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The Persian Empire, Part I Trivia Quiz

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!

A multiple-choice quiz by thejazzkickazz. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
thejazzkickazz

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
85,723

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2412

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. True or false: The Persians came from Aryan stock, and spoke an Indo-European language.

True

False

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Question 2 of 10

2. Just prior to the birth of the Persian Empire, Zoroaster presented his philosophical ideas and teachings, and the development and spread of the Zoroastrian faith throughout the Persian Empire followed. His teachings were formalized into the sacred book of the Zoroastrian religion, which is called...?
Hint

Zend-Avesta

Tripitaka

Rig-Veda

Adi-Granth

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. 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?
Hint

Amasis

Ardishir

Areus

Achaemenes

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. 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?
Hint

Rusas

Gyges

Cyaxares

Nahum

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

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

Susa

Pasargadae

Ecbatana

Persepolis

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. In 550 B.C., the son of the founder of the Median Kingdom, Astyages, was ousted from the Median throne by which Persian vassal king?

Answer: (One Word ... he wasn't a vassal for long, soon he became 'great'...)

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The 'Ten Thousand Immortals' referred to which group of people of the Persian Empire?
Hint

The royal family

The high priests at Babylon

The royal bodyguard

The ancestors of the Persian kings

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. True or false: Persian rule was, at the outset, tolerant of the native beliefs and customs of its conquered peoples.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. One of the first great conquests of Persia was that of Lydia, ruled by the famed king Croesus, which finally occurred in 547 by the capture of which capital city?
Hint

Gordium

Sardes

Dascylium

Sinope

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Who was king of Babylon when the Persians conquered it in 539?
Hint

Nabuchadrezzar

Sargon

Adadnirari

Nabonidus

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. True or false: The Persians came from Aryan stock, and spoke an Indo-European language.

Answer: True

The Persian language (called Farsi in the modern era) is an Indo-European one, having much in common with languages like Sanskrit and Hindi. Other Indo-European languages include Greek, Latin and English.

Answer: Zend-Avesta

The Zoroastrian faith was (and is) essentially a monotheistic one, in which the god Ahura Mazda was the all-powerful creator of the world. The Parsees of western India still practice a form of Zoroastrianism today.

3. 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?

Answer: Achaemenes

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

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.

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

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.

6. In 550 B.C., the son of the founder of the Median Kingdom, Astyages, was ousted from the Median throne by which Persian vassal king?

Answer: Cyrus

Rather than dealing harshly with Astyages and the Medians, Cyrus essentially combined the two kingdoms, and treated the Medians with fraternal respect. Cyrus thus inherited the lands ruled by the Medians, vastly expanding Persian territory...the empire was born.

7. The 'Ten Thousand Immortals' referred to which group of people of the Persian Empire?

Answer: The royal bodyguard

They were called the 'immortals' because of their impeccable appearance and their high level of skill, and because of the fact that if any member fell sick or died, they were immediately replaced...and the number was always kept at exactly 10,000!

8. True or false: Persian rule was, at the outset, tolerant of the native beliefs and customs of its conquered peoples.

Answer: True

Cyrus began this trend which continued on for the most part through his successors. No state religion or philosophical doctrine was adopted, so people were free to believe as they chose. This policy was accepted and adopted by Alexander the Great as well.

9. One of the first great conquests of Persia was that of Lydia, ruled by the famed king Croesus, which finally occurred in 547 by the capture of which capital city?

Answer: Sardes

Cyrus spared the life of Croesus (famed for his wealth) following the capture of Sardes. He continued on to the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, and the Greek cities there were finally subdued by 540 B.C.

10. Who was king of Babylon when the Persians conquered it in 539?

Answer: Nabonidus

Once again, Nabonidus' life was spared once Cyrus took the city of Babylon, and the priest of Marduk immediately accepted Cyrus as the rightful ruler of the land of Marduk (a Babylonian god).

Source: Author thejazzkickazz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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