Name: 
 

The Middle Ages for World Civilizations



Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 

 1. 

All of the following are true of the Black Death EXCEPT
a.
Jews were often blamed for it.
b.
it killed as much as one-third of the population.
c.
it tended to spread along trade routes such as the Silk Road.
d.
it was spread exclusively by rats.
 

 2. 

Who of the following was one of the most important writers of the Italian Renaissance?
a.
Petrarch
b.
Pope Julius II
c.
Marco Polo
d.
Shakespeare
 

 3. 

What female helped to unify France in the Hundred Years’ War?
a.
Anne of Paris
b.
Marie Antoinette
c.
Helen of Troy
d.
Joan of Arc
 

 4. 

The invention of the printing press had the most significant impact upon ___________ during the Renaissance.
a.
southern Europe
b.
northern Europe
c.
eastern Europe
d.
western Europe
 

 5. 

What was the chief goal of the Crusades?
a.
To liberate Spain from the Moors.
b.
To conquer the “Holy Land.”
c.
To punish the Eastern Orthodox Church.
d.
To conquer England.
 

 6. 

Besides gold, salt, and slaves, what also traveled along African trade routes?
a.
Technology, such as the printing press
b.
Religion, such as Islam
c.
Agriculture, such as the 3-field system
d.
Invaders, such as the Crusaders
 

 7. 

All of the following technologies were transferred from China to the Middle East EXCEPT
a.
alcohol.
b.
paper making.
c.
gunpowder.
d.
rice growing.
 

 8. 

All of the following are considered by Muslims to be prophets EXCEPT
a.
Jesus.
b.
Moses.
c.
Adam.
d.
Muhammad Ali.
 

 9. 

How did longbows and crossbows change society?
a.
They were often used to assassinate royalty from great distances.
b.
With them an average person could obtain enough food through hunting.
c.
They could shoot over city and castle walls.
d.
They were powerful enough to make the knight obsolete.
 

 10. 

Which area was the first to embrace Renaissance art and ideas?
a.
England.
b.
France.
c.
Italy.
d.
Poland.
 

 11. 

All of the following were part of the Feudal system in Europe EXCEPT
a.
Nobles having absolute power over their serfs.
b.
Kings having absolute power over everyone else.
c.
the granting of Fiefs (land) in return for loyalty and service.
d.
the relationship between Vassals and Lieges.
 

 12. 

What provided the initial reason the Pope called for the Crusades?
a.
Muhammad conquered Jerusalem
b.
Richard the Lionhearted wanted to make a pilgrimage to Mecca
c.
It was a way to control the young nobles of Europe
d.
The Byzantine emperor asked for help against the Muslims
 

 13. 

We know Zheng He sailed as far as __________ , because he returned to China with ___________ .
a.
Africa, zebras
b.
Arabia, camels
c.
India, elephants
d.
America, bison
 

 14. 

Besides the Longbow and Crossbow, what newly arrived military technology was first used by Europe in the Hundred Years’ War?
a.
The Trebuchet
b.
Steel swords and lances
c.
The Cannon
d.
Greek fire
 

 15. 

Review: Who invented the alphabet?
a.
The Phoenicians
b.
The Egyptians
c.
The Babylonians
d.
The Sumerians
 

 16. 

Though not a military genius, ______ led the French to several victories in the Hundred Years’ War before being captured by the English.
a.
Charlemagne
b.
Charles the Bold
c.
Christine de Pisan
d.
Joan of Arc
 

 17. 

Review:  Which of the following religions is polytheistic?
a.
Zoroastrianism
b.
Confucianism
c.
Hinduism
d.
Judaism
 

 18. 

What part of Medieval Europe did the Moors control?
a.
Russia
b.
Spain
c.
Italy
d.
France
 

 19. 

Which of the following best describes medieval Japan?
a.
Feudalism reigned, with each class playing a role in society.
b.
The samurai were the actual political leaders.
c.
The emperor was able to gain actual—rather than just ceremonial—political power.
d.
The destruction caused by the “Kamikaze” allowed the Mongols to conquer it.
 

 20. 

Catholicism was based out of Rome; Orthodox Christianity was based out of
a.
Mecca.
b.
Jerusalem.
c.
Moscow.
d.
Constantinople.
 

 21. 

mc021-1.jpg
The building pictured above was built by Justinian in what city? (It is a very large domed cathedral, now with 4 minarets added to it)
a.
Constantinople
b.
Medina
c.
Venice
d.
Jerusalem
 

 22. 

Which of the following was an important advancement in Medieval European agriculture?
a.
Establishment of the Equal-field system to control the nobility
b.
Slash-and-burn techniques imported from Africa
c.
Use of the Three-field system to reduce fallow lands
d.
Replacement of horses by oxen teams which were much stronger and faster
 

 23. 

One of the most important roles of Christian monks and monasteries during the Middle Ages was
a.
as a refuge for political terrorists.
b.
their creation of “Monarchy.”
c.
the monks recorded and preserved knowledge.
d.
as the main force opposing the Byzantine Orthodox Church.
 

 24. 

Which kingdom dominated Trans-Sahara trade until they were overwhelmed by coastal tribes using guns obtained from the Portuguese?
a.
Maliputra
b.
Swahili
c.
Axenubia
d.
Songhai
 

 25. 

All of the following are part of the 5 pillars of Islam EXCEPT
a.
Alms to the poor.
b.
Fighting a Jihad (Holy War).
c.
Fasting for a month.
d.
A declaration of faith.
 

 26. 

Where did the Vikings originate from?
a.
Mongolia
b.
Scandinavia
c.
Siberia
d.
Byzantium
 

 27. 

Why was Joan of Arc able to reverse the fortunes of France in the Hundred Years’ War?
a.
She was a military genius
b.
She taught the French how to use the longbow
c.
She used witchcraft to alter battles
d.
She helped to unify France
 

 28. 

All of the following are true of the Mongolian empire EXCEPT
a.
they tended to assimilate into local cultures rather than to spread their own.
b.
it was destroyed by Genghis Khan.
c.
they were great conquerors, but not great administrators.
d.
they won battles due to superior tactics rather than superior numbers.
 

 29. 

All of the following were accomplishments of Justinian EXCEPT
a.
He created feudalism.
b.
He was able to re-conquer most of the Roman empire.
c.
He rebuilt Constantinople, making it the largest city in Europe.
d.
He provided an important codification of Roman law.
 

 30. 

All of the following are reasons for the rapid spread of the Umayyad and Abbasid empires EXCEPT
a.
The egalitarian (everyone is equal) nature of Islam appealed to people of the lower social classes.
b.
The desire to spread Islam united and motivated its followers.
c.
The Byzantine and Persian empires had been weakened by constant fighting.
d.
Their camel calvary was superior to the horse cavalry of the Crusader States.
 

 31. 

mc031-1.jpg
Who painted the fresco shown above? (it’s a painting of the last supper)
a.
Raphael
b.
Donatello
c.
Leonardo
d.
Michelangelo
 

 32. 

What were the two major sources of stability during the early Middle Ages in Europe?
a.
Roman law and the Orthodox Church
b.
guilds and the barter system
c.
Feudalism and the Catholic Church
d.
trade profits and protection from the Vikings
 

 33. 

All of the following were effects of the growth of European towns and cities EXCEPT
a.
the establishment of plantation-based agriculture.
b.
there was an increase in pollution and diseases.
c.
the establishment of the guild system.
d.
the beginnings of a middle class in Europe.
 

 34. 

What is the Kaaba?
a.
Mohammad’s first house.
b.
The name of the Islamic book of scripture.
c.
The comet that symbolizes the anger of Allah.
d.
The building towards which Muslims pray.
 

 35. 

The Sistine Chapel ceiling was painted by
a.
Donatello
b.
Raphael
c.
Michelangelo
d.
Leonardo
 

 36. 

The majority branch within Islam is the
a.
Sunni.
b.
Sheiks.
c.
Shi’ite.
d.
Mohammadans.
 

 37. 

What allowed non-aristocratic people to advance their social standing in Medieval China?
a.
The civil service exam
b.
Wu Wei, the Daoist principle of action by inaction
c.
The riches of the Silk Road
d.
The influence of Buddhism
 

 38. 

Review:  Which of the classical civilizations suffered the least extensive collapse?
a.
Han China
b.
Western Rome
c.
Alexandrian Egypt
d.
Gupta India
 

 39. 

Which of the following was an important advancement in Medieval European agriculture?
a.
Planting rice in bogs that had not been previously farmed
b.
Use of the 3-field system to reduce fallow lands
c.
Slash-and-burn techniques imported from Africa
d.
Replacement of horses by oxen teams which were much stronger and faster
 

 40. 

Besides the longbow and crossbow, what new military technology was first used by France and England in the Hundred Years’ War?
a.
Howitzers
b.
Trebuchets
c.
Grape shot
d.
Gunpowder
 

 41. 

All of the following were conquered by the Mongols EXCEPT
a.
India
b.
China
c.
The Middle East
d.
Russia
 

 42. 

What was the actual disease, and the route the Black Death followed from Asia to Europe?
a.
Ebola Virensis, Black Sea trade routes
b.
Syphilis, Trans-Saharan routes
c.
Small Pox, the Columbian Exchange
d.
The Bubonic Plague, the Silk Road
 

 43. 

All of the following are important inventions by the Chinese EXCEPT
a.
Gunpowder.
b.
Printing.
c.
Sailboats.
d.
Paper.
 

 44. 

What religion were the Moors (Umayyad dynasty)?
a.
Orthodox
b.
Christian
c.
Muslim
d.
Pagan
 

 45. 

Machiavelli wrote _______________, one of the most important political science books of all time.
a.
Utopia
b.
The Prince
c.
The Decameron
d.
Adages
 

 46. 

The purpose of The Crusades was to
a.
reclaim the Holy Land.
b.
convert the Moors.
c.
revive Middle Eastern trade.
d.
destroy Jerusalem.
 

 47. 

Review: What civilization built their capital city where they saw an eagle eating a snake on a cactus?
a.
The Aztecs.
b.
The French.
c.
The Incas.
d.
The Mayans.
 

 48. 

All of the following were part of the golden age of the Abbasid Caliphate EXCEPT (read carefully)
a.
advances in astronomy, such as the astrolabe.
b.
advances in agriculture, such as planting corn.
c.
advances in chemistry, such as alcohol.
d.
advances in math, such as algebra.
 

 49. 

mc049-1.jpgWhere can you find the ruins of Great Zimbabwe? (pictured above, a long stone wall surrounded several buildings including a 40 foot tall tower)
a.
Near the Lundi River, in southeast Africa
b.
Between the Niger River and the Sahara Desert
c.
Near Samarkand on the Silk Road
d.
Between Hanoi and the northern border of Vietnam
 

 50. 

Which of the following were the most important of the Trans-Saharan trade goods?
a.
Bananas and iron
b.
Ebony and ivory
c.
Guns and slaves
d.
Gold and salt
 

 51. 

Manorialism is associated with which area of the world?
a.
India
b.
Western Europe
c.
Mongol Asia
d.
Sub-Saharan Africa
 

 52. 

Japanese and European feudalism were similar in all of the following ways EXCEPT
a.
Both lacked a strong king/emperor.
b.
Their society was held together by mutual ties and obligations.
c.
The warrior classes strictly followed a code of conduct.
d.
Peasants/serfs were the lowest social class.
 

 53. 

mc053-1.jpg
The garden shown above is associated with what religion, and would likely be found in what country? (Its a few small rocks and bushes separated by raked gravel)
a.
Zen Buddhism, Japan
b.
Hinduism, India
c.
Islam, Iraq
d.
Orthodox Christianity, Romania
 

 54. 

All of the following were major early African trade items EXCEPT
a.
Gold
b.
Slaves
c.
Diamonds
d.
Salt
 

 55. 

All of the following are true of Medieval China EXCEPT
a.
Confucian scholars led an attack on Jewish scholars.
b.
transportation expanded due to the Grand Canal and extensive road building.
c.
it suffered from constant threat of invasion.
d.
gunpowder was invented.
 

 56. 

Catholic Crusaders fought people of all of the following religions EXCEPT
a.
Buddhists.
b.
Orthodox Christians.
c.
Muslims.
d.
Jews.
 

 57. 

All of the following began in Africa at approximately 1000 BCE EXCEPT
a.
the migration of Bantu speaking peoples.
b.
the establishment of the Kush kingdom.
c.
the establishment of Christianity in Axum.
d.
the use of the camel to cross the Sahara.
 

 58. 

Which of the following was not part of the medieval 3-field system?
a.
Winter grains, such as wheat
b.
Half of the land left fallow (empty)
c.
A few spring-planted vegetables
d.
Spring grains, such as oats and barley
 

 59. 

The Bantu migration influenced what area of the world?
a.
Africa
b.
Asia
c.
Oceania
d.
Europe
 

 60. 

Which of the following is not a work by Leonardo da Vinci?
a.
Madonna of the Rocks
b.
The Mona Lisa
c.
The Sistine Chapel
d.
The Last Supper
 

 61. 

The Crusades had the most beneficial economic effect upon which group?
a.
Byzantine Emperors
b.
Muslim sheepherders
c.
Silk Road traders
d.
Italian merchants
 

 62. 

mc062-1.jpg
The building pictured above is located in what city? (it’s a black, cube-shaped building)
a.
Medina
b.
Mecca
c.
Jerusalem
d.
Kaabah
 

 63. 

What was the main type of agriculture practiced in sub-Saharan Africa?
a.
The 3-field system
b.
Slash and burn
c.
Irrigated Terraces
d.
Plantation crops, such as bananas
 

 64. 

What city was the capital and trade center of Mali?
a.
Ghana
b.
Timbuktu
c.
Cairo
d.
Great Zimbabwe
 

 65. 

Where did the Black Death originate?
a.
Russia.
b.
China.
c.
The Black Sea.
d.
Egypt.
 

 66. 

Which of the following is true of the Mongol Empire?
a.
The empire lasted for almost 1000 years
b.
They spread Islam wherever they conquered
c.
It was the largest empire in history
d.
They vastly outnumbered their enemies
 

 67. 

Who wrote The Prince?
a.
Erasmus
b.
Michelangelo
c.
Machiavelli
d.
Petrarch
 

 68. 

All of the following accompanied the spread of Bantu peoples EXCEPT
a.
slash and burn agriculture.
b.
iron tools.
c.
a new language.
d.
Christianity.
 

 69. 

When was the Silk Road trade disrupted by Genghis Khan and the Black Death?
a.
1000s and 1100s
b.
1100s and 1200s
c.
1200s and 1300s
d.
1300s and 1400s
 

 70. 

mc070-1.jpg
Which of the following is true of the painting “Giovanni Arnolfini and His Bride.” (shown above)
a.
It is Northern Renaissance because of the detailed background.
b.
It is Italian Renaissance because there is not a lot of blood and gore.
c.
It is Northern Renaissance because the clothes are very plain.
d.
It is Italian Renaissance because it is a “marriage painting.”
 

 71. 

Who made an important codification of Roman law that thereafter became the basis of European law?
a.
Charlemagne
b.
Pope Benedict II
c.
William the Conqueror
d.
Justinian
 

 72. 

The split between the two main branches of Islam began with a disagreement over
a.
acceptance of the Qur’an as scripture.
b.
a belief in only one God, who is Allah.
c.
the required pilgrimage to Mecca.
d.
whether Mohammad’s descendants were also prophets.
 



 
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