SAT II World History : SAT Subject Test in World History

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

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Example Questions

Example Question #71 : Sat Subject Test In World History

The Fall of Rome led directly to __________.

Possible Answers:

the revival of classical principles, called the Renaissance

the Industrial Revolution

the political fragmentation of Europe

the rise of Greece

the establishment of the Tudor dynasty in England

Correct answer:

the political fragmentation of Europe

Explanation:

The Fall of Rome led directly to the political and social fragmentation of much of Europe. Western Europe, and the Mediterranean area in particular, had been unified under the Roman Empire for several centuries. Once the Empire fell to barbarian invasion, the economic, social, and political life of Europe changed dramatically with small pockets of warring tribes appearing everywhere. It would be several centuries before Europe would be as comparably “developed” again.

Example Question #1 : Fall Of The Roman Empire

All of the following factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire except __________.

Possible Answers:

outside threats, like the Goths

a weak military that relied on foreign recruits

All of the answers are correct.

relying too heavily on slave labor

widespread political inefficiency, instability, and corruption

Correct answer:

All of the answers are correct.

Explanation:

All of the answers are correct-all of these factors contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire, although the Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire) survived into the fifteenth century.

Example Question #2 : Fall Of The Roman Empire

Which event started the permanent decline of Roman military power?

Possible Answers:

The Carthaginian victory at Cannae 

The Parthian victory at Carrhae

Gothic victory at Adrianople

The sack of Rome by the Visigoths

The Huns' victory at Chalons

Correct answer:

Gothic victory at Adrianople

Explanation:

The Gothic victory against the Romans at Adrianople in 378 signaled the permanent decline of Roman power, opening the empire to new waves of foreign invasions that it eventually succumbed to. Both the battles of Carrhae and Cannae were defeats much earlier in Roman history when Rome was still rising in power, and did not directly lead to Rome's permanent decline. The Visigoths' sack of Rome and the battle of Chalons were both events of the fifth century, once Rome's permanent decline were well underway, and the battle of Chalons was in fact not a Roman defeat.

Example Question #1 : Other European History Prior To 500 C.E.

For what purpose was Hadrian's Wall built?

Possible Answers:

To protect Athens from Spartan invasion

To protect Athens from Persian invasion

To guard Iberian Rome from Moorish invasion

To protect the city of Rome from barbarian invasion

To protect Roman England from the Celtic barbarians to the North

Correct answer:

To protect Roman England from the Celtic barbarians to the North

Explanation:

Hadrian's Wall was built by the Emperor Hadrian in 122 CE to protect the Roman English territory from the raiding parties of the Celtic barbarians to the North in modern-day Scotland. 

Example Question #2 : Other European History Prior To 500 C.E.

The Minoan and Mycenaeans are generally considered as the two most important precursors to __________.

Possible Answers:

the ancient Iceni civilization

the ancient Nordic civilization

the ancient Roman civilization

the ancient Egyptian civilization

the ancient Greek civilization

Correct answer:

the ancient Greek civilization

Explanation:

The Minoans lived on the island of Crete and were established traders and colonizers. The height of their civilization was between 3,000 and 2,000 BCE. They are thought to have settled in Greece and contributed to the rise of Greek culture. The Mycenaeans were people who lived in Greece from about 1,500 BCE to 1,000 BCE. They laid the foundations of the ancient Greek language and it is their culture that is described in Homer's Iliad.

Example Question #3 : Other European History Prior To 500 C.E.

Alaric the Visigoth is most famous for __________.

Possible Answers:

sacking the city of Constantinople

sacking the city of Rome

defending Central Europe from the Huns

defending Europe from Muslim invasion

invading and capturing the British Isles for the Germanic people

Correct answer:

sacking the city of Rome

Explanation:

Alaric the Visigoth was the leader of the Germanic "barbarian" people called the Visigoths. He is most famous for sacking Rome in 410 CE. This was a very crucial event in the fall of Rome. It was the first time the city had been sacked since Rome had become an empire, and it would be sacked twice more in the next century by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths.

Example Question #4 : Other European History Prior To 500 C.E.

The Phoenecian people were led to North Africa to establish the Carthaginian civilization by which famous ruler? 

Possible Answers:

Tyre

Hannibal

Scipio Africanus

Sidon

Dido

Correct answer:

Dido

Explanation:

The Carthaginian Empire arose in the 8th century B.C.E. when the Phoencian Queen Dido led a group of her people to North Africa to found a new settlement. The settlement quickly grew, absorbing Berber people along the way, and became the civilization of Carthage. Hannibal was the Carthaginian general who led an army of elephants over the Alps to attack the Roman Empire and defeated them on the battlefield. Famously he balked at sacking the city of Rome and allowed the Romans to recover, a decision that would eventually lead to his personal downfall and the downfall of his civilization. 

Example Question #1 : The Fertile Crescent And Mesopotamia

Which of the following is true of the Fertile Crescent?

Possible Answers:

The Fertile Crescent was governed by a democratically elected leader.

The Fertile Crescent supported the development of the earliest farming communities.

The Fertile Crescent was located along the Yellow River.

The Fertile Crescent was located in Mesoamerica.

The Fertile Crescent led to a decrease in population.

Correct answer:

The Fertile Crescent supported the development of the earliest farming communities.

Explanation:

Early farming communities characterized the Fertile Crescent. Some of the first irrigation systems were developed in this area, which led to an increase in food supply and, in turn, population. The Fertile Crescent was located in Mesopotamia (which is in the Middle East), not Mesoamerica or along the Yellow River. Finally, the Fertile Crescent area, which came to be known as Sumer, was governed by hereditary kings rather than democratically elected officials.

Example Question #2 : The Fertile Crescent And Mesopotamia

Which of these ancient empires did not arise in the Fertile Crescent? 

Possible Answers:

Egypt

Sumeria

Babylon

All of these Empires arose within the Fertile Crescent. 

Assyria

Correct answer:

All of these Empires arose within the Fertile Crescent. 

Explanation:

The Fertile Crescent is an area of land in the Middle East and Asia Minor. Due to the Euphrates and Tigris rivers it is extremely fertile and arable. It is where many of the earliest civilizations settled down and began farming and grew powerful. All of these empires, as well as the Phonecians, the Hittites, the Israelites, the Persians and several others arose in the Fertile Crescent. 

Example Question #80 : Sat Subject Test In World History

Which of these modern-day countries does not include territory within the "Fertile Crescent"? 

Possible Answers:

Israel

Egypt

Jordan

Afghanistan

Syria

Correct answer:

Afghanistan

Explanation:

"The Fertile Crescent," often also called "Mesopotamia," is a region of the Middle East and Asia Minor that is (compared to the dry, arid land around it) extremely fertile and favorable to agriculture. It is the part of the world where many of the oldest civilizations arose and remains relevant today. Modern nations that have at least some territory in the Fertile Crescent are Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Iran, Palestine, and Iraq. The climate and terrain of Afghanistan is very different; it is mountainous and drier. 

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