History · General Awareness

Ancient and World History

4,979 Questions

Ancient and world history covers the rise and fall of major civilizations, their cultural practices, and their administrative developments. Topics span from the Persian and Byzantine empires to the architectural marvels of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. This collection of practice questions is tailored for candidates preparing for history and general studies sections.

Ancient CivilizationsMilitary TacticsByzantine EmpirePersian EmpireCultural Blending

Ancient and World History Questions

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Which of the following river valleys was associated with Mesopotamian civilization ?

  1. Tilgris

  2. Euphrates

  3. Nile

  4. Both (1) and (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mesopotamia was the earliest river valley civilization, starting to form around 3500 BCE. The civilization was created after regular trading started relationships between multiple cities and states around the Tigris and Euphrates  Rivers. Mesopotamian cities became self-run civil governments.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Which civilization was associated with the development of first calendar?

  1. Egyptian civilization.

  2. Shing civilization.

  3. Mesopotamian civilization.

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

The Egyptian civilization was associated with the development of first calendar. In the Egyptian calendar, there were 12 months of 30 days each. The months each had three "weeks" of 10 days each. Between the end of the 12th month and the beginning of the first month of the next year were five extra days, resulting in a fixed year of 365 days every year.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

History of urbanization emerged from the  _______.

  1. Chinese civilization

  2. Indus Valley civilization

  3. Egyptian civilization

  4. Greek civilization
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Farming settlements began around 4000 BCE and around 3000 BCE there appeared the first signs of urbanization.
  • By 2600 BCE, dozens of towns and cities had been established.
  • Between 2500 and 2000 BCE the Indus Valley Civilization was at its peak
Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Gunpowder was discovered by ________.

  1. Egyptians

  2. Indians

  3. Chinese

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

Gunpowerder was discovered by Chinese. The alchemists were trying to find a potion for immortality and instead they wound up making an explosion. So the  opposite effect came out of the original idea. Gunpowder consists of potassium nitrate, common charcoal and sulfur.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

In the ancient times the civil servants on higher posts were recruited through a competition in _____.

  1. Egypt

  2. Sumeria

  3. China

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

In the ancient times the civil servants on higher posts were recruited through a competition in China. The exam based on merit was designed to select the best administrative officials for the state's bureaucracy. This system had a huge influence on both society and culture in China and was directly responsible for the creation of a class of scholar-bureaucrats irrespective of their family pedigree.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Identify the important original contribution of the Hebrew culture to the civilizations in the Middle-East and Mediterranean during the Classical Period.

  1. Monotheism

  2. Written legal code

  3. Phonetic alphabet

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

Monotheism is defined as the belief in the existence of only one god that created the world, is all-powerful and intervenes in the world. A broader definition of monotheism is the belief in one god. A distinction may be made between exclusive monotheism, and both inclusive monotheism and pluriform monotheism which, while recognising various distinct gods, postulate some underlying unity.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Mesopotamia produced successful early civilizations due to its ___________________.

  1. Substantial supplies of oil

  2. Large and powerful armies

  3. Economic equality

  4. Effective use of water sources

  5. Surplus of workers
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Mesopotamia was the first in the history of civilization to build irrigational works to control water. It helped the people of the civilization from floods and and provided them with the needed sanitation.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

In early Mesopotamia cities, power shifted from religion to the military around 3000 B.C.E.
What is the MOST likely explanation for this?

  1. Multiple cities claimed the trade use of major rivers

  2. Uruk's military became too powerful, leading nearby cities to enlarge their militaries

  3. People were losing faith in the gods due to harsh economic circumstances

  4. Multiple cities emerged alongside existing cities, leading to territorial conflict

  5. Rulers believed the gods wanted them to create empires
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

As cities grew, competition for limited resources, particularly water from shared rivers, led to increased territorial disputes. This necessitated a shift from religious leadership to military leadership to defend resources and expand territory.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

After 1600 B.C.E the primary political unit in Southwest Asia shifted from a city-state to a territorial state. Which of the following statements BEST explains the reason for this?

  1. Rulers of the time often conquered large amounts of land

  2. City-states could not adequately provide resources for their citizens

  3. Rulers of city-states merged to create an economic advantage when trading with the Far East

  4. Rulers of city-states did not have the military resources to repel invaders from Europe

  5. The Egyptian pharaoh conquered the entire region
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The shift to territorial states was driven by the desire of rulers to consolidate power and resources by conquering and administering larger geographic areas, moving beyond the limited scope of a single city.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

The Oxus Culture was a short-lived culture in Asia that lasted only 400 years from 2100 B.C.E. to 1700 B.C.E. It primarily covered the geographical area of central Asia, including which of the following present-day countries?

  1. Turkmenistan

  2. Russia

  3. India

  4. Bangladesh

  5. Saudi Arabia
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Oxus culture was centered on the upper Amu Darya (Oxus River), which is located in present-day northern Afghanistan, eastern Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan and western Tajikistan.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

Mesopotamia differed from Egypt in that ____________________.

  1. The population was more spread out

  2. It was a more urbanized society

  3. Its geography was an obstacle to invaders

  4. Most people had an optimistic view of the afterlife

  5. Had a more sustainable agricultural system
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

  • Egypt was built around a single river, so for much of its history was unified. It also had limited scope for expansion, though it did conquer into West Asia and further down the Nile.
  • Mesopotamia was a landscape between two rivers, each of which shifted its course. It was mostly a collection of city-states and hence the population was more spread out. Large states would expand well beyond Mesopotamia.

Multiple choice social studies from stone to metal progress in history prehistoric age indus valley civilization

The Phoenicians are BEST remembered for their _____________.

  1. Cloth dye techniques

  2. Tombs

  3. Extensive trade routes

  4. Alphabet

  5. Precious metals
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Phoenicia thrived as a maritime trader and manufacturing center from c. 1500-332 BCE and was highly regarded for their skill in ship-building, glass-making, the production of dyes, and an impressive level of skill in the manufacture of luxury and common goods.

Multiple choice history the gupta: empire gupta period the vardhans kannauj: age of harshavardhana

During the pre-Gupta age the foreign trade was most extensive with _____.

  1. South East Asian Countries

  2. China

  3. Central Asia

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

During the pre-Gupta and early Gupta periods, India maintained a highly lucrative maritime trade relationship with the Roman Empire, exporting spices and textiles in exchange for gold.