What Do You Know About the Empires of the Ancient World?

Last updated · 8 min play time

Mesopotamia, also called the Fertile Crescent for its excellent agricultural potential, was constantly embattled in the ancient world. The center of wealth and learning, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean were fought over by Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Phoenicians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and countless other civilizations. Some of our most famous myths and stories come from this fascinating time, full of philosophical learning, architectural marvels, and deadly battles. Do you know anything about the ancient world? Find out!

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 World Quiz Questions

20 Questions · 9.1K Plays · 3 Comments

Question 1

In roughly 3100 BC, Narmer unified Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt to form what we know as the kingdom of ancient Egypt. What river runs through this ancient kingdom?

  • A
    Euphrates
  • B
    Amazon
  • C
    Nile
  • D
    Yellow

Question 2

Hammurabi, king of the Babylonians, was famous for what?

  • A
    Marrying his sisters
  • B
    Inventing the wheel
  • C
    Beheading his wives
  • D
    Writing a legal code

Question 3

Hammurabi and the Babylonians fought to control all of Mesopotamia by 1760 BC, just a few years after Hammurabi ascended the throne. What major empire did he defeat?

  • A
    Assyrian
  • B
    French
  • C
    British
  • D
    Roman

Question 4

In 1506-1502 BC, this Egyptian pharaoh and his successors (who had the same name) conquered massive amounts of northeast Africa and Mesopotamia. Who was it?

  • A
    Thutmose
  • B
    Alexander the Great
  • C
    Mentuhotep
  • D
    Charlemagne

Question 5

This person, often remembered the most powerful ruler of ancient Egypt, is often called "Ozymandias."

  • A
    Tutankhamun
  • B
    Ramses II
  • C
    Abraham
  • D
    Julius Caesar

Question 6

The Trojan War is famous in Greek mythology. According to legend, which Greek woman was stolen from her husband Menelaus and taken to Troy by Paris, launching the war?

  • A
    Helen
  • B
    Eleanor of Aquitaine
  • C
    Aphrodite
  • D
    Cleopatra

Question 7

According to legend, the Greeks invaded Troy in a giant what? This invasion led to Troy's defeat.

  • A
    Cyclops
  • B
    Ram
  • C
    Horse
  • D
    Phoenix

Question 8

Which ancient culture is famous for its seafaring prowess? Despite this, they were conquered by the Assyrians in the 800s BC.

  • A
    Phoenicians
  • B
    Carpathians
  • C
    Armenians
  • D
    Canaanites

Question 9

In 612 BC, the Assyrians were defeated in a famous battle by the Babylonians. What powerful city did the Babylonians capture?

  • A
    Nineveh
  • B
    London
  • C
    Jerusalem
  • D
    Constantinople

Question 10

In 586 BC, this group was defeated by the Babylonians. What group became slaves in Egypt in what is known as the "Babylonian Exile"?

  • A
    Christians
  • B
    Ethiopians
  • C
    Egyptians
  • D
    Jews

Question 11

Under this ruler, the Persians conquered Babylon and much of Mesopotamia. He is widely respected for his reform of governance and laws regarding human rights.

  • A
    Mark Antony
  • B
    Ptolemy
  • C
    Cyrus
  • D
    Xerxes

Question 12

In the Greco-Persian Wars of 499-448 BC, a loose federation of Greek city-states went up against the powerful Persian empire. Against the odds, they managed to reclaim some territory from Persia. Which of these was NOT a city-state that fought Persia?

  • A
    Athens
  • B
    Constantinople
  • C
    Thebes
  • D
    Sparta

Question 13

In the Peloponnesian War, Athens fought an alliance led by Sparta. Sparta, with its organized and fearsome military, defeated Athens. Which famous historian catalogued these events?

  • A
    Thucydides
  • B
    Socrates
  • C
    Plato
  • D
    Nero

Question 14

A battle in the Peloponnesian War, the Battle of Thermopylae, is depicted (incorrectly) in what movie?

  • A
    300
  • B
    Troy
  • C
    Spartacus
  • D
    Gladiator

Question 15

Alexander the Great, a Greek emperor considered one of the most successful military leaders in history, conquered territory from Greece to India in 334-323 BC. He spread Hellenistic (Greek) culture in the lands he conquered. What is NOT an aspect of Hellenistic culture?

  • A
    Language
  • B
    Philosophy
  • C
    Epic literature
  • D
    Christianity

Question 16

When the Greek empire dissolved after Alexander's death, the successors to Alexander's rule conquered more territory and restored Egyptian greatness. What was the name of the Egyptian ruling dynasty?

  • A
    Ptolemy
  • B
    Hohenzollern
  • C
    Dahoney
  • D
    Tudor

Question 17

As the Roman republic expanded in the 200s and 100s BC, it conflicted with Carthage, which wanted to expand into Europe, in the Punic Wars. Who was the famous ruler of Carthage who was defeated by Roman general Scipio Africanus?

  • A
    Hammurabi
  • B
    Xerxes
  • C
    Hannibal
  • D
    Louis XVI

Question 18

With the Roman republic firmly in the seat of power in the Mediterranean, this general conducted a campaign to conquer most of continental Europe for the Roman empire in 58-50 BC before returning to Rome to proclaim himself emperor.

  • A
    Julius Caesar
  • B
    Jesus Christ
  • C
    Aurelian
  • D
    Plato

Question 19

What Egyptian queen was the lover of both Julius Caesar and Marcus Anthony? She was defeated by Caesar's nephew Octavian when she and Antony challenged his rule.

  • A
    Amenhotep I
  • B
    Nefertiti
  • C
    Cleopatra VII
  • D
    Hatshepsut

Question 20

Rome eventually succumbed to invasions by Germanic groups. Which was NOT one of these groups?

  • A
    Ostrogoths
  • B
    Gauls
  • C
    Mongols
  • D
    Visigoths

Comments (3)

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

Loved this one. I thought I would do better because I am a student of history.I really love this stuff. From Adam in the bible to middle 20th. century.You have to love history to even be in the game. Good luck to all that take this one. Olivan Leach

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20/20 100% correct.

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fun & difficult

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