Western Civilization Midterm Quiz Questions and Solutions, Exams of History

Download Western Civilization Midterm Quiz Questions and Solutions and more Exams History in PDF only on Docsity! Western Civ Midterm Quiz Questions and Complete Solutions Graded A+ All of the following are believed to be developments of the Paleolithic Age except A. the controlled use of fire B. the regular production of food through agriculture C. a social system with rough equality between the sexes D. the utilization of tools E. origins of religious and decorative art - Answer: B. The regular production of food through argiculture Unlike the rivers in Mesopotamia, the Nile River A. is subject to violent, unpredictable floods B. floods predictably at the same time every year C. never rises or falls, but flows steadily year-round D. was a dry shell for ten months of the year E. frequently goes dry, leaving the land barren - Answer: B. Floods predictably at the same time every year In ancient civilizations, bronze would replace copper because A. bronze ore was easier to find B. it was prettier and therefore made prettier jewelry C. bronze was harder and more durable D. copper tools and weapons became too soft because of the hot weather of the Middle East E. bronze took less time to smelt - Answer: C. Bronze was harder and more durable The early Neolithic era saw A.all of the above B. the domestication of the horse in ancient Egypt C. the appearance of cities and urban life D. the smelting of iron E. a slow transition from hunting and gathering to an agricultural society - Answer: E. A slow transition from hunting and gathering to an agricultural society The term "civilization" refers to human societies which, amongst other features, A. have learned to live in peace with their neighbors B. have an urban focus and a distinct religious structure C. have given up religion and adopted rational thinking D. have art and music E. support themselves mainly by trading and manufacturing - Answer: B. Have an urban focus and a distinct religious structure The Sumerians A.defeated the Hittites in 2600 B.C. B. had a complicated religion with a sophisticated belief in life after death C. were plagued by incessant warfare between their many city-states D. built damns and irrigation canals along the Indus River E. were warriors who instituted totalitarian government - Answer: C. were plagues by incessant warfare between their many city-states E. Canaan and Palestine - Answer: A. Israel and Judah The destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and the Babylonian Captivity of the Hebrews occurred at the hands of the A. Assyrians B. Philistines C. Chaldeans D. Persians E. Sea Peoples - Answer: C. Chaldeans The greatest international sea traders of the ancient Near East were the A. Phoenicians B. Sea Peoples C. Carthaginians E. Philistines F. Canaanites - Answer: A. Phoenicians The Assyrians are important in history for their innovations in A. empire building B. urban architecture C. religion D. trade and commerce E. fine art and literature - Answer: A empire building All of the following helped make Assyria an efficient military machine except for A. ruthless leaders B. superior, diversified tactics C. terrorist actions D. humane treatment of prisoners E. iron weapons - Answer: D. humane treatment for prisioners The Persian Royal Road stretched from Sardis to the capital at A. Ephess B. Susa C. Persepolis D. Athens E. Byblos - Answer: B. Susa The elite infantry of the Persian army were known as the? A. Invisibles B. Praetorian Guard C. Immortals D. Assassins E. Marines - Answer: C. Immortals Zoroastrianism was A. atheist B. dualist C. monotheist D. polytheist E. agnostic - Answer: C. monotheist All of the following are prominent features of Greece's topography except A. mountains B. bays and harbors C. valleys D. extensive open plains E. long seacoast - Answer: D. extensive open plains The immediate cause of the Persian Wars was A. a revolt of the Ionian Greek colonies in Asia Minor B. the Persian defeat of Sparta C. the Ionian invasion of Persia D. the capture of the Persian queen by Aristagoras of Miletus - Answer: A. a revolt of the Ionian Greek colonies in Asia Minor In general, separate early Greek communities A. established formal federations early in Greece's history B. became fierce rivals fighting so often as to threaten Greek civilization itself C. developed close ties and cooperated with one another D. avoided all contact to appease their city gods E. exchanged diplomatic representatives only - Answer: B. became fierce rivals fighting so often as to threaten Greek civilization itself Which of the following statements best describes the Mycenaeans? A. They were a warrior people who achieved their apex between 1400 and 1200 B.C. C. He abandoned the phalanx formation as too ineffective and inefficient D. His warriors used a longer thrusting spear, double that of the Greek hoplite. - Answer: C. he abandoned the phalanx formation as too ineffective and inefficient Which of the following statements best describes Hellenistic cities? A. urban centers, where the inhabitants spoke only their native tongue. B. small and governed by a military elite. C. most were ruled by non-Greeks. D. important centers of administration, most of which were dominated by Greeks and Greek culture. - Answer: D. important centers of administration, most of which were dominated by Greeks and Greek culture In his Philippics, Demosthenes A. praised Philip II for freeing the Ionian cities. B. glorified the Macedonian armies as the saviors of Greece. C. foresaw a revival of Athenian culture under Philip II. D. portrayed Philip II as a looming threat to Greek freedom. - Answer: D. portrayed Philip II as a looming threat to Greek freedom At the Battle of Chaeronea (338 B.C.E.), Philip II A. was killed, leaving Alexander in control of Greece. B. defeated the Greek poleis, ending their independence. C. suffered a humiliating defeat. D. drove the Persian navy out of the Aegean Sea. - Answer: B. Defeated the Greek poleis, ending their independence At the Battle of Gaugamela, A. the Greeks under Alexander were able to break the center of the Persian line and with boldness turn the battle into a rout. B. Alexander determined that the battle should be fought on a narrow plain, negating the numbers of the Persians and the importance of the war chariots. C. Alexander was forced to retreat back to Susa. You Answered D. Alexander was able to win a close victory by bringing up cavalry at the last minute. - Answer: D. Alexander was able to win a close victory by bringing up cavalry at the last minute Alexander the Great's conquests in Asia occurred despite A. the Persian king Darius III's refusal to make any peace settlements and resort to guerilla warfare. B. his eventual difficulties in convincing his troops to fight so far from home. C. his having no military expertise prior to his father's assassination. D. the lack of a strong cavalry and inability to capture Egypt. - Answer: B. his eventual difficulties in convincing his troops to fight so far from home In establishing his empire, Alexander the Great A. all of the above. B. combined Greek and Persian practices to allow its administration. C. saw himself as a descendant of Greek gods and heroes. D. allowed intermarriage between his soldiers and native Persian women - Answer: A. all of the above The Hellenistic era describes an age that saw A. the absence of autocratic power for nearly three centuries. B. the disappearance of a Greek cultural legacy until Roman times. C. the extension and imitation of Greek culture throughout the ancient Near East. D. Alexander's successors maintain a united empire until Roman times. - Answer: C. the extension and imitation of Greek culture throughout the ancient Near East. The Greek general who took Egypt after Alexander's death and converted it into the first Hellenistic kingdom was A. Ptolemy B. Seleucis C. Bucephalus D. Antigonis - Answer: A.Ptolemy The famous Indian ruler who sent Buddhist missionaries to Greek rulers was A. Asoka B. Akbar C. Bodhisattva D. Shiva - Answer: A. Asoka For the Romans, Italy's geography A. provided little productive land for agriculture B. divided the peninsula into small isolated communities C. made Rome a natural crossroads and an area easy to defend D. made the conquering of the Mediterranean a difficult task - Answer: C. made Rome a natural crossroads and an area easy to defend The result of the Third Punic War was A. the complete destruction and subjugation of Carthage B. the sacking of Rome The Second Punic War saw Carthage A. capture and sack the city of Rome B. precipitate the war by encroaching on Roman Gaul C. carry a land war to Rome by crossing the Alps D. try to force a naval war in the Mediterranean as a precursor to invasion of Italy - Answer: C. carry a land war to Rome by crossing the Alps The Roman Senate under Augustus was A. a full and equal partner of the princeps. B. stripped of all but the most superficial of powers. C. retained as the chief deliberative body of the Roman state. D. completely dissolved and eliminated. - Answer: C. retained as the chief deliberative body of the Roman state. The most important figure in early Christianity after Jesus was A. Mary Magdalene B. the Apostle Peter C. Paul of Tarsus D. John the Baptist - Answer: C. Paul of Tarsus The Senate granted Octavian the title Imperator (Emperor) but he preferred to be addressed as A. princeps B. senator C. pontifex D. overlord - Answer: A. princeps The colonies of veterans established by Augustus throughout the empire proved especially valuable in A. attracting new recruits to the army from frontier provinces B. Romanizing the provinces C. getting rid of external threats D. drawing extra criticism to the emperor - Answer: B. Romanizing the provinces The Roman praetorian guards were A. mobile units meant to patrol the boundaries of the empire B. elite troops given the task of protecting the emperor C. stationed along Hadrian's Wall in northern Britain D. cavalry used to spearhead military offensives - Answer: B. elite troops given the task of protecting the emperor When Augustus died, who chose his successor? A. The Praetorian Guard B. The army C. The Senate D. Augustus himself - Answer: D. Augustus himself Which of the statements best describes the Julio-Claudian emperors? A. undid all the military reforms of Augustus B. varied in ability and effectiveness C. were responsible for a tremendous amount of social legislation D. were all competent rulers - Answer: B. varied in ability and effectiveness Hadrian's wall was built to protect A. Roman Britain B. Gaul C. Rome itself D. Alexandria - Answer: A. Roman Britain All of the following occurred during the reigns of the five "good emperors" except for A. extensive building programs B. the halting of imperial bureaucratic growth C. being a period of peace for approximately 100 years D. the establishment of educational programs for the poor - Answer: B. the halting of imperial bureaucratic growth The "good emperor" Marcus Aurelius was regarded as a philosopher king deeply influenced by the principles of A. Zoroastrianism B. Christianity C. Stoicism D. Epicurianism - Answer: C. Stoicism