Answer: flag of Greece, which features nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white

Context: The most widely used symbol is the flag of Greece, which features nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white representing the nine syllables of the Greek national motto Eleftheria i thanatos (freedom or death), which was the motto of the Greek War of Independence. The blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bears a white cross, which represents Greek Orthodoxy. The Greek flag is widely used by the Greek Cypriots, although Cyprus has officially adopted a neutral flag to ease ethnic tensions with the Turkish Cypriot minority – see flag of Cyprus).

Question: What are the representations of the Greek reference freedom or death that are held on a cloth symbol of the nation ?


Answer: motto of the Greek War of Independence

Question: This reference also holds significance as what the the Grecian people ?


Answer: bears a white cross, which represents Greek Orthodoxy

Question: Is religion also represented on this cloth symbol of the Greek?


Answer: ethnic tensions with the Turkish Cypriot minority

Question: Have the people of Turkey held any feeling towards the cloth symbol of the Greeks ?


Answer: Cyprus has officially adopted a neutral flag

Question: Have the people of Greece done anything to make the matter more palatable for the people of Turkey ?


Answer: Greek surnames are most commonly patronymics

Context: Greek surnames were widely in use by the 9th century supplanting the ancient tradition of using the father’s name, however Greek surnames are most commonly patronymics. Commonly, Greek male surnames end in -s, which is the common ending for Greek masculine proper nouns in the nominative case. Exceptionally, some end in -ou, indicating the genitive case of this proper noun for patronymic reasons. Although surnames in mainland Greece are static today, dynamic and changing patronymic usage survives in middle names where the genitive of father's first name is commonly the middle name (this usage having been passed on to the Russians). In Cyprus, by contrast, surnames follow the ancient tradition of being given according to the father’s name. Finally, in addition to Greek-derived surnames many have Latin, Turkish and Italian origin.

Question: What names are used that are typically from a father and have usually added a suffix or prefix ?


Answer: Greek male surnames end in -s, which is the common ending

Question: What letter of the alphabet do most of the last names the men of Greecs end with ?


Answer: many have Latin, Turkish and Italian origin.

Question: What other beginnings of origination do some of the last names of the Greeks share ?


Answer: some end in -ou, indicating the genitive case of this proper noun for patronymic reasons.

Question: What does it mean to have the letters OU added to the ending of a males last name ?


Answer: Greek peninsula and the Aegean Sea, the Southern Italy (Magna Graecia), the Black Sea, the Ionian coasts of Asia Minor and the islands of Cyprus and Sicily

Context: The traditional Greek homelands have been the Greek peninsula and the Aegean Sea, the Southern Italy (Magna Graecia), the Black Sea, the Ionian coasts of Asia Minor and the islands of Cyprus and Sicily. In Plato's Phaidon, Socrates remarks, "we (Greeks) live around a sea like frogs around a pond" when describing to his friends the Greek cities of the Aegean. This image is attested by the map of the Old Greek Diaspora, which corresponded to the Greek world until the creation of the Greek state in 1832. The sea and trade were natural outlets for Greeks since the Greek peninsula is rocky and does not offer good prospects for agriculture.

Question: What are considered to be the motherland of the Greeks ?


Answer: Plato's Phaidon, Socrates remarks, "we (Greeks) live around a sea like frogs around a pond

Question: What statement of note was given by a great philosopher from Greece written by another great philosopher ?


Answer: map of the Old Greek Diaspora

Question: What is the name of the ancient map of the Greek world named ?


Answer: corresponded to the Greek world until the creation of the Greek state in 183

Question: When did changes of this ancient map become notable ?


Answer: Greek peninsula is rocky and does not offer good prospects for agriculture

Question: Are there many product available from farm cultivation on the Greek lands ?


Answer: the explorer of the Northwestern passage Juan de Fuca

Context: Notable Greek seafarers include people such as Pytheas of Marseilles, Scylax of Caryanda who sailed to Iberia and beyond, Nearchus, the 6th century merchant and later monk Cosmas Indicopleustes (Cosmas who sailed to India) and the explorer of the Northwestern passage Juan de Fuca. In later times, the Romioi plied the sea-lanes of the Mediterranean and controlled trade until an embargo imposed by the Roman Emperor on trade with the Caliphate opened the door for the later Italian pre-eminence in trade.

Question: What else is this particular captain known for doing ?


Answer: Cosmas Indicopleustes (Cosmas who sailed to India)

Question: Who was the well known sea vessel captain of the Greeks who sailed to Asia ?


Answer: plied the sea-lanes of the Mediterranean and controlled trade

Question: What did Greeks do that caused a later deal to be made with the Italians ?


Answer: trade until an embargo imposed by the Roman Emperor on trade with the Caliphate

Question: Who proposed that change was needed in the way business with the Greeks was to be conducted ?


Answer: Greek shipping tradition recovered during Ottoman rule when a substantial merchant middle class developed

Context: The Greek shipping tradition recovered during Ottoman rule when a substantial merchant middle class developed, which played an important part in the Greek War of Independence. Today, Greek shipping continues to prosper to the extent that Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, while many more ships under Greek ownership fly flags of convenience. The most notable shipping magnate of the 20th century was Aristotle Onassis, others being Yiannis Latsis, George Livanos, and Stavros Niarchos.

Question: What was brought about by the Ottomans that caused and uplift in the classes of Greek society ?


Answer: Greek shipping continues to prosper to the extent that Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world

Question: Is the seafaring business still of any relevancy to the Greek economy ?


Answer: Greek War of Independence

Question: What did the development of these changes lead to for the Greeks under Ottoman rulers ?


Answer: most notable shipping magnate of the 20th century was Aristotle Onassis

Question: What was the last husband of Jacquelyn Kennedy known for ?


Answer: conclusion the hair colour of young Greeks are mostly brown, ranging from light to dark brown

Context: Another study from 2012 included 150 dental school students from University of Athens, the result showed that light hair colour (blonde/light ash brown) was predominant in 10.7% of the students. 36% had medium hair colour (Light brown/Medium darkest brown). 32% had darkest brown and 21% black (15.3 off black, 6% midnight black). In conclusion the hair colour of young Greeks are mostly brown, ranging from light to dark brown. with significant minorities having black and blonde hair. The same study also showed that the eye colour of the students was 14.6% blue/green, 28% medium (light brown) and 57.4% dark brown.

Question: What dominant hair color is to believed to be prevalent among Greeks


Answer: significant minorities having black and blonde hair

Question: Which colors lay outside of the nor for those of Greek descent ?


Answer: 14.6% blue/green

Question: What eye color shows the least presence among those of Greek heritage ?


Answer: 57.4% dark brown

Question: What eye color is believed to be the norm among Greeks ?


Answer: Asia Minor (now Turkey)

Context: The history of the Greek people is closely associated with the history of Greece, Cyprus, Constantinople, Asia Minor and the Black Sea. During the Ottoman rule of Greece, a number of Greek enclaves around the Mediterranean were cut off from the core, notably in Southern Italy, the Caucasus, Syria and Egypt. By the early 20th century, over half of the overall Greek-speaking population was settled in Asia Minor (now Turkey), while later that century a huge wave of migration to the United States, Australia, Canada and elsewhere created the modern Greek diaspora.

Question: What location did many of the Greek people decide to live in other than Greece after the 19th century ?


Answer: Ottoman rule of Greece

Question: During what period of domination were many Greeks unable to interact with it's central location ?


Answer: history of the Greek people is closely associated with the history of Greece, Cyprus, Constantinople, Asia Minor and the Black Sea.

Question: The anthology of the Greek world is intimately joined with what areas of the world ?


Answer: a huge wave of migration to the United States, Australia, Canada and elsewhere created the modern Greek diaspora.

Question: What has lead to the current situation of vast dispersion of the Greek people ?


Answer: By the early 20th century, over half of the overall Greek-speaking population was settled in Asia Minor (now Turkey)

Question: After the 19th century about how much of the Greek population resided in little Asia ?


Answer: Gabriel

Context: Muslims believe the Quran was verbally revealed by God to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril), gradually over a period of approximately 23 years, beginning on 22 December 609 CE, when Muhammad was 40, and concluding in 632, the year of his death. Muslims regard the Quran as the most important miracle of Muhammad, a proof of his prophethood, and the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with the messages revealed to Adam and ended with Muhammad. The word "Quran" occurs some 70 times in the text of the Quran, although different names and words are also said to be references to the Quran.

Question: Which angel is believed to have communicated the Quran to Muhammad?


Answer: 22 December 609 CE

Question: On which date did Muhammad begin receiving the Quran?


Answer: 632

Question: In which year CE did Muhammad die?


Answer: Jibril

Question: What is the Arabic variant of Gabriel?


Answer: 70

Question: How many times is the word "Quran" used in the Quran?


Answer: companions of Muhammad

Context: According to the traditional narrative, several companions of Muhammad served as scribes and were responsible for writing down the revelations. Shortly after Muhammad's death, the Quran was compiled by his companions who wrote down and memorized parts of it. These codices had differences that motivated the Caliph Uthman to establish a standard version now known as Uthman's codex, which is generally considered the archetype of the Quran known today. There are, however, variant readings, with mostly minor differences in meaning.

Question: Who first recorded Muhammad revelations?


Answer: Caliph Uthman

Question: Who first standardized the earliest versions of the Quran?


Answer: Uthman's codex

Question: By what name is the first standardized version of the Quran known?


Answer: Arabic

Context: The Quran assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in the Biblical scriptures. It summarizes some, dwells at length on others and, in some cases, presents alternative accounts and interpretations of events. The Quran describes itself as a book of guidance. It sometimes offers detailed accounts of specific historical events, and it often emphasizes the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence. The Quran is used along with the hadith to interpret sharia law. During prayers, the Quran is recited only in Arabic.

Question: In which language is the Quran spoken during prayer?


Answer: sharia

Question: The Quran is used in the interpretation of which form of law?


Answer: Biblical scriptures

Question: What accounts are form the basis of much of the accounts in the Quran?


Answer: Quran

Question: Which religious text calls itself a book of guidance?


Answer: qaraʼa

Context: The word qurʼān appears about 70 times in the Quran itself, assuming various meanings. It is a verbal noun (maṣdar) of the Arabic verb qaraʼa (قرأ), meaning "he read" or "he recited". The Syriac equivalent is (ܩܪܝܢܐ) qeryānā, which refers to "scripture reading" or "lesson". While some Western scholars consider the word to be derived from the Syriac, the majority of Muslim authorities hold the origin of the word is qaraʼa itself. Regardless, it had become an Arabic term by Muhammad's lifetime. An important meaning of the word is the "act of reciting", as reflected in an early Quranic passage: "It is for Us to collect it and to recite it (qurʼānahu)."

Question: From which Arabic verb might "Quran" be derived?


Answer: qeryānā

Question: What Syriac word might be related to "Quran"?


Answer: reciting

Question: The words from which the name "Quran" might be described are related to which act?


Answer: qaraʼa

Question: Which word do most Muslim scholars point to as the origin of the Quran's name?


Answer: kitāb

Context: The term also has closely related synonyms that are employed throughout the Quran. Each synonym possesses its own distinct meaning, but its use may converge with that of qurʼān in certain contexts. Such terms include kitāb (book); āyah (sign); and sūrah (scripture). The latter two terms also denote units of revelation. In the large majority of contexts, usually with a definite article (al-), the word is referred to as the "revelation" (waḥy), that which has been "sent down" (tanzīl) at intervals. Other related words are: dhikr (remembrance), used to refer to the Quran in the sense of a reminder and warning, and ḥikmah (wisdom), sometimes referring to the revelation or part of it.

Question: Which term used in the Quran to indicate itself means "book"?


Answer: sūrah

Question: Which term does the Quran use to refer to itself as "scripture"?


Answer: wisdom

Question: What meaning does the Quran take when it calls itself hikmah?


Answer: waḥy

Question: What name does the Quran use for itself that means "revelation"?


Answer: umm al-kitāb

Context: The Quran describes itself as "the discernment" (al-furqān), "the mother book" (umm al-kitāb), "the guide" (huda), "the wisdom" (hikmah), "the remembrance" (dhikr) and "the revelation" (tanzīl; something sent down, signifying the descent of an object from a higher place to lower place). Another term is al-kitāb (The Book), though it is also used in the Arabic language for other scriptures, such as the Torah and the Gospels. The adjective of "Quran" has multiple transliterations including "quranic", "koranic", and "qur'anic", or capitalised as "Qur'anic", "Koranic", and "Quranic". The term mus'haf ('written work') is often used to refer to particular Quranic manuscripts but is also used in the Quran to identify earlier revealed books. Other transliterations of "Quran" include "al-Coran", "Coran", "Kuran", and "al-Qurʼan".

Question: Which term meaning "the mother book" does the Quran apply to itself?


Answer: mus'haf

Question: What term is used in the Quran to indicate previous revelations?


Answer: al-kitāb

Question: What is the Arabic term commonly used to refer to works like the Torah or the Gospels?


Answer: the guide

Question: What is an English translation of huda?


Answer: Cave of Hira

Context: Islamic tradition relates that Muhammad received his first revelation in the Cave of Hira during one of his isolated retreats to the mountains. Thereafter, he received revelations over a period of 23 years. According to hadith and Muslim history, after Muhammad immigrated to Medina and formed an independent Muslim community, he ordered many of his companions to recite the Quran and to learn and teach the laws, which were revealed daily. It is related that some of the Quraysh who were taken prisoners at the battle of Badr regained their freedom after they had taught some of the Muslims the simple writing of the time. Thus a group of Muslims gradually became literate. As it was initially spoken, the Quran was recorded on tablets, bones, and the wide, flat ends of date palm fronds. Most suras were in use amongst early Muslims since they are mentioned in numerous sayings by both Sunni and Shia sources, relating Muhammad's use of the Quran as a call to Islam, the making of prayer and the manner of recitation. However, the Quran did not exist in book form at the time of Muhammad's death in 632. There is agreement among scholars that Muhammad himself did not write down the revelation.

Question: In which mountain cave did Mohammad experience his first revelation?


Answer: Medina

Question: Where did Mohammad move to found a separate Muslim community?


Answer: Badr

Question: Prisoners from which battle are thought to have helped Muslims learn to write?


Answer: date palm

Question: Vegetation from which tree served as an early recording medium for the Quran?


Answer: Quran

Question: When Muhammad dies, what had not yet been compiled as a book?


Answer: illiterate

Context: The Quran describes Muhammad as "ummi", which is traditionally interpreted as "illiterate," but the meaning is rather more complex. Medieval commentators such as Al-Tabari maintained that the term induced two meanings: first, the inability to read or write in general; second, the inexperience or ignorance of the previous books or scriptures (but they gave priority to the first meaning). Muhammad's illiteracy was taken as a sign of the genuineness of his prophethood. For example, according to Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, if Muhammad had mastered writing and reading he possibly would have been suspected of having studied the books of the ancestors. Some scholars such as Watt prefer the second meaning of "ummi" - they take it to indicate unfamiliarity with earlier sacred texts.

Question: What is the most common interpretation of the word "ummi" that the Quran applies to Muhammad?


Answer: earlier sacred texts

Question: Because Mohammed was "ummi," what would he not have known about that lent credence to his prophethood?


Answer: ummi

Question: What term does the Quran use to describe Mohammad's lack of exposure to scripture?


Answer: writing and reading

Question: What skills would have made others more suspicious that Mohammad was not getting his revelations in the way he said?


Answer: Abu Bakr

Context: Based on earlier transmitted reports, in the year 632, after the demise of Muhammad a number of his companions who knew the Quran by heart were killed in a battle by Musaylimah, the first caliph Abu Bakr (d. 634) decided to collect the book in one volume so that it could be preserved. Zayd ibn Thabit (d. 655) was the person to collect the Quran since "he used to write the Divine Inspiration for Allah's Apostle". Thus, a group of scribes, most importantly Zayd, collected the verses and produced a hand-written manuscript of the complete book. The manuscript according to Zayd remained with Abu Bakr until he died. Zayd's reaction to the task and the difficulties in collecting the Quranic material from parchments, palm-leaf stalks, thin stones and from men who knew it by heart is recorded in earlier narratives. After Abu Bakr, Hafsa bint Umar, Muhammad's widow, was entrusted with the manuscript. In about 650, the third Caliph Uthman ibn Affan (d. 656) began noticing slight differences in pronunciation of the Quran as Islam expanded beyond the Arabian Peninsula into Persia, the Levant, and North Africa. In order to preserve the sanctity of the text, he ordered a committee headed by Zayd to use Abu Bakr's copy and prepare a standard copy of the Quran. Thus, within 20 years of Muhammad's death, the Quran was committed to written form. That text became the model from which copies were made and promulgated throughout the urban centers of the Muslim world, and other versions are believed to have been destroyed. The present form of the Quran text is accepted by Muslim scholars to be the original version compiled by Abu Bakr.

Question: Which caliph decided to preserve the Quran as a single book after some of Muhammad's companions were killed in battle?


Answer: Zayd ibn Thabit

Question: Which scribe led the production of the first written Quran?


Answer: 634

Question: In which year did Abu Bakr die?


Answer: Hafsa bint Umar

Question: Who took possession of the first Quran manuscript after Abu Bakr?


Answer: Uthman ibn Affan

Question: Which caliph ordered the Quran manuscript copied and standardized?


Answer: palimpsests

Context: In 1972, in a mosque in the city of Sana'a, Yemen, manuscripts were discovered that were later proved to be the most ancient Quranic text known to exist at the time. The Sana'a manuscripts contain palimpsests, a manuscript page from which the text has been washed off to make the parchment reusable again—a practice which was common in ancient times due to scarcity of writing material. However, the faint washed-off underlying text (scriptio inferior) is still barely visible and believed to be "pre-Uthmanic" Quranic content, while the text written on top (scriptio superior) is believed to belong to Uthmanic time. Studies using radiocarbon dating indicate that the parchments are dated to the period before 671 AD with a 99 percent probability.

Question: What is the term for recycled parchments used in ancient manuscripts?


Answer: 671 AD

Question: Before which year were the Sana'a manuscripts produced?


Answer: Uthmanic

Question: What version of the Quran was the scriptio superior of the Sana'a manuscripts?


Answer: Sana'a, Yemen

Question: In which city was evidence of pre-Uthmanic Quranic writing discovered in 1972?


Answer: Hijazi

Context: In 2015, fragments of a very early Quran, dating back to 1370 years ago, were discovered in the library of the University of Birmingham, England. According to the tests carried out by Oxford University Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, "with a probability of more than 95%, the parchment was from between 568 and 645". The manuscript is written in Hijazi script, an early form of written Arabic. This is possibly the earliest extant exemplar of the Quran, but as the tests allow a range of possible dates, it cannot be said with certainty which of the existing versions is the oldest. Saudi scholar Saud al-Sarhan has expressed doubt over the age of the fragments as they contain dots and chapter separators that are believed to have originated later.

Question: What script were the Birmingham Quran fragments written in?


Answer: Arabic

Question: Which modern script descends from the script on the Birmingham Quran fragments?


Answer: dots and chapter separators

Question: What feature of the Birmingham Quran fragments' text make some doubt that it is older than other known versions of the Quran?


Answer: 1370

Question: How many years old were the Quran fragments discovered in Birmingham in 2015?


Answer: 56:79

Context: Respect for the written text of the Quran is an important element of religious faith by many Muslims, and the Quran is treated with reverence. Based on tradition and a literal interpretation of Quran 56:79 ("none shall touch but those who are clean"), some Muslims believe that they must perform a ritual cleansing with water before touching a copy of the Quran, although this view is not universal. Worn-out copies of the Quran are wrapped in a cloth and stored indefinitely in a safe place, buried in a mosque or a Muslim cemetery, or burned and the ashes buried or scattered over water.

Question: Which section of the Quran inspires some Muslims to ritually wash themselves before touching their copy?


Answer: buried or scattered over water

Question: What is done with the ashes of burned copies of the Quran?


Answer: Worn-out

Question: In what state are copies of the Quran sometime wrapped in cloth and buried?


Answer: a mosque or a Muslim cemetery

Question: Which are the safest places to inter an older copy of the Quran?


Answer: I'jaz

Context: Inimitability of the Quran (or "I'jaz") is the belief that no human speech can match the Quran in its content and form. The Quran is considered an inimitable miracle by Muslims, effective until the Day of Resurrection—and, thereby, the central proof granted to Muhammad in authentication of his prophetic status. The concept of inimitability originates in the Quran where in five different verses opponents are challenged to produce something like the Quran: "If men and sprites banded together to produce the like of this Quran they would never produce its like not though they backed one another." So the suggestion is that if there are doubts concerning the divine authorship of the Quran, come forward and create something like it. From the ninth century, numerous works appeared which studied the Quran and examined its style and content. Medieval Muslim scholars including al-Jurjani (d. 1078) and al-Baqillani (d. 1013) have written treatises on the subject, discussed its various aspects, and used linguistic approaches to study the Quran. Others argue that the Quran contains noble ideas, has inner meanings, maintained its freshness through the ages and has caused great transformations in individual level and in the history. Some scholars state that the Quran contains scientific information that agrees with modern science. The doctrine of miraculousness of the Quran is further emphasized by Muhammad's illiteracy since the unlettered prophet could not have been suspected of composing the Quran.

Question: What term indicates that the contents of the Quran cannot be reproduced in speech?


Answer: Day of Resurrection

Question: Until what day is the Quran believed to be in effect?


Answer: 1013

Question: In which year did the Medieval Muslim scholar al-Baqillani die?


Answer: al-Jurjani

Question: Which Muslim scholar studied the Quran's inimitability until his death in 1078?


Answer: sura

Context: The Quran consists of 114 chapters of varying lengths, each known as a sura. Suras are classified as Meccan or Medinan, depending on whether the verses were revealed before or after the migration of Muhammad to the city of Medina. However, a sura classified as Medinan may contain Meccan verses in it and vice versa. Sura titles are derived from a name or quality discussed in the text, or from the first letters or words of the sura. Suras are arranged roughly in order of decreasing size. The sura arrangement is thus not connected to the sequence of revelation. Each sura except the ninth starts with the Bismillah (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم), an Arabic phrase meaning "In the name of God". There are, however, still 114 occurrences of the Bismillah in the Quran, due to its presence in Quran 27:30 as the opening of Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba.

Question: What is a chapter of the Quran called?


Answer: 114

Question: How many suras are in the Quran?


Answer: Meccan or Medinan

Question: What two city-related categories divide the Quran's suras?


Answer: Bismillah

Question: Which Arabic phrase opens almost all suras?


Answer: size

Question: What determines the order in which suras are placed in the Quran?


Answer: juz'

Context: In addition to and independent of the division into suras, there are various ways of dividing the Quran into parts of approximately equal length for convenience in reading. The 30 juz' (plural ajzāʼ) can be used to read through the entire Quran in a month. Some of these parts are known by names—which are the first few words by which the juzʼ starts. A juz' is sometimes further divided into two ḥizb (plural aḥzāb), and each hizb subdivided into four rubʻ al-ahzab. The Quran is also divided into seven approximately equal parts, manzil (plural manāzil), for it to be recited in a week.

Question: What division of the Quran is used for a month-long reading?


Answer: 30

Question: How many ajzā cover the entire Quran?


Answer: two

Question: How many ahzab are in a juz'?


Answer: rubʻ al-ahzab

Question: What is the term for a subdivision of a hizb?


Answer: manzil

Question: What division is used for a week-long recital of the Quran?


Answer: natural

Context: The Quranic content is concerned with basic Islamic beliefs including the existence of God and the resurrection. Narratives of the early prophets, ethical and legal subjects, historical events of Muhammad's time, charity and prayer also appear in the Quran. The Quranic verses contain general exhortations regarding right and wrong and historical events are related to outline general moral lessons. Verses pertaining to natural phenomena have been interpreted by Muslims as an indication of the authenticity of the Quranic message.

Question: Quranic verses concerning which phenomena are thought by Muslims to authenticate its contents?


Answer: historical

Question: What types of events are related in the Quran in support of its moral teachings?


Answer: Muhammad's

Question: Historical narratives from whose time period are unique to the Quran among holy books?


Answer: one-third

Context: The doctrine of the last day and eschatology (the final fate of the universe) may be reckoned as the second great doctrine of the Quran. It is estimated that approximately one-third of the Quran is eschatological, dealing with the afterlife in the next world and with the day of judgment at the end of time. There is a reference to the afterlife on most pages of the Quran and belief in the afterlife is often referred to in conjunction with belief in God as in the common expression: "Believe in God and the last day". A number of suras such as 44, 56, 75, 78, 81 and 101 are directly related to the afterlife and its preparations. Some suras indicate the closeness of the event and warn people to be prepared for the imminent day. For instance, the first verses of Sura 22, which deal with the mighty earthquake and the situations of people on that day, represent this style of divine address: "O People! Be respectful to your Lord. The earthquake of the Hour is a mighty thing."

Question: What fraction of the Quran deals with eschatology?


Answer: the final fate of the universe

Question: What general topic is eschatology about?


Answer: earthquake

Question: Which natural disaster features in Sura 22?


Answer: afterlife

Question: What topic do suras 44, 56, 75, and 101 have in common?


Answer: signs and revelations

Context: According to the Quran, God communicated with man and made his will known through signs and revelations. Prophets, or 'Messengers of God', received revelations and delivered them to humanity. The message has been identical and for all humankind. "Nothing is said to you that was not said to the messengers before you, that your lord has at his Command forgiveness as well as a most Grievous Penalty." The revelation does not come directly from God to the prophets. Angels acting as God's messengers deliver the divine revelation to them. This comes out in Quran 42:51, in which it is stated: "It is not for any mortal that God should speak to them, except by revelation, or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by his permission whatsoever He will."

Question: In what form does the Quran say God sends his messages to people?


Answer: Angels

Question: Who intermediates between God and prophets?


Answer: 42:51

Question: Which part of the Quran describes God's use of intermediaries between himself and his prophets?


Answer: Prophets

Question: Which humans are the messengers of God?


Answer: identical

Question: How does the Quran describe the similarity of messages God has delivered throughout human history?


Answer: Belief

Context: Belief is a fundamental aspect of morality in the Quran, and scholars have tried to determine the semantic contents of "belief" and "believer" in the Quran. The ethico-legal concepts and exhortations dealing with righteous conduct are linked to a profound awareness of God, thereby emphasizing the importance of faith, accountability, and the belief in each human's ultimate encounter with God. People are invited to perform acts of charity, especially for the needy. Believers who "spend of their wealth by night and by day, in secret and in public" are promised that they "shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve". It also affirms family life by legislating on matters of marriage, divorce, and inheritance. A number of practices, such as usury and gambling, are prohibited. The Quran is one of the fundamental sources of Islamic law (sharia). Some formal religious practices receive significant attention in the Quran including the formal prayers (salat) and fasting in the month of Ramadan. As for the manner in which the prayer is to be conducted, the Quran refers to prostration. The term for charity, zakat, literally means purification. Charity, according to the Quran, is a means of self-purification.

Question: What mental state is the foundation of morality as described by the Quran?


Answer: usury and gambling

Question: What finance-related acts are forbidden by the Quran?


Answer: salat

Question: What is the name of the formal prayer proscribed by the Quran?


Answer: Ramadan

Question: Which month is designated for fasting in the Quran?


Answer: charity

Question: The Quran uses a term that also means purification for what social act?


Answer: Nidhal Guessoum

Context: The astrophysicist Nidhal Guessoum while being highly critical of pseudo-scientific claims made about the Quran, has highlighted the encouragement for sciences that the Quran provides by developing "the concept of knowledge.". He writes: "The Qur'an draws attention to the danger of conjecturing without evidence (And follow not that of which you have not the (certain) knowledge of... 17:36) and in several different verses asks Muslims to require proofs (Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful 2:111), both in matters of theological belief and in natural science." Guessoum cites Ghaleb Hasan on the definition of "proof" according the Quran being "clear and strong... convincing evidence or argument." Also, such a proof cannot rely on an argument from authority, citing verse 5:104. Lastly, both assertions and rejections require a proof, according to verse 4:174. Ismail al-Faruqi and Taha Jabir Alalwani are of the view that any reawakening of the Muslim civilization must start with the Quran; however, the biggest obstacle on this route is the "centuries old heritage of tafseer (exegesis) and other classical disciplines" which inhibit a "universal, epidemiological and systematic conception" of the Quran's message. The philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, considered the Quran's methodology and epistemology to be empirical and rational.

Question: Which astrophysicist has written about the ways the Quran encourages scientific thinking?


Answer: proof

Question: Verse 2:111 of the Quran supports which aspect of scientific thought and practice?


Answer: Ghaleb Hasan

Question: Whose scholarship on the concept of proof in the Quran does Guessoum cite?


Answer: Muhammad Iqbal

Question: Which philosopher believed the Quran had a rational and empirical basis like science?


Answer: 750

Context: It's generally accepted that there are around 750 verses in the Quran dealing with natural phenomenon. In many of these verses the study of nature is "encouraged and highly recommended," and historical Islamic scientists like Al-Biruni and Al-Battani derived their inspiration from verses of the Quran. Mohammad Hashim Kamali has the stated that "scientific observation, experimental knowledge and rationality" are the primary tools with which humanity can achieve the goals laid out for it in the Quran. Ziauddin Sardar built a case for Muslims having developed the foundations of modern science, by highlighting the repeated calls of the Quran to observe and reflect upon natural phenomenon. "The 'scientific method,' as it is understood today, was first developed by Muslim scientists" like Ibn al-Haytham and Al-Biruni, along with numerous other Muslim scientists.

Question: Nature and its phenomena are mentioned in approximately how many of the Quran's verses?


Answer: Quran

Question: Al-Battani is an example of a Muslim scientist who drew inspiration from which text?


Answer: Mohammad Hashim Kamali

Question: Who recommended science as a way to achieve the goals of the Quran?


Answer: Ziauddin Sardar

Question: Who argued that the Quran inspired the first practitioners of the scientific method we use today?


Answer: Muslim

Question: Al-Biruni is a example of a scientists of which religion?


Answer: Abdus Salam

Context: The physicist Abdus Salam, in his Nobel Prize banquet address, quoted a well known verse from the Quran (67:3-4) and then stated: "This in effect is the faith of all physicists: the deeper we seek, the more is our wonder excited, the more is the dazzlement of our gaze". One of Salam's core beliefs was that there is no contradiction between Islam and the discoveries that science allows humanity to make about nature and the universe. Salam also held the opinion that the Quran and the Islamic spirit of study and rational reflection was the source of extraordinary civilizational development. Salam highlights, in particular, the work of Ibn al-Haytham and Al-Biruni as the pioneers of empiricism who introduced the experimental approach, breaking way from Aristotle's influence, and thus giving birth to modern science. Salam was also careful to differentiate between metaphysics and physics, and advised against empirically probing certain matters on which "physics is silent and will remain so," such as the doctrine of "creation from nothing" which in Salam's view is outside the limits of science and thus "gives way" to religious considerations.

Question: Which physicist quoted the Quran in his address after receiving the Nobel Prize?


Answer: 67:3-4

Question: Which verse from the Quran did Abdus Salam quote at his Nobel banquet?


Answer: Ibn al-Haytham and Al-Biruni

Question: Which two Muslim scientists did Salam celebrate as inventors of empirical methods?


Answer: metaphysics

Question: Salam suggests physics and science be kept separate from which topics which are more suited to religion?


Answer: rhymed prose

Context: The language of the Quran has been described as "rhymed prose" as it partakes of both poetry and prose; however, this description runs the risk of failing to convey the rhythmic quality of Quranic language, which is more poetic in some parts and more prose-like in others. Rhyme, while found throughout the Quran, is conspicuous in many of the earlier Meccan suras, in which relatively short verses throw the rhyming words into prominence. The effectiveness of such a form is evident for instance in Sura 81, and there can be no doubt that these passages impressed the conscience of the hearers. Frequently a change of rhyme from one set of verses to another signals a change in the subject of discussion. Later sections also preserve this form but the style is more expository.

Question: What description of the writing in the Quran highlights its poetic aspect?


Answer: earlier Meccan suras

Question: Which suras in the Quran are particularly rhythmic?


Answer: subject of discussion

Question: What often changes along with the rhyming of Quranic verses?


Answer: Later

Question: Which parts of the Quran are the least poetic?


Answer: continuity

Context: The Quranic text seems to have no beginning, middle, or end, its nonlinear structure being akin to a web or net. The textual arrangement is sometimes considered to exhibit lack of continuity, absence of any chronological or thematic order and repetitiousness. Michael Sells, citing the work of the critic Norman O. Brown, acknowledges Brown's observation that the seeming disorganization of Quranic literary expression – its scattered or fragmented mode of composition in Sells's phrase – is in fact a literary device capable of delivering profound effects as if the intensity of the prophetic message were shattering the vehicle of human language in which it was being communicated. Sells also addresses the much-discussed repetitiveness of the Quran, seeing this, too, as a literary device.

Question: What is lacking in the arrangement of the Quranic text?


Answer: Norman O. Brown

Question: To which critic does Michael Sells refer on the subject of the Quran's disorganization?


Answer: a literary device

Question: How does Sells describe the Quran's repetitiveness?


Answer: Michael Sells

Question: Which scholar believes the Quran's fragmentary writing style is an effective literary device for a prophetic message?


Answer: Self-referentiality

Context: A text is self-referential when it speaks about itself and makes reference to itself. According to Stefan Wild, the Quran demonstrates this metatextuality by explaining, classifying, interpreting and justifying the words to be transmitted. Self-referentiality is evident in those passages where the Quran refers to itself as revelation (tanzil), remembrance (dhikr), news (naba'), criterion (furqan) in a self-designating manner (explicitly asserting its Divinity, "And this is a blessed Remembrance that We have sent down; so are you now denying it?"), or in the frequent appearance of the "Say" tags, when Muhammad is commanded to speak (e.g., "Say: 'God's guidance is the true guidance' ", "Say: 'Would you then dispute with us concerning God?' "). According to Wild the Quran is highly self-referential. The feature is more evident in early Meccan suras.

Question: What metatextual character does Stefan Wild focus on in his discussion of the Quran?


Answer: Divinity

Question: What quality does the Quran claim in the different ways in which it refers to itself?


Answer: naba'

Question: Which term that the Quran uses for itself means "news"?


Answer: early Meccan suras

Question: The Quran is more self-referential in which of its suras?


Answer: Tafsir

Context: Tafsir is one of the earliest academic activities of Muslims. According to the Quran, Muhammad was the first person who described the meanings of verses for early Muslims. Other early exegetes included a few Companions of Muhammad, like ʻAli ibn Abi Talib, ʻAbdullah ibn Abbas, ʻAbdullah ibn Umar and Ubayy ibn Kaʻb. Exegesis in those days was confined to the explanation of literary aspects of the verse, the background of its revelation and, occasionally, interpretation of one verse with the help of the other. If the verse was about a historical event, then sometimes a few traditions (hadith) of Muhammad were narrated to make its meaning clear.

Question: What is the name of the activity of explaining what Quranic verses mean?


Answer: Muhammad

Question: Who was the first practitioner of Tafsir?


Answer: Tafsir

Question: What is the Arabic term for Quranic exegesis?


Answer: Companions of Muhammad

Question: Who were 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas?


Answer: classical Arabic

Context: Because the Quran is spoken in classical Arabic, many of the later converts to Islam (mostly non-Arabs) did not always understand the Quranic Arabic, they did not catch allusions that were clear to early Muslims fluent in Arabic and they were concerned with reconciling apparent conflict of themes in the Quran. Commentators erudite in Arabic explained the allusions, and perhaps most importantly, explained which Quranic verses had been revealed early in Muhammad's prophetic career, as being appropriate to the very earliest Muslim community, and which had been revealed later, canceling out or "abrogating" (nāsikh) the earlier text (mansūkh). Other scholars, however, maintain that no abrogation has taken place in the Quran. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has published a ten-volume Urdu commentary on the Quran, with the name Tafseer e Kabir.

Question: In which language is the Quran recited?


Answer: nāsikh

Question: What is the Arabic term for the cancellation of one part of the Quran by another?


Answer: Tafseer e Kabir

Question: What is the name of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community's published Quran commentary?


Answer: mansūkh

Question: What is the term for earlier portions of the Quran that may have been superseded by later parts?


Answer: Urdu

Question: In which language is the Tafseer e Kabir written?


Answer: Esoteric

Context: Esoteric or Sufi interpretation attempts to unveil the inner meanings of the Quran. Sufism moves beyond the apparent (zahir) point of the verses and instead relates Quranic verses to the inner or esoteric (batin) and metaphysical dimensions of consciousness and existence. According to Sands, esoteric interpretations are more suggestive than declarative, they are allusions (isharat) rather than explanations (tafsir). They indicate possibilities as much as they demonstrate the insights of each writer.

Question: What is another term for Sufi Quranic interpretation?


Answer: zahir

Question: What Arabic word describes the aspects of Quranic verses that Sufism tries to push beyond?


Answer: isharat

Question: What is an Arabic term for allusions?


Answer: allusions

Question: Sands says Sufi interpretations tend to use which literary device rather than direct explanation?


Answer: Sufi

Context: Moses, in 7:143, comes the way of those who are in love, he asks for a vision but his desire is denied, he is made to suffer by being commanded to look at other than the Beloved while the mountain is able to see God. The mountain crumbles and Moses faints at the sight of God's manifestation upon the mountain. In Qushayri's words, Moses came like thousands of men who traveled great distances, and there was nothing left to Moses of Moses. In that state of annihilation from himself, Moses was granted the unveiling of the realities. From the Sufi point of view, God is the always the beloved and the wayfarer's longing and suffering lead to realization of the truths.

Question: Beloved is a term for God used by which style of Quranic interpretation?


Answer: 7:143

Question: Which Quranic verse describes Moses' encounter with God at the mountain?


Answer: longing and suffering

Question: In Sufi thought, what experiences bring one closer to truth?


Answer: Qushayri

Question: Who wrote that Moses had lost the Moses in himself along the way to his encounter with God?


Answer: Sulami

Context: One of the notable authors of esoteric interpretation prior to the 12th century is Sulami (d. 1021) without whose work the majority of very early Sufi commentaries would not have been preserved. Sulami's major commentary is a book named haqaiq al-tafsir ("Truths of Exegesis") which is a compilation of commentaries of earlier Sufis. From the 11th century onwards several other works appear, including commentaries by Qushayri (d. 1074), Daylami (d. 1193), Shirazi (d. 1209) and Suhrawardi (d. 1234). These works include material from Sulami's books plus the author's contributions. Many works are written in Persian such as the works of Maybudi (d. 1135) kash al-asrar ("the unveiling of the secrets"). Rumi (d. 1273) wrote a vast amount of mystical poetry in his book Mathnawi. Rumi makes heavy use of the Quran in his poetry, a feature that is sometimes omitted in translations of Rumi's work. A large number of Quranic passages can be found in Mathnawi, which some consider a kind of Sufi interpretation of the Quran. Rumi's book is not exceptional for containing citations from and elaboration on the Quran, however, Rumi does mention Quran more frequently. Simnani (d. 1336) wrote two influential works of esoteric exegesis on the Quran. He reconciled notions of God's manifestation through and in the physical world with the sentiments of Sunni Islam. Comprehensive Sufi commentaries appear in the 18th century such as the work of Ismail Hakki Bursevi (d. 1725). His work ruh al-Bayan (the Spirit of Elucidation) is a voluminous exegesis. Written in Arabic, it combines the author's own ideas with those of his predecessors (notably Ibn Arabi and Ghazali), all woven together in Hafiz, a Persian poetry form.

Question: Who was an important esoteric interpreter of the Quran in the 11th century?


Answer: Truths of Exegesis

Question: What is the English name of Sulami's major work?


Answer: Persian

Question: In which language did Maybudi write?


Answer: Ismail Hakki Bursevi

Question: Which Sufi commentator wrote the Spirit of Elucidation?


Answer: 1273

Question: In which year did the poet Rumi die?


Answer: zahir

Context: Commentaries dealing with the zahir (outward aspects) of the text are called tafsir, and hermeneutic and esoteric commentaries dealing with the batin are called ta'wil ("interpretation" or "explanation"), which involves taking the text back to its beginning. Commentators with an esoteric slant believe that the ultimate meaning of the Quran is known only to God. In contrast, Quranic literalism, followed by Salafis and Zahiris, is the belief that the Quran should only be taken at its apparent meaning.[citation needed]

Question: What is the Arabic term for the surface-level aspects of a text?


Answer: ta'wil

Question: What Arabic term applies to interpretations aimed at the deeper, esoteric meanings of a text?


Answer: God

Question: Who is the only one who ever knows the full meaning of Quranic verses in the esoteric view?


Answer: Salafis and Zahiris

Question: Which two groups are examples of Muslims who advocate a very literal reading of the Quran?


Answer: Persian

Context: The first fully attested complete translations of the Quran were done between the 10th and 12th centuries in Persian. The Samanid king, Mansur I (961-976), ordered a group of scholars from Khorasan to translate the Tafsir al-Tabari, originally in Arabic, into Persian. Later in the 11th century, one of the students of Abu Mansur Abdullah al-Ansari wrote a complete tafsir of the Quran in Persian. In the 12th century, Najm al-Din Abu Hafs al-Nasafi translated the Quran into Persian. The manuscripts of all three books have survived and have been published several times.[citation needed]

Question: In which language was the Quran first translated?


Answer: Tafsir al-Tabari

Question: Which work did scribes from Khorasan translate in the 10th century?


Answer: Abu Mansur Abdullah al-Ansari

Question: Whose student wrote a Persian tafsir of the Quran in the 11th century?


Answer: Najm al-Din Abu Hafs al-Nasafi

Question: Who wrote a Persian translation of the Quran in the 12th century?


Answer: Samanid

Question: To which dynasty did the king who commissioned the first translation of Quranic texts belong?


Answer: 1143

Context: Robert of Ketton's 1143 translation of the Quran for Peter the Venerable, Lex Mahumet pseudoprophete, was the first into a Western language (Latin). Alexander Ross offered the first English version in 1649, from the French translation of L'Alcoran de Mahomet (1647) by Andre du Ryer. In 1734, George Sale produced the first scholarly translation of the Quran into English; another was produced by Richard Bell in 1937, and yet another by Arthur John Arberry in 1955. All these translators were non-Muslims. There have been numerous translations by Muslims. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has published translations of the Quran in 50 different languages besides a five-volume English commentary and an English translation of the Quran.

Question: In which year was the Quran first translated into a Western language?


Answer: Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Question: Which organization offers versions of the Quran in 50 languages?


Answer: Andre du Ryer

Question: Whose French translation of the Quran was the model for the first English version?


Answer: Robert of Ketton

Question: Who completed the first Latin version of the Quran?


Answer: English

Question: In which language was Alexander Ross' version of the Quran published in 1649?


Answer: tajwid

Context: The proper recitation of the Quran is the subject of a separate discipline named tajwid which determines in detail how the Quran should be recited, how each individual syllable is to be pronounced, the need to pay attention to the places where there should be a pause, to elisions, where the pronunciation should be long or short, where letters should be sounded together and where they should be kept separate, etc. It may be said that this discipline studies the laws and methods of the proper recitation of the Quran and covers three main areas: the proper pronunciation of consonants and vowels (the articulation of the Quranic phonemes), the rules of pause in recitation and of resumption of recitation, and the musical and melodious features of recitation.

Question: What discipline concerns the way the Quran is correctly recited?


Answer: pronunciation

Question: Tajwid deals with what aspect of the phonemes in the Quran?


Answer: pause in recitation

Question: Tajwid describes rules for what noiseless aspect of articulating Quranic verses?


Answer: musical and melodious

Question: Rhythm is an example of which features of Quranic recitation covered by tajwid?


Answer: Vocalization markers

Context: Vocalization markers indicating specific vowel sounds were introduced into the Arabic language by the end of the 9th century. The first Quranic manuscripts lacked these marks, therefore several recitations remain acceptable. The variation in readings of the text permitted by the nature of the defective vocalization led to an increase in the number of readings during the 10th century. The 10th-century Muslim scholar from Baghdad, Ibn Mujāhid, is famous for establishing seven acceptable textual readings of the Quran. He studied various readings and their trustworthiness and chose seven 8th-century readers from the cities of Mecca, Medina, Kufa, Basra and Damascus. Ibn Mujahid did not explain why he chose seven readers, rather than six or ten, but this may be related to a prophetic tradition (Muhammad's saying) reporting that the Quran had been revealed in seven "ahruf" (meaning seven letters or modes). Today, the most popular readings are those transmitted by Ḥafṣ (d.796) and Warsh (d. 812) which are according to two of Ibn Mujahid's reciters, Aasim ibn Abi al-Najud (Kufa, d. 745) and Nafi‘ al-Madani (Medina, d. 785), respectively. The influential standard Quran of Cairo (1924) uses an elaborate system of modified vowel-signs and a set of additional symbols for minute details and is based on ʻAsim's recitation, the 8th-century recitation of Kufa. This edition has become the standard for modern printings of the Quran.

Question: The absence of which language feature made early Quranic recitation more diverse?


Answer: Ibn Mujāhid

Question: Which Baghdad scholar identified justified seven different Quranic readings?


Answer: 8th

Question: Which century produced the seven readings selected by Ibn Mujāhid?


Answer: ʻAsim's

Question: Which recitation is the original basis of the Quran of Cairo?


Answer: Kufa

Question: Which city corresponds to Asim's recitation of the Quran?


Answer: calligraphers and copyists

Context: Before printing was widely adopted in the 19th century, the Quran was transmitted in manuscripts made by calligraphers and copyists. The earliest manuscripts were written in Ḥijāzī-type script. The Hijazi style manuscripts nevertheless confirm that transmission of the Quran in writing began at an early stage. Probably in the ninth century, scripts began to feature thicker strokes, which are traditionally known as Kufic scripts. Toward the end of the ninth century, new scripts began to appear in copies of the Quran and replace earlier scripts. The reason for discontinuation in the use of the earlier style was that it took too long to produce and the demand for copies was increasing. Copyists would therefore chose simpler writing styles. Beginning in the 11th century, the styles of writing employed were primarily the naskh, muhaqqaq, rayḥānī and, on rarer occasions, the thuluth script. Naskh was in very widespread use. In North Africa and Spain, the Maghribī style was popular. More distinct is the Bihari script which was used solely in the north of India. Nastaʻlīq style was also rarely used in Persian world.

Question: Who created Quranic manuscripts before the 19th century?


Answer: Kufic scripts

Question: What is the name of the thicker-stroked writing used for the Quran beginning in the 9th century?


Answer: naskh

Question: Which was the most widely used script by copyists in the 11th century?


Answer: North Africa and Spain

Question: Where was the Maghribi script most commonly used by Quran copyists?


Answer: Bihari

Question: Which script was only used to copy the Quran by people in northern India?


Answer: ninth century

Context: In the beginning, the Quran did not have vocalization markings. The system of vocalization, as we know it today, seems to have been introduced towards the end of the ninth century. Since it would have been too costly for most Muslims to purchase a manuscript, copies of the Quran were held in mosques in order to make them accessible to people. These copies frequently took the form of a series of 30 parts or juzʼ. In terms of productivity, the Ottoman copyists provide the best example. This was in response to widespread demand, unpopularity of printing methods and for aesthetic reasons.

Question: In which century were vocalization marking added to the Quran?


Answer: mosques

Question: Where were Quran copies kept for those who could not afford their own?


Answer: juzʼ

Question: What are the parts of the Quran called that are 30 in total?


Answer: Ottoman

Question: Which group of Quran copyists produced the most in-demand manuscripts?


Answer: Moses

Context: According to Sahih al-Bukhari, the Quran was recited among Levantines and Iraqis, and discussed by Christians and Jews, before it was standardized. Its language was similar to the Syriac language.[citation needed] The Quran recounts stories of many of the people and events recounted in Jewish and Christian sacred books (Tanakh, Bible) and devotional literature (Apocrypha, Midrash), although it differs in many details. Adam, Enoch, Noah, Eber, Shelah, Abraham, Lot, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Jethro, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Aaron, Moses, Zechariah, John the Baptist and Jesus are mentioned in the Quran as prophets of God (see Prophets of Islam). In fact, Moses is mentioned more in the Quran than any other individual. Jesus is mentioned more often in the Quran than Muhammad, while Mary is mentioned in the Quran more than the New Testament. Muslims believe the common elements or resemblances between the Bible and other Jewish and Christian writings and Islamic dispensations is due to their common divine source,[citation needed] and that the original Christian or Jewish texts were authentic divine revelations given to prophets.

Question: Which Biblical character is the most often mentioned person in the Quran?


Answer: Sahih al-Bukhari

Question: Who has claimed that Christians and Jews had heard and discussed the Quran before it took on its standardized Arabic form?


Answer: Syriac

Question: Which older language is thought to strongly resemble that of the Quran?


Answer: Mary

Question: Which relative of Jesus appears more often in the Quran than the New Testament?


Answer: common divine source

Question: What do devout Muslims believe is the reason for the overlap of events and characters in the Bible and Quran?


Answer: acceptable and unacceptable

Context: According to Tabatabaei, there are acceptable and unacceptable esoteric interpretations. Acceptable ta'wil refers to the meaning of a verse beyond its literal meaning; rather the implicit meaning, which ultimately is known only to God and can't be comprehended directly through human thought alone. The verses in question here refer to the human qualities of coming, going, sitting, satisfaction, anger and sorrow, which are apparently attributed to God. Unacceptable ta'wil is where one "transfers" the apparent meaning of a verse to a different meaning by means of a proof; this method is not without obvious inconsistencies. Although this unacceptable ta'wil has gained considerable acceptance, it is incorrect and cannot be applied to the Quranic verses. The correct interpretation is that reality a verse refers to. It is found in all verses, the decisive and the ambiguous alike; it is not a sort of a meaning of the word; it is a fact that is too sublime for words. God has dressed them with words to bring them a bit nearer to our minds; in this respect they are like proverbs that are used to create a picture in the mind, and thus help the hearer to clearly grasp the intended idea.

Question: What are the two type of ta'wil?


Answer: Unacceptable

Question: Which type of esoteric interpretation involves a transfer by proof of a verse's meaning?


Answer: Acceptable

Question: The implicit meaning of a Quranic verse that is known fully only by God is which type of ta'wil?


Answer: his companions

Context: The Quran most likely existed in scattered written form during Muhammad's lifetime. Several sources indicate that during Muhammad's lifetime a large number of his companions had memorized the revelations. Early commentaries and Islamic historical sources support the above-mentioned understanding of the Quran's early development. The Quran in its present form is generally considered by academic scholars to record the words spoken by Muhammad because the search for variants has not yielded any differences of great significance.[page needed] University of Chicago professor Fred Donner states that "...there was a very early attempt to establish a uniform consonantal text of the Qurʾān from what was probably a wider and more varied group of related texts in early transmission. [...] After the creation of this standardized canonical text, earlier authoritative texts were suppressed, and all extant manuscripts—despite their numerous variants—seem to date to a time after this standard consonantal text was established." Although most variant readings of the text of the Quran have ceased to be transmitted, some still are. There has been no critical text produced on which a scholarly reconstruction of the Quranic text could be based. Historically, controversy over the Quran's content has rarely become an issue, although debates continue on the subject.

Question: Who had begun memorizing Muhammad's revelations in his lifetime?


Answer: standardized

Question: What was done to the Quranic text early in its history leaving few markedly different variants?


Answer: University of Chicago

Question: Which which university is Fred Donner affiliated?


Answer: Muhammad

Question: The Quran is widely accepted by historians to contain a relatively accurate record of whose words?


Answer: seizures

Context: Sahih al-Bukhari narrates Muhammad describing the revelations as, "Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell" and Aisha reported, "I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over)." Muhammad's first revelation, according to the Quran, was accompanied with a vision. The agent of revelation is mentioned as the "one mighty in power", the one who "grew clear to view when he was on the uppermost horizon. Then he drew nigh and came down till he was (distant) two bows' length or even nearer." The Islamic studies scholar Welch states in the Encyclopaedia of Islam that he believes the graphic descriptions of Muhammad's condition at these moments may be regarded as genuine, because he was severely disturbed after these revelations. According to Welch, these seizures would have been seen by those around him as convincing evidence for the superhuman origin of Muhammad's inspirations. However, Muhammad's critics accused him of being a possessed man, a soothsayer or a magician since his experiences were similar to those claimed by such figures well known in ancient Arabia. Welch additionally states that it remains uncertain whether these experiences occurred before or after Muhammad's initial claim of prophethood.

Question: What physical symptom accompanied Muhammad's revelations?


Answer: two bows' length

Question: What measure of distance described the nearness of the Angel's approach to Mohammad?


Answer: Encyclopaedia of Islam

Question: In which work did Welch express his belief that Mohammad's physical reaction to the revelation was historically accurate?


Answer: a possessed man, a soothsayer or a magician

Question: Which people would Mohammad's critics have compared him to at the time?


Answer: "to return" or "the returning place"

Context: Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei says that according to the popular explanation among the later exegetes, ta'wil indicates the particular meaning a verse is directed towards. The meaning of revelation (tanzil), as opposed to ta'wil, is clear in its accordance to the obvious meaning of the words as they were revealed. But this explanation has become so widespread that, at present, it has become the primary meaning of ta'wil, which originally meant "to return" or "the returning place". In Tabatabaei's view, what has been rightly called ta'wil, or hermeneutic interpretation of the Quran, is not concerned simply with the denotation of words. Rather, it is concerned with certain truths and realities that transcend the comprehension of the common run of men; yet it is from these truths and realities that the principles of doctrine and the practical injunctions of the Quran issue forth. Interpretation is not the meaning of the verse—rather it transpires through that meaning, in a special sort of transpiration. There is a spiritual reality—which is the main objective of ordaining a law, or the basic aim in describing a divine attribute—and then there is an actual significance that a Quranic story refers to.

Question: What was the original meaning of ta'wil?


Answer: a spiritual reality

Question: What can interpretation find that lies the behind the apparent events referred to in a Quranic story?


Answer: hermeneutic

Question: What philosophical term corresponds to the type of interpretation in ta'wil?


Answer: imams

Context: According to Shia beliefs, those who are firmly rooted in knowledge like Muhammad and the imams know the secrets of the Quran. According to Tabatabaei, the statement "none knows its interpretation except God" remains valid, without any opposing or qualifying clause. Therefore, so far as this verse is concerned, the knowledge of the Quran's interpretation is reserved for God. But Tabatabaei uses other verses and concludes that those who are purified by God know the interpretation of the Quran to a certain extent.

Question: Who do Shia Muslims believe can approach Quranic truths besides God and Muhammad?


Answer: God

Question: According to Shia Muslims, who is the only one who can fully know the a Quranic interpretation?


Answer: purified

Question: How must God have treated those who are qualified to know Quranic sectets?


Answer: A great power

Context: A great power is a sovereign state that is recognized as having the ability and expertise to exert its influence on a global scale. Great powers characteristically possess military and economic strength, as well as diplomatic and soft power influence, which may cause middle or small powers to consider the great powers' opinions before taking actions of their own. International relations theorists have posited that great power status can be characterized into power capabilities, spatial aspects, and status dimensions. Sometimes the status of great powers is formally recognized in conferences such as the Congress of Vienna or an international structure such as the United Nations Security Council (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States serve as the body's five permanent members). At the same time the status of great powers can be informally recognized in a forum such as the G7 which consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Question: What is a nation which can exert its influence on a global scale called?


Answer: military and economic strength

Question: What two dominant traits do great powers usually possess?


Answer: United Nations Security Council

Question: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States serve as what body's five permanent members?


Answer: diplomatic and soft power influence

Question: What two lesser traits do great powers usually possess?


Answer: the G7

Question: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States are part of what international forum?


Answer: military and economic strength, as well as diplomatic and soft power influence

Question: What do great powers usually have?


Answer: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Question: What are the permanent members of UN Security Council?


Answer: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America

Question: What are the countries in the G7?


Answer: power capabilities, spatial aspects, and status dimensions

Question: What 3 factors have international relations theorists considered factors for great power status?


Answer: Europe

Context: The term "great power" was first used to represent the most important powers in Europe during the post-Napoleonic era. The "Great Powers" constituted the "Concert of Europe" and claimed the right to joint enforcement of the postwar treaties. The formalization of the division between small powers and great powers came about with the signing of the Treaty of Chaumont in 1814. Since then, the international balance of power has shifted numerous times, most dramatically during World War I and World War II. While some nations are widely considered to be great powers, there is no definitive list of them. In literature, alternative terms for great power are often world power or major power, but these terms can also be interchangeable with superpower.

Question: The term "great power" was first used on which continent?


Answer: Treaty of Chaumont

Question: Which treaty made the distinction of small powers and great powers a formal affair?


Answer: 1814

Question: What year was this treaty signed?


Answer: World War I and World War II

Question: During which two wars has the balance of power shifted the most dramatically?


Answer: superpower

Question: What is another more modern term used in place of "great power"?


Answer: Treaty of Chaumont

Question: What was the formalization of the division of small powers and great powers?


Answer: Europe

Question: During the post Napoleonic era where were the first Great Powers concentrated?


Answer: superpower

Question: What is another term for Great Power?


Answer: World War I and World War II

Question: During what 2 wars was the balance of power shift most dramatic?


Answer: strength for war

Context: Early writings on the subject tended to judge states by the realist criterion, as expressed by the historian A. J. P. Taylor when he noted that "The test of a great power is the test of strength for war." Later writers have expanded this test, attempting to define power in terms of overall military, economic, and political capacity. Kenneth Waltz, the founder of the neorealist theory of international relations, uses a set of five criteria to determine great power: population and territory; resource endowment; economic capability; political stability and competence; and military strength. These expanded criteria can be divided into three heads: power capabilities, spatial aspects, and status.

Question: What one criteria was used in early times to judge a great power's status?


Answer: economic, and political

Question: Besides military, what two other capacities were used to describe great powers in later times?


Answer: Kenneth Waltz

Question: Who is the founder of the neorealist theory of international relations?


Answer: five

Question: How many criteria are used to judge a great power in the neorealist theory?


Answer: A. J. P. Taylor

Question: Who wrote, "The test of a great power is the test of strength for war."?


Answer: population and territory; resource endowment; economic capability; political stability and competence; and military strength

Question: What 5 criteria did neorealist use to determine great powers?


Answer: Kenneth Waltz

Question: Whos was the founder of the neorealist theory of international relations?


Answer: power capabilities, spatial aspects, and status

Question: What 3 areas can summarize the great power determination?


Answer: interests, actions, or projected power

Context: All states have a geographic scope of interests, actions, or projected power. This is a crucial factor in distinguishing a great power from a regional power; by definition the scope of a regional power is restricted to its region. It has been suggested that a great power should be possessed of actual influence throughout the scope of the prevailing international system. Arnold J. Toynbee, for example, observes that "Great power may be defined as a political force exerting an effect co-extensive with the widest range of the society in which it operates. The Great powers of 1914 were 'world-powers' because Western society had recently become 'world-wide'."

Question: What three things do all states have in their geographic scope?


Answer: Western

Question: Which societal values had become world-wide by 1914?


Answer: its region

Question: What is the scope of a regional power restricted to?


Answer: actual influence

Question: What should a great power possess?


Answer: world-powers

Question: What were the great powers of 1914 called?


Answer: Arnold J. Toynbee

Question: Who stated that "Great power may be defined as a political force exerting an effect co-extensive with the widest range of the society in which it operates. The Great powers of 1914 were 'world-powers"?


Answer: geographic scope of interests, actions, or projected power

Question: What do all states have?


Answer: great power

Question: What type of powers should have actual influence throughout the scope of the prevailing international system?


Answer: regional power

Question: What type of power is restricted to its region?


Answer: political and diplomatic questions of the day

Context: Other important criteria throughout history are that great powers should have enough influence to be included in discussions of political and diplomatic questions of the day, and have influence on the final outcome and resolution. Historically, when major political questions were addressed, several great powers met to discuss them. Before the era of groups like the United Nations, participants of such meetings were not officially named, but were decided based on their great power status. These were conferences which settled important questions based on major historical events. This might mean deciding the political resolution of various geographical and nationalist claims following a major conflict, or other contexts.

Question: What discussion should great powers be included on?


Answer: when major political questions were addressed

Question: Historically, when would great powers meet?


Answer: political resolution of various geographical and nationalist claims following a major conflict, or other contexts

Question: What types of decisions would great powers reach?


Answer: in a letter sent on February 13, 1814

Context: Lord Castlereagh, the British Foreign Secretary, first used the term in its diplomatic context, in a letter sent on February 13, 1814: "It affords me great satisfaction to acquaint you that there is every prospect of the Congress terminating with a general accord and Guarantee between the Great powers of Europe, with a determination to support the arrangement agreed upon, and to turn the general influence and if necessary the general arms against the Power that shall first attempt to disturb the Continental peace."

Question: When did Lord Castlereagh first use the term Great Powers?


Answer: British Foreign Secretary

Question: What position did Lord Castlereagh hold?


Answer: if necessary the general arms against the Power that shall first attempt to disturb the Continental peace

Question: What did Castlereagh determine as the last resort of great power's influence?


Answer: only France and the United Kingdom

Context: Of the five original great powers recognised at the Congress of Vienna, only France and the United Kingdom have maintained that status continuously to the present day, although France was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War and occupied during World War II. After the Congress of Vienna, the British Empire emerged as the pre-eminent power, due to its navy and the extent of its territories, which signalled the beginning of the Pax Britannica and of the Great Game between the UK and Russia. The balance of power between the Great Powers became a major influence in European politics, prompting Otto von Bismarck to say "All politics reduces itself to this formula: try to be one of three, as long as the world is governed by the unstable equilibrium of five great powers."

Question: What 2 powers named in the 5 orignal great powers of the congress of vienna have maintained that status?


Answer: British Empire

Question: What country emerged as the pre-eminent power, due to its navy and the extent of its territories?


Answer: France

Question: What country lost Franco-Prussian war?


Answer: European

Question: Balance of power of great powers was a major influence on what continents politics?


Answer: Otto von Bismarck

Question: Who stated that "All politics reduces itself to this formula: try to be one of three, as long as the world is governed by the unstable equilibrium of five great powers.?"


Answer: relative power of these five nations fluctuated

Context: Over time, the relative power of these five nations fluctuated, which by the dawn of the 20th century had served to create an entirely different balance of power. Some, such as the United Kingdom and Prussia (as the founder of the newly formed German state), experienced continued economic growth and political power. Others, such as Russia and Austria-Hungary, stagnated. At the same time, other states were emerging and expanding in power, largely through the process of industrialization. These countries seeking to attain great power status were: Italy after the Risorgimento, Japan after the Meiji Restoration, and the United States after its civil war. By the dawn of the 20th century, the balance of world power had changed substantially since the Congress of Vienna. The Eight-Nation Alliance was a belligerent alliance of eight nations against the Boxer Rebellion in China. It formed in 1900 and consisted of the five Congress powers plus Italy, Japan, and the United States, representing the great powers at the beginning of 20th century.

Question: Was the power of the 5 countries constant?


Answer: United Kingdom and Prussia

Question: What countries found their economic growth in early 20th century?


Answer: Russia and Austria-Hungary

Question: Which of the 5 powers were beginning to stagnate in early 20th century?


Answer: Eight-Nation Alliance

Question: What agreement replaced the Congress of Vienna?


Answer: Boxer Rebellion in China.

Question: What conflict was this agreement in opposition of?


Answer: treaties of Versailles, St-Germain, Neuilly, Trianon and Sèvres

Context: Shifts of international power have most notably occurred through major conflicts. The conclusion of the Great War and the resulting treaties of Versailles, St-Germain, Neuilly, Trianon and Sèvres witnessed the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and the United States as the chief arbiters of the new world order. In the aftermath of World War I the German Empire was defeated, the Austria-Hungarian empire was divided into new, less powerful states and the Russian Empire fell to a revolution. During the Paris Peace Conference, the "Big Four"—France, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States—held noticeably more power and influence on the proceedings and outcome of the treaties than Japan. The Big Four were leading architects of the Treaty of Versailles which was signed by Germany; the Treaty of St. Germain, with Austria; the Treaty of Neuilly, with Bulgaria; the Treaty of Trianon, with Hungary; and the Treaty of Sèvres, with the Ottoman Empire. During the decision-making of the Treaty of Versailles, Italy pulled out of the conference because a part of its demands were not met and temporarily left the other three countries as the sole major architects of that treaty, referred to as the "Big Three".

Question: What marked the conclusion of The Great War?


Answer: United Kingdom, France, Italy, Japan and the United States

Question: Who were the chief arbiters of the new world order?


Answer: Big Three

Question: Who created the Treaty of Versailles?


Answer: France, Italy, United Kingdom and the United States

Question: Who were the big four?


Answer: United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Japan

Context: The victorious great powers also gained an acknowledgement of their status through permanent seats at the League of Nations Council, where they acted as a type of executive body directing the Assembly of the League. However, the Council began with only four permanent members—the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Japan—because the United States, meant to be the fifth permanent member, left because the US Senate voted on 19 March 1920 against the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, thus preventing American participation in the League.

Question: Who were the four permanent members of the League of Nations Council?


Answer: League of Nations Council

Question: What organiztion acted as acknowledgement of status of great powers?


Answer: against the ratification of the Treaty of Versailles, thus preventing American participation in the League

Question: Why was United Stated excluded from League of Nations Council?


Answer: 19 March 1920

Question: When did US Senate vote against treaty of versailles ratification?


Answer: 1939

Context: When World War II started in 1939, it divided the world into two alliances—the Allies (the United Kingdom and France at first in Europe, China in Asia since 1937, followed in 1941 by the Soviet Union, the United States); and the Axis powers consisting of Germany, Italy and Japan.[nb 1] During World War II, the United States, United Kingdom, and Soviet Union controlled Allied policy and emerged as the "Big Three". The Republic of China and the Big Three were referred as a "trusteeship of the powerful" and were recognized as the Allied "Big Four" in Declaration by United Nations in 1942. These four countries were referred as the "Four Policemen" of the Allies and considered as the primary victors of World War II. The importance of France was acknowledged by their inclusion, along with the other four, in the group of countries allotted permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council.

Question: When did World War II start?


Answer: two alliances

Question: How many groups were involved in conflict of World War II?


Answer: Allies

Question: Who were the winners of World War II?


Answer: Germany, Italy and Japan

Question: Who made up the Axis powers?


Answer: United Nations Security Council

Question: The winners of World War II along with France were allotted permanent seats for what organization?


Answer: nations with overwhelming power and influence in the rest of the world

Context: Since the end of the World Wars, the term "great power" has been joined by a number of other power classifications. Foremost among these is the concept of the superpower, used to describe those nations with overwhelming power and influence in the rest of the world. It was first coined in 1944 by William T.R. Fox and according to him, there were three superpowers: the British Empire, the United States, and the Soviet Union. But by the mid-1950s the British Empire lost its superpower status, leaving the United States and the Soviet Union as the world's superpowers.[nb 2] The term middle power has emerged for those nations which exercise a degree of global influence, but are insufficient to be decisive on international affairs. Regional powers are those whose influence is generally confined to their region of the world.

Question: What is a superpower?


Answer: William T.R. Fox

Question: Who first used the term superpower?


Answer: British Empire, the United States, and the Soviet Union

Question: Who were the three original superpowers?


Answer: British Empire

Question: Who lost their superpower status in 1950s?


Answer: those nations which exercise a degree of global influence, but are insufficient to be decisive on international affairs

Question: What are middle powers?


Answer: United Kingdom, France, and West Germany

Context: During the Cold War, the Asian power of Japan and the European powers of the United Kingdom, France, and West Germany rebuilt their economies. France and the United Kingdom maintained technologically advanced armed forces with power projection capabilities and maintain large defence budgets to this day. Yet, as the Cold War continued, authorities began to question if France and the United Kingdom could retain their long-held statuses as great powers. China, with the world's largest population, has slowly risen to great power status, with large growth in economic and military power in the post-war period. After 1949, the Republic of China began to lose its recognition as the sole legitimate government of China by the other great powers, in favour of the People's Republic of China. Subsequently, in 1971, it lost its permanent seat at the UN Security Council to the People's Republic of China.

Question: During the cold war, what European powers rebuilt their ecomonies?


Answer: 1949

Question: By what year was China beginning to lose its hold as sole legitimate government?


Answer: 1971

Question: When did China lose its permanent seat at UN security council?


Answer: 1960s

Context: According to Joshua Baron – a "researcher, lecturer, and consultant on international conflict" – since the early 1960s direct military conflicts and major confrontations have "receded into the background" with regards to relations among the great powers. Baron argues several reasons why this is the case, citing the unprecedented rise of the United States and its predominant position as the key reason. Baron highlights that since World War Two no other great power has been able to achieve parity or near parity with the United States, with the exception of the Soviet Union for a brief time. This position is unique among the great powers since the start of the modern era (the 16th century), where there has traditionally always been "tremendous parity among the great powers". This unique period of American primacy has been an important factor in maintaining a condition of peace between the great powers.

Question: Since what time has military conflicts receded?


Answer: United States

Question: What country has risen above other superpowers?


Answer: modern era (the 16th century)

Question: Since what century has there always been parity in powers?


Answer: American

Question: Who's primacy has factored into maintaining peace among powers?


Answer: military force

Context: Another important factor is the apparent consensus among Western great powers that military force is no longer an effective tool of resolving disputes among their peers. This "subset" of great powers – France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – consider maintaining a "state of peace" as desirable. As evidence, Baron outlines that since the Cuban missile crisis (1962) during the Cold War, these influential Western nations have resolved all disputes among the great powers peacefully at the United Nations and other forums of international discussion.

Question: What formerly effective tool for international disputes is no longer effective among peer powers?


Answer: France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States

Question: What great powers have maintained peace?


Answer: United Nations and other forums

Question: Where have the powers maintained peace in recent years?


Answer: Cuban missile crisis (1962

Question: What was the last crisis during cold war to escalate world powers?


Answer: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States

Context: China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States are often referred to as great powers by academics due to "their political and economic dominance of the global arena". These five nations are the only states to have permanent seats with veto power on the UN Security Council. They are also the only recognized "Nuclear Weapons States" under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and maintain military expenditures which are among the largest in the world. However, there is no unanimous agreement among authorities as to the current status of these powers or what precisely defines a great power. For example, sources have at times referred to China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom as middle powers.

Question: What countries are recognized as Nuclear Weapons States?


Answer: five

Question: How many countries are permanent seats on the UN Security Council?


Answer: China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom

Question: What other countries are referred to as middle powers?


Answer: Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Question: What treaty addresses nuclear weapons?


Answer: Japan and Germany

Context: Japan and Germany are great powers too, though due to their large advanced economies (having the third and fourth largest economies respectively) rather than their strategic and hard power capabilities (i.e., the lack of permanent seats and veto power on the UN Security Council or strategic military reach). Germany has been a member together with the five permanent Security Council members in the P5+1 grouping of world powers. Like China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom; Germany and Japan have also been referred to as middle powers.

Question: What countries are great powers mostly based on economic reasons?


Answer: UN Security Council

Question: Due to lack of strategic and hard power, countries are excluded from what?


Answer: middle powers

Question: What is the name for the grouping of countries of China, France, Russia and the United Kingdom; Germany and Japan?


Answer: India

Context: In addition to those contemporary great powers mentioned above, Zbigniew Brzezinski and Malik Mohan consider India to be a great power too. Although unlike the contemporary great powers who have long been considered so, India's recognition among authorities as a great power is comparatively recent. However, there is no collective agreement among observers as to the status of India, for example, a number of academics believe that India is emerging as a great power, while some believe that India remains a middle power.

Question: Zbigniew Brzezinski and Malik Mohan consider what country to be a great power too?


Answer: no collective agreement

Question: Is there agreement on the status of all powers?


Answer: India

Question: Many academics debate the status of this country as a power?


Answer: Germany, Italy and Japan

Context: Milena Sterio, American expert of international law, includes the former axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) and India among the great powers along with the permanent members of the UNSC. She considers Germany, Japan and Italy to be great powers due to their G7 membership and because of their influence in regional and international organizations. Various authors describe Italy as an equal major power, while others view Italy as an "intermittent great power" or as "the least of the great powers".

Question: Milena Sterio includes what former axis powers among great powers?


Answer: India

Question: What emerging power is considered a great power?


Answer: Germany, Japan and Italy

Question: What G7 members are among great powers?


Answer: Italy

Question: Which country is debated as intermittent and/or least of great powers?


Answer: European Union

Context: With continuing European integration, the European Union is increasingly being seen as a great power in its own right, with representation at the WTO and at G8 and G-20 summits. This is most notable in areas where the European Union has exclusive competence (i.e. economic affairs). It also reflects a non-traditional conception of Europe's world role as a global "civilian power", exercising collective influence in the functional spheres of trade and diplomacy, as an alternative to military dominance. The European Union is a supranational union and not a sovereign state, and has limited scope in the areas of foreign affairs and defence policy. These remain largely with the member states of the European Union, which include the three great powers of France, Germany and the United Kingdom (referred to as the "EU three").

Question: What organization is often seen as a great power in addition to member counties?


Answer: trade and diplomacy

Question: What other tools are used as alternative to military force?


Answer: three

Question: How many great powers are members of Europian Union?


Answer: WTO and at G8 and G-20

Question: What summits does EU have membership?


Answer: 64

Context: Referring to great power relations pre-1960, Joshua Baron highlights that starting from around the 16th century and the rise of several European great powers, military conflicts and confrontations was the defining characteristic of diplomacy and relations between such powers. "Between 1500 and 1953, there were 64 wars in which at least one great power was opposed to another, and they averaged little more than five years in length. In approximately a 450-year time frame, on average at least two great powers were fighting one another in each and every year." Even during the period of Pax Britannica (or "the British Peace") between 1815 and 1914, war and military confrontations among the great powers was still a frequent occurrence. In fact, Joshua Baron points out that, in terms of militarized conflicts or confrontations, the UK led the way in this period with nineteen such instances against; Russia (8), France (5), Germany/Prussia (5) and Italy (1).

Question: How many wars occured between 1500s and 1953?


Answer: 450

Question: For bout how many years was an average of one great power fighting another each year?


Answer: UK

Question: What country had the most conflicts from 1500s through mid 20th century?


Answer: between 1815 and 1914

Question: What span was the Pax Britannica?


Answer: 3,618,780 sq mi

Context: From 1989 through 1996, the total area of the US was listed as 9,372,610 km2 (3,618,780 sq mi) (land + inland water only). The listed total area changed to 9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi) in 1997 (Great Lakes area and coastal waters added), to 9,631,418 km2 (3,718,711 sq mi) in 2004, to 9,631,420 km2 (3,718,710 sq mi) in 2006, and to 9,826,630 km2 (3,794,080 sq mi) in 2007 (territorial waters added). Currently, the CIA World Factbook gives 9,826,675 km2 (3,794,100 sq mi), the United Nations Statistics Division gives 9,629,091 km2 (3,717,813 sq mi), and the Encyclopædia Britannica gives 9,522,055 km2 (3,676,486 sq mi)(Great Lakes area included but not coastal waters). These source consider only the 50 states and the Federal District, and exclude overseas territories.

Question: During the period from 1989 - 1996, what was the total are of the US in miles?


Answer: 3,794,100 sq mi

Question: According to the CIA World Factbook, what is the total area of the US in miles?


Answer: 3,676,486 sq mi

Question: According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, what is the total area of the US in miles?


Answer: third or fourth largest country

Context: By total area (water as well as land), the United States is either slightly larger or smaller than the People's Republic of China, making it the world's third or fourth largest country. China and the United States are smaller than Russia and Canada in total area, but are larger than Brazil. By land area only (exclusive of waters), the United States is the world's third largest country, after Russia and China, with Canada in fourth. Whether the US or China is the third largest country by total area depends on two factors: (1) The validity of China's claim on Aksai Chin and Trans-Karakoram Tract. Both these territories are also claimed by India, so are not counted; and (2) How US calculates its own surface area. Since the initial publishing of the World Factbook, the CIA has updated the total area of United States a number of times.

Question: Compared to other countries, how large is the US?


Answer: Canada

Question: Which country is the worlds fourth largest?


Answer: China

Question: Who may also be the third largest country?


Answer: Canada (to the north) and Mexico (to the south),

Context: The United States shares land borders with Canada (to the north) and Mexico (to the south), and a territorial water border with Russia in the northwest, and two territorial water borders in the southeast between Florida and Cuba, and Florida and the Bahamas. The contiguous forty-eight states are otherwise bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the southeast. Alaska borders the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Bering Strait to the west, and the Arctic Ocean to the north, while Hawaii lies far to the southwest of the mainland in the Pacific Ocean.

Question: Who does the US share land borders with?


Answer: Russia

Question: Who does the US share water borders with in the northwest?


Answer: forty-eight

Question: How many contiguous states are there?


Answer: Pacific Ocean

Question: Which ocean does Alaska border to the south?


Answer: Washington, District of Columbia

Context: The capital city, Washington, District of Columbia, is a federal district located on land donated by the state of Maryland. (Virginia had also donated land, but it was returned in 1849.) The United States also has overseas territories with varying levels of independence and organization: in the Caribbean the territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and in the Pacific the inhabited territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, along with a number of uninhabited island territories.

Question: What is the capital city of the US?


Answer: Maryland

Question: Which US state donated Washington, D.C.?


Answer: Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands

Question: What are the US territories overseas located in the Pacific?


Answer: Virginia

Question: Which US state also donated territory to Washington, D.C., but had it returned?