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Quizzes > History

Middle East History Quiz: How Much Do You Know?

Quick Middle East quiz with instant results and bite-size facts.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ateko BobsonUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of Middle East landmarks map quiz symbols heritage culture history icons on teal background

This Middle East history quiz helps you check your knowledge of the region's empires, landmarks, and cultures. Get a quick score and learn more with our Middle East map quiz, explore roots with the ancient Mesopotamia quiz, or broaden your view with an arab world quiz.

What is the largest country by land area in the Middle East?
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Iran
Turkey
Saudi Arabia covers over 2.15 million square kilometers, making it the largest country in the Middle East by area. It occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula and extends between the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. While Iran, Turkey, and Egypt are also sizeable, none exceed Saudi Arabia in total landmass.
The term 'Mesopotamia' refers to the land between which two rivers?
Nile and Amazon
Ganges and Indus
Jordan and Litani
Tigris and Euphrates
Mesopotamia is a Greek term meaning 'between rivers' and specifically refers to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This fertile area saw the rise of some of the world's earliest civilizations. It spanned parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
What is the capital city of Egypt?
Cairo
Giza
Alexandria
Luxor
Cairo is Egypt's capital and one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East. It sits along the Nile River and is known for its rich history and proximity to the Giza pyramid complex. Alexandria, Giza, and Luxor are significant Egyptian cities but are not the national capital.
The ancient city of Petra, famous for its rock-cut architecture, is located in which country?
Lebanon
Israel
Syria
Jordan
Petra is an archaeological site in southern Jordan, renowned for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. It was the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. While nearby countries have ancient sites, Petra itself lies within Jordan's borders.
What is the official language of Saudi Arabia?
Turkish
English
Arabic
Persian
Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia and is used in government, education, and media. Classical Arabic is also the liturgical language of Islam. English, Persian, and Turkish are spoken in other regions but not official in Saudi Arabia.
Which strait separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa?
Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Hormuz
Bosphorus
Bab el Mandeb
The Bab el Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and separates the Arabian Peninsula from the Horn of Africa. It is a strategic maritime chokepoint for global shipping. The other straits are located in Europe or between other bodies of water.
Which desert covers much of the Arabian Peninsula?
Kalahari Desert
Arabian Desert
Sahara Desert
Gobi Desert
The Arabian Desert spans most of the Arabian Peninsula, covering parts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and other countries. It is characterized by arid climate and sand dunes. The Sahara, Gobi, and Kalahari are located in Africa and Asia respectively.
Mount Sinai, traditionally regarded as the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments, is in which country?
Egypt
Israel
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Mount Sinai is located in the Sinai Peninsula of modern-day Egypt. It is a significant site in Abrahamic religions as the traditional location where Moses received the Ten Commandments. While alternative theories exist, the Sinai location is most widely recognized.
Through which body of water would you sail to go from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea?
Arabian Sea
Mediterranean Sea
Indian Ocean
Black Sea
Sailing northward through the Suez Canal connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. This route avoids the need to circumnavigate Africa. The Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Black Sea do not provide that direct link.
What is the capital city of Iran?
Shiraz
Isfahan
Tehran
Mashhad
Tehran has been the capital of Iran since 1796 and is its largest city, serving as the political, cultural, and economic center. Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad are important Iranian cities but are not capitals.
What currency is used in Israel?
Israeli New Shekel
United Arab Emirates Dirham
Jordanian Dinar
Iranian Rial
The Israeli new shekel (ILS) is the official currency of Israel. It replaced the old shekel in 1985 during a currency reformation. The Jordanian dinar, Iranian rial, and UAE dirham are currencies of neighboring countries.
The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to which other sea?
Arabian Sea
Black Sea
Persian Gulf
Red Sea
The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean Sea in the north with the Red Sea in the south, facilitating shorter maritime routes between Europe and Asia. This canal is one of the world's most important waterways. The Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Black Sea are not connected by the Suez Canal.
What was the capital of the Ottoman Empire for most of its history?
Constantinople
Ankara
Edirne
Bursa
Constantinople, renamed Istanbul, became the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453 after its conquest. It remained the empire's political and cultural center until its dissolution in 1922. Istanbul was later succeeded by Ankara as the capital of the Republic of Turkey.
In which year was the Republic of Turkey officially founded?
1919
1938
1920
1923
The Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on October 29, 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk became its first president and initiated wide-ranging reforms. Prior to 1923, the region was part of the Ottoman Empire.
The term 'Mesopotamia' translates from Greek as what?
Fertile plain
Cradle of civilization
Land between rivers
Land of many mountains
Mesopotamia is derived from Greek words meaning 'meso' (middle) and 'potamos' (river), thus 'land between rivers.' This term refers specifically to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates. Although it is called the cradle of civilization, that is not its literal translation.
The ancient city of Babylon was located in which modern-day country?
Iran
Iraq
Turkey
Syria
Babylon was a key city of ancient Mesopotamia and is situated near modern-day Hillah in Iraq. It reached its peak under King Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE. Although neighboring countries were influenced by Babylonian culture, the ruins lie within Iraq's borders.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of which Islamic month?
Ramadan
Muharram
Dhul-Hijjah
Shawwal
Eid al-Fitr is the festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. It begins on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival involves communal prayers and feasting.
Who was the first Caliph after the death of Prophet Muhammad?
Umar ibn al-Khattab
Uthman ibn Affan
Abu Bakr
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Abu Bakr was chosen as the first Caliph in 632 CE, soon after Muhammad's death. He was a close companion and father-in-law of the Prophet. Subsequent caliphs included Umar, Uthman, and Ali.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established in which year?
1981
1990
1975
1978
The GCC was founded in May 1981 by six Arabian Gulf monarchies: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. It was created to foster economic, political, and security cooperation. The organization has since expanded its activities across multiple sectors.
The Dead Sea, one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth, lies between which two countries?
Jordan and Saudi Arabia
Lebanon and Syria
Israel and Egypt
Israel and Jordan
The Dead Sea is bordered by Israel to the west and Jordan to the east. Its high salinity is due to the lack of an outlet, causing minerals to concentrate. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Syria do not share direct borders with the Dead Sea.
The Persian language is more commonly known by what name within Iran?
Pashto
Kurdish
Farsi
Arabic
In Iran, the Persian language is referred to as Farsi. It is an Indo-European language with a rich literary history. Arabic, Pashto, and Kurdish are different languages spoken elsewhere in the region.
Which country has the largest population in the Middle East?
Iran
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Turkey
Egypt, with over 100 million people, is the most populous country in the Middle East. It has a dense population along the Nile River valley. Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia each have smaller populations in comparison.
Which holy book was revealed to Prophet Muhammad according to Islamic tradition?
Torah
Quran
Bible
Vedas
Muslims believe that the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over 23 years beginning in 610 CE. It is the central religious text of Islam. The Torah and Bible are holy in Judaism and Christianity, while the Vedas are sacred in Hinduism.
The Sykes - Picot Agreement divided the Ottoman Empire's Arab provinces between which two European powers?
Britain and Russia
Italy and Austria-Hungary
Britain and France
France and Germany
The Sykes - Picot Agreement of 1916 secretly partitioned Ottoman Arab lands into British and French spheres of influence. It laid the groundwork for many modern Middle Eastern national borders. Russia and other powers were granted minor roles, but the main division was between Britain and France.
North Yemen and South Yemen united in which year?
1990
1980
2000
1970
On May 22, 1990, the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) officially unified to form the Republic of Yemen. This reunification ended decades of separation following British withdrawal from the south.
Which Middle Eastern country holds the world's largest proven natural gas reserves?
Iran
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Iran has the largest proven natural gas reserves in the world, with reserves exceeding 32 trillion cubic meters. Qatar follows closely but ranks second globally. Saudi Arabia and the UAE also have significant reserves but less than Iran.
The Hejaz Railway historically ran from Damascus to which city?
Medina
Baghdad
Mecca
Jerusalem
The Ottoman-built Hejaz Railway ran from Damascus to Medina, facilitating pilgrimage and administration. Plans to extend it to Mecca were never fully realized. It operated from 1908 until disruptions during World War I.
What is the capital city of Azerbaijan, a transcontinental country in the Caucasus region?
Yerevan
Ashgabat
Tbilisi
Baku
Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, located on the Caspian Sea. It is a major cultural, economic, and political center of the country. Tbilisi, Yerevan, and Ashgabat are capitals of other Caucasus and Central Asian states.
The Yom Kippur War between Arab states and Israel took place in which year?
1956
1960
1967
1973
The Yom Kippur War began on October 6, 1973, when Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions. It occurred during the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Previous conflicts include the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Suez Crisis in 1956.
The Dome of the Rock shrine is located in which city?
Medina
Cairo
Jerusalem
Mecca
The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was completed in 691 CE and is one of the oldest extant Islamic buildings. Mecca and Medina host other significant Islamic sites, but not this shrine.
Mount Ararat, traditionally associated with Noah's Ark, is located in which country?
Azerbaijan
Turkey
Armenia
Iran
Mount Ararat sits in eastern Turkey, near the border with Armenia and Iran. It is the highest peak in Turkey and features prominently in Armenian culture and mythology. Although associated with Armenian heritage, the mountain itself lies within Turkish territory.
The Suez Crisis, also known as the Tripartite Aggression, occurred in which year?
1973
1956
1950
1967
The Suez Crisis occurred in late 1956 when Israel, followed by Britain and France, invaded Egypt after President Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal. The conflict had major geopolitical repercussions during the Cold War. It is distinct from the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
The Aswan High Dam, a key infrastructure project of the mid-20th century, was built on which river?
Jordan
Euphrates
Tigris
Nile
The Aswan High Dam spans the Nile River in southern Egypt and was completed in 1970. It provides hydroelectric power, flood control, and improved irrigation. The Euphrates, Tigris, and Jordan rivers are located elsewhere in the region.
Which empire destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE?
Ottoman Empire
Roman Empire
Byzantine Empire
Persian Empire
In 70 CE, Roman legions under Titus besieged and destroyed the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the First Jewish - Roman War. This event marked a major turning point in Jewish history. The Persian, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires rose to power centuries later.
The script primarily used for writing modern Persian (Farsi) is known as what?
Devanagari script
Perso-Arabic script
Cyrillic script
Latin script
Modern Persian is written in a variant of the Arabic script called the Perso-Arabic script, which includes additional letters for sounds not present in Arabic. Latin, Cyrillic, and Devanagari scripts are used by other languages.
The ancient city of Ur, believed to be the birthplace of Abraham, is located near which modern-day country?
Syria
Iran
Turkey
Iraq
Ur was a major Sumerian city-state situated in southern Mesopotamia, near modern-day Nasiriyah in Iraq. It is famous as the purported birthplace of the patriarch Abraham according to biblical tradition. Excavations have revealed ziggurats and royal tombs at the site.
Which ancient civilization first developed the cuneiform writing system?
Egyptians
Hittites
Babylonians
Sumerians
Cuneiform writing was invented by the Sumerians of southern Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE as pictographs pressed into clay tablets. It is one of the earliest known writing systems in human history. Later civilizations like the Babylonians adapted it.
Which ancient legal code, one of the oldest deciphered writings of significant length, originated in Mesopotamia?
Code of Hammurabi
Law of Manu
Twelve Tables
Magna Carta
The Code of Hammurabi, dating to around 1754 BCE, was enacted by the Babylonian king Hammurabi and is one of the earliest and most complete legal codes. It outlines laws and punishments for various offenses. The Twelve Tables and Magna Carta are Roman and English documents respectively.
Which treaty, signed in 1920, partitioned the Ottoman Empire's Arab provinces between France and Britain?
Treaty of Frankfurt
Treaty of Sèvres
Treaty of Lausanne
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Sèvres was signed on August 10, 1920, dividing Ottoman territories in the Middle East into French and British mandates. It was superseded by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 after Turkish nationalist opposition. The Treaty of Versailles dealt with Germany.
Which female pharaoh of Egypt, reigning in the 15th century BCE, established extensive trade networks and monumental building projects?
Hatshepsut
Cleopatra VII
Nefertiti
Sobekneferu
Hatshepsut ruled during the 18th Dynasty of ancient Egypt (circa 1479 - 1458 BCE) and is noted for her prosperous trade expeditions and grand monuments, including her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri. Nefertiti and Cleopatra VII lived much later and Sobekneferu ruled briefly in the 12th Dynasty.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Key Geographical Features -

    Pinpoint major landforms, countries, and capitals in the Middle East, enhancing your accuracy in any middle east geography quiz.

  2. Analyze Historical Empires -

    Delve into ancient dynasties and events that shaped the region's history, improving your performance on a middle east history quiz.

  3. Recall Cultural Traditions -

    Recognize significant customs, languages, and festivals across the Arab world, boosting your arab world trivia knowledge.

  4. Evaluate Modern Political Borders -

    Assess the current nation-states, including Israel and Palestine, to sharpen insights for an israel and palestine quiz.

  5. Compare Civilizational Influences -

    Contrast the legacies of various civilizations and their impact on modern-day Middle East society.

  6. Apply Quiz Strategies -

    Utilize key facts and strategies learned to score higher on future middle east trivia quizzes and challenges.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Cradle of Civilization: Mesopotamia -

    Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is often dubbed the "Cradle of Civilization" for developments like cuneiform writing (c. 3200 BCE) and early urban centers in Sumer and Akkad. To remember the sequence of early empires - Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian - use the mnemonic "SABA" (Sumer - Akkad - Babylon - Assyria). This core topic frequently appears in a middle east history quiz and middle east trivia questions.

  2. Geographical Regions and Climate Zones -

    The Middle East spans diverse climates, from Mediterranean coasts to desert interiors like the Rub' al Khali, shaping settlement and trade. A simple memory aid is "Coastal, Highlands, Desert" (CHD) to categorize major zones when tackling a middle east geography quiz. Understanding these zones helps explain why cities concentrate along rivers and shorelines.

  3. Formation of Modern States: Sykes-Picot and Mandates -

    The 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement and subsequent League of Nations mandates redefined borders, giving rise to modern Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and more. Recall the acronym "FBI" for France - Britain - International (mandate) to remember controlling powers. These events are central to any israel and palestine quiz or middle east history quiz module.

  4. Key Milestones in the Israel-Palestine Conflict -

    From the 1917 Balfour Declaration to the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, these pivotal events shape contemporary geopolitics. A timeline chant - "Balfour '17, Partition '47, Nakba '48" - helps memorization for any israel and palestine quiz. Recognizing these milestones is crucial for both middle east trivia and arab world trivia discussions.

  5. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dynamics -

    Formed in 1981, the GCC comprises six wealthy Gulf states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE (GCC = {BHR, KWT, OMN, QAT, SAU, ARE} in ISO codes). This set notation helps you recall key players in oil politics and arab world trivia. Understanding the GCC's economic interdependence is vital for insightful middle east trivia.

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