is very ill. Dark shadows can be seen under his eyes, his long hair is soaked and he is breathing only slightly. Servants are waving fans made of feathers in order to free the ill of the oppressive heat. Every now and then, a young woman with a dark eastern complexion, is wiping off the sweat from his brow with a cooled cloth. The dying man doesn't even notice. This man is Alexander the Great from Macedon, 32 years old, and only minutes from his death. In less than 10 years this legendary Greek has conquered the largest Empire ever seen up to then: From the Hellepont until the borders of India.
  
  Upon his death his Empire would fall apart under the bitter rivalries between his many loyal officers and generals also known as Diadochi (Successors). These wars would continue off and on until 275 B.C. Now dear contestant...who of the following is NOT considered to be one of the Diadochi?
  
  > Alcibiades
  You are completely right!
  
  Although a Greek, Alcibiades was NOT a Diadochi and also would not be involved in the Wars of Alexander's successors because he would already been dead by then.
  
  Alcibiades was born in Athens around 450 B.C. and became a prominent politician, diplomat and commander during the Peloponnesian Wars between 431 B.C. and 404 B.C. He was a great general and a very ambitious politician, causing him to switch sides several time during the conflict between the Greek city-states - even defecting to Persia!
  
  > Continue...
  It is 665 B.C. and you find yourself in a wooden vessel surrounded by heavy winds and rain. The wooden boat is rocking to and fro, tossed like a tennis ball, by the large waves. There is something wrong, this is certain, because you see some some neatly dressed men with long dark beards screaming out to each other in a panic - but maybe it's just because the wind is blowing so hard and they otherwise can't hear each other. The fifty men below you, rowing the galley, seem to have given up also - you can see the fear in their eyes - although they do their best to keep rowing against the powerful waves. You are obviously in an ancient ship...a galley to be precise, but weren't they supposed to remain close to shore?
  
  I'll tell you where you are: The neatly dressed men up front are the captain of the ship and his officers/advisors, they are blaming him for moving too far out of sight of the coast and that they have no idea where they are. In fact, they are off the western coast of Africa and have been caught up in a storm. They are not far away from the coastline, but because it is cloudy and dark they don't know this. The ship forms a part of a small trading fleet. They have come from Carthage and are carrying with them all sorts of trading goods such as purple dye, glass, silver, wine and some dogs. These people are part of a civilization known in the ancient world for their lucrative trade, naval exploration and colonization. I can also tell you that these people are the first to use an alphabet.
  
  If you want to survive this ordeal, tell me who these people are:
  
  > Phoenicians
  Correct! You are on a Phoenican vessel that has lifted anchor in Carthage in modern-day Tunis.
  
  Carthage was a succesful Phoenician colony - established in 814 B.C. - that in two hundred years would gain its independence and start colonizing on its own with its own political dynasty: the Magonids. Only after the fall of its mother-city Tyre by the Persians in 539 B.C., can we officially speak of the Carthaginian civilization and people.
  
  Between 1200 B.C. 800 B.C., the Phoenicians were among the greatest traders of their time and they owed much of their prosperity to their trade. Their original territory was based in the Levant around modern-day Lebanon and their capital city was Tyre, but throughout the centuries they built trading colonies all along the coast of the Mediterranean...and even beyond! They were also great explorers, sailing as far south as the Gulf of Guinea and as far north as the west coast of France.
  
  Now let me get you out of this tight spot because within 15 minutes the captain will notice the coastline - and safety - of southern Morocco. Needless to say these people will be surprised to see you there - and after the past ordeal - will not find the patience to listen to your explanation. By the way...what will you say? That you are a timetraveler? No I'm sure that the Phoenicians will see alot of trading benefits in you by selling you as a slave when they get back to Carthage or even to the Berbers on the coast.
  
  Off you go! Ziiiiiiiiiiiip....
  
  > Continue...
  A little 'drunken' from yet another trip through time and space, you find yourself in the middle of some woods. It is cold and damp and judging by the weak daylight, you assume that it must be daybreak or early morning. A mist surrounds you, giving the entire surrounding an eerie outlook. There is not much sound around you, only the occasional cry of a bird resonating through the forest - it occurs to you that some of these cries sound a little human! You wonder where you are and what Chronos has in store for you now. One thing is certain: you miss the sweating warmth of the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon.
  
  In the distance, the sound of horses and the cling of armor is slowly becoming apparent resonating through the misty forest. You wonder if you have not been warped to the Teutoburger Forest in 9 A.D. - it would be the perfect setting for the battle. You raise alarm when behind you, you hear the sound of footsteps in the forest...and the cry of some birds.
  
  It is the autumn of 54 B.C., modern-day Belgium in the territory of the tribe of the Eburones. You are about to be spectator or unwilling player in the confrontation between the Romans and the Germanic tribes. It will soon become very bloody as the Eburones have laid a trap in order to fall upon the flanks of the disorganized Romans moving through the woods. Now think fast and answer me this question: In order to gain military prestige and to fill his depleted bank account, the very ambitious politician and able commander Julius Caesar set off on a military campaign that would last from 58 B.C. until 51 B.C. During these so-called Gallic Wars the famous Roman would confront a large number of Gallic and Germanic tribes on the field of battle in France, Belgium, Germany and even Britain.
  
  Which of the following Gallic or Germanic kings/leaders would Caesar NOT personally confront on the battlefield?
  
  > Divico
  Nope you are wrong!
  
  Divico was the king of the Helvetian tribe of the Tigurini. He confronted Caesar on the field of battle twice: at the Battle of the Arar and at the battle of Bibracte, both in 58 B.C. Having been defeated at Bibracte - near modern-day Autun in France - the Helvetii tribes surrendered to Roman rule. Caesar allowed them to remain on their original territories but as 'foederatii' of Rome were to supply the Roman army with a certain amount of fighting men. However, they broke their treaty with Rome only six years later by joining the rebellion of Vercingetorix in Gaul. They were never completely to be trusted afterwards.
  
  Sorry for you, but you will be in the middle of the impending confrontation between the Romans and the Germanic tribes. There is no way for you to escape: behind you, covered by the morning fog and hidden behind the trees are the Eburones under the leadership of Ambiorix and in front of you are the unsuspecting Romans under command of Generals Sabinus and Cotta...good luck in the coming battle!
  
  Well you wanted to taste history...now you are right in the middle of it ;-)