SAT II World History : Major Developments
Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II World History
All SAT II World History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Cause And Effect In History
China began to economically stagnate and its technological advances slowed during the Ming dynasty due to which of the following?
Rapid industrialization in Europe
Repeated invasions by Mongols
Isolationist policies
Defeat in the Opium Wars
European discovery of a sea route to Asia
Isolationist policies
The Ming dynasty enacted isolationist policies in the 15th century that severely limited foreign trade, negatively affecting the economy and preventing major foreign innovations from entering China. The major destructive Mongol invasions of China occurred long before the Ming dynasty took over. European industrialization and Chinese defeat in the Opium Wars both occurred after the Ming dynasty was overthrown. The European discovery of a sea route to Asia did not have any major negative effects on Chinese technological and economic advancements.
Example Question #3 : Cause And Effect In History
Which of the following was not a cause of the Russian Revolution?
Economic collapse and food shortages
All of these were causes of the Revolution
Oppressive social class system
Defeat in war
Autocratic royal government
All of these were causes of the Revolution
The deep-rooted causes of the revolution included long-standing popular resentment of both the autocratic, oppressive nature of the czar's government and the oppressive social class system, in which a small elite, namely the royal family and aristocrats, lived in luxury while the vast majority of the population lived in utter poverty. The immediate causes of the revolution were Russian defeats in World War I and the ensuing economic collapse (both due to severe government mismanagement and relative economic backwardness), which caused living conditions to deteriorate further. These immediate factors caused a widespread fall in morale and loss of faith in the czar's regime, leading to open revolt.
Example Question #1 : Cause And Effect In History
Which of the following did not contribute to the decline of imperial Spanish power?
Dependence on gold and silver from the Americas
All of these contributed to the decline of imperial Spanish power
None of these contributed to the decline of Spanish imperial power
The Thirty Years' War
The defeat of the Spanish Armada
All of these contributed to the decline of imperial Spanish power
The defeat of the Spanish Armada by the English in 1588 began the decline of Spanish naval power, and also exacerbated Spanish financial difficulties. Throughout the 1500s and 1600s imperial Spain also relied to heavily on gold and silver from its American mines in replenishing its treasury, and in doing so stifled other economic activity and industry, leading to long-term economic problems that ultimately affected its military and political power. The Thirty Years' War saw Spain defeated by France, which emerged as the dominant European military power, further accelerating Spain's decline.
All SAT II World History Resources
