AP World History : Political and Governmental Structures
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Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Political And Governmental Structures
Which of these Roman emperors is not one of the so-called “Five Good Emperors”?
Hadrian
Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus Pius
Caligula
Trajan
Caligula
The Five Good Emperors ruled the Roman Empire from 96 C.E. until 180 CE and presided over the greatest period of territorial growth, peace, and prosperity in the history of the Roman Empire. In order of their reign they were - Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, and Marcus Aurelius. Caligula, on the other hand, who reigned for a few years in the first century CE, is known to popular history as a tyrant and a madman.
Example Question #22 : Political History
Which of these reasons led to the decline of the Han Dynasty?
Uneven land distribution
All of these contributed to the decline of the Han Dynasty
Conflict between the ruling elites
Epidemics of virulent diseases
Economic depression
All of these contributed to the decline of the Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was a contemporary of the Roman Empire and reigned from approximately 210 BCE until 220 CE Economic depression and uneven land distribution contributed to the decline of the empire as civil conflicts and peasant rebellions broke out, periodically weakening the authority of the centralized government; epidemics of virulent diseases led to widespread chaos and disorder; and conflict between the ruling elites further fractured the political infrastructure. The decline of the Han Dynasty, which had been weakening for several decades, was completed in the early third century with the conquests Dong Zhuo.
Example Question #22 : Political And Governmental Structures
Why was Nerva forced to adopt Tragan as his heir?
To ensure a peaceful succession after his death
To make himself more popular with the Senate
Tragan bribed Nerva for the adoption with his holdings in Spain
To quell unrest in the army headlined by a revolt of the Praetorian Guard
As a favor to Tragan's mother, to whom he was married
To quell unrest in the army headlined by a revolt of the Praetorian Guard
Nerva was very much a stopgap between Commodus and whomever the next emperor would be. A career politician, he was unpopular with the army, which led to an uprising of the Praetorian Guard. To quell this uprising, he adopted the popular general Tragan. Named as one of the "Five Good Emperors," the best thing Nerva ever did for Rome was adopt Tragan as his heir.
Example Question #23 : Political And Governmental Structures
In what time range did the Roman Republic constitution begin to collapse?
499 BCE - 151 BCE
151 CE - 499 CE
1000 BCE - 500 BCE
150 BCE - 0
0 - 150 CE
150 BCE - 0
The constitution of the Roman Republic began to collapse in 133 BCE when disputes over the redistribution of land lead to violence and the manipulation of political institutions. Eventually civil war broke out and the constitution was eventually dismantled.
Example Question #25 : Political History
Which of these statements about the Zhou Dynasty is inaccurate?
They developed the Chinese theory of rule known as the Mandate of Heaven
Confucius and Laozi both lived during the Zhou Dynasty
They came to power following their betrayal of an alliance with the Shang Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty is divided into two distinct phases - Eastern and Western
None of these
None of these
All of these statements about the Zhou Dynasty are accurate. They came to power following their betrayal of an alliance with the Shang Dynasty. The rule of the Zhou is divided into two phases - first, the powerful Western Zhou and then, later, the less powerful Eastern Zhou. It was the Zhou who first developed the Chinese theory of rule known as the Mandate of Heaven. It was also during the rule of the Zhou Dynasty that China experienced its Hundred Schools of Thought period in which Confucianism, Legalism, and Taoism were all developed.
Example Question #24 : Political And Governmental Structures
Emperor Wudi was the most famous and influential ruler of the _____________.
Zhou Dynasty
Qin Dynasty
Shang Dynasty
Warring States Period
Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
Emperor Wudi was the most famous and influential ruler of the Han Dynasty. He ruled from approximately 131 BCE until 110 BCE It was during his reign that the Han Dynasty experienced its biggest territorial expansion. He is also renowned for reorganizing the Chinese government and centralizing political authority.
Example Question #27 : Political History
The following is taken from a speech by Cicero to the Roman Senate:
The oration then made by Marcus Antonius was an admirable one; his disposition, too, appeared excellent; and lastly, by his means and by his sons’, peace was ratified with the most illustrious of the citizens and everything else was consistent with this beginning. He invited the chief men of the state to those deliberations which he held at his own house concerning the state of the republic; he referred all the most important matters to this order. Nothing was at that time found among the papers of Caius Cæsar except what was already well known to everybody; and he gave answers to every question that was asked of him with the greatest consistency. Were any exiles restored? He said that one was, and only one. Were any immunities granted? He answered, None. He wished us even to adopt the proposition of Servius Sulpicius, 3 that most illustrious man, that no tablet purporting to contain any decree or grant of Cæsar’s should be published after the Ides of March were expired. I pass over many other things, all excellent—for I am hastening to come to a very extraordinary act of virtue of Marcus Antonius. He utterly abolished from the constitution of the republic the dictatorship, which had by this time attained to the authority of regal power. And that measure was not even offered to us for discussion. He brought with him a decree of the senate, ready drawn up, ordering what he chose to have done; and when it had been read, we all submitted to his authority in the matter with the greatest eagerness; and, by another resolution of the senate, we returned him thanks in the most honorable and complimentary language.
Based on the passage, what can be inferred about Anthony's oration?
Circero will support Antony's bid to be the next emperor
Antony should go into exile
Antony has acted honestly throughout the process of Caesar's death
He is trying to use Caesar's last will to subvert policy in his favor
Servius Sulpicius will be the next emperor
He is trying to use Caesar's last will to subvert policy in his favor
Cicero was very much against Antony. Antony's flagrant disregard for traditional Roman political policy rubbed Cicero, as well as much of the Roman Senate, the wrong way. This would show in their thorough support of Octavian in the coming civil war.
Example Question #28 : Political History
The following is taken from a speech by Cicero to the Roman Senate:
The oration then made by Marcus Antonius was an admirable one; his disposition, too, appeared excellent; and lastly, by his means and by his sons’, peace was ratified with the most illustrious of the citizens and everything else was consistent with this beginning. He invited the chief men of the state to those deliberations which he held at his own house concerning the state of the republic; he referred all the most important matters to this order. Nothing was at that time found among the papers of Caius Cæsar except what was already well known to everybody; and he gave answers to every question that was asked of him with the greatest consistency. Were any exiles restored? He said that one was, and only one. Were any immunities granted? He answered, None. He wished us even to adopt the proposition of Servius Sulpicius, 3 that most illustrious man, that no tablet purporting to contain any decree or grant of Cæsar’s should be published after the Ides of March were expired. I pass over many other things, all excellent—for I am hastening to come to a very extraordinary act of virtue of Marcus Antonius. He utterly abolished from the constitution of the republic the dictatorship, which had by this time attained to the authority of regal power. And that measure was not even offered to us for discussion. He brought with him a decree of the senate, ready drawn up, ordering what he chose to have done; and when it had been read, we all submitted to his authority in the matter with the greatest eagerness; and, by another resolution of the senate, we returned him thanks in the most honorable and complimentary language.
Why would Antony abolish the dictatorship from the constitution?
To distract from Antony's interests in Spain
To win Cicero over to his side
To guarantee the restoration of the Republic
To make sure Caesar's will is executed properly
In order to gather goodwill from the Senate
In order to gather goodwill from the Senate
Antony's desire to establish goodwill among the Senate by abolishing dictatorship was meant to convince the Senate that he had their best interests at heart. While part of the second triumvirate with Octavian and Lepidus, it was politically savvy for him to try to win over the Senate, who might have had ultimate control over who would be the next emperor. Unfortunately for Antony, most of the Senate (minus Cicero, a staunch Republican) chose to side with Octavian, with partially led to Antony's fall.
Example Question #29 : Political History
The following is taken from a speech given by Cicero to the Roman Senate:
What, then, are we to do? In the name of the immortal gods, can you interpret these facts, and see what is their purport? What do you think that those men think of your lives, to whom the lives of those men who they hope will consult the welfare of the republic are so dear? I have reaped, O conscript fathers, the reward of my return, since I have said enough to bear testimony of my consistency whatever event may befall me, and since I have been kindly and attentively listened to by you. And if I have such opportunities frequently without exposing both myself and you to danger, I shall avail myself of them. If not, as far as I can I shall reserve myself not for myself, but rather for the republic. I have lived long enough for the course of human life, or for my own glory. If any additional life is granted to me, it shall be bestowed not so much on myself as on you and on the republic.
Based on this passage, what is the theme of Cicero's speech?
The safety and continued existence of the Republic
Octavian's bid for Emperor of Rome
Cicero's offerings to the gods
Cicero's bid for dictator of the Republic
Cicero's belief that he deserves reward for his service to Rome
The safety and continued existence of the Republic
Cicero was a devout Republican; after the death of Julius Caesar, functioned as the voice of the senate. He heartily opposed the actions of Marc Antony, and eventually Octavian, in their bids for power. He would eventually be named an enemy of state and killed by agents of the Second Triumvirate.
Example Question #30 : Political History
Who was the first Roman Emperor not to be born within the territory of modern-day Italy?
Vespasian
Tragan
Otho
Hadrian
Galba
Tragan
Rome was the center of the Roman world, and as such the early days of the empire were ruled by men who were born not far from her walls. Tragan, after being adopted by Nerva, was born in Spain. This ushered in an era of Roman rule where one did not have to be Italian to be the emperor, only the best man for the job whenever it was open.
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