Examples of How to do Test Corrections
One similarity between the Sepoy Rebellion in India and the Boxer Rebellion in China is that
both were
(1) religious reform movements
(2) reactions to the opium trade
(3) attempts to end foreign interference
(4) successful revolts against absolute monarchs
Explanation: The Sepoy Rebellion (the Sepoy Mutiny) began in 1857 as Indians were
developing a sense of a national identity. Indians resented the presence of the British in India
and the insensibility of the British to their religious practices. Sepoys or Indian soldiers serving
under British command rebelled against the British when rumors surfaced that the cartridges
for their guns needed to be greased with pork and beef fat, a violation of religious dietary rules
(Hindus - no beef and Muslims - no pork). While the rebellion was eventually put down, the
British government forced the East India Company to relinquish control and India became a
British colony. However, the Sepoy Rebellion marked the beginning of India's long journey
towards independence. Likewise, the Boxer Rebellion in China was an attempt to remove the
foreigners from China. The Boxer Rebellion was a response to the humiliating treaties the
Chinese government was forced to sign and to the "carving up" of China into spheres of
influence. The Rebellion began with a series of attacks on Chinese Christians, then on foreigners
in the interior, and finally on foreign diplomats in Peking (Beijing). While the Boxer Rebellion
was eventually ended by an international force, it, too, revealed a clear dissatisfaction with
foreign rule.
The Question:
Filial piety and the five relationships are most often associated with
(1) Hinduism
(3) animism
(2) Daoism
(4) Confucianism
Answer: Confucianism
Explanation: Confucius (551 – 479 B.C.E.) was a Chinese philosopher during a time of warfare
and disorder. Confucius wanted to restore social order and harmony. He believed that there
were five important relationships in society: Emperor and subject, Husband and wife, Father
and son, Elder brother and younger brother, and Friend and friend. In each relationship,
Confucius believed there was a superior and an inferior. The superior had to set a good
example and protect the inferior. The inferior had to obey. Confucius also believed in filial
piety. Filial piety is the belief that respect must be given to parents and ancestors. Confucianism
eventually became the official philosophy of many Chinese dynasties.
The Question:
The slogan “Blood and Iron” and a united Germany are most closely associated with
(1) Prince Metternich
(3) Camillo Cavour
(2) Simón Bolívar
(4) Otto von Bismarck
Answer: Otto von Bismarck
Explanation: Otto von Bismarck (1815-98) was responsible for the expansion of the Kingdom of
Prussia into the German Empire. As the Prime Minister of Prussia, the most powerful German
state, Otto von Bismarck used a policy of “Blood and Iron” to unify Germany. Prussia was able
to combine the German states into a unified Germany through military aggression. Bismarck
was a nationalist who changed the course of world history. The Regents frequently compares
Bismarck to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the man who helped to achieve Italian unification and
another prominent nationalist.
The Question:
The Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights led the English
government to develop a political system in which
(1) rulers were responsible to the people
(2) religious authorities controlled the lawmaking process
(3) the power of the monarch came from God
(4) the individual was denied a trial by jury
Answer: Rulers were responsible to the people
Explanation: In England, a unique form of monarchy developed – limited monarchy. In limited
monarchy, the monarch or king shared his power with Parliament or the English legislative
body. This movement towards limited monarchy occurred over time. It began with the
medieval document known as the Magna Carta which limited the power of the king. The king
could no longer do whatever he wished. He could no longer act as an absolute ruler. This was
followed by other documents and even a civil war. Ultimately, the English came to believe that
the ruler was responsible to his people and that individuals had certain rights and liberties.
The Question:
Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta are best known for
(1) exploring the Western Hemisphere
(2) leading religious movements
(3) opening trade between Africa and Japan
(4) providing extensive information about lands and people
Answer: Providing extensive information about lands and people
Explanation: It is believed that Marco Polo traveled the Silk Roads and visited Kublai Khan’s
China. Kublai Khan’s dynasty, the Mongol dynasty of China, was known as the Yuan Dynasty
and it lasted from 1271 to 1368. In his travels, Marco Polo stated that he had seen in China
printed paper money, broad streets, police patrols at night, public carriages, drains under the
streets, and landscaped roadsides – all of which he had never encountered in Europe. Marco
Polo’s travels greatly increased European interest in China. Another famous traveler also visited
China. This famous Muslim traveler from the Middle East, Ibn Battuta, mentions China in his
travel journal too. Ibn Battuta was in Beijing in the 1340s. Over a period of 30 years, Ibn
Battuta had traveled some 75,000 miles throughout the Middle East, southern and eastern
Asia, and Africa. He mostly traveled throughout Dar al-Islam (the House of Islam).
The Question:
Which geographic feature most directly influenced the development of Greek city-states?
(1) deserts
(3) vast plains
(2) mountainous terrain
(4) monsoons
Answer: Mountainous terrain
Explanation: The ancient Greeks developed separate political units partly because of the
geographic isolation of the Greek countryside. The Greeks settled in the valleys where fertile soil
was available, but in doing so they were completely cut off from their neighbors by the rugged
nature of the intervening terrain, the mountainous terrain. Yes, mountains separated the
Greek city-states. By the way, the Greek word for city-state was “Polis”.
The Question:
Between 1923 and 1938, which leader instituted a modernization program in Turkey?
(1) Shah Reza Pahlavi
(3) Kemal Atatürk
(2) Jawaharlal Nehru
(4) Ho Chi Minh
Answer: Kemal Atatürk
Explanation: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was a Turkish nationalist and the first President of the
Republic of Turkey. Atatürk set about implementing radical reforms to change the face of
Turkey and created a modern, westward-looking country. Education was taken out of
religious hands and made universal; women were granted rights including the franchise; the fez
and purdah were outlawed; Islam was disestablished as the state religion; Islamic law was
replaced by a new code based on European models; polygamy became illegal; the Arabic
alphabet was outlawed and replaced by the Latin one; family names were adopted. Kemal
took the name of Atatürk or father of the Turks. Turkey had once been part of the now
defunct Ottoman Empire, the “Gunpowder Empire” that had once ruled the eastern
Mediterranean Sea.
The Question:
Which leader’s policies included glasnost and perestroika?
(1) Fidel Castro
(3) Mikhail Gorbachev
(2) Nikita Khrushchev
(4) Deng Xiaoping
Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev
Explanation: In 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader. To improve social and
economic conditions, Gorbachev developed two new programs. One, perestroika
(restructuring), was a program to make the Soviet economy more efficient. Citizens gained the
right to set up their own businesses. Heads of large factories were told to make their plants
profitable. Another reform, glasnost (openness), granted increased freedom of speech and the
press to Soviet citizens. But in spite of his efforts, Russia, Ukraine, and the 13 other republics that
had once formed the Soviet Union declared their independence. At the end of 1991, Gorbachev
resigned as president.
The Question:
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
Answer: Producing just enough food for a family’s use
Explanation: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines subsistence as “the minimum necessary to
support life” and “a source or means of obtaining the necessities of life.” To subsist, therefore, is
to acquire the necessities of life. But notice, to obtain necessities does not mean surplus. Indeed
the subsistence farmer has no surplus. Such a farmer only produces enough for the family’s
use. There is nothing extra to trade. There is no opportunity for profit. The subsistence farmer
is often barely surviving. In fact, it may be helpful to think of subsistence farming as survival
farming. Of course, this question is primarily a vocabulary question and therefore, reminds
learners of the importance of increasing vocabulary.
The Question:
An objective of the European Union (EU) for the early 21st century is to
(1) withdraw from its military alliances
(2) further integrate its economic system
(3) establish a nuclear buffer zone
(4) limit production of alternative fuels
Answer: Further integrate its economic system
Explanation: The European Union traces its roots back to 1957, when six nations of Western
Europe organized the European Community (EC), or Common Market. The Common Market’s
goal was to encourage economic cooperation among the major non-Communist industrial
countries of the region. Over the years, the EC moved beyond the status of a common
market. In 1992, the members signed a treaty in the Dutch city of Maastricht that changed the
EC into the European Union as of 1994. TheMaastricht Treaty removed almost all barriers to
the movement of people, goods, and services across national borders in Western Europe. The
treaty also committed members to establish a single European currency, the euro, by 2002, and
to coordinate foreign and defense policies. Today, an increasing number of countries from
Eastern Europe are seeking admission into the EU.
The Question:
Enlightenment thinkers encouraged the improvement of society through the
(1) teachings of the church
(2) use of reason
(3) development of absolutism
(4) establishment of a rigid social hierarchy
Answer: Use of reason
Explanation: It is important to remember that the Enlightenment is also referred to as the Age
of Reason. The Enlightenment was a period of skepticism toward tradition, secularization of
thought, a new attitude toward government, and a profound belief in reason. Three writers
symbolized the Enlightenment – Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau – and their writings were
to have a profound influence on the fate of Europe. Voltaire (1694-1778) wrote for the new
bourgeois middle class. His main concern was freedom of thought. Around 1740, he began
preaching religious tolerance and crying out against bigotry, censorship, and the power of the
clergy. He also attacked superstition. Montesquieu developed an intricate system of separation
of powers and balance of power (and, in part, inspired the American constitution and the
American system of government with its legislative, executive, and judicial branches). Rousseau
(1712-1778) wrote the Social Contract in which he argued that governments were formed by an
agreement among the people themselves.
The Question:
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
Answer: Traditional
Explanation: There are four primary economic systems. An economic system determines what
goods and services are produced in a society, how those goods and services are produced, and
who consumes those goods and services. In a traditional economy, the oldest economic system,
tradition “answers” these fundamental questions. In other words, people do as their ancestors
had done. For example, sons perform the same jobs as their fathers. In a free market system,
individuals are free to buy and sell as they please. In a command economy, the government
makes all economic decisions. Finally, in a mixed economy, various elements of the other
economic systems are combined. Most modern economies are mixed. However, mixed
economies are “mixed” differently depending on what each society values.
The Question:
By closing Japanese harbors to most foreigners in the 1600s, the Tokugawa shogunate
attempted to
(1) protect Japan from European influence
(2) increase Japanese agricultural production
(3) eliminate Japan’s influence on Southeast Asia
(4) destroy traditional Japanese culture
Answer: Protect Japan from European influence
Explanation: In the early 1600s, the Tokugawa Shogunate claimed control of Japan and
attempted, until its downfall in 1868, to close the door to foreign influence and maintain the
domestic status quo. During the Tokugawa years, Japan was closed to the rest of the
world. Foreign trade was eliminated, except for a restricted Dutch port; Japanese were not
allowed to travel abroad; and those who lived overseas were not allowed to return. Christianity
was outlawed, and many Japanese Christians were martyred. Punishments for Christians who
would not renounce their faith were severe, including crucifixion. Ultimately, the Tokugawa
policy of isolationism lasted for over two hundred years until Commodore Perry, sailing for the
United States, “opened” Japan to trade. The Japanese opened their ports but also ended the
feudal system and restored the emperor to power. The Meiji Restoration which followed the
Tokugawa years set about modernizing and industrializing Japan.
The Question:
One way in which knights, samurai, and warlords are similar is that they all
(1) were traditional religious leaders
(2) occupied military posts in the Chinese Empire
(3) expelled the Moors from Spain
(4) held positions of power in feudal systems
Answer: Held positions of power in feudal systems
Explanation: Feudalism is a political and military system. In a feudal system, pledges of loyalty
are given in exchange for land. This means that land is exchanged for military
service. Typically, in a feudal system, decentralization occurs as the ruler is not strong enough to
maintain order and must enlist the support of powerful lords. With the collapse of the Western
Roman Empire, Europe entered a period of feudalism during the Middle Ages. Japan also
experienced a period of feudalism that began in the 1100s when the Japanese emperor lost
authority and a shogun or chief military general came to power. In Japan, the daimyo or
landowning class received land in exchange for promises of loyalty and military service. Of
course, in all feudal systems, warriors were very important. Knights were skilled soldiers in
Medieval Europe while Samurai were skilled warriors in Japan. Finally, Europe and Japan were
not the only nations to experience feudalism. Whenever a central government is weak,
feudalism can develop. In Chinese history, there were periods of weak dynasties and powerful
warlords. During these feudal periods, warlords exercised military and civil power over
particular regions.
The Question:
The term monsoons can be defined as
(1) seasonal winds
(2) sand deposits
(3) ocean currents
(4) mountain avalanches
Answer: Seasonal Winds
Explanation: Monsoons are seasonal winds. The summer monsoons in India and adjacent areas
are characterized by heavy rainfall. In fact, it might be helpful to think of monsoons in India as
the winds that bring the rains in the summer season. Of course, too much rain can lead to
flooding and not enough rain can lead to famine or starvation. Still, many Indians consider the
monsoons to be life. But it is always important to remember that monsoons are
winds. Monsoon winds helped early sailors in the Indian Ocean trade network. Sailors could use
the winds to help sail their vessels. Yes, monsoons are winds. Some monsoon winds are dry and
some monsoon winds are not. But all monsoons are seasonal winds.
The Question:
The leadership of Genghis Khan, the use of the stirrup, and excellent horsemanship skills
contributed directly to the
(1) collapse of Silk Road trade
(2) defeat of Tokugawa Japan
(3) beginning of European exploration
(4) rise of the Mongol Empire
Answer: Rise of the Mongol Empire
Explanation: The Mongols created the largest contiguous land empire ever seen in the history of
the world. In the 13th century, the nomadic Mongol horsemen of Central Asia were united by
Genghis Khan. The great Khan led his fierce warriors on a wave of conquest that lasted twenty
years. After the death of Genghis Khan, his descendants continued to rule vast parts of the
Eurasia, although in separate khanates or kingdoms. The Mongols were able to conquer a vast
empire because of their superb horsemanship which included the use of the stirrup. The
Mongols also created peace and security along the Silk Roads. Kublai Khan, a grandson of
Genghis Khan, established the Yuan Dynasty in China and was visited by a very impressed
Marco Polo. The Mongols were skilled and disciplined warriors who changed the history of
Eurasia for a time.
The Question:
Five-year plans and collectivization are most closely associated with
(1) Joseph Stalin
(2) Mikhail Gorbachev
(3) Adolf Hitler
(4) Deng Xiaoping
Answer: Joseph Stalin
Explanation: Joseph Stalin was the second dictator of the Soviet Union. After the death of Lenin
(1924), the leader of the Bolshevik Revolution (1917), Stalin outmaneuvered his primary
opponent, Leon Trotsky, to lead the Soviet Union. Stalin was a brutal dictator who imprisoned
political dissidents in gulags or labor camps in Siberia and executed his enemies during the
Great Purge of the Communist Party. Stalin also sought to fully industrialize the Soviet Union
through his Five-year plans. The first of his Five-year plans called for total industrial output to
increase by 250 percent in just five years. In order to bring about these increases, the
government took control of all industries. It also took the peasants’ land away. Peasants were
forced to work on big, government-owned farms called collective farms. Kulaks or wealthier
peasants tried to resist but were either executed or imprisoned. Yet collective farms were not
productive farms and a terrible famine ensued. Between 1932 and 1933, millions of people died
of starvation and diseases caused by malnutrition.
The Question:
One way in which the Great Leap Forward and the Four Modernizations are similar is that each
was an attempt to
(1) increase farm and factory output
(2) develop a democratic government
(3) strengthen economic ties with communist neighbors
(4) reduce the gap between rich and poor
Answer: Increase farm and factory output
Explanation: Mao Zedong was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party. The Communists
fought a civil war against Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalist Party. In 1949, when the Communists
won the civil war, Mao immediately set about to transform China economically, politically, and
socially. In 1958, Mao initiated the “Great Leap Forward" in an attempt to rapidly industrialize
China and establish farming collectives. Like Stalin’s Five-year Plans and his collectivization of
agriculture in the Soviet Union, Mao forced peasants to combine their lands in huge communes
or agricultural communities. In these communes, the state owned everything. The peasants
owned nothing. But strong peasant resistance to collectivization reduced output. Those who
protested were “reeducated” in prison camps or killed. Although industrial production did
increase somewhat, Mao was unable to modernize China as fast as he had promised. It was not
until the death of Mao and the rise to power of Deng Xiaoping that China became a great
industrial power. Unlike Mao Zedong, Deng introduced elements of capitalism or the free
market to China. In his “Four Modernizations,” Deng sought to transform agriculture, industry,
science and technology, and the military. In the field of industry, Deng gave limited freedom to
industry and permitted Western manufacturers to open factories in China. Chinese citizens
were also given more freedom in the marketplace. They were now encouraged to set up small
businesses. In agriculture, the government no longer forced peasants to work on large collective
farms. Instead, it allowed peasants to farm in small family units and decide which crops to
grow. Food production greatly increased.
The Question:
Mohandas Gandhi’s protests during India’s independence movement were often successful
because of his application of
(1) an appeasement policy
(2) civil disobedience
(3) traditional caste beliefs
(4) divide-and-conquer principles
Answer: Civil Disobedience
Explanation: Mohandas K. Gandhi was the nonviolent leader of India’s independence
movement. Gandhi (1869-1948) was a lawyer and became the head of the Indian National
Congress. Gandhi believed very strongly in nonviolence and encouraged many Indians to
practice passive resistance to British rule. Indians refused to buy or use British goods, serve in the
armed forces, pay taxes, or obey British law. Indeed civil disobedience is the refusal to obey
unjust laws in an effort to change laws. When Gandhi encouraged Indians to make salt in
violation of a British monopoly on salt production, he was encouraging civil
disobedience. Ultimately, nonviolent protesters believe that by revealing injustices, individuals
in power will recognize the harm they do and change. While the British imprisoned Gandhi
many times, they ultimately realized that India belonged to Indians and independence was
declared in 1947. But independence did not bring all that nationalists had hoped for. Bloody
riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out throughout India and finally to prevent further
bloodshed, the British and the Indians agreed to division of the subcontinent. Pakistan was
created for Indian Muslims while the greater portion of the subcontinent became the newly
independent Republic of India. Today, India is the world’s largest democracy.
The Question:
The policy of establishing colonies to gain wealth by controlling colonial trade is called
(1) socialism
(2) fascism
(3) mercantilism
(4) communism
Answer: Mercantilism
Explanation: Mercantilism was an economic theory. It was popular during the Age of
Exploration and the subsequent conquest of the Americas. According to mercantilist theory,
colonies existed only to enrich their founding, or mother, country. In other words, colonies
existed for the benefit of the mother country. The colonies sent to the mother country raw
materials or natural resources and the mother country sent manufactured products back to the
colonies at a profit. This kept more wealth flowing into the mother country, creating a
favorable balance of trade for the mother country. Indeed colonies were not allowed to
produce manufactured goods. They could only sell their resources to the mother country and
not to any other country. The mother country had a monopoly on the colony’s
trade. Mercantilism economically benefitted the mother country but harmed the
colony. Finally, mercantilists believed that a country’s wealth was determined by how much
gold or silver it held. Colonies could be a controlled source of gold and silver. Mercantilists also
believed in the use of tariffs or taxes on imported goods to protect their home industries from
competition. Taxes on imported goods raised the prices of these goods. This encouraged people
to buy the cheaper goods manufactured in their own country rather than foreign-made
goods. Mercantilism made the Atlantic nations of Europe economically and politically strong.
The Question:
What was a result of the Neolithic Revolution?
(1) Civilizations developed.
(2) Humans first learned to use fire.
(3) Life expectancy declined.
(4) People began hunting and gathering for food.
Answer: Civilizations developed.
Explanation: The Neolithic Age refers to the period of time when people learned to farm and
domesticate animals. This dramatic turning point occurred independently in a number of
locations, primarily river valleys, and spread over time. During this period, people began to
produce food by domesticating animals – the dog was probably the first – and by cultivating
plants – wheat and barley first. Weapons and tools became more refined and were of polished
stone. The production of food resulted in a more settled, less nomadic existence, and this in turn
led to the growth of permanent villages (the earliest cities known were Jericho in Palestine and
Byblos in Lebanon). A reliable food supply also led a population increase and, thus, to the
development of social order or social hierarchy. Of course, as the food supply increased and not
all individuals were needed for farming, specialization or people performing different jobs
occurred. Finally, the Neolithic Revolution eventually gave rise to civilizations or complex
societies. The word civilization stems from the Greek word civis or city. The arts of civilization –
writing, literature, political organization, and science – developed in the fertile valleys of
Mesopotamia and Egypt, where people first began to experience an urban life. The beginning
of what historians call civilization is generally assumed to be the Bronze Age – the era when
metal (copper and bronze) was used for tools, when pottery and weaving were developed, and
when the wheel was invented in Mesopotamia. But back to the dramatic turning point in
world history when hunters and gatherers learned to farm and settle: The Neolithic Revolution
occurred around 10,000 B.C.E. and it changed humanity more profoundly than any other
event in world history. It truly was revolutionary.
The Question:
Korea has frequently served as a cultural bridge between
(1) Cambodia and Vietnam
(2) Russia and India
(3) Thailand and Indonesia
(4) China and Japan
Answer: China and Japan
Explanation: It is important to remember the geography component of the Global History and
Geography curriculum. As such, students must know the location of nations, especially in
relation to other nations as well as the impact of geography on the development of
cultures. So, if the student is not standing near a world map, it is important to find one. Look
carefully at East Asia, it is clear that China, Korea, and Japan are in geographic proximity to
one another. Yes, Korea is a peninsula in East Asia but notice that it is located next to
China. To the east of the Korean peninsula are the islands of Japan (Japan is an archipelago or
a series of islands). Of course, today, the Korean peninsula is home to two countries: the
Communist North Korea and the non-Communist South Korea. However, even before the
partitioning of the peninsula, Korea was important in world history. Korea had its own dynamic
kingdoms and civilization but was influenced by its neighbor, China. Through cultural diffusion,
many new ideas and inventions entered Korea from China. Buddhism, an Indian religion,
entered Korea from China and in turn, spread to Japan. In addition, Chinese inventions like
papermaking, the compass, and gunpowder also spread from China to Korea and then to
Japan. Yes, Korea served as a cultural bridge between China and Japan due to its critical
location. Yes, Korea was a bridge for cultural diffusion.
The Question:
What was a result of the Industrial Revolution in England?
(1) the growth of the middle class
(2) an increase in nomadic herding
(3) a decline in urban population
(4) a decrease in international trade
Answer: The growth of the middle class
Explanation: The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in 1750. Prior to the Industrial
Revolution, products were made by hand at home or in small workshops (the domestic
system). With the Industrial Revolution, products were manufactured with machines in factories
(the factory system). Industrialization greatly transformed the nature of society as the
production of goods greatly increased and the prices of goods fell. Of course, with so many
benefits, the Industrial Revolution quickly spread to other countries in Western Europe and
beyond. Yet every region that industrialization spread to experienced profound changes or
consequences. Urbanization or the growth of cities was a direct consequence of the Industrial
Revolution as workers had to live in the immediate location of factories. Another consequence
of industrialization was the low wages, long hours, and unsafe working conditions of early
factory workers. Finally, industrialization led to the growth of the middle class. The middle class
can be defined as a social class existing between the working class and the upper class. Typically,
the middle class consisted of white-collar workers. White-collar workers were not factory
workers but rather office workers or workers in the non-production realm of industries. Whitecollar workers did not make goods at machines but rather were managers, accountants, and
office workers. Yes, industrialization led to many changes: increased production, cheaper goods,
an increased standard of living as more individuals could afford cheaper manufactured goods,
and the growth of the middle class – the class between the working class and the upper class.
The Question:
A similarity between Shinto in Japan and animism in African societies is that both
(1) use the Torah to establish law codes
(2) stress the importance of the Eightfold Path
(3) believe that spirits exist in nature
(4) base social rank on a caste system
Answer: Believe that spirits exist in nature
Explanation: The earliest belief system of most societies was animism. Animism is the belief that
spirits exist in the natural world. The word animism comes from “anima,” which is another word
for spirit. In order to keep their environments safe and productive, animists acted to please the
spirits in nature. Animists believed that success in farming, fishing, and hunting depended on
the goodwill of the spirits of the earth, water, seeds, forests, animals, and fish. Priests were
responsible for creating rituals that the people believed allowed them to communicate with the
spirits. Often animism had ancestor worship. Animists believed that the spirits of human beings
lived on after their bodies died. The spirits of the dead could influence the other spirits in favor
of their living relatives. Animism was practiced in many societies but it was particularly popular
in Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Even today, animism is practiced in parts of Africa, although
Islam and Christianity are also popularly practiced in Africa. Finally, Shinto is the traditional
belief of the Japanese people. Shinto is essentially a Japanese interpretation of animism. The
word Shinto means “the way of the gods.” Practitioners of Shinto honor the spirits that inhabit
the natural world such as rocks, trees, and mountains. Therefore, a common belief of African
animists and practitioners of Shinto is the belief in the existence of spirits in nature. The Japanese
word for spirit is kami. The Japanese also believed that the emperor was a descendant of the
sun goddess who ruled all the other nature spirits and protected Japan. After Japan’s defeat in
World War II, the emperor was forced to announce that he was not divine. However, Shinto is
still a popular belief in Japan. Of course, the Japanese also practice Buddhism, the Indian
religion that taught that life has suffering but suffering can end.
The Question:
The development of the concept of zero, the use of a decimal system, and the Buddhist cave
paintings at Ajanta are all achievements of the
(1) Inca Empire
(2) Gupta Empire
(3) Roman Republic
(4) Kingdom of Songhai
Answer: Gupta Empire
Explanation: The Gupta Empire, also known as the Golden Age of Hindu culture, was
established in 320 C.E. (A.D.) in the Indian subcontinent. A long period of peace followed the
military conquests of the early Gupta emperors and led to a time of great intellectual
achievements for India. Indeed, Gupta rulers used their wealth from foreign trade and a
prospering economy to enrich Indian culture with new ideas. Gupta rulers as well as the upper
classes established colleges and universities. Consequently, Indian art, science, and scholarship
flourished. Universities and libraries protected the Sanskrit (the ancient language of the Indian
subcontinent – the language of Hinduism and the Vedas, Hindu sacred writings) writings of the
past. Indian writers and artists also produced many masterpieces during this time. The great
poet, Kalidasa, wrote plays and poems that are still cherished today. In addition, two epic
poems and classics in Indian literature, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, were completed
during this period. Both were passed down through the years by oral tradition before they
were written down. These poems are still popular today. The Ramayana is a tale of a hero
who is separated from his wife for many years. The Mahabharata contains moral lessons and is
a source of religious inspiration. Indeed, the Bhagavad-Gita is part of the Mahabharata. Of
course, in addition to art and poetry, the Gupta period is known for its great advances in
mathematics and science. Indian scientists and mathematicians invented the decimal system
and the concept of zero. The numbers 1 through 9 plus 0 were invented and came to Europe
through contacts with the Arab world and thus, are known as Arabic numerals even though
these symbols were invented in India. A mathematician named Ayabhata calculated pi, a
necessary concept in geometry. Pi expresses the relationship between the circumference of a
circle and its diameter. Other Indian scientists discovered theories about gravity. Finally, the
cave paintings of Ajanta were also known for their exquisite beauty and their Buddhist art. Yes,
the Gupta rulers were Hindus and Hinduism was the dominant religion of the subcontinent but
it is always important to remember that Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in
India and as such, in India, many Buddhist monuments and arts can be found.
The Question:
Which action taken by the Meiji government encouraged industrialization in 19th-century
Japan?
(1) building a modern transportation system
(2) limiting the number of ports open to foreign trade
(3) forcing families to settle on collective farms
(4) establishing a system of trade guilds
Answer: Building a modern transportation system
Explanation: The Meiji Restoration was a significant turning point in Japanese history. Prior to
the Meiji Restoration, Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shoguns or military generals. The
Tokugawa shoguns ruled a largely feudal Japan and pursued a policy of isolationism. However,
in 1854, with the arrival of Commodore Perry sailing for the United States, the Tokugawa were
strongly encouraged to end their policy of isolationism. In the Treaty of Kanagawa, the shogun
agreed to open two Japanese ports to American ships. Soon other nations gained similar
trading rights. These changes had a powerful impact on the Japanese and some Japanese felt
that Japan need to modernize in an effort to compete with the industrialized West. A rebellion
ensued and the shogun was overthrown, the emperor restored to power, and Japan began to
modernize and industrialize. This period from 1868 to 1912 is known as the Meiji
Restoration. Meiji means “enlightened rule” and was the name taken by the Japanese emperor
who had been restored to power after the shogun was removed from power. It is important to
remember that during the feudal period in Japan, the emperor had lost his political power. But
with the Meiji Restoration, the emperor was restored to power. In addition, the reformers of the
Meiji Restoration were determined to strengthen Japan by using western methods and
machinery to develop an industrial economy in Japan. The government built factories and sold
them to wealthy families. These families became powerful in banking and industry and were
known as zaibatsu. Meiji reforms also established a system of public education and set up
universities with western instructors to teach modern technology. Finally, as the reformers of
Meiji Japan sought to modernize and industrialize Japan, they also needed to build a modern
transportation system. The distribution of manufactured goods is as important as the
production of goods. After all, profits depend on the ability to move goods to markets.
The Question:
 Foreign rulers were overthrown.
 Admiral Zheng He established trade links.
 Civil service exams were reinstated.
These events in history occurred during the rule of the
(1) Mughal dynasty in India
(2) Abbasid dynasty in the Middle East
(3) Ming dynasty in China
(4) Tokugawa shogunate in Japan
Answer: Ming dynasty in China
Explanation: In 1368, about 90 years after the Mongol leader Kublai Khan established the Yuan
dynasty in China, Chinese rule was restored. Many Chinese resented foreign rule and in 1368, a
peasant leader, Zhu Yuanzhang, led a rebellion that overthrew the Mongols and established the
Ming dynasty. Under the Ming, China was once again ruled by the Chinese. Ming leaders
sought to restore the country’s greatness and its supremacy in the region. The Chinese
traditionally thought of China as the Middle Kingdom, the center of the earth and the source of
civilization. To restore China to greatness, Ming rulers enacted many reforms. They brought
back the civil service system. In this system, candidates had to pass a difficult exam for
government service. Confucian learning became important again. Finally, during the first
several decades of the 1400s, the Ming emperor encouraged exploration and the Chinese
admiral, Zheng He, established trade links with many distant commerce centers and brought
back exotic animals, including a giraffe, to China for the imperial zoo. Zheng He traveled all
the way to East Africa. However, the following Ming emperor ended the voyages as the
influence of Confucian scholars increased in the Chinese court. Confucian scholars looked to the
past and saw no benefit but only unnecessary expenses in the voyages. They believed that
limiting contact with foreign influences was the best way to preserve ancient traditions. The
decision to “withdraw” from the larger world would have disastrous consequences for China,
especially with the rise to global power of the Europeans.
The Question:
Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels encouraged workers to improve their lives by
(1) electing union representatives
(2) participating in local government
(3) overthrowing the capitalist system
(4) demanding pensions and disability insurance
Answer: Overthrowing the capitalist system
Explanation: Karl Marx was a 19th-century German philosopher who witnessed the early years of
industrialization. Seeing the unsafe working conditions in factories and the slums that workers
lived in, Marx believed that workers were being exploited for the benefit of the capitalist
factory owners. Indeed Marx blamed the problems faced by workers on the capitalist
system. Under this system, business owners put up the money, or capital, needed to bring
workers, machines, and raw materials together to produce goods. Workers received wages for
their labor while capitalists gained profits on their investments. Marx claimed that it was unfair
for workers who produced the goods to get less for their labor than capitalists received for their
investments. According to Marx, workers and capitalists were enemies locked in class
struggle. Marx believed that the working class or proletariat and bourgeoisie or owners of
businesses would be in conflict until a revolution occurred. For Marx, the solution to the
problems caused by capitalism was revolution. He urged workers of every nation to rise up and
smash the capitalist system. After the revolution, the workers would own all the sources of
wealth. Marx believed that a dictatorship of the proletariat would be necessary in the
beginning phases of a communist society but that the dictatorship would wither away over
time. In 1848, Karl Marx along with his colleague, Friedrich Engels, wrote The Communist
Manifesto. The last words in the manifesto were: “Let the ruling classes tremble at a communist
revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to
win. Proletarians of all countries, unite!”
The Question:
The primary reason the Bantu-speaking people of West Africa migrated southward and
eastward between 500 B.C. and A.D. 1500 was to
(1) flee warfare
(2) seek religious freedom
(3) establish a colonial empire
(4) find land for farming and grazing
Answer: Find land for farming and grazing
Explanation: The homeland of the Bantu-speaking people was in what is now southeastern
Nigeria and the Cameroons in West Africa. During the classical era, an accelerating movement
of Bantu-speaking peoples occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. Bantu-speaking people moved
throughout Africa south of the Sahara. However, it is important to remember that Bantu
expansion was not a conquest or invasion such as that of Alexander the Great and it was not a
massive and self-conscious migration like that of Europeans to the Americas. It was a slow
movement of peoples, perhaps a few extended families at a time, but taken as a whole, it
brought to Africa south of the equator a measure of cultural and linguistic commonality. The
Bantu-speaking people were farmers and were therefore, in search of new lands for farming
crops and grazing their livestock. In their migration, the Bantu-speaking people spread
agriculture and also iron-making technology. Among their encounters, none was more
significant than that between the Bantu-speaking farmers and the hunters and gatherers they
encountered. Farmers displaced many hunters and gatherers. Yet Bantu cultures changed too
based on the environment of the new lands they settled. Ultimately, Bantu-speaking farmers
spread their agricultural techniques and ironworking technology throughout eastern and
southern Africa, probably reaching present-day South Africa by 400 A.D.