The Battle of Gaugamela — Persia (Iraq) (331 BC, Persia) — Questions and answers

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Who were the two main kings facing each other in the battle near Gaugamela?

Choices

  1. Alexander the Great and Darius III ✓
  2. Bessus and Parmenion
  3. Aristotle and Sun Tzu
  4. The King of Macedon and the King of Iraq

Answer: Alexander the Great and Darius III

From page 1

What job did Darius III have before he became king?

Choices

  1. A soldier
  2. A teacher
  3. A courier ✓
  4. A palace builder

Answer: A courier

From page 2

Who was Alexander the Great's teacher?

Choices

  1. Darius III
  2. Bessus
  3. Aristotle ✓
  4. Parmenion

Answer: Aristotle

From page 3

According to Parmenion, where was Alexander's army heading?

Choices

  1. Towards the Indus Valley
  2. Towards Persepolis
  3. Towards Gaugamela ✓
  4. Towards the Mediterranean

Answer: Towards Gaugamela

From page 4

Why did Darius choose the plains of Gaugamela for the battle?

Choices

  1. It was close to his palace.
  2. It was a wide, open space good for chariots and cavalry. ✓
  3. It was where Alexander's army wanted to fight.
  4. It was easy to hide his army there.

Answer: It was a wide, open space good for chariots and cavalry.

From page 5

What did Alexander's soothsayer, Aristander, tell him about the battle?

Choices

  1. He would lose the battle quickly.
  2. Victory would be his, but only with courage and strategic brilliance. ✓
  3. The battle would be cancelled.
  4. Darius would run away before the fight.

Answer: Victory would be his, but only with courage and strategic brilliance.

From page 6

What did Alexander learn about Darius's plan for his scythed chariots?

Choices

  1. Darius was not going to use chariots.
  2. Darius ordered the ground to be leveled for his chariots. ✓
  3. Darius was going to use chariots to block the river.
  4. Darius was training new charioteers.

Answer: Darius ordered the ground to be leveled for his chariots.

From page 7

What happened to Darius's scythed chariots during the battle?

Choices

  1. They broke through Alexander's lines easily.
  2. They were stopped by a big wall.
  3. They were forced to maneuver around obstacles and lost effectiveness. ✓
  4. They changed sides and fought for Alexander.

Answer: They were forced to maneuver around obstacles and lost effectiveness.

From page 8

What did Darius do when Alexander's cavalry pressed closer?

Choices

  1. He led a brave counter-attack.
  2. He surrendered to Alexander.
  3. He panicked and fled the battlefield. ✓
  4. He called for a truce.

Answer: He panicked and fled the battlefield.

From page 9

What important historical event did the Battle of Gaugamela mark the end of?

Choices

  1. The Macedonian Empire
  2. The Roman Empire
  3. The Achaemenid Persian Empire ✓
  4. The Egyptian Empire

Answer: The Achaemenid Persian Empire

From page 10