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.

[sort]Based on chronology, order the following events from the oldest to the most recent:
The Egyptian architect Imhotep completed the Great Pyramid of Cheops on the Giza Plateau.
Qin Shi Huang united China for the first time, establishing the Qin Dynasty; construction on the Great Wall began.
Caesar crossed the Rubicon, which eventually led to the Roman Civil War.
Done ordering, next question
The Neolithic is the last stage of the Mesolithic period in archaeology.
True
False
The Suez Canal officially opened in 1869. It is an artificial sea-level waterway connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez, significantly shortening the trading time between the eastern and western worlds.
True
False
Which of the following was not invented during the Middle Ages？
The printing press
Silk
The spinning wheel
Paper money
The Korean Empire was the first empire in the history of the Korean peninsula.
True
False
The East India Company was granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth II, giving it the privilege of trading in India.
True
False
Which of the following nations is not a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council?
Russia
China
France
Germany
The Glorious Revolution was a violent coup by the British bourgeoisie, sacrificing a large number of soldiers in exchange for the victory of the bourgeoisie and a new aristocracy.
True
False
Who was the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty in China?
Meiji
Kojong
Puyi
Bao Dai
Which of the following occupations is related to the third industrial revolution?
Painter
Steamship captain
Airplane pilot
Network engineer
[check]Which are the two nations most strongly identified with the Cold War？
The Soviet Union
China
The United States
The United Kingdom
Done selecting, next question
Which of the following conflicts was not fought during the 1800s?
The Taiping Rebellion
The War of 1812
The Seven Years' War
The American Civil War
What was the primary unresolved issue that led to the American Civil War?
Taxation
Women's suffrage
Slavery
Immigration
Where was Yuanmou Man, a subspecies of Homo erectus, discovered?
Japan
Korea
China
Cambodia
Who was the first emperor of Rome?
Valerian
Nero
Claudius
Augustus
[sort]Sort the following countries in the chronological order of their admission into the European Union.
Spain
Sweden
Latvia
Romania
Done ordering, next question
For whom was the Step Pyramid constructed?
Khufu
Djoser
Cleopatra
Ramesses II
Which one of the following literary masterpieces was not published during the Renaissance period？
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer
The Devine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
[date_Y:1945,M:9,D:2]The Second World War ended with Japan signing the Instrument of Surrender. What date did this event take place?
0
Which of the following historical figures is not of the renaissance period?
Shakespeare
Michelangelo
Niccolò Machiavelli
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Who was the last samurai ruling shogunate in Japanese history?
Ashikaga
Kamakura
Hirohito
Tokugawa
Magna Carta, one of the most important documents in British legal history, was signed in which year?
1215
1265
1337
1455
The descriptions of "the skull is low and flat with prominent brows and large teeth; used stone tools” appear most consistent with which of the following?
Apes
Modern man
Early Homo sapien
Late Homo sapien
Which of the following was not invented in Ancient China？
Papermaking
Gunpowder
Clock
Compass
When was Jerusalem captured by the European forces during the Middle Ages?
890
1021
1245
1099
[check]In matriarchal societies, what roles belonged to the women?
Hunting and fishing
Raising the young
Cooking
Protecting against wild animals
Done selecting, next question
[check]Which two geological eras did the Paleolithic span?
Miocene
Pliocene
Pleistocene
Holocene
Done selecting, next question
[sort]Based on chronology, order the following thinkers and philosophers from the most ancient to the most recent (by date of birth).
Pythagoras
Confucius
Socrates
Cicero
Done ordering, next question
What was the largest city in the world in the 12th century?
Paris
Hangzhou
Venice
Delhi
In what year did Muhammad have the vision that eventually led him to found Islam?
820 AD
550 AD
780 AD
610 AD

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.