SAT II World History : Gunpowder
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Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Global Developments
Gunpowder was first invented in __________.
China
Congo
the Netherlands
Arabia
India
China
Gunpowder was invented in China during the Song Dynasty, likely in the ninth century. Existing from the ninth to the eleventh centuries, the Song Dynasty was a very innovative society; many inventions are credited to China during this time period. Gunpowder spread slowly westward and was a part of European society by the twelfth or thirteenth century.
Example Question #3 : Global Developments
The Battle of Nagashino is considered a major turning point in the history of Japanese warfare and society because __________.
it resulted in the destruction of the Japanese imperial army by the American navy, ushering in an era of American and British dominance over Japan
None of these answers is correct; the battle saw China repel a Japanese invasion of Manchuria
it was the first time gunpowder was used in a battle on the Japanese mainland
it was the first time rotating volleys of gunfire were used in a Japanese battle, to devastating effect
it resulted in the end of the Samurai feudal system
it was the first time rotating volleys of gunfire were used in a Japanese battle, to devastating effect
The Battle of Nagashino is often considered to be a turning point in Japanese social and military history. It is also often wrongly claimed to be the first time gunpowder was used in a Japanese battle. The correct answer is that it was the first battle in which rotating volleys of fire were used by an organized group of well-trained soldiers under the leadership of the infamous Oba Nobunaga. This revolutionized Japanese society because it changed the rules about who could fight a battle effectively. Suddenly the Samurai, with their lifetime of dedicated training, were less useful than a well-drilled regiment firing in a rotating fashion. The Feudal System would begin to erode as a result, at least until firearms were banned among the peasantry of Japan.
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