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. Ping Pong Diplomacy of early 1970s is related to which among the following two countries?
[A] China and Russia
[B] China & Japan
[C] China & United States
[D] China & India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China & United States]
Notes:
Ping pong diplomacy refers to the brief thaw in relations between the United States and China in the early 1970s, which was facilitated in part by the exchange of table tennis players between the two countries. In April 1971, a group of American table tennis players visited China for a tournament, and the Chinese government invited them to stay for several days. This marked the first time in more than 20 years that Americans had been allowed to visit China. The visit was followed by several high-level diplomatic meetings between the two countries, which ultimately led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China in 1979.
2. Warplane Enola Gay is associated with which of the following?
[A] Sinking of the ship Bismark
[B] The Hiroshima bombing
[C] Storming of Bastille
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [The Hiroshima bombing]
Notes:
The Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. On 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb. The bomb, code-named “Little Boy”, was targeted at the city of Hiroshima.
3. Why the Soviet Socialist Revolution on October is celebrated every year on November 7?
[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. 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.
5. Egyptian Civilization flourished around which of the following rivers?
[A] Congo river
[B] Nile river
[C] Niger river
[D] Zambezi river
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Nile river]
Notes:
The Egyptian Civilization began to flourish almost about 10,000 B.C. around the fertile valley of river Nile. The Nile river acted as the principal source of life and prosperity of the civilization.
6. Which of the following is the oldest civilization of the world?
[A] Indus Valley Civilization
[B] Mesopotamian Civilization
[C] Nile Valley Civilization
[D] Chinese Civilization
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mesopotamian Civilization ]
Notes:
Mesopotamian Civilization flourished around 4000 BC to 6th Cen. BC, Egyptain Civilization 3400 BC -to 1000 BC, Harappan Civilization 2500 BC – 1750 BC and Chinese Civilization 1765 BC to 250 BC.
7. 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.
8. The Han dynasty ruled during which of the following period?
[A] 221-206 AD
[B] 221-206 BC
[C] 386-589 AD
[D] 206 BCE-220 AD
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [206 BCE-220 AD]
Notes:
The Han dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty. They ruled China from 206 BCE to 220 AD. The Han dynasty was known as a golden age in Chinese history.
9. 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.
10. Which of the following compiled ‘Encyclopedia of Astronomy’?
[A] Cloudius Ptolemy
[B] Galen
[C] Celsus
[D] Pliny
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Cloudius Ptolemy ]
Notes:
Cloudius Ptolemy who was an astronomer was the author of ‘Encyclopedia of Astronomy’. He also displayed his knowledge in geography and was the first map-maker of the world.
