AP, Ch 1
The order in which these empires or civilization emerged was I. Sumerian II. Shang III. Roman IV. Han a) I, II, III, IV b) I, II, IV, III c) II, I, IV, III d) II, III, I, IV e) IV, III, II, I
(A) Archaeological excavation at all four sites reveal the earliest traces of monumental building, writing tablets, and urban living in the Tigris-Euphrates valley, where Sumerian civilization was born.
Which of the following best describes the development of agriculture during the Neolithic era? a) It was a gradual process, arising independently in diverse regions and climatic conditions on the globe. b) It spread from the Americas across a land bridge to Asia then to Europe.
(A) Biological and archaeological evidence supports this choice and none of the others.
Confucian thought falls most neatly into which of the following categories? a) Conservative political philosophy aiming to preserve a hierarchical status quo b) Prophetic millennial ideology preparing the masses for an impending judgement day c) Spiritual guide to gaining salvation for the individual's eternal soul d) Revolutionary ideology aimed at dismantling social hierarchy e) Set of moral precepts designed to promote a more harmonious union between man and nature
(A) Choice (A) is the best description of Confucianism. Choice (B) would match most forms of religious fundamentalism, (C) would match any religion with an afterlife, (D) fits the bill for various strains of Marxism and anarchism, and (E) fits the Daoism more closely.
Which example from the classical world best characterizes the principle of cultural diffusion? a) Preference for silk garments among the Roman elite b) Victory of Sparta in the Pelopennesian War c) Conversion of Asoka to Buddhism d) Growing influence of Confucianism in China during the Han dynasty e) Sacking of Rome by the Visigoths in 410 CE
(A) Cultural diffusion means "the spread of idea or practices from one region to another, " and this was evident with the Roman elite and their task for silk garments.
How did the Hindu doctrine of dharma impact Indian society? a) It fostered the formation of rigid social and economic groups. b) It was the basis of equality under the law between men and women. c) It influenced the priestly class to implement a standardized set of religious rituals for Hindus. d) It initiated an integrated economic system to aid merchants. e) It caused the majority of the subcontinent's population to settle near the holy waters of the Ganges River.
(A) Dharma teaches acceptance of one's caste and role as key to spiritual peace and blessing.
Which of the following best describes how Chinese imperial elites viewed their civilization in relation to the rest of the world? a) China was a unique and superior civilization surrounded by barbarians of one sort or another. b) China was an intermediary civilization whose main role was to facilitate the exchange of trade items and ideas between surrounding and more advanced societies. c) China was one member of a peer group of advanced civilizations. d) China was a great civilization trapped in an irreversible decline due to a nomadic invasion and inability to support massive population growth. e) China was rising civilization learning from and preparing to overtake existing world powers.
(A) Ethnocentrism means, roughly, preference for one's own kind and this choice summarizes a recurrent theme in the history of dynastic China.
Which of the following classical societies was based in the eastern Mediterranean Sea? a) Greek b) Mauryan c) Han d) Gupta e) Mayan
(A) Keep in mind the importance of the Greek navy in its rise to regional power.
Which choice best captures the main difference between legalist and Confucian beliefs? a) Legalism relied on harsh laws to maintain order while Confucianism depended on rituals, customs, and obligations rooted in family relations. b) Legalism never became state doctrine while Confucianism did under the Han dynasty. c) Confucianism never became state doctrine while legalism did under the Qin dynasty. d) Legalism's complex formulas for achieving spiritual enlightenment took greater root among the masses than the Confucian emphasis on achieving inner peace through unity with the natural world. e) Legalism emphasized egalitarian class relations while Confucianism was more concerned with maintaining established hierarchies.
(A) Legalism states that humans need to be controlled using laws to maintain order. Referring to the previous question, this is not part of Confucianism.
Which of the following was true for ALL of the early agricultural systems? a) Domestication of perennial plants in each region b) Wheat and barley cultivation c) Economic activity based on a raising a combination of domesticated plants and draft animals d) Primary reliance on pastoral forms of social organization e) Abandonment of sedentary agriculture
(A) Perennial means "growing once a year." Watch out for choice (C); Mesoamerican civilization had no domesticated draft animals. Draft animals provide muscle power and include oxen, cows, and horses.
Which of the following was NOT a state concern in Han China? a) Expanding educational opportunity for elite women b) Sponsorship of scientific inquiry c) Maintenance of the Great Wall d) Grain requisition from the peasantry e) Suppression of banditry
(A) Refer to question #89. Once again, traditional Chinese patriarchy helps us to find an incorrect statement.
Which is NOT a significant continuity Buddhism carried over from its Hindu roots? a) Endorsement of caste stratification b) Belief in an afterlife c) Concern with and reverence for beauty in nature d) Ornate temple architecture e) Centrality of ritual in worship
(A) Rejection of caste is Buddhism's signal break with Hindu tradition.
Which statement is most accurate regarding Jewish monotheism? a) It traces its origins to Abraham. b) It was spread by missionaries in the Ganges River valley. c) It appealed mainly to wealthier people. d) In incorporated the idea of reincarnation. e) It rejected all of the laws of the Mesopotamian civilization.
(A) Since Christianity and Islam are derived from Judaism, this makes Abraham an important historical figure to study.
Which weakness of the Roman Empire contributed most directly to its collapse? a) It was too vast to impose unity and order among all of the regions. b) Mountain ranges blocked effective transport and communications between key areas. c) It was too small to marshal resources necessary to protect itself from rival powers. d) Repeated incursions into the territories of powerful empires to the east resulted in devastating offensives. e) It did not have access to waterways suitable for carrying out long distance trade.
(A) The "overexpansion" of the Roman Empire is a well-studied phenomenon and is intimately on unreliable hired mercenaries to represent Roman authority in far-flung regions.
Which of the following texts contain major religious documents that originated in India? I. Vedas II. Bhagavad Gita III. Koran a) I and II b) II and III c) I, II, and III d) I only e) III only
(A) The Koran is Arabic in origin while the Vedas and Bhagavad Gita have backgrounds from India.
Which of the following pairings most accurately reflects existing trade connections in the Greco-Roman era? a) Han-Roman b) Scandinavian-Greek c) Polynesian-Roman d) Gupta-Greek e) Olmec-Greek
(A) The Silk Roads connected these two civilizations. Scandinavia was more or less uncivilized while Polynesian and Olmec peoples were isolated by vast oceans. Gupta civilization had yet to exist in the days of classical Greek rule.
The geographic factors presented here led to the development of which highly complex and distinctive civilization by the year 600 CE? - Fertile river valleys - Isolating mountain ranges - Dependable monsoon weather patterns a) Indian b) Roman c) Mayan d) Sumerian e) Greek
(A) The bullets form a useful reminder of key features of Indian geography - especially the mention of monsoon weather patterns!
Why did long-distance trade flourish in the classical world? a) Stable imperial authority provided save passage for merchants. b) Circumnavigation of the globe by the Romans increased access to goods from distant lands. c) Silk Roads were so safe that individual traders frequently traveled their entire distance. d) Stable central rule in India throughout the period made it a vital hub of trade. e) Bantu migrations helped establish a common linguistic bond across the Eurasian landmass.
(A) The classical period, lasting roughly from 1000 BCE to 600 CE, saw state and imperial structures grow to become quite refined and stable after millennia of evolution in the major centers of civilization. Stable imperial authority was the key to long-distance trade.
Which civilization's decline was most likely due to drastic environmental change? a) Indus b) Han c) Roman d) Egyptian e) Assyrian
(A) The other civilizations on the list succumbed to human-induced shocks of war or peasant revolt. Less evidence for this persists to draw the same conclusion about the Indus River valley civilization.
One major difference between the fall of Han China and that of the Roman Empire was a) Dynastic China would return to equal and even greater prominence. b) The Roman Empire left little basis for subsequent developments in Western civilization. c) The Roman Empire collapsed due to multiple causes while Han China fell peasant unrest alone. d) Han China adopted a new state religion in its later phase while the Roman Empire did not. e) Roman imperial blunders can be traced to decisions made in a Senate, not by emperors.
(A) This crucial distinction explains an eastern preeminence over the West in economic and political organization that was to last through the feudal and far into the early modern eras.
Which ancient civilization fits the description found below? - Constructed multistory structures - Arose near Indus River - Disappeared for reasons that remain unclear a) Harappan b) Shang c) Kushite d) Mayan e) Mauryan
(A) While the first and third bullet points are true for the Maya, the second one is not, making Harappan the only possible choice.
Which choice best characterizes the relationship between early civilization and writing? a) Writing permitted record keeping for trade and governments. b) Writing led to the development of civilization more than sedentary agriculture. c) Most civilization developed without writing systems. d) No sophisticated civilization developed without a system of writing. e) There is no important relationship between civilization and writing.
(A) Writing was put to this purpose wherever it arose. Watch out for choice (D); the Inca had no formal writing system but kept records by counting colored and knotted strings called quipu.
What was a common feature of classical civilizations in India, China, and the Mediterranean? a) Agricultural systems dependent on monsoon rains b) Social hierarchy c) Absence of coerced labor d) Elimination of patriarchy over time e) Maintenance of highly centralized governments throughout the entire classical period 1000 BCE to 600 CE
(B) A social hierarchy was common to all three and is also key to state formation.
What, in general, was the health impact as human populations abandoned nomadism and settled into a sedentary agricultural lifestyle? a) Rates of parasitic diseases were reduced. b) Greater exposure to pathogens due to proximity to farm animals and human waste cause new sicknesses. c) Disease rates fell due to the vigorous lifestyle of hard labor. d) Nutrition generally improved, resulting from the greater diversity of foodstuffs the laboring peasantry had to choose from e) Overall health improved as new governments made provision of universal health care a top priority.
(B) Ailments such as chicken pox, swine flu, and bird flu in their very names indicate the propensity for pathogen sharing between people and domesticated animals. It also took awhile for plumbing to be invented. Sedentary peoples settled next to their pathogen-producing waste as well. Nomadic people never had to deal with these health hazards as they moved away from their wastes. All other choices are false.
Which of the following prominent Greeks exercised practical political leadership? a) Aristotle b) Solon c) Plato d) Socrates e) Euripides
(B) Based on fragmentary evidence, important reforms that lay the basis for Greek democracy date to the period of Solon's rule. Choices (A), (C), and (D) were philosophers while choice (E) was a playwright.
Which of the following regions does NOT belong in a list of lands to which Buddhism spread substantially in the centuries following the death of Siddhartha Gautama? a) Southeast Asia b) Mesopotamia c) China d) Japan e) Central Asia
(B) Buddhism generally spread north and east but not much farther west that Persia or Central Asia, ruling out Buddhist presence in Mesopotamia.
Which of the following is unique to the Hindu religion when compared to other major world religions? I. Belief in some form of afterlife II. Absence of a central founding figure III. Distinct denominations a) I only b) II only c) I and II d) II and III e) I, II, and III
(B) Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all trace their origins to the teachings of a central or founding figure. Hinduism stands apart with its absence of prophetic founding figure; its central tenets were compiled over centuries and collected in holy texts such as the Vedas.
Which statement comparing classical Chinese civilization with contemporary Western civilization is most accurate? a) The Chinese economy relied on slavery to a greater extent than Western civilization did. b) China set an enduring pattern of more sophisticated agricultural, metallurgical, and textile production techniques than Western civilization. c) Women had markedly greater maneuverability within Chinese civilization to achieve positions of high social status. d) The Chinese developed a simplified phonetic writing system similar to Hebrew. e) In China agriculture was replaced by handicraft manufacturing as the main economic base of society.
(B) Choices (C) and (D) can be eliminated immediately. Looking at the remaining, China maintained generally superior craftsmanship and manufacturing capacity until the Industrial Revolution after the year 1800.
Daoist thought tends to emphasize a) Respect for the emperor b) Harmony with nature c) Authority of the father d) The struggle of the poor for justice e) Punishment for sin
(B) Daoism has a focus on harmony with nature and an orientation toward natural as opposed to human affairs as key to a fulfilled life.
Hellenistic culture epitomizes which of the following historical forces or trends? a) Isolationism b) Cultural diffusion c) Patriarchy d) Egalitarianism e) Democracy
(B) Hellas was ancient name for Greece Hellenistic, therefore, means "Greek-like" and dates from the spread of Greek culture along with the armies of Alexander, the greatest Greek empire builder.
Which of the following did ancient Egyptian, Shang, and Sumerian civilizations all have in common? a) Pyramid-shaped monumental architecture b) River valley location c) Acceptance of Buddhism d) Pastoral-based economy e) Intensive rice agricultural
(B) Nile, Yellow, and Tigris-Euphrates valleys respectively; (A) is false for Shang China while choices (C), (D), and (E) are false for all three civilizations.
In what respects did pastoralism lay important foundations for subsequent stages of human development? a) Human societies first began to follow the leadership of recognized spiritual guides. b) Domesticated mammals began to provide more consistent sources of hides, bone, and protein. c) Groups learned how to select seeds and grains that over time yielded more bountiful harvests. d) Settled living formed the basis for early writing systems. e) The American continents were first populated by pastoral peoples.
(B) Pastoral nomads established the viability of herding of animals as an economic activity; this viability continued through history until today. Take note that choice (E) is inaccurate.
The preponderance of evidence would suggest that human settlement reached which of the following regions most recently? a) Australia b) South America c) Scandinavia d) India e) South Africa
(B) Radiocarbon dating of human remains, rock paintings (Australia in particular), and genetic studies all support this choice.
Compared to other revolutions in world history, which feature of the Neolithic Revolution is most unusual? a) Altered gender roles and relations b) Attenuated unfolding over thousands of years in diverse locales c) Impact on population growth d) Transformation of class relations e) Abandonment of previously held patterns of religious worship
(B) Revolution is a term applied to any abrupt shift in a course of human events that was sparked in a specific location or region. This question asks us to consider time frame. Political revolutions, such as the French or Russian revolution, tend to unfold more quickly, while nonpolitical revolutions (scientific, industrial) take place over a period of decades. Only the transition to sedentary agriculture took place over a period of centuries or even millennia.
With which early Chinese emperors and dynasties do we most closely associate non-Confucian world views? I. Wu Ti of the Han dynasty II. Shi Huangdi of the Qin dynasty III. Empress Wu of the Tang dynasty a) I and II b) II and III c) I and III d) I only e) II only
(B) Shi Huangdi followed legalism while some early Tang leaders, such as Empress Wu, were influenced significantly by Buddhism.
Which of the following ancient texts did not serve as a spiritual guide to salvation for those who lived by it? a) Vedas b) Analects c) Torah d) New Testament of the Bible e) Koran
(B) The Analects are a collection of Confucius's writings. Confucianism is not a spiritual faith but is closer to a political philosophy.
Which was the most effective unifying force in early Indian culture? a) Long-distance trade with East Asian civilizations b) Widely practiced and similar Hindu tradition, including the caste system c) Expansion of Buddhist influence d) Recognized central political authority e) Matriarchal patterns of social authority
(B) The Hindu tradition and caste system are trademarks of early Indian culture, while the other choices contain a grain of truth at best.
Which of the following civilizations afforded the greatest degree of citizen input into government policy? a) Han b) Roman c) Sumerian d) Egyptian e) Gupta
(B) The concepts of citizenship (as opposed to subject status) or elected representation of nonaristocratic elements in government was underdeveloped to nonexistent in the civilizations listed other than the Roman civilization.
Why did the western portion of the Roman Empire suffer so much more in the breakdown of Roman imperial unity than the regions f the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium)? a) The feudal suystem in the west relied on a trade system made unreliable by harsh winters. b) The Eastern Roman world had traditionally been more economically vibrant due to more active trade links with the East. c) Popes of the Roman Catholic church maintained harmonious relations with western feudal lords. d) The Eastern Orthodox church attracted more followers than the Roman church. e) Germanic peoples migrated to Byzantium after fleeing nomadic attackers.
(B) The proximity to older centers of civilization helped the Eastern Roman world during the breakdown of the Roman imperial unity.
Confucianism, Hinduism, and Christianity had what in common? a) They directed attention to the afterlife. b) They helped justify and preserve social inequality. c) They urged the importance of political activity. d) They stressed the value of warfare. e) They incorporated a strong missionary drive.
(B) This characteristics is more widely recognized by Westerners in Confucian and Hindu traditions than in the Christian tradition. Numerous biblical passages exhort the poor and slave to accept their lots in life and obey their masters. Choice (A) is false regarding Confucianism while choice (E) is true for Christianity only.
In which of the following periods of Chinese history did Confucius live? a) Qin dynasty b) Late Zhou dynasty "Era of Warring States" c) Han dynasty d) Sui dynasty e) Shang dynasty
(B) This period of decentralized rule cried out for a thinker who would formulate a framework for the return and maintenance of social order. It is unsurprising Confucius hails from this period.
Which of the following is true for both the Qin and Han dynasties? a) State policy was shaped by Confucian precepts. b) Imperial authority was strong in the opening years of each. c) Merchants were held in high regard. d) Trade was not economically important. e) Nomadic invaders toppled each one.
(B) This statement holds true for every rising or new dynasty and is very useful pattern to keep in mind. Choice (C) was inaccurate for all dynasties except the Yuan. Choice (E) was true for the Han but not for the Qin. Choice (D) was true for neither, while choice (A) was true for the Han and not the Qin.
Broadly speaking, which choice places the developments associated with the Neolithic Revolution in the correct chronological order? a) Specialization of labor, social stratification, surplus food production b) Surplus food production, specialization of labor, social stratification c) Social stratification, specialization of labor, surplus food production d) Specialization of labor, surplus food production, social stratification e) Surplus food production, social stratification, specialization of labor
(B) To some extent these three developments occurred simultaneously, but to the extent that one is a precondition for the next, this choice lays them out in correct order.
Which is the closes similarity between the Roman Empire and the Han dynasty of ancient China? a) Both aimed for and experienced long periods of isolationism in world affairs. b) Both created a government run by elected officials known as Senators. c) Both achieved long periods of centralized government and expanding economies. d) Both rejected social hierarchy. e) Both afforded women equal opportunities to wield political power as men.
(C) All of the major civilizations that historians label "classical" date roughly from the period 1000 BCE to 600 CE and featured strong state structures able to impose order and stability. This political stability helped form the basis for cultural flowering, economic growth, and robust trade. Maurya, Gupta, Greek, Roman, and Han civilizations fit this description.
After the fall of Rome, the eastern half of the empire became renamed the a) Holy Roman Empire b) Bactrian Empire c) Byzantine Empire d) Visigoth Kingdom e) Vandalistan
(C) As indicated in question 53, this is a matter of factual knowledge that one needs to become familiar with.
What best characterizes the evolving role of women as human society moved from preagricultural to agricultural modes of production? a) Tending to large flocks of domesticated animals. b) Foraging and fashioning stone tools c) Having greater confinement to the home to care for more numerous children d) Spending most time at the market to trade the family's surplus farm goods. e) Guiding religious worship in village or town temples
(C) Large numbers of small children lessen the mobility of preagricultural nomadic groups; additionally, increased food output of agricultural production provided a basis for greater confinement of women of child-bearing age to the home.
Which lasting pattern in the history of the subcontinent can we trace to the period of the rule of the Maurya and Gupta empires in India? a) Strong state sponsorship of Hindu beliefs b) Invasion and rule by nomadic invaders c) Difficulty in maintaining centralized imperial rule d) Long and generally unbroken eras of centralized imperial rule e) Coexistence with Islamic rule and culture
(C) Later empires to rule India, such as the MUghal (and even the British), confronted the same challenge. Recognizing long-term patterns like these are crucial for success in this advance placement course.
What similarity did early Buddhism and early Christianity share? a) Support for caste hierarchy b) Requirement of total celibacy for men c) Allowance of women to enter monastic life d) Inclusion of Greek and Roman gods into their pantheon e) Prohibition of conversion
(C) Monastic life refers to life in a monastery or, in this case, a nunnery. Monasticism represented one of the few exits for women from the generally restrictive gender roles of family life of the classical and postclassical worlds.
Which set of Paleolithic practices would prove most durable as humans entered the Neolithic era? a) Generally egalitarian principles of social organization b) Metallurgical experitse c) Domestication of animals d) Nomadic lifestyle e) Hunting of wild big-game mammals as a major source of protein
(C) Paleolithic peoples had domesticated the wolf long before any "farm" animal. Choices (A), (D), and (E) represent practices that died out, while choice (B) is not true of Paleolithic peoples.
The period 8000 BCE to 600 CE saw all of the following EXCEPT a) Birth of major world religions b) Origin of agriculture c) Use of gunpowder d) Urbanization e) Development of writing
(C) Recreational use of gunpowder dates from the Song Dynasty (tenth to thirteenth centuries CE, roughly) with military application coming thereafter.
Christianity's rise is most accurately viewed as a modification of which of the following? a) Islam b) Hinduism c) Judaism d) Confucianism e) Buddhism
(C) Referring to question 11, the Old Testament of the Bible is derived from Jewish holy texts.
Where did the earliest civilizations tend to develop? a) Mountain plateaus b) Coastlines c) River valleys d) Grassland steppes e) Archipelagoes
(C) Sedentary agriculture emerges with the greatest ease in river valleys.
In Chinese tradition, the Mandate of Heaven refers to a) Chinese ethnocentric tendencies b) Eternal authority of a ruling dynasty c) Divine blessing of the rule of an emperor d) Belief in many gods e) The goal of Buddhist meditation
(C) The Mandate of Heaven focuses on the conduct of the ruler. It helps to avoid abuse by the ruler and calls for only the best ruler to serve in the position.
Which neighboring power posed the greatest military threat over the course of classical Greek civilization? a) Egyptian b) Mongol c) Persian d) Balkan e) Islamic
(C) The Persian Empire was the largest empire in the ancient world until the days of Alexander, and it was the first to encompass land in Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was the European ambitions of Persian imperial power and also its time frame, 550 to 330 BCE, that made this empire a constant threat to Greek independence.
Which of the following is the most accurate statement about ancient Roman trade routes? a) On every trade route enslaved persons were the chief commodity being transported. b) Western Europe was the most profitable trade destination of the empire and had the most trade routes. c) Most trade routes were focused around the Mediterranean Sea. d) The Silk Road was Rome's most important trade route. e) Roman ships dominated the trade of the Indian Ocean.
(C) The Roman Empire formed a near coplete rim around the Mediterranean, the richest region under Roman control.
Which people are generally credited with founding Mesopotamian civilization in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley? a) Akkadians b) Hittites c) Sumerians d) Greeks e) Phoenicians
(C) The Sumerians settled into Mesopotamia (now modern Iraq). This is the earliest known civilization in the world and may also be referred to as the "cradle of civilization."
Which important idea is credited to intellectuals of the Gupta Empire? a) Invention of the telescope b) Development of humanity's first written script c) The concept of zero d) Invention of the magnetic compass e) Polytheism
(C) The concept of zero is most associated with the Gupta Empire, a fact that one needs to become familiar with.
Daoist conceptions of nature emphasized a) A single omnipresent God b) Understanding through scientific investigation c) Harmony and balance d) Numerous minor gods that intervened in human affairs e) Presence of fallen human souls in the bodies of animals
(C) The harmony and balance of Daoism is represented most widely in the Western mind by the yin-yang symbol.
Which people are credited with developing the first phonetic alphabet? a) Egyptians b) Sumerians c) Phoenicians d) Chinese e) Koreans
(C) This fact is reflected in the root of the word phonics, familiarity with which is key to reading.
River valley civilizations, such as the Egyptians or Sumerians, developed all of the following EXCEPT a) Craft specialization b) Social stratification c) Constitutional monarchy d) Long-distance trade e) Complex religious rituals
(C) While monarchs before may have been limited by custom, historians date the emergence of constitutional monarchy to the British Isles in the centuries following the signing of the Magna Carta in the early thirteenth century.
Which of the following best describes BOTH the Roman and the Han empires? a) Neither empire was linked to the Silk Roads. b) Both empires used the family as the model for state organization. c) Mounting costs associated with defending imperial frontiers led to economic and political crises. d) New religions were easily assimilated into existing imperial religious ideologies. e) Taxation of mercantile activity accounted for most government revenue.
(C) is accurate for both empires. Choices (A), (D), and (E) are true neither. Choice (B) was true for Han but not Roman civilization.
Based on the preponderance of archaeological evidence, which region of the world saw the development of the earliest civilizations? a) Northern Eurasia b) South America c) Indonesia d) The Middle East e) North America
(D) Archaeologists have discovered the oldest evidence of civilization in the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile River valleys, all of which belong to the greater Middle Ease region.
Which pair of rulers underwent a religious conversion process that had a broad-based impact on the lands under their control? a) Julius Caesar and Shi Huangdi b) Hammurabi and Julius Caesar c) Tutankhamen and Pericles d) Asoka and Constantine e) Henry VIII and Justinian
(D) Asoka moved the Maurya Empire toward Buddhism; Constantine's conversion moved Rome toward Christianity (and had more of a lasting impact in European civilization that Asoka's conversion did in India).
Which region of the world had yet to experience the Neolithic transition by 600 CE? a) Mesoamerica b) South America c) Northern Europe d) Australia e) Southeast Asia
(D) Australian aborigines maintained a hunter-gatherer lifestyle until the continent was colonized by Westerners.
Which of the following descriptions best summarize the kinds of individuals who have founded a Chinese dynasty? I. Military genius of peasant origin II. Regional feudal ruler who defeats rivals in battle III. Nomadic chieftain IV. Confucian scholar-gentry a) I, II, and IV b) II, III, and IV c) I, III, and IV d) I, II, and III e) I and II
(D) Becoming a dynasty generally requires military acumen outside the range of expertise of the typical Confucian scholar-bureaucrat. Statement I fits Han and Tang origins. Statement II is true for Sui and Song eras, while statement III matches Yuan and Qing dynasties. IV is not accurate for any Chinese dynasty.
Which of the following was NOT a lasting feature of Chinese civilization formed by the later Zhou era? a) Origin and early spread of a Daoist worldview b) Dynastic rule and the conception of the Mandate of Heaven c) Intensive river valley irrigation and agriculture. d) Confucian social prescriptions to guide family and state-subject relations e) Significant Buddhist penetration and influence among the broad masses of the people
(D) Confucianism did not take root as state ideology until the Han dynasty.
All of the following were important impacts of the rise of metalwork in the ancient world EXCEPT: a) Metal tools make farming easier. b) Metal arms revolutionized war fighting. c) Specialized labor developed further. d) Metal ships revolutionized trade and naval warfare. e) Metallic coins facilitated trade.
(D) Construction of ships from metal required industrial techniques not developed until the nineteenth century when blast furnaces and theBessemer process for creating steel were developed. Before the Industrial Revolution metalwork was limited to projects by hand by a blacksmith.
Which is the name of the ancient Sumerian writing system? a) Hieroglyphics b) Ideograph c) Pictograph d) Cuneiform e) Phonetics
(D) Cuneiform emerged in the Sumerian civilization. A pictograph is a simplified visual representation of an object in written form, an ideograph is a symbol that represents a concept, a phonetic symbols represent sounds. Cuneiform was a pictographic writing system.
Which of the following early river valley civilizations developed in the greatest state of isolation from the others? a) Tigris River b) Euphrates River c) Indus River d) Huang He River e) NIle River
(D) Formidable mountain ranges and desert expanses separate the Chinese river valleys from the Middle East. However, archaeological evidence of long-distance trade connecting early Indus civilization and the Middle East has been found.
Which prominent Greek individual listed below was not part of a direct teacher-student relationship shared by the other four? a) Alexander the Great b) Socrates c) Aristotle d) Herodotus e) Plato
(D) Herodotus, sometimes called the "father of history," is not part of the chain of teacher that flowed from Socrates to Plato to Aristotle to Alexander.
Daoism was never a threat to dynastic rule because a) Daoist doctrine held that the emperor was holiest of all. b) Doaists believed the natural order required exploitation of the peasantry. c) Daoist religious leaders became the main advisors of the scholar-gentry. d) Daoist detachment from human affairs blunted the possibility of political threat. e) Daoists abandoned their faith in favor of Confucianism over time.
(D) Keep in mind that a Daoist is relatively detached or unconcerned with political or economic concerns that require a lust for power or wealth.
What conclusions can we draw about Babylonian society from the following excerpt from Hammurabi's Code? 221. If a physician heals the broken bone or diseased soft part of a man, the patient shall pay the physician five shekels in money. 222. If he were a freed man he shall pay three shekels. 223. If he were a slave his owner shall pay the physician two shekels. a) Babylonian medical practice was informed by study of microscopic germs. b) Babylonian physicians attended formal medical school for many years of training similar to doctors today. c) Babylonian physicians healed most cases of broken bones in Mesopotamia. d) Babylonian medical practice reflected prevailing patterns in social status. e) Babylonian doctors heeded the Hippocratic oath.
(D) Many portions of Hammurabi's Code make specific provisions based on the social class of the individuals involved. The passage provides no basis to make any other choices.
Before 600 CE, nomadic peoples of the Eurasian landmass a) Lived in a state of constant warfare with neighboring civilizations b) Were dependent on the camel for covering large distances c) Maintained strict isolation from nearby civilizations d) Interacted intermittently with civilizations, often through trade e) Continuously moved farther from civilizations into high mountain, sub-Arctic, and Arctic zones
(D) Nomads frequently served to communicate ideas and trends from one distant civilization to another. this helped to foster trade between civilizations.
What additional challenge do historians studying the Harappan civilization of the Indus River valley face that does not exist when studying Sumerian or Egyptian civilizations? a) Artifacts lie under layers of earth that must be carefully excavated by archaeologists. b) Religious prohibitions on interfering with the burial places of the Hindu dead slow excavation projects. c) Historians rely entirely on legends and oral history as no archaeological record of Harappan civilization exists. d) Harappan writing has never been deciphered. e) Political instability in the Indus River valley in the modern era has made sustained archaeological research impossible.
(D) One of the great unsolved mysteries of the ancient world is that Harappan writing has not yet been deciphered.
Which is the best estimate for the number of castes that have developed in India over the millennia? a) A handful b) Dozens c) Hundreds d) Thousands e) Billions
(D) Reflective of the generally decentralized nature of the Hindu faith, castes have developed on an occupational and village-by-village basis, making thousands the best choice.
Which of the following was NOT a unique advantage agricultural people enjoyed over hunter-gatherer groups as a sedentary lifestyle began to confront nomadic lifestyles after 8000 BCE? a) Immunities built up to a new diseases spawned in denser nodes of population b) Regular armed forces capable of sustained offensive and defensive campaigns c) Greater ability to store food in preparation for times of scarcity d) Higher levels of social equality and group cohesion e) Tools and weapons made of metal
(D) Sedentary society tended to give rise to social stratification, including slavery.
Which of the following is the least intensive and sophisticated agricultural practice? a) Use of chemical fertilizer b) Irrigation c) Terrace farming d) Slash and burn e) Three-field system
(D) Slash and burn requires the least manipulation of the natural world. Anthropological studies indicate that it is practice by populations in a transitional phase between nomadic and agricultural practices.
Which of the following best describes political patterns on the Indian subcontinent in the classical era 1000 BCE to 600 CE? a) Stateless societies b) Continuous dynastic rule under the Maurya Empire c) Decentralized rule by local princes lacking any form of subcontinent-wide authority at any point d) Decentralized rule by local princes punctuated by Maurya and Gupta periods of unification e) Representative democracy
(D) Tension between regional autonomy and central authority is an abiding theme in the history of the Indian subcontinent.
Which of the following was NOT an important basis for the higher socioeconomic status of the Chinese gentry? a) Control or ownership of extensive farmland b) Ability to afford preparation of gentry youth for civil service exams c) Durable positions as local tax collectors and intermediaries for the imperial center d) Commonplace advancement of women of the gentry class in the imperial bureaucracy e) Ability to call in military resource of the imperial state to put down local peasant rebellions
(D) The pervasive nature of Chinese patriarchy singles out this choice as the false one. As with many civilizations, women would have difficulty climbing the socioeconomic ladder for some time to come.
Which of the following qualifies as an example of Confucius's "Five Basic Relationships"? a) Ruler-subject b) Father-son c) Friend-friend d) Husband-wife e) All of the above
(E) According to Confucius, everyone had a specific role in society and, with that role, certain duties to complete. This would make it clear to all people as to what was expected of them so that order could be maintained.
Based on available knowledge, which of the following was NOT a part of Homo erectus' world? a) Tool making b) Language c) Bipedalism d) Hunting e) Agriculture
(E) Archaeological findings indicate that agriculture emerged roughly ten thousand years ago -- long after Homo erectus had gone extinct by all available data.
Which choice best describes the position of women in classical Athens in terms of divorce and property rights as compared to women in classical Roman society? Greek women had a) Far greater rights b) Somewhat greater rights c) About the same level of rights d) Somewhat fewer rights e) Far fewer rights
(E) Athenian women experienced a highly cloistered lifestyle even in relation to other women in the ancient world.
Which of the following choices contains beliefs systems that originated in China? I. Confucianism II. Legalism III. Daoism IV. Buddhism a) I, II, and IV b) I and II c) II and III d) I, II, III, and IV e) I, II, and III
(E) Buddhism came from India. the remaining choices are Chinese in origin.
Which beliefs do Hinduism and Buddhism have in common? a) Belief in the caste system b) Damnation for sinners c) Reverence for Muhammad d) Monotheism e) Reincarnation
(E) Buddhists carried over the belief in reincarnation from Hinduism
Which of the following was NOT a common trait of early civilizations? a) Writing b) Formal state structures c) Urban life d) Monument building e) Nomadism
(E) Civilization in this sense implies a level of complexity in social organization that requires a sedentary lifestyle.
Which of the following characteristics best explains the durability of Confucian ideology in Chinese history? I. Its ability to model large-scale relations between groups in the body politic on familial or personal relationships. II. Its ability to fulfill persistent desires of women for equality in gender relations III. Its ability to unify a massive imperial bureaucracy around a common set of moral precepts over time IV. A set of widely agreed-on and accepted essential texts, beginning with the Analects, which formed a common basis for study over time V. Its exclusively Chinese origin, which meshed well with prevalent notions of the superiority of the "Middle Kingdom" over other civilizations a) I, II, and V b) I, II, and III c) II, III, and IV d) III, IV, and V e) I, III, IV, and V
(E) For centuries before the modern times China was a male-dominated society. Knowing this, the mere presence of statement II invalidates all other choices.
Which of the following is associated with the "Out of Africa" thesis on human origins? I. Origin of anatomically modern humans in Africa II. Separate origins of anatomically modern humans across the Old World III. Evolution of Homo neanderthalensis into Homo sapiens a) I and III b) II only c) II and III d) I and II e) I only
(E) Genetic research supports the origin of anatomically modern humans in Africa, only.
Which major world religion lacks a central founding figure? a) Christianity b) Islam c) Judaism d) Buddhism e) Hinduism
(E) Hinduism relies on texts, the Vedas being key, as founding impulse, not the revelatory experiences of a prophetic or divine individual like the others listed in choices (A) through (D).
Which of the following was NOT a tactic used by Shi Huangdi to unify China into one empire? a) Relying mainly on diplomacy and not military force to achieve territorial expansion b) Appointing bereaucrats to rule the provinces, displacing regional aristocrats. c) Building the Great Wall to guard against invasion d) Establishing uniform currency and measurements e) Employing legalism as the star political philosophy
(E) Legalism prescribes harsh punishment to achieve order unlike Confucianism, which relies on filial obligation and was the guiding philosophy of the Qin dynasty that unified China for the first time. Confucianism was not established as the guiding philosophy of a unified central imperial state until the Han dynasty, one dynasty after the Qin.
The label "Paleolithic" sometimes serves as a substitute for which of the following? I. Bronze Age II. Iron Age III. Stone Age a) I and II b) II and III c) I and III d) I only e) III only
(E) Neolithic means "new stone age" and paleolithic means "old stone age." Neolithic has also become shorthand for "settled agricultural" and while some settled agriculturalists developed metal, preagricultural peoples generally did not for anything more than ornamental purposes.
Which of the following is NOT true of the ancient Egyptian pyramids? a) Served as tombs for pharaohs b) Were built by slave and corvee labor c) Are reflective of advanced geometric knowledge d) Contained numerous hieroglyphic symbols e) Were built under the influence of Chinese advisors
(E) No evidence supports the claim that the Chinese were involved with the building of the ancient Egyptian pyramids.
In Greek civilization, women a) Held slave status in ever household b) Enjoyed political equality with men c) Were afforded the same rights no matter the city-state in which they happened to reside d) Dominated trade e) Were considered inferior to men in both the private and public spheres.
(E) Referring to question 44, choice (E) is most true even taking into consideration variations across city-states.
Buddhism's rise is most accurately viewed as a modification of which of the following belief system? a) Confucianism b) Islam c) Christianity d) Daoism e) Hinduism
(E) Reviewing questions 67 and 71, Buddhism is viewed as a modification of Hinduism.
Which policy did both Roman and Han armies tend to implement upon taking control of a foreign land? a) Enslavement of the entire working-age population b) Repression of local worship and imposition of a state religion c) Cessation of trade contact with the rest of the world d) Construction of libraries and universities e) Relative autonomy for cooperative local elites
(E) Roman imperial rule depended on a combination of military occupation and local assistance.
Which of the following early crops was unique to the early civilizations of what would later be termed the New World? a) Oats b) Millet c) Barley d) Wheat e) Maize
(E) The "New World" refers to the Americas and the Western Hemisphere. Maize was an early crop that was unique to these civilizations.
Which of the following terms is NOT associated with classical Greek architecture? a) Doric b) Ionic c) Corinthian d) Parthenon e) Ziggurat
(E) The Ziggurats were massive monuments built during Sumerian and Mesopotamian times; Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian are all styles associated with columns, and the Parthenon is the most famous classical Greek structure to survive into the modern era.
Hellenistic culture brought together the traditions of which of the following regions? a) Mediterranean, Mesoamerican, sub-Saharan African b) Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, Scandinavian c) Mesoamerican, Scandinavian, Mediterranean d) East Asian, South Asian, sub-Saharan African e) Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, South Asian
(E) The rapid conquests of Alexander's armies fostered a Greek-directed sharing of ideas from the Indus River valley across the Middle East to the Mediterranean basin.
What economic effect did food surpluses have on early agricultural societies? a) Hunting animals was eliminated as a source of food. b) A social hierarchy developed with peasants on the top. c) The first long-distance trade networks were established. d) People abandoned all other trades to become farmers. e) Trade practices emerged with the capacity to feed artisans who then had time to practice craft specialization.
(E) This is the basic model of early labor specialization. For choice (C), archaeological digs of Paleolithic-era sites have revealed the presence of stone tools far from quarry locations, indicating long-distance trade was practiced. Choices (A), (B), and (D) are false.
Confucianism differed from Hinduism in that a) Confucianism held woman as a subordinate to men. b) Confucianism detailed the levels of the social hierarchy in more specific terms. c) Confucianism more clearly outlined guidelines for behavior. d) Confucianism was more oriented toward religious devotion and hereafter. e) Confucianism emphasized earthly obligations without regard to concerns relating to afterlife and rebirth.
(E) This is the crucial difference to keep in mind; all of the other choices are more true for Hinduism. Choice (A) is incorrect because both belief systems uphold patriarchal gender roles.
Which of the following political practices remained continuous from the period of the Republic into the period of the Roman Empire? a) Strict rules separating military service and political leadership b) Dominant involvement of the plebeian classes in state affairs c) Primacy placed in a Senate where state affairs were debated d) Imperial military assistance for slave uprisings e) Recruitment of local elites in recently conquered areas to represent the interests of the imperial center
(E) This practice never changed; (A) and (C) were discontinued, and (B) and (D) never happened in any way that survives in the historical record.
Stevens, Adam; editor - Evangelist, Thomas A. (2011-01-05). 5 Steps to a 5 500 AP World History Questions to Know by Test Day (5 Steps to a 5 (Flashcards)) (p. 131). McGraw-Hill Education. Kindle Edition.
Stevens, Adam; editor - Evangelist, Thomas A. (2011-01-05). 5 Steps to a 5 500 AP World History Questions to Know by Test Day (5 Steps to a 5 (Flashcards)) (p. 131). McGraw-Hill Education. Kindle Edition.
