AP World Unit 4 MCQ

"This spring, those Indians who lived in their trading house here fell sick with smallpox, and died most miserably. They fear smallpox more than any other disease because it is very common among them. The condition of this people was so lamentable, and they suffered so greatly from this disease that they were, in the end, not able to help each other, or make a fire, or fetch water to drink.
Those of us in the English settlement, seeing their woeful and sad condition, took pity on the Indians and daily fetched them wood and water, and food. Nonetheless, very few of the Indians survived. But by the marvelous goodness of God, not one of the English colonists was stricken or infected by the disease at all, though many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks."
William Bradford, English settler in the Plymouth Colony in North America, diary entry for the year 1633

The author uses all of the following as evidence to support his argument about the impact of smallpox on Native American populations EXCEPT
A) many Native Americans who contracted smallpox died from it
B) the English settlers tried to help the Native Americans who were afflicted with smallpox
C) the Native Americans feared smallpox more than any other disease
D) smallpox was widespread among Native Americans

"This spring, those Indians who lived in their trading house here fell sick with smallpox, and died most miserably. They fear smallpox more than any other disease because it is very common among them. The condition of this people was so lamentable, and they suffered so greatly from this disease that they were, in the end, not able to help each other, or make a fire, or fetch water to drink.
Those of us in the English settlement, seeing their woeful and sad condition, took pity on the Indians and daily fetched them wood and water, and food. Nonetheless, very few of the Indians survived. But by the marvelous goodness of God, not one of the English colonists was stricken or infected by the disease at all, though many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks."
William Bradford, English settler in the Plymouth Colony in North America, diary entry for the year 1633

The author uses all of the following as evidence to support his argument about the impact of smallpox on Native American populations EXCEPT
A) many Native Americans who contracted smallpox died from it
B) the English settlers tried to help the Native Americans who were afflicted with smallpox
C) the Native Americans feared smallpox more than any other disease
D) smallpox was widespread among Native Americans

B) the English settlers tried to help the Native Americans who were afflicted with smallpox

Correct. While Bradford mentions that some English took pity on the Native Americans and tried to help them, this fact does not provide evidence about the effects of smallpox on Native American populations. Since Bradford does not use this statement as evidence to support his argument, it is the correct answer to this question.

"This spring, those Indians who lived in their trading house here fell sick with smallpox, and died most miserably. They fear smallpox more than any other disease because it is very common among them. The condition of this people was so lamentable, and they suffered so greatly from this disease that they were, in the end, not able to help each other, or make a fire, or fetch water to drink.
Those of us in the English settlement, seeing their woeful and sad condition, took pity on the Indians and daily fetched them wood and water, and food. Nonetheless, very few of the Indians survived. But by the marvelous goodness of God, not one of the English colonists was stricken or infected by the disease at all, though many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks."
William Bradford, English settler in the Plymouth Colony in North America, diary entry for the year 1633

The author invokes which of the following to support his claim that smallpox's impact on European settlers was different from its impact on Native Americans?
A) Pseudoscientific theories of European racial superiority
B) Evidence from population genetics
C) Ideas about the role of divine providence in human affairs
D) Protestant ideas about hard work and economic success as markers of personal virtue

C) Ideas about the role of divine providence in human affairs

Correct. Bradford credits divine providence, in other words the belief that God is protecting the English settlers who tried to care for the Native Americans stricken by smallpox.

"This spring, those Indians who lived in their trading house here fell sick with smallpox, and died most miserably. They fear smallpox more than any other disease because it is very common among them. The condition of this people was so lamentable, and they suffered so greatly from this disease that they were, in the end, not able to help each other, or make a fire, or fetch water to drink.
Those of us in the English settlement, seeing their woeful and sad condition, took pity on the Indians and daily fetched them wood and water, and food. Nonetheless, very few of the Indians survived. But by the marvelous goodness of God, not one of the English colonists was stricken or infected by the disease at all, though many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks."
William Bradford, English settler in the Plymouth Colony in North America, diary entry for the year 1633
The passage implies that the author was aware of smallpox being an infectious disease.

Which of the following can best be cited as evidence of that claim?
A) The author's statement that Native Americans lived in a "trading house" near the English settlement
B) The author's statement that smallpox was so debilitating that those afflicted with it could not "make a fire, or fetch water to drink"
C) The author's statement that the English settlers "took pity" at the sight of the Native Americans' suffering
D) The author's statement that no English settlers fell ill, even though "many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks"

D) The author's statement that no English settlers fell ill, even though "many performed these favors for the Indians for weeks"

Correct. This statement shows that Bradford recognized there was risk in caring for Native Americans afflicted by smallpox because he expresses relief and gratitude that no English settlers fell ill.

"To Your Highnesses of the States General:*
We have been informed by our agent Joris Pietersen, who recently returned from the coast of Angola, that a war arose between the king of Kongo and the Portuguese. The war started because the Portuguese, according to their nature, attacked the region of Mpemba, which the king of Kongo also claims, without any reason but to enslave the inhabitants and conquer the entire country. In this war, the king of Kongo's armies performed so well that all of the Portuguese were driven out of the conquered region with many losses. After this victory, the king took the hats and shoes of all captured Portuguese soldiers as a sign of contempt and took the sails and rudders off their two ships that were anchored off Mpemba.
Then the king of Kongo, being of the opinion that all the Portuguese should be driven off his lands forever, sent letters to Joris Pietersen, our agent in Angola, requesting to enter into an alliance with the Dutch state and asking your Highnesses to provide them with four or five warships as well as five or six hundred soldiers for assistance on the water as well as the land, in order that he might secure the coasts from the Portuguese and their supporters. The king is offering to pay for the ships and the monthly wages of the soldiers with gold, silver, or ivory. If successful, he promises to put into your hands the fort and city of Luanda—a place so useful to the king of Spain that more than twenty-four thousand Africans are shipped annually from there to the West-Indies and other places in the Americas.
Your Highnesses, it is the Company's judgment that the king of Kongo's proposal will likely bring harm to our enemies and increase our commerce. Therefore, if the king's proposal is accepted, the Company will contribute according to its capacity."
*a legislative body of the Dutch Republic, comprising representativesof the various provinces of the Netherlands
Letter from the directors of the Dutch West India Company to theStates General of the Netherlands, 1623

The contents of the letter are best understood in the context of which of the following aspects of the historical situation in sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1600s?
A) Political, religious, and economic rivalries shaped European colonial policies in Africa.
B) State centralization in Europe led to a change from joint-stock company control to direct imperial control in many colonial territories.
C) The arrival of Europeans led to the conquest and destruction of many native African states.
D) Religious conflicts stemming from the spread of Islam from North Africa made sub-Saharan African states vulnerable to European conquest.

A) Political, religious, and economic rivalries shaped European colonial policies in Africa.

Correct. Just as European rivalries often contributed to European imperialistic endeavors in the Americas and Asia, in Africa competition between European states shaped European expansion into the region and provided opportunities for African leaders to play European powers against one another. The letter reflects this competition between European states in its criticism of Portuguese policies and its praise for the king of Congo's actions against the Portuguese.

"To Your Highnesses of the States General:*
We have been informed by our agent Joris Pietersen, who recently returned from the coast of Angola, that a war arose between the king of Kongo and the Portuguese. The war started because the Portuguese, according to their nature, attacked the region of Mpemba, which the king of Kongo also claims, without any reason but to enslave the inhabitants and conquer the entire country. In this war, the king of Kongo's armies performed so well that all of the Portuguese were driven out of the conquered region with many losses. After this victory, the king took the hats and shoes of all captured Portuguese soldiers as a sign of contempt and took the sails and rudders off their two ships that were anchored off Mpemba.
Then the king of Kongo, being of the opinion that all the Portuguese should be driven off his lands forever, sent letters to Joris Pietersen, our agent in Angola, requesting to enter into an alliance with the Dutch state and asking your Highnesses to provide them with four or five warships as well as five or six hundred soldiers for assistance on the water as well as the land, in order that he might secure the coasts from the Portuguese and their supporters. The king is offering to pay for the ships and the monthly wages of the soldiers with gold, silver, or ivory. If successful, he promises to put into your hands the fort and city of Luanda—a place so useful to the king of Spain that more than twenty-four thousand Africans are shipped annually from there to the West-Indies and other places in the Americas.
Your Highnesses, it is the Company's judgment that the king of Kongo's proposal will likely bring harm to our enemies and increase our commerce. Therefore, if the king's proposal is accepted, the Company will contribute according to its capacity."
*a legislative body of the Dutch Republic, comprising representativesof the various provinces of the Netherlands
Letter from the directors of the Dutch West India Company to theStates General of the Netherlands, 1623

The point of view expressed by the Dutch West India Company's directors in the letter can best be described as
A) evenhanded in describing the benefits and detriments of various proposed options to the States General
B) shaped by views of European cultural and religious superiority over African peoples, which the States General representatives would have been likely to share
C) dismissive in its evaluation of the military and strategic importance of the kingdom of Kongo to the Netherlands
D) seeking to steer the States General representatives into taking action that would benefit the company financially

D) seeking to steer the States General representatives into taking action that would benefit the company financially

Correct. The letter specifically states that the Dutch West India Company stood to gain financially by acquiring control over forts on the West African coast from which the company could trade for enslaved people from the Angola region that would be vital to the establishment of lucrative sugar-growing plantations in the Caribbean.

"To Your Highnesses of the States General:*
We have been informed by our agent Joris Pietersen, who recently returned from the coast of Angola, that a war arose between the king of Kongo and the Portuguese. The war started because the Portuguese, according to their nature, attacked the region of Mpemba, which the king of Kongo also claims, without any reason but to enslave the inhabitants and conquer the entire country. In this war, the king of Kongo's armies performed so well that all of the Portuguese were driven out of the conquered region with many losses. After this victory, the king took the hats and shoes of all captured Portuguese soldiers as a sign of contempt and took the sails and rudders off their two ships that were anchored off Mpemba.
Then the king of Kongo, being of the opinion that all the Portuguese should be driven off his lands forever, sent letters to Joris Pietersen, our agent in Angola, requesting to enter into an alliance with the Dutch state and asking your Highnesses to provide them with four or five warships as well as five or six hundred soldiers for assistance on the water as well as the land, in order that he might secure the coasts from the Portuguese and their supporters. The king is offering to pay for the ships and the monthly wages of the soldiers with gold, silver, or ivory. If successful, he promises to put into your hands the fort and city of Luanda—a place so useful to the king of Spain that more than twenty-four thousand Africans are shipped annually from there to the West-Indies and other places in the Americas.
Your Highnesses, it is the Company's judgment that the king of Kongo's proposal will likely bring harm to our enemies and increase our commerce. Therefore, if the king's proposal is accepted, the Company will contribute according to its capacity."
*a legislative body of the Dutch Republic, comprising representativesof the various provinces of the Netherlands
Letter from the directors of the Dutch West India Company to theStates General of the Netherlands, 1623

The report's position on the proposed transfer of Luanda to the Dutch is best understood in light of the authors' goal to
A) secure profits from the rapidly expanding trans-Atlantic slave trade
B) highlight the gender and family imbalances created by the slave trade
C) recommend that the company expand its operations to the Indian Ocean and the spice islands of Southeast Asia
D) offer a comparison between the profitability of East African versus West African slave trade routes

A) secure profits from the rapidly expanding trans-Atlantic slave trade

Correct. The report's mention of the fact that Luanda is "so useful to the King of Spain" because of the large numbers of enslaved people shipped from there to the Americas indicates that the Company's directors are seeking to convince the Dutch government that they should be more involved in the growing (and very profitable) trans-Atlantic slave trade.

"I admit that the punishments of the slaves on Barbados for all sorts of offenses are indeed very cruel, but one must consider before condemning the [White] inhabitants that they often have no choice but to set moderation aside and use punishment as a way to intimidate their slaves. The Whites need to impress fear and respect upon their slaves in order not to one day find themselves the victims of their fury. Unless the slaves are kept in a constant state of fear of punishment, they would always be ready to revolt, to take over everything, and to commit the most horrible crimes in order to liberate themselves.
The plantations on Barbados are smaller than those in the French [Caribbean] islands. This is not surprising because although the island is small, its population is very large, and land is scarce and therefore very valuable. Nonetheless, the plantation owners are very wealthy and the houses on the plantations are even better built than those in the towns. The plantation houses are large in size, have numerous glass windows, and have fine rooms that are conveniently arranged. Nearly all plantation houses have rows of shade trees around them to keep them cool. One observes the wealth and good taste of the inhabitants in their furniture, which is very fine, and their silver, of which they have so large a quantity that if this island were to be sacked the silver utensils from the plantations alone would be worth more than the value of several Spanish galleons."
Jean-Baptiste Labat, French clergyman and travel writer,account of his visit to the British Caribbean island of Barbados, 1690s

Which of the following best describes the author's argument in the first paragraph?
A) The demographic makeup of Barbadian society and the structure of its economy make existing punishments for enslaved people justified.
B) Barbadian enslaved people are punished more leniently than those working on the larger plantations of French Caribbean islands.
C) Plantation owners who punish enslaved people too harshly are not fulfilling their duties as Christians to treat the less fortunate kindly.
D) The punishments of enslaved people in Barbados are the result of a long experience of deadly uprisings and anti-planter violence on the island.

A) The demographic makeup of Barbadian society and the structure of its economy make existing punishments for enslaved people justified.

Correct. Labat argues in the first paragraph that White plantation owners in Barbados are justified in punishing enslaved people harshly because they are necessary for the economic well-being of the island and because enslaved people constitute the majority of the island's inhabitants.

"I admit that the punishments of the slaves on Barbados for all sorts of offenses are indeed very cruel, but one must consider before condemning the [White] inhabitants that they often have no choice but to set moderation aside and use punishment as a way to intimidate their slaves. The Whites need to impress fear and respect upon their slaves in order not to one day find themselves the victims of their fury. Unless the slaves are kept in a constant state of fear of punishment, they would always be ready to revolt, to take over everything, and to commit the most horrible crimes in order to liberate themselves.
The plantations on Barbados are smaller than those in the French [Caribbean] islands. This is not surprising because although the island is small, its population is very large, and land is scarce and therefore very valuable. Nonetheless, the plantation owners are very wealthy and the houses on the plantations are even better built than those in the towns. The plantation houses are large in size, have numerous glass windows, and have fine rooms that are conveniently arranged. Nearly all plantation houses have rows of shade trees around them to keep them cool. One observes the wealth and good taste of the inhabitants in their furniture, which is very fine, and their silver, of which they have so large a quantity that if this island were to be sacked the silver utensils from the plantations alone would be worth more than the value of several Spanish galleons."
Jean-Baptiste Labat, French clergyman and travel writer,account of his visit to the British Caribbean island of Barbados, 1690s

Which of the following best describes the author's claim in the second paragraph?
A) The extensive mining of precious metals on Caribbean islands has destroyed the islands' natural environment.
B) Despite the small size of Barbadian plantations, the landowners on Barbados are very wealthy.
C) Enslaved people's political grievances are threatening the political order in American colonial societies.
D) Barbadian plantation owners are the wealthiest social group in the Caribbean.

B) Despite the small size of Barbadian plantations, the landowners on Barbados are very wealthy.

Correct. The second paragraph states that the plantations on Barbados are "smaller" than those on other Caribbean islands, but it also states that "nonetheless, the plantation owners are very wealthy."

"I admit that the punishments of the slaves on Barbados for all sorts of offenses are indeed very cruel, but one must consider before condemning the [White] inhabitants that they often have no choice but to set moderation aside and use punishment as a way to intimidate their slaves. The Whites need to impress fear and respect upon their slaves in order not to one day find themselves the victims of their fury. Unless the slaves are kept in a constant state of fear of punishment, they would always be ready to revolt, to take over everything, and to commit the most horrible crimes in order to liberate themselves.
The plantations on Barbados are smaller than those in the French [Caribbean] islands. This is not surprising because although the island is small, its population is very large, and land is scarce and therefore very valuable. Nonetheless, the plantation owners are very wealthy and the houses on the plantations are even better built than those in the towns. The plantation houses are large in size, have numerous glass windows, and have fine rooms that are conveniently arranged. Nearly all plantation houses have rows of shade trees around them to keep them cool. One observes the wealth and good taste of the inhabitants in their furniture, which is very fine, and their silver, of which they have so large a quantity that if this island were to be sacked the silver utensils from the plantations alone would be worth more than the value of several Spanish galleons."
Jean-Baptiste Labat, French clergyman and travel writer,account of his visit to the British Caribbean island of Barbados, 1690s

Which of the following is an implicit argument made by the author in the passage?
A) The current political and economic makeup of European colonies in the Caribbean is not sustainable over the long term.
B) Christianity will provide a solution to the social ills of colonial societies in the Caribbean.
C) Coerced labor systems have allowed a minority of the population of Caribbean colonial societies to reap enormous economic benefits.
D) It is incumbent upon France to try to wrest control of Barbados from Great Britain.

C) Coerced labor systems have allowed a minority of the population of Caribbean colonial societies to reap enormous economic benefits.

Correct. In the second paragraph, Labat describes the vast wealth that plantation owners in Barbados have accumulated, and in the first paragraph he mentions that plantation owners were always in fear of revolts by enslaved people. In Barbados and across the Caribbean, enslaved people of African descent constituted the large majority of the population.

"The Cossack commander Bohdan Khmelnytsky and all his Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host,* humbly bowing to His Majesty Tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich, ruler of all Russia, pledge that they shall serve the Tsar's sovereign wishes forever, and in exchange for that they request that His Majesty grant them the following privileges:
Firstly, that town and city officials in the territories controlled by the Zaporozhian Host be selected from the Cossacks' own ranks. These Cossack city officials shall endeavor to serve His Majesty's wishes in all their actions, collecting His tax revenues and administering His justice and punishments. In the past, His Majesty several times sent His royal appointees from Moscow, but those appointees habitually violated our Cossacks' rights and tried to impose this or that royal decree or regulation on our Host's people, which frustrated our people greatly. By contrast, if our Host's people are governed by their own, they are not going to resist or complain.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, provided the Cossacks will not interfere with the collection of taxes nor will they impede royal acts of justice from being carried out.
Secondly, that should rulers of foreign countries continue to send ambassadors to commander Khmelnytsky and the Zaporozhian Host directly, as they have done before, the Cossack commander can continue to receive and conduct business with those who come in peace. The commander should only inform His Majesty of those foreign ambassadors that come and express hostility toward Russia or seek to do it harm.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, with the exception being ambassadors from the Polish king and the Ottoman Sultan—if such ambassadors arrive in the lands of the Zaporozhian Host, they should be apprehended regardless of their intentions, and the Cossacks should not release them until they hear back from His Majesty."
*The Zaporozhian Host was an army of frontier soldiers and settlers (Cossacks) on thesouthern borders of the Russian state (present-day Central Ukraine).
Agreement between the Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host and the tsar of Russia, 1654

As outlined in the passage, the provisions of the agreement can best be used to illustrate which of the following aspects of state building in Eurasia in the period circa 1450-1750 ?
A) Mercantilist philosophy continued to inform the economic and social policies of many states.
B) Many states were able to consolidate their political systems and eliminate challenges to monarchical power.
C) Religious differences stopped being a significant factor in the weakening and fragmentation of imperial states.
D) Local elites successfully resisted attempts at state centralization and asserted their autonomy from central rule.

D) Local elites successfully resisted attempts at state centralization and asserted their autonomy from central rule.

Correct. The agreement clearly demonstrates that Cossack leadership was able to maintain local autonomy in choosing their own leaders and maintaining their own customs.

"The Cossack commander Bohdan Khmelnytsky and all his Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host,* humbly bowing to His Majesty Tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich, ruler of all Russia, pledge that they shall serve the Tsar's sovereign wishes forever, and in exchange for that they request that His Majesty grant them the following privileges:
Firstly, that town and city officials in the territories controlled by the Zaporozhian Host be selected from the Cossacks' own ranks. These Cossack city officials shall endeavor to serve His Majesty's wishes in all their actions, collecting His tax revenues and administering His justice and punishments. In the past, His Majesty several times sent His royal appointees from Moscow, but those appointees habitually violated our Cossacks' rights and tried to impose this or that royal decree or regulation on our Host's people, which frustrated our people greatly. By contrast, if our Host's people are governed by their own, they are not going to resist or complain.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, provided the Cossacks will not interfere with the collection of taxes nor will they impede royal acts of justice from being carried out.
Secondly, that should rulers of foreign countries continue to send ambassadors to commander Khmelnytsky and the Zaporozhian Host directly, as they have done before, the Cossack commander can continue to receive and conduct business with those who come in peace. The commander should only inform His Majesty of those foreign ambassadors that come and express hostility toward Russia or seek to do it harm.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, with the exception being ambassadors from the Polish king and the Ottoman Sultan—if such ambassadors arrive in the lands of the Zaporozhian Host, they should be apprehended regardless of their intentions, and the Cossacks should not release them until they hear back from His Majesty."
*The Zaporozhian Host was an army of frontier soldiers and settlers (Cossacks) on thesouthern borders of the Russian state (present-day Central Ukraine).
Agreement between the Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host and the tsar of Russia, 1654

The privileges discussed in the passage best demonstrate that in some instances in the period 1450-1750
A) internal challenges to state power could lead to the establishment of new state-like structures within existing states
B) states implemented policies seeking to restrict the role of certain minority groups in economic and social life
C) monarchs had to resort to deploying standing armies to crush regional revolts by hereditary local elites
D) states successfully established professional bureaucracies to reduce reliance on mercenaries and tax farming

A) internal challenges to state power could lead to the establishment of new state-like structures within existing states

Correct. The tsar's acceptance of Cossack requests indicates a substate formation within the larger Russian Empire. The Cossacks were required to do certain things, like collect taxes for the tsar, but they were also granted the responsibility to administer their own affairs on a local level.

"The Cossack commander Bohdan Khmelnytsky and all his Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host,* humbly bowing to His Majesty Tsar Alexey Mikhaylovich, ruler of all Russia, pledge that they shall serve the Tsar's sovereign wishes forever, and in exchange for that they request that His Majesty grant them the following privileges:
Firstly, that town and city officials in the territories controlled by the Zaporozhian Host be selected from the Cossacks' own ranks. These Cossack city officials shall endeavor to serve His Majesty's wishes in all their actions, collecting His tax revenues and administering His justice and punishments. In the past, His Majesty several times sent His royal appointees from Moscow, but those appointees habitually violated our Cossacks' rights and tried to impose this or that royal decree or regulation on our Host's people, which frustrated our people greatly. By contrast, if our Host's people are governed by their own, they are not going to resist or complain.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, provided the Cossacks will not interfere with the collection of taxes nor will they impede royal acts of justice from being carried out.
Secondly, that should rulers of foreign countries continue to send ambassadors to commander Khmelnytsky and the Zaporozhian Host directly, as they have done before, the Cossack commander can continue to receive and conduct business with those who come in peace. The commander should only inform His Majesty of those foreign ambassadors that come and express hostility toward Russia or seek to do it harm.
So ordered. His Majesty approved this request, with the exception being ambassadors from the Polish king and the Ottoman Sultan—if such ambassadors arrive in the lands of the Zaporozhian Host, they should be apprehended regardless of their intentions, and the Cossacks should not release them until they hear back from His Majesty."
*The Zaporozhian Host was an army of frontier soldiers and settlers (Cossacks) on thesouthern borders of the Russian state (present-day Central Ukraine).
Agreement between the Cossacks of the Zaporozhian Host and the tsar of Russia, 1654

The fact that the Russian tsar insisted in the last paragraph that some ambassadors be treated differently from others best illustrates which of the following about international politics in the period circa 1650-1750 ?
A) The Christian countries of Europe had banded together to defeat the threat from the Muslim Ottoman Empire.
B) Russia had encountered significant resistance to its plans for further territorial expansion from some of the established states in eastern and southern Europe.
C) Poland and the Ottoman Empire both felt threatened by the rising military might of Russia.
D) The Zaporozhian Cossacks, Russia, and most other European countries were bound by international treaties prohibiting the mistreatment of ambassadors.

B) Russia had encountered significant resistance to its plans for further territorial expansion from some of the established states in eastern and southern Europe.

Correct. The tsar's concerns about ambassadors from powerful established states in Europe indicates that Russia likely experienced difficulties expanding into those areas.

"Muslim-Christian relations were at a low ebb when the Ottomans arrived in the Arab lands [in 1516]. The Mamluk sultans of Egypt, the previous rulers of the area, had embarked on an ideological as well as a military campaign against the various Christian communities still living in the Middle East. . . . In the aftermath of this disaster, Christianity in the Arab east was in psychological and numerical decline. Jewish communities in the region fared somewhat better than their Christian neighbors but could hardly be characterized as flourishing on the eve of the Ottoman conquest.
The Jews and Christians in the region were at first probably ambivalent, if not indifferent or hostile, to the change in the dynastic succession from Mamluk to Ottoman sultans who exercised sovereignty over their lives, but their fortunes were about to improve under the new regime. The Ottoman sultans were still winning victories against European armies on the battlefield, and the presence of Christians so distant from the war zone in Central Europe must not have felt particularly threatening or indeed important (beyond the collection of their taxes) to most Ottoman officials posted in the Arab lands. In the case of the Sephardic Jews,* the Ottoman sultans welcomed them into their realm as potentially revenue-producing subjects. Most importantly, the political tradition honored by the Ottoman sultans was to grant autonomy to the various religious groups of their empire. This afforded the Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Middle East fairly wide-ranging freedoms and allowed them to recover some of the losses they had endured under the Mamluks, including the right to repair damaged churches and synagogues and, in a few cases, permission to build new ones."
*Jewish communities from the Iberian Peninsula who were forced to leaveafter the Christian reconquest of what became Spain and Portugal
Bruce Masters, historian, Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Arab World, book published in 2001

All of the following statements are factually accurate. Which would best support the author's argument in the first paragraph of the passage?
A) The Mamluk ruling elites of Egypt were made up of slave soldiers of various ethnic origins, including Turco-Mongolic peoples from the Black Sea steppes and peoples from the Caucasus Mountains.
B) The period of Mamluk rule in Egypt saw a high number of conversions to Islam and a considerable reduction in the percentage of Coptic Christians in the overall population of Egypt.
C) The Mamluks were one of the very few Muslim dynasties to have successfully defeated invading Mongol armies in battle.
D) The Jewish community in Mamluk Cairo included many prominent figures, including royal physicians, scholars, and administrators.

B) The period of Mamluk rule in Egypt saw a high number of conversions to Islam and a considerable reduction in the percentage of Coptic Christians in the overall population of Egypt.

Correct. Masters argues that Christianity in the Middle East was in psychological and numerical decline, which would be supported by the fact that Coptic Christian populations in Egypt declined because of conversions to Islam.

"Muslim-Christian relations were at a low ebb when the Ottomans arrived in the Arab lands [in 1516]. The Mamluk sultans of Egypt, the previous rulers of the area, had embarked on an ideological as well as a military campaign against the various Christian communities still living in the Middle East. . . . In the aftermath of this disaster, Christianity in the Arab east was in psychological and numerical decline. Jewish communities in the region fared somewhat better than their Christian neighbors but could hardly be characterized as flourishing on the eve of the Ottoman conquest.
The Jews and Christians in the region were at first probably ambivalent, if not indifferent or hostile, to the change in the dynastic succession from Mamluk to Ottoman sultans who exercised sovereignty over their lives, but their fortunes were about to improve under the new regime. The Ottoman sultans were still winning victories against European armies on the battlefield, and the presence of Christians so distant from the war zone in Central Europe must not have felt particularly threatening or indeed important (beyond the collection of their taxes) to most Ottoman officials posted in the Arab lands. In the case of the Sephardic Jews,* the Ottoman sultans welcomed them into their realm as potentially revenue-producing subjects. Most importantly, the political tradition honored by the Ottoman sultans was to grant autonomy to the various religious groups of their empire. This afforded the Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Middle East fairly wide-ranging freedoms and allowed them to recover some of the losses they had endured under the Mamluks, including the right to repair damaged churches and synagogues and, in a few cases, permission to build new ones."
*Jewish communities from the Iberian Peninsula who were forced to leaveafter the Christian reconquest of what became Spain and Portugal
Bruce Masters, historian, Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Arab World, book published in 2001

Which of the following would a historian most likely cite as evidence in support of the author's argument in the second paragraph of the passage?
A) The Ottoman millet system, an arrangement designed to utilize the economic contributions of non-Muslim groups within the empire while granting them limited autonomy to organize their communal affairs under their own religious leaders
B) The Ottoman practice of devshirme, a military levy of Christian boys who would be converted to Islam and trained as Ottoman Janissary soldiers or bureaucrats in state service
C) The Ottoman practice of farming out the collection of taxes to local private individuals (some of them non-Muslim), because of the shortage of trained government financial officials
D) The Ottoman sultans' continued powers of granting final approval for any high-ranking appointment of a non-Muslim religious leader, including the power to approve patriarchs and bishops of the various Christian communities and chief rabbis of the Jewish community

A) The Ottoman millet system, an arrangement designed to utilize the economic contributions of non-Muslim groups within the empire while granting them limited autonomy to organize their communal affairs under their own religious leaders

Correct. The millet system supports Masters's argument that the Ottoman Empire was willing to extend limited autonomy to minority groups for its financial benefit.

"Muslim-Christian relations were at a low ebb when the Ottomans arrived in the Arab lands [in 1516]. The Mamluk sultans of Egypt, the previous rulers of the area, had embarked on an ideological as well as a military campaign against the various Christian communities still living in the Middle East. . . . In the aftermath of this disaster, Christianity in the Arab east was in psychological and numerical decline. Jewish communities in the region fared somewhat better than their Christian neighbors but could hardly be characterized as flourishing on the eve of the Ottoman conquest.
The Jews and Christians in the region were at first probably ambivalent, if not indifferent or hostile, to the change in the dynastic succession from Mamluk to Ottoman sultans who exercised sovereignty over their lives, but their fortunes were about to improve under the new regime. The Ottoman sultans were still winning victories against European armies on the battlefield, and the presence of Christians so distant from the war zone in Central Europe must not have felt particularly threatening or indeed important (beyond the collection of their taxes) to most Ottoman officials posted in the Arab lands. In the case of the Sephardic Jews,* the Ottoman sultans welcomed them into their realm as potentially revenue-producing subjects. Most importantly, the political tradition honored by the Ottoman sultans was to grant autonomy to the various religious groups of their empire. This afforded the Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Middle East fairly wide-ranging freedoms and allowed them to recover some of the losses they had endured under the Mamluks, including the right to repair damaged churches and synagogues and, in a few cases, permission to build new ones."
*Jewish communities from the Iberian Peninsula who were forced to leaveafter the Christian reconquest of what became Spain and Portugal
Bruce Masters, historian, Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Arab World, book published in 2001

All of the following statements are factually accurate. Which might best be used to undermine or modify the author's argument in the second paragraph?
A) Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire faced considerable restrictions on their religious practices, legal rights, and social freedoms.
B) Christian and Jewish communities in many other Muslim states in the period circa 1450-1750 enjoyed some of the same rights as Ottoman Christians and Jews did.
C) The Ottoman Empire was a preferred destination for Jews fleeing religious persecution in Europe, as well as for Protestant Christian groups fleeing Catholic persecution in Central and Eastern Europe.
D) Many Ottoman Christians and Jews achieved great financial success through commercial activities, including long-distance trade.

A) Christians and Jews in the Ottoman Empire faced considerable restrictions on their religious practices, legal rights, and social freedoms.

Correct. Masters argues that Christians and Jews received autonomy so that the empire might benefit economically from such minority groups, but his argument that non-Muslim subjects received "fairly wide-ranging" freedoms under Ottoman rule is modified by the fact that the restrictions imposed on non-Muslim communities were considerable.

Which of the following developments can be most directly attributed to Portuguese and Spanish state sponsorship of maritime exploration in the late fifteenth century?

A) Improvements in European geographic knowledge of Africa and the Indian Ocean
B) Improvements in Europeans' ability to prevent the spread of infectious diseases
C) Religious divisions in Europe related to the Protestant Reformation
D) The development of theories of natural rights and representative government

A) Improvements in European geographic knowledge of Africa and the Indian Ocean


Correct. Spanish and Portuguese state-sponsored maritime voyages of exploration in the late fifteenth century resulted in the discovery of Atlantic islands, the coast of West and Central Africa, and the discovery of a maritime route to India by rounding the Cape of Good Hope. These discoveries resulted in the improvement of European geographic knowledge of Africa and the Indian Ocean.

Which of the following processes most immediately led to the global expansion of European political power in the period circa 1500 ?


A) The Columbian Exchange
B) The Ottoman conquest of Constantinople
C) Advances in shipbuilding and navigational methods
D) Advances in medicine that improved Europeans' ability to survive in tropical climates

C) Advances in shipbuilding and navigational methods

Correct. Advances in navigation and shipbuilding, made possible through inventions such as the astrolabe, the lateen sail, and the caravel, allowed Europeans to explore and conquer new territories, thereby expanding their global political power.

The sixteenth- and seventeenth-century maritime exploration efforts by England, France, and the Netherlands were most directly connected to which of the following historical processes?
A) The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Reformation
B) Economic competition against Spain and Portugal and a desire to find new sailing routes to Asia
C) The transfer of engineering and navigational knowledge from the classical and Islamic worlds to Europe
D) The need to ease population pressures in Europe by establishing settlement colonies

B) Economic competition against Spain and Portugal and a desire to find new sailing routes to Asia

Correct. Early English, Dutch, and French exploration and colonization efforts in the sixteenth and the seventeenth centuries were directly motivated by a desire to match and counter the growing economic prosperity and political influence of Spain and Portugal that arose from these countries' imperial expansion.