Travel Through Time With This Quiz on History’s Golden Ages

Sigismund I the Old and Sigismund II Augustus, the last of Poland's Jagiellonian Dynasty monarchs, ushered in the country's Golden Age during the 16th century. The country became a center of trade for grain, wood, salt, and cloth, and spread the Polish language to millions in Central and Eastern Europe. This period also saw Poland's own Nicolaus Copernicus posit the revolutionary idea of heliocentrism.

Heian, which means "peace" in Japanese, lent its name to the period in Japanese history from 794 to 1185 CE — a period which became known as Japan's Golden Age. One of the Heian Period's most enduring intellectual contributions occurred around the turn of the millennium when Lady Murasaki Shikibu wrote what is believed to be the world's first novel, "The Tale of Genji."

Spain's "Golden Century" took place from the early 1500s to the late 1600s. During this period, the Iberian nation produced trailblazing artists like Diego Velázquez, Miguel de Cervantes, and El Greco. The Golden Age coincided with the rise of the Spanish Empire, which colonized much of Central and South America (to the detriment of Indigenous peoples there), spreading its language and culture across the Atlantic Ocean.

In the early 1400s, Prince Henry the Navigator of Portugal founded an early sailing school and launched a series of sea navigations that led to the Portuguese Empire's growth around the globe. Portugal's explorers visited North America, the Azores, the Cape of Good Hope, India, and Brazil, expanding Portuguese influence as they colonized native land.

The Islamic Golden Age coincided with the rise of the Abbasid Caliphate. Taking place between the 8th and 14th centuries, Islamic scientists advanced the fields of algebra, astronomy, medicine, and more, while also pioneering techniques in many art forms including ceramics, textiles, and woodworking. The Golden Age is said to have ended with the Mongol Invasion, which led to the collapse of the Abbasid Caliphate.

From the 4th to the 6th century, India was run by the Gupta Dynasty. Like most Golden Ages, the Gupta Dynasty ruled during a long era of peace, allowing its rulers to focus on the economic, intellectual, and cultural aspects of the country. During this time, Indian literature experienced a burst of creativity, especially in poetry and drama, and a series of important religious "sutras" were written.

The Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century was also the Golden Age of the Dutch East India Company, whose ruthless colonial trade efforts gave its home country vast amounts of wealth. With gold in its coffers, the Netherlands was able to reinvest in its own artistic and cultural developments, allowing legendary artists like Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, and Johannes Vermeer to thrive.

Elizabeth I's long rule created a period of stability in 16th-century England. Situated during a relative peace between the earlier Wars of the Roses and the later English Reformation, the Elizabethan Age marked a time of international expansion and colonization (the legacy of which is, of course, complicated and problematic), naval triumph over Spain, and cultural growth. Perhaps most famously, William Shakespeare's plays debuted during this period.

From 449 to 431 BCE, Athens experienced relative peace between the bloody conflicts of the Persian and Peloponnesian wars. During this time, Pericles took leadership of the city and tapped the empire's treasury to fund vast cultural projects. The Acropolis, Parthenon, and Temple of Athena Nike were all built during this period, epitomizing the cultural and intellectual advancements of Athenian society.

The Italian Renaissance took place between the 14th and 17th centuries. During this Golden Age, artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, and Sandro Botticelli spearheaded a resurgence in classical painting, and art, architecture, and science blossomed throughout the Italian city-states.