All SAT II World History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #121 : Sat Subject Test In World History
Which of the following groups are indigenous people who have inhabited the tundra of North America since at least 3000 B.C.E.?
The Inuit
The Iroquois
The Sioux
The Shoshone
The Pueblo
The Inuit
The Inuit people (often popularly called "Eskimos") have inhabited the Arctic tundra since at least 3000 B.C.E. Their society was based around hunting caribou and seals, and they survive in the very coldest regions of North America to this day.
Example Question #1 : North And South America Prior To 500 C.E.
Which of these is the earliest known Mesoamerican civilization?
The Incas
The Olmecs
The Aztecs
The Nazcas
The Maya
The Olmecs
The earliest known civilization in Mesoamerica is the Olmec Empire. The Olmec Empire emerged approximately 1500 BCE and lasted as an empire until approximately 400 BCE. The Olmec people are known for their unique art and architecture.
Example Question #123 : Sat Subject Test In World History
Tehuacan was an early agricultural community in which moden-day country?
Colombia
Brazil
Costa Rica
Mexico
United States of America
Mexico
The Agricultural Revolution took place in Mesoamerica around 5,000 B.C.E. The earliest known agricultural site in the Americas is at Tehuacan in modern-day Mexico. Even if you did not know the answer to this question you could have reasonably inferred from the similarities between Tehuacan and Teotihuacan (a well-known Aztec community).
Example Question #121 : Sat Subject Test In World History
Which of these empires did the most to facilitate trade between the Far East and the European and Arabian worlds?
The Iberian Empire
The Mughal Empire
The Hunnic Empire
The Mongol Empire
The Olmec Empire
The Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire is the largest land empire the world has ever seen. At its height, it stretched from Siberia down to the Middle East and from China to Eastern Europe. The Mongols committed some of the worst atrocities in human history to conquer their empire, but once their empire was conquered, it facilitated trade in a way unseen previously in human history. The fact that all territory between China and the Mediterranean was effectively governed by one administration ensured that trade could flow freely and people could move safely as never before.
Example Question #2 : 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.
Who is credited with connecting Europe and Asia into one trade network?
Otto von Bismarck
Justinian I
Attila the Hun
Kublai Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan conquered the largest empire the world has ever seen. His empire stretched from China all the way to Central Europe and from Northern Russia down to the Middle East. It was the first incidence in human history where the massive stretch of land between Asia and Europe could be considered somewhat unified and organized. This connected Europe and Asia into one cohesive trade network for the first time in human history and helped facilitate the exchange of ideas, produce, and disease across the entire landmass.
Example Question #2 : Political And Governmental Structures 600 Ce To 1450
Which of the following best defines meritocracy?
A system where promotions are made based on ability rather than familial status
The name given to Genghis Kahn’s style of intimidation and warfare
The name given to the Japanese concept of chivalry and honor
None of the other answer choices is correct.
A religious sect of ancient Confucianism
A system where promotions are made based on ability rather than familial status
Meritocracy is the name given to a system in which promotions are made and jobs awarded based on the ability of an individual rather than the status of his or her family. Genghis Khan famously introduced this concept to his Mongolian forces, greatly improving the efficiency of his forces and the loyalty of his men.
Example Question #4 : 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.
During the eleventh and twelfth centuries, trebuchets began to emerge in Europe and the Middle East; they were primarily used __________.
as siege weapons
as close-combat weapons
for defensive purposes
to spot enemies from a safe distance
for caring for the sick and wounded
as siege weapons
Trebuchets are siege weapons that became a popular component of medieval war-making in the twelfth century. A trebuchet is similar in design to a catapult, although significantly more complicated and effective. Trebuchets were eventually phased out in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries with the advent of gunpowder and cannons.
Example Question #1 : 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.
The invention of gunpowder occurred in __________.
Russia
Germany
China
England
France
China
The invention of gunpowder happened in China sometime around the ninth or tenth century. The China of this time period was a highly innovative society that gave the world many notable inventions, including block printing and compass navigation at sea. Gunpowder spread across Central Asia and the Middle East before arriving in Europe around the thirteenth century.
Example Question #1 : Europe
Which of these men was primarily responsible for the creation of the Frankish Kingdom in the sixth century?
Charlemagne
Clovis
Alaric
Augustus Caesar
Charles the Bald
Clovis
The Frankish Kingdom arose in the sixth century in an area that comprises most of modern-day France and the Low Countries. It was built on the conquest of Clovis, who converted to Christianity having won a major battle; however, in Frankish culture, the territory of a ruler is divided between his sons, so the Frankish Kingdom continued to fracture and be reformed through conquest for the next few hundred years.
Example Question #7 : 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, __________ was the first person to be crowned "Emperor of the Romans."
Charlemagne
Pepin
Atilla
Octavian
Genghis Khan
Charlemagne
Charlemagne is the most famous and most successful (in terms of military conquests) of all the Frankish kings. At the height of his empire in the year 800 CE, he controlled all of modern-day France, and much of modern-day Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, and the Low Countries. Because he was a powerful and devout Christian ruler, he was invited to become the first "Emperor of the Romans" in a few hundred years, an invitation he gleefully accepted.