Review 1
Paleolithic/Neolithic
Early River Civilizations
Classical Civs
Practice Questions come from all the exams from January 2010-January 2014
Students should choose four or five earlier regents to review the questions related to
this period
What is my job
• Economist – studies scarcity of goods and natural
resources and how people obtains their
wants/needs (ex – traditional, manorialism,
mercantalism, capitalism/market)
• Archaeologist – studies the artifacts of ancient
civilizations
• Anthropologist – studies how man interrelates
with each other and/or develops (physical,
cultural, social)
• Geographers– studies how man has populated
the earth and adapted it for his needs
June 2011
1. An economist who focused on ancient
societies
would most likely study the
(1) development of trade
(2) evolution of family patterns
(3) effect of fire on the lives of the people
(4) role of religion in river valley civilizations
August 2010
2. An economist is a social scientist who focuses on
the study of the
(1) development of spiritual practices
(2) establishment of legal systems
(3) creation and implementation of social class
systems
(4) production and exchange of goods and
services
August 2010
• Analyzing the design of a Shang bronze pot
• Deciphering the writing on the Rosetta Stone
• Examining the fabric of a Japanese kimono
3. These actions are most often performed by
(1) a political scientist
(3) a sociologist
(2) a geographer
(4) an archaeologist
June 2011
4. Knowing the latitude of a location would be
most helpful in determining
(1) language
(3) population
(2) temperature
(4) time
June 2011
…The girl and two other children were left on a
mountaintop to succumb [fall victim] to the cold
as offerings to the gods, according to the
archaeologists who found the mummified
remains in Argentina in 1999….
— “Frozen Inca Mummy Goes On Display,”
National Geographic News,
September 11, 2007
5. This passage best illustrates the role of archaeologists in
(1) interpreting evidence
(2) challenging customs
(3) classifying artifacts
(4) planning expeditions
June 2010
6. Which document is considered a primary
source?
(1) encyclopedia article
(2) modern textbook
(3) biography
(4) personal correspondence
January 2010
7. Which example best represents a primary
source?
(1) a 20th-century novel about events leading up
to the French Revolution
(2) film footage taken during the liberation of
Nazi concentration camps
(3) an interview with an expert on the fall of the
Roman Empire
(4) a lecture on the impact of the African slave
trade on South America
Paleolithic
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a
trademark used herein under license.
• Nomads (hunter-gatherers) followed herds (migrate)
• Began in Africa – East African Rift Valley
• Mary Leakey (anthropologist) discovered some of early
hominid (human-like primate) remains
• Migrated to Americas across Bering Strait
June 2012
8. Some archaeologists believe the earliest
human presence in the Americas is associated
with the
(1) migration of nomads across the Bering Strait
(2) exploration of the Caribbean by Europeans
(3) movement of tribes during the Bantu
migration
(4) journey of traders along the Silk Roads
Neolithic
• 10,000 – due to glacial retreat and
wooly mammoth dying out.
• Domestication of plants and animals
• Permanent settlements
(urbanization) along rivers for fertile
soil
• Increased populations
• New technology – irrigation, pottery,
stone farm tools, writing
• New social hierarchy – priest-kings
(theocracies)
• Polytheistic religions
• Traditional economy (bartering)
August 2011
9. What is a major feature of a traditional
economy?
(1) nationalizing foreign-owned businesses
(2) determining prices using a free market
(3) establishing quotas based on five-year plans
(4) bartering for goods and services
August 2010
10.
June 2012
• 11
June 2010
12. Which Neolithic Revolution development
led to the other three?
(1) complex civilizations
(2) surplus of food
(3) division of labor
(4) domestication of plants and animals
June 2011
13. Which statement about the Neolithic Revolution is an
opinion rather than a fact?
(1) Early peoples made greater cultural advancements
than did people of later civilizations.
(2) The Neolithic Revolution resulted in changes
for nomadic peoples.
(3) New technology was developed during the Neolithic
Revolution.
(4) Agricultural developments resulted in the
establishment of permanent settlements.
January 2012
14. The Neolithic Revolution was a turning point in
history because
(1) factories began to use assembly-line techniques
(2) new inventions led to overseas exploration
(3) alternatives to hunting and gathering developed
(4) the use of chemical fertilizers increased
agricultural production
January 2011
15. In which economic system used by early
civilizations are decisions about the distribution
of goods based primarily on customs, beliefs,
and habits?
(1) mixed
(2) free-market
(3) traditional
(4) command
January 2011
16. The Neolithic Revolution is often considered a
turning point in history because
(1) city dwellers learned to control fire
(2) societies became more nomadic
(3) nuclear families evolved into extended families
(4) permanent settlements developed in river
valleys
January 2011
17. The best definition of subsistence
agriculture is
(1) supplying crops for overseas exports
(2) bartering crops for manufactured goods
(3) storing surplus food in case of famine
(4) producing just enough food for a family’s use
January 2010
Throughout history, many changes have occurred in the way food is produced.
Some of the major changes occurred during the Neolithic Revolution,
Agrarian (Agricultural) Revolution, and the Green Revolution. These changes
in food production had political, social, and economic effects on societies and
regions.
Task:
Select two food production revolutions mentioned in the historical context
and
for each
• Describe the change in food production during that revolution
• Discuss political, social, and/or economic effects the change in food
production had on society or a region
January 2010
18. The Indus and Huang He (Yellow) rivers are
both closely associated with
(1) border disputes
(2) sacred biblical sites
(3) cradles of early civilization
(4) oil discoveries
August 2013
19. One way in which the ancient Sumerians,
Egyptians, and Mayas are similar is that these
civilizations developed
(1) irrigation systems
(2) iron weapons
(3) wheeled vehicles
(4) block printing systems
August 2012
20. Which geographic feature did the earliest
civilizations in Egypt, India, and China have in
common?
(1) mountains that provided protection from
invasion
(2) rivers that increased the fertility of the land
by flooding
(3) vast forests that supplied lumber for building
(4) tropical climates that included monsoons
Mesopotamia Sumerians
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Competitive city-states
Ziggurats (temples)
Cuneiform writing – Epic of Gilgamesh
Irrigation (rivers flood erratically)
Math based on 60
Queen Puabi had human sacrifices
Destroyed easily by Akkadians – no natural barriers
January 2011
21. Why is Southeast Asia considered a
crossroads?
(1) Large deposits of oil are available.
(2) A number of trade routes intersect.
(3) A single culture is dominant.
(4) Rivers serve as highways.
January 2011
22. Which name identifies the region located
between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers?
(1) Cape of Good Hope
(2) Sinai Peninsula
(3) Mesopotamia
(4) Horn of Africa
August 2011
23. The development of which early civilization
was influenced most directly by the Tigris River,
the Zagros Mountains, and the Syrian Desert?
(1) Chinese
(3) Egyptian
(2) Maya
(4) Mesopotamian
Aug 2012
24. The ancient Sumerians modified their
environment to increase food production by
(1) building terraces
(2) removing rain forests
(3) digging irrigation canals
(4) developing chinampas
Jan 2013
25.Which river system is found in Mesopotamia?
(1) Nile River
(2) Yellow River
(3) Tigris and Euphrates rivers
(4) Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers
August 2010
26. One way in which The Epic of Gilgamesh, The
Odyssey, and The Mah¯abh¯arata are similar is that they
are
(1) sets of written legal principles that spell out the rights
of citizens
(2) stories that are tied to monotheistic religious beliefs
(3) paintings that depict heroes and cultural values
(4) works of literature that give historians information
about early civilizations
June 2011
Theme: Technology
Throughout history, societies have developed significant technological
innovations. These technological innovations have had both positive and negative
effects on a society or on humankind.
Task:
Select two technological innovations and for each
• Discuss why the technological innovation was important during a specific time
period
• Discuss the positive and/or negative effects this technological innovation had
on a society or on humankind
You may use any technological innovation from your study of global history. Some
suggestions you might wish to consider include irrigation systems, stirrup, astrolabe,
printing
press, f
Hammurabi’s
Law Code
• “Eye for Eye” – retributive
punishment.
• Based on social classes
• Provides an ethical code of
behavior that can be
consistently applied
• Handed down from heaven –
can not change “carved in
stone”
• “If a son has struck his father,
they shall cut off his hand” strict
January 2010
27. The Code of Hammurabi and Chinese legalism
both rely on the idea that
(1) governments must provide their people with
rights
(2) harsh laws are needed to control society
(3) all subjects are equal under the law
(4) religion and government must be brought
closer together
June 2013
28. One way in which Hammurabi and Justinian
are similar is that they successfully
(1) established public education systems
(2) codified the laws of their empire
(3) instituted democratic governments
(4) separated church and state
June 2011
29. The Code of Hammurabi and the Twelve
Tables of Rome are examples of
(1) written laws
(2) religious rules of conduct
(3) economic sanctions
(4) early constitutions
August 2011
• If a son has struck his father, they shall cut off his hand.
• If a seignior has destroyed the eye of a member of the
aristocracy, they shall destroy his eye.
• If he has broken another seignior’s bone, they
shall break his bone.
30. Which document contains these statements?
(1) Ten Commandments
(2) Code of Hammurabi
(3) Edicts of Asoka
(4) Twelve Tables
June 2012
31. The Code of Hammurabi of Babylon and the
Justinian Code of the Byzantine Empire served
functions similar to the
(1) Ziggurats of the Sumerians
(2) Buddhist stupas
(3) Maya hieroglyphics
(4) Twelve Tables of the Romans
January 2012
32.
Which pair of leaders are
associated with the region
shown in dark gray on this
map?
(1) Zheng He and Deng Xiaoping
(2) Miguel Hidalgo and Augusto
Pinochet
(3) Hammurabi and Saddam
Hussein
(4) Catherine the Great and
Vladimir Putin
Egyptians - Nile
• Ruled by Pharaoh in dynasties – Old
Kingdom (Giza pyramids), New
Kingdoms (Valley of the Kings)
• Afterlife is important
(mummification, Book of Dead,
Osiris)
• Hieroglyphics (Rosetta Stone
translates)
• Some pharaohs to know: Khufu
(Great Pyramid), Hatshepsut (woman
w/beard), Akhenaten (monotheistic),
Tut (unrobbed), Ramses (fought the
Sea People)
January 2011
33. One similarity between the Nile River valley
and
savanna lands in Africa is that they both
(1) served as major barriers to the movement of
people and goods
(2) provided necessary resources for settlement
(3) are located on the western side of the continent
(4) had little effect on the lives of the people who
lived in these regions
January 2014
Historical Context:
Throughout history, people have changed their environments to meet
their needs. These changes have had both positive and negative
effects on people, societies, and regions. Examples include the
development of irrigation in ancient Egypt, the construction of
chinampas by the Aztecs, and the mining of coal in Great Britain
during the Industrial Revolution.
Select two changes people have made to their environment
mentioned in the
historical context and for each
• Explain why this change to their environment was needed
• Discuss how this change affected people, a society, and/or a region
June 2012
Theme: Human and Physical Geography
Throughout history, geographic features have influenced the development of
civilizations and regions. Geographic features have both promoted and
limited interactions with other civilizations and regions.
Task:
Select two different geographic features and for each
• Discuss how this geographic feature influenced the development of a
specific civilization or region
• Discuss how this geographic feature promoted and/or limited the
interaction of this civilization or region with another civilization or region
You may use any geographic feature from your study of global history and
geography.
Some suggestions you might wish to consider include Nile River, Atlantic
Ocean, Himalayas, Sahara Desert, Great Northern Plain, location of Japan,
Mediterranean Sea, Russian steppes, Brazilian rain forest, and Indian Ocean
monsoons.
Indus River
• Mohenjo-Dara and
Harappa have urban
planning
• Socialism/communal living
with Great Bath and public
granary
• Supposedly defeated by
Aryans
Geography of India • Monsoon rains
• Indus & Ganges River
• Deccan Plateau
June 2013
34. Which statement about the early Indus River
valley civilization is an opinion rather than a fact?
(1) Farmers grew a surplus of barley, wheat, and dates.
(2) The Indus people developed a system of writing.
(3) Planned cities indicated a use of technology.
(4) The Indus city-states were the most developed of the
time period.
January 2012
35. The Thar Desert, Ganges River, and Deccan
Plateau are all geographic features of
(1) Japan
(2) China
(3) India
(4) Indonesia
August 2010
36. The term monsoons can be defined as
(1) seasonal winds
(2) sand deposits
(3) ocean currents
(4) mountain avalanches
Classical India
• Hinduism – caste system
(karma, dharma,
reincarnation), polytheistic
• Mauryan Empire – Hindu
until Asoka converts to
Buddhism (establishes rest
stops, laws, period of
peace)
June 2010
37. In the traditional Hindu caste system and in
the social hierarchy of colonial Latin America,
the status of a person was usually determined
by
(1) education
(3) birth
(2) wealth
(4) power
August 2012
38. Believers of Hinduism are expected to
(1) fulfill their dharma for a favorable reincarnation
(2) complete a pilgrimage to Mecca
(3) obey the Ten Commandments
(4) follow the Eightfold Path to achieve enlightenment
January 2012
39. Which concept is most closely associated with this map of
Asia?
(1) nonalignment
(3) colonization
(2) urbanization
(4) cultural diffusion
August 2011
40. Which religion includes the Four Noble
Truths, the Eightfold Path, and nirvana?
(1) Buddhism
(3) Judaism
(2) Hinduism
(4) Christianity
Classical India (cont)
• Gupta – “Golden Age”
– Restores Hinduism
– Math and science
achievements (pi, zero,
decimals, Arabic numbers)
– Promoted art and
literature
June 2013
41. Which geographic feature would have most
likely hindered the expansion of the Guptas into
what is modern-day China?
• (1) Thar Desert
(3) Himalaya Mountains
• (2) Deccan Plateau (4) Bay of Bengal
Jan 2013
41. Which body of water is located between
Southwest Asia and Southeast Asia?
(1) Pacific Ocean
(2) Caribbean Sea
(3) Indian Ocean
(4) Black Sea
Jan 2013
Creation of colorful murals in the Ajanta caves
•Development of decimal system and concept
of zero
Trade with Persia and east African cities
42. These accomplishments occurred during the
(1) Han dynasty
(3) Tang dynasty
(2) Gupta Empire
(4) Maurya Empire
August 2012
43. Which civilization best completes the title of
this outline?
(1) Ghana (3) Song
(2) Khmer (4) Gupta
June 2011
44. The concept of zero, the expansion of the
caste system, and the creation of the decimal
system are most closely associated with the
(1) Inca Empire
(2) Tokugawa shogunate
(3) Song dynasty
(4) Gupta Empire
June 2012
45. One way in which the ancient city-state of
Athens and the Gupta Empire are similar is that
both
(1) allowed universal suffrage
(2) developed matriarchal societies
(3) promoted art and literature
(4) established plantation agriculture
August 2011
46.Which geographic factor affected the
development of the Gupta Empire?
(1) volcanoes
(2) permafrost
(3) monsoons
(4) island location
August 201
• Preserved Hindu traditions
• Produced fine poems and drama
• Made advances in mathematics, science, and
Medicine
47. These achievements refer to contributions of
the
(1) Gupta Empire
(3) Greek city-states
(2) Persian Empire
(4) Tang dynasty
Classical China
• Ethnocentric - belief your culture is superior (because of
geographic isolation)
• Mandate of Heaven
• Oracle Bones – ancestors important
• Confucianism (5 Relationships, filial piety, Analects), Legalism,
and Daoism emerge in 500s
• Shi Huangdi (Qin) – centralized government, legalism,
uniformity of writing, Great Wall, terracotta warriors
August 2011
50. Which geographic feature has helped isolate
China?
(1) Andes Mountains
(2) Kalahari Desert
(3) Himalaya Mountains
(4) Great Rift Valley
August 2010
51. Which geographic feature served as a
barrier that protected ancient China and was
used as an
invasion route by the Aryans into ancient India?
(1) deserts
(3) mountains
(2) rivers
(4) plateaus
August 2010
52. Which statement about China is a fact rather than
an opinion?
(1) Flooding was the worst disaster to affect ancient
Chinese civilizations.
(2) The Mandate of Heaven was an idea developed in
ancient China.
(3) Early Chinese civilizations were the most important
civilizations in the world.
(4) Dynastic governments were highly effective in China.
January 2010
53. The Code of Hammurabi and Chinese legalism
both rely on the idea that
(1) governments must provide their people with
rights
(2) harsh laws are needed to control society
(3) all subjects are equal under the law
(4) religion and government must be brought
closer together
August 2011
54. The rule of Shi Huangdi, legalism, and the
tomb of terra cotta soldiers are most closely
associated with the
(1) Maurya Empire (3) Persian Empire
(2) Qin dynasty
(4) Hellenistic culture
June 2011
55. Which Chinese philosophy best completes
this graphic organizer?
• (1) Maoism
(3) legalism
• (2) Daoism
(4) Confucianism
January 2011
56. Filial piety and the five relationships are
most often associated with
(1) Hinduism
(2) Daoism
(3) animism
(4) Confucianism
January 2013
57. Oracle bones, Daoism, and the Mandate of
Heaven are all associated with early civilizations
in
(1) Egypt
(3) India
(2) Russia
(4) China
January 2012
58. These photographs indicate the people of China and the
people of ancient Peru modified their environment to
(1) create effective trade routes
(2) increase the amount of land available for agriculture
(3) move large quantities of water into cities
(4) provide an effective defense
August 2011
59. Use of terracing is an example of a society’s
reaction to
(1) religious beliefs
(2) social stratification
(3) geographic conditions
(4) political situations
June 2012
60. What is one way in which animism, Shinto,
and Daoism are similar?
(1) emphasis on harmony with nature
(2) monotheistic belief systems
(3) belief in the idea of nirvana
(4) reliance on the teachings of the Vedas
June 2013
61. The Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall
were both intended to
(1) halt the spread of communism
(2) isolate unpopular governments
(3) limit the movement of peoples
(4) keep people from smuggling illegal goods
June 2012
Historical Context:
Throughout history, autocratic leaders have exercised authority over
their countries and the lives of their people. The actions of autocratic
leaders have both helped and hurt their countries and their peoples.
Examples of such leaders include Emperor Shi Huangdi, Czar Peter the
Great, and King Louis XIV.
Select two leaders mentioned in the historical context and for each
• Describe actions taken by the leader that show this individual was an
autocrat
• Discuss the extent to which this leader’s use of autocratic power
helped and/or hurt his country or his people
Classical China - continued
• Han (200 BC – 200 AD)
– Silk Road established (golden age of trade)
– Paper and Silk
– Emperor Wudi has bureaucracy with civil service test on
Confucianism
– Collapse due to invasion, Buddhism entering, peasant
revolt
January 2014
61. Which belief system was the basis for the
civil service exams given during the Han, Tang,
and Song dynasties?
(1) legalism
(3) Buddhism
(2) Daoism
(4) Confucianism
January 2012
62. Which philosophy is most closely associated
with the development of the Chinese civil
service system?
(1) legalism
(3) Daoism
(2) Buddhism
(4) Confucianism
August 2013
63. Trade along the Silk Roads and the transSaharan trade routes resulted in
(1) elimination of all traditional beliefs
(2) a movement toward decolonization
(3) the Columbian exchange
(4) cultural diffusion between different societies
Southwest Asian Empires
• Assyrian – capital at Nineveh, forced Jews to relocate
“Babylonian Captivity” – located in earlier “Fertile
Crescent”
• Persians – 4 capitals, road system, satraps to govern
provinces, pony express
June 2012
64. Based on the information shown on this map, in which region
was the Middle Kingdom of Assyria located?
(1) southwest Asia (2) western Africa (3) South America
(4) western Europe
65. The Middle Kingdom of Assyria was located in an area also
known as the
(1) subcontinent (2) Holy Land (3) Fertile Crescent (4) rooftop of the
world
Geography of Greece
• Lots of natural
harbors – good for
trade and creating
oversea colonies
• Lots of mountains –
divides Greece into
independent citystates
• Lacked good
farmland and rivers
January 2011
66. Which geographic feature most directly
influenced the development of Greek citystates?
(1) deserts
(3) vast plains
(2) mountainous terrain
(4) monsoons
Classical Greece
• Polis (city-states)
– Athens (democracy, reformers like Cleisthenes w/ostracism
and Pericles) known for philosophers like Socrates and
promoted art and temples like Parthenon on Acropolis
– Sparta (military state – oligarchy with helot slaves)
• Major Wars (Persian War – Battles of Marathon and
Salamis w/triremes and Peloponnesian War – plague
interrupts)
• Culture – Olympic games, Zeus et al.,
doric/corinthian/ionian columns, theaters – drama like
Sophocles
Jan 2014
67. What was one of the most important
contributions of the Greek city-state of Athens?
(1) development of direct democracy
(2) diffusion of a monotheistic belief system
(3) promotion of the equality of all humans
(4) creation of a writing system using
hieroglyphics
August 2013
68. Which geographic factor contributed to the
formation of independent city-states in ancient
Greece?
(1) tropical rainforests
(2) fertile farmland
(3) navigable rivers
(4) mountainous topography
August 2013
…We give our obedience to those whom we put
in positions of authority, and we obey the laws
themselves, especially those which are for the
protection of the oppressed, and those unwritten
laws which it is an acknowledged shame to
break.…
— Pericles, quoted in History of the Peloponnesian War
69. In this quotation, Pericles is praising Athenian
(1) civic values
(2) artistic creativity
(3) military strengths
(4) commercial success
Jan 2012
70. Which statement about ancient Greece is an
opinion rather than a fact?
(1) Mountainous terrain was an obstacle to Greek
political unity.
(2) The Spartan culture placed an emphasis on military
skills.
(3) Athens granted voting rights to male citizens only.
(4) Greek architecture was superior to Persian
architecture.
January 2012
Theme: Change—Individuals
Throughout history, various circumstances have led individuals to develop or
modify ideas. These ideas have often affected societies.
Task:
Select two individuals from your study of global history and for each
• Describe the historical circumstances that led this individual to develop or
modify an idea
• Explain an action taken by this individual as a result of this idea
• Discuss how this individual’s idea affected a society
You may use any individual from your study of global history and geography.
Some suggestions you might wish to consider include Pericles, Martin Luther,
Queen Elizabeth I,
August 2013
Theme: Conflict—Armed Conflict
Task: Select two armed conflicts and for each
• Describe the historical circumstances leading to this armed
conflict
• Discuss the ways in which this armed conflict affected a
specific group of people, a country, and/or a region
You may use any examples of armed conflict from your study
of global history and geography. Some suggestions you might
wish to consider include the Peloponnessian War
Hellenistic Greece
• Alexander the Great created by taking over Greece and Persia
• Cultural diffusion with many scientific /mathematical
achievements – Hippocratic Oath, Pythagorean Theorem
• Realism replaces heroic idealism
• Did not have a successor so civil war
June 2010
71. One way in which the actions of Alexander
the Great, Saladin, and Shaka Zulu are similar is
that each implemented
(1) military strategies to defeat opponents
(2) constitutions to define political powers
(3) policies to increase religious persecution
(4) legal changes to protect human rights
Classical Romans
• Republic – Senate (patricians
led by 2 consuls) and
tribunes (plebeians), Julius
Caesar (1st triumvirate then
dictator for life), slave revolt
(gladiator – Spartacus)
• Law of 12 Tables – “innocent
until proven guilty”
• Augustus – 1st Emperor “Pax
Romana” – golden age,
expanded by legion (built
aqueducts, roads, forts,
walls), Coliseum and
Pantheon, Vergil poetry,
Pompeii & Herculaneum
January 2010
72. A geographic similarity between Italy and
India is that both of these countries are located
(1) on peninsulas
(2) on archipelagos
(3) between two oceans
(4) south of the equator
August 2013
73. At the height of its power, which ancient
civilization controlled the entire coastal region
surrounding the Mediterranean Sea?
(1) Phoenician (3) Roman
(2) Persian (4) Carthaginian
June 2010
• Romans destroy the temple in Jerusalem.
• British officials partition India.
• Hutus and Tutsis fight in Rwandan civil war.
74. One way in which these events are similar is that
each resulted in the
(1) establishment of uniform legal codes
(2) emigration of people from their homelands
(3) intervention of coalition military forces
(4) acceptance of new political boundaries
Collapse of Romans
• Trajan expands too far (Hadrian builds walls)
• Diocletian divides creates tetrarchy
• Constantine reunites – uses Christianity to do so (Edict of
Milan)
• Latifundia (large farms) uses too much slave labor – poor
independent farmers out of work
Collapse of Romans (cont)
• Hire German mercenaries
• Debasement of Coins
• Political upheavals – legions loyal to military leader
not emperor, Commodus thought he was Hercules
• Invasions by Huns, Visigoths, Vandals, etc.
June 2013
75. What was one reason for the decline of
both the Han dynasty and the western Roman
Empire?
(1) outbreak of war between religious groups
(2) inability to force back foreign invaders
(3) efforts of the middle class to gain power
(4) lack of a common currency
August 2012
76. Which factor contributed to the fall of the Han
dynasty, the fall of the Roman Empire, and the
fall of the Abbasid Empire?
(1) invasions by nomadic peoples from Central Asia
(2) demands for religious freedom by Christians
(3) long periods of drought that led to isolation
(4) dependence on slaves to produce manufactured
goods
Theme: Change—Collapse of Government
January
2013
The sudden death of a ruler, a defeat in war, or a successful revolution has
often led to the collapse of a government. Political, social, and economic
changes have occurred as a result of the collapse of a government.
Task:
Select two situations where the collapse of a government has led to
significant changes in a country or region and for each
• Describe the historical circumstances that led to the collapse of a
government
• Discuss the political, social, and/or economic changes that occurred as a
result of the collapse
You may use any situation from your study of global history and geography in
which the collapse of a government led to significant changes in a country or
region. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include collapse of the
Roman Empire, collapse of Louis XVI’s government,
August 2012
Theme: Technology
Throughout history, existing technology has been modified or replaced by new
technological innovations. These new technological innovations have had various
effects on societies and the world.
Task:
Select two technological innovations and for each
• Describe the existing technology that was replaced by this new technological
innovation and how this new innovation changed the existing technology
• Discuss the effects this new technological innovation has had on a society or
the world
You may use any technological innovation from your study of global history and
geography. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include aqueducts, gunpowder,
printing press, caravel,