The World in 500...AD! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Choson

Choson was the name for the first historically documented ancient kingdom of Korea, but by the 4th century AD it was long gone. In its place appeared three rival kingdoms called the Koguryo, the Silla and Paekche. The rivalry between these three kingdoms ended with victory for the Silla and unification of Korea in 668.

Answer: Southern Qi and Northern Wei

The period between the Han dynasty (which finally fell in 222 AD) and the Sui (which soon gave way to the Great Tang) in 589 is commonly called the Six Dynasties Period of Chinese history. During that period of time, China was essentially split along the Huai river. At 500 AD, the Northern Wei were firmly established (by a 'barbarian' tribe called the Toba) in the north while in the south the Southern Qi was nearly about to meet its demise, it fell in 502 AD to be replaced by the Liang.

Answer: Funan

Though I call Funan an 'empire' it was really a conglomeration of states which was centralized at Oc-Eo, in what is now Cambodia. Funan eventually gave way to what the Chinese called the kingdom of Chen-la, which in turn became the Khmer Empire.

Answer: Sasanid Empire

The Sasanids ruled Persia and various other portions of the Middle East from 224 to 642 AD. Founded by Ardashir I, who finally destroyed the ancient Parthian Empire, the Sasanids reached their greatest extent under Chosroes I, who reigned from 531 to 579 AD. The downfall of the Sasanids came during the Battle of Nehavend against the Arabs.

Answer: Axum

The kingdom of Axum became Christian when King Ezana converted in 350 AD, part of a general trend towards Christianization of northeast Africa. The kingdoms of Nubia and Meroë were also Christianized during this period, and the religion began to make inroads in southern Arabia (modern Yemen) in the early 6th century.

This was all put to an end by the Sasanids, who chased the Axumites out of Arabia, and later by the Arabs who had successfully spread Islam throughout the peninsula by the middle of the 7th century.

Answer: Ostrogoths

Theodoric's reign lasted from 489 until his death in 526. Having no strong successor, the kingdom fell into disarray following his death and Justinian's generals, Belisarius and Narses, conquered the short-lived Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy during a protracted war that lasted from 536 until 562 AD.

Answer: Clovis

Clovis the Meroving became king of the Franks in 481, succeeding his father Childeric. He converted to Christianity (through the influence of his wife Clotilda) in 503 AD and made his capital in Paris.

Answer: Visigoths

Remember that it was under the Visigoth leader Alaric that Rome was sacked in 410 AD. By 478 AD the Visigoths had managed to carve out their portion of the former Western Roman Empire in Spain. Alaric II was King of the Visigoths at this time, and had his mind set on Visigothic expansion. Unfortunately for Alaric, his forces were defeated and he slain at the Battle of Vouillé in 507 AD, the Visigoths were driven back to the Iberian peninsula. The Visigoths managed to hold on to Spain until the early 8th century, when their kingdom was destroyed by the Arabs.

Answer: Huari

Centered on the city of Huari (or Wari) this art culture influenced the Moche to the north (temple builders) and the Nazca who are most famous for their giant desert-landscape petroglyphs. For more on the Huari, see my quiz on 1000 AD!

Answer: Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán was one of the five largest cities in the world around the year 500 AD, having a peak population of around 200,000. The Teotihuacán civilization influenced both the Mayans and later, the Toltecs (who in turn amalgamated with the Aztecs). Thank you for indulging me once again with your kind patronage of my quiz.