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🏛️ Ancient Times Study Notes

Pyramids, Greece, and Rome — answers and explanations for all 200 questions. Cover the answer, have a guess first, then check the explanation. Want to play it as a quiz? Try it at the Quiz Playground!

Q. What big triangle-shaped structures stand in Egypt's desert?

Options: Pyramids · The Colosseum · The Eiffel Tower · The Great Wall

Answer: Pyramids

The pyramids are tombs of ancient Egypt's kings (pharaohs).

Q. What very, very long wall is in China?

Options: The Colosseum · The pyramids · The Great Wall · The Taj Mahal

Answer: The Great Wall

The Great Wall stretches thousands of km — the longest wall in the world.

Q. What giant round arena did ancient Romans watch games in?

Options: The Colosseum · The Arc de Triomphe · The Parthenon · The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Answer: The Colosseum

The Colosseum is the round arena in Rome, Italy.

Q. In which country did the Olympics first begin?

Options: Greece · Italy · Egypt · France

Answer: Greece

The ancient Olympics were held at Olympia in Greece.

Q. What was the name of the old trade route linking East and West?

Options: The Tea Horse Road · The Roman Road · The Sea Route · The Silk Road

Answer: The Silk Road

Silk traveled along it, so it was called the Silk Road.

Q. What did the world's four great early civilizations all begin near?

Options: High mountaintops · The middle of a desert · Under the sea · Beside great rivers

Answer: Beside great rivers

Civilizations began beside great rivers like the Nile and the Yellow River.

Q. In which country were the first Olympics held?

Options: The United States · Greece · Egypt · Italy

Answer: Greece

They began at Olympia in ancient Greece.

Q. What was ancient Rome's round arena?

Options: The Parthenon · The Great Wall · The Colosseum · The pyramids

Answer: The Colosseum

The Colosseum was a giant arena that held 50,000 people.

Q. What famous temple sits on a hill in Athens, Greece?

Options: The Colosseum · Angkor Wat · The Parthenon · The Taj Mahal

Answer: The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a temple to the goddess Athena.

Q. In Greek myth, who is the king of the gods?

Options: Poseidon · Zeus · Heracles · Apollo

Answer: Zeus

Zeus is the king of the gods, who wields the lightning bolt.

Q. In Roman numerals, what is 'X'?

Options: 10 · 100 · 5 · 50

Answer: 10

I=1, V=5, X=10, L=50, C=100.

Q. Which is NOT one of the four great early civilizations?

Options: Mesopotamian civilization · Yellow River civilization · Egyptian civilization · Antarctic civilization

Answer: Antarctic civilization

Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus, and the Yellow River! There's no civilization in Antarctica.

Q. Which river did Egyptian civilization begin on?

Options: The Amazon · The Yellow River · The Thames · The Nile

Answer: The Nile

They say 'Egypt is the gift of the Nile'.

Q. Which river did Chinese civilization begin on?

Options: The Yellow River · The Indus · The Seine · The Nile

Answer: The Yellow River

The Yellow River, named for its muddy yellow water.

Q. Which river did Indian civilization begin on?

Options: The Indus · The Mississippi · The Nile · The Yellow River

Answer: The Indus

India's name comes from the Indus River!

Q. Which civilization grew between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers?

Options: Mesopotamian civilization · Egyptian civilization · Mayan civilization · Yellow River civilization

Answer: Mesopotamian civilization

Mesopotamia — 'the land between rivers'!

Q. Why did civilizations begin beside great rivers?

Options: The fish were pretty · To go swimming · Water and rich soil made farming good · There were lots of boats

Answer: Water and rich soil made farming good

Farming went well, so people gathered.

Q. Which round invention was key to making carts and pottery?

Options: A ring · The wheel · A ball · A coin

Answer: The wheel

The wheel is one of humanity's greatest inventions!

Q. What did ancient Egyptians call their king?

Options: Pharaoh · Kaiser · Emperor · Sultan

Answer: Pharaoh

The pharaoh, son of the sun!

Q. What were the pyramids built for?

Options: Schools · Swimming pools · Markets · Tombs for kings

Answer: Tombs for kings

They're the giant tombs of the pharaohs.

Q. What is the giant Egyptian statue with a human face and a lion's body?

Options: The Statue of Liberty · Moai · The Statue of David · The Sphinx

Answer: The Sphinx

The Sphinx, guarding the pyramids!

Q. What did ancient Egyptians make to preserve a body from decaying?

Options: A mummy · A painting · A doll · A statue

Answer: A mummy

They believed people would live again, so they made mummies.

Q. What was ancient Egypt's picture-like writing?

Options: Hieroglyphs · The alphabet · Cuneiform · Hangul

Answer: Hieroglyphs

Hieroglyphs shaped like birds, eyes, and waves!

Q. What plant material did Egyptians use instead of paper?

Options: Bamboo · Palm leaves · Papyrus · Silk

Answer: Papyrus

Papyrus — the origin of the word 'paper'!

Q. Which boy pharaoh is famous for his golden mask?

Options: Tutankhamun · Khufu · Cleopatra · Ramesses II

Answer: Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun's golden mask was discovered.

Q. Which pharaoh left behind the biggest pyramid?

Options: Nero · Khufu · Cleopatra · Tutankhamun

Answer: Khufu

The Great Pyramid of Giza is Khufu's!

Q. Who was ancient Egypt's famous last queen?

Options: Cleopatra · Victoria · Nefertiti · Elizabeth

Answer: Cleopatra

Cleopatra! She was Egypt's last queen, but her roots were Greek — she spoke many languages and stood up to Rome.

Q. Why did Egyptians make a calendar?

Options: To throw birthday parties · To know when the Nile would flood · To read the stars · To count days off

Answer: To know when the Nile would flood

They made a 365-day calendar to predict the floods!

Q. Which ancient law code is famous for 'an eye for an eye'?

Options: The Eight Articles · The Great Code · Roman law · The Code of Hammurabi

Answer: The Code of Hammurabi

It's the code of King Hammurabi of Babylonia.

Q. What writing did Mesopotamians press into clay tablets?

Options: Hieroglyphs · Cuneiform · Chinese characters · The alphabet

Answer: Cuneiform

Cuneiform, shaped like little wedges!

Q. Which Mediterranean trading people created the ancestor of the alphabet?

Options: The Phoenicians · The Romans · The Mongols · The Vikings

Answer: The Phoenicians

Phoenician letters are the root of the alphabet!

Q. Which country today is near where Mesopotamia was?

Options: Brazil · France · Japan · Iraq

Answer: Iraq

It's the land of modern-day Iraq.

Q. What system let citizens in ancient Greece decide state matters themselves?

Options: Only rule by nobles · Rule by a king · Democracy · A king by lottery

Answer: Democracy

Democracy sprouted in Athens.

Q. What were ancient Greece's two great city-states?

Options: Rome and Pompeii · Cairo and Giza · Athens and Sparta · Beijing and Xi'an

Answer: Athens and Sparta

Wise Athens and brave Sparta!

Q. Which Greek city-state was famous for tough military training from childhood?

Options: Athens · Olympia · Sparta · Delphi

Answer: Sparta

Sparta — the source of the word 'spartan'!

Q. Where in Greece were the ancient Olympics held?

Options: Athens · Marathon · Sparta · Olympia

Answer: Olympia

They were held at Olympia to honor Zeus.

Q. What did Greek cities do during the ancient Olympics?

Options: Closed their gates · Stopped their wars · Raised taxes · Started wars

Answer: Stopped their wars

The Olympic truce! A tradition of peace.

Q. Which Greek philosopher is famous for 'Know thyself'?

Options: Plato · Pythagoras · Aristotle · Socrates

Answer: Socrates

Socrates, the master of questions!

Q. Which philosopher, Socrates' student, spoke of 'ideas' (forms)?

Options: Thales · Aristotle · Zeno · Plato

Answer: Plato

Plato — and his own student was Aristotle!

Q. Which philosopher was Alexander the Great's teacher?

Options: Aristotle · Hippocrates · Plato · Socrates

Answer: Aristotle

Aristotle, the father of all fields of study!

Q. Which Greek mathematician is famous for a right-triangle theorem?

Options: Thales · Euclid · Pythagoras · Archimedes

Answer: Pythagoras

Pythagoras! Square the two short sides of a right triangle, add them, and you get the square of the longest side.

Q. Which scientist shouted 'Eureka!' in the bath?

Options: Pythagoras · Socrates · Hippocrates · Archimedes

Answer: Archimedes

Archimedes, who figured out buoyancy!

Q. Which ancient Greek doctor is called the 'father of medicine'?

Options: Galen · Avicenna · Schweitzer · Hippocrates

Answer: Hippocrates

Doctors still take the 'Hippocratic Oath'!

Q. Which running event came out of the war between Greece and Persia?

Options: The marathon · The relay · The long jump · Hurdles

Answer: The marathon

From the story of a soldier carrying news of victory from the plain of Marathon!

Q. In Greek myth, who is the god of the sea?

Options: Poseidon · Hades · Apollo · Zeus

Answer: Poseidon

Poseidon of the trident!

Q. In Greek myth, who is the goddess of wisdom?

Options: Hera · Athena · Artemis · Aphrodite

Answer: Athena

Athena, guardian of Athens!

Q. In Greek myth, what being is half human and half horse?

Options: A centaur · Pegasus · The Sphinx · The Minotaur

Answer: A centaur

The centaur, with the body of a horse!

Q. What trick did the Greeks use in the Trojan War?

Options: Digging tunnels · Disguises · Freezing the sea · Hiding inside a horse

Answer: Hiding inside a horse

The Trojan Horse!

Q. Which ancient Greek poet composed the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey'?

Options: Herodotus · Aesop · Socrates · Homer

Answer: Homer

Homer, the blind poet.

Q. Which ancient Greek left behind fables like 'The Tortoise and the Hare'?

Options: Homer · Plato · Aesop · Pythagoras

Answer: Aesop

Aesop! Said to have been enslaved, he packed life's wisdom into short animal tales — still read 2,500 years later.

Q. Which Greek is called the 'father of history'?

Options: Homer · Socrates · Thucydides · Herodotus

Answer: Herodotus

Herodotus, who recorded the Persian Wars!

Q. Which Macedonian king conquered Greece and pushed on to India?

Options: Napoleon · Hammurabi · Alexander the Great · Caesar

Answer: Alexander the Great

He built a great empire linking East and West.

Q. Which Roman general said 'The die is cast'?

Options: Nero · Augustus · Caesar · Hannibal

Answer: Caesar

Caesar, crossing the Rubicon!

Q. Who was Rome's first emperor?

Options: Caesar · Nero · Augustus · Constantine

Answer: Augustus

Octavian became Emperor Augustus.

Q. Which general drove elephants over the Alps to attack Rome?

Options: Caesar · Alexander · Spartacus · Hannibal

Answer: Hannibal

Hannibal, the great general of Carthage!

Q. 'All roads lead to ___.' What goes in the blank?

Options: Cairo · Beijing · Rome · Athens

Answer: Rome

That's how amazing Rome's road network was!

Q. What did Rome build to bring water into its cities?

Options: Dams · Only wells · Water wheels · Aqueducts

Answer: Aqueducts

An aqueduct — a bridge with water flowing across it!

Q. Which Roman city was buried overnight by a volcanic eruption?

Options: Carthage · Rome · Pompeii · Athens

Answer: Pompeii

It was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted.

Q. What do we call the people who fought in Rome's Colosseum?

Options: Knights · Gladiators · Hwarang · Samurai

Answer: Gladiators

Gladiators! Most were enslaved people or captives, and a wildly popular one could win back their freedom.

Q. In Roman myth, which god matches the Greek Zeus?

Options: Venus · Neptune · Jupiter · Mars

Answer: Jupiter

The planet Jupiter got its name from him!

Q. Which twins, raised on wolf's milk, are said to have founded Rome?

Options: The Three Little Pigs · Castor and Pollux · Romulus and Remus · Hansel and Gretel

Answer: Romulus and Remus

The elder, Romulus, gave Rome its name.

Q. Which Roman gave his name to the month of July?

Options: Cicero · Nero · Augustus · Julius Caesar

Answer: Julius Caesar

July comes from Julius Caesar!

Q. Which Roman emperor gave his name to the month of August?

Options: Nero · Trajan · Augustus · Caesar

Answer: Augustus

Augustus! July comes from Julius Caesar and August from Augustus.

Q. Which emperor first united China?

Options: Genghis Khan · Emperor Wu of Han · Qin Shi Huang · Confucius

Answer: Qin Shi Huang

The First Emperor of Qin united it first!

Q. What are the clay soldiers guarding Qin Shi Huang's tomb?

Options: Terracotta dolls · The Terracotta Army · A stone army · The Great Wall

Answer: The Terracotta Army

Thousands of terracotta warriors were found!

Q. Why did Qin Shi Huang build the Great Wall?

Options: To make a tourist spot · To block nomad invasions from the north · To exercise · Just to mark the border

Answer: To block nomad invasions from the north

It was to hold back the Xiongnu people.

Q. Which Chinese sage taught about 'benevolence' (ren)?

Options: Socrates · Laozi · Confucius · Buddha

Answer: Confucius

Confucius, teacher of Confucianism!

Q. Which book holds Confucius's teachings?

Options: The Bible · The Quran · The Analects · Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Answer: The Analects

The Analects, put together by his students.

Q. Which person of China's Han dynasty improved papermaking and spread it widely?

Options: Zhang Heng · Qin Shi Huang · Cai Lun · Confucius

Answer: Cai Lun

Cai Lun! He improved a way to make cheap, sturdy paper from bark and rags, opening the road for knowledge to spread.

Q. What is China's writing?

Options: Hangul · The alphabet · Kana · Chinese characters

Answer: Chinese characters

Chinese characters, with thousands of years of history!

Q. Which Chinese historical novel tells of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei?

Options: Romance of the Three Kingdoms · Journey to the West · Dream of the Red Chamber · Water Margin

Answer: Romance of the Three Kingdoms

The Three Kingdoms, with its oath in the peach garden!

Q. What was China's main product sold to the West on the Silk Road?

Options: Potatoes · Coffee · Silk · Cars

Answer: Silk

The silk that gave the Silk Road its name!

Q. Which Indian sage first founded Buddhism?

Options: Confucius · Buddha (Siddhartha) · Jesus · Muhammad

Answer: Buddha (Siddhartha)

The Buddha, who reached enlightenment.

Q. What position was the Buddha born into?

Options: Enslaved · A farmer · A prince · A merchant

Answer: A prince

He was a prince, but he left the palace to seek truth.

Q. Which ancient Indian king spread Buddhism far and wide?

Options: Ashoka · Darius · Khufu · Hammurabi

Answer: Ashoka

King Ashoka, who regretted war and spread Buddhism!

Q. Which country invented the number '0' and advanced mathematics?

Options: Egypt · India · Rome · England

Answer: India

The zero is India's great gift to the world!

Q. Which country today was ancient Persia?

Options: France · Iran · Türkiye · Mongolia

Answer: Iran

Persia is modern-day Iran.

Q. What are the giant face statues of Easter Island called?

Options: Terracotta warriors · The Sphinx · Moai · Totems

Answer: Moai

The mysterious moai statues!

Q. What mysterious ancient stone monument is in England?

Options: Stonehenge · The pyramids · The Colosseum · The Great Wall

Answer: Stonehenge

Who built it, and why? Stonehenge!

Q. Which ancient civilization built pyramid temples in Central America?

Options: Mayan civilization · Egyptian civilization · Yellow River civilization · Greek civilization

Answer: Mayan civilization

The Mayan civilization in the jungle!

Q. Which ancient American civilization advanced calendars and astronomy?

Options: Indus civilization · Roman civilization · Mesopotamian civilization · Mayan civilization

Answer: Mayan civilization

The Mayan calendar was incredibly precise!

Q. Why did ancient people treasure salt?

Options: It was light · It was pretty · It let them keep food a long time · It was sweet

Answer: It let them keep food a long time

Salt was so precious it gave us the word 'salary'!

Q. What do ancient civilizations have in common?

Options: They used electricity · They flew airplanes · They used smartphones · They created writing and cities

Answer: They created writing and cities

The birth of writing, cities, and states!

Q. What is 'civilization' closest to?

Options: A desert · A glacier · An advanced society and culture people built · A jungle

Answer: An advanced society and culture people built

A society woven from cities, writing, and technology.

Q. Which began first — ancient Egypt or Persia?

Options: We can't know · At the same time · Egypt · Persia

Answer: Egypt

Egypt! When the pyramids went up, Persia wasn't even a country yet — Egyptian civilization was far earlier.

Q. Which age ended when humans began writing things down?

Options: The historical age · The modern age · Prehistory · The medieval age

Answer: Prehistory

With writing, the 'historical age' began!

Q. About how long is the Olympic marathon?

Options: 42.195 km · 4.2 km · 10 km · 100 km

Answer: 42.195 km

It comes from the distance of that run carrying news of the Battle of Marathon!

Q. Which goddess was ancient Greece's Parthenon dedicated to?

Options: Venus · Hera · Isis · Athena

Answer: Athena

Athena, guardian goddess of Athens!

Q. About how long is the Great Wall famously said to be?

Options: 10 kilometers · 100 meters · Thousands of kilometers · 1 kilometer

Answer: Thousands of kilometers

End to end it's thousands of km — the biggest structure in the world!

Q. What bathing facility did ancient Romans enjoy?

Options: Only pools · Only hot springs · Public baths · Saunas

Answer: Public baths

Huge ones, like the Baths of Caracalla!

Q. What traveled the Silk Road?

Options: Trucks · Trains · Airplanes · Camel caravans

Answer: Camel caravans

Lines of camels, the ships of the desert!

Q. What famous buildings stood in ancient Alexandria on the Mediterranean?

Options: A great library and a lighthouse · The Colosseum · The Eiffel Tower · The Great Wall

Answer: A great library and a lighthouse

The Library of Alexandria and the Pharos Lighthouse!

Q. Which Egyptian structure is one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world?

Options: The Eiffel Tower · The Colosseum · The Taj Mahal · The Pyramids of Giza

Answer: The Pyramids of Giza

The only ancient wonder still standing!

Q. Where were ancient Greek plays performed?

Options: An open-air amphitheater · A gym · A movie theater · Inside a palace

Answer: An open-air amphitheater

A half-circle open-air theater built into a hillside!

Q. What do we call China's earliest characters, carved on turtle shells?

Options: Hieroglyphs · Oracle bone script · Cuneiform · Hangul

Answer: Oracle bone script

Oracle bone script, carved while telling fortunes!

Q. What guardian statue with a lion's body and wings stood at Mesopotamian palaces?

Options: The Sphinx · A haetae · A gargoyle · A lamassu

Answer: A lamassu

The lamassu — a winged bull or lion with a human face!

Q. What was ancient India's social class system?

Options: The bone-rank system · The caste system · The yangban system · Feudalism

Answer: The caste system

The caste system, with four classes including the Brahmins.

Q. About how many spectators fit in the Colosseum, the ancient world's biggest arena?

Options: 5 million · 50 · 500 · 50,000

Answer: 50,000

About 50,000! That rivals stadiums today.

Q. What did people do at the temple of Delphi in Greece?

Options: Held a market · Asked the gods' will (the oracle) · Held athletic contests · Went to school

Answer: Asked the gods' will (the oracle)

They went to hear the oracle of Apollo.

Q. What mysterious garden is said to have stood in Babylon?

Options: The Secret Garden · The Hanging Gardens · The Gardens of Versailles · The Garden of Eden

Answer: The Hanging Gardens

One of the Seven Wonders — the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

Photo of The Pyramids of Giza

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Pyramids of Giza · Abu Simbel · Cleopatra · Tutankhamun's golden mask

Answer: The Pyramids of Giza

The giant tombs of Egypt's kings (pharaohs). They're the only ancient wonder still standing.

Photo of The Step Pyramid

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: An obelisk · A sarcophagus · The Sphinx · The Step Pyramid

Answer: The Step Pyramid

The oldest pyramid, built in steps.

Photo of The Sphinx

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Cleopatra · The Sphinx · Abu Simbel · Papyrus

Answer: The Sphinx

A giant statue with a lion's body and a human face.

Photo of Tutankhamun's golden mask

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Tutankhamun's golden mask · Karnak Temple · The Book of the Dead · The bust of Nefertiti

Answer: Tutankhamun's golden mask

The golden mask that covered the mummy of the boy king Tutankhamun.

Photo of The Rosetta Stone

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Hieroglyphs · The Rosetta Stone · The Book of the Dead · The Sphinx

Answer: The Rosetta Stone

Carved with three scripts, it was the key to decoding hieroglyphs.

Photo of Papyrus

Q. What did ancient Egyptians use like paper?

Options: Papyrus · An obelisk · A sarcophagus · The Step Pyramid

Answer: Papyrus

Ancient paper made from a reed-like plant.

Photo of Hieroglyphs

Q. What do we call this picture writing of ancient Egypt?

Options: Hieroglyphs · The Step Pyramid · The Rosetta Stone · Cleopatra

Answer: Hieroglyphs

Birds, eyes, and waves — pictures that carried meaning.

Photo of A mummy

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Cleopatra · The Step Pyramid · A sarcophagus · A mummy

Answer: A mummy

Ancient Egyptians made mummies so the body wouldn't decay.

Photo of The bust of Nefertiti

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Papyrus · The Rosetta Stone · The bust of Nefertiti · A sarcophagus

Answer: The bust of Nefertiti

A beautiful statue of an ancient Egyptian queen.

Photo of Abu Simbel

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Abu Simbel · Statue of Ramesses II · The Pyramids of Giza · A mummy

Answer: Abu Simbel

A temple Ramesses II carved out of a rocky mountain.

Photo of Karnak Temple

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Karnak Temple · Tutankhamun's golden mask · The Step Pyramid · A sarcophagus

Answer: Karnak Temple

Egypt's largest temple, a forest of giant columns.

Photo of The Book of the Dead

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Book of the Dead · The Sphinx · The Step Pyramid · A sarcophagus

Answer: The Book of the Dead

A guidebook for the dead, painted on papyrus.

Photo of Statue of Ramesses II

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Statue of Ramesses II · The Book of the Dead · The Rosetta Stone · The Sphinx

Answer: Statue of Ramesses II

A statue of the king considered Egypt's greatest pharaoh.

Photo of An obelisk

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: An obelisk · Cleopatra · The Step Pyramid · Hieroglyphs

Answer: An obelisk

A pointed stone pillar raised to honor the sun god.

Photo of A sarcophagus

Q. What is this painted box that held a mummy?

Options: The Pyramids of Giza · Tutankhamun's golden mask · An obelisk · A sarcophagus

Answer: A sarcophagus

A splendidly decorated coffin for a mummy.

Photo of Cleopatra

Q. Who is this bust of — Egypt's last queen?

Options: Statue of Ramesses II · Cleopatra · The Rosetta Stone · Papyrus

Answer: Cleopatra

Cleopatra VII was the last pharaoh of Egypt.

Photo of A ziggurat

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Cuneiform · A ziggurat · The Epic of Gilgamesh · The wheel

Answer: A ziggurat

A stepped temple of Mesopotamia.

Photo of The Code of Hammurabi

Q. What is this stone pillar, famous for 'an eye for an eye'?

Options: The wheel · The Standard of Ur · The Ishtar Gate · The Code of Hammurabi

Answer: The Code of Hammurabi

One of the oldest law codes in the world.

Photo of Cuneiform

Q. What do we call this writing pressed into clay tablets?

Options: A lamassu · Cuneiform · The wheel · The Code of Hammurabi

Answer: Cuneiform

Writing pressed into clay tablets with a reed pen.

Photo of The Ishtar Gate

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Standard of Ur · The Epic of Gilgamesh · The Ishtar Gate · A lamassu

Answer: The Ishtar Gate

Babylon's splendid blue gate.

Photo of The Epic of Gilgamesh

Q. What is one of the world's oldest stories, carved on clay tablets?

Options: The wheel · The Epic of Gilgamesh · The Standard of Ur · The Code of Hammurabi

Answer: The Epic of Gilgamesh

The adventure of the hero Gilgamesh.

Photo of The Standard of Ur

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The wheel · Cuneiform · A ziggurat · The Standard of Ur

Answer: The Standard of Ur

A mosaic box showing the life of the Sumerians.

Photo of A lamassu

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Cuneiform · A lamassu · The Ishtar Gate · The wheel

Answer: A lamassu

A guardian statue of a winged bull with a human face.

Photo of The wheel

Q. What is this invention from about 5,000 years ago?

Options: The Epic of Gilgamesh · The wheel · The Ishtar Gate · Cuneiform

Answer: The wheel

The wheel made traveling and hauling far easier.

Photo of The Parthenon

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: A Minoan fresco · The Parthenon · The Winged Victory of Samothrace · Greek pottery

Answer: The Parthenon

Greece's great temple, dedicated to the goddess Athena.

Photo of The Parthenon marbles

Q. What are these marble carvings that decorated the Parthenon?

Options: The Parthenon marbles · Olympia · The Winged Victory of Samothrace · The Temple of Hephaestus

Answer: The Parthenon marbles

Horses and people are carved into them so vividly.

Photo of The Acropolis

Q. What do we call this temple district on the high hill of Athens?

Options: The Temple of Hephaestus · The Discobolus · The Parthenon marbles · The Acropolis

Answer: The Acropolis

The sacred hill at the top of the city.

Photo of The Discobolus

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Lion Gate of Mycenae · The Discobolus · An Athenian coin · Socrates

Answer: The Discobolus

A statue capturing an athlete of the ancient Olympics.

Photo of The Venus de Milo

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Venus de Milo · The Lion Gate of Mycenae · The Discobolus · A Greek bronze helmet

Answer: The Venus de Milo

A statue of a goddess, beautiful even without arms.

Photo of The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Venus de Milo · The Winged Victory of Samothrace · Greek pottery · An Athenian coin

Answer: The Winged Victory of Samothrace

A winged statue of the goddess of victory. A sports brand took its name from her!

Photo of Socrates

Q. Who is this philosopher, famous for 'Know thyself'?

Options: The Discobolus · Socrates · Greek pottery · An ancient theater

Answer: Socrates

The Greek philosopher who found wisdom by asking questions.

Photo of Plato

Q. Who is this philosopher, Socrates' student, who wrote 'The Republic'?

Options: A Minoan fresco · Homer · Plato · The Temple of Hephaestus

Answer: Plato

The philosopher who dreamed of an ideal state.

Photo of Aristotle

Q. Who is this philosopher, teacher of Alexander the Great?

Options: Aristotle · The Acropolis · The Lion Gate of Mycenae · Socrates

Answer: Aristotle

He's called the 'father of all fields of study'.

Photo of Alexander the Great

Q. Who is the subject of this mosaic — the king who conquered from Greece to India?

Options: The Antikythera mechanism · Alexander the Great · The Venus de Milo · The golden mask of Agamemnon

Answer: Alexander the Great

Alexander built a great empire linking East and West.

Photo of Delphi

Q. What is this Greek sacred site where people heard the oracle (the gods' will)?

Options: The Temple of Hephaestus · Delphi · The bronze Zeus (or Poseidon) · Plato

Answer: Delphi

It has the temple of Apollo, called the 'navel of the world'.

Photo of The Lion Gate of Mycenae

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Antikythera mechanism · The Parthenon marbles · The Lion Gate of Mycenae · A Greek bronze helmet

Answer: The Lion Gate of Mycenae

The gate of Mycenae, carved with two lions.

Photo of Greek pottery

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: A Minoan fresco · A Greek bronze helmet · Greek pottery · The Acropolis

Answer: Greek pottery

Pottery painted with myths and daily life.

Photo of Homer

Q. Who is this poet who composed the 'Iliad' and the 'Odyssey'?

Options: The Lion Gate of Mycenae · Plato · Aristotle · Homer

Answer: Homer

The blind poet who sang of the Trojan War.

Photo of Olympia

Q. What is this Greek site where the ancient Olympics were held?

Options: The Winged Victory of Samothrace · Alexander the Great · The golden mask of Agamemnon · Olympia

Answer: Olympia

Games honoring Zeus were held here every four years.

Photo of The bronze Zeus (or Poseidon)

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The bronze Zeus (or Poseidon) · The Venus de Milo · The Lion Gate of Mycenae · Aristotle

Answer: The bronze Zeus (or Poseidon)

A bronze statue of a Greek god, raised up from the sea.

Photo of A Greek bronze helmet

Q. What is this, worn by ancient Greek warriors?

Options: An Athenian coin · A Greek bronze helmet · Plato · The Parthenon

Answer: A Greek bronze helmet

A Corinthian helmet that even protects the nose.

Photo of The golden mask of Agamemnon

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The agora · The golden mask of Agamemnon · The Temple of Hephaestus · Olympia

Answer: The golden mask of Agamemnon

A golden mask found in the tomb of a king of Mycenae.

Photo of A Minoan fresco

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Alexander the Great · An Athenian coin · A Minoan fresco · Homer

Answer: A Minoan fresco

A fresco of ships from the Minoan civilization of Crete.

Photo of An Athenian coin

Q. Which city made this ancient coin engraved with an owl?

Options: Olympia · Greek pottery · An Athenian coin · Homer

Answer: An Athenian coin

It's engraved with the owl of Athena, goddess of wisdom.

Photo of An ancient theater

Q. What is this half-circle structure built into a hillside?

Options: The golden mask of Agamemnon · Aristotle · Greek pottery · An ancient theater

Answer: An ancient theater

An open-air theater for watching plays — the sound carries beautifully.

Photo of The Antikythera mechanism

Q. What is this ancient machine, called the 'world's first computer'?

Options: The agora · The Antikythera mechanism · Socrates · The bronze Zeus (or Poseidon)

Answer: The Antikythera mechanism

A precise gear machine that calculated the movement of the stars.

Photo of The agora

Q. What is this square where ancient Greeks gathered and debated?

Options: Alexander the Great · The agora · Homer · Socrates

Answer: The agora

The agora was a market and the stage of democracy.

Photo of The Temple of Hephaestus

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Delphi · The Temple of Hephaestus · Greek pottery · A Greek bronze helmet

Answer: The Temple of Hephaestus

The best-preserved Greek temple in Athens.

Photo of The Colosseum

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Colosseum · The Pantheon · The Pont du Gard aqueduct · The Roman Forum

Answer: The Colosseum

Rome's round arena, where gladiator contests were held.

Photo of The spectator stands

Q. This is inside the Colosseum. What are these tiered seats that held 50,000 people?

Options: The spectator stands · The emperor's bedroom · An underground prison · A temple

Answer: The spectator stands

The Colosseum was an arena ringed with tiered seating, where about 50,000 people watched gladiator contests.

Photo of The Roman Forum

Q. What is this ruined square, the heart of ancient Rome?

Options: A Pompeii fresco · A Roman denarius coin · The Roman Forum · The Aqueduct of Segovia

Answer: The Roman Forum

It was the center of politics and religion.

Photo of The Pantheon

Q. What is this round-domed Roman temple, dedicated to all the gods?

Options: The Pantheon · A ballista (catapult) · Circus Maximus · Julius Caesar

Answer: The Pantheon

Its 2,000-year-old concrete dome still stands.

Photo of Statue of Augustus

Q. This is a statue of the man who became Rome's first emperor. Who is it?

Options: Statue of Augustus · The Arch of Titus · The Pont du Gard aqueduct · The Roman Forum

Answer: Statue of Augustus

Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire.

Photo of Julius Caesar

Q. Who is this Roman hero, famous for 'The die is cast'?

Options: Statue of Augustus · The Aqueduct of Segovia · Julius Caesar · The Arch of Titus

Answer: Julius Caesar

Caesar was Rome's great general and statesman.

Photo of Pompeii

Q. Which Roman city was buried in an instant by a volcanic eruption?

Options: The Colosseum · Pompeii · A ballista (catapult) · The Arch of Constantine

Answer: Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the whole city.

Photo of A Pompeii fresco

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Colosseum · A Pompeii fresco · The Pantheon · Inside the Colosseum

Answer: A Pompeii fresco

A fresco whose colors were preserved perfectly in volcanic ash.

Photo of The Pont du Gard aqueduct

Q. What is this bridge built to carry water?

Options: The Colosseum · The Pont du Gard aqueduct · Julius Caesar · Trajan's Column

Answer: The Pont du Gard aqueduct

Romans brought water from dozens of kilometers away.

Photo of The Aqueduct of Segovia

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Arch of Titus · Inside the Colosseum · A chariot race · The Aqueduct of Segovia

Answer: The Aqueduct of Segovia

A Roman aqueduct still standing in Spain.

Photo of The Appian Way

Q. 'All roads lead to Rome' — what is this Roman road?

Options: The Appian Way · The Colosseum · The Pont du Gard aqueduct · Trajan's Column

Answer: The Appian Way

The stone-paved road the Romans built still remains today.

Photo of Trajan's Column

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Appian Way · Trajan's Column · A Pompeii fresco · The Colosseum

Answer: Trajan's Column

A monument column with a war story carved in a spiral.

Photo of The Capitoline Wolf

Q. Which legendary animal is said to have nursed the twins who founded Rome?

Options: A Roman denarius coin · The Roman Forum · The Capitoline Wolf · Trajan's Column

Answer: The Capitoline Wolf

Legend says a wolf raised Romulus and Remus.

Photo of Roman legionaries

Q. Which country's army are these soldiers with shields and armor?

Options: The Roman Forum · Roman legionaries · The Arch of Constantine · The Arch of Titus

Answer: Roman legionaries

The Roman legions were the mightiest army of the ancient world.

Photo of A Roman denarius coin

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: A Roman denarius coin · A chariot race · A Pompeii fresco · Roman legionaries

Answer: A Roman denarius coin

Roman money, stamped with the emperor's face.

Photo of A Roman mosaic

Q. What do we call this picture decoration made of little stone pieces?

Options: The Appian Way · The Capitoline Wolf · A Roman mosaic · A Roman bath

Answer: A Roman mosaic

They decorated floors by fitting together bits of stone and glass.

Photo of Chariot racing

Q. Which sport did ancient Romans go wild for?

Options: The Appian Way · Statue of Augustus · Chariot racing · Inside the Colosseum

Answer: Chariot racing

They raced chariots pulled by four horses.

Photo of Circus Maximus

Q. What is this ruined giant stadium in Rome where chariot races were held?

Options: A chariot race · Circus Maximus · Inside the Colosseum · Roman legionaries

Answer: Circus Maximus

It was the biggest arena of all, holding 250,000 people.

Photo of The Arch of Titus

Q. What do we call this gate built to celebrate a victory in war?

Options: A Roman mosaic · The Arch of Titus · Roman legionaries · The Appian Way

Answer: The Arch of Titus

A triumphal arch is a gate a victorious general passes through.

Photo of The Arch of Constantine

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Arch of Constantine · Trajan's Column · The Pantheon · A Roman mosaic

Answer: The Arch of Constantine

A triumphal arch in Rome, standing beside the Colosseum.

Photo of A Roman bath

Q. What is this facility the Romans loved?

Options: A Roman bath · The Aqueduct of Segovia · The Capitoline Wolf · The Arch of Titus

Answer: A Roman bath

The baths were where Romans socialized.

Photo of A ballista (catapult)

Q. What is this weapon used to attack castles?

Options: An amphora · A ballista (catapult) · Circus Maximus · The Pantheon

Answer: A ballista (catapult)

An ancient weapon that shot giant arrows or stones.

Photo of A sundial

Q. Before clocks, what told the time using a shadow?

Options: The Pont du Gard aqueduct · A sundial · A Pompeii fresco · The Aqueduct of Segovia

Answer: A sundial

They read the hour from the sun's shadow.

Photo of An amphora

Q. What is this jar used to carry wine and olive oil?

Options: A chariot race · Pompeii · An amphora · The Colosseum

Answer: An amphora

Loaded onto ships, it's a symbol of Mediterranean trade.

Photo of The Terracotta Army

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Terracotta Army · The Sword of Goujian · Oracle bone script · The Terracotta Army pits

Answer: The Terracotta Army

Soldiers made of clay, guarding the tomb of Qin Shi Huang.

Photo of The Terracotta Army pits

Q. Which country made this place, lined with thousands of clay soldiers?

Options: The Terracotta Army pits · Oracle bone script · The Great Wall · The Sword of Goujian

Answer: The Terracotta Army pits

Qin Shi Huang wanted an army even in death.

Photo of The Great Wall

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Great Wall · The Terracotta Army · Oracle bone script · Laozi

Answer: The Great Wall

The world's longest wall, built to block invasions from the north.

Photo of Oracle bone script

Q. What is China's oldest writing, carved on turtle shells?

Options: A bronze ding cauldron · The Terracotta Army · The Sword of Goujian · Oracle bone script

Answer: Oracle bone script

Fortune-telling was carved into bone. The ancestor of Chinese characters!

Photo of Confucius

Q. Who is this Chinese sage who taught about 'benevolence' (ren)?

Options: Laozi · A banliang coin · The Terracotta Army pits · Confucius

Answer: Confucius

Confucius's teachings became Confucianism and spread across East Asia.

Photo of Laozi

Q. Who is this Chinese thinker who left behind the 'Tao Te Ching'?

Options: Confucius · Laozi · The Great Wall · A bronze ding cauldron

Answer: Laozi

He taught a life that follows nature.

Photo of A bronze ding cauldron

Q. What is this giant vessel used for rituals in ancient China?

Options: The Terracotta Army · Bamboo slips · A bronze ding cauldron · The Great Wall

Answer: A bronze ding cauldron

The 'ding' was a symbol of a king's authority.

Photo of A banliang coin

Q. What is this coin Qin Shi Huang standardized?

Options: A banliang coin · The Terracotta Army · A Han bronze chariot · The Terracotta Army pits

Answer: A banliang coin

Qin Shi Huang standardized money, writing, and measurements.

Photo of Bamboo slips

Q. What is this book, written on bamboo before paper existed?

Options: Bamboo slips · A bronze ding cauldron · Confucius · Oracle bone script

Answer: Bamboo slips

They bound bamboo strips together to make a book.

Photo of A Han bronze chariot

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Sword of Goujian · The Terracotta Army · Oracle bone script · A Han bronze chariot

Answer: A Han bronze chariot

An exquisite bronze craft of the Han dynasty.

Photo of The Sword of Goujian

Q. What is this sword that hasn't rusted in 2,500 years?

Options: The Sword of Goujian · A banliang coin · A bronze ding cauldron · The Terracotta Army pits

Answer: The Sword of Goujian

It came out of a tomb with its blade still gleaming.

Photo of Mohenjo-daro

Q. What is this ancient planned city in the Indus valley?

Options: Mohenjo-daro · A Gandhara Buddha · The Ajanta Caves · An Indus seal

Answer: Mohenjo-daro

A city with sewers, 4,500 years ago.

Photo of An Indus seal

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: A Gandhara Buddha · The Great Stupa at Sanchi · An Indus seal · An Ashoka pillar

Answer: An Indus seal

An animal seal of the Indus civilization. Its writing still isn't decoded!

Photo of The Great Stupa at Sanchi

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Ajanta Caves · An Indus seal · An Ashoka pillar · The Great Stupa at Sanchi

Answer: The Great Stupa at Sanchi

An ancient Indian stupa holding relics of the Buddha.

Photo of An Ashoka pillar

Q. What is this stone pillar raised by the Indian king who spread Buddhism?

Options: The Ajanta Caves · Mohenjo-daro · An Indus seal · An Ashoka pillar

Answer: An Ashoka pillar

King Ashoka regretted war and spread Buddhism.

Photo of A Gandhara Buddha

Q. Which Buddha style was influenced by Greek sculpture?

Options: An Ashoka pillar · A Gandhara Buddha · The Ajanta Caves · Mohenjo-daro

Answer: A Gandhara Buddha

After Alexander's campaign, Eastern and Western art met.

Photo of The Ajanta Caves

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: An Indus seal · An Ashoka pillar · A Gandhara Buddha · The Ajanta Caves

Answer: The Ajanta Caves

India's Buddhist cave temples, carved into a rocky mountain.

Photo of Persepolis

Q. What are these ruins of the Persian Empire's splendid capital?

Options: An Olmec colossal head · An Aksum obelisk · Persepolis · The Nazca Lines

Answer: Persepolis

The name means 'city of the Persians'.

Photo of The Cyrus Cylinder

Q. What is this cylinder, called the first declaration of human rights?

Options: Phoenician script · An Aksum obelisk · The Nazca Lines · The Cyrus Cylinder

Answer: The Cyrus Cylinder

Cyrus the Great's policy of tolerance is carved into it.

Photo of Petra

Q. What is this red desert city carved out of rock?

Options: The Cyrus Cylinder · Persepolis · An Aksum obelisk · Petra

Answer: Petra

It's the ruin that was the backdrop of an Indiana Jones movie.

Photo of Phoenician script

Q. Which writing became the ancestor of the alphabet?

Options: Phoenician script · Petra · The Cyrus Cylinder · An Olmec colossal head

Answer: Phoenician script

The script of the Phoenician traders became the alphabet.

Photo of An Olmec colossal head

Q. What is this giant stone face found in the jungles of Mexico?

Options: Phoenician script · The Cyrus Cylinder · An Aksum obelisk · An Olmec colossal head

Answer: An Olmec colossal head

A carving left by the oldest civilization in the Americas.

Photo of Teotihuacan

Q. What is this Mexican pyramid city called the 'city of the gods'?

Options: The Nazca Lines · The Cyrus Cylinder · Persepolis · Teotihuacan

Answer: Teotihuacan

The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon still stand there.

Photo of The Nazca Lines

Q. What are these giant drawings in Peru, visible only from the sky?

Options: The Nazca Lines · Persepolis · An Olmec colossal head · An Aksum obelisk

Answer: The Nazca Lines

Who drew these birds and monkeys, and why? It's a mystery.

Photo of An Aksum obelisk

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: The Nazca Lines · An Aksum obelisk · The Cyrus Cylinder · An Olmec colossal head

Answer: An Aksum obelisk

A giant stone pillar of the Kingdom of Aksum in Africa.

Photo of Stonehenge

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: A Roman bath · Statue of Ramesses II · Stonehenge · A ballista (catapult)

Answer: Stonehenge

England's mysterious megalithic monument.

Photo of The Lascaux cave paintings

Q. What is this cave painting, made 17,000 years ago?

Options: The Lascaux cave paintings · The Ishtar Gate · Teotihuacan · The Book of the Dead

Answer: The Lascaux cave paintings

Paintings of cattle and horses by Stone Age people.

Photo of The Venus of Willendorf

Q. What is the name of this cultural treasure?

Options: Cuneiform · Petra · The Venus of Willendorf · A bronze ding cauldron

Answer: The Venus of Willendorf

A small stone figure made 25,000 years ago.

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