The West Before 1300 &
The Late Middle Ages
Open-Book Test
AP European History
Mrs. Martin
Name ______
Grade
/346= %
Section A: Multiple Choice
DIRECTIONS: Below are fifteen (15) multiple choice questions. Select the best answer for each. Each question is worth three (3) points. There is only one best answer for each question.
_____1. Which of the following statements regarding the origins of life on this planet is false?
A. Scientists estimate that Earth is approximately 6 billion years old
B. Dinosaurs appeared around 3 billion years ago
C. Humanlike creatures have been around for nearly 3-5 million years
D. Homo sapiens existed as early as 200,000 years ago
E. Fully modern humans have been around for the last 90,000 years
_____2. Culture may be defined simply as a group of people’s way of life. Which of the following facets of culture does not fit the others?
A. Behavior
B. Ideas
C. Institutions
D. Beliefs
E. Religion
_____3. Which discovery in the Paleolithic Age led to the emergence of the Neolithic Age?
A. The discovery of how to plant & take care of seeds
B. The discovery of how to preserve raw meat
C. The discovery of how to cook raw food
D. The discovery of how to breed animals
E. The discovery of how to create sturdier, more advanced tools
_____4. Which of the following traits are defining characteristics of the first civilizations?
I. Urbanism II. Metallurgy III. Writing
A. I & II D. I, II, & III
B. II & III E. None of the above
C. I & III
_____5. Why did the first civilization emerge in the valley of the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers?
A. Close access to sustainable water
B. Rich land allowing for huge food surpluses
C. Large amount of wildlife in the area
D. Valley protected people from the elements
E. No enemies in the immediate area
_____6. Although surrounded by desert, the people of Egypt managed to create their own civilization around the Nile River. What allowed the Egyptians to build a civilization in the desert?
A. Fishing D. War
B. Shipping E. Salt
C. Irrigation
_____7. The rulers of Egypt – pharaohs – treated their peasants harshly (high taxes & regulation). So how did the pharaohs manage to maintain their power?
A. Pharaohs made their people believe they were gods
B. Peasants had some say over local government
C. Any defiance of the pharaoh was punishable by death
D. Most pharaohs provided a safe, sturdy society to live in
E. All pharaohs kept wages high for skilled workers
_____8. After the power of the Old Kingdom collapsed in Egypt, which of the following dynasties restored the power of the pharaohs?
A. 6th Dynasty D. 12th Dynasty
B. 8th Dynasty E. 14th Dynasty
C. 10th Dynasty
_____9. Which of the following timelines below shows the correct order of Egyptian Kingdoms?
A. Middle KingdomàSecond Intermediate PeriodàEarly Dynastic Period
B. Old KingdomàNew KingdomàMiddle Kingdom
C. Early Dynastic PeriodàOld KingdomàFirst Intermediate Period
D. New KingdomàFirst Intermediate PeriodàSecond Intermediate Period
E. First Intermediate PeriodàSecond Intermediate PeriodàEarly Dynastic Period
_____10. After the Hyksos weakened the Egyptians, the 18th Dynasty restored Egypt’s power once again. Which foreign empire would eventually cause the ultimate downfall of Egypt?
A. Greek D. Mesopotamian
B. Hittite E. Spartan
C. Babylonian
_____11. Which of the following religions originated in the area known as Palestine in the Middle East?
A. Judaism D. All of the above
B. Christianity E. None of the above
C. Islam
_____12. Although Abraham managed to build a united kingdom in Canaan, his sons David & Solomon split the kingdom in two – Israel & Judah. The Assyrians managed to conquer Israel, but the land of Judah remained. What have people from this area come to be known as?
A. Israelites D. Canaanites
B. Syrians E. Phoenicians
C. Jews
_____13. A major contribution of the Jewish people is the practice of monotheism. Which of the following best defines monotheism?
A. The refusal to believe in any gods
B. The worship of many different gods
C. The worship of three gods
D. The worship of one universal god
E. The worship of two gods
_____14. Followers of Judaism believed that a Messiah would come to redeem their people. Who, according to Christianity, was this Messiah?
A. Hannibal D. Isaiah
B. Moses E. Jesus
C. Abraham
_____15. All of the following statements about Greek city-states (poleis) are true EXCEPT ___.
A. Every polis began as a small village or town
B. All citizens in each polis were considered relatives
C. All poleis were independent political units
D. The people in each polis were broken into clans, tribes, & fighting brotherhoods
E. All poleis were under the authority of the Greek Senate
Section B: Short Answer
DIRECTIONS: Below are thirty-eight (38) short answer questions. Answer each question completely & correctly. Point totals for each are listed next to the question.
16. Why did the Spartans turn their city into a permanent military academy & camp? (3 points)
17. Describe the typical life of a male Spartan. (4 points)
18. Which Athenian ruler began the foundation of what later leaders would turn into democracy? (2 points)
19. When Persian leader Xerxes tried to conquer Greece in 480 B.C.E., the Greeks – led by the Spartans – held off the Persians at what battle? (2 points)
20. Under Pericles, how did the Greek constitution become more democratic? (3 points)
21. What effect did the Peloponnesian War have on Greece? (3 points)
22. How did Plato’s views of the polis differ from Aristotle’s views of the polis? (4 points)
23. Which group of people brought about the end of freedom & autonomy for the Greeks? (2 points)
24. For ten years, Alexander the Great conquered a number of areas across Europe & Asia. Name the six major areas he conquered. (3 points)
25. Alexander the Great died at the age of 33. So what did all of his conquests actually accomplish? (4 points)
26. What was so different about how the Romans treated their conquered people? (3 points)
27. Who did the Romans face in the First & Second Punic Wars & how did those wars end? (2 points)
28. “While Rome had conquered Greece militarily, Greece had conquered Rome culturally.” What is meant by this expression? (3 points)
29. While Julius Caesar ruled Rome almost by himself for several years, who was it that actually ended civil war in Rome and controlled the entire Mediterranean world? (2 points)
30. One of the greatest writers in the late republic was Cicero. Summarize Cicero’s basic beliefs. (3 points)
31. During the time of the Caesars, the Senate technically made the laws in Rome. But what was the real purpose of the Senate? (2 points)
32. Explain the 4 ways in which the cost of running the Roman Empire became too high. (4 points)
33. Following the death of Jesus in C.E. 30, his followers created Christianity. The more orthodox members of the Christian faith are called ___. (1 point)
34. As the Roman Empire began to crumble, many people turned to Christianity for comfort & leadership. Why? (3 points)
35. Which emperor was the first to champion Christianity (and as a result, ultimately lead to it becoming the official religion of the Roman Empire)? (2 points)
36. After the fall of the Roman Empire, barbarian groups now controlled various parts of the old empire. Name each tribe and the area they controlled. (5 points)
37. The fall of the Roman Empire brought on a new era in history known as the early ___. (1 point)
38. As the Germanic tribes conquered Europe, the eastern part of the Roman Empire became more prominent. What was the capital of this eastern area? (1 point)
39. What act by Emperor Leo III contributed to major break between western & eastern Christianity? (2 points)
40. Who was the founder of Islam? What does the word “Islam” mean? (2 points)
41. Explain four of the main requirements all Muslims must perform. (4 points)
42. What did the doctrine of “papal primacy” declare? (3 points)
43. Who was the only ruler to gain centralized political authority between the 6th & 11th centuries? (1 point)
44. What, in your own words, are the defining characteristics of a feudal society? (3 points)
45. Explain how the feudal system worked? (4 points)
46. What is the difference between a peasant and a serf? (3 points)
47. Why is the time between 500 & 1000 known as the “Dark Ages?” (2 points)
48. The bourgeois first appeared during the 11th century. How did they differ from the traditional social ranks? (3 points)
49. Who proclaimed the First Crusade? What did he promise the Crusaders? (2 points)
50. How were the later Crusades different from the first (aside from the obvious fact that the Christians never regained the Holy Land)? (3 points)
51. Who conquered England in 1066 (while also controlling much French land)? (1 point)
52. What led to the rise of universities in Europe? (3 points)
53. What did many people fear would result from religious figures adopting Aristotle’s ideas of logic & metaphysics? (2 points)
Multiple Choice
DIRECTIONS: Below are seven (7) multiple choice questions. Select the best answer for each. Each question is worth three (3) points.
_____54. The Black Death refers to:
A. A heretical sect of Gnostic Christians
B. The famine that occurred from 1315 to 1317
C. A disease transmitted through African slaves
D. A virulent plague that struck 14th century Europe
E. The collapse of the European economy in the 14th century
_____55. The Black Death:
A. Is thought by most scholars to be a form of smallpox
B. Followed the trade routes into Europe from England
C. Was preceded by years of famine that weakened the populace
D. Was preceded by a gradual decline in population
E. Devastated primarily the rural population of Europe
_____56. All of the following are true of the bubonic plague EXCEPT:
A. It spread rapidly once it arrived in Europe
B. It struck only children and the elderly
C. It was transmitted by rat- or human-borne fleas
D. It was known as the Black Death
E. It was transmitted along trade routes
_____57. The Black Death found its way into Europe via:
A. Spain
B. Greenland and Iceland
C. Asian trade routes
D. Scandinavia
E. North Africa
_____58. Among the social and economic consequences of the bubonic plague was a/an:
A. Increase in urban population
B. Decline in the price of luxury and manufactured goods
C. Shrunken labor supply
D. Rise in agricultural prices
E. Rise in value of the estates of the nobility
_____59. Which social group suffered the greatest decline in power as a result of the plague?
A. Peasants
B. Clergy
C. Noble landholders
D. Urban elites
E. Women
_____60. The Statute of Laborers:
A. Limited wages to pre-plague levels
B. Governed working conditions in early factories
C. Barred laborers from moving from one city to another
D. Guaranteed a minimum wage for artisans
E. Barred children from certain trades
Short Answer
DIRECTIONS: Below are three (3) short answer questions. Answer each question completely & correctly. Point totals for each are listed next to the question.
61. Explain TWO causes of the Hundred Years’ War. (4 points)
62. How did the Avignon papacy and the Great Schism affect the church in Europe? (3 points)
63. Why would the church be threatened by the religious movements led by John Huss and John Wycliffe? (3 points)
Multiple Choice
DIRECTIONS: Below are eight (8) multiple choice questions. Select the best answer for each. Each question is worth three (3) points.
_____64. Between 1243 and 1480, Russia was ruled by:
A. Poland
B. The Persians
C. The Princes of Kiev
D. The Mongols
E. Sweden
_____65. Under the rule of Prince Vladimir (980-1015), what city was the most important in Russia?
A. Minsk
B. Kiev
C. Saint Petersburg
D. Moscow
E. Vladivostok
_____66. The broadest social division in 11th century Russia was between:
A. Government officials and clergy
B. Freemen and slaves
C. Army officers and freemen
D. Peasants and townspeople
E. Clergy and principality
_____67. The majority of the slave population in Russia was:
A. Russian criminals sentenced to this function
B. Of Chinese and Japanese descent
C. Part of the African slave trade
D. Prisoners of war
E. Of Greek descent
_____68. Wealthy landowners in medieval Russia were known as:
A. Junkers
B. Boyars
C. Serfs
D. Cossacks
E. Grossemensch
_____69. This was the name for the segment of the Mongol Empire that included the steppe region of what is today southern Russia.
A. Golden Faction
B. Golden Horde
C. Golden Flock
D. Golden Set
E. Golden Crescent
_____70. What was the official religion of the Mongols that occupied Russia?
A. Confucianism
B. Buddhism
C. Hinduism
D. Islam
E. Christianity
_____71. Which of the following statements best characterizes the Mongol treatment of Russian political and religious institutions?
A. They totally dismantled them
B. They incorporated some facets of Russian ideology and institutions, but disregarded the rest
C. They adopted Russian institutions as if they were of their own creation
D. They left them largely intact
E. They kept the institutions, but killed all existing office holders
Fill in the Blanks
DIRECTIONS: Below are two (2) fill in the blanks questions. Write the word or phrase that best completes each statement or answers the question. Each question is worth four (4) points.
72. After ______fell to the Turks in 1453, the city became, in Russian eyes, the “third Rome.”
73. ______, the religion of Russia, added strong cultural bonds to the close commercial ties that had long linked Russia to the Byzantine Empire.
Multiple Choice
DIRECTIONS: Below are fourteen (14) multiple choice questions. Select the best answer for each. Each question is worth three (3) points.
_____74. What papal doctrine contributed to the transformation of the papacy into a great secular power?