The Ultimate World History Quiz

It has been said that history is the study of past events, particularly of human affairs. But some people are better students than others.

At A Real Me, we designed this Ultimate World History Test to distinguish the true scholars of world history from the wannabes. The 30-question quiz covers all the major eras of human history, from prehistoric times to the modern age. Test yourself to see how good you are. Challenge your friends to see if they are any better.

What is The Ultimate World History Quiz?

This test of human history is comprised of 30 questions, covering six historical eras of human history, from pre-history to the modern era.

Historical Eras

Prehistory

The Prehistoric era in human history refers to the period between the appearance of humans on the planet (roughly 2.5 million years ago) and the first appearance of written records, between 600 BC to 1,200 BC, depending on the region. Generally, the prehistoric period is divided into three segments according to the introduction of human tools used at the time: the Stone Age, the Bronze age, and the Iron Age.

Classical Age

The Classical Age mainly refers to the civilizations on the Mediterranean Sea and their contributions to world culture, such as Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Persian and Byzantine Empires, stretching from around 750 BC to the 15th century. For the purpose of this quiz, ancient Asian civilizations, such as the Chinese and the Japanese, are also categorized here.

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is also known as the Medieval or Post-Classical era. Historians refer to the early part of this period as the Dark Ages due to the loss of recorded history after the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD. While this was generally an unstable period in the western world, Asian civilizations saw significant advancement in human achievements. The gun powder and the printing press were invented during this period. Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism emerged and flourished as religious and philosophical thoughts.

Renaissance & the Age of Discovery

In Europe between the 14th and 17th centuries, the Renaissance was a vibrant period of European cultural, artistic, political, and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. It preceded and then overlapped with the Age of Discovery that saw European nations exploring distant shores, bringing world cultures into ever closer contact.

Pre-WWI Modern Era

The Industrial Revolution began in the 1,700's with the invention of the steam engine and the cotton gin. As mills and factories developed to further drive human productivity, it brought about urbanization and the growth of cities around the world. Many countries went through political and societal upheavals during this period, which brought about the end of monarchy in many places, and culminated in the first world war.

Post-WWI Modern Era

After the two world wars, new world orders emerged, with new geopolitical superpowers replacing the old. The Cold War ensued, bringing new spheres of conflict and competition. Technological advancements led to dramatic changes in how men live, work, and how we interact with each other--transformations that we are still grappling with today.