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Persian Empire Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Persian Empire Quizzes, Trivia

Persian Empire Trivia

Persian Empire Trivia Quizzes

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12 Persian Empire quizzes and 140 Persian Empire trivia questions.
1.
Whispers of Persia
  Whispers of Persia   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
History of Ancient and Medieval Persia
Situated mainly in present-day Iran, ancient Persia was a powerhouse that competed with the likes of the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and Babylonians.
Average, 10 Qns, trident, Nov 04 23
Average
trident editor
Nov 04 23
121 plays
2.
Tales of the Behistun Inscription
  Tales of the Behistun Inscription   best quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
History students commonly learn that the Behistun Inscription aided in the decoding of cuneiform. However, what else is known about this amazing artifact? Let's see what you know!
Average, 10 Qns, ponycargirl, Jun 29 15
Average
ponycargirl editor
340 plays
3.
  The Persian Wars   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The wars between the Persian Empire and the city-states of Ancient Greece helped define the course of western civilization. How much do YOU know about the wars of 2500 years ago?
Average, 10 Qns, CellarDoor, Feb 27 12
Average
CellarDoor gold member
6031 plays
4.
Kings of Persia
  Kings of Persia   popular trivia quiz  
Photo Quiz
 10 Qns
See if you can answer these 10 questions related to the history and kings of ancient Persia.
Average, 10 Qns, bernie73, Aug 03 20
Average
bernie73 gold member
Aug 03 20
168 plays
5.
  Ancient Persia   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Persia was a place full of mystery and of intrigue and beauty. But the Ancient Persians were all powerful, what do you know of an Ancient culture that no longer lives?
Tough, 10 Qns, doomed, Dec 05 08
Tough
doomed
1671 plays
6.
  The Persian Empire, Part I   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz will cover the history of the Persian Empire, which reigned from 550 B.C. until 330 B.C. With such a long history, two quizzes of ten questions each has been required...please look out for part II as well...and good luck!
Tough, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Feb 01 03
Tough
thejazzkickazz gold member
2406 plays
7.
  The Persian Empire, Part II   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is part 2 of 2 quizzes on the Persian Empire, which lasted from 550 B.C. until 330 B.C. Hopefully you will have taken the first quiz before venturing on to this one!
Tough, 10 Qns, thejazzkickazz, Dec 18 04
Tough
thejazzkickazz gold member
1863 plays
8.
  A Lost Treasure   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Persian Empire, in other words, a lost treasure. Here's some info on this once grand kingdom...
Average, 10 Qns, maryam_katt, Jun 24 11
Average
maryam_katt
668 plays
9.
  The Drama that was The Persian Wars!    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
The Persian Wars was one of the great dramas of the Greek world between 490 and 479 BC - treachery, tricks, threats and ... well, Themistocles! See for yourself what an interesting conflict this was, and feel free to use this info in tests or essays! :)
Tough, 15 Qns, zenphoenixa, Jan 09 15
Tough
zenphoenixa
1867 plays
10.
  The Histories of Herodotus    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Herodotus maybe the Father of History, but his History is buried beneath a series moralising anecdotes and appeals to the gods. In this quiz, we explore Herodotus' take on the rise of Persia up until the outbreak of war.
Average, 10 Qns, GPSpann, Nov 15 12
Average
GPSpann
282 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Cyrus the Great conquered which state in Asia Minor?

From Quiz "Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire"




11.
  Persian Wars: Causes and Course    
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
There are already several quizzes about the Persian Wars online, this one requires a deeper knowledge of the period.
Tough, 20 Qns, Gimpess, Dec 29 07
Tough
Gimpess
1000 plays
12.
  Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
Another chronological quiz regarding the Medians and Persians, from tribes to Empire.
Average, 15 Qns, FrancuDaniel, Feb 23 13
Average
FrancuDaniel
283 plays

Persian Empire Trivia Questions

1. The Persian and Median tribes were of which origin?

From Quiz
Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire

Answer: Indo-European

Persian and Medes are considered part of the large Indo-European family that spread from India to the Atlantic Ocean: Celts, Thracians, Italic populations, Germanic, Slavs and Balto-Slavs, Greeks, Indians, Scythians, Hittites. Persians and Medes established themselves in the Iran region at around 1000 B.C.

2. This once beautiful land is known as Iran today. However, it had another name before this one. What was it?

From Quiz A Lost Treasure

Answer: Persia

Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, decided that the name, Persia, should be changed to Iran, which means "Land of the Aryans". This decision was made in 1935. The Persian Empire was also known as the Achaemenid Empire.

3. In Ancient Persia what were the "king's eyes"?

From Quiz Ancient Persia

Answer: Officials of the Persian Empire.

The "king's eyes" were officials of the Persian Empire who visited all the satrapies (provinces) and then reported to the king whatever information they gathered. Kings played a huge role in the Persian Empire, some good, some bad. Cyrus the Great set up one of the greatest empires of the ancient world; he conquered Babylon and freed the Jews held captive by the Babylonians. Then there was Darius the Great, who it is said was made king because his horse neighed first after the animal had seen a familiar mare, and Darius beat off his friends to become king because of this method.

4. When last we left off (see the quiz 'Persian Empire, Part I') Cyrus had just conquered Babylon (in 539 B.C.), greatly expanding his empire. Persia inherited which two areas following this conquest?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part II

Answer: Syria and Palestine

The Persians were looked at as benevolent liberators by the native peoples of these areas. In particular, the Jews who had been exiled to Babylon, were able to make their way back to Jerusalem where their temple was rebuilt. Again, Persian tolerance created the atmosphere that made these things possible.

5. What we know about the Persian Wars all comes from one source, a Greek historian alternately known as the father of history and as the father of lies. How is his name written in English?

From Quiz The Persian Wars

Answer: Herodotus

Herodotus was born around 484 BCE in Halicarnassus, but he lived most of his life in Athens as a resident alien - a metic. Although others before him had written 'histories', these had largely been simply stories of past events (like Homer's 'The Iliad') instead of efforts to EXPLAIN the past. This is why Herodotus is so often called the Father of History - his failure to meet the standards of modern scholarship and objectivity, however, earns him the title 'Father of Lies.' He died around 420 BCE, in the midst of the Peloponnesian War.

6. The Median state, founded by Deiokes, began its existence under the influence of:

From Quiz Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire

Answer: Assyrians

Deiokes, according to Herodotus, is considered the first Median king (approx. 728 B.C.-675 B.C.) and established the capital at Ecbatana.

7. Croesus prepares to launch a campaign against the mighty Persian Empire. Before setting out, Croesus consults the Oracle at Delphi, asking whether such a campaign is wise. What does the Oracle say would happen if Croesus went to battle?

From Quiz The Histories of Herodotus

Answer: "Croesus will destroy a great empire"

If Croesus attacked the Persians, he would destroy a great empire. As it turned out, the great empire that he would destroy was his own empire! For Herodotus, the Oracle is the font of knowledge, but the Oracle also has a tendency to be rather cryptic ...

8. Which Persian king was victorious at the Battle of Thermopylae?

From Quiz Ancient Persia

Answer: Xerxes I

King Xerxes I won the Battle of Thermopylae after defeating the Spartans of Ancient Greece. The Battle took place during the Greece Persia war in roughly the 5th century BC. The Greek strategy was to delay the land force and to defeat the Persians at sea, then starve the Persian army. Xerxes, however, was given some excellent information and knew that the Greeks were waiting for him. Camp was set up and the confidence of the Persian leader was apparent. His army was huge so he knew he had to move his men, as staying in one place was of no tactical advantage to him. The Greeks lost the battle. They had come hoping for a victory and instead had been routed. But Thermopylae was always hailed as a triumph for Greek arms because the Persian army was crucially delayed. Xerxes may have been victorious but too many of his men were killed and too much time was wasted with futile mini battles with determined, under-manned Spartans. The Greeks would have their day. addition on June 14th 2006 and kindly sent to me by cjd411 The Greeks came to Thermopyale hoping for a victory. Heroditus tells us otherwise - the Spartans that were selected to go to Thermopylae knew they were going to die, and so did those who sent them there (which is why it was an "all sire" army; so that family lines would go on).

9. Who was the strategist of the Athenians in the Battle of Marathon?

From Quiz The Drama that was The Persian Wars!

Answer: Miltiades

We can give Miltiades a fair bit of credit for the Greek victory at Marathon - while the Athenians were divided over whether to defend Athens or to just plain run, Miltiades convinced the Athenians to defend the city outside it so that they could fall back on Athens if flight was necessary. Miltiades was also perceptive enough to notice when the Persian cavalry was shifted onto the Persian ships, due to the Persians hoping to launch a surprise attack on Athens by sea. The cavalry had posed a serious threat to Greece because the Greeks had none and because Marathon was a suitable battleground for cavalry, thus Miltiades was quick enough to take advantage of the situation instead of waiting for the arrival of promised Spartan help!

10. The founder of the Persian Empire, Cyrus the Great, died in battle in 530 B.C. fighting against which people of central Asia?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part II

Answer: Massagetai

The Massagetai dwelled in the area now occupied by Afghanistan, a place where many a great power has found itself bogged down in dangerous warfare. Cyrus was unable to overcome the Massagetai who were led by Queen Tomyris, and he perished in battle.

11. The Persian Wars began when the Greek inhabitants of conquered cities began revolting against their Persian rulers beginning in 499 BCE. These cities were a part of what territory (now part of Turkey) conquered by Cyrus II?

From Quiz The Persian Wars

Answer: Ionia

The other three areas are all on the main Greek peninsula. The cities of Ionia - including Miletus, Ephesus, Chios, and Samos - had accepted Persian rule for several decades, as the Persian strategy was to allow conquered lands to keep most of their independence. But around 500 BCE, as radical new political ideas like democracy swept through Greece, the Ionian cities suddenly found Persian rule unacceptable and rebelled.

12. Which Median king destroyed the power of Assyria in alliance with Nabopalassar, the king of Babylon?

From Quiz Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire

Answer: Cyaxares

Cyaxares not only conquered half of the Assyrian state at the end of the 7th century B.C., the other half being under the influence of the Babylonian New Kingdom, but also repelled the incursions of Scythians and Cimmerians from the northern borders.

13. When Cyrus' Persians and Croesus' Lydians finally do battle, what is Cyrus' secret weapon?

From Quiz The Histories of Herodotus

Answer: Camels

According to Herodotus, horses hate camels! When Cyrus brought his camels (initially used to carry provisions and baggage) to the front of the battle line, the Lydian cavalry refused to fight. Hence the Lydian Empire is conquered by the Persians.

14. Which ruler founded the city of Persepolis?

From Quiz Ancient Persia

Answer: Darius

King Darius founded the city where he built a huge palace of stone. The richly carved palace had ceremonial halls, treasury rooms and barracks for his huge army. It was built between 522-485 BC, and was developed further by successive kings. The various temples were as big as 450 metres by 300 metres and 20 metres in height. At the head of the ceremonial staircase leading to the terrace is the 'Gateway of All Nations' built by Xerxes I and guarded by two colossal bull-like figures.

15. Why were the Spartans so late in getting to Marathon?

From Quiz The Drama that was The Persian Wars!

Answer: They were delayed by their Karneia festival

According to Herodotus (author of 'Histories'), the Spartans agreed to send help to Marathon but "could not march until the moon was full" in accordance with the rules of their Karneia festival. Due to the Spartans' serious approach to religion, the Athenian generals were tying themselves in knots over whether to initiate a battle with the Persians in case of medism in the Greek army or whether to wait for the Spartans. It's a good thing they didn't wait because the Spartans arrived three days after the Battle of Marathon! According to A.R Burn (author of 'Persia and the Greeks') however, the Spartans actually DID contribute to the Greek victory because their "good will" in deciding to mobilise forced the Persians to hurry their operations, and so "did exert a real and important influence on the campaign." Not bad for doing nothing, hey?

16. Cambyses was the second Persian Emperor, succeeding his father Cyrus after the latter's death in battle. Before succeeding to the throne however, Cambyses had his own brother put to death. What was this brother's name?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part II

Answer: Smerdis

Cambyses was the eldest son of Cyrus and was chosen by Cyrus to be the successor to the Persian throne, but this did not prevent Cambyses from secretly having his brother killed so that no challenge could be mounted to his reign.

17. The origin of the Persian Empire can be found in a state formed at Parsumash c. 700 B.C. Who was the founder of this Persian state?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part I

Answer: Achaemenes

When Cyrus became emperor, he took the name Achaemenid as the title for his dynasty, in remembrance of his great ancestor.

18. What mainland Greek cities initially tried to protect the rebels from Persian vengeance?

From Quiz The Persian Wars

Answer: Athens and Eretria

Yes, there is a Greek city named Eretria, not to be confused with the nation of Eritrea that won its independence from Ethiopia in the 1990s. Although these cities sent both fleets and armies to aid the Ionians, King Darius I of Persia was able to brutally suppress the rebels by 494 BCE - and the support of the Athenians and Eretrians was the perfect excuse for the Persians to invade Greece.

19. Architecture played a huge role in the grand image of the Persian Empire. To this day the ruins of Persepolis can still be seen in modern day Iran, but what does Persepolis actually mean?

From Quiz Ancient Persia

Answer: City of the Persians

Persepolis means City of the Persians in the Greek Language. Originally it was known as "Parsa", the city then came to be referred to as Persepolis after coming in contact with Greek cultural values.

20. The burning of Sardis caused Darius to fly into a rage. He swore revenge on the Athenians (ignoring the Ionian troops who actually sacked Sardis), and had his servants repeat to him what words three times each day?

From Quiz Persian Wars: Causes and Course

Answer: 'Master, remember the Athenians'

When he heard about the sacking of Sardis (his capital) Darius shot an arrow into the sky and cried 'Grant, O God, that I may punish the Athenians'. He then instructed his servants to tell him three times a day as he sat down to dinner, 'Master, remember the Athenians'. He began to gather information about the Athenians as his army began to reclaim the land lost to the Ionians. First Cyprus was reconquered and then the Ionian forces were separated and subjugated.

21. What was undoubtedly the greatest accomplishment of Cambyses' reign?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part II

Answer: Conquest of Egypt

The conquering of Egypt was not difficult for the army of Cambyses, within a year (from 526-5 B.C.) they entered Memphis where Cambyses was made Pharaoh. Unfortunately, it appears that the priests of Egypt were somehow offended by Cambyses and slandered him, while at the same time a revolt against Cambyses began back in Persia. The combination of these factors probably led to his suicide in 525 B.C.

22. One of the keys to the building of the Persian Empire was the founding of the Median Kingdom to the north. Which Median king created this kingdom by first defeating the Scythians and then by extending his rule over the Persians to the south?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part I

Answer: Cyaxares

Cyaxares participated in the sacking of Nineveh and final destruction of the Assyrian Empire in 612 B.C. Following this, he extended his kingdom into Armenia and Asia Minor, setting the stage for future Persian conquests.

23. Cyrus the Great conquered which state in Asia Minor?

From Quiz Medes and Persians: From Tribes to Empire

Answer: Lydia

The conquest of Lydia is associated with a few legends regarding the Lydian King Croesus, one of the wealthiest monarchs of those times. Cyrus condemned Croesus to death by burning, but the heavy rain that came down made him rethink his decision, as it suggested divine intervention. The Lydian king was released and ruled as a Persian subject for the following years.

24. How did Cyrus eventually die?

From Quiz The Histories of Herodotus

Answer: He was killed by Massagetae soldiers.

Cyrus may have subjugated the Medes, the Lydians and the Babylonians, but as we all know by now, a man's fortune can suddenly change! Cyrus was killed by Massagetae soldiers who then sent his head to their queen who ruled the Massagetae, a small nomadic tribe based in present-day Uzbekistan.

25. When it came to religion, there were different kinds in the Persian Empire. However, the main religion was the worship of "Ahura Mazda", complete faith and the doing of good deeds, and free will. What was this religion called?

From Quiz A Lost Treasure

Answer: Zoroastrianism

Another name for Zoroastrianism is Mazdaism, and basically, it meant that if you did good, you would see good. If you did bad, then you would see the consequences. It was one of the things that gave the Persians the credibility to rule the world. Buddhism and Shintoism are religions as well, however, but they were not practised in the Persian Empire. As for Asatru, it was an old Norse religion, practised long ago in the Scandinavian region.

26. Which mythical animal, with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, was depicted in Persian architecture?

From Quiz Ancient Persia

Answer: Griffin

The griffin was often used by Persian sculptors to decorate the tops of columns and pillars. The griffin was a legendary creature with the head, beak and wings of an eagle, the body of a lion, and occasionally the tail of a serpent or scorpion.

27. Darius's invasion began with a naval battle, defeating the Ionians, Samians and Lesbians. This enabled them to assault with strategically important city?

From Quiz Persian Wars: Causes and Course

Answer: Miletus

The victory over the Ionian fleet allowed the Persians to attack Miletus by land and sea. Miletus, the hometown of Aristogoras the principal general of the Ionian revolt, was sacked after its walls were sapped and rammed. The entire city was reduced to slavery. The city used as a winter base for the Persian fleet which took Chios, Lesbos and Tenedos without diffciulty. They were then prepared for the summer campaign season.

28. The Greeks weren't blind - they knew that Xerxes was on the way! In 481 BC, a Congress of 31 Greek states was held to discuss the problem. Which Greek state was given command of both the Greek navy and army?

From Quiz The Drama that was The Persian Wars!

Answer: Sparta

Well, it was a toss up between Athens and Sparta, the two natural leaders of Greece, and Sparta came out on top because the allies had already decided that they didn't want to submit to Athenian leadership. Athens swallowed her pride and yielded to the decision because according to Herodotus, she knew that a quarrel "would mean the destruction of Greece." So much for disunity among the Greeks - not only did Athens not press the issue, but the states also decided that all disputes would end between them, which meant the end of dispute between Athens and her old enemy, Aegina. Now that took guts!

29. In 559 B.C. the capital of the Persian state was established at which city?

From Quiz The Persian Empire, Part I

Answer: Pasargadae

Cyrus built his royal palace and a temple in Pasargadae, at which all of the future Persian Emperors were crowned. It later became a holy city of the empire. Later, Cyrus chose to rule from Ecbatana...a more strategic and central location. Later, the capital would be moved to Susa, and finally to Persepolis.

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Last Updated Mar 23 2024 5:45 AM
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