SAT II World History : Europe

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #5 : Historical Figures Of Greece And Rome

Along with Julius Caesar, which two men made up the First Triumvirate of Rome?

Possible Answers:

Octavian and Mark Anthony

Pompey Magnus and Marcus Crassus

Mark Anthony and Augustus Caesar

Scipio Africanus and Pompey Magnus

Octavian and Marcus Aurelius

Correct answer:

Pompey Magnus and Marcus Crassus

Explanation:

The First Triumvirate of the Roman Empire was formed between Julius Caesar, Pompey Magnus, and Marcus Crassus. The Triumvirate had no legal authority and was formed solely to consolidate the power of these three men against the legal authority of the Roman Senate. Following Crassus' death, a civil war erupted betwen Pompey and Caesar that ended with Pompey's defeat and Caesar assuming the role of dictator of Rome until his assassination ten years later. 

Example Question #41 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.

Draco and Solon are credited with __________.

Possible Answers:

undermining the Nazi war effort in Eastern Europe during WWII

helping institute democracy in the Athenian city-state 

discovering the pyramids of Egypt 

promoting women’s rights in nineteenth-century Europe 

inventing the world’s first viable vaccination against polio 

Correct answer:

helping institute democracy in the Athenian city-state 

Explanation:

Draco and Solon are somewhat enigmatic figures in Ancient Athenian history. They were both lawmakers. Draco came first and extended democratic rights to those Ancient Greeks who were wealthy enough to afford armor (not the arbitrary distinction this might seem now, as these were the men who fought for/funded the defense of Athens). However, his laws were extremely harsh - prescribing punishment by death for just about every crime. It is from his name that we get the English word “draconian.” Draco’s legal system did little except pit the poor against the rich in Ancient Greece and so the Athenians turned to Solon to revise the political system in Athens. Although neither Draco nor Solon themselves created the institution of democracy in Athens, their legal codes and political reforms were the foundations upon which the original Athenian democratic society was able to grow. 

Example Question #7 : Historical Figures Of Greece And Rome

The Ancient Greek Thucydides is most famous for __________.

Possible Answers:

his advances in mathematical understanding 

his writings on logic and reason 

his historical writings on the Peloponnesian War

leading the defense of Marathon against the Persian forces

his historical writings on the invasion of Troy

Correct answer:

his historical writings on the Peloponnesian War

Explanation:

Thucydides is probably the most famous classical era historian. He is most famous for his writings on the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta in the fifth century B.C.E. 

Example Question #8 : Historical Figures Of Greece And Rome

Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus are three famous Greek __________.

Possible Answers:

politicians

comedians

philosophers 

tragedians

teachers

Correct answer:

tragedians

Explanation:

Euripides, Sophocles, and Aeschylus are the three Greek tragedians whose work has survived. Sophocles is probably the most famous of the three, although this is somewhat subjective, and he gave us the story of Oedipus. 

Example Question #9 : Historical Figures Of Greece And Rome

Which of these Ancient Greeks is often referred to as the Father of Western Medicine?

Possible Answers:

Pericles

Phillip of Macedon

Thucydides

Hippocrates

Socrates

Correct answer:

Hippocrates

Explanation:

Hippocrates is often considered to be the "Founder of Western Medicine." Among other things, Hippocrates is credited with advancing physiological and anatomical understanding. He also proposed the Hippocratic Oath which continues to influence doctors to this day. 

Example Question #42 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.

Which of these men was not part of the First Triumvirate of Rome? 

Possible Answers:

Caesar 

Crassus 

They were all members 

Pompey 

None of them were members 

Correct answer:

They were all members 

Explanation:

The First Triumvirate of Rome was a political alliance between Julius Caesar, Marcus Crassus, and Pompeius Magnus. It was not an official political organization, but rather a secretive organization that sought to engineer the downfall of the Roman Republic. Following Crassus’ death the Roman world was essentially in the hands of two men - Pompey (his anglicized name), who controlled the Senate and Julius Caesar who controlled the armies of Gaul and enjoyed the most popular support. When Caesar crossed the Rubicon he was declared an enemy of the state and Pompey was charged by the Roman Senate with defeating him. Thus ended the First Triumvirate of Rome; when Caesar defeated Pompey in battle and then had him assassinated. 

Example Question #2 : Roman Empire

A Roman Emperor was seen in a pre-Christian religious context as

Possible Answers:

fulfilling a role in worship for select gods.

subordinate only to a chief priest.

the chief priest.

the supreme god of the pantheon.

not important to the religion.

Correct answer:

the chief priest.

Explanation:

The Roman Emperor held a number of different titles, including pontifex maximus, which is Latin for "chief priest". The title was held by Julius Caesar as a pre-Empire designation, but given to his adopted son Octavian. When Octavian became the first true Roman Emperor with the title Augustus, he kept the designation of pontifex maximus, which was passed on to later emperors.

Example Question #1 : Roman Empire

During the first century CE, all of the following were features of the Roman Empire EXCEPT which answer choice?

Possible Answers:

The prevalence of a polytheistic religion

The widespread acceptance of Christianity

A system of aqueducts

A wealthy class of individuals known as the patricians

An expansive network of roads

Correct answer:

The widespread acceptance of Christianity

Explanation:

As Christianity developed during the first century CE, its earliest followers  were persecuted in the Roman Empire. Not until the Edict of Milan in 313 CE was Christianity even legal in the empire. Therefore "the widespread acceptance of Christianity" is the correct answer.

All of the other answer choices were true of Rome during the first century CE as it approached its height in the early second century CE.

Example Question #4 : Roman Empire

The Roman Empire __________.

Possible Answers:

forbade trading throughout the Empire

was defeated by the rising Arab Empire

banned Christianity throughout the entirety of its history

was generally tolerant of other religions 

failed to contact any of the British Isles

Correct answer:

was generally tolerant of other religions 

Explanation:

As the Roman Empire expanded through Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, it came to consist of individuals of a wide variety of religious beliefs. In general, the Roman Empire treated these diverse religious elements with tolerance and a practical acceptance. This changed after the Roman Empire became officially Christian, but as this did not occur until near the downfall of the Roman Empire, it cannot be said to be “generally” indicative of Roman policy.

Example Question #2 : Roman Empire

The Edict of Milan ________.

Possible Answers:

restored Milanese independence following the withdrawal of French troops

provided for the protection of aristocrats and former generals during the collapse of the Roman Empire 

ended persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire 

made it illegal to practice Judaism in the Roman Empire 

established a code of laws for the emerging Roman Empire 

Correct answer:

ended persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire 

Explanation:

In 313 C.E. the Roman Empire was divided between those believers of the ancient religious institutions of Rome and the rapidly growing Christian minority. The Roman politicians, in various attempts to garner support, had been systematically persecuting or tolerating Christianity. The Edict of Milan, however, permanently ended persecution of Christianity in Rome and paved the way for the adoption of Christianity as the official religion of the Empire. It was issued by Emperor Constantine. 

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