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. 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.
2. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen are related to which of the following countries?
[A] Britain
[B] USA
[C] France
[D] Italy
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [France]
Notes:
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (Déclaration des droits de l’homme et du citoyen de 1789) was set by France’s National Constituent Assembly in 1789. It is a human civil rights document from the French Revolution. The document explains a list of rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and separation of powers.
3. With which of the following countries Black Power movement is related to ?
[A] United States
[B] Germany
[C] UK
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United States]
Notes:
Black Power movement was a political and social movement in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. The movement emphasized racial pride, economic empowerment, and the creation of political and cultural institutions. The movement’s advocates believed in racial pride, self-sufficiency, and equality for all people of Black and African descent. The Black Power movement was a branch of the civil rights movement and was motivated by a desire for safety and self-sufficiency. The Black Power movement began in 1966 and ended in 1975. Critics viewed Black Power organizations as separatist groups or street gangs. These critics ignored the movement’s political activism, cultural innovations, and social programs. The Black Power movement was a militant movement that advocated violence in the United States.
4. Which among the following was the immediate result of the Velvet Revolution of 1989 in Czechoslovakia ?
[A] It ended the authoritative rule & first democratic elections were held
[B] The country was peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia
[C] Czechoslovakia was turned into a federation of the Czech Socialist Republic and Slovak Socialist Republic
[D] The economy of the country got devastated
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [It ended the authoritative rule & first democratic elections were held]
Notes:
The Velvet Revolution of 1989 was a series of peaceful protests and political events that took place in Czechoslovakia, leading to the overthrow of the Communist government and the transition to a democratic system. The Velvet Revolution, which is also known as the Gentle Revolution, began in November 1989 with a student demonstration in Prague, which was met with a violent response from the government. This sparked widespread protests and strikes, which quickly spread across the country and put pressure on the government to reform. After weeks of protests and negotiations, the Communist leadership was forced to resign, and a new government was formed. The Velvet Revolution is considered to be one of the key events of the collapse of the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe.
5. The term Rose Revolution refers to the change of power in which among the following countries?
[A] Croatia
[B] Syria
[C] Georgia
[D] Kyrgyzstan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Georgia]
Notes:
The Revolution of Roses, also known as the Rose Revolution was a pro-Western peaceful change of power in Georgia in November 2003.
6. The term “two-state solution", sometimes seen in news, would settle dispute between:
[A] India and Pakistan
[B] Israel and Palestine
[C] China and Taiwan
[D] Ukraine and Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Israel and Palestine]
Notes:
The two-state solution refers to a solution of Israeli-Palestinian conflict which calls for “two states for two groups of people.” The two-state solution envisages independent State of Palestine as a single democratic country alongside the State of Israel.
7. 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.
8. The “Opium Wars” happened in which nation?
[A] Afghanistan
[B] Venezuela
[C] Cuba
[D] China
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [China]
Notes:
China was associated with the Opium Wars. Opium Wars were the group of two wars between the Qing dynasty of China and the western powers. The First Opium War (1839-1842) was between the Qing dynasty and Great Britain. The Second Opium War (1856-1860) was between the Qing dynasty and western powers such as Great Britain and France. The Qing dynasty waged war against the opium trade of western powers in China. But these wars defeated the Qing dynasty and forced it to grant various favourable terms to western powers.
9. Which of the following was the first dynasty in China?
[A] Tang
[B] Xia
[C] Han
[D] Shang
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Xia]
Notes:
The Xia dynasty is the first dynasty in traditional Chinese historiography. It was the first government to emerge in ancient China and became the first to adhere to the policy of dynastic succession.
10. Which of the following is responsible for building a city-sized mausoleum for himself?
[A] Qin Shi Huang
[B] King Zhuangxiang
[C] Qin Er Shi
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Qin Shi Huang]
Notes:
Qin Shi Huang became China’s first emperor when he was 38 after conquering all of the other Warring States and unified all of China in 221 BC. He was also responsible for building a city-sized mausoleum for himself, guarded by the life-sized Terracotta Army.