30 Ancient History Trivia Questions and Answers

Ancient history refers to the period of human history that predates the Middle Ages and covers a vast expanse of time, from the emergence of human civilization to the fall of classical civilizations. This era witnessed significant developments in various regions around the world, shaping the course of human history.

Ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, and the Indus Valley civilization flourished during this time. These societies made remarkable advancements in fields such as agriculture, architecture, governance, art, philosophy, and science.

Greece is renowned for its contributions to philosophy, literature, and democracy. The philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle laid the foundation for Western philosophical thought. The city-state of Athens became a beacon of democratic governance.

Pro Tip

Want to assess your learners online? Create an online quiz for free!

The Roman Empire, known for its engineering marvels like aqueducts and roads, greatly influenced law, governance, and culture across Europe and the Mediterranean. The ancient Chinese civilization made significant advancements in fields such as agriculture, astronomy, and medicine, while the Indus Valley civilization in South Asia developed one of the earliest urban civilizations.

Studying ancient history provides insights into the origins of human civilization, the development of social structures, and the interplay of cultures. It helps us understand the roots of contemporary societies and appreciate the achievements and challenges faced by our ancestors.

In this article

Part 1: 30 ancient history quiz questions & answers

1. Which ancient civilization built the Great Pyramids of Giza?
a) Mesopotamia
b) Egypt
c) Greece
d) Rome
Answer: b) Egypt

2. The Code of Hammurabi is associated with which ancient civilization?
a) Egypt
b) Mesopotamia
c) Greece
d) Rome
Answer: b) Mesopotamia

3. The Acropolis is a famous architectural site located in which ancient city?
a) Rome
b) Athens
c) Alexandria
d) Sparta
Answer: b) Athens

4. Who was the famous philosopher and teacher of Alexander the Great?
a) Socrates
b) Plato
c) Aristotle
d) Herodotus
Answer: c) Aristotle

5. The Colosseum, an iconic amphitheater, is located in which ancient city?
a) Athens
b) Alexandria
c) Rome
d) Constantinople
Answer: c) Rome

6. Which ancient civilization is credited with the invention of the wheel?
a) Egypt
b) China
c) Greece
d) Sumer (Mesopotamia)
Answer: d) Sumer (Mesopotamia)

7. The ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of which volcano?
a) Mount Vesuvius
b) Mount Etna
c) Mount Olympus
d) Mount Sinai
Answer: a) Mount Vesuvius

8. The Hanging Gardens is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is associated with which city?
a) Babylon
b) Alexandria
c) Rome
d) Athens
Answer: a) Babylon

9. Who was the first emperor of the Roman Empire?
a) Julius Caesar
b) Augustus Caesar
c) Marcus Aurelius
d) Nero
Answer: b) Augustus Caesar

10. The ancient Greek city-state of Sparta was known for its emphasis on what?
a) Democracy
b) Trade and commerce
c) Military prowess
d) Philosophy and arts
Answer: c) Military prowess

11. The Rosetta Stone, a crucial artifact for deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, was discovered in which country?
a) Egypt
b) Greece
c) Italy
d) France
Answer: a) Egypt

12. Which ancient civilization developed the concept of zero and the decimal system?
a) Egypt
b) China
c) Greece
d) India
Answer: d) India

13. The Parthenon, a famous temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, is located in which ancient city?
a) Rome
b) Athens
c) Alexandria
d) Istanbul
Answer: b) Athens

14. The Terracotta Army, a collection of life-sized sculptures, was created to accompany which ancient Chinese ruler in the afterlife?
a) Emperor Qin Shi Huang
b) Emperor Han Wudi
c) Emperor Tang Taizong
d) Emperor Song Taizu
Answer: a) Emperor Qin Shi Huang

15. The Persian Empire was conquered by which famous ancient Greek military leader?
a) Alexander the Great
b) Pericles
c) Leonidas
d) Julius Caesar
Answer: a)Alexander the Great

Part 2: Download ancient history questions & answers for free

Download questions & answers for free

Download quiz questions
Generate questions for any topic

16. The ancient city of Machu Picchu is located in which present-day country?
a) Peru
b) Mexico
c) Brazil
d) Colombia
Answer: a) Peru

17. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, another one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was built in which ancient civilization?
a) Egypt
b) Greece
c) Rome
d) Persia
Answer: b) Greece

18. Who wrote the ancient epic poem “The Iliad”?
a) Homer
b) Virgil
c) Ovid
d) Sophocles
Answer: a) Homer

19. The ancient Mayan civilization flourished in which region?
a) Central America
b) North America
c) South America
d) Middle East
Answer: a) Central America

20. The famous Library of Alexandria, known for its vast collection of ancient texts, was located in which city?
a) Athens
b) Rome
c) Alexandria
d) Babylon
Answer: c) Alexandria

21. The ancient city of Carthage was a major rival of which ancient civilization?
a) Egypt
b) Greece
c) Rome
d) Persia
Answer: c) Rome

22. Which ancient civilization is credited with the invention of paper?
a) Egypt
b) China
c) Greece
d) Sumer (Mesopotamia)
Answer: b) China

23. The Hanging Gardens is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is associated with which city?
a) Babylon
b) Alexandria
c) Rome
d) Athens
Answer: a) Babylon

24. Who was the famous philosopher and teacher of Alexander the Great?
a) Socrates
b) Plato
c) Aristotle
d) Herodotus
Answer: c) Aristotle

25. The Colosseum, an iconic amphitheater, is located in which ancient city?
a) Athens
b) Alexandria
c) Rome
d) Constantinople
Answer: c) Rome

26. Which ancient civilization is credited with the invention of the wheel?
a) Egypt
b) China
c) Greece
d) Sumer (Mesopotamia)
Answer: d) Sumer (Mesopotamia)

Just so you know

With OnlineExamMaker quiz software, anyone can create & share professional online assessments easily.

27. The ancient city of Pompeii was destroyed by the eruption of which volcano?
a) Mount Vesuvius
b) Mount Etna
c) Mount Olympus
d) Mount Sinai
Answer: a) Mount Vesuvius

28. The Hanging Gardens is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is associated with which city?
a) Babylon
b) Alexandria
c) Rome
d) Athens
Answer: a) Babylon

29. Who was the first emperor of the Roman Empire?
a) Julius Caesar
b) Augustus Caesar
c) Marcus Aurelius
d) Nero
Answer: b) Augustus Caesar

30. The ancient Greek city-state of Sparta was known for its emphasis on what?
a) Democracy
b) Trade and commerce
c) Military prowess
d) Philosophy and arts
Answer: c) Military prowess

Part 3: Best web history quiz creator – OnlineExamMaker

OnlineExamMaker is an intuitive online exam software designed for educators and trainers to create engaging quizzes and assessments. With easy-to-use interface and AI remote proctoring system, OnlineExamMaker empowers instructors to enhance the learning experience and gauge student knowledge effectively.

Create Your Next Quiz/Exam with OnlineExamMaker

SAAS, free forever
100% data ownership