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 valley that is carved out by the river. Often have fertile land - and are the sites for the earliest civilizations.






2. A system of government in which a country is ruled by a single person with absolute power.






3. (1450?-1500) Portuguese explorer who - in 1488 - was the first person to round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa.






4. Paper like material made from the reeds of the papyrus plant. It was used by the Egyptians for the writing and storing of documents.






5. (1867-1912) American inventor. He is best know for his work with his brother Orville in the development of the airplane.






6. A policy if the Truman presidency that called for supporting any nation resisting communism.






7. (287-212 BCE) Greek mathematician and inventor. He wrote works on plane and solid geometry - arithmetic - and mechanics. He is best known for the lever and pulley.






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






9. (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.






10. (1973) War between Israel and Egypt and Syria in which Israel defeated the two capturing land from each.






11. (1813-98) Inventor who developed a more cost efficient process for making steel.






12. 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






13. (330-1453) The eastern half of the Roman Empire - which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. Its capital was Constantinople - named after the Emperor Constantine.






14. In colonial Latin America - Spanish official sent to govern Latin American colonies. They controlled government completely.






15. (1841-1929) French Premier during World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles.






16. (558?BCE - 486BCE) King of Persia who expanded his empire to extend from the Mediterranean to the Indus River.






17. Power that is derived from a moving body of water - such as a river or waterfall.






18. 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.






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






20. During the late 15th century - they became King and Queen of a united Spain after centuries of Islamic domination. Together - they made Spain a strong Christian nation and also provided funding to overseas exploration - notably Christopher Columbus.






21. (1872-1916) Russian peasant and self-proclaimed holy man. He was friends with the ruling Romanov family - and sometime advisor to Czarina Alexandra. His advice was on of the factors leading to the Russian Revolution.






22. To treat unfairly due to a persons ethnic background - gender - religion - or age






23. To tame an animal to live with - or close to humans.






24. An enlightened despot who ruled over Russia. She is responsible for many positive changes in Russia - as well as securing the country a warm water port.






25. An international organization established to promote monetary cooperation - exchange stability - and economic growth. The IMF also works to lower unemployment and help countries in debt manage their finances.






26. (1857-1859) A revolt by the hired Hindu and Muslim soldiers of the British East India Company. It began as a result of the rifle cartridges that were distributed to the Sepoys had to be bitten to remove a cover before being inserted into a gun. Rumor






27. A state or country completely controlled by a single power - such as a monarch or dictator.






28. March the Mao Zedong and his Communist Party underwent to avoid being captured and killed by China's Nationalist Party.






29. A document published by the United Nations in 1948 stating that all people had certain basic rights including life - liberty - equality - justice and self determination. Source Document: Universal Declaration of Human Rights






30. A substance spread onto soil to increase its ability to support crops. Fertilizers include organic materials - such as manure - but can also be man made chemicals such as nitrates.






31. Lines of equal distance measured north and south of the equator.






32. A social - political - and economic system that dominated all aspects of medieval European life.






33. 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






34. (?-232 BCE) King of the Maurya dynasty. He ruled nearly the entire subcontinent of India. He also was instrumental in the spread of Buddhism after his conversion.






35. An economic system which is a combination of Market and Command economic systems where market forces control most consumer goods - but government directs industry in need areas.






36. British philosopher and writer Adam Smith's 1776 book that described his theory on free trade - otherwise known as laissez-faire economics.






37. 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.






38. Money that is used for investment.






39. Economic aid from the United States used to rebuild Europe after World War II. Named after United States Secretary of State George Marshall.






40. The right to vote in elections.






41. (1603-1867) Feudal Warlord rulers of Japan. Responisble for closing Japan off from the rest of the world. Overthrown during the Meiji Restoration.






42. A law code created by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian about 530 CE. It was a revision of the old Roman law system.






43. The belief in many gods or goddesses.






44. A small group of people from a larger group.






45. (circa 300 BCE) - Greek mathematician. Considered to be the father of modern geomertry.






46. Rights such as freedom of expression - education






47. Political revolution in Great Britain in 1688 that put William and Mary on the throne - while limiting the power of the monarchy and making Parliament supreme. This event marks the beginning of a constitutional monarchy in England.






48. Land that is able to support the growing of crops.






49. (10000 BCE - 5000 BCE) New Stone Age. A period of time in human history characterized by the development of agriculture and permanent settlements.






50. A person owing service to a feudal lord.