mcq

Ivan III legitimized his rule by emphasizing descent from:

. Rurik, founder of Russia

The phrase “Third Rome” referred to:

Russia’s status as heir to the Roman and Byzantine Empires

The Cossacks were primarily:

The Time of Troubles in Russia was caused by:

Dynastic crisis and peasant revolts

The Romanov dynasty began in:

. 1613

The Law of 1649 in Russia:

Made serfdom hereditary

Peter the Great’s reforms primarily targeted:

The military and bureaucracy

The founding of St. Petersburg symbolized:

Western-oriented modernization

Peter’s government strengthened autocracy by:

Rewarding bureaucrats from lower ranks

Which statement best describes Russian expansion under the tsars?

It focused on Central Asia and Siberia

The Safavid Empire’s founder, Shah Ismail, is best known for:

Establishing Shi’a Islam as the state religion

Shah Abbas I’s capital city, Isfahan, was famous for:

Blue-tiled mosques and public squares

Abbas I encouraged trade by:

Building roads and rest houses

The Safavid economy was most famous for:

Carpets and silk textiles

Both Ottoman and Safavid societies were dominated by:

Warrior aristocracies

A major difference between the Ottoman and Safavid economies was:

The Ottomans benefited from minority merchant networks

In both the Ottoman and Safavid empires, elite women were:

Secluded and veiled

The Safavid Empire collapsed mainly because:

A. Abbas I’s successors were weak and isolated

The Mughal Empire was founded by:

Babur

Babur’s initial motive for conquest was:

Gaining resources after losing his homeland

Akbar’s policy toward Hindus included:

Religious tolerance and intermarriage

Akbar’s new faith, the Din-i-Ilahi, attempted to:

Blend Islam, Hinduism, and other traditions

Akbar reformed social practices by:

The Taj Mahal represents:

A. Mughal architectural synthesis of Persian and Hindu styles

A result of Aurangzeb’s policies was:

The rise of the Sikh religion in India was partly a reaction to:

A. Mughal persecution of Hindus

Mughal India became economically famous for:

A. Cotton textiles

European demand for Indian textiles was high because:

A. They were cheap, colorful, and washable

The Safavid-Ottoman rivalry was primarily rooted in:

A. Sunni–Shi’a conflicts

Which group benefited from state-sponsored trade in both Ottoman and Safavid empires?

A. Artisans and merchants

A major similarity between Russia and the Gunpowder Empires was:

B. Use of military and religion to justify authority

What challenge did all land-based empires face?

A. Managing ethnic and religious diversity

Which ruler created a centralized bureaucracy and trained army to curb aristocratic power?

C. Abbas I

The Mughal Empire declined largely because:

A. Economic stagnation and internal revolts

The Safavid Empire fell after the siege of:

A. Isfahan by Afghani tribes

The Ottomans and Safavids both:

. Encouraged handicraft industries

Under Peter the Great, bureaucratic service was based on:

B. Merit and military service

Which ruler exemplified autocratic, reformist monarchy?

A. Peter the Great

Which ruler’s paranoia about usurpation weakened his dynasty’s succession?

C. Ivan IV

The Romanovs strengthened serfdom mainly to:

Reward loyal nobles and control peasants

Russia’s expansion into Siberia was aided by:

Cossacks seeking land and freedom

Which best describes Akbar’s leadership style?

Tolerant and reform-minded

Which Mughal ruler’s reign symbolized luxury and architectural beauty?

. Shah Jahan

The term boyars refers to:

Russian nobles under the tsar

Which shared feature united the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires?

Gunpowder-based armies and Islamic leadership

The decline of all major land-based empires in this period was linked to:

Overexpansion, corruption, and inability to modernize

What were the three main zones of the Asian trading network before European arrival?

The Arab zone (glass, carpets, tapestries), the Indian zone (cotton textiles), and the Chinese zone (paper, porcelain, silk textiles).

Which areas supplied raw materials to the Asian trading system?

Japan, Southeast Asia, and East African port cities.

What were some of the most valued commodities traded in the Indian Ocean system?

Spices (from Ceylon and the Indonesian archipelago), ivory, precious stones, silk, and cotton textiles.

What determined trade routes and seasonal movement of ships in the Indian Ocean?

Monsoon winds and navigational instruments.

Why was trade in the Indian Ocean largely peaceful before the arrival of Europeans?

There was no central control or military enforcement; trade relied on mutual benefit among merchants.

How did the Portuguese exploit the decentralized nature of the Asian trade system?

They used superior naval power to forcibly control trade routes and monopolize valuable goods.

Why did the Portuguese initially rely on gold and silver for trade?

Because they were not integrated into Asian trade networks and lacked attractive goods to exchange.

What was the mercantilist objection to sending bullion to Asia?

Mercantilism viewed precious metals as the foundation of state power, so exporting them seemed like weakening the nation.

Which three key ports did the Portuguese capture to control Asian trade routes?

Ormuz, Goa, and Malacca.

What was the purpose of the Portuguese “cartaz” (license) system?

To force all merchant ships to buy licenses to trade in the Indian Ocean, giving the Portuguese control.

What factors led to the decline of Portuguese dominance in Asia?

Limited resources, resistance from Asian powers, corruption, poor discipline, and competition from the Dutch and English.

What was the Dutch strategy for maintaining their spice monopoly?

Controlling spice production directly by destroying unsupervised crops and relocating local populations.

Where did the Dutch establish their main base of operations in Asia?

Batavia, on the island of Java.

How did the English East India Company differ from the Dutch approach?

The English focused on peaceful trade in India, especially in cotton textiles, after losing the Spice Islands.

Why were European powers mostly confined to coastal areas in Asia?

Their military advantages were limited at sea; Asian inland armies were larger and stronger.

How did the Dutch extend control inland on Java?

They moved inland to dominate coffee-growing regions, becoming the island’s major power by the mid-18th century.

Why was the Spanish conquest successful in the Philippines but not in Mindanao?

Luzon and northern islands were divided and animistic, while Mindanao had a unified Muslim kingdom that resisted.

What was the European tribute system in Asia similar to?

Tribute and labor systems used in the Americas, with local leaders allowed to rule in exchange for tribute payments.

Why did Catholic missionary efforts largely fail in South and Southeast Asia?

The strength of Islam and Hinduism made conversion difficult.

Who was the most successful missionary in India, and who did he mainly convert?

Francis Xavier, who converted many low-caste Indians.

What was Robert di Nobili’s unique approach to missionary work in India?

He adopted local dress and customs to appeal to high-caste Hindus but ultimately failed.

Where did Christianity achieve its greatest success in Asia?

In the Philipenes under Spanish rule

Which American crops contributed to China’s population boom under the Ming?

Maize, sweet potatoes, and peanuts.

What was the approximate population of China by 1800?

Over 300 million people.

How did New World silver affect China’s economy?

It fueled commercial growth, benefiting merchants involved in long-distance trade

Why did Chinese merchants invest their wealth in land?

Land ownership conferred social prestige and political influence.

What was the dominant ideology of the Ming bureaucracy?

Neo confucianism

How did the examination system affect social mobility?

Success in the exams granted high status and government positions, reinforcing the scholar-gentry elite.

What happened to peasants as scholar-gentry wealth increased?

Many peasants became tenants or landless laborers due to land accumulation by elites.

What innovation marked Ming literary culture?

The full development of the Chinese novel, with works like The Water Margin and Monkey.

Who led China’s major overseas expeditions during the Ming dynasty?

Admiral Zheng He.

How did Jesuit missionaries gain access to the Chinese elite?

By demonstrating expertise in science, astronomy, and clockmaking.

What caused the eventual expulsion of Christian missions from China?

The papal ban on ancestral rites offended Chinese traditions, leading to state backlash.

Name the three leaders who unified Japan in the 16th century

Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Why did Hideyoshi and Ieyasu turn against Christianity

They feared Christian converts’ loyalty to foreign powers and European invasion.

Which two foreign groups were still allowed to trade with Japan after isolation policies?

The Dutch and the Chinese.