History · General Awareness

Ancient and World History

5,011 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 history greek, roman and american civilisations roman civilisation the roman empire medieval world: centres of power

In Rome, the civil wars over social issues ended only to be replaced by civil wars between Generals. Which of the following pair is correctly matched?

  1. Marius and Cinna against Sulla

  2. Pompey against Julius Caesar

  3. Brutus and Cassius against Mark Antony and Octavian

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

All the listed pairs represent major civil wars during the late Roman Republic, where military commanders fought for control of the state.

Multiple choice labour and its division social stratification labour sociology social inequality

What affected Platos views on politics?

  1. Spartans fight against Xerxes

  2. Socrates death

  3. Alexander's victories over the world

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Plato  was a disciple of Socrates who was one of the foremost philosophers of Greece. During his time there was great chaos in the political life of Athens which was a Greek City State. This resulted in the Athenian government condemning Socrates to death because of his teachings. This greatly affected Platos views on politics especially in Athens.

Multiple choice labour and its division social stratification labour sociology social inequality

Plato was founded his Academy in about _______.

  1. 347 BCE

  2. 360 BCE

  3. 386 BCE

  4. 387 BCE
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Plato was born around 428BCE. At young age he became follower of Socrates. After the suicide of Socrates, he spent 12years traveling, studying with various philosophers. It was around 387 B.C.E. when Plato returned to Athens and founded a philosophical school known as The Academy.

Multiple choice history india's relations with the other asian countries rise and expansion of islamic world rise and spread of islam the rise and expansion of islam

In their rise to power the Ottomans were aided by the ghazi, who were ___________________.

  1. Muslim religious warriors.

  2. Mongol mercenaries.

  3. Anatolian peasants, eager to escape the heavy taxes of the Byzantine empire.

  4. Christian captives raised to fight for them.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The ghazi were Islamic religious warriors who fought for the expansion of the faith and were instrumental in the rise of the Ottoman Empire.

Multiple choice

Where is the Indus valley civilization located?

  1. Southern Asia

  2. north-western region of the Indian subcontinent

  3. Maui, Hawaii

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

The Indus Valley Civilization was centered in the Indus River basin, which spans parts of modern-day Pakistan and northwest India.

Multiple choice elements of business fundamentals of business activities characteristics of vocational activities basis of classification of business activities classification of business

In the old Roman empire the secretary was referred to as __________.

  1. Scriba

  2. Chitnis

  3. Amatya

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The term secretary is derived from the Latin term 'Secretarius', which means a confidential officer (Writer). In the old Roman Empire a secretary was called 'Scriba', which means professional letter writer.

Multiple choice history india's relations with the other asian countries rise and expansion of islamic world rise and spread of islam the rise and expansion of islam

The Maccabean or Hasomonean Revolt was a movement of Jews against which of the following civilization?

  1. The Romans

  2. The Greeks

  3. The Persians

  4. The Egyptians

  5. The Assyrians
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Maccabean Revolt was a Jewish rebellion, lasting from 167 to 160 BC, led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire and the Hellenistic influence on Jewish life.

Multiple choice history india's relations with the other asian countries rise and expansion of islamic world rise and spread of islam the rise and expansion of islam

The dispersal of Jews from their homeland after the Babylonian and Roman sacks of Jerusulem became known as _______________.

  1. The Removal

  2. The Journey

  3. The "time of sorrow"

  4. The Diaspora

  5. The Submission
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The scattering and dispersion of Jews from their ancestral homeland of Judea, especially following foreign conquests by the Babylonians and Romans, is historically and culturally referred to as the Diaspora.

Multiple choice history india's relations with the other asian countries rise and expansion of islamic world rise and spread of islam the rise and expansion of islam

Which of the following statements MOST accurately describes Jews within the Persian Empire?

  1. They assimilated into the local culture of Babylon

  2. The Diaspora resulted in all Jews leaving Babylon

  3. Jews believed they had a covenant with God

  4. They continuously fought for the right to return to Jerusalem

  5. Jews were willing to rebuild their temple in Babylon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Historical records indicate that many Jews in the Persian Empire (Babylon) integrated into the local economy and culture while maintaining their religious identity. Option C is a belief, not a description of their status within the empire.

Multiple choice history amalgamation of peace and non violence jainism jainism jainism, buddhism and ajivika philosophy in tamil nadu

Who said ''man is the architect of his own destiny"?

  1. Gautam Buddha

  2. Mahavir Jain

  3. Ved Vyas

  4. Adi Shankaracharya
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Mahavira was of the opinion that man creates  his own destiny through his deeds. According to him, a person is born in a higher or in a lower Varna in consequence of the sins or the virtues acquired by him in the previous birth.

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

Which of the following represents a geographic commonality between the Shang Dynasty and Ancient Egypt?

  1. Geographical features prevented government centralization for both civilizations

  2. The geography prevented access to fresh water sources for both Egypt and China

  3. Due to geographical location, there was very little access to fertile soil for both civilizations

  4. Geographical boundaries led to natural protection for both areas

  5. For both societies, internal rebellion was often prevented due to geographic diversity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Both the Shang Dynasty and Ancient Egypt were protected by natural geographic barriers, such as mountains, deserts, and seas, which provided security from external invasions.

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

Name the first dynasty established in Iran.

  1. Sassanid dynasty

  2. Byzentine dynasty

  3. Hun dynasty

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

The Akaneveid dynasty  (550–330 BC), founded by Cyrus the Great, was the first of the Persian empire to rule from the Balkans to North Africa and also Central Asia, spanning three continents, from their seat of power in Persis. It was the largest empire yet seen and the first world empire.

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

In which dynastic rule was "The Great Wall Of China" built ?

  1. Hang dynasty

  2. Tang dynasty

  3. Ching dynasty

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

The Great Wall of China  is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups. It was built in Ching dynasty.

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.