Let’s Talk….
World History
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World History
This is going to cover a lot of time. It is unrealistic to expect to become an expert in
all of World History, but by specializing in a few key topics you should have a
general understanding of what has happened and will be able to use inference skills
to help you figure out the rest.
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World History
There are four domains, or time periods, that we are going to focus on. These are:
q Ancient History
q 600ad – 1450ad
q 1450ad – 1750ad
q 1750ad - Present
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World History
For Ancient History your focus should be on the development of early civilizations
such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, those in sub-Saharan Africa, Greece, Rome, the
Americas, China, India, and Japan.
Think about the growth of city-states and how rivers played a major role in this.
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World History
For the next competency, 600 ad to 1450 ad, there is a lot of overlap in events.
Start with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of feudalism and
manorialism during the dark ages.
Next, focus on the rise of religious power. This includes the rise of Islam as well as
the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
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World History
This coincides with the Crusades and the impact on the western world.
But don’t forget about other key figures and events such as Charlemagne and the
Norman Conquest.
And you can’t skip the silk road. This trade route connecting Europe, the Middle
East, and the Far East provided motivation for future exploration as we move
through time.
World History
For the next competency, 1450 ad to 1750 ad, your focus should be on the growth
after the Black Death and the fall of Constantinople.
This includes the European Renaissance with Leonardo Da Vinci and the
Reformation led by Martin Luther.
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World History
This era also encompasses the European push into North and South America.
Think about the conquest of the Aztec, the Columbian Exchange, and the Atlantic
Slave Trade.
But don’t forget what is happening back in the old world, such as the Expansion of
the Ottoman Empire.
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World History
For the last competency, 1750 ad to present, there is a lot. Start with comparing
different revolutions from around the world including the American, French, Russian,
and those in Latin America.
This will lead into the rise of industrialization across the globe.
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World History
You are going to want to know the major events of both Worlds Wars.
Think of the impact on the global economy and the Great Depression that occurred
in between them.
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World History
This goes along with the rise of Totalitarianism leading up to World War II, including
Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, the Soviet Union, and Japanese Imperialism.
Know about the Holocaust and the death tolls of World War II.
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World History
After World War II, focus on the Cold War and the eventual fall of Communism. Think
about global conflicts such as Korea and Vietnam and how they impacted the world.
But we are going to present day, so be sure to recognize how globalization has
impacted our world and how radicalism has increased global terrorism.
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World History
Now, let’s look at some practice questions and see how you did on your pre-quiz.
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The Colossus, one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, stood on
which island?
A. Cyprus
B. Rhodes
C. Sardinia
D. Sicily
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The Colossus, one of the Ancient Wonders of the World, stood on
which island?
A. Cyprus
B. Rhodes
C. Sardinia
D. Sicily
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The Chinese city of Chang’an was notable for its
A. Lack of access to running water.
B. Development of the world’s first public transportation system
C. Development of the world’s first sewage system
D. Extensive grid system
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The Chinese city of Chang’an was notable for its
A. Lack of access to running water.
B. Development of the world’s first public transportation system
C. Development of the world’s first sewage system
D. Extensive grid system
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Prior to the emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, the
Roman empire was officially polytheistic which meant that Roman
officials worshipped
A. Many gods
B. Their own worldly virtue
C. One all-powerful God
D. They sky
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Prior to the emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, the
Roman empire was officially polytheistic which meant that Roman
officials worshipped
A. Many gods
B. Their own worldly virtue
C. One all-powerful God
D. They sky
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Though many things changed about civilization from the Neolithic to
the Classical Era, what was one continuity?
A. The size of civilizations remained approximately the same.
B. There were no major technological or economic breakthroughs.
C. Communication networks stayed approximately the same.
D. Population virtually leveled out.
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Though many things changed about civilization from the Neolithic to
the Classical Era, what was one continuity?
A. The size of civilizations remained approximately the same.
B. There were no major technological or economic breakthroughs.
C. Communication networks stayed approximately the same.
D. Population virtually leveled out.
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At the end of the most recent Ice Age, which two continents were cut
off from one another, dramatically affecting the course of human
history?
A. Africa and Europe
B. South America and Africa
C. Asia and North America
D. North America and South America
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At the end of the most recent Ice Age, which two continents were cut
off from one another, dramatically affecting the course of human
history?
A. Africa and Europe
B. South America and Africa
C. Asia and North America
D. North America and South America
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Greek culture, lost to most of Europe during the Dark Ages, was
rediscovered during
A. The Crusades
B. The Napoleonic Wars
C. The Thirty Years’ War
D. The Sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth
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Greek culture, lost to most of Europe during the Dark Ages, was
rediscovered during
A. The Crusades
B. The Napoleonic Wars
C. The Thirty Years’ War
D. The Sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth
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Which of the following best describes the development of European
culture during the Middle Ages?
A. Europe began the Middle Ages in a state of backwardness and would remain so until the dawn of the
Renaissance.
B. Europe began the Middle Ages in a state of backwardness, but gradually progressed to a prolific period of
cultural refinement.
C. Europe began the Middle Ages as the most culturally accomplished society on Earth, but gradually regressed to
a state of relative of backwardness.
D. Europe began the Middle Ages as the most cultural accomplished society on Earth and would remain so
throughout the period.
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Which of the following best describes the development of European
culture during the Middle Ages?
A. Europe began the Middle Ages in a state of backwardness and would remain so until the dawn of the
Renaissance.
B. Europe began the Middle Ages in a state of backwardness, but gradually progressed to a prolific
period of cultural refinement.
C. Europe began the Middle Ages as the most culturally accomplished society on Earth, but gradually regressed to
a state of relative of backwardness.
D. Europe began the Middle Ages as the most cultural accomplished society on Earth and would remain so
throughout the period.
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Which of the following statements best reflects the differences between
indigenous societies in South America and indigenous societies in North America
before the arrival of the Europeans?
A. Native societies in South America were monotheistic and subsequently more receptive to Christianity than the
polytheistic, animist societies of North America.
B. Native societies in North America were monotheistic and subsequently more receptive to Christianity than the
polytheistic, animist societies of South America.
C. Native societies were much more hierarchical, whereas native societies in South America were very meritocratic
and relatively liberated.
D. Native societies in South America were defined by agriculture-based extensive empires, whereas native societies
in North America were much smaller and partially relied on hunter-gathering.
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Which of the following statements best reflects the differences between
indigenous societies in South America and indigenous societies in North America
before the arrival of the Europeans?
A. Native societies in South America were monotheistic and subsequently more receptive to Christianity than the
polytheistic, animist societies of North America.
B. Native societies in North America were monotheistic and subsequently more receptive to Christianity than the
polytheistic, animist societies of South America.
C. Native societies were much more hierarchical, whereas native societies in South America were very meritocratic
and relatively liberated.
D. Native societies in South America were defined by agriculture-based extensive empires, whereas
native societies in North America were much smaller and partially relied on hunter-gathering.
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Why was the Magna Carta significant?
A. It asserted the Monarch’s power over the Church of England, making a distinct break
from the traditional European power structure between church and state.
B. It installed a new king, disposing King John even though he was still living.
C. It was one of the earliest pieces of legislation that limited a monarch’s authority. It
laid the groundwork for the establishment of parliament.
D. It gave peasants equal representation in the British judicial and legislative systems.
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Why was the Magna Carta significant?
A. It asserted the Monarch’s power over the Church of England, making a distinct break
from the traditional European power structure between church and state.
B. It installed a new king, disposing King John even though he was still living.
C. It was one of the earliest pieces of legislation that limited a monarch’s
authority. It laid the groundwork for the establishment of parliament.
D. It gave peasants equal representation in the British judicial and legislative systems.
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Which of the following is not one of the primary causes of the
Hundred Years’ War?
A. Disputed ownership of Burgundy
B. Kind Edward III’s claim to the French throne
C. England’s ownership of several former French lands
D. Traditional societal hatred amongst both nations.
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Which of the following is not one of the primary causes of the
Hundred Years’ War?
A. Disputed ownership of Burgundy
B. Kind Edward III’s claim to the French throne
C. England’s ownership of several former French lands
D. Traditional societal hatred amongst both nations.
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Which of the following is not one of the changes brought by the
Protestant Reformation to social and religious life in Western
European cities?
A. The number of Catholic churches, monasteries, and nunneries sharply declined.
B. Church services began to popularize the use of the vernacular rather than Latin.
C. Members of the Protestant clergy were made subject to the same laws and taxes as
other segments of society.
D. Most converts to Protestantism permanently shed all Catholic ties.
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Which of the following is not one of the changes brought by the
Protestant Reformation to social and religious life in Western
European cities?
A. The number of Catholic churches, monasteries, and nunneries sharply declined.
B. Church services began to popularize the use of the vernacular rather than Latin.
C. Members of the Protestant clergy were made subject to the same laws and taxes as
other segments of society.
D. Most converts to Protestantism permanently shed all Catholic ties.
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European invaders possessed each of the following technological
advantages over the Native groups they encountered in the New
World except
A. Access to firearms
B. Access to horses
C. Experience with domesticated animals
D. Access to steel weapons and armor
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European invaders possessed each of the following technological
advantages over the Native groups they encountered in the New
World except
A. Access to firearms
B. Access to horses
C. Experience with domesticated animals
D. Access to steel weapons and armor
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Throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries,
which country stood out as the single largest state in the
European/Middle Eastern spheres?
A. The Ottoman Empire
B. Mongol China
C. The Russian Empire
D. Austria-Hungary
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Throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries,
which country stood out as the single largest state in the
European/Middle Eastern spheres?
A. The Ottoman Empire
B. Mongol China
C. The Russian Empire
D. Austria-Hungary
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Which of these European countries was the first to arrive in Japan
and begin trading with the local population?
A. England
B. Spain
C. France
D. Portugal
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Which of these European countries was the first to arrive in Japan
and begin trading with the local population?
A. England
B. Spain
C. France
D. Portugal
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Which of the following was not an effect of widespread imperialism
and modernization in the 19th century?
A. Discouraging of traditional cultural practices.
B. Widespread conversion to Christianity
C. Preservation of tribal territories
D. Improvements in literacy due to the spread of missionaries
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Which of the following was not an effect of widespread imperialism
and modernization in the 19th century?
A. Discouraging of traditional cultural practices.
B. Widespread conversion to Christianity
C. Preservation of tribal territories
D. Improvements in literacy due to the spread of missionaries
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What major infrastructure project was built in Egypt after its
colonization?
A. Pyramids of Giza
B. Suez Canal
C. City of Cairo
D. Egyptian roadway network
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What major infrastructure project was built in Egypt after its
colonization?
A. Pyramids of Giza
B. Suez Canal
C. City of Cairo
D. Egyptian roadway network
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Captain ________________ was the British explorer who claimed
the territories of New Zealand and Australia for the British crown.
A. Sir Walter Raleigh
B. Henry Hudson
C. James Cook
D. Sir Francis Drake
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Captain ________________ was the British explorer who claimed
the territories of New Zealand and Australia for the British crown.
A. Sir Walter Raleigh
B. Henry Hudson
C. James Cook
D. Sir Francis Drake
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