Unit I Spiral Exam – Renaissance, Reformation, & Absolute Monarchs
(65 points total)
PLEASE DO NO WRITE ON THIS TEST
DIRECTIONS – Please answer the following multiple-choice questions with the best possible
answer. No answer will be used more than once. (30 questions @ 1 point each = 30 points
total)
1) Prior to the start of the Middle Ages, Europe was a very chaotic place. What form of
government, based on land and loyalty, came along to help bring law and order back to
Europe?
a. Totalitarianism
b. Feudalism
c. Democracy
d. Absolute monarchy
2) Martin Luther, the German monk and religious leader, was considered a major leader of
the Reformation. What action did he take that helped to set off the Reformation in the
first place?
a. He created a plan called the “Final Solution”
b. Wrote letters to influential European rulers about the abuses of the Church
c. Gave public addresses about the evils of Church “indulgences”
d. Wrote his grievances down and posted them as the 95 Theses
3) We have spent a lot of time talking about some of the dangers to be aware of when
studying culture. One of the major pitfalls of this is developing the belief that your
culture is racially superior to another. What is that danger called?
a. Segregation
b. Racism
c. Stereotyping
d. Ethnocentrism
4) When studying different areas of the world, it is important to have an idea of a
particular regions culture before continuing. But, how do we define “culture”?
a. A particular person’s lifestyle
b. A delicious desert from Oregon Dairy
c. All the elements that make up a society or civilization
d. A particular segment that has interesting values
5) Known as “________________ the Lawgiver”, this gifted Ottoman sultan created lasting
reforms within the Ottoman Empire while writing laws that are still on the books. Who
was he?
a. Suleiman
b. Muhammad
c. Louis
d. Peter
6) The Age of Monarchs saw the rise of all-powerful kings like Phillip II of Spain, Louis XIV
of France, and Peter the Great of Russia. What did these European monarchs use to
justify their God-given right to rule?
a. A written constitution
b. Divine right
c. The Mandate of Heaven
d. The consent of the people
7) In 1066, the dispute for the English throne reached its climax as the decedents of King
Alfred the Great, Herald and William, met on the field of battle in this iconic clash of
human history. What was this battle called?
a. The Battle of Britain
b. The Battle of Dover
c. The Battle of Hastings
d. The Battle of Mammoth
8) Children in medieval China were taught from a very early age to show complete love
and obedience to their parents and also show great respect for their family’s past. What
was the name given to this philosophy, another invention of the Chinese philosopher
and teacher Confucius?
a. Ancestor worship
b. Confucianism
c. Catholicism
d. Filial Piety
9) The Renaissance brought about a renewed interest in art and culture in Europe after the
horrors of the Middle Ages. What philosophy dominated this era, stressing the idea of
human potential and using your gifts for the betterment of all mankind?
a. Imperialism
b. Militarism
c. Nationalism
d. Humanism
10) Anthropology is one of the main areas that helps us to analyze and interpret different
cultures from around the world. But what is anthropology the study of?
a. Creationism
b. Government
c. Mankind
d. Culture
11) The Reformation was known throughout Europe as a ___________________ movement
geared towards the Catholic Church. What word best fits into this statement?
a. Religious
b. Wide-spread
c. Reform
d. Protest
12) For much of the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church dominated the political, social,
and religious lives of Europeans. Which of the following was one of the major reasons
why the Catholic Church was so powerful?
a. It controlled vast amounts of scientific knowledge
b. It was the only source of education in the Medieval world
c. It was not under the control of any European king
d. All of the above
13) All anthropologists, when in the field, try to minimize mistakes and provided clear
evidence of a new discovery by using a series of steps known as what?
a. Question and Answer Methods
b. Scientific Questioning
c. The Scientific Method
d. The Anthropological Method
14) The Ottomans were one of the most successful civilizations in history at bringing quick
peace and security to the new areas of the world that they conquered. Besides their
advanced military tactics and support, what made the Ottomans so successful when
dealing with conquered peoples?
a. Their ability to convert people quickly to Islam and make them life-long converts
b. Their sultans were able to inspire confidence and dedication with their
leadership both on and off the battlefield
c. Conquered people were generally afraid of what might happen if they tried to
revolt against Ottoman rule
d. They were extremely tolerant of other ethnic groups religious and cultural
practices, as long as they paid taxes to the Ottoman sultan
15) The Vatican estimates that between three thousand and five thousand people were
executed at the hands of the Church’s own private court, the Inquisition, though this
was not its main function. Contemporary historians put that number much higher.
What was the main purpose of this medieval religious court?
a. The seek out and punish critics of the Church
b. To investigate charges of corruption or unacceptable behavior among clergy
c. To hear and decide upon new interpretations of religious doctrine
d. To re-write the Bible in the language of the common person so all could
understand its teachings
16) This segment of European medieval society was the foundation on which the selfsufficient manors were built. By their long hours of labor, heavy taxes, and isolated
social class, the lords who controlled the manors were able to turn a profit. What was
this segment of society called?
a. The lower class
b. The workers
c. The peasants
d. The serfs
17) Powerful absolute monarchs known as the “czars” once ruled Russia. What famous
Russian czar helped to establish Russia as a major world power following the turmoil of
the Middle Ages with the help of European technology and know-how?
a. Nicholas II
b. Ivan the Terrible
c. Peter the Great
d. Catherine the Great
18) Social mobility was limited in medieval European society so few people of the lower
classes could realistically expect to become a knight, whose main function was to
protect and enforce the laws of the manor. What was the name of the code of conduct
that all knights were required to follow in their dealings with one another and people of
different classes?
a. The Code of Conduct
b. The Ethical Mandate
c. The Code of Chivalry
d. The Expectations of Knights
19) This Jews carpenter-turned-religious leader started preaching to the people of Judea at
age 30 and was viewed by many as someone who would lead the Jews to their freedom
against Roman rule. He eventually would be executed. Who was he?
a. Ivan
b. Peter
c. Paul
d. Jesus
20) In feudal Japan, the shoguns enforced their rule and protected their individual kingdoms
with the help of the samurai warrior class. Much like the knights of Europe, these
honorable wars were governed by an ethical code that preached ritual suicide if
dishonored. What was their ritual suicide called?
a. Bushido
b. Kamikaze
c. Seppuku
d. Kung Pao
21) When the Spanish Men’s and Women’s Olympic basketball team posed for the cameras
doing the “slit-eyed” gesture, what was this an example of that we have to be cautious
of when studying other cultures?
a. Segregation
b. Racism
c. Stereotyping
d. Ethnocentrism
22) These Christian-turned-Ottoman soldiers made up the heart of the Ottoman army and
served as the sultan’s personal bodyguard. Later, they would enjoy high positions within
the Ottoman government. Who were they?
a. The Janissaries
b. The Knights
c. The Samurai
d. The Oprichnina
23) This Chinese teacher and philosopher developed the principles of filial piety because he
believed that in order for a society to survive, it needed to look to its elders for wisdom
and experience. Who was he?
a. Confucius
b. Aristotle
c. Meng-zi
d. Lucretius
24) Just like the knights of Medieval Europe, the samurai of ancient Japan believed in a very
strict code of ethics that governed their behavior in everyday life. What was the name of
this code of conduct that was later adopted by the Japanese military in World War II?
a. Seppuku
b. Kamikaze
c. Bushido
d. Toyota
25) What event in the life of Czar Ivan turned him from a “just and noble” leader to a
bloodthirsty tyrant known as “Ivan the Terrible”?
a. The murder of his son and heir
b. An invasion from Poland
c. An outbreak of the Black Death
d. The death of his wife
26) What was the name of the secret police force that Czar Ivan created to hunt down and
execute political opponents? (Hint: Known for their black robes, they were mistaken for
priests before it was too late…)
a. The Janissaries
b. The Knights
c. The Samurai
d. The Oprichnina
27) In 313 AD, the Roman emperor Constantine issues an order that made Christianity the
official religion of the Roman Empire. What was the name of this proclamation?
a. The Twelve Tables
b. The Edict of Mize
c. The Edict of Milan
d. The Emancipation Proclamation
28) This document, forced upon King John I of England due to his bad behavior and
discrimination towards the nobles, became the basis for many legal documents, such as
our US Constitution and Bill of Rights. What was it called?
a. The Magna Carta
b. The English Bill of Rights
c. The Nullification Order
d. The King’s Edict
29) This group helped to establish feudalism and the tradition of kings and absolute
monarchs in England after many centuries of Roman rule and Celtic wildness. What was
this group, originally from Germany, called?
a. The Vikings
b. The Anglo-Saxons
c. The Danes
d. The Normans
30) What was the name of group of Christian church elders who formalized a final set of
practices and rules that turned the “Christian” Church into the Roman Catholic Church in
the year 382 AD?
a. The Council of Milan
b. The Council of Mica
c. The Council of Rome
d. The Council of the Vatican
Map Section
Strait of Gibraltar
Sweden
London
Switzerland
Athens
Portugal
Ural Mountains
Baltic Sea
English Channel
Vienna
Greece
United Kingdom
Albania
Pyrenees Mountains
Romania
Aegean Sea
Italy
Berlin
Czech Republic
Iceland
Finland
Ireland
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Spain
DIRECTIONS – Use the word bank and process of elimination to locate the following items on
the attached map. Each item will only be used once. (15 questions @ 1 point each = 15 points
total)
1) ICELAND
11) LUXEMBOURG
2) ALBANIA
12) ENGLISH CHANNEL
3) ATHENS
13) FINLAND
4) CZECH REPUBLIC
14) BALTIC SEA
5) VIENNA
15) PORTUGAL
6) PYRENEES MOUNTAINS
7) SWEEDEN
8) LONDON
9) ROMANIA
10) SPAIN