World History Benchmark 3, February 7 & 8, 2011-2012
Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
____ 1. People in the Sahel region learned to farm the
a. / jungle. / c. / Sub-Sahara.b. / savannas. / d. / Sahara.
____ 2. Rain forests in central and western Africa include areas of
a. / jungle. / c. / deserts.b. / savannas. / d. / grasslands.
____ 3. The Bantu-speaking people probably originated near
a. / Nigeria and Cameroon. / c. / Gabon.b. / the Sahel. / d. / Lake Victoria.
____ 4. Musical instruments and some languages suggest that
a. / Africa influenced Asia. / c. / Greeks influenced Africa.b. / Asia influenced Africa. / d. / Africa influenced Greece.
____ 5. African societies were matrilineal, meaning
a. / they traced their ancestors through their fathers.b. / they traced their ancestors through their mothers.
c. / nomadic.
d. / they did not have a specific religion.
____ 6. Villages were traditionally run by
a. / priests.b. / an elected king.
c. / a group of elders.
d. / a representatives from nearby villages.
____ 7. Kush’s history is defined by its relationship with
a. / Aksum. / c. / Assyria.b. / Egypt. / d. / Ethiopia.
____ 8. After an invasion by Assyria, Kush
a. / lost trade routes to Aksum. / c. / rebuilt and conquered upper Egypt.b. / rebuilt and became stronger. / d. / lost farmland and declined.
____ 9. King Ezana's rule of Aksum was defined by his
a. / conversion to Islam. / c. / conquest of Egypt.b. / conversion to Christianity. / d. / conquest of Kush.
____ 10. All of the following contributed to Aksum’s decline EXCEPT
a. / decline in productive land. / c. / loss of trade to Romans.b. / loss of trade to Persians. / d. / rise of Islamic Arab power.
____ 11. East African power was linked to trade
a. / on the Indian Ocean. / c. / with Carthage.b. / on the Mediterranean Sea. / d. / with Rome.
____ 12. The Swahili were
a. / a group linked by a common religion.b. / Asian traders that settled in East Africa.
c. / a group linked by language and trade.
d. / an East African tribe.
____ 13. Great Zimbabwe’s gold trade was controlled by the
a. / Kilwa. / c. / Zambezi.b. / Shona. / d. / Swahili.
____ 14. The rise and fall of the Soninke people depended on their
a. / control of the salt trade. / c. / conversion to Islam.b. / failure to cultivate farmland. / d. / conversion to Christianity.
____ 15. The Songhai Empire declined, in part, because
a. / the Mali rose to power.b. / the Berbers regained the salt trade.
c. / an excess of gold caused it to lose value.
d. / of infighting among Songhai subjects.
____ 16. Because of the climate and geography, most early Arabs were
a. / farmers. / c. / herders.b. / traders. / d. / fishermen
____ 17. Sheikhs led tribes of
a. / traders. / c. / caravans.b. / bedouins. / d. / pariahs.
____ 18. Mecca was important because
a. / it gave access to the Red Sea. / c. / it had fertile land for farming.b. / it gave access to the Persian Gulf. / d. / it was on a trade route to Syria.
____ 19. The Kaaba was
a. / the name given to Muhammad’s visions.b. / the major trade route in Arabia.
c. / a stone building filled with idols.
d. / the Arabic name for God.
____ 20. Part of the Muslim faith was jihad, or
a. / clean, humble living. / c. / worshipping five times a day.b. / the struggle to defend faith. / d. / a pilgrimage to Mecca.
____ 21. One feature of Islamic worship is
a. / the use of icons. / c. / male and female clergy.b. / elaborate altars. / d. / absence of clergy.
____ 22. Abu Bakr’s main achievement was
a. / translating the Qur’an into other languages.b. / conquering the Persian Empire.
c. / developing a code of law.
d. / unifying Arabic tribes.
____ 23. In general, Islamic invaders
a. / tolerated other religions. / c. / required adoption of the Qur’an.b. / did not tolerate other religions. / d. / required adoption of Arabic.
____ 24. The Shi’ah believed in the decisions of
a. / the people. / c. / a council of elders.b. / the Sunni. / d. / imams.
____ 25. Sufi Muslims taught
a. / that the decision of the people was final.b. / that people should life a simple life.
c. / that Muhammad was God.
d. / that Muhammad was a teacher, but not a prophet.
____ 26. The expansion of Islam is partly due to
a. / the alliance between Muslims and the Turks.b. / the Islamic capture of Baghdad.
c. / Islam’s control of Constantinople.
d. / the fall of the Mongol Empire.
____ 27. Arabia’s location gave it access to all of the following EXCEPT
a. / Europe. / c. / Africa.b. / the Americas. / d. / Asia.
____ 28. The Qur’an affected
a. / trade relationships with non-Muslims. / c. / religious and daily life.b. / medical developments. / d. / religious life only.
____ 29. The Qur’an gave women
a. / no rights. / c. / the right to have several husbands.b. / some property rights. / d. / the right to serve on juries.
____ 30. Elaborate mosques were
a. / copies of Muhammad’s private home. / c. / meant to overshadow churches.b. / a way of showing power. / d. / also used as government buildings.
____ 31. During th Heian period in Japan
a. / wealthy landowners gained power at the expense of the emperorb. / the samurai were disbanded
c. / Murasaki Shikibu became emperor.
d. / Increased contact with China led to greater Chinese influence on Japanese culture and society.
____ 32. A religion unique to Japan is called
a. / Amaterasu.b. / Yamato
c. / Shinto
d. / kami.
____ 33. Southeast Asia’s culture and society
a. / developed in isolation because of the monsoons.b. / was influenced by Indian traders and scholars who brought Indian culture to Southeast Asia.
c. / was shaped by Muslim settlers from the Near East.
d. / was heavily influenced by Japan.
____ 34. What conclusion can be drawn from this passage from Ibn Battuta’s account of his travels?
The armor-bearers bring in magnificent arms - quivers of gold and silver, swords ornamented with gold and with golden scabbards, gold and silver lances, and crystal maces... The interpreter Dugha comes with his four wives and his slave girls, who are about a hundred in number. They are wearing beautiful robes, and on their heads they have gold and silver fillets.”
a. / Dugha is more important than the sultan. / c. / Ibn Battuta is not impressed by the sultan’s wealth.b. / All people are wealthy / d. / Mali is a wealthy kingdom
____ 35. The Khmer Empire arose in what is now Cambodia. The Khmer rulers had spectacular temple complexes built. The most famous still stands and is called
a. / The sleeping Buddha / c. / Trung Tracb. / Angkor Wat / d. / Taj Mahal
Essay: Choose “one” of the essay topics below and write two paragraphs on your choice.
36. How can archaeologists learn about early African history?
37. Discuss religion in early African kingdoms.
38. Describe the influence of Daoism on the development of Asian cultures.
World History Benchmark 3, February 7 & 8, 2011-2012
Answer Section
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. ANS: B PTS: 1
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ESSAY
36. ANS:
The easiest way to learn and understand the history of early African nations is through the oral traditions of Africans. Much of their history predates writing and was preserved in stories and songs passed from one generation to another. Language also provides a valuable clue to Africa and the migration patterns of the early tribes. Most African languages are related to the Bantu language, so one way to understand the early African history is to follow the language: the languages that most closely resemble Bantu are close to the source. But those most unlike Bantu traveled the farthest distances. Language can also show the influences of outside cultures, such as those of Asia and Arabia. Artifacts such as musical instruments rooted in other regions, and plants not native to Africa also can help archaeologists construct a picture of early African history.
PTS: 1
37. ANS:
As with other ancient societies, religion played a central role in explaining nature, linking communities, and governing the people. The earliest villages centered their religion around spirits and the presence of ancestors. Later kingdoms show the influences of outside forces, such as Kush’s adoption of Greek gods and goddesses. King 'Ezana of Aksum also absorbed a religion without African roots, Christianity, giving the Christians their first strong foothold in Africa. King 'Ezana tried to rule according to Christian principles, and left behind a firmly rooted Ethiopian church that still exists today. Islam, however, had a stronger influence on Africa. Arabian traders brought Islam across the Red Sea, and eventually the growing power of Islamic states accelerated the decline of African kingdoms, capturing the trade routes for themselves.
PTS: 1
38. ANS:
China’s influence on other nations usually included some form of Daoism. China created a version of Buddhism (later known as Zen) that incorporated Daoist principles such as salvation through enlightenment and self-knowledge. Chinese artistic achievements reflected a Daoist love of nature. Japan, with its own Shinto religion and its reliance on nature spirits, adopted Buddhism and Daoism. Zen Buddhism, with its Daoist emphasis on meditation, and dismissal of life on earth, particularly appealed to the samurai culture. Zen Buddhism’s calm influence was felt in Japanese paintings, gardens, and tea ceremonies. Korea and Japan also took Daoist principles into their cultures.
PTS: 1