China
This long-lived dynasty, known for its bronzeware and oracle bones, is considered the first in Chinese history with written records.
What is the Shang Dynasty?
This ancient Indian empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, was the first to unite most of the subcontinent.
What is the Maurya Empire?
This founder of the Achaemenid Empire is known for his tolerant policy towards conquered peoples.
Who was Cyrus the Great?
This indigenous Japanese belief system, centered on the worship of kami (spirits), became closely tied to the imperial family.
What is Shinto?
This Korean kingdom, renowned for its exquisite gold crowns found in royal tombs, first unified the peninsula in 668 AD and established a centralized "bone-rank" caste system.
What is Silla (Unified Silla)?
This "fourth great invention" of ancient China, perfected during the Tang Dynasty, was essential for spreading literature and culture.
What is printing / woodblock printing?
The "Golden Age" of India, known for advances in mathematics, astronomy, and art, occurred under this dynasty.
What is the Gupta Dynasty?
This "King of Kings" led the empire at its peak, launching an unsuccessful invasion of Greece.
Who was Darius I?
The Heian period capital, modeled on the Chinese Tang capital Chang'an, was the center of classical Japanese courtly culture.
What is Heian-kyo (modern-day Kyoto)?
This Vietnamese dynasty, after a major naval victory at the Bach Dang River, formally established independence and moved the capital to Thang Long (modern Hanoi).
What is the Early Ly Dynasty? (Specifically, under Ly Thai To)
This 7th-century Tang Dynasty emperor is often praised for China's golden age of internationalization, and he was revered as the Heavenly Khan by several empires in West Asia.
Who is Emperor Taizong of Tang? Who is Li Shimin?
This great Mauryan emperor, after the bloody Kalinga War, renounced violence and promoted Buddhism
Who was Ashoka?
This royal road, over 1,500 miles long, facilitated communication and trade across the Achaemenid Empire.
What was the Royal Road (from Susa to Sardis)?
This 12th-century epic tale, often called Japan's greatest, details the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans.
What is The Tale of the Heike?
This powerful Central Asian empire, based in the Orkhon Valley, developed its own runic script and erected monumental stone stelae to commemorate its rulers and laws.
What is the Göktürk Khaganate? (Accept: the Turkic Khaganate)
"All warfare is based on __." It involves creating illusions and misleading the enemy.
What is deception?
This ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy was authored by Kautilya.
What is the Arthashastra?
The empire's official religion, centered on the struggle between good and evil, was named after this prophet.
Who was Zoroaster (Zarathustra)?
This school of Buddhism, emphasizing meditation and intuition, became deeply influential among the samurai class during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
What is Zen Buddhism?
This kingdom in the Himalayas, under strong rulers like Songtsen Gampo, unified the Tibetan plateau, developed its own writing system, and adopted Buddhism as a state religion.
What is the Tibetan Empire (Tubo)?
This dynasty, founded by the Buryat Tungusic people of Russia, caused the deaths of millions during its conquest of power. During its reign, it forced all Chinese to change their hairstyles and clothing and abandon their own culture as a sign of submission. Racial discrimination against Chinese people also originates from this dynasty.
What is Qing dynasty?
This 12th-century king of the Chalukya dynasty in the Deccan region is renowned not for military conquest, but for sponsoring a radical shift in temple architecture, moving from the rock-cut style to a new, highly ornate style exemplified by the stunning Chennakesava Temple at Belur.
Who was King Vishnuvardhana?
While often associated with his father Cyrus the Great, this Achaemenid king is critically known from the Behistun Inscription for crushing numerous revolts across the empire after a period of crisis, and for reorganizing the satrapy system to improve administration and tax collection.
Who was Darius I (Darius the Great)?
This 14th-century Javanese epic poem, written during the height of the Majapahit Empire, provides a detailed historical account of the royal lineage, state ceremonies, and territorial extent of the empire under Hayam Wuruk, serving as a primary source for its “Golden Age.”
What is the Nagarakertagama(also known as Desawarnana)?
This maritime kingdom based in the Ryukyu Islands became a wealthy hub of East Asian trade, known for its distinctive castle architecture called gusukuand vibrant seafaring culture.
What is the Ryukyu Kingdom?