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. A person owing service to a feudal lord.






2. Chemical compound that burns very quickly. Used in weaponry.






3. (1889-1964) Indian nationalist leader and the first prime minister of independent India from 1947 to 1964. Along with Mohandas Gandhi - He was instrumental in freeing India from Britain's control.






4. Relating to a system that makes laws.






5. Japanese city devastated during World War II when the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Aug 6th - 1945.






6. A catch all phrase for the trade occurring between Europe - Africa - and the Americas. Trade goods include raw materials from the Americas - manufactured goods from Europe - and slaves from Africa.






7. (1810-61) Prime Minister of Sardinia - a large Italian State. He formed alliances with other foreign powers to help end Austria's and Spain's control. Instrumental in the unification of Italy.






8. Dutch descended colonist living in South Africa. Also called Boers.






9. The re-conquest of Spain by the Christians after centuries of Islamic domination.






10. A system of government in which a single - totalitarian - party holds power. It is characterized by state control of the economy - and restriction on personal freedoms. It was first proposed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The Communist Manifest






11. A device used to make thread.






12. (1899-1902) War between Great Britain and the Boers in South Africa over control of rich mining country. Great Britain won and created the Union of South Africa comprised of all the South African colonies.






13. An early trading civilization located in present day Lebanon and Syria along the Mediterranean. They produced various products - such as glass - papyrus scrolls - and dyes - and established trade across the entire Mediterranean Sea. The Phoenician tr






14. The ninth month of the Muslim calendar. All Muslims must fast during daylight hours - except the very young or sick.






15. (1881-1955) English scientist who - in 1928 - observed that a mold called Penicillium killed germs. This discovery resulted in the development of antibiotics - which attack or weaken bacteria that cause many diseases. Antibiotics were not widely used






16. An independent Polish labor Union which fought against communism in Poland in the 1980s. Most notable for helping to end communism in Poland and throughout Eastern Europe.






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






18. An independent state or country.






19. 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






20. Hindu god called the Destroyer. Shiva is the third member of the triad that includes Brahma the Creator and Vishnu the Preserver.






21. (1469-1527) Italian historian - statesman - and political philosopher of the Renaissance. His greatest work is The Prince - a book of political advice to rulers in which he describes the methods that a prince should use to acquire and maintain politi






22. First new government during the first stage of the French Revolution.






23. Judaism is the oldest known monotheistic religion still practiced in the world today. Its fundamental teachings have been influential and are the basis for more recently developed religions such as Christianity and Islam. Judaism teaches that there i






24. Leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Chosen by the College of Cardinals.






25. During the Industrial Revolution - it was the consolidation of many small farms into one large farm - which created a labor force as many people lost their homes.






26. Mutual assistance or reliance between two or more parties.






27. Time period in European history between the fall of Rome in 476 C.E. and the beginning of the Italian Renaissance in the early 15th century.






28. (1834-1900) German inventor. He is best know for his work in the development of the gasoline internal combustion engine.






29. (1856-1924) President of the United States during World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles. He also proposed a regulating body of nations to avoid future conflicts through diplomacy in his 14 Points Speech.






30. (1773-1859) Chancellor of the Astro-Hungarian Empire between 1821 and 1848. He was the most powerful political figure in Europe between 1814 and 1848. He was driven from power in the Revolutions of 1848.






31. A political revolution in China led by Mao Zedong. After several years of fighting the Kuomintang - the communists won control of the country in 1949.






32. Code of behavior for followers of Buddhism.






33. The bringing in of goods from another country for sale or trade.






34. Members of the upper class in some social class systems.






35. A triangular shaped building.






36. Concept of John Locke's that states all people have the right to life - liberty - and property.






37. April 3rd of 1919. British soldiers killed close to 400 unarmed Indian men - women - and children - and wounded 1 -100 more. People had gathered in the center of town to protest British occupation of their country - and to demand equality. This was a






38. (1743?-1803) Revolutionary leader Who is responsible for ousting France from Haiti during the Latin American Revolutions in the early 19th century.


39. Prime Minister - or chief executive of a country or nation state.






40. A canal linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It was a vital trade route in the British Empire during imperialism - and continues to link North Africa and Europe to Asia today.






41. Hereditary nation state centered in Turkey. It was founded in the late 13th century after the collapse of the Byzantine Empire and extended across most of Asia Minor and the Middle East. The Ottoman Empire collapsed shortly after World War II.






42. (1491-1547) King of England who transformed his country into a Protestant nation during the Reformation.






43. Ethnic group of indo-European descent which includes Russians - Bulgarians - and Poles.






44. Widespread hunger caused by the near complete lack of food.






45. A cold war policy that called for containing communism to areas already under its influence. This policy was proposed by U.S. President Harry Truman.






46. Effort in God's service waged by Muslims in defense of the Islamic faith.






47. German word meaning lightning war. It was a German army tactic during World War II which called for quick moving - hard hitting drives into enemy territory.






48. Rights such as voting - and the ability to hold public office.






49. Hindu for 'enlightened one.' See also Siddhartha Gautama.






50. (1904-1905) War between Russia and Japan over imperial possessions. Japan emerges victorious.