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 battles foiled Napoleon’s scheme of invading England in 1805?
[A] Battle of Trafalgar
[B] Battle of Leipzing
[C] Battle of Waterloo
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Battle of Trafalgar]
Notes:
The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval battle fought on October 21, 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars. It was fought between a British fleet under the command of Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and a combined French and Spanish fleet off the coast of Spain, near the Cape of Trafalgar. The British fleet emerged victorious, despite being outnumbered by the combined French and Spanish forces. The battle was a significant victory for the British, as it effectively ended the threat of a French invasion of Britain and cemented British naval dominance for the remainder of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle was also notable for the death of Nelson, who was killed during the fighting.
2. The Treaty of Portsmouth brought an end to a war in 1905 fought between?
[A] Russia & Japan
[B] Romania & Bulgaria
[C] Russia & Turkey
[D] Russia & USA
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Russia & Japan]
Notes:
Treaty of Portsmouth ended the Russo-Japanese War in 1905. The treaty was signed on September 5, 1905 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. The treaty was signed by Japanese and Russian diplomats after negotiations from August 6 to August 30. The treaty ended the war that began in 1904. The war was caused by Russian and Japanese expansionism in the Far East. The war contributed to domestic unrest in both countries, which led to the Russian revolution of 1905. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt was instrumental in the negotiations and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.
3. Which one of the following is the underground army of the African National Congress? (UPSC Prelims 1993)
[A] Unkhonto
[B] Kwazulu
[C] Xhosa
[D] Ulundi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Unkhonto]
Notes:
Umkhonto meaning “Spear of the Nation” was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), co-founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre.
4. 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.
5. From which one of the following nations Armenia got its independence in 1991?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] Portugal
[C] Soviet Union
[D] Netherlands
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Soviet Union]
Notes:
Armenia became independent in 1991 during the dissolution of Soviet Union. On 21 September 1991, Armenians voted a referendum favouring independence of Armenia from the Soviet Union or USSR. Armenia gained independence formally on 26 December 1991.
6. Which military confrontation was known as the “October Crisis of 1962”?
[A] Iran Hostage Crisis
[B] Cuban Missile Crisis
[C] Berlin Blockade
[D] Damansky Island Crisis
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cuban Missile Crisis]
Notes:
The October Crisis of 1962 was a military confrontation also known as the Cuban Missile Crisis or the Caribbean Crisis or the Missile Scare. It occurred from October 16 to 28 in 1962. It was between the United States America and the Soviet Union following the deployment of ballistic missiles in Cuba by the Soviet Union. This confrontation almost leads to the Cold War- full-scale Nuclear War. This crisis was amicably settled after several days of tense negotiations.
7. The “Velvet Revolution”, also known as the “Gentle Revolution”, happened in which nation/s?
[A] Italy
[B] Austria-Hungary
[C] Czech Republic-Slovakia
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Czech Republic-Slovakia]
Notes:
The Velvet Revolution was a series of peaceful protests and political changes that took place in Czechoslovakia in 1989. It began with a student demonstration in Prague on November 17th and quickly spread throughout the country, leading to the downfall of the communist government and the transition to a democratic, multiparty political system. The name “Velvet Revolution” comes from the non-violent nature of the protests, which were marked by a lack of bloodshed and violence. This peaceful transition of power is widely seen as one of the most successful examples of nonviolent resistance in history.
8. The tomb of which of the following taught us much about Egyptian burial practices and beliefs, discovered in 1922?
[A] Ramses the Great
[B] Ahmose of Thebes
[C] Queen Hatshepsut
[D] King Tutankhamen
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [King Tutankhamen]
Notes:
The tomb of which of King Tutankhamen taught us much about Egyptian burial practices and beliefs, discovered in 1922. Tutankhamun ascended the throne and became Pharaoh around the age of 9, taking the throne name Nebkheperure. He reigned for about 9 years.
9. Which of the following is referred to as the land of human paradise on the Persian gulf, blessed by the gods?
[A] Egyptian Civilization
[B] Sumerian Civilization
[C] Babylonian Civilization
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sumerian Civilization ]
Notes:
The Sumerian Civilization is referred to as the land of human paradise on the Persian gulf, blessed by the gods. The Sumerians were a non-Semitic race of “black-headed people”.
10. Which of the following was the major invention of the Sumerians which had a large impact on the forming of the first civilization?
[A] Writing
[B] Ziggurat
[C] Iron
[D] Chariot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Writing ]
Notes:
The Sumerians made many inventions. They invented the following: the first form of writing, a number system, the first wheeled vehicles, sun-dried bricks, and irrigation for farming.