SAT II World History : SAT Subject Test in World History

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #201 : Sat Subject Test In World History

In what century was Constantinople renamed Istanbul? 

Possible Answers:

The fifteenth century

The ninth century

The third century

The fourteenth century

The fifth century

Correct answer:

The fifteenth century

Explanation:

Constantinople was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, and then after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the capital of Byzantium. The Byzantine Empire waned in influence from the 1100s to the 1400s, and by the time of Ottoman invasion in the fifteenth century, it was little more than a city-state. The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453 and renamed it Istanbul (the name of the city today).

Example Question #202 : Sat Subject Test In World History

The Abbasid Caliphate was brought to an end when the __________ sacked the capital city of Baghdad. 

Possible Answers:

Kazakhs

Crusaders

Mongols

Huns

Franks

Correct answer:

Mongols

Explanation:

Like so many other great empires in the period from 1200 to 1400, the Abbasid Caliphate was devastated by the attacks of the nomadic horsemen from the Mongolian Steppes—the Mongols. The Mongols sacked the Abbasid capital city, Baghdad, in 1258, bringing to an end the Golden Age of Islam.

Example Question #1 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

Which of these African territories or kingdoms did not become Islamic during this time period? 

Possible Answers:

Ethiopia

Egypt

Songhai

Mali

Tunisia

Correct answer:

Ethiopia

Explanation:

All of these regions and kingdoms became Islamic during the time period from 500 C.E. to 1500 C.E. except for the Kingdom of Ethiopia, which remained a stronghold of Christianity and continues to be predominantly Christian to this day.

Example Question #2 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

How did the climate and terrain of the Kindgom of Ghana differ from the climate and terrain of Nubia, Ethiopia, and Egypt? 

Possible Answers:

The Ghanian climate was cooler.

The Ghanian terrain was primarily rainforest.

The Ghanian terrain was primarily grassland. 

The Ghanian terrain was primarily tundra. 

The Ghanian terrain was primarily desert. 

Correct answer:

The Ghanian terrain was primarily rainforest.

Explanation:

The Kingdom of Ghana existed in the belt of West Africa that is rainforest. This is different to the rest of Africa which is either grassland (savannah) or desert. 

Example Question #3 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

The fall of the Ghanian Kingdom led to the rise of __________.

Possible Answers:

The Khmer Empire

The Zulu Empire

The Kush Empire

The Mali Empire

The Boer Republic

Correct answer:

The Mali Empire

Explanation:

The Kingdom of Ghana collapsed around the thirteenth century due to weakening administration and conflict with surrounding peoples. In its wake a number of new kingdoms arose, but none more prominent than the Mali Empire. Centered around the capital of Timbuktu the Mali Empire grew rapidly in wealth, land and prominence. The most famous King of the Mali Empire was Mansa Musa who famously made a pilgramage to Mecca and gave away so much gold that he crumbled the Egyptian economy. 

Example Question #1 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

The fall of Mali led to the rise of __________.

Possible Answers:

The Songhai Empire

The Kush Empire

The Algerian Kingdom

The Boer Republic

The Arabian Empire

Correct answer:

The Songhai Empire

Explanation:

Mali's time as a hegemonic power in West Africa was relatively short lived and their fall from grace coincided with the rise of the Songhai Empire. The Songhai Empire was centered around its capital in Gao. The height of the Songhai Empire was the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The most famous rulers of Songhai were Askia and Sunni Ali. 

Example Question #4 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

The African Empires of Mali and Songhai were predominantly __________ kingdoms.

Possible Answers:

Christian

Islamic

Jewish

Buddhist

None of these answers; they believed in a unique African religion based on ancestor worship. 

Correct answer:

Islamic

Explanation:

The West African Kingdoms of Mali and Songhai were Islamic Kingdoms. The Kings of both Empires made pilgrimages to Mecca, and Islamic law was enforced within their territories.

Example Question #5 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

Mansa Musa, the famous African king who flooded Egypt with gold, was the ruler of __________.

Possible Answers:

Algeria

Congo

Mali

Morocco

Songhai

Correct answer:

Mali

Explanation:

Mansa Musa was the ruler of Mali in the fourteenth century. He made a famous pilgrimage to Mecca, as all Muslims must do, and gave away so much gold during his time in Egypt that he crashed the Egyptian economy.

Example Question #6 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

The Islamic faith became dominant in Sub-Saharan Africa largely as a result of __________.

Possible Answers:

military expansion 

None of these answers is correct; Christianity became the dominant religion of Sub-Saharan Africa in this time period. 

caravan trade routes

missionary work

intellectual curiosity 

Correct answer:

caravan trade routes

Explanation:

In the centuries following the death of the prophet Muhammad, the Islamic faith spread through Sub-Saharan Africa largely as a result of Muslim traders pushing their caravan routes further and further into the heart of Africa. The Kingdoms of Mali and Songhai (to provide two prominent examples) embraced Islam during this time period. 

Example Question #7 : Africa From 500 C.E. To 1500 C.E.

The Moroccan man, Ibn Battuta, is most well known for __________.

Possible Answers:

his efforts to bring Christianity to Sub-Saharan Africa

his extensive traveling around the African continent and the rest of the known world

his military conquests of North Africa for the Abbasid Caliphate 

his efforts to introduce Europeans to North African culture 

his efforts to introduce East Asians to North-African culture 

Correct answer:

his extensive traveling around the African continent and the rest of the known world

Explanation:

Ibn Battuta lived during the fourteenth century. He is most widely known for his extensive travels throughout Africa and the rest of the known world. 

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors