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 among the following organization was formed before commencement of the World War II?
[A] World Health Organization
[B] Food and Agriculture Organization
[C] International Atomic Energy Agency
[D] Bank for International Settlements
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Bank for International Settlements]
Notes:
The BIS was formed in 1930. The main actors in its establishment were the then-Governor of The Bank of England, Montagu Norman, and his German counterpart Hjalmar Schacht, later Adolf Hitler’s finance minister. The Bank was originally intended to facilitate reparation payments imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after the First World War. The need for the bank was suggested in 1929 by the Young Committee, and was agreed to in August of that year at a conference at the Hague. A charter for the bank was drafted at the International Bankers Conference at Baden Baden in November. The charter was adopted at a second Hague Conference on January 20, 1930
2. Which nation’s economic history is associated with “Chicago Boys”?
[A] USA
[B] Canada
[C] Mexico
[D] Chile
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Chile]
Notes:
Chile’s economic history is associated with the term “Chicago Boys”. Chicago Boys were a group of Chilean economists of 1970s and 1980s, who were trained at the Department of Economics of the University of Chicago, USA. They were trained under Milton Friedman and Arnold Harberger. They were taken into various key positions of the Chilean Government from 1970 to 1990 and transformed the Chilean economy to Latin America’s best-performing economy.
3. 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.
4. The ‘ziggurats’ in Sumerian Civilization refers to which of the following?
[A] Prison
[B] Meeting hall
[C] Schools
[D] Temples
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Temples]
Notes:
The ‘ziggurats’ in Sumerian Civilization refers to temples. The temples were even storeyed and pyramidical in structure. The Sumerians knew the art of constructing the arch and the’ dome.
5. The Babylonian Empire was founded by which of the following king?
[A] Hammurabi
[B] Herodotus
[C] Marduk
[D] Shalmaneser IV
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hammurabi]
Notes:
Babylonia was a state in ancient Mesopotamia. The city of Babylon, whose ruins are located in present-day Iraq, was founded by Amorite king Hammurabi, who ruled from 1792 to 1750 B.C more than 4,000 years ago as a small port town on the Euphrates River.
6. Which of the following civilizations invented Tea?
[A] Greek
[B] Chinese
[C] English
[D] French
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Chinese]
Notes:
According to Chinese legend, the history of tea began in 2737 B.C.E. The Emperor Shen Nong accidentally discovered Tea when a leaf from an overhanging wild tea tree drifted into his pot of boiling water.
7. Which of the following were sent to preach Christianity to the world?
[A] Disciples
[B] Priests
[C] Bishops
[D] Apostles
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Apostles]
Notes:
In Christian theology, Apostles, particularly the Twelve Apostles which are also known as the Twelve Disciples were the primary disciples of Jesus according to the New Testament. After the death of Jesus, these Twelve Apostles helped to spread Christianity.
8. Which of the following is present in the Nicene Creed as recited in Roman Catholic and Protestant churches but not in Eastern Orthodox churches?
[A] The Thanksgiving Psalm
[B] The Apostles’ Creed
[C] The Filioque
[D] The Lord’s Prayer
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The Filioque]
Notes:
Filioque is a Latin term added to the original Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, and which has been the subject of great controversy between Eastern and Western Christianity. It is present in the Nicene Creed as recited in Roman Catholic and Protestant churches.
9. After the deaths of Ali and Husayn, Muslims split into which of the following branches:
- Umayyads
- Arabs
- Sunnis
- Shiites
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
[A] Only 1 & 2
[B] Only 2 & 3
[C] Only 3 & 4
[D] 1, 2, 3 & 4
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Only 3 & 4]
Notes:
The split between the two main branches within Islam, Sunni and Shiite, occurred around 1400 years ago, soon after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, but became more pronounced after the deaths of Ali and Husayn. The Umayyads are a dynasty, not a branch of Islam, and “Arabs” is a broad ethnic term that encompass Muslims of numerous sects.
10. Which of the following was chosen as the successor to Mohammed after his death?
[A] Ali
[B] Abu Bakr
[C] Husayn
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Abu Bakr]
Notes:
After Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, his friend Abu Bakr was named caliph and ruler of the Islamic community, or Ummah. Sunni Muslims believe that Abu Bakr was the proper successor, while Shia Muslims believe that Ali should have succeeded Muhammad.