World History MCQs
World History Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient World History, Medieval World History and Modern World History for various UPSC, PCS and other Competitive Examinations.
1. Which of the following conflicts was put to an end by Dayton Agreement?
[A] Algerian War
[B] Vietnam War
[C] Bosnian War
[D] Chinese Civil War
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Bosnian War]
Notes:
Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) ended the Bosnian War, which was part of the Yugoslav Wars. The DPA was signed on December 1995 after months of negotiations. The war lasted three and a half years and was known for its violence and atrocities. The war resulted in about 100,000 deaths and displaced two million people. The DPA also outlined a constitutional framework for peace in Bosnia. The DPA was reached by the presidents of Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia. The agreement was brokered by American diplomat Richard Holbrooke. The negotiations began in the Balkans and ended in Dayton, Ohio.
2. Which country was known as Gold Coast in past?
[A] Burkina Faso
[B] Togo
[C] Ghana
[D] Mali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ghana]
Notes:
Gold Coast was a region in West Africa that is now known as the country Ghana. The region was named the Gold Coast because of its large supplies of gold and the market for it during the transatlantic slave trade. The Gold Coast was also a trade hub for slaves.
The Portuguese named the area Mina, which means “mine”, after finding so much gold between the Ankobra and Volta rivers in the 15th century. The English colonists later adopted the name Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast was a British colony. In 1957, the Gold Coast gained independence from Britain and became the country Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah led the independence movement and became Ghana’s first prime minister and president.
3. Why the Soviet Socialist Revolution on October is celebrated every year on November 7? (UPSC Prelims 1985)
[A] Lenin’s birthday falls on this date
[B] Russia’s victory over Germany coincides with this date
[C] The Provisional Government formed after the collapse of Czarist Government was overthrown on this day in 1917
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The Provisional Government formed after the collapse of Czarist Government was overthrown on this day in 1917]
Notes:
During October Revolution, urban workers began to organize into councils wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military Revolutionary Committee began the occupation of government buildings on 7 November 1917.
4. First World War started in which year?
[A] 1905
[B] 1911
[C] 1914
[D] 1918
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1914]
Notes:
In the year 1914 (28th July), First World War started and ended in 1918 (11th November). England, France Russia was on a side and Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey were on another side.
5. From which nation Algeria got its independence in 1962?
[A] Portugal
[B] Great Britain
[C] France
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
France conquered Algeria in 1830. The modern borders of Algeria were established by the French during their colonization. The French in Algeria is known as Colons or Peds Noirs. From 1954 to 1962, Algeria was engaged in a bloody and long fight with France, which lead to its independence from France.
6. From which one of the following nations Barbados got its independence in 1966?
[A] United States of America
[B] United Kingdom
[C] Argentina
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [United Kingdom]
Notes:
Barbados became a British colony in 1627. It was a wealthy sugar colony then. It became a British centre of African slave trade. Slave trade banned in 1817. Deep dissatisfaction against the British finally leads to the independence of Barbados from the United Kingdom in 1966.
7. From which nation Benin got its independence in 1960?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] France
[C] Portugal
[D] Spain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
From the mid-17th century to the mid-19th century Portuguese Empire had a colonial presence in Benin. The Portuguese empire was engaged in the massive slave trade with Benin. This continued till the abolition of slavery through the Slave Trade Act, 1807 which weakened Benin’s (previously Dahomey) status. This lead to the emergence of French power in Benin’s soil during the mid-19th century. And finally, due to the anti-colonial stand of Beninese during the later years, France was forced to independence to Benin in 1960.
8. Identify the infamous “Slave Coast” of the African continent from the following:
[A] Gulf of Aden coast from Somalia to the Indian Ocean coast of Mozambique.
[B] Bight of Benin coast of Gulf of Guinea between Volta River and Lagos lagoon.
[C] South African coast to the coast of St. Helena Bay.
[D] Coast of western North Atlantic Ocean from Western Sahara to Liberia.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bight of Benin coast of Gulf of Guinea between Volta River and Lagos lagoon.]
Notes:
“Slave Coast” lies in the Western African Bight of Benin coast of Gulf of Guinea located between Volta River and Lagos Lagoon. This region witnessed massive Atlantic Slave Trade from the early 16t century to the late 19th century. Germans, Danes, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Spanish made all efforts to enforce their supremacy in this coast to get a larger chunk of the slave trade.
9. Which Pharaoh of Egypt is credited with construction of Great Pyramid of Giza?
[A] Unas
[B] Khufu
[C] Khafre
[D] Sahure
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Khufu]
Notes:
Pyramids were royal tombs with four triangle-shaped sides that meet in a point on top. The largest Pyramid was constructed for Pharaoh Khufu at Gizeh which is 481 feet in height and made of 23,00,000 blocks of limestone.
10. Which of the following river is also called as the sorrow of China?
[A] Tsang po
[B] Yang-tse-kiang
[C] Yellow River
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Yellow River]
Notes:
The Yellow River or Huang He is the second-longest river in China. The ‘Yellow River’ passed through rich yellow soil and made the land very fertile. The river is sometimes called “Sorrow of China” because of the devastating floods.