Gadnis 08 - 09

AP WORLD HISTORY SEMESTER EXAM

8,000 B.C.E. – 1450 C.E.

Multiple Choice
Read the question carefully then select the best answer from the responses given by
writing the correct answer on your answer sheet.

PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON THIS TEST

1. In most of the early agricultural societies, people had an average life expectancy of 25
years at birth but would live until 50 on average if they managed to reach age 20.
These facts primarily reflect
a. High rates of infant mortality
b. An early age of military service
c. Income gaps between wealthy minorities and impoverished masses
d. Lack of mass education
e. The availability of medicines for adult diseases

2. Which of the following is an important legacy of the Phoenicians?

a. Their monotheistic beliefs inspired the Judeo-Christian religion.
b. Their establishment of a centralized bureaucratic state influenced the political
structure of the Persian Empire.
c. Their development of an alphabetical writing system was adapted by the
Greeks.
d. Their system of legal codification was adopted in its entirety by the Romans.
e. Their army and navy defeated Alexander the Great.

3. Which of the following was an important factor that helped the eastern Roman
Empire (Byzantium) survive while the western Roman Empire collapsed?
a. Its status as the center of Roman Catholic Christianity gave it a social unity
that helped it resist invaders.
b. It has a loyal army, skilled bureaucracy, and great reserves of wealth based on
agriculture.
c. It followed an expansionist foreign policy to conquer northern European lands
held by Germanic tribes.
d. It could rely on its defensive alliance with the Persian Empire for protection
against European invaders.
e. It was not an attractive target for conquest because it was isolated from trade
routes and had little wealth.

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4. The 1st Century B.C.E. statue shown above, depicting Buddha, is an example of
a. Religious conflict
b. Reverence for ancestors
c. The wealth and power of the Emperor
d. Cross-cultural interaction
e. Destruction by Nomadic Invaders

5. Which of the following correctly lists the countries to which Buddhism spread from
India, in chronological order from earliest to latest?
a. Korea, Japan, Cambodia
b. Vietnam, China, Japan
c. China, Korea, Japan
d. China, Japan, Cambodia
e. Thailand, Korea, China

6. Which of the following contributed significantly to both the fall of the western
Roman and the Han Empires?
a. The destruction of overland trade routes
b. A series of devastating earthquakes and floods
c. New military technologies
d. The expansion of Buddhism
e. Invasions by borderland peoples

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7. Which of the following most accurately describes the political structure of the Maya
from 600 C.E. to 900 C.E.?
a. Numerous, independent, warring city-states
b. A highly centralized, aggressively expansionist empire
c. Several weak vassal kingdoms under Aztec domination
d. Numerous small coastal villages dependent upon maritime trade
e. Sparsely populated religious administrative centers

8. Which of the following describes a major effect of the Bantu Migrations?

a. A single common religion in sub-Saharan Africa
b. The diffusion of irrigation techniques to East Africa
c. Cultural commonalities in sub-Saharan Africa
d. The introduction of banana cultivation to the Sahel
e. The political interaction between Bantu speakers and Indian sailors

9. The Byzantine Empire achieved which of the following?

a. The introduction of Benedictine Monasticism to Ireland
b. The conversion of many Slavic peoples to Christianity
c. The unification of Christians under the Pope of Rome
d. The conquest of both Nubia and Ethiopia
e. The legal toleration of religious minorities

10. The rise of the Mongol Empire contributed to all of the following EXCEPT
a. The spread of Christianity
b. An empire that extended across parts of Europe and Asia
c. An unsuccessful attempt to conquer Japan
d. The spread of the plague
e. The growth of trade across Central Asia

11. Islamic and Chinese Empires in the postclassical period (700 C.E. – 1200 C.E.) shard
which of the following characteristics?
a. An imperial bureaucracy based on an examination system
b. The abolition of slavery
c. Battles for control over religious sites
d. Extensive urbanization and maritime trade
e. Strict monogamy for uncontested succession

12. Which of the following is the most important effect of Islamic expansion on the
civilization of Medieval Europe?
a. The influence of Indian architecture on Gothic cathedrals
b. The development of theocracies in the Holy Roman Empire
c. The conversion of large areas of southern Italy to Islam
d. The transmittal of Greek and Arab learning
e. The promotion of religious reform movements in the Catholic Church

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13. After the sixth Century C.E., Byzantine Emperors maintained political unity primarily
by
a. Easing control of the Mediterranean provinces
b. Making Dynastic marriages and diplomatic alliances
c. Hiring mercenary Christian armies to fight invaders from East Asia
d. Applying greater pressure on Muslim Africa
e. Sharing political power with the large merchant class

14. Which of the following were characteristics of most early civilizations?

a. Cave dwellings and stone tools
b. Animal herds and portable houses
c. Large standing armies and elected governments
d. Urban centers, growing populations, and writing systems
e. Caravan trade, underground cities, and large ships

15. Which of the following helps explain the location and architecture of buildings in
major Mayan cities such as Tikal?
a. Astronomical observations and considerations
b. Avoidance of swampy and uneven land
c. Protection from surrounding invaders
d. The dense tropical jungles and rainforests
e. Extensive coastal trade

16. The Silk Roads allowed products to move between which of the following pairs of
empires?
a. Roman and Incan
b. The Han and Spanish
c. The Roman and Han
d. The Incan and Aztec
e. The Mali and Byzantine

17. Confucius argued that

a. Chinese society should be structured on a strictly egalitarian basis
b. Individuals can best develop their potential if isolated from the rest of society
c. Mean are fundamentally competitive and should be concerned primarily with
individual achievement
d. The ideal from of government is an hereditary aristocracy
e. Education is essential to becoming a refined gentleman

18. Which of the following contributed most to the decline of both the Roman and
Abbasid Empires?
a. The rapid expansion of Christianity
b. The division of governmental administration by ethnic groups
c. Nomadic invasions by the Mongols
d. Increased competition from rival seapowers
e. Growing reliance on mercenary armies

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19. The development and spread of Christianity and Buddhism had all of the following in
common EXCEPT
a. Both were outgrowths of other religions
b. Both were aided in their spread by trade networks
c. The founders of both presented themselves as divine
d. Both developed monastic orders
e. Both venerated people of high spiritual merit

20. Which of the following is a similarity between the Aztec and Incan Empires?
a. Both destroyed prior civilizations in their drive to conquer new territory.
b. Both used innovative techniques to dramatically increase agricultural
production.
c. Both held merchants as the second highest class, just below priests.
d. Both used their political dominance to suppress the religious practices of
conquered peoples.
e. Both were descended from the Mayan peoples.

21. The building shown above is an example of

a. The integration of Roman and Mughal styles
b. Military defense efforts in the Middle East
c. The diverse architecture of 15th Century North America
d. The polytheistic activity of early Bedouin society
e. Islamic adaptation to local culture and conditions

22. A key similarity between western European and western African leaders in the period
1000 – 1450 was their
a. Adoption of scholarship from Muslim civilizations
b. Desire to abolish the slave trade
c. Growing awareness of Chinese technology
d. Dependence on women to organize long-distance trade
e. Reliance on examination systems to choose advisors

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23. In the period from 900 C.E. to 1450 C.E., which of the following is true regarding
sub-Saharan Africa’s commercial economy?
a. Egyptian merchants controlled most of the trade of sub-Saharan Africa
b. Sub-Saharan Africa’s chief imports were cowries shells
c. Sub-Saharan Africa exported gold to the Middle East and Europe
d. The Sahara desert prevented African traders from participating in long-
distance trade
e. The Mali-Great Zimbabwe trade route dominated the trade of sub-Saharan
Africa

24. The growth of Islam in West Africa was largely the result of the
a. Influence of Muslim traders from the north involved with the trans-Saharan
trade routes
b. Multiple conquests by Arab armies from North Africa
c. Lack of any powerful sub-Saharan states able to resist Muslim influences
d. Grassroots movements among poor Muslims who demanded that the ruling
and commercial elites respect their religion
e. Reaction to the violence associated with the Atlantic Slave Trade

196. If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out.

197. If he break another man's bone, his bone shall be broken.

198. If he put out the eye of a freed man, or break the bone of a freed man, he shall pay
one gold mina.

199. If he put out the eye of a man's slave, or break the bone of a man's slave, he shall
pay one-half of its value.

200. If a man knock out the teeth of his equal, his teeth shall be knocked out.

201. If he knock out the teeth of a freed man, he shall pay one-third of a gold mina.

202. If any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty
blows with an ox-whip in public.

25. The Excerpt above from the Code of Hammurabi illustrates which of the following
about Babylonian society?
a. It made provisions fro the economic well-being of all classes
b. It supported gender equality
c. It moved away from reliance on corporal punishment
d. It was marked by social inequalities
e. The king was regarded as blessed by divine forces

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26. Which of the following occurred as a result of agriculture in societies that previously
relied on hunting and gathering?
a. Conditions for women improved
b. The incidence of disease declined
c. Population density increased
d. Polytheism disappeared
e. Degradation of the environment lessened

27. Which of the following was a major reason for the rapid expansion of Islam during
the seventh and eight centuries?
a. The economic growth of the Mughal empire
b. The advanced military technology of the Muslim forces
c. The political divisions within the Byzantine and other neighboring empires
d. The political unity of North African people
e. The discovery of moveable type, which made the Qu’ran widely available.

28. The crusades launched by European Christians at the end of the 11th century were
motivated primarily by
a. The desire of Italian city-states to seize control of the spice trade from central
Asian and Chinese Merchants
b. The desire to demonstrate Europe’s new technological supremacy over Islam
c. Resentment towards Islamic missionaries seeking to spread their faith along
the Mediterranean
d. Western European fears that Byzantium and the Muslim Kings launch a
military attack against western Europe
e. Papal efforts to unite western European rulers and nobles in support of the
papacy

29. Which of the following is most accurate regarding both West Africa and South
America before 1000?
a. Both areas depended on trade in gold and salt
b. Most people were polytheists in both areas
c. The domestication of large animals provided the means of extensive
agricultural production and transportation
d. Both areas depended on grains such as wheat and rye as major dietary
components
e. Both areas developed an extensive and widely used written language

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30. Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the political systems in western
Europe and China in the years 1000 – 1300?
a. Western Europe developed multiple monarchies while China maintained a
single empire
b. Developments in the legal system of China emphasized individual political
rights, while western Europe concentrated on maritime law
c. Both societies began aggressive policies of territorial expansion
d. Both societies eventually develop a representative democratic system
e. Both societies experience Mongol Imperial rule

31. The photograph above of Angkor Wat in Cambodia is an example of

a. The spread of Islam to Southeast Asia
b. The wealth created by the spice trade
c. Japanese architecture
d. Hindu influence in Southeast Asia
e. The Chinese re-conquest of Indochina

32. Which of the following best describes both the Roman and Han Empires?
a. The empires used the family as the model for state organization
b. Merchants were viewed as key to the survival of both empires
c. The cost of defending frontiers lead to economic and political crises
d. Emperors were “Sons of Heaven”
e. New religions were successfully integrated into Imperial religious ideologies

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33. Which of the following staple crops is most associated with the rise of Mesoamerican
civilization?
a. Manioc
b. Potatoes
c. Maize
d. Beans
e. Rice

34. A significant example of the interaction between Indian, Arab, and European
societies by 1200 CE was the transfer of knowledge of
a. Iron and copper mining techniques
b. The flying shuttle and spinning jenny
c. The science of optics and lens design
d. Numerals and the decimal system
e. Gunpowder and cannons

35. Which of the following accurately reflects changes associated with the end of the
classical era of world history 200 – 600 C.E.?
a. Nomadic invasion brought down the Roman Empire but did not threaten
China or India
b. While both the Chinese and Romans developed new religious interests, India
reasserted Hinduism
c. The spread of Islam by 500 C.E. challenged Chinese, Indian, and Persian
cultural traditions.
d. The Silk Road trade ended in this period
e. Epidemic diseases played only a small role in the downfall of classical
civilizations.

36. In Tang China, the exam system to become a scholar-bureaucrat

a. Was open to only the sons of the aristocrats.
b. Denied intelligent peasants the right to take the exam.
c. Was open to all, but family connections better prepared the elite to take the
tests.
d. Favored military officials because the exam focused on Confucian military
techniques.
e. Was closed to Buddhists, Muslims, and Japanese.

37. The major lasting result of the Crusades was the

a. Conversion of eastern Europe to Roman Catholicism.
b. Establishment of cultural and economic contacts between western Europe and
the Middle East.
c. Conquest of the Holy Land and Jerusalem.
d. Destruction of the European nobility and military class.
e. Creation of a new Holy Roman Empire ruling many Mediterranean lands.

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38. The Indo-Europeans

a. Fought long and exhausting wars with the Hittites.
b. Originally lived in the western section of the Sahara.
c. Were descendants of the Mongols and Turks.
d. Influenced the development of language in Eurasia.
e. Were skilled sea travelers.

39. Far more than classical Greece, India, or China, slavery in Rome
a. Was hereditary
b. Granted no rights or protections to slaves
c. Was lenient and refused to enslave they young or the elderly
d. Dominated labor markets: Rome became dependent on slavery
e. Encouraged Romans to develop their technology in agriculture and industry

40. In comparison to the Hindus, Persians, and Chinese, religiously the Greeks
a. Most resembled Hinduism’s polytheism with its caste system
b. Never developed a major religion
c. Developed a compassionate system similar to Buddhism
d. Sought universal harmony in a manner similar to Daoism
e. Avoided portraying gods with human characteristics

41. The major impact of Alexander the Great’s conquests was the
a. Elimination of foreign influences from Greek culture
b. Establishment of a unified government for the eastern Mediterranean
c. Birth of mystery religions and the forced migration of the Jews
d. Spread Greek culture throughout the eastern Mediterranean
e. Destruction of regional trade and commerce

42. The first truly revolutionary transformation of human society was the
a. Use of fire
b. Smelting of metals such as copper
c. Growth of towns and cities
d. Rise of farming
e. Rise of specialized classes

43. Classical cultures

a. Died out shortly after the collapse of their supporting political systems ended.
b. Were based no the beliefs of the imperial ruling elites and rarely spread to
others peoples and civilizations.
c. Eventually blended into a unified culture, which stretched from the Atlantic
Ocean to the Indus River.
d. Survived the collapse of their supporting empires and continued to influence
later generations.
e. Were largely commercial influence and dependent on trade.

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44. The earliest metal worked systematically by humans was

a. copper.
b. tin.
c. bronze.
d. iron.
e. steel.

45. Some scholars believe that patriarchal social orders arose because of
a. the predominant role that men played in warfare.
b. the greater importance of male gods.
c. a simple question of greater physical strength.
d. Eve’s role in introducing original sin.
e. a concern for property and family fortunes.

46. In regards to political organization, Ancient Egypt

a. copied their political structure from Qin China.
b. was more militaristic than the Maya.
c. depended upon a strongly secular or non-religious approach to rule.
d. was much more centralized than Ancient Mesopotamia.
e. unified early because of the unique nature of the Tigris.

47. In Ancient Africa, iron metallurgy

a. was introduced by Persian merchants.
b. did not appear until after the rise of Indo-European migrations.
c. arose independently.
d. began after an odd meeting between a Kushite king and the Egyptian explorer
Harkhuf.
e. was imported into the continent by trade with the Mesopotamians.

48. In relation to spreading their language across a huge stretch of Africa the Bantu
played a role similar to that played by the
a. Indo-Europeans.
b. Mongols.
c. Xiongnu.
d. Visigoths.
e. Babylonians.

49. All the archaeological evidence from early Indian history suggests to historians that
a. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were powerful central authorities.
b. the Harappan world was one of constant civil war.
c. the Chinese were a constant influence.
d. there was little true culture in India before the arrival of the Indo-Europeans.
e. early Indian cities remained small and unsophisticated by comparison to the
rest of the ancient world.

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50. In early Hinduism the highest goal of the individual soul was
a. to follow the Four Noble Truths.
b. to escape the cycle of birth and rebirth and enter into permanent union with
Brahman.
c. to correctly perform the rituals outlined in the Pali Canon.
d. to fulfill the individual’s special destiny as spelled out in the process of
predestination.
e. to perform sati.

51. Which of the following groupings between early societies and their most important
rivers is correct?
a. Mesopotamia—Tigris and Euphrates; Egypt—Indus; Harappan—Nile; China—
Huang He.
b. Mesopotamia—Nile; Egypt—Tigris and Euphrates; Harappan—Indus; China—
Huang He.
c. Mesopotamia—Tigris and Euphrates; Egypt—Nile; Harappan—Huang He;
China—Indus.
d. Mesopotamia—Tigris and Euphrates; Egypt— Nile; Harappan—Indus; China
—Huang He.
e. Mesopotamia—Tigris and Euphrates; Egypt—Nile; Harappan—Indus; China—
Yangzi

52. In ancient China which group presided at the rites and ceremonies honoring
ancestors’ spirits?
a. members of the official priesthood.
b. women represented the nurturing earth goddess.
c. the Buddhist hierarchy.
d. the patriarchal head of the families.
e. Shinto priests.

53. The classic Persian governmental approach was

a. maintaining focus on getting tribute from rogue Indian states.
b. to impose their own religious beliefs on the peoples of the empire.
c. a direct imitation of legalism seen in Qin China.
d. an enlightened and tolerant one.
e. rejected by Muslim leaders.

54. Confucius believed that political and social harmony

a. came from a retreat into a quiet life of meditation.
b. arose from the proper ordering of human relationships.
c. depended on the proper structuring of a strong centralized government.
d. was available to human beings if they expressed a deep devotion to the gods.
e. could only be imposed by a powerful king.

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55. The success and timing of trade through the Indian Ocean basin largely depended on
a. controlling the actions of Turkish pirates.
b. forming a lasting trading partnership with China.
c. understanding the rhythms of the monsoon winds.
d. the Indian desire to purchase pepper from the Romans.
e. the invention of a revolutionary sailing vehicle.

56. One of the most pronounced examples of patriarchal dominance in Classical India
was
a. the common practice of child marriage.
b. the domination of gods over goddesses in Hindu mythology.
c. the rise in significance of the kshatriya caste.
d. the growing role of women in the marketplace.
e. the lack of any female characters in the Ramayana or the Mahabharata.

57. The religious group that carefully swept the ground before them as they walked to
avoid harming any invisible insects was the
a. Zoroastrians.
b. Jains.
c. Buddhists.
d. Hindus.
e. Sikhs.

58. The fundamental doctrine of Buddhism was known as the

a. Three Principles of the People.
b. Second Triad.
c. Four Noble Truths.
d. Ahimsa Path.
e. Path of Reincarnation.

59. The political world of the ancient Greeks

a. achieved unification under Pericles.
b. was a history of early, long-lasting centralized government.
c. stabilized after the conquest by Persia.
d. was very similar to that of Egypt.
e. usually consisted of independent, autonomous city-states.

60. The phrase pater familias refers to

a. the patriarchal nature of the Roman family.
b. the prolonged period of peace and stability beginning with the reign of
Augustus.
c. the concept of Jesus of Nazareth’s relationship to his god.
d. the position of Jupiter as the king of the Roman gods.
e. the central role of the Roman emperor in running the state.

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61. The fact that by the first century C.E. southeast Asian kings called themselves rajas
shows how they were influenced by the
a. Indians.
b. Chinese.
c. Persians.
d. Romans.
e. Japanese.

62. With the collapse in political order after the fall of the Han empire,
a. the Song Dynasty ushered in an era of prosperity.
b. Christianity became one of the most important religions in China.
c. Daoism and Buddhism became much more popular.
d. Hindu thought began to have a profoundly important influence in China.
e. religions of every variety were persecuted and suppressed.

63. The mixture of secular and religious authority that marked Constantine’s reign as well
as that of the Byzantine emperors is known as
a. Byzantion.
b. caesaropapism.
c. corpus iuris civilis.
d. secularism.
e. divine right rule.

64. In a disaster from which the Byzantine empire never really recovered, Constantinople
was sacked in 1204 by the
a. Fourth Crusade.
b. Saljuq Turks.
c. Ottoman Turks.
d. Sasanids.
e. largest Arab force ever sent against any city.

65. What new industry, transmitted to the Islamic world from China, was introduced
during the Abbasid period?
a. steel production.
b. paper manufacture.
c. bronze production.
d. textile production.
e. iron production.

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66. How was the role of women in the Islamic world influenced by the Arabic conquest
of Mesopotamia and Persia?
a. Female infanticide was declared illegal.
b. Islamic society began to allow women the right to divorce.
c. Polygamy was outlawed.
d. Islamic society became more patriarchal.
e. A fertility goddess rose to challenge Allah.

67. Which of the following factors did NOT help explain the increased agricultural
production of Europe during the high middle ages?
a. the expansion of arable land.
b. government financial support.
c. the use of new tools.
d. the introduction of new crops.
e. the introduction of new technology.

68. Which one of the following factors was NOT one of the foundations of Mali’s power?
a. control over trans-Saharan trade.
b. domination of the Indian Ocean.
c. a strong cavalry.
d. a series of powerful kings.
e. use of Arabian scholars and bureaucrats.

69. Historians once used the term feudalism to refer to

a. a strong, centralized political order.
b. the Byzantine religious world.
c. the Islamic bureaucratic system that dominated for over five hundred years.
d. the class of highly trained Confucian officials.
e. the political and social order of medieval Europe.

70. The code of conduct of the Medieval Japanese warrior known as a Samurai was
known as
a. hara-kiri.
b. bushido.
c. nara.
d. shogun.
e. kamakura.

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