All SAT II World History Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.
The modern-day Latin alphabet is based on the innovations of __________.
the Chinese Empire
the Babylonian Empire
the Phoenician Empire
the Roman Empire
the Sumerian Empire
the Phoenician Empire
The Phoenician empire is an ancient and classical-era civilization that emerged around 1200 BCE along the Mediterranean Coast of the “Fertile Crescent." It was primarily a maritime and economic empire, and its culture spread throughout Mediterranean Europe, the Near East, and North Africa. The Phoenicians are credited with inventing one of the earliest known writing systems, and almost certainly the world’s oldest alphabets. Because of Phoenicia’s expansive trading habits, their alphabet spread to many parts of the world. It was the direct ancestor of the Greek (and subsequently, Latin) alphabets, as well as the modern Arabic and Hebrew scripts.
Example Question #2 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.
The Epic of Gilgamesh is famous because it is __________.
the earliest known work of literature
the earliest known code of laws
important for translating Egyptian hieroglyphics
important for understanding trading patterns of the ancient world
used to study ancient Greek customs
the earliest known work of literature
The Epic of Gilgamesh tells the tale of the possibly mythological Sumerian conqueror Gilgamesh. It is famous because it is the earliest known work of literature. It dates from approximately 2000 BCE.
Example Question #3 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.
Cuneiform is one of the earliest known examples of __________.
metalworking
writing
masonry
language
farming
writing
Cuneiform is one of the earliest known examples of writing in human history. It emerged in Sumeria approximately six thousand years ago. It spread throughout much of the known world before eventually being replaced by the simpler Phoenician alphabet in the first millennium BCE.
Example Question #4 : Prehistory To 500 C.E.
Most of pre-Classical Indian literature is written in ________.
Aryan
Urdu
Sanskrit
Bengali
Hindi
Sanskrit
Classical Indian texts were almost exclusively written in either “Vedic” or “Classical” Sanskrit. Many notable early works of Indian philosophy, Hindu spiritualism, Indian mathematics, and Buddhist practice are written in Classical Sanskrit. Its influence continues today and it remains one of the official languages of India. Urdu is an Arabic written language used primarily in Northern India, Pakistan and other parts of the Eastern Middle East. Hindi is the majority language of India and Bengali is a language spoken by people in Eastern India and Bangladesh.