General Awareness ยท History

Historical Dates and Firsts

2,518 Questions

Historical dates and firsts questions test your memory of significant global milestones in sports, science, technology, and literature. These factual questions appear regularly in SSC, banking, and state PSC general awareness papers. Use these questions to quickly memorize important historical events and their exact years.

Inventions and launchesSports world firstsHistorical prize awardsTechnology milestones

Historical Dates and Firsts Questions

Multiple choice

When was the first computer sold?

  1. 2000

  2. 1900

  3. 1975

  4. 1802
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The MITS Altair 8800, widely considered the first commercially successful personal computer, was released in 1975.

Multiple choice

When was the "Safety Pin" involved?

  1. 1849

  2. 1833

  3. 1920

  4. 1999
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The safety pin was invented by Walter Hunt in 1849. He sold the patent for $400 to pay a $15 debt. 1833, 1920, and 1999 are incorrect dates.

Multiple choice

The first smartphone was made in ....

  1. 2001

  2. 2007

  3. 1999

  4. 1992
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The IBM Simon was introduced to the public in 1992 at the COMDEX trade show, marking the birth of the smartphone.

Multiple choice

When was the toothbrush invented?

  1. 1770

  2. 1765

  3. 1790

  4. 1742
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

William Addis is credited with inventing the first mass-produced toothbrush in 1780, though some sources cite 1770 or 1790 depending on the specific design.

Multiple choice

When was Monopoly created

  1. 1940s

  2. 1930s

  3. 1920s

  4. 1950s
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Monopoly was patented by Charles Darrow in 1935, placing its commercial origin firmly in the 1930s. While earlier versions existed, the iconic game became a national phenomenon during that decade.

Multiple choice

In which decade with the first transatlantic radio broadcast occur?

  1. 1850s

  2. 1860s

  3. 1870s

  4. 1900s
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The first transatlantic radio broadcast occurred on December 12, 1901, when Guglielmo Marconi successfully transmitted a signal from Cornwall, England to Newfoundland, Canada. This was a milestone in wireless communication history.

Multiple choice

When were most castles built?

  1. The Viking Age (800-1066)

  2. The late Middle Ages (1066-1500)

  3. The Protestant Reformation (1517-1648)

  4. The Enlightenment (1700s-1800s)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

While castle building began earlier, the height of stone castle construction in Europe occurred during the late Middle Ages, particularly from the 11th through the 15th centuries.