SAT II World History : Political Reforms in the Middle Ages

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Political Reforms In The Middle Ages

William the Conqueror's Domesday Book was an attempt to do which of the following?

Possible Answers:

To undermine English religious traditions by establishing the Norman religion as the religion of the English territory

To reorganize the territory of Northern France to prepare the people for the invasion of England

To survey and organize William's English territory for the purposes of taxation

To reform English common law to provide greater protection and rights for the common people

To consolidate the Saxon power base within the North of England

Correct answer:

To survey and organize William's English territory for the purposes of taxation

Explanation:

The Domesday Book is a record of the Norman survey of England carried out in 1086. The purpose of the book was to find out how much land, property, and so on was owned by each individual in the territory so as to facilitate taxation in William the Conqueror's new territory.

Example Question #2 : Political Reforms In The Middle Ages

The Hanseatic League was created to __________.

Possible Answers:

protect the economic interests of merchants in Northern Europe

protect the Ottoman Empire from the threat posed by the European crusades

prevent the spread of Protestantism in Southern and Western Europe

protect Christian Europe from the threat of Ottoman invasion

encourage the spread of Protestantism in Northern Europe

Correct answer:

protect the economic interests of merchants in Northern Europe

Explanation:

The Hanseatic League was created in the fourteenth century to encourage, protect, and facilitate trade in Northern Europe. It was an agreement designed to deter conflict and provide protections for various merchant classes. 

Example Question #3 : Political Reforms In The Middle Ages

The Magna Carta __________.

Possible Answers:

established representative democracy in England

provided guaranteed rights for members of the English aristocracy

established direct democracy in England

provided guarantees that the aristocracy would protect the rights of the common people from the abuses of the king

established protection for the common people from the abuses of the aristocracy

Correct answer:

provided guaranteed rights for members of the English aristocracy

Explanation:

The Magna Carta, signed by King John II in 1215 and subsequently renewed on several occasions, is often cited as the beginning of democracy in England, or at least the beginning of the English Constitution. In practice, it effectively guaranteed the protection of the rights of some twenty-five members of the English aristocracy from the abuses of the King. The importance of the document comes from the precedent it established that in English society, the power of the King was never absolute.

Example Question #4 : Political Reforms In The Middle Ages

The Magna Carta was signed __________.

Possible Answers:

in France in 1437

in England in 1131

in Rome in 1096

in Rome in 1066

in England in 1215

Correct answer:

in England in 1215

Explanation:

The Magna Carta was signed in England in 1215. The document provides certain guarantees of the rights of the English nobility against the abuse of the king. It was signed by King John II of England.

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