History - Which of the following countries was not involved in the effort to secure colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East at the end of the nineteenth century?

Which of the following countries was not involved in the effort to secure colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East at the end of the nineteenth century?

 A. Germany 

B. Belgium 

C. Italy 

D. Austria 

E. England

Answer:

D. Austria 

Austria did not take an active role in the struggle for colonies. Germany, Belgium, Italy, and England established colonies in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

History - Which statement best expresses the motive for nineteenth-century European imperialism?

Which statement best expresses the motive for nineteenth-century European imperialism? 

A. Living space was needed for the excess population in Western Europe. 

B. European leaders believed imperialism was an effective method for reducing the number of wars. 

C. European nations would benefit from some aspects of the conquered nation’s culture. 

D. Imperialism would benefit the economies of the colonial powers. 

E. European nations wanted democratic governments throughout the world.

Answer:

D. Imperialism would benefit the economies of the colonial powers. 

The statement that best expressed the motive for nineteenth-century European imperialism is that imperialism would benefit the economies of the colonial powers. During the Age of Imperialism, a global economy developed. From the industrialized European nations’ mass-produced goods, investment capital was directed to the colonies. In return, the people of Asia and Africa provided natural resources and cheap labor. Rubber, copper, and gold came from Africa, cotton and tin from southwest Asia. These raw materials spurred the growth of European industries and financial markets. The colonies also provided new markets for the finished products of the Industrial Revolution. Tools, weapons, and clothing flowed out of the factories and back to the colonies, whose raw materials had made them possible. Although imperialists argued that living space was needed for the excess population of Europe, no European country after 1870 acquired any colony to which European families wished to move in large numbers. The millions who left in the late nineteenth century persisted in heading for the Americas, where there were no European colonies. 

Imperialism was not an effective method of reducing the number of wars. In 1896, Ethiopia defeated Italy in its attempt to conquer the region. In 1898, Great Britain and France almost went to war over the Sudan in Africa. In 1905, Germany and France clashed over Morocco. European countries believed that Western civilizations were superior to the civilizations of colonial people. Colonial officials rejected the cultures of the conquered peoples and tried to impose Western customs and traditions on the colonies. European countries did not establish democratic governments in Asia and Africa, but instead ruled directly or indirectly through local rulers without the consent of the people. 

History - Bismarck organized the Berlin Conference in 1884–85 to

Bismarck organized the Berlin Conference in 1884–85 to 

A. establish rules for dividing up Africa among the European countries. 

B. limit Russian expansion on the continent. 

C. work with the Africans to seek trade agreements. 

D. prevent Belgium from taking over the Congo. 

E. stop the spread of United States influence in Africa.

Answer:

A. establish rules for dividing up Africa among the European countries. 

The Berlin Conference established ground rules for dividing up Africa among the European nations. In 1884–1885, European leaders met in Berlin to avoid conflicts among themselves. They agreed that European powers could not claim any part of Africa unless they set up a government office there. Europeans were also forced to send officials who exerted their power over local rulers. Leopold II, king of Belgium, wanted the Berlin Conference to recognize Belgium’s control of the Congo Free State. Russia was not one of the European countries involved in the division of Africa. The Europeans did not invite any Africans to the Berlin Conference. Africans were not given any role in how Europe divided up the continent. The United States was never interested in extending its influence in Africa. The United States’ area of imperial control was in Latin America and the Caribbean.

History - During the 1900s, Emmeline Pankhurst was associated with

During the 1900s, Emmeline Pankhurst was associated with 

A. improvement in education. 

B. the Romantic literary movement. 

C. the advocation of cleanliness in hospitals. 

D. a radical struggle for women’s suffrage. 

E. support for overseas expansion.

Answer:

D. a radical struggle for women’s suffrage. 

Emmeline Pankhurst was a radical in the efforts of women to gain the right to vote. As the leader of the Women’s Social and Political Union in the early 1900s, she used militant methods, such as breaking windows and committing arson, to help women fight for the right to vote. Some resented her aggressive methods, but Emmeline Pankhurst believed that only extreme measures would help women achieve their goal. She is not associated with any literary, health, or artistic movement in European history.

History - Which statement best describes an effect of the Opium Wars on China?

Which statement best describes an effect of the Opium Wars on China? 

A. The British expelled all Chinese from Hong Kong. 

B. The British victory led to spheres of influence in China. 

C. The British ended the importing of opium into China. 

D. The British established a parliamentary democracy in China. 

E. Chinese isolation increased.

Answer:

B. The British victory led to spheres of influence in China. 

British victory in the Opium Wars led to spheres of influence in China. In 1839, when the Chinese tried to outlaw the opium trade, the British refused, and continued to import the drug. This led to the Opium Wars. The Chinese were easily defeated and signed the Treaty of Nanking (1842). The British annexed Hong Kong and secured the right to trade at four Chinese ports in addition to Canton. These trading ports became spheres of influence in which European nations secured exclusive trading privileges. After 1870, France, Germany, and Russia gained spheres of influence in China. These spheres of influence opened up China to trade rather than isolating it. The British remained in control of Hong Kong until 1997 and did not establish democracy in China.

History - The Boxer Rebellion of the early twentieth century was an attempt to

The Boxer Rebellion of the early twentieth century was an attempt to 

A. eliminate poverty among the Chinese peasants. 

B. bring Western-style democracy to China. 

C. restore trade between China and European nations. 

D. introduce communism. 

E. remove foreign influences from China.

Answer:

E. remove foreign influences from China.

The Boxer Rebellion of the early twentieth century was an attempt to remove foreign influences from China. In the 1890s, anti-foreign feelings were high in China because many Chinese resented the growing influence of foreign powers such as Great Britain, France, and Germany. In 1899, the Chinese formed a secret society called the Boxers (or Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists), whose goal was to remove the foreigners who were destroying their lands with new technology such as telegraphs and machinery. The Boxers did not want any program to deal with poverty nor to promote democracy in China. They wanted to end trade with European nations. The Boxers were not Communists.

History - The nineteenth-century phrase, “the white man’s burden,” reflects the idea that

The nineteenth-century phrase, “the white man’s burden,” reflects the idea that 

A. Asians and Africans were equal to Europeans. 

B. Asians and Africans would be grateful for European help. 

C. imperialism was opposed by most Europeans. 

D. Europeans had a responsibility to improve the lives of their colonial people. 

E. democracy was the best form of government for Asia and Africa.

Answer:

D. Europeans had a responsibility to improve the lives of their colonial people. 

“The White Man’s Burden” reflects the idea that Europeans had a responsibility to improve the lives of their colonial people. In the 1890s, Rudyard Kipling’s poem expressed the belief that Europeans had a sacred civilizing mission to bring the benefits of Western society to the impoverished people of the regions that they colonized. Kipling’s poem encouraged Europeans to give unselfish service in distant lands. European civilization had reached unprecedented heights and they had unique benefits to bestow on all less advanced people. The phrase, “the white man’s burden,” was based on the perceived inferiority of Asians and Africans. It never considered the gratitude of Asians and Africans for Europe’s help. It was expected that these areas would openly embrace Western civilization. This attitude permeated imperialism and there was never the belief that democracy should be the form of government in Asia and Africa. Imperialism was based on one country conquering a weaker one.

History - A major goal of the Meiji Restoration was to focus on

A major goal of the Meiji Restoration was to focus on 

A. isolating Japan from the influence of foreign ideas. 

B. existing peacefully with their Asian neighbors. 

C. increasing the emperor’s power by returning Japan to a feudal political system. 

D. modernizing Japan’s economy to compete with Western nations. 

E. encouraging European powers to open up trading rights in China.

Answer:

D. modernizing Japan’s economy to compete with Western nations. 

During the Meiji Restoration beginning in 1867, Japan’s leaders focused on modernizing Japan’s economy in order to compete with Western nations. Japan reversed its policy of isolation, ended feudalism, and began to modernize by borrowing from the Western powers. The goal of the Meiji leader, or enlightened ruler, was to make Japan a strong military and industrial power. Japanese leaders sent students abroad to Western countries to learn about their form of government, economies, technology, and customs. The government also brought foreign experts to Japan to improve industry. The Japanese adopted a constitution based on the model of Prussia with the emperor as the head. The new government was not intended to bring democracy, but to unite Japan and make it equal to Western powers. The Meiji Restoration did not isolate Japan from the influence of foreign ideas. The Japanese leaders borrowed Western ideas and adapted them to fit the needs of Japanese society. The Japanese introduced Western business methods but encouraged cooperation rather than competition among companies. Japan’s modernization contributed to its rise as an imperial country. In 1895, the Japanese attacked and defeated China in the Sino-Japanese War. In 1904–1905, Japan clashed with Russia and defeated the Russians. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea.

History - As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as consequently, there is a frequently

“As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected. From the strong principle of inheritance, any selected variety will tend to propagate its new and modified form.” The author of the above passage is 

A. Charles Darwin. 

B. Herbert Spencer. 

C. Karl Marx.

 D. Ivan Pavlov. 

E. Gregor Mendel

Answer:

A. Charles Darwin. 

Charles Darwin is the author of this passage. In his book On the Origins of Species by Means of Natural Selection (1859) Darwin maintains that according to the idea of natural selection the populations that tend to survive are those that are the fittest or best adapted to their environment. The surviving members of a species produce offspring that share their advantage. Over generations, the species may change. In this way new species evolve. Darwin’s idea of change through natural selection came to be called the Theory of Evolution. Herbert Spencer was the first to use the term “survivial of the fittest” and is associated with Social Darwinism. Karl Marx is considered the father of Communism. Ivan Pavlov was a nineteenthcentury Russian biologist who broke new ground in the social science of psychology. Gregor Mendel was a nineteenth-century German scientist who is considered to be the founder of the study of genetics.

History - Which of the following was a result of the Sepoy Mutiny or rebellion in 1857?

Which of the following was a result of the Sepoy Mutiny or rebellion in 1857? 

A. The British East India Company raised taxes. 

B. India declared its independence. 

C. India adapted Christianity. 

D. The British East India Company took direct control of India. 

E. The British government ended the rule of the British East India Company

Answer:

E. The British government ended the rule of the British East India Company

The Sepoy Mutiny or Rebellion resulted in the British government ruling India directly as a colony. The British controlled India through the British East India Company until 1857. The British, who crushed the Sepoy Native Indian Troops, changed their policy after 1857. The government ended the rule of the British East India Company in 1858 and assumed control of the colony, ruling British India as a colony and ruling the native states indirectly as protectorates through British advisors. The British East India Company did not raise taxes since it did not control India after 1858. India did not achieve independence until after World War II. Hindu, not Christianity, is the major religion of India.

Frequently Asked Questions - Mansa Musa

Question 1: How did Mansa Musa get so rich?

Answer: 

Mansa Musa became wealthy after he became emperor, because he practically owned everything in the empire. In Africa, gold was very abundant. The large amounts of gold that he had are estimated to be worth around $400 billion in today's US currency.

Question 2: Why did Mansa Musa travel with so many people and why did he carry so much gold?

Answer: Mansa Musa traveled with so many people because he wanted to impress the people that he passed by on his hajj to Mecca. He carried so much gold because he needed it to pay for goods acquired along the way.

Question: Why did Mansa Musa travel with so many people and why did he carry so much gold? 

Answer: Mansa Musa traveled with so many people because he wanted to impress the people that he passed by on his hajj to Mecca. He carried so much gold because he needed it to pay for goods acquired along the way.

Question - List and describe two reasons why the kingdom of Ghana declined.

List and describe two reasons why the kingdom of Ghana declined.

Answer:

Two reasons why the kingdom of Ghana declined were that Muslim warriors, called Almoravids, attacked Ghana and seized its capital city and that Ghana was further weakened by the loss of natural resources.

Question - Which of the following empires was not in West Africa?

Which of the following empires was not in West Africa?

a) Great Zimbabwe

b) Ghana

c) Mali

d) Songhay

Answer:

a) Great Zimbabwe

Question - Why and how did the Byzantine Empire have so much influence on religion, culture, and trade in Russia and Eastern Europe?

Why and how did the Byzantine Empire have so much influence on religion, culture, and trade in Russia and Eastern Europe?

Answer:

Trade routes between Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, adoption of Orthodox Christianity by Russia and much of Eastern Europe, adoption of Greek alphabet for the Slavic languages by St. Cyril, and church architecture and religious art. 

Question - By what routes did the Persians choose to attack Greece? Explain why.

By what routes did the Persians choose to attack Greece? Explain why.

Answer:

The Persians attacked by land and sea. The Persians intended their fleet to be able to supply their army as well as to fight the Greek ships, while their land forces were intended to capture the coastal towns.

Question - How would you compare the ideals of Spartan and Athenian societies?

How would you compare the ideals of Spartan and Athenian societies?

Answer:

Spartans valued duty, physical and military strength, and discipline. Athenians valued their political freedom, family life, art, and intellectual pursuits.

Question - How is Athenian democracy different from modern American democracy?

How is Athenian democracy different from modern American democracy?

Answer:

In Athens, participation in the political process was limited to adult male property owners. In the U.S. participation is open to a broader range of people (like men, women, property owners or non-property owners). In Athens, there was direct participation by the people and voting on the spot (in the city assembly), whereas in the U.S., the people participate indirectly, voting for their elected representatives who then are supposed to govern in the name of the people. 

Question - The Dorian period is often called Greece’s Dark Age. Why do you think this is so?

The Dorian period is often called Greece’s Dark Age. Why do you think this is so?

Answer:

The definition of a “Dark Age” is a period of decline. Dorian Greece definitely experienced a period of significant decline, with apparent loss of the ability to keep written records and a sharp decrease in the population.

Question - Other than the explanation offered in the legend, why do you think the Greeks went to war with Troy?

Other than the explanation offered in the legend, why do you think the Greeks went to war with Troy?

Answer:

It may well have been a conflict over control of seafaring trade routes. Troy’s location allowed it to control all the traffic through the Bosphorus Strait up to the Black Sea. The Mycenaeans may have envied or resented Troy’s wealth that they gained from this trade.

Question - How did the physical geography of Greece cause Greek-speaking peoples to develop separate, isolated communities?

How did the physical geography of Greece cause Greek-speaking peoples to develop separate, isolated communities?

Answer:

Mountains divided Greece into discrete subregions whose populations developed somewhat independently from one another. Most city-states were isolated in their own little valleys and developed their own unique traditions and ways of managing their communities.