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






2. A system of writing which uses pictures for concepts and ideas.






3. The end of a river where rich deposits of silt build up. This is important to human habitation due to the excellent source of good farmland.






4. (1918-1981) President of Egypt between 1970 and 1981. He was assassinated by Islamic fundamentalists for making peace with Israel.






5. The large scale buying of goods and/or services.






6. Somebody who communicates with the spiritual realms on behalf of the living. Seen in many Animistic types of belief systems.






7. (1948-49) War between Israel and the Arab world over the formation of the nation of Israel.






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






9. A person who designs buildings.






10. (1167?-1227) One of the Mongol's greatest leaders and founder of the Mongol Empire.






11. To adopt western ideas and culture.






12. (100?-170 CE) Greek astronomer - mathematician - and geographer. His geocentric model of the universe lasted until the 16th century.






13. (1871-1948) American inventor. He is best know for his work with his brother Wilbur in the development of the airplane.






14. Nomadic warriors from Central Asia who migrated into India around 1500 BCE. They are responsible for many aspects of current Indian culture including their language - sacred texts called the Vedas - and a system of government that later evolved into






15. A political system in which the government is under the control of the merchant class.






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






17. 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






18. (1254-1324) Italian explorer and author. He made numerous trips to China and returned to Europe to write of his journeys. He is responsible for much of the knowledge exchanged between Europe and China during this time period.






19. (1778-1850) Latin American revolutionary. He is one of the main leaders of the Latin American independence movement.






20. Jewish scholar charged with conducting religious services - ensuring that Jewish laws are observed - and serving as a spiritual guide for the community.






21. A group formed in protest of the policy of Apartheid in South Africa. It was eventually outlawed due to their violent tactics - and Nelson Mandela - one of its leaders - was imprisoned for over thirty years.






22. A belief system which blends Hindu traditions with Islamic monotheistic traditions. Based in India and Pakistan.






23. Name of the Russia Parliament.






24. (1371-1433?) Chinese naval explorer who sailed along most of the coast of Asia - Japan - and half way down the east coast of Africa before his death.






25. A Buddhist shrine or temple in India. This form of architecture made its way to China where it was altered slightly and renamed the pagoda.






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






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






28. A promise made by British Prime Minister Balfour to create a homeland for the Jewish people.






29. Ethnic group that lives in parts of Iraq and Turkey. They often suffer persecution in both countries - and are currently under the protection of the United Nations in Iraq.






30. See Confucius






31. A society or political/social system in which women hold the power.






32. This was an economic philosophy begun by Adam Smith in his book - Wealth of Nations - that stated that business and the economy would run best with no interference from the government. This economic system dominated most of the Industrial Revolution.






33. American space agency responsible for administrating the United State's space program.






34. (1894 -1918) Serbian nationalist/terrorist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914. This event resulted in the start of World War I.






35. 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






36. A triangular shaped building.






37. (1527-1598) King of Spain from 1556 to 1598. Absolute monarch who helped lead the Counter Reformation by persecuting Protestants in his holdings. Also sent the Spanish Armada against England.






38. 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.






39. (1480?-1521) Spanish explorer Who was the first to circumnavigate the globe.






40. Feelings of loyalty to individual tribes - and the cause of much war and strife in modern Africa.






41. Money that is used for investment.






42. The average weather in a region.






43. (1794-1876) Mexican general and dictator who controlled Mexico for more than 25 years. Lost war against the United States which cost Mexico present day California - Nevada - and New Mexico.






44. Term given to poor areas of town where Jews were sent during World War II.






45. (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.






46. A moving body of water that usually has its source in an area of high ground.






47. (1904-1997) Chinese Communist leader. Ruled from 1978 until 1997.






48. (1879-1953) The General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party from 1922 until 1953. Known for his brutality in dealing with opponents and his failed policies of collectivism that caused widespread famine across the Soviet Union.






49. The process of dying due to lack of food.






50. An organization attached to the united Nations that is concerned with the health and well being of all people. The organization works in developing nations to curb disease and other health related problems.