On This Day: October 31st

Questions

1. 683 - During a siege, the Kaaba was burnt to the ground in which Middle-Eastern holy city?
2. 1517 - Which man posted his '95 Theses' on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, sparking the Reformation and the beginning of Protestantism?
3. 1795 - Which English romantic poet, author of works such as Ode to a Nightingale was born in Moorgate, City of London?
4. 1864 - Which western US state, with its capital at Carson City, was admitted to the Union?
5. 1887 - Which man, the last non-communist leader of China, and the first leader of an independent Taiwan, was born in Zhejiang province?
6. 1917 - The "last great cavalry charge" occurred at the Battle of Beersheba, in which western-Asian country, marking a decisive victory for Commonwealth forces over the Ottoman Empire?
7. 1918 - Which country gained independence from Austria in the Aster Revolution, marking the end of World War I in this region of Europe?
8. 1922 - Which fascist, known as 'Il Duce', became the Prime Minister of Italy, and would remain so until his downfall following an Allied invasion in 1943?
9. 1926 - Which famous Hungarian escapologist died, after supposedly being repeatedly struck in the abdomen whilst suffering from appendicitis?
10. 1941 - Which granite monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota was finally finished after 14 years of carving work?
11. 1956 - Which waterway at the border of Asia and Africa was bombed by British, French and Israeli forces during a campaign which would ultimately be unsuccessful?
12. 1964 - Which Dutch striker, the winner of 3 Balon D'ors and Euro 1998 and named 6th in the FIFA Player of the 20th Century poll was born in Utrecht?
13. 1967 - Born on Halloween in 1967, what is the stage name of rapper Robert Matthew Van Winkle, known for hits such as "Ice Ice Baby"?
14. 1984 - Which Indian leader, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru was murdered by her Sikh nationalist bodyguards in New Delhi?
15. 1993 - Which actor, the star of Running on Empty and Stand by Me, and younger brother of Joaquin, died of a drug overdose outside a Hollywood nightclub?
16. 2000 - Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first crew of which artificial satellite which has been manned continuously ever since?
17. 2011 - The global population is predicted to have surpassed which historic milestone?
18. Holiday - Allantide, or the feast of St. Allan, is a festival traditionally celebrated in which Celtic region of the United Kingdom?

1. 683 - During a siege, the Kaaba was burnt to the ground in which Middle-Eastern holy city?

   Mecca
2. 1517 - Which man posted his '95 Theses' on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, sparking the Reformation and the beginning of Protestantism?

   Martin Luther
3. 1795 - Which English romantic poet, author of works such as Ode to a Nightingale was born in Moorgate, City of London?

   John Keats
4. 1864 - Which western US state, with its capital at Carson City, was admitted to the Union?

   Nevada
5. 1887 - Which man, the last non-communist leader of China, and the first leader of an independent Taiwan, was born in Zhejiang province?

   Chiang Kai Shek
6. 1917 - The "last great cavalry charge" occurred at the Battle of Beersheba, in which western-Asian country, marking a decisive victory for Commonwealth forces over the Ottoman Empire?

   Israel
7. 1918 - Which country gained independence from Austria in the Aster Revolution, marking the end of World War I in this region of Europe?

   Hungary
8. 1922 - Which fascist, known as 'Il Duce', became the Prime Minister of Italy, and would remain so until his downfall following an Allied invasion in 1943?

   Benito Mussolini
9. 1926 - Which famous Hungarian escapologist died, after supposedly being repeatedly struck in the abdomen whilst suffering from appendicitis?

   Harry Houdini
10. 1941 - Which granite monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota was finally finished after 14 years of carving work?

    Mt. Rushmore
11. 1956 - Which waterway at the border of Asia and Africa was bombed by British, French and Israeli forces during a campaign which would ultimately be unsuccessful?

    Suez Canal
12. 1964 - Which Dutch striker, the winner of 3 Balon D'ors and Euro 1998 and named 6th in the FIFA Player of the 20th Century poll was born in Utrecht?

    Marco van Basten
13. 1967 - Born on Halloween in 1967, what is the stage name of rapper Robert Matthew Van Winkle, known for hits such as "Ice Ice Baby"?

    Vanilla Ice
14. 1984 - Which Indian leader, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru was murdered by her Sikh nationalist bodyguards in New Delhi?

    Indira Gandhi
15. 1993 - Which actor, the star of Running on Empty and Stand by Me, and younger brother of Joaquin, died of a drug overdose outside a Hollywood nightclub?

    River Phoenix
16. 2000 - Soyuz TM-31 launches, carrying the first crew of which artificial satellite which has been manned continuously ever since?

    International Space Station (ISS)
17. 2011 - The global population is predicted to have surpassed which historic milestone?

    7 Billion
18. Holiday - Allantide, or the feast of St. Allan, is a festival traditionally celebrated in which Celtic region of the United Kingdom?

    Cornwall