Do You Know The History of Ancient India?

Last updated · 8 min play time

India is one of the cradles of human civilization, with one of the oldest settlements in world history, and the birthplace of two of the largest world religions. With a population of almost 1.5 billion people, modern India is a global powerhouse, and its ancient history and traditions are very much alive – its literature, sciences, and religious history are still vital today. Show us how much you know about the history of ancient India!

This quiz was expert written by Regina Munch. Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.


Regina has a master's degree in European history and the history of American foreign policy from Boston College. She loves learning and writing about history because it's never dead – things from the past always have relevance to today, and we're discovering things about the past all the time.

Ancient India Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 4.4K Plays · No comments

Question 1

Welcome to ancient India! India is one of the cradles of civilization. The earliest civilization in South Asia sprung up around which river?

  • A
    Nile
  • B
    Indus
  • C
    Yangtze
  • D
    Chambal

Question 2

Much about the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from about 3300-1300 BC, is still unknown. We do know that it was the first urban settlement in Asia, and quite advanced compared to its Mediterranean counterparts. Which of these was NOT a feature of the Indus Valley Civilization?

  • A
    Granaries
  • B
    Sanitation system
  • C
    Road network
  • D
    Urban planning

Question 3

The people of the Indus Valley Civilization merged with the Aryans, and eventually became the Vedic civilization (1500 BC-500 BC). Their society started off relatively egalitarian, but over time they established the varna system, which divided society into four classes. The warrior-priest class was on top. What were they called?

  • A
    Brahmins
  • B
    Samurai
  • C
    Presidents
  • D
    Knights

Question 4

Vedic religion, which observed and worshiped many gods and goddesses, was a precursor to what Indian religion?

  • A
    Islam
  • B
    Hinduism
  • C
    Christianity
  • D
    Buddhism

Question 5

In addition to the Vedas, texts considered holy to Hindus today, Vedic society had numerous literary achievements. Which of these is a Vedic poem, and the longest known poem in history?

  • A
    Psalms
  • B
    Mahabharata
  • C
    Odyssey
  • D
    Bible

Question 6

Out of the Vedic civilization came the Mahanjapada, sixteen city-states that existed from about 600-300 BC. What language did they speak?

  • A
    English
  • B
    Sanskrit
  • C
    Mongolian
  • D
    Czech

Question 7

Which of these is NOT an English word that derives from Sanskrit, the langauge of ancient India?

  • A
    Arithmetic
  • B
    Rice
  • C
    Lilac
  • D
    Shampoo

Question 8

Sometime between the 6th and 4th centuries BC, Siddhartha Gautama's teaching established what religion?

  • A
    Celtic Paganism
  • B
    Buddhism
  • C
    Zoroastrianism
  • D
    Islam

Question 9

In general, what is one of these things that Buddhists do NOT believe in?

  • A
    Rebirth of the soul
  • B
    Cultivation of kindness
  • C
    Detachment from desire
  • D
    Praying towards Mecca

Question 10

The Maurya empire, which lasted from 322 to 177 BC, was the largest empire on the Indian subcontinent in history, spanning throughout India into modern Afghanistan. Who was its founder?

  • A
    Buddha
  • B
    Chandragupta
  • C
    Noah
  • D
    Cyrus

Question 11

Jainism, a religion that espouses nonviolence and nonattachment, arose the Maurya empire. In Sanskrit, what does the word Jain mean?

  • A
    Friend
  • B
    Apprentice
  • C
    Victor
  • D
    Celibacy

Question 12

The Maurya Empire was established after the withdrawal of what Greek general, who had conquered much of Central Asia in the 4th century BC?

  • A
    Jesus Christ
  • B
    Julius Casear
  • C
    Henry VIII
  • D
    Alexander the Great

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a body of water that borders India?

  • A
    Bay of Bengal
  • B
    Indian Ocean
  • C
    Mediterranean Sea
  • D
    Arabian Sea

Question 14

This Mauryan emperor spread Buddhism as far as Greece through a series of missionary ventures.

  • A
    Buddha
  • B
    Zeus
  • C
    Athena
  • D
    Ashoka

Question 15

This Hindu god is the god of compassion and joy.

  • A
    Zeus
  • B
    Thor
  • C
    Krishna
  • D
    Chandra

Question 16

Historians consider the Classical Age of India (200 BC-1200 AD) to be the time after the decline of the Maurya empire when various rulers and dynasties rose and fell. India at this time was considered to have the largest economy in the world, controlling almost a third of the world's wealth. Which of these was NOT something that Indian society traded?

  • A
    Cloth
  • B
    Wheat
  • C
    Ceramics
  • D
    Spices

Question 17

The rise of this empire, which ruled most of the Indian subcontinent from 320-550 AD, led to the flourishing of Hinduism in what is called the Golden Age of India. Which empire was it?

  • A
    Roman
  • B
    Hun
  • C
    Gupta
  • D
    French

Question 18

Which of these was NOT one of the Guptas' achievements?

  • A
    Discovery of penicillin
  • B
    Heliocentrism
  • C
    Invention of chess
  • D
    Establishing the concept of zero and a base 10 number system

Question 19

This famous text from the Gupta era describes human sexual behavior. Contrary to western belief, it is not just a sex manual, but is also a guide to virtuous living.

  • A
    Kama Sutra
  • B
    Pensees
  • C
    I Ching
  • D
    Bhagavad Gita

Question 20

This third god of the Hindu triumvirate has the responsibility to destroy in order to create anew.

  • A
    Aries
  • B
    Athena
  • C
    Shiva
  • D
    Hades

Comments (0)

We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.