Q.1 Which river was central to the development of ancient Egyptian civilization?
Tigris
Euphrates
Nile
Ganges
Explanation - The Nile River provided fertile land, transportation, and water, enabling ancient Egyptian civilization to flourish.
Correct answer is: Nile
Q.2 The Code of Hammurabi originated in which ancient civilization?
Indus Valley
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient China
Explanation - The Code of Hammurabi was a set of laws created by the Babylonian king Hammurabi in Mesopotamia around 1754 BCE.
Correct answer is: Mesopotamia
Q.3 Which of these is an ancient Chinese philosophical tradition?
Confucianism
Zoroastrianism
Hellenism
Shinto
Explanation - Confucianism, founded by Confucius, focused on ethics, family, and social harmony in ancient China.
Correct answer is: Confucianism
Q.4 Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were major cities of which civilization?
Ancient Egypt
Mesopotamia
Indus Valley
Ancient China
Explanation - Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were prominent urban centers of the Indus Valley Civilization, known for urban planning and drainage systems.
Correct answer is: Indus Valley
Q.5 Which writing system was used in ancient Mesopotamia?
Hieroglyphics
Cuneiform
Sanskrit
Oracle Bone Script
Explanation - Cuneiform, consisting of wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, was the earliest known writing system developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia.
Correct answer is: Cuneiform
Q.6 The Great Pyramid of Giza was built during the reign of which Pharaoh?
Tutankhamun
Ramses II
Khufu
Akhenaten
Explanation - The Great Pyramid of Giza was constructed as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu around 2580–2560 BCE.
Correct answer is: Khufu
Q.7 Which natural barrier helped protect ancient Egypt from invasions?
Himalayas
Sahara Desert
Mediterranean Sea
Andes Mountains
Explanation - The vast Sahara Desert to the west acted as a natural defense, limiting foreign invasions into ancient Egypt.
Correct answer is: Sahara Desert
Q.8 Which ancient civilization is known for creating the first standardized system of weights and measures?
Indus Valley
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient China
Explanation - The Indus Valley Civilization developed standardized weights and measures to regulate trade and construction.
Correct answer is: Indus Valley
Q.9 Which of the following was a major invention of ancient China?
Wheel
Paper
Cuneiform
Hieroglyphics
Explanation - Ancient China is credited with inventing paper during the Han dynasty, which revolutionized communication and record-keeping.
Correct answer is: Paper
Q.10 The ziggurat was a type of structure built in which civilization?
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Indus Valley
Ancient China
Explanation - Ziggurats were massive terraced structures built in Mesopotamia for religious purposes, often dedicated to a particular deity.
Correct answer is: Mesopotamia
Q.11 The Indus Valley Civilization is noted for which urban feature?
Pyramids
Well-planned cities and drainage
Great Wall
Hanging Gardens
Explanation - Cities like Mohenjo-Daro had advanced urban planning with grid streets, drainage systems, and standardized bricks.
Correct answer is: Well-planned cities and drainage
Q.12 Who was the first emperor to unify China under the Qin dynasty?
Laozi
Confucius
Shi Huangdi
Sun Tzu
Explanation - Shi Huangdi unified China in 221 BCE, standardizing currency, measurements, and building infrastructure like the Great Wall.
Correct answer is: Shi Huangdi
Q.13 Which ancient Egyptian writing system used pictorial symbols?
Cuneiform
Hieroglyphics
Sanskrit
Oracle Bone Script
Explanation - Hieroglyphics used pictorial symbols to represent words or sounds and were often inscribed on temples and tombs.
Correct answer is: Hieroglyphics
Q.14 The Sumerians are credited with inventing:
The wheel
The compass
Gunpowder
Paper
Explanation - The Sumerians in Mesopotamia invented the wheel around 3500 BCE, which transformed transportation and pottery making.
Correct answer is: The wheel
Q.15 Which river was crucial to the development of Mesopotamian civilization?
Nile
Yangtze
Tigris and Euphrates
Indus
Explanation - Mesopotamia, meaning 'land between rivers,' relied on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers for agriculture and trade.
Correct answer is: Tigris and Euphrates
Q.16 Ancient Egyptian society was organized under which system?
Democracy
Feudalism
Monarchy
Republic
Explanation - Ancient Egypt was ruled by pharaohs who held centralized power as both political and religious leaders.
Correct answer is: Monarchy
Q.17 The main material used for writing in ancient Mesopotamia was:
Papyrus
Clay tablets
Silk
Stone slabs
Explanation - Mesopotamians wrote using cuneiform on wet clay tablets, which were then baked or dried to preserve the text.
Correct answer is: Clay tablets
Q.18 Which ancient civilization used oracle bones for divination?
Mesopotamia
Ancient China
Indus Valley
Ancient Egypt
Explanation - In the Shang dynasty, Chinese rulers used oracle bones, inscribed with questions, to predict the future.
Correct answer is: Ancient China
Q.19 The Indus Valley Civilization is also known as:
Harappan Civilization
Babylonian Civilization
Pharaonic Civilization
Shang Civilization
Explanation - Named after its major city Harappa, the Indus Valley Civilization was famous for urban planning and trade.
Correct answer is: Harappan Civilization
Q.20 Which Pharaoh is famous for his tomb being found largely intact in the 20th century?
Ramses II
Tutankhamun
Khufu
Akhenaten
Explanation - Tutankhamun's tomb was discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter, providing valuable insight into ancient Egyptian culture.
Correct answer is: Tutankhamun
Q.21 Mesopotamian religion was primarily:
Monotheistic
Polytheistic
Atheistic
Buddhist
Explanation - Mesopotamians worshipped many gods related to nature, fertility, and the cosmos.
Correct answer is: Polytheistic
Q.22 The Longshan culture is associated with which ancient civilization?
Mesopotamia
Indus Valley
Ancient China
Ancient Egypt
Explanation - The Longshan culture (c. 3000–1900 BCE) is known for black pottery and is considered a precursor to the early Chinese dynasties.
Correct answer is: Ancient China
Q.23 Which feature distinguishes the Indus Valley Civilization from other ancient civilizations?
Pyramids
Sophisticated city planning and drainage
Ziggurats
Oracle bones
Explanation - Indus cities like Mohenjo-Daro had advanced urban planning, including grid streets and covered drainage systems, unusual for the time.
Correct answer is: Sophisticated city planning and drainage
Q.24 Which civilization built the Terracotta Army?
Mesopotamia
Ancient Egypt
Ancient China
Indus Valley
Explanation - The Terracotta Army was built during the Qin dynasty to protect Emperor Shi Huangdi in the afterlife.
Correct answer is: Ancient China
Q.25 Which ancient Egyptian god was associated with the afterlife?
Ra
Osiris
Anubis
Isis
Explanation - Osiris was the god of the afterlife, resurrection, and fertility, central to Egyptian religious beliefs.
Correct answer is: Osiris