omer study guide
"Many of us are dying in this epidemic—that is many of us are being liberated from the world. The epidemic is a pestilence for the Jews and pagans and the enemies of Christ, but for the servants of God it is a welcome event. True, without any discrimination, the just are dying alongside the unjust, but you should not imagine that the evil and the good face a common destruction. The just are called to refreshment, while the unjust are herded off to punishment: the faithful receive protection, while the faithless receive retribution." St. Cyprian, 3rd Century CE The author of the passage above believes that A. Christians have nothing to fear from the epidemic B. Jews and pagans are responsible for spreading the epidemic C. Virtuous people will recover from their illnesses, while evil people will die D. Epidemics are sent by God to punish sinners
A
21) What was the nature of the economy of the Abbasid period a. It was a period of general prosperity typified by urban growth and the restoration of the Afro-Eurasian trade axis b. There was a general crisis in the agricultural economy resulting from the constant warfare of the period c. Commerce was generally resuscitated during the Abbasid period, artisan production dropped off significantly d. Trade was initiated with Northern Europe
A
33) What was Muhammad's teaching with respect to the revelations of other monotheistic religions? a. Muhammad accepted the validity of earlier Christian and Judaic revelations and taught that his own revelations were a final refinement and reformulation of earlier ones b. Muhammad accepted the earlier Christian revelations, but rejected completely any influence from Judaism c. Muhammad accepted the early Judaic revelations, but rejected completely any influence from Christianity d. Muhammad stressed that only his own revelations had merit and that others were the work of the devil
A
36) The political and theological faction within Islam that recognized only Ali and the descendants of the family of Muhammad as rightful rulers were called a. Shi'as b. Kharij c. Sufi d. Sunni
A
40) The tributary system was a practice in which a. Countries acknowledged supremacy of the emperor based in China b. The emperor traveled to foreign countries to pledge his allegiance to them c. The emperor made a pilgrimage to please the gods and the ancient ancestors d. The emperor made an annual trip down the Grand Canal
A
45) Mayan contributions include a. Calendar b. Clock c. Water Wheel d. Crossbow
A
47) What accounts for the relative weakness of the Song Empire? a. The military was subordinated to the civilian administrators of the scholar-gentry, leaving the dynasty vulnerable to nomadic dynasties on the frontier b. It never succeeded in achieving the degree of centralization that had typified the Tang empire c. Lack of agricultural productivity produced a general failure of the Chinese economy during the Song dynasty d. The scholar-gentry quickly lost influence under the Song and the bureaucracy ceased to function effectively
A
49) All of the following are true about the Americas except a. While the Maya, Inca, and Aztec all had a number of different deities, they all shared the basic worship of the Jaguar b. Mayan technological and architectural accomplishments occurred without the use of the wheel or pulley c. Incans chose to focus on agriculture, rather than human sacrifices d. Leader of the Aztec's was chose initially by a council
A
52) The primary centers for agricultural production in Europe during the Middle Ages were a. Self-sufficient farming estates known as manors b. Scattered farms owned by the regional nobility c. Owned and controlled by the church d. Small farms owned by those who worked on them
A
60) Flying money can best be described as a. A form of credit that facilitated trade within China b. The loss of a money-economy during the European Dark Ages c. The justification used by Vikings for their raids d. The barter system used by the Aztecs since they had less agricultural resources
A
61) In 1215, King John of England signed the Magna Carta, which a. Affirmed that monarchs are subject to established law b. Stripped the nobles of their hereditary rights c. Confirmed the control of the church by the monarchy d. Provided that the king had free reign in tax matters
A
65) The Samurai Code a. Was known as bushido b. Urged warriors to take prisoners whenever possible c. Generated fierce independence from any lord or master d. Gave the emperor of Japan as much power in the Shogun had
A
66) Under the Pax Mongolica in the Great Khanate in China a. Kubilai Khan opened his court to outside influences b. East and West supported social programs and neglected the arts c. There were greater accomplishments and a longer time of peaceful rule than under either the Pax Romana or the Pax Sinica d. None of the above
A
Both Renaissance Italy and the Abbasid Empire in the mid-tenth century are important examples of which of the following a. Urbanization leading to distinct social classes based upon wealth b. Political Unity and a lack of cultural creativity causing social and economic decline c. The rise of secularism and distinct religious classes exerting great social and political power d. Political fragmentation causing uprisings
A
"They also treat the foreigners who vist them for the sake of trade with great cordiality and entertain them in the mose winning manner, affording htem evcery help and advice on their business. But on the other hand, they hate to see soldiers, and not least those of the Great Kaan's garrison, regarding them as the cause of having loste their native kings and lords." The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo "Their women are of surpassing beauty, and are shown more respect than the men. The states of affaris amongst these people is indeed extraordinary. Their men show no signs of jealousy whatever; no one claims descent from his father, but on the contrary from his mother's brother. A person's heirs are his sister's sons, not his own sons. This is a thing which I have seen nowhere in the world exept among the Indians of Malabar. But those are heathens; these people are Muslims, punctilious in observing the house of prayer, studying books of law, and memorizing the Koran. Yet their women show no bashfulness before men and do not veil themselves, though they are assiduous in attending the prayers." Ibn Battuta—The Travels in Asia and Africa Why did the people described in document one hate to see soldiers? A. They were suspicious of the military B. The soldiers were Mongols who invaded their lands C. They were suspicious of all foreigners D. They believed in peace
B
17) From 600 CE-1450, which of the following BEST describes the cultural impact of the spread of trade networks from the Middle East to regions such as West Africa and Southeast Asia? a. The introduction of new crops from the Middle East transformed the inhabitants into subsistence farmers b. Muslim merchant communities were established throughout the regions c. West African and Southeast Asian leaders engaged in a flowering of maritime exploration that led to new sailing innovations d. Syncretism between Christianity, Zoroastrianism, and local tribal religions occurred along regional trade networks
B
23) All of the following are pillars of the Islamic faith EXCEPT a. Recitation of the creed "There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is His prophet." b. Jihad c. Prayer five times a day d. Pilgrimage to Mecca
B
25) The later Byzantine Empire was culturally most associated with which civilization a. Greek b. Roman c. Western European d. Muslim
B
29) Women's roles ________________ upon the creation of the Islamic empires of the Umayyad and Abbasid a. Gradually strengthened b. Weakened c. Experienced no change d. Became comparable to their counterparts in Western Europe
B
30) What religion was most prominently diffused along the trans-Saharan trade routes? a. Christianity b. Islam c. Buddhism d. Judaism
B
42) By instituting the civil service examinations for entrance into the government bureaucracy, the Song a. Tried to limit the number of civil servants b. Recruited the most talented men for government service c. Ensured that only the wealthy elite would retain positions of power d. Permanently kept all members of the lower class from entering government positions
B
46) Which of the following did NOT occur as a result of the Aztec rise to power? a. The increasing dominance of the nobility b. The abandonment of human sacrifice c. The subsequent expansion of power and the boundaries of Aztec control d. A highly urbanized society
B
50) The mita system was a. The practice of human sacrifice in the Aztec civilization b. A labor system in the Incan empire that provided workers for government projects c. The name of the "ball game" of the Maya that sometimes resulted in death for the losers of the game d. The name given to the prisoners of war captured by the Aztecs
B
51) In what way did footbinding serve to diminish the independence of Chinese women by the end of the Song era a. Footbinding was required in order to practice certain professions, Chinese women found that occupational alternatives were diminished b. Footbinding sufficiently crippled women to effectively confine their mobility to their household c. Peasant women increasingly found themselves limited from contact with males who were not closely related to them d. Footbinding put poor women in the difficult position of finding employment within the home
B
53) The Aztecs met the challenges of feeding a growing population by a. Limiting the number of children in each family b. Building land reclamation projects, featuring dikes and chinampas c. Encouraging infanticide d. Developing drought resistance rice
B
55) The Equal Field System can best be explained as a. The decision to allow part of the land to remain uncultivated so that it could regain its fertility b. A land redistribution policy in China c. A method of crop cultivation that proscribed crop rotation to save the soil d. The process in European feudalism that allowed the nobles to consolidate most of the power in their own hands
B
59) What was the religious policy of the Mongol empire under Chinggis Khan a. He was converted to Islam later in his life b. He followed the shamanistic beliefs of his ancestors, but all religions were tolerated in his empire c. Under the influence of his wife, Buddhism became the state religion of the Mongol empire d. After the Russian campaign the Mongols became Orthodox Christians
B
64) The Southern Song a. Had its capital at Kaifeng b. Was founded after the last Northern Song emperor was taken into captivity by invaders c. Enjoyed little cultural achievement d. Was economically and culturally weak
B
"They also treat the foreigners who vist them for the sake of trade with great cordiality and entertain them in the mose winning manner, affording htem evcery help and advice on their business. But on the other hand, they hate to see soldiers, and not least those of the Great Kaan's garrison, regarding them as the cause of having loste their native kings and lords." The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo "Their women are of surpassing beauty, and are shown more respect than the men. The states of affaris amongst these people is indeed extraordinary. Their men show no signs of jealousy whatever; no one claims descent from his father, but on the contrary from his mother's brother. A person's heirs are his sister's sons, not his own sons. This is a thing which I have seen nowhere in the world exept among the Indians of Malabar. But those are heathens; these people are Muslims, punctilious in observing the house of prayer, studying books of law, and memorizing the Koran. Yet their women show no bashfulness before men and do not veil themselves, though they are assiduous in attending the prayers." Ibn Battuta—The Travels in Asia and Africa Why is Ibn Battuta surprised at the social behavior of the Sub-Saharan African women? A. The women are Sub-Saharan Africans B. The women practice animism C. The women are devoted Muslims D. The women are the political leaders
C
27) What was the principal advantage of the Islamic concept of the umma a. Provided for an annual treaty that would restore the trade routes of Arabia b. Provided dietary restrictions that allowed for more equitable distribution of food in Arabia c. Transcended old tribal boundaries and made possible political unity among Arab clans d. Emphasized the value of individualism and fostered self-reliance
C
32) What was the nature of pre-Islamic Bedouin religion? a. Most of the Bedouin were Christians b. The Bedouin were strictly monotheists who worshipped Allah c. Bedouin religion for most clans was a blend of animism and polytheism focusing on the worship of nature spirits d. Most of the Bedouin were Jews
C
34) The West African kingdom of Ghana was established because of the trade in a. Silk b. Diamonds c. Gold d. Silver
C
35) The office of the political and religious successor of Muhammad was called a. Wazir b. Karbala c. Caliph d. Abbasid
C
37) Which of the following is most correctly seen as a direct descendant of the Roman Empire? a. Ottoman Empire b. Abbasid Empire c. Byzantine Empire d. The Kievan State
C
39) The name normally given to the form of Christianity that emerged in the Byzantine Empire was a. Nestorianism b. Roman Catholicism c. Orthodox Christianity d. Solafideanism
C
41) The Maya were organized in a. A unified political system b. Separate cultural entities c. Rival kingdoms or city-states d. A confederation
C
43) Which are all important technological innovations that were developed during the Tang and the Song Empires? a. Silk, the Saddle, and Printing Press b. Battering Ram, Chariot, and Lateen Sail c. Stern-mounted Rudder, High-Quality Steel, and Gunpowder d. Polo, Calligraphy, and Greek Fire
C
44) One important characteristic of the Il-Khanate was a. Their refusal to participate in the trade of the Islamic Empire b. Their strong control over Russia and the Black Sea region of England c. Their willingness to convert to Islam d. Their view of government that encouraged foreigners (like Marco Polo) to work in the government
C
48) What led to the downfall of the Sui Dynasty? a. Nomadic invasions from the Jurchens b. Widespread Buddhist rebellion led by An Lushan c. Economic collapse due to the weak trade and high expenditures d. Creation of the Mongol states, led by the conquests of Genghis Khan
C
54) All of the following are true about the Mongol military EXCEPT a. Their reliance on horses for a military advantage b. Their superior bow and arrow (archery) technology c. Genghis Khan's belief that each tribe fought most effectively when led by their own clan/tribal leader d. Their ability to fight and ride at the same time
C
58) The khipus can best be described as a. The Mayan ball game b. The special merchant class in the Aztec civilization c. The system of record-keeping used by the Incas d. The priests in the Mayan society that encouraged the people to participate in a confessional system
C
I went one day to the dawn prayer in the mosque, following my usual practice and whine I finished the prayer one of those present mentioned to me that the sultan was in the mosque...when he rolse up from his prayer carper, I went forward to salute him...then he said to me in Turkish, "Blessed is your arrival." After I had saluted him, he questioned me about Mecca and Medina, Jerusalem...Damascus and Cairo...and the lands of the non-Arabs... 14) The above is most likely an excerpt from the writings of a. Marco Polo b. Vasco Da Gama c. Ibn Battuta d. Ibn Rushd
C
The richness and abundance of this great capital and its district is such as is indeed a wonder to behold...Thus trade has always been fostered by Timur...During all his conquests wheresoever he came he carried off the best men of the population to people Samarqand, bringing thither together the master-craftsmen of all nations...from Damascus he carried away with him all the weavers of that city...craftsmen in glass and porcelain, ...known to be the best in all the world...Of the nations brought here together there were to be seen Turks, Arabs and Moors, Christians...Greeks...Armenians, Catholics, Jacobites...markets of Samarqand further are amply stored with merchandise. Source: Ray Gonzales de Clavijo (1336-1405), the Spanish ambassador to Timur (a.k.a Taranerlane), wrote the following sometime around 1406, following his return from Samarqand. 15) The excerpt above supports all of the following EXCEPT a. Many economic interactions in Samarqand are numerous b. Forced assimilations might have occurred c. Currency was easy to exchange in Samarqand d. Trade fostered cultural tolerance
C
Which Mongol, attitude or policy does the quote above best reflect? A. The determination of the Mongols to eliminate polytheism B. The animistic nature of the traditional Mongolian religion C. The Mongol preference towards monotheistic religions like Islam D. The religious tolerance of Mongols, towards other peoples
C
"And Satan—the Pope of evil Rome—also came and proclaimed to all the nations believing in that stock of adultery that they should assemble and ascend to Jerusalem so as to conquer the city and journey at the tomb of the superstition whom they call their God. Satan came and mingled with the nations, and they gathered as one man to fulfill the command, coming in great numbers like the grains of sand upon the seashore, the noise of them clamorous as a whirlwind and a storm. When the drops of the bucket had assembled, they looked in anger at us...they said (about us): "Why should we concern ourselves with going to war against the Ishmaelites dwelling about Jerusalem, when here, in the midst, is a people who disrespect our god—indeed, their ancestors are those who crucified him. Why should we let them live and tolerate their dwelling among us?" (they asked) ...this is the persecution of our community." 2) The passage above is most likely written by which of the following people a. Christian Crusader b. Muslim living in Jerusalem and who witnessed cruelty by his God c. The Pope living in Rome d. A Jewish settler living in an area where the Crusaders visited
D
"They also treat the foreigners who vist them for the sake of trade with great cordiality and entertain them in the mose winning manner, affording htem evcery help and advice on their business. But on the other hand, they hate to see soldiers, and not least those of the Great Kaan's garrison, regarding them as the cause of having loste their native kings and lords." The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo "Their women are of surpassing beauty, and are shown more respect than the men. The states of affaris amongst these people is indeed extraordinary. Their men show no signs of jealousy whatever; no one claims descent from his father, but on the contrary from his mother's brother. A person's heirs are his sister's sons, not his own sons. This is a thing which I have seen nowhere in the world exept among the Indians of Malabar. But those are heathens; these people are Muslims, punctilious in observing the house of prayer, studying books of law, and memorizing the Koran. Yet their women show no bashfulness before men and do not veil themselves, though they are assiduous in attending the prayers." Ibn Battuta—The Travels in Asia and Africa What do the authors of these two documents have in common? A. They both were famous for traveling in Africa B. They both were merchants who traveled in Asia C. They bother served in the court of Kublai Khan D. The both wrote about other cultures from an outsider's perspective
D
...Muslims, Christians, and Jews lived together in peace. Because several Christian and Jewish prophets, including Adam, Abraham, and Moses, are named in the Qur'an and because the Jewish Torah and Christian gospels are recognized as revelations from Allah, the Muslim rulers called Christians and Jews "people of the Book" and permitted them much religious and personal freedom. Jews, especially, enjoyed many liberties, and many Jews distinguished themselves in science, the arts, and government. Convivencia, a Spanish word meaning "living together," helped make tenth-century Al-Andalus the most civilized country in Europe... --Lawrence Houghteling, "Al-Andalus: Islamic Spain," Calliope, Nov.-Dec. 1995 This passage expresses A.The living conditions which led to the start of the Crusades B. The political situation that led to the end of the feudalism C. The economic disparities that existed within areas with heterogeneous populations D. The cosmopolitan society that developed in Muslim-controlled areas
D
20) After Muhammad's death, the Muslim community began to be ruled by a caliph, who was a. A religious leader b. A political leader c. A reincarnation of Muhammad d. Both a religious and a political leader
D
24) Like Christians, Muslims profess all of the following beliefs EXCEPT a. Monotheism b. Resurrection c. The Last Judgement d. The Trinity
D
26) What was the nature of the citizenship in the Umayyad Empire a. Malawi were accorded full rights of citizenship b. The Umayyads recognized all residents of their empire, whether Muslims or "peoples of the book" as full citizens c. Arabs rapidly lost their dominance in the Umayyad empire to the native residents of Persia d. Only Muslim Arabs were first-class citizens of this great empire
D
28) The Byzantine empire fell to the Ottoman Turks in the year a. 711 b. 1258 c. 1326 d. 1453
D
31) How did contact with the Muslim world affect the African slave trade? a. Slavery was unknown in African society until the Muslims introduced it b. Despite the Muslim acceptance of slavery and its widespread use in Islamic society outside of Africa, Muslims generally refused to accept African slaves c. Muslims forced southern Africans to give up slavery d. With the Muslim conquests of North Africa and commercial penetration to the south, slavery became a more widely diffused phenomenon and the slave trade developed rapidly
D
38) The capital of the Byzantine Empire and its commercial center were located at a. Baghdad b. Jerusalem c. Rome d. Constantinople
D
56) The Japanese a. Rejected Chinese culture as foreign b. Pursued cultural diffusion with areas other than China c. Were resistant to foreign relations d. Were heavily influenced by Chinese culture
D
57) The advantages of Mongol rule were that a. It was democratic b. It always used local Chinese rulers to help the government run smoothly c. Mongol warfare resulted in little bloodshed d. It promoted the spread of ideas and movement of people in Eurasia
D
62) The Mongol naval campaign against Japan in 1281 a. Was a complete success b. Turned back because of diseases c. Was the largest seaborn expedition before WWII d. Was halted by a wind the Japanese called kamikaze
D
63) Manorialism can best be described as a. The extensive training system of knights b. The place where monks live and work c. The organization of people who fought in the Crusades d. The economic arrangement of feudalism
D
67) The Vikings a. Peacefully converted to Christianity after St. Patrick came b. Explored North America but did not establish any colonies c. Joined the ranks of the Crusaders d. Were raiders who threatened the lives and livelihood of Europeans
D
68) While the position of Aztec women in many ways paralleled that of women in other civilizations at a similar stage of development, what was the significant difference between the life of women in Mesoamerica and in the Mediterranean world a. Women in Mesoamerica participated fully in the military b. There was no polygamy practiced in Mesoamerica c. Aztec women were unable to inherit or to pass property on to heirs d. The limited technology of Mesoamerica confined women to many more hours grinding grain for food
D
All of the following led to a rise in urbanization in the period 600-1450 CE EXCEPT A. The end of invasions B. Warmer temperatures between 800 and 1300 C. Increased agriculture productivity D. Disease
D
Each of the following statements supports the need to start a new Periodization separating the classical world from the post classical world, except a. The start of the post classical era starts with the fall of the Han, Gupta, and Roman Empire b. Arabs and Islam starts to emerge c. Many new civilizations emerge d. The geographical area of study shrinks dramatically
D
The saltworks at the oasis of Taghaza After twenty-five days [from Sijilmasa] we reached Taghaza, an unattractive village, with the curious feature that its houses and mosques are built of blocks of salt, roofed with camel skins. There are no trees there, nothing but sand. In the sand is a salt mine; they dig for the salt, and find it in thick slabs, lying one on top of the other, as though they had been tool-squared and laid under the surface of the earth. A camel will carry two of these slabs. No one lives at Taghaza except the slaves of the Massufa tribe, who dig for the salt; they subsist on dates imported from the Dar'a and Sijilmasa, camels' flesh, and millet imported from the Negrolands. The negroes come up from their country and take away the salt from there. At Iwalatan a load of salt brings eight to ten mithqals; in the town of Malli [Mali] it sells for twenty to thirty, sometimes as much as forty. The negroes use salt as a medium of exchange, just as gold and silver is used [elsewhere]; they cut it up into pieces and buy and sell with it. The business done at Taghaza, for all its meanness, amounts to an enormous figure in terms of hundredweights of gold-dust. Ibn Battuta, Travels in Asia and Africa, 1325-1354 19) The passage above demonstrates all of the following about the travels of Ibn Battuta EXCEPT a. Coerced labor b. Long-distance trade c. Cross-cultural interaction d. Nationalism and industrialization
D
"And Satan—the Pope of evil Rome—also came and proclaimed to all the nations believing in that stock of adultery that they should assemble and ascend to Jerusalem so as to conquer the city and journey at the tomb of the superstition whom they call their God. Satan came and mingled with the nations, and they gathered as one man to fulfill the command, coming in great numbers like the grains of sand upon the seashore, the noise of them clamorous as a whirlwind and a storm. When the drops of the bucket had assembled, they looked in anger at us...they said (about us): "Why should we concern ourselves with going to war against the Ishmaelites dwelling about Jerusalem, when here, in the midst, is a people who disrespect our god—indeed, their ancestors are those who crucified him. Why should we let them live and tolerate their dwelling among us?" (they asked) ...this is the persecution of our community." 1) The passage above is most likely about which of the following events? a. The Crusades c. The Investiture Controversy b. The Mongol attacks d. Charlemagne's coronation
a
Which of the following is a trend most characteristic of the period 600-1450 CE? A. Nationalism B. Global Trade C. The expansion of world religions due to missionary activity, trade, and conquest D. Industrialization
c
