Test your basic knowledge |

Global History Basics

Subjects : literacy, history
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. (1564-1642) Italian astronomer. One of the founders of Europe's scientific revolution - one of his main contributions is the application of the telescope to astronomy. He was able to prove Copernicus' heliocentric model correct.






2. The movement initiated by the Catholic Church to contain the Protestant Reformation and - if possible - end it.






3. A political and social protest by university students in Beijing - China in 1989. The protest called for political and social reforms and resulted in the government using the military to end it - which caused hundreds of deaths - thousands of injured






4. The acting of overthrowing a government in favor of another - usually through violent means.






5. (1986) This accident release large amounts of radiation that not only affected the immediate area - (Ukraine -) but also was carried on strong winds across many countries in Europe. The effects of this accident have to date been an increase in cancer






6. The cultural mixing of both ancient Greek and Roman traditions.






7. The respect or devotion that others show someone or something






8. A vast financial resource owned and controlled by its membership of over 180 countries. The purpose of the bank - established in 1944 - is to provide loans and economic advice to its member countries. In 2001 - the bank provided over 17.3 billion dol






9. A person who makes quality - practical or decorative goods.






10. The ritual suicide of a wife after her husband's death in Hindu/Indian culture.






11. The widespread destruction of the world's forests. One of the largest areas of destruction are the tropical rainforests. These forest are cut down for the hardwood lumber - to clear space for farming - for building settlements - and for grazing anima






12. In China - it was an exam based on Confucian teachings that was used to select people for various government service jobs in the bureaucracy.






13. An alliance that was made up of France - Russia - and Great Britain during World War I.






14. (1879-1955) American scientist best known for his theory of relativity.






15. (1905) The treaty that ended the Sino-Japanese War. It granted Japan Chinese port city trading rights - control of Manchuria - the annexation of the island of Sakhalin - and Korea became its protectorate.






16. (1859-1906) French scientist. He is best known for his work with his wife Marie in the field of radioactivity.






17. The first half of the Christian Bible - that describes the creation of the world - the history of ancient Israel - the Ten Commandments - and contains the Psalms and the prophetic books. Also is the Hebrew Torah.






18. (1914 - 1918) European war in which an alliance including Great Britain - France - Russia - Italy - and the United States defeated the alliance of Germany - Austria-Hungary - Turkey - and Bulgaria.






19. (1966-1976) Political policy in started in China by Mao Zedong to eliminate his rivals and train a new generation in the revolutionary spirit that created communist China. The Cultural Revolution resulted in beatings - terror - mass jailings - and th






20. Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans.






21. In Buddhism - spiritual enlightenment.






22. An epic poem written by Dante during the Renaissance.






23. An alphabet created by Eastern Orthodox monks for the Slavic language. It is based on Greek - and still used through the various Slavic countries today - such as Russia.






24. A book of political advice written by Niccolo Machiavelli during the Renaissance in which he describes the methods that a prince should use to acquire and maintain political power. This book was used to defend policies of despotism and tyranny. Machi






25. An economy based on free trade and supply and demand.






26. (1870-1924) Russian revolutionary leader and political theorist. He was the first leader of the new communist government of Soviet Russia. Later - He was also the first leader of the Soviet Union - which was composed of most of the republics of the f






27. Something of value that is owned by a person.






28. The mass movement of people from one area to another.






29. (1925-1998) Leader of Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. Pol Pot is responsible for the deaths of almost 2 million of his own people due to starvation - execution - and beatings.






30. Theory of the universe that states the earth is the center - and that the sun revolves around it.






31. Japanese city devastated during World War II when the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on Aug 8th - 1945.






32. (1894?-1978) Independence leader who help lead Kenya out of European imperialism after World War II.






33. (1863-1947) American Industrialist. Ford is best know for his innovations in the auto manufacturing industry. His company was the first to use an assembly line for production.






34. A nation governing itself independently from a centralized point.






35. The extinct language of ancient India. Spoken between fourteenth and fifth centuries BCE. Still used today in classic literature.






36. Blood and Iron policy of Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck to unify all of Germany under Prussian control and build and expand it into a great empire. Very successful.






37. Financial protection on property or people against loss - theft - or death.






38. An economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. Also promotes a free market regulated by supply and demand.






39. In ancient China - they were pieces of bone or turtle shell used by Shang priests to tell the future. They would write a question addressed to either one of the gods - or an ancestor on the bone - then heat it until it cracked. They believed that by






40. (1215-1294) Grandson of Genghis Khan and founder of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty in China.






41. A drainage ditch used to help control flooding.






42. A hemispherical roof.






43. A device used to determine latitude by observing the altitude and position of the sun or other start or planet.






44. Political and Religious revolution in England between 1640 and 1660. The monarchy was abolished in favor of a Republic led by Oliver Cromwell. It ended with the seating of Charles II on the throne. Also known as the English Revolution.






45. Italians City-States which were the center of the rebirth of European trade and culture at the end of the Middle Ages.






46. A 3 line poem that has 17 syllables in the Japanese language - and expresses a single thought - feeling or idea.






47. Economic portion of feudalism where all aspects of life were centered on the lord's manor including peasant villages - a church - farm land - a mill - and the lord's castle or manor house.






48. (551-479 BCE?) Chinese philosopher and writer of The Analects - a collection of moral and social teachings - including the concept of the Five Relationships. Also known as Kong Fu Zi.






49. Roman Catholic religious order founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1540 to setup schools and serve as missionaries - spreading church teachings.






50. The burning of a dead body until it turns to ash.