SAT II World History : Europe

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The Berlin Conference was primarily concerned with which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Ensuring that republicanism was not able to spread around Europe

Providing democratic political institutions in the recently unified Germany

Dividing South America between Germany, Spain, and Portugal

Dividing the territory of Africa among the European powers

Providing democratic political institutions for all the people of Europe

Correct answer:

Dividing the territory of Africa among the European powers

Explanation:

The Berlin Conference of 1884 to 1885 was set up to try and "peacefully" divide the territories of Africa between the various imperial European powers. This marked Germany's emergence onto the world stage as a significant imperial power.

Example Question #3 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The Continental System was __________.

Possible Answers:

instituted by Napoleon to prevent European nations from trading with Britain

None of the other answer choices is correct.

adopted by the British to ensure Napoleon could not receive supplies from the Americas

implemented during the War of 1812 to stop British impressment of American sailors

deemed illegal at the Congress of Vienna

Correct answer:

instituted by Napoleon to prevent European nations from trading with Britain

Explanation:

During the Napoleonic Wars, Napoleon sought to isolate Britain from the rest of the world. In a process known as the Continental System, Napoleon prevented all the European nations under his control (which were most of them) from trading with Britain. The idea was that a British nation starved of much-needed imports and unable to raise revenue through exports would make for a much less challenging rival. In the end, Napoleon lacked the naval power to fully enforce the Continental System.

Example Question #21 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The unification of Germany occurred during the __________.

Possible Answers:

seventeenth century

nineteenth century

sixteenth century

eighteenth century

twentieth century

Correct answer:

nineteenth century

Explanation:

For much of European history what is now known as Germany had been a collection of numerous princely states and small kingdoms. Moreover, the German speaking people were scattered throughout Europe from the Netherlands and Denmark to Hungary and Romania. Now, whilst you may not have known that the unification of Germany took place in 1871, in the Nineteenth Century, you should have known that the Nineteenth Century was the century where European nationalism grew into a dominant political ideology. Different people all over Europe were suddenly coming to see themselves as part of a distinct, and usually “special”, nationality. Germany was no exception and under the chancellorship of Bismarck, Prussia used German nationalism to unify the country. You might also have been confused and considered the reunification of Germany at the end of the Cold War, when the Berlin Wall was taken down, but this would better be called the "reunification" of Germany. 

Example Question #4 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

Which of these European powers was most friendly to the Union during the Civil War?

Possible Answers:

France

Russia

Britain

Germany

Italy

Correct answer:

Russia

Explanation:

Neither Germany nor Italy were unified countries at the time of the Civil War so you can rule out this answer. Britain considered that a divided United States would be good for its economic interests, but because the British public would never support joining the Confederacy in a war that was seemingly about slavery the British government could not get involved. France likewise wanted the American union to break up because it had colonial ambitions in the continent still. Russia, however, under Tsar Alexander (the man who freed the serfs) supported the Union. It is highly likely that the most important factor that prevented France and Britain from getting involved was the fear that this would lead to another war with Russia.

Example Question #4 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The Battle of Lepanto was fought between __________.

Possible Answers:

the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League 

the Holy League and the Seljuk Turks 

the Holy League and the Mongols 

the Venetian Republic and the Mongols 

the Ottoman Empire and the Seljuk Turks 

Correct answer:

the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League 

Explanation:

The Battle of Lepanto was a naval battle fought in 1571 between the Ottoman Empire and the Holy League (an alliance of Venice, the Spanish forces of Charles V, and the Hapsburg forces of the Holy Roman Empire). The battle can be most clearly understood as a battle between Catholic and Islamic Empires for control of the Mediterranean. It was a significant victory for the Catholic forces. 

Example Question #5 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

Which of these individuals is widely credited with being the first European to set foot on mainland America since, possibly, the Vikings? 

Possible Answers:

John Cabot

Sir Walter Raleigh

Amerigo Vespucci

Christopher Columbus

Vasco de Gama

Correct answer:

John Cabot

Explanation:

John Cabot was an Italian explorer who sailed for the New World in 1497 (just five years after Columbus' voyage) under the sponsorship of King Henry VII of England. He is generally considered to be the first European to set foot on the American mainland. Columbus, although widely credited with being the first European in the Americas, never made it past the Caribbean. It is also possible that Cabot may not be quite deserving of the credit bestowed upon him, as many historians consider it likely that the Vikings arrived in North America sometime in the eleventh century.

Example Question #6 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

The Battles of Austerlitz and Trafalgar both took place during __________.

Possible Answers:

The Crimean War

The War of Austrian Succession

The Napoleonic Wars

The War of Spanish Succession

The Franco-Prussian War

Correct answer:

The Napoleonic Wars

Explanation:

The Battle of Austerlitz is one of the most famous land battles of the Napoleonic Wars. The French forces of Napoleon defeated the combined armies of Austria and Russia and gave France control of most of the European continent. The Battle of Trafalgar is one of the most significant losses for Napoleon during his decade-long attempt to conquer Europe. It was a naval battle won by the British navy (led by Lord Admiral Nelson) that resulted in the annihilation of the French navy.

Example Question #7 : Other European History From 1500 C.E. To 1900 C.E.

What was the significance of Albrecht von Wallenstein in the seventeenth century?

Possible Answers:

He was a military commander for Maria Theresa during the War of Austrian Succession and annihilated the forces of Frederick the Great at the Battle of White Mountain.

He won several battles against Protestant armies on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor during the Thirty Years' War.

He was a scientific thinker in Denmark who added to the work of Kepler and Copernicus on the nature of the solar system and the heliocentric model.

He was a religious dissident in Poland who encouraged the revival of the Hussites before being assassinated on the orders of the Pope.

He was an advisor to King Louis XIV of France and greatly expanded the power of the French monarchy.

Correct answer:

He won several battles against Protestant armies on behalf of the Holy Roman Emperor during the Thirty Years' War.

Explanation:

Albrecht von Wallenstein was a military commander from Bohemia who fought for the Holy Roman Emperor against the armies of Northern Protestantism during the Thirty Years' War. He was a highly succesful leader who won many battles, but his ambition and success began to worry the Emperor, who subsequently had him assassinated.

Example Question #191 : Europe

What name is given to the transfer of such things as animals, human populations, cultures, religions, plants, between the New World and the Old World in the sixteenth and seventeenth century?

Possible Answers:

Exploration Exchange

Portuguese Transfer

Columbian Exchange

Spanish Gold Rush

Triangle Trade

Correct answer:

Columbian Exchange

Explanation:

The Columbian Exchange describes the widespread exchange of animals, human populations, cultures, religions, diseases, and plants between the Old World of Europe, North Africa, and Asia and the New World of North and South America. It took place, primarily from the late fifteenth century through the seventeenth century and changed the very nature of the human experience.

Example Question #192 : Europe

Napoleon III was deposed as emperor of France as a direct result of which battle?

Possible Answers:

Verdun

Leipzig

Sebastopol

Waterloo

Sedan

Correct answer:

Sedan

Explanation:

Napoleon III was defeated and captured by the Prussians in the battle of Sedan in 1870, and was formally removed from office several days later. Both Waterloo and Leipzig were battles fought by Napoleon I over five decades earlier. Sebastopol was a battle fought in the Crimean War in the 1850s. Verdun was a battle fought in World War I, long after the downfall of Napoleon III.

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