AP World History : Cultural History

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #171 : Ap World History

Which of the following philosophers wrote The Republic, a work known for its discourse on the ideal structure of a society and its government?

Possible Answers:

Socrates

Archimedes

Epicurus

Plato

Aristotle

Correct answer:

Plato

Explanation:

Plato wrote the work - where he famously advocated for the concept of the philosopher-king - so he would be the correct choice. Socrates, Plato's teacher, was a very influential thinker but he did not write any works himself and spent most of his time in dialectics. Aristotle is most famous for his interest in value ethics and the natural world, so he too would not be a good choice. Archimedes and Epicurus - also Greek thinkers - are best know for their contributions to mathematics and the problem of evil, respectively, so they too would not be good choices. 

Example Question #172 : Ap World History

The Chinese teacher and philosopher Confucius lived during __________.

Possible Answers:

the Xia Dynasty

the Warring States Period

the Boxer Rebellion

the Opium Wars

the Han Dynasty

Correct answer:

the Warring States Period

Explanation:

Confucius lived during the Warring States Period of Chinese history (475 - 221 BCE), and also during the period of Chinese history known as The Hundred Schools of Thought. He developed a cohesive philosophy/religion known as Confucianism, which has been widely influential in Chinese society ever since.

Example Question #173 : Ap World History

Zeno and Cleanthes were influential writers and thinkers in __________.

Possible Answers:

Pluralism

Cynicism

Stoicism

Platonism

Epicureanism

Correct answer:

Stoicism

Explanation:

Zeno and Cleanthes were ancient Greek philosophers who were both instrumental in the formation and development of Stoicism. Zeno is often credited as the founder of Stoicism, he lived in Athens in the fourth and third centuries BCE. Cleanthes was the head of the Athenian school of Stoicism in the third century BCE.

Example Question #174 : Ap World History

Which traditional Chinese philosophical tradition stresses family loyalty, ancestor worship, and a strong respect for your elders?

Possible Answers:

Moral Philosophy 

Shintoism 

Zen Buddhism 

Confucianism 

Animism 

Correct answer:

Confucianism 

Explanation:

Confucianism, which is a philosophical tradition based on the teaching of Confucius, was and still is an important part of Chinese philosophy and Chinese culture. The most famous aspect of his teachings is the golden rule: "treat others as you want to be treated."

Example Question #1 : Philosophies And Ideologies 600 Ce To 1450

The language of ancient Egypt evolved and changed greatly over thousands of years, ____________________.

Possible Answers:

until it was conquered by the Roman Empire and Egyptian was replaced with Latin

until it was replaced by French following Napoleon's invasion

until it was replaced by Greek following the visit of Alexander the Great

until it was replaced by Arabic at the beginning of the 7th century

until it was replaced by Hittite following the battle of Kadesh

Correct answer:

until it was replaced by Arabic at the beginning of the 7th century

Explanation:

The ancient Egyptian language change and evolved, but only became extinct after the conquest of Arabic speakers during the 7th century.

Although the Egypt had been a province of both the western and eastern Roman empires, Latin never replaced Egyptian as a language of the masses.

Alexander the Great visited Egypt before his Asian invasion, but that had no effect on Egypt's language.

The Egyptians won a (costly) victory at Kadesh against the Hittites; it did not change the language of Egypt.

French was never widely spoken by Egyptian's even during Napoleon's invasion.

Example Question #1 : Philosophies And Ideologies 600 Ce To 1450

Scholastic theology, in the Medieval period, was primarily concerned with __________.

Possible Answers:

interpreting the Bible and applying it to earthly affairs

teaching the history of religious thought and the diversions between various branches of Christianity

explaining the meaning of life and the purpose of existence

teaching and rationally disproving the existence of God

teaching and rationally proving the existence of God

Correct answer:

teaching and rationally proving the existence of God

Explanation:

Scholastic theology developed in the monastic approach to education and theology that was prevalent in Europe throughout the Medieval period. Scholastic theology was primarily concerned with teaching and rationally proving the existence of God.

Example Question #25 : Philosophies And Ideologies

Thomas Aquinas is remembered for his associations with _______________.

Possible Answers:

the Great Schism

the Protestant Reformation

the Catholic Counter Reformation

Scholasticism

the Scientific Method

Correct answer:

Scholasticism

Explanation:

Thomas Aquinas was an Italian friar who lived in the thirteenth century. He is closely associated with the monastic tradition of scholasticism. Thomas Aquinas wrote extensively on philosophy, natural law, and scholastic theology and is an extremely influential figure of all three traditions. He was also a strong advocate for Aristotle and is unique in his attempts (at the time) to marry ancient Greek philosophy with Christian traditions.

Example Question #3 : Philosophies And Ideologies 600 Ce To 1450

Greek culture, lost to most of Europe during the Dark Ages, was rediscovered during __________.

Possible Answers:

the Napoleonic Wars

the Sack of Rome by Alaric the Visigoth 

the Crusades

the Fall of Constantinople to Mehmed II

the Thirty Years’ War

Correct answer:

the Crusades

Explanation:

After the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century most of ancient Greek culture was forgotten in Europe and the continent fell into a relative “Dark Age.” The Crusades began at the end of the eleventh century and raged intermittently for the next few centuries. The Crusades were initially intended to recapture the Holy Land (Jerusalem) for Christendom, but eventually fractured as different European armies sought to extend their power into the Middle East. Greek culture, which had long been held and preserved by the Byzantine Empire, was rediscovered after the brief conquest of Constantinople by crusaders in the thirteenth century. This would lead, indirectly, to the Renaissance and the ‘rebirth’ of classical knowledge and understanding.

Example Question #5 : Philosophies And Ideologies 600 Ce To 1450

Neo-Confucianism first emerged in China during the __________ Dynasty.

Possible Answers:

Yuan

Han

Tang

Qin

Xia

Correct answer:

Tang

Explanation:

Neo-Confucianism first emerged in China during the Tang Dynasty. Neo-Confucianism may be understood as a revival of Confucian teachings during the Tang Dynasty and Song Dynasty and a subsequent synthesis of Confucianism with aspects of Buddhism and Taoism. It reached the height of its cultural significance during the Northern Song Dynasty.

Example Question #1 : Philosophies And Ideologies 600 Ce To 1450

Zhu Xi is primarily remembered by history as a(n) __________.

Possible Answers:

leader of a failed peasant rebellion

leading Confucian scholar

successful military commander

influential government bureaucrat

prominent military tactician

Correct answer:

leading Confucian scholar

Explanation:

Zhu Xi lived from 1130 to 1200, during the period of the Northern Song Dynasty in China. He is primarily remembered as a leading Confucian scholar and the most influential figure in Neo-Confucianism. Among other contributions Zhu is credited with compiling the four most important books in Confucian tradition (The Four Books) - Analects of Confucius, Great Learning, Mencius, The Doctrine of the Mean.

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