What Period of History Do You Actually Belong In?

By: Geoff Hoppe

6 Min Quiz

Image: Yuri_Arcurs / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

You don't get to pick your family, your height, or (maybe worst of all) when you're born. Maybe you'd be happier with a radically different system of government, or a way of thinking, or a wildly different type of job.

And while you don't get to pick when you're born, you can figure out what time might have been best for you by reading. That's the beauty of history: to figure out what situation suits you best, all you have to do is go looking. And learning that can tell you a lot about how to shape your present.

Every period offers something, and every period suits someone best. Maybe you have the restless energy of a hunter-gatherer. Maybe you have the natural scientific curiosity of an Enlightenment philosopher. Maybe you're more an antique Greek than a modern person, most at home in a polis. Maybe you're a humanist at heart, eager to trace your knowledge to its sources, as an explorer seeks out a river's headwaters.

Whatever age your heart might belong to, figuring that out is an adventure, and also a lot of fun!

To determine what age suits you best, answer the 30 questions in this quiz. You might be surprised to find where your personality would be most at home!

How involved do you want to be with your government?

Government? We get things done around here as need be. Nothing too fancy like a government.

I'm happy to vote, but I'm also OK with a powerful ruler who gets results and allows me the chance to explore.
Uh, politics? I just read, bud. The man up top and his advisors take care of things.

I want to vote on all the major decisions, and have a say. People are political animals!

What kind of music do you like?

Just simple, really. Big fan of a capella, and the occasional bone flute

Ordered, stately, and mathematical. It's OK to have fun, but music is best when it follows rules.
Depends on if I'm at church (heavenly, beautiful) or at a festival (wild horn music)

Wild as you can get it! Drums, chanting, two flutes at once...that's the stuff!

How do you like to settle conflicts?

That's for the king's, or prince's, representatives to decide. Failing that, there's always a rapier duel...

Hire a lawyer and go to court. Failing that, pass out the pistols and walk 10 paces.
I love to argue! I'm a wordsmith who can plead any case to anyone.

Quickly. We've all got to get along if we're going to keep things moving.

What do you like to read?

Read? I ain't got time to read. Also, what are words?

I love the classics! Reading about language is fun for me, too!
I'm big into science, and trying to explain the world in rational, scientific ways.

Plays and poetry are my things. And I also like reading dialogues where people argue.

How much change do you want in your life?

As much as the next elections allow

I prefer to stick to the same routine, the way I've always done things. It has worked so far, so why spoil a good thing?
Change is my middle name! I want to rename things, study their primary causes, and recast everything in the light of science.

I like some change, but grounded in the study of earlier tradition.

What would you rather do in your spare time?

I've been wanting to run an experiment on how much fire weighs. It's not a solid, gas, or liquid. How do I classify it?

Heh, spare time. I'm on my feet and moving most of the day, so I don't have a lot of spare time.
I'd love to check out the portrait that one painter is working on, or take a look at that new commentary on verbs in the Gospels.

I could use a stop at the gym. You have to keep the body healthy for the mind to work well!

When I look at a laurel tree, I see...

A living thing, imbued with a spirit of its own.

Another thing that expresses the glory of God, and something I'd like to sketch later.
One example of a species that should be cataloged and used.

Where the judges will get my trophy when I win my next wrestling competition!

Are you more introverted or extroverted?

Extroverted. I'm most myself when I'm with people, doing anything from discussing to playing sports.

My social group is pretty tight-knit. The whole introvert/extravert thing isn't much of a choice.
It depends on how I'm feeling. I like my privacy, but my hobbies usually entail other people.

I'm a balance. I value study and reading, but also need to meet with my local club, or discuss ideas with my friends.

How do you like to get around?

I prefer carriages, when I can.

I tend to go most places on foot.
I'm good walking or on horseback.

I'm good to walk, but business also takes me by ship frequently.

What sort of religion suits you?

I believe there are spirits all around me, and pray to the nature where they live.

I like having a centralized church, but I hear there are some people breaking away...seems interesting, albeit blasphemous.
I'm more into science than I am into religion.

I believe in numerous gods, and they don't always get along.

What sort of paintings do you like?

I prefer installation art, preferably cave-based.

Oh, anywhere-- chapel ceilings, public places,
I like my art hanging in a gallery.

You know where paintings look their best? Pottery.

What sort of footwear flatters you best?

I prefer barefoot, but I can throw on whatever I find if I'm in the mood.

Sandals, definitely sandals
I tend to go for leather and functional.

I've just got this thing for shoes with buckles.

What does your dream house look like?

I like something that hearkens back to the classics.

Definitely something au naturale...caves, trees, mammoth bones
I like some classical influences, but want to include some scientific design principles.

An open square in the middle, close to the action in town, and plenty of space for friends to party in

If your country needs to fight a war, how do you pick soldiers?

If you've got the money to buy weapons, you've got the chance and responsibility to fight.

If I'm not part of the group whose job it is to fight, I'll only go if I have to.
There are small kingdoms that rent out professional armies. Just use one of them.

I don't do a lot of fighting. I'm busy enough with other things.

Which of the following is the most impressive achievement?

Surviving in difficult circumstances, against the elements and wild animals

Writing beautiful poetry, or achieving athletic excellence
Careful study in the service of helping people understand the source of their values

Changing the shape of human knowledge, and cataloging everything imaginable

What good is religion?

Religion is a huge part of my life, and we've even executed people for questioning it!

Religion brings food to me and keeps me from being drowned in a flood or hit by lightning.
Religion is a huge part of my life, but I'm interested in what dissenters have to say.

I'm not that religious, but religion keeps people in line, and is good for keeping order.

What fashion choice flatters you most?

I don't know. Whatever's available.

I've always felt puffy sleeves, pants, and tights were a fashion-forward option.
Pants that cut off at the knee, nice jackets, and a lot of wigs, weave, and product.

Something with a sweeping line, and folds of cloth.

What's your go-to food option?

I prefer fine foods, and love to try new produce from other parts of the world.

I go simple: raw food, whole grains, roasted lean meat.
A lot of meat, a lot of grains. I'm not much for vegatables.

I'm a major fan of olives and oregano. Red wine is also good for your constitution.

What sort of life makes someone great?

Physical competence, survival, and being able to successfully match nature's rhythms

Being engaged and active in politics, the arts, all areas of society. Well-roundedness rules!
Understanding the underlying fundamental principles that make things tick

A moderate balance between physical, mental and spiritual excellence

Who is your spirit animal?

The osprey--a beautiful, energetic hunter, comfortable on land, sea, and air

The lion-- physically imposing, mentally acute, ruler over his domain
The wolf-- a rangy survivor who's loyal to his family and weathers the elements.

The honeybee-- an industrious, ordered collector who works according to reason.

How much of an athlete are you?

Well, my job requires me to be constantly on my feet, so I guess I'm pretty athletic.

Athletics is one of my many interests. I'm not an all-star, but I can competently play several sports.
Do you consider dancing a sport? I can cut a rug like nobody's business.

Borderline jock! Athletics are a huge part of a life well lived.

What's a good education look like?

Practical and on-the-job, something that will allow a kid to get by in a tough and unforgiving world

Reading, discussion, and careful thought about a wide range of topics
Experimentation and trial-and-error, complemented by a lot of reading

A sound mind in a sound body-- you should be able to solve an equation as well as you run a race.

What is your favorite color?

Brown, green, olive...something earth tones

I'm a fan of complementary colors and contrasts, like red and black.
I'm a fan of dying fabrics to make them bright, anything from seagreen to orange!

I tend to go more for white and off-white.

How do you know what you know?

By firsthand observation and taking energy from everything around me

Measurement, measurement, measurement. Repeat, repeat, repeat!
A mix of math and discussion - Multiple heads are better than one.

Combining new knowledge with old observations to arrive at new conclusions.

Which of these sports would you rather play?

Archery

Fencing
Dancing

Wrestling

What is your attitude toward exploration?

Even though my life revolves around my city, I like spreading its influence and culture to other places!

It's positive because I can bring back new knowledge and add to my catalog of experiences.
It takes a lot of guts to set out into the unknown, but I'm game for it.

I'll go where I need to go to get the job done.

What's an ideal date night?

Sweet and simple: me, the spouse, and the kids, if we have any - Nothing fancy

Talking about anything and everything while doing a range of different activities
Dancing, drinks, and dinner

Candlelight and conversation, with a hint of competition thrown in there. I like a little conflict.

You see an old friend for the first time in ages. What's the first thing you do?

I see my friends pretty regularly. I've got a regular, small, tight-knit group.

Be thrilled to see them, and ask what books they've read, or things they've drawn, or music they've played recently
Greet that person graciously, and ask how they're proceeding toward their life goals

Call that person an SOB and immediately start arguing playfully. Good friendships feed off healthy struggle.

How do you make a daily schedule?

I definitely schedule things by the clock. That's why I have a watch, isn't it?

So much to do, and it'll all get done.
I follow the rhythm of the day: rise at dawn, sleep at sunset.

I have activities I like to do, but also make time to just go about time and enjoy others' society.

Which social media platform is your favorite?

Instagram: I'm a visual person who can take in a lot of outside stimuli.

Reddit: so many things to read, so little time
Twitter: there's so much to analyze.

Facebook: I'm social and love keeping up with people.

7 Minute Quiz 7 Min

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