Beyond the answers - interesting background to this quiz

A mountain range that divides two continents

The Caucasus Mountains stretch between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, forming a natural border between Europe and Asia. The range runs through several countries, including Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Its highest peak, Mount Elbrus, is located in Russia and is often considered the highest mountain in Europe, though the exact continental boundary remains a subject of geographical debate.

Molière and the play that scandalised Paris

Tartuffe was written by the French playwright Molière and first performed in 1664. The play mocked religious hypocrisy so sharply that King Louis XIV initially banned public performances under pressure from powerful church figures. Molière revised the text several times before a version was finally allowed on stage in 1669. It has since become one of the most performed works in the French theatrical repertoire.

Daniel Defoe and the birth of the English novel

Robinson Crusoe, published in 1719, is often cited as one of the earliest examples of the English novel. Daniel Defoe presented the story as a true account, though it was largely fictional. The tale of a shipwrecked man surviving alone on an island captured the imagination of readers across Europe and has inspired countless adaptations, imitations and even an entire literary genre known as the robinsonade.

Tchaikovsky and the sleeping princess

The Sleeping Beauty, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, premiered in Saint Petersburg in 1890. It was based on Charles Perrault's fairy tale and became one of the most famous ballets in the classical repertoire. Tchaikovsky's lush orchestration and memorable melodies helped elevate ballet music to a serious art form, influencing later composers such as Stravinsky, who studied this score closely.

Abu Dhabi, the quieter capital

Many people assume Dubai is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, but that title belongs to Abu Dhabi. As the largest of the seven emirates, Abu Dhabi holds most of the country's oil reserves and serves as the seat of the federal government. While Dubai became famous for tourism and skyscrapers, Abu Dhabi has developed a reputation for cultural institutions, including a branch of the Louvre museum.