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. Taiwan - Singapore - Hong Kong - and South Korea. These nations have experienced rapid economic growth and prosperity due to industrialization - and were aligned both politically - and economically with the West throughout the Cold War






2. A system in government described by Baron de Montesquieu where legislative - judicial - and executive power is shared among the different branches to provide protection against abuses of power.






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






4. (1723-1790) British philosopher - writer - and economist. His book - The Wealth of Nations - describes his theory on free trade - otherwise known as laissez-faire economics.






5. The gradual change or development of something.






6. (1919-1980) - Dictator ruler of Iran from 1941 to 1979. He was supported by the United States throughout most of the Cold War due to his anti communist stance. Overthrown during the Iranian Revolution in 1979.






7. Affecting the underlying principles or structure of something.






8. (1958) A political revolution that removed the United States supported Fugencio Batista from power. The revolution was led by Fidel Castro who became the new leader of Cuba as a communist dictator.






9. The use of force to injure someone or to damage something.






10. 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.






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






12. 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.






13. (1807-1882?) Military leader whose Red Shirt army liberated most of southern Italy - before conquering the northern section. He was instrumental in the unification of Italy.






14. (1890-1969) Vietnamese leader Who is responsible for ousting first the French - then the United States from his country. Supported by both communist China and the Soviet Union - he guided Vietnam through decades long warfare to emerge as a communist






15. (1564-1616) English poet and playwright. He wrote 37 plays between 1590 and 1613. His plays reflect the ideas of individualism and the unconquerable human spirit - and most of them are still performed today.






16. A comedic book written by Miguel de Cervantes during the Renaissance. The title character is now used to refer to idealists that champion hopeless or fanciful causes.






17. (1847-1931) American inventor. He is best know for the electric light bulb - the phonograph - and the motion picture camera.






18. Nationalistic organization in India with the purpose of ending British control. Prominent members include Mohandas Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.






19. A part Confucianism where respect is paid to the parents.






20. A large temple dedicated to the goddess Athena on the Acropolis in Athens - Greece. It was built in the 5th century BCE - during the Athenian golden age.






21. The Chinese philosophy of Taoism (or Daoism) developed in the latter part of the Chou Dynasty - during a period of turmoil in which it was not clear that Chinese civilization would survive. It represents a naturalistic ideal of how one should live th






22. A political policy in South Africa where black South Africans could only live in certain areas - were required to use separate trains - beaches - restaurants - and schools - and could not enter into an interracial marriage.






23. A reusable space vehicle built by the United States.






24. The Geopolitical designation for Central and South America and the Caribbean Islands which were settled by the Spanish.






25. A terrorist organization based in Ireland which seeks to remove the British government from the Six Northern Counties which they control.






26. Theory of motion and energy developed by Albert Einstein in the 20th century.






27. (1929-1939) The dramatic decline in the world's economy due to the United State's stock market crash of 1929 - the overproduction of goods from World War I - and decline in the need for raw materials from non industrialized nations. Results in millio






28. A Mesoamerican civilization of Mexico who created a strong empire that flourished between the 14th and 15th century. The arrival of Hernando Cortez and the Spanish Conquistadores ended their empire.






29. (1295) English Parliament where bishops and abbots - peers - two knights from each shire - and two representatives from each town all met in modern format for the first time.






30. Term given to lands in present day Israel that is significant to Judaism - Christianity - and Islam.






31. Collection of moral and social teachings of Confucius - including the concept of the Five Relationships.






32. Term that ancient China used to refer to themselves. The believed they were the center of the Earth - or the Middle Kingdom.






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






34. A branch of mathematics pioneered by Islamic mathematician al-Khwarizimi in which letters are used to represent unknown numbers to generalize arithmetic.






35. Machine designed by Jethro Tull Which mechanically planted seeds.






36. Rrelating to a system that enforces laws.






37. A blending of Buddhism from India with Taoism from China. It is predominately practiced in China and Japan.






38. A political system in which a country is ruled by law - has representative government - and is democratic in nature.






39. 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






40. 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






41. A religious journey to visit a shrine or other holy site.






42. (1736-1819) Improved upon Newcomen's steam engine. Watt's steam engine would be the power source of the Industrial Revolution.






43. (1901-1989) Emperor of Japan from 1926 until 1989. He is the last Japanese emperor to be considered divine. Led Japan through World War II.






44. The right to vote in elections.






45. Mounted warriors.






46. Rights such as owning property - or the choice to be employed.






47. Monetary compensation to correct something that was done wrong.






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






49. The killing of large numbers of people






50. Name of German National Socialist Party - which gained control of Germany in 1933 under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.