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. In context with the Vietnam War, the following statements holds correct?
[A] The US backed North Vietnam side and USSR was neutral
[B] The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR was neutral
[C] The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side
[D] The US backed North Vietnam side and USSR backed South Vietnam side
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side]
Notes:
The correct answer is: “The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side.” During the Vietnam War (1955-1975), the United States supported the anti-communist government of South Vietnam, while the Soviet Union provided military and economic support to the communist North Vietnam. This conflict was a important aspect of the Cold War, illustrating the global struggle between capitalism (led by the US) and communism (led by the USSR). The war resulted in millions of casualties and important geopolitical changes in Southeast Asia.
2. Bandung Conference which was an important step toward the crystallization of the Non-Aligned Movement was organized by Asian and African states, most of which were newly independent. Which among the following participant of the Bandung Conference in 1955, was not an independent state at that time?
[A] Ceylon
[B] Cyprus
[C] Laos
[D] Liberia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Cyprus]
Notes:
Please note that Cyprus got independence in 1960, after an agreement in Zurich and London between the United Kingdom, Greece and Turkey
3. Which one of the following time-periods is associated with the infamous “Armenian Genocide”?
[A] 1914-1923
[B] 1936-1943
[C] 1948-1951
[D] 1989-1991
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1914-1923]
Notes:
Armenian Genocide or Armenian Holocaust is the mass murder of 15 lakhs of ethnic Armenians carried out in Turkey by the then Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923. The genocide involved physical destruction, deportation and displacement of the civilian population.
4. Which two nations were involved in “Ping-pong Diplomacy”?
[A] China and North Korea
[B] North Korea and United States of America
[C] China and United States of America
[D] Japan and United States of America
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China and United States of America]
Notes:
The diplomatic relations between China and the United States of America of the early 1970s were known as “Ping-pong Diplomacy”. Ping-pong is the Chinese word of Table Tennis. It involves the exchange of table tennis players between the United States of America and China in the early 1970s. This particular gesture boosted the Sino-American Relations with the visit of President Richard Nixon to Beijing in 1972.
5. The “Prague Spring” was a period of introduction of decentralisation, political liberalisation and democratisation measures 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:
From the late 9th century to the early 11th century the Dutchy of Bohemia (present-day the Czech Republic) were under the control of Great Moravian Empire. In 1198, the Holy Roman Empire undertook the control and established the Kingdom of Bohemia with Prague as its capital. In 1526, through Battle of Mohacs, it got annexed to Habsburg Monarchy under the Holy Roman Empire. In 1806, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the Bohemian Czech got annexed into the Austrian Empire. In 1918, the First Czechoslovak Republic got established following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War II. It became the only democracy in Central Europe during the interwar period. And, from 1938 till the end of World War II, Nazi Germany annexed Czechoslovakia. After World War II, Germans got expelled and established Communist Party of Czechslovakia under Soviet influence. They unleashed a one-party Communist state through a coup in 1948 and ruled with lots of restrictions, dissatisfaction and curbs on basic freedoms. This lead to the Prague Spring of 1968, a movement to enforce and introduce basic reforms of decentralisation and democratization. This attracted the ire of the Soviet Union and they invaded Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia remained controlled by the Soviet Union until the 1989 Velvet Revolution for Gentle Revolution. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 was a non-violent peaceful transition of power which ended the Communist Rule and re-established democratic-capitalist state which finally culminated in the partition or dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993 into two independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This dissolution or self-determined split is informally known as the Violet Divorce.
6. Which of the following was the world’s earliest form of paper that was invented by the Egyptians?
[A] Hieroglyphics
[B] Papyrus
[C] Cuneiform
[D] Bone Script
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hieroglyphics]
Notes:
Hieroglyphics was the world’s earliest form of paper that was invented by the Egyptians. All the sacred literatures of Egyptians were written in hieroglyphics which were in the form of some signs, each sign representing some expression.
7. 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.
8. Which of the following kings laid the foundation of the Assyrian Empire?
[A] Shalmaneser IV
[B] TiglathPilesar III
[C] Sennacherib
[D] Assurbanipal
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [TiglathPilesar III]
Notes:
Tiglath Pilesar III laid the foundation of the Assyrian Empire and ascended to the throne in 745 B.C. He introduced advanced civil, military, and political systems into the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
9. Which of the following called themselves as ‘Hellens’?
[A] Chinese
[B] Mesopotamians
[C] Greeks
[D] Romans
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Greeks]
Notes:
The Greeks originlly called themselves as ‘Hellens’, but the Romans called them as ‘Greeks’ and the world has adopted the name Greeks from the Romans.
10. Which of the following was the first Roman emperor?
[A] Julian
[B] Augustus
[C] Tiberius
[D] Epicurus
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Augustus]
Notes:
Augustus was the first Roman emperor. He was a Roman statesman and a military leader who became the first emperor of the Roman Empire. He reigned from 27 BC until his death in AD 14.