History

Historical Dates and Events

1,458 Questions

Historical Dates and Events form the core chronological framework for studying history. This practice hub includes questions on ancient civilizations, medieval empires, and major historical battles. Familiarity with these dates is essential for cracking the general awareness section of competitive exams.

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Historical Dates and Events Questions

Multiple choice

The battle of Bhagini was fought in

  1. 1686

  2. 1896

  3. 1696

  4. 1786
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Bhagini was fought in 1686. This was a historical conflict that took place in the region during the late medieval period, involving local kingdoms and power struggles.

Multiple choice

The Battle of Plassey was fought in

  1. 1755 AD

  2. 1757 AD

  3. 1760 AD

  4. 1762 AD
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Battle of Plassey was fought on June 23, 1757 between the forces of the British East India Company led by Robert Clive and Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal. This battle marked the beginning of British political dominance in India. Option A (1755) is two years too early, option C (1760) is close but incorrect, and option D (1762) is five years too late.

Multiple choice

When was the East India Company established?

  1. 1500 A.D.

  2. 1600 A.D.

  3. 1650 A.D.

  4. 1550 A.D.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The East India Company was established on December 31, 1600, by a royal charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I. This British trading company played a pivotal role in establishing British colonial rule in India. The company's establishment marked the beginning of formal British commercial and political involvement in the Indian subcontinent.

Multiple choice

When did Sher Shah Suri become the king of Delhi?

  1. 1532

  2. 1522

  3. 1530

  4. 1540
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal emperor Humayun in the Battle of Kannauj (1540) and established the Sur Empire, becoming the king of Delhi. He ruled until 1545 and introduced significant administrative reforms. The other dates (1522, 1530, 1532) are incorrect - Sher Shah's main period of power began in 1540.

Multiple choice

Alexander invaded India in

  1. 326 BC

  2. 420 BC

  3. 322 BC

  4. 360 BC
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Alexander invaded India in 326 BC, crossing the Indus river and fighting the famous Battle of Hydaspes against King Porus. This invasion occurred during his campaign to conquer the Persian Empire's easternmost territories.

Multiple choice

In which year was the Mauryan empire founded by Chandragupta Maurya?

  1. 322 BC

  2. 326 BC

  3. 320 BC

  4. 341 BC
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan Empire in 322 BC after exploiting the power vacuum left by Alexander's departure from northwest India. He defeated the Nanda dynasty and established one of India's greatest empires with the help of his advisor Chanakya (Kautilya).

Multiple choice

When and where was the IVth Buddhist Council held?

  1. At Pataliputra in 368 B.C.

  2. At Rajagriha after the death of Buddha

  3. At Vaishali in 268 B.C.

  4. At Kundalavan in Kashmir in Ist century A.D.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at Kundalavan in Kashmir during the 1st-2nd century CE (1st century A.D.) under the patronage of Kushan ruler Kanishka. This council led to the division of Buddhism into Hinayana (Theravada) and Mahayana schools. The first council was at Rajagriha, second at Vaishali, and third at Pataliputra - but these were all much earlier (pre-1st century BCE).

Multiple choice

Gautama Buddha was born in the year

  1. 587 BC

  2. 577 BC

  3. 567 BC

  4. 563 BC
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born around 563 BC in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal). This date is widely accepted by Buddhist scholars and historians based on various historical sources and textual evidence. The other dates (587, 577, 567 BC) are not supported by historical records.

Multiple choice

In which year was Jesus Christ crucified?

  1. 50 AD

  2. 43 AD

  3. 29 AD

  4. 190 AD
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Most historians believe Jesus was crucified between 30-33 AD, with 29 AD being within the historically accepted range. The crucifixion occurred during the governorship of Pontius Pilate (26-36 AD). Options A (50 AD) is too late, B (43 AD) is possible but less supported, and D (190 AD) is historically impossible as it occurred well after Jesus' lifetime.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage means the same as 'overstatement'?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The year 842 BC may be considered the first accurate date in Chinese history, and in this year the Emperor had to flee from his capital on account of popular dissatisfaction with his tyrannical ways: he betook himself northward to an outlying settlement on the Tartar frontier, and the charge of imperial affairs was taken over by a regency or duumvirate.

At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilised China, even at that comparatively advanced period, consisted of little more than the modern province of Ho Nan. All outside this flat and comparatively riverless region inhabited by the "orthodox" was more or less barbaric, and such civilisation as it possessed was entirely the work of Chinese colonists, adventurers, or grantees of fiefs in partibus infidelium (so to speak). Into matters of still earlier ancient history, we may enter more deeply in another chapter, but for the present, we simply take China as it was when definite chronology begins.

The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842 BC, already been on the imperial throne for practically three hundred years, and, following the custom of its predecessors, it had parcelled out all the land under its sway to vassal princes who were, subject to the general imperial law and custom, or ritual, together with the homage and tribute duty prescribed there under, all practically absolute in their own domains. Roughly speaking, those smaller fiefs may be said to have corresponded in size with the walled-city and surrounding district of our own times, so well known under the name of Hien. About a dozen of the larger fiefs had been originally granted to the blood relations of the dynastic founder in or after 1122 BC; but not exclusively so, for it seems to have been a point of honour, or of religious scruple, not to "cut off the sacrifices" from ruined or disgraced reigning families, unless the attendant circumstances were very gross; and so it came to pass that successive dynasties would strain a point in order to keep up the spiritual memory of decayed or rival houses.

  1. Possessed

  2. Exaggeration

  3. Exclusively

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

Overstatement and exaggeration are synonyms.

Multiple choice

In the passage, China has been referered to as

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The year 842 BC may be considered the first accurate date in Chinese history, and in this year the Emperor had to flee from his capital on account of popular dissatisfaction with his tyrannical ways: he betook himself northward to an outlying settlement on the Tartar frontier, and the charge of imperial affairs was taken over by a regency or duumvirate.

At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilised China, even at that comparatively advanced period, consisted of little more than the modern province of Ho Nan. All outside this flat and comparatively riverless region inhabited by the "orthodox" was more or less barbaric, and such civilisation as it possessed was entirely the work of Chinese colonists, adventurers, or grantees of fiefs in partibus infidelium (so to speak). Into matters of still earlier ancient history, we may enter more deeply in another chapter, but for the present, we simply take China as it was when definite chronology begins.

The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842 BC, already been on the imperial throne for practically three hundred years, and, following the custom of its predecessors, it had parcelled out all the land under its sway to vassal princes who were, subject to the general imperial law and custom, or ritual, together with the homage and tribute duty prescribed there under, all practically absolute in their own domains. Roughly speaking, those smaller fiefs may be said to have corresponded in size with the walled-city and surrounding district of our own times, so well known under the name of Hien. About a dozen of the larger fiefs had been originally granted to the blood relations of the dynastic founder in or after 1122 BC; but not exclusively so, for it seems to have been a point of honour, or of religious scruple, not to "cut off the sacrifices" from ruined or disgraced reigning families, unless the attendant circumstances were very gross; and so it came to pass that successive dynasties would strain a point in order to keep up the spiritual memory of decayed or rival houses.

  1. the Central Kingdom

  2. Modern province of Ho Nan

  3. the Great Landmass

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

The line 'At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day' suggests the answer. 

Multiple choice

When did the third dynasty complete its 300 year rule over China?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The year 842 BC may be considered the first accurate date in Chinese history, and in this year the Emperor had to flee from his capital on account of popular dissatisfaction with his tyrannical ways: he betook himself northward to an outlying settlement on the Tartar frontier, and the charge of imperial affairs was taken over by a regency or duumvirate.

At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilised China, even at that comparatively advanced period, consisted of little more than the modern province of Ho Nan. All outside this flat and comparatively riverless region inhabited by the "orthodox" was more or less barbaric, and such civilisation as it possessed was entirely the work of Chinese colonists, adventurers, or grantees of fiefs in partibus infidelium (so to speak). Into matters of still earlier ancient history, we may enter more deeply in another chapter, but for the present, we simply take China as it was when definite chronology begins.

The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842 BC, already been on the imperial throne for practically three hundred years, and, following the custom of its predecessors, it had parcelled out all the land under its sway to vassal princes who were, subject to the general imperial law and custom, or ritual, together with the homage and tribute duty prescribed there under, all practically absolute in their own domains. Roughly speaking, those smaller fiefs may be said to have corresponded in size with the walled-city and surrounding district of our own times, so well known under the name of Hien. About a dozen of the larger fiefs had been originally granted to the blood relations of the dynastic founder in or after 1122 BC; but not exclusively so, for it seems to have been a point of honour, or of religious scruple, not to "cut off the sacrifices" from ruined or disgraced reigning families, unless the attendant circumstances were very gross; and so it came to pass that successive dynasties would strain a point in order to keep up the spiritual memory of decayed or rival houses.

  1. 1100 BC

  2. 1122 BC

  3. 750 BC

  4. 842 BC
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The line 'The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842…' suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

Which word in the passage means the opposite of 'ease'?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The year 842 BC may be considered the first accurate date in Chinese history, and in this year the Emperor had to flee from his capital on account of popular dissatisfaction with his tyrannical ways: he betook himself northward to an outlying settlement on the Tartar frontier, and the charge of imperial affairs was taken over by a regency or duumvirate.

At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilised China, even at that comparatively advanced period, consisted of little more than the modern province of Ho Nan. All outside this flat and comparatively riverless region inhabited by the "orthodox" was more or less barbaric, and such civilisation as it possessed was entirely the work of Chinese colonists, adventurers, or grantees of fiefs in partibus infidelium (so to speak). Into matters of still earlier ancient history, we may enter more deeply in another chapter, but for the present, we simply take China as it was when definite chronology begins.

The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842 BC, already been on the imperial throne for practically three hundred years, and, following the custom of its predecessors, it had parcelled out all the land under its sway to vassal princes who were, subject to the general imperial law and custom, or ritual, together with the homage and tribute duty prescribed there under, all practically absolute in their own domains. Roughly speaking, those smaller fiefs may be said to have corresponded in size with the walled-city and surrounding district of our own times, so well known under the name of Hien. About a dozen of the larger fiefs had been originally granted to the blood relations of the dynastic founder in or after 1122 BC; but not exclusively so, for it seems to have been a point of honour, or of religious scruple, not to "cut off the sacrifices" from ruined or disgraced reigning families, unless the attendant circumstances were very gross; and so it came to pass that successive dynasties would strain a point in order to keep up the spiritual memory of decayed or rival houses.

  1. Strain

  2. Religious

  3. Granted

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

Strain (tension) means the opposite of ease (relaxation).

Multiple choice

According to the passage, which of the following has been referred to as a 'modern province'?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:

The year 842 BC may be considered the first accurate date in Chinese history, and in this year the Emperor had to flee from his capital on account of popular dissatisfaction with his tyrannical ways: he betook himself northward to an outlying settlement on the Tartar frontier, and the charge of imperial affairs was taken over by a regency or duumvirate.

At this time, the confederation of cultured princes called China — or, to use their own term, the Central Kingdom — was a very different region from the huge mass of territory familiar to us under those names at the present day. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that civilised China, even at that comparatively advanced period, consisted of little more than the modern province of Ho Nan. All outside this flat and comparatively riverless region inhabited by the "orthodox" was more or less barbaric, and such civilisation as it possessed was entirely the work of Chinese colonists, adventurers, or grantees of fiefs in partibus infidelium (so to speak). Into matters of still earlier ancient history, we may enter more deeply in another chapter, but for the present, we simply take China as it was when definite chronology begins.

The third of the great dynasties which had ruled over this limited China had, in 842 BC, already been on the imperial throne for practically three hundred years, and, following the custom of its predecessors, it had parcelled out all the land under its sway to vassal princes who were, subject to the general imperial law and custom, or ritual, together with the homage and tribute duty prescribed there under, all practically absolute in their own domains. Roughly speaking, those smaller fiefs may be said to have corresponded in size with the walled-city and surrounding district of our own times, so well known under the name of Hien. About a dozen of the larger fiefs had been originally granted to the blood relations of the dynastic founder in or after 1122 BC; but not exclusively so, for it seems to have been a point of honour, or of religious scruple, not to "cut off the sacrifices" from ruined or disgraced reigning families, unless the attendant circumstances were very gross; and so it came to pass that successive dynasties would strain a point in order to keep up the spiritual memory of decayed or rival houses.

  1. China

  2. Ho Nan

  3. Province outside of China

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

The line 'It is hardly an exaggeration ... little more than the modern province of Ho Nan' suggests the answer.