midterm history quiz questions
How did the Peace of Utrecht resolve the problem of 18th century succession to the Spanish throne? A- Louis XIV of France's grandson, Philip, was placed on the French throne with the agreement that the French and Spanish thrones would never be united. B- The German Habsburg Duke of Austria was placed on the throne after the death of his cousin, the Spanish Habsburg Charles II. C- The monarchy was abolished and Spain declared a republic. D- The leader of the Spanish House of Alva was placed on the throne by the nobility on offering guarantees that he would protect noble rights.
A
In England, what type of people spearheaded the effort to end the slave trade? A- Religious leaders B- large landowners C- textile workers D- enlightenment philosophies
A
It is estimated that what percentage of slaves died during the Middle Passage from Africa to the Americas? A- 10 to 20% B- less than 10% C- 20 to 30% D- 30 to 40%
A
Johannes Kepler believed that the elliptical orbit of planets A- produced a musical and numerical harmony of heavenly bodies. B- was interspersed with Ptolemaic epicycles and deferents. C- demonstrated the presence of Satan's disruptive influence in the universe. D- caused each planet to move at a uniform speed.
A
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen guaranteed A- equality before the law. B- the abolition of monopolies, guilds, and workers' associations. C- religious toleration to French Jews and Protestants. D- elimination of all barriers to trade within France
A
The English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes held that_____. A-the power of the ruler was absolute and its exercise prevented disorder and civil war. B-a constitutional monarchy was possible only in England a constitutional monarchy was possible only in England C- kings ruled by divine right. D-mankind is inherently good and requires no formal government.
A
The Ottoman Empire entered a period of prolonged decline beginning in the 1700s because ________. A- It was drawn into a series of unwinnable wars in Iraq B- It kept Russian influence out of the Black Sea trade. C- It reconquered territory once lost in Egypt and North Africa. D- It's efforts at colonizing in the Indian Ocean were destroyed by the Portuguese.
A
The discipline of natural philosophy focused on A- fundamental questions about the nature, purpose, and function of the universe. B- theological principles that can be discovered in the study of nature. C- the application of ancient philosophy to theological questions. D- specific natural laws that governed all matter in the material universe.
A
The most important factor in the emergence of the Italian Renaissance was the _______. A- great commercial and artistic revival in Italy. B- decline of religious feeling. C- creation of powerful, centralized monarchies. D- political disunity of Italy
A
What change within the Jewish community accompanied the Haskalah Enlightenment movement? A- Intellectual interactions between Jews and Christians increased, and rabbinic controls diminished. B- ews increasingly converted to Christianity as Judaism demanded faith over reason. C- Jewish community isolated itself from the Christian community as racial thinking emerged. D- The Jewish community sought to create an independent state that would not be subject to Christian laws.
A
What occurred during the Hundred Days in France? A- Napoleon returned from exile to rule France briefly. B- The sans-culottes committed the September Massacres. C- The Reign of Terror executed 30,000 people. D- Napoleon was driven from Russia.
A
What two fundamental principles of the French Revolution were incorporated into the Napoleonic Code? A- The equality of all male citizens before the law and the absolute security of wealth and private property B- The rejection of monarchy and the adoption of republicanism C- The abolition of slavery and the recognition of freedom of religion D- The ideal of nationalism and the guarantee of civil rights to all people
A
What was the Republic of Letters? A- A cosmopolitan network involving Philosophes in western Europe, its colonies, as well as eastern Europe, and Russia B- A source of funding for philosophes developed by Catherine the Great C- An organization established to assist with Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert's Encyclopedia D- A governmental system advocated by Rousseau in The Social Contract
A
Which correctly characterizes the Portuguese development of the slave trade in Africa? A- The Portuguese were displaced from slave trading in West and northern West Central Africa by other European powers but remained dominant in the southern portions of the continent as well as regions on the Indian Ocean coast. B- The Portuguese abandoned slave trading in South Africa due to the long travel distances but expanded slave trading in West Africa due to the availability of slaves from Islamic merchants. C- The Portuguese never established a primary slave trading region but consistently obtained slaves from many regions by moving along the coast. D- The Portuguese remained the dominant slave trading power in the northern African regions closest to Portugal, such as the Senegambian region, but were forced out of slave trading in Central and Southern Africa by the other European powers.
A
Which country spearheaded the trend in scientific expeditions? A- spain B- England C- italy D- austria
A
Which of the following was true of Napoleon Bonaparte? A- He won brilliant victories in Italy in 1796 and 1797. B- His campaign in Egypt was a great military success. C- He trained as a lawyer before joining the military D- He came from an impoverished Sardinian family
A
Which of these historically has not been considered to be a justification or factor for human enslavement? A- Race B- debt bondage C- apprenticeships D- prisoner of war
A
Why did the French commissioners in Saint-Domingue abolish slavery in 1793? A- They were desperate to rally the rebel slaves to the French cause against the Spanish and English forces on the island. B- They were captured by slave armies and forced to issue the edict abolishing slavery C- They were required by the Committee of Public Safety to apply the principles of liberty and equality to all French lands. D- The British and Spanish had already outlawed slavery; the French commissionaires feared a rebellion if they did not do likewise.
A
Why is the slave trade one of the most thoroughly documented activities of the early modern era? A- It was a highly profitable yet also a logistically complex activity. B- It was a source of international competition involving many states. C- Governments played the principle role in the trade as opposed to private businesses. D- Its questionable morality led those opposed to it to collect information to use against it.
A
After the arrest and deportation of Toussaint L'Ouverture, how was the war of Haitian Independence resolved? A- A rival to L'Ouverture, André Rigaud, defeated the French forces and declared Haitian independence. B- Jean-Jacques Dessalines, L'Ouverture's lieutenant, led the resistance to a crushing victory over the French and later declared Haitian independence. C- The Spanish invaded from their colony of Santo Domingo, defeated the French, and allowed the formation of the sovereign nation of Haiti. D- The British invaded Saint-Domingue and, after defeating the French, allowed the Haitians to form the sovereign nation of Haiti.
B
Francis Bacon formalized the research methods of Tycho Brahe, Galileo, and other astronomers into a theory of reasoning known as A- mercantilism B- empiricism C- naturalism D- dualism
B
The Reformation in England was primarily the result of _______. A- the terrible conditions then existing in the English churches. B- the dynastic, political, and romantic concerns of Henry VIII. C- efforts by Luther and his followers. D- the missionary activity of the Lollards.
B
What was the major breakthrough in energy and power supplies that catalyzed the Industrial Revolution? A- Thomas Newcomen's 1705 steam engine B- James Watt's development of the steam engine between the 1760s and the 1780s C- The use of running water to power cotton-spinning machinery D- The development of the internal combustion engine
B
What was the primary goal of Galileo Galilei's experimental method? A- To uncover the hidden forces that directed nature and that humans could manipulate B- To discover what actually occurred in nature rather than to speculate on what should occur C- To expose how the workings of nature demonstrated the presence of God D- To produce benefits for humankind rather than seek abstract knowledge
B
Which of the following correctly characterizes the response of various religious perspectives to Nicolaus Copernicus's hypothesis? A- Lutheran and Catholic officials rejected Copernicus's hypothesis as heretical to a literal interpretation of Scripture, while Protestants recognized a more modern approach to truth and adopted it. B- Protestants initially rejected Copernicus's idea that the earth moved, then accepted it. The Catholic Church largely overlooked his theory until declaring the hypothesis false in the seventeenth century. C- Protestant clerics rejected Copernicus, while Catholics embraced the interpretation as a new foundation for the heavens. D- The Catholic Church declared Copernicus a heretic, while Protestant faiths believed that the hypothesis had no bearing on Christian teaching.
B
Which of these in part helped to justify the growth of African slavery in the eighteenth century? A- The defense of social inequalities between men and women by certain philosophes B- The emergence of scientific racism C- The common philosophical belief that the masses were like children in need of firm guidance D- The bureaucratic reforms of practitioners of enlightened absolutism
B
Who invented the spinning Jenny? A- Samuel Crompton B- James Hargreaves C- Andrew Ure D- Richard Arkwright
B
How did Enlightenment thinkers differ from those of the Middle Ages and Renaissance? A- Enlightenment thinkers drew inspiration from classical antiquity, whereas the Middle Ages and Renaissance focused only on the Bible. B- Enlightenment thinkers relished artistic production, while the Middles Ages and Renaissance focused on penance and prayer. C- Enlightenment thinkers believed that their era had surpassed previous ones, demonstrating the possibility of a new idea - "human progress." D- Enlightenment thinkers rejected the basic tenants of Christianity and embraced a vision of a world without God.
C
How did French armies during the French Revolution offer a mixed message to the people they conquered? A- They chose not to seize territory permanently for France but began to appoint French military commanders as new nobles in conquered lands. B- They promised to retain local tradition and institutions but removed all of the older nobility and eliminated the power of the Catholic Church. C- They presented themselves as liberators to the peasants and middle class but seemed more like foreign invaders as they requisitioned food and supplies and plundered local treasure. D- They spoke of peace and prosperity but instituted harsh purges of all political opponents and high new taxes to pay for the army.
C
How did Isaac Newton's law of universal gravitation bring the Scientific Revolution to maturity? A- It provided evidence that proved the existence of God. B- It proved that the workings of nature could be understood without reference of God. C- It synthesized mathematics with physics and astronomy to demonstrate that the entire universe was unified into one coherent system. D- It demonstrated that the biological and physical properties of nature operated by different principles.
C
How did the Concordat resolve the crisis over Catholicism in France in the Napoleonic era? A- The Catholic Church was again recognized as the state religion, which all citizens had to embrace or face prosecution under the law. B- The Catholic Church promised to promote French nationalism, while the French state agreed to abandon efforts to control church doctrine. C- The Catholic Church gained the right to practice religion freely, while the French state gained greater control over the nomination of church officers and church activities. D- The Catholic Church reclaimed full authority over the appointment of church officials, while the French state gained the right to oversee church finances.
C
How did the Peace of Westphalia mark a turning point in European history? A- Religious toleration was adopted throughout France and the Holy Roman Empire. B- Central Europe emerged as an economic powerhouse. C-Large-scale armed conflicts over religious faith came to an end. D- German lands were finally unified under the German emperor.
C
Mary Astell's "A Serious Proposal to the Ladies" encouraged women to: A- concentrate on their roles as wives and mothers. B- consider alternatives to Christianity C- aspire to a life of the mind through education. D- reject the masculine world
C
The Edict of Nantes ______. A- permitted French Huguenots to worship wherever they wished as long as they continued to pay taxes to the Catholic Church. B- required all Catholic priests in France to swear an oath of loyalty to the king. C- granted French Huguenots the right to worship in 150 towns. D- ordered all French Huguenots to convert to Catholicism or leave France.
C
The idea of the public sphere that emerged during the Enlightenment refers to A- a government bureau that regulated the work of the philosophes. B- the practice of legislatures to permit citizens to make addresses before deputies. C- an idealized space where individuals gathered to discuss social and political issues. D- the marketplaces at which peasants gathered to gossip and share news.
C
Thomas Jefferson was a deist who viewed God as akin to a A- farmer who carefully tended his crops from planting through harvest. B- king who required Christians to be intolerant of any who did not worship him correctly. C- clockmaker who set the universe in motion and then ceased to intervene in human affairs. D- loving father who intervened when necessary in human affairs.
C
What was Napoleon's Grand Empire? A- An enlarged France and the independent but allied states of Austria, Prussia, and Russia B- An enlarged France, parts of northern Italy, and German territories on the east bank of the Rhine C- An enlarged France, a number of satellite kingdoms, and the independent but allied states of Austria, Prussia, and Russia D- An enlarged France and several satellite kingdoms, on the thrones of which Napoleon placed members of his family
C
Who forced the king and the royal family to abandon Versailles and return to Paris? A- The rioters of the Bastille B-The peasants involved in the Great Fear C- Several thousand Parisian women D- The National Assembly
C
Who wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Man (1790) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), the latter a founding text of the feminist movement? A- Olympe de Gouges B- Abigail Adams C- Mary Wollstonecraft D- Émilie du Châtelet
C
Who wrote the influential Historical and Critical Dictionary (1697)? A- Margaret Cavendish B- Baruch Spinoza C- Pierre Bayle D- John Locke
C
Why did members of the National Convention and Committee on Public Safety turn against Robespierre on the Ninth of Thermidor? A- They believed that Robespierre was soon to proclaim himself the new king of France. B- They believed that Robespierre had betrayed the revolution by accepting bribes from Great Britain. C- They believed that Robespierre might soon have them arrested and executed. D- They believed that Robespierre intended to extend the ideals of the Revolution so that slaves would be freed and Jews accepted as full citizens.
C
What was the goal of the Committee of Public Safety? A- To establish a secret police force in order to institute the Reign of Terror B- To investigate the army in order to weed out disloyal officers and ensure its obedience to the Legislative Assembly C- To build a coalition of provincial leaders in order to suppress rebellions in France D- To use dictatorial powers to respond to threats to France from without and within
D
Which of the following characterizes the role of Europe in the system of world trade prior to the voyage of Columbus? A- Europe served as the most important market for products because it produced few goods. B-Europe was the major western node of the trading system that produced high-quality textiles and metalwork desired by others. C-Europe provided the banking and financial services that sustained the world trading system. D-Europe was a minor trading power that produced few products desired by other civilizations.
D
Why did eighteenth-century Britain have a shortage of wood? A- The widespread building of canals and roads required large amounts of wood and had caused many forests to be cut through. B- The vast expansion of the British navy in the wars against France led to a problem of deforestation. C- The new industrial pollution began to destroy traditional old-growth forests. D- Wood had been over-harvested; it was the primary source of heat in all homes and a basic raw material in industry
D
How did Frederick "The Great" of Prussia, sustain agricultural production while dramatically expanding the size of his army? A- He ordered all Prussian men to undergo military training, after which they could return home and serve as army reservists. B- He required monks, priests, and other clerics to perform agricultural work when needed by local nobles. C- He purchased African slaves to sustain agricultural production while Prussian men trained for the military. D- He required women to work in the fields when their husbands served in the military.
A
How did agriculture in Central Africa change in the centuries following Columbus's voyages? A- Maize and potatoes became a staple crop through Central Africa. B-Central Africans expanded production of cassava to supply slave communities in the Americas. C- The tsetse fly was introduced into Africa, causing the death of livestock and the loss of fertilizer the livestock provided to agricultural fields. D- Sugar cultivation expanded into the tropical climates of the highlands.
A
How did the Turks' expansion of the Ottoman Empire and their conquest of the Byzantine Empire and its capital Constantinople in 1453 influence European exploration? A- It forced Europeans to search for alternate trade routes to China, bypassing the overland routes now controlled by the Ottoman Empire. B- It enhanced the influence of the Italian city-states of Venice and Genoa in the Eastern Mediterranean. C- It enhanced the trade routes with China and East Asia through the Middle East. D- It opened new trade routes to China over Central Asia.
A
What was the West African's best defense against both malaria and further European development the slave trade? A- sickle cell anemia B- unified African kingdoms C- islamic clerics D- the lack of excellent coastal ports
A
Copernicus's theory of the universe A- strengthened the Ptolemaic theory of the universe. B- postulated a sun-centered view of the universe. C- was endorsed by the Catholic Church. D- used epicycles to explain planetary motion.
B
The legal definition of the composition of the prerevolutionary third estate included A- members of the clergy B- everyone who was not a noble to member of clergy C- all commoners D- members of the nobility
B
Although perhaps best known as the long-time companion of Voltaire, Emilie du Châtelet, published: A-The Theory of Moral Sentiments. B- The Social Contract. C- the first translation of Newton's Principia into French. D- The Persian Letters
C
How did Napoleon consolidate his rule? A- He imposed harsh martial law that permitted no expression of dissent. B- He presented himself as a true Son of the Revolution in contrast to the corruption of the Directory. C- He appealed both to disillusioned revolutionaries and members of the old nobility and offered them high posts in the expanding centralized state. D- He expanded certain civil rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
C
In the wake of the Great Fear in the summer of 1789, the National Assembly restored order by A- reducing taxes on agricultural products. B- promising to reestablish the control on bread prices. C- abolishing all of the old noble and church privileges. D- calling up army and militia units to suppress the rebellious peasants.
C
According to its editor Diderot, the fundamental goal of the Encyclopedia was to: A- "improve the material life of Europeans." B- "popularize the Scientific Revolution. C-"undermine French absolutism." D - "change the general way of thinking."
D
After his victory over Sweden in 1709 at Poltava, Peter the Great built a new, Western-style city on the Baltic called __________. A-Leningrad. B-Moscow C-Narva D-St. Petersburg
D
At the time of his death, Columbus believed the islands he found were _______. A-isolated from any other land mass. B-settled by a civilization of vast wealth and sophistication. C-part of a new continent. D- off the coast of Asia.
D
The attack on the Bastille had what political effect? A- The Parlement dissolved the National Assembly until the people of Paris returned the Bastille to royal control. B- The peasantry revolted in the Great Fear and attacked noble manors across France C- The National Assembly dissolved the monarchy and arrested the king for treason against the nation. D- The king's plans to reassert his authority were forestalled, permitting the National Assembly to continue its work.
D
The concept of the "Reading Revolution" refers to the: A- invention of the printing press. B- spread of literacy among women C- acquisition of literacy by the masses. D- shift from reading Greek texts aloud as a family to reading religious texts individually.
D
The most influential aspect of René Descartes's theories of nature was that A- spiritual forces were infused throughout nature. B- mind and matter could be reduced to the same substance. C- true knowledge required the use of inductive reasoning. D- the universe functioned in a mechanistic fashion.
D