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.
21. Hitler invaded the Soviet Union due to which of the following reasons?
[A] He wanted more land for the Germans to live on
[B] He wanted control of Moscow
[C] He wanted control of the country’s oil and wheat fields
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [He wanted control of the country’s oil and wheat fields ]
Notes:
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union. It started on Sunday, 22 June 1941, during World War II. It is considered as the largest German military operation of World War II.
22. What is “Finlandization”?
[A] A model of social development to be a happy country like Finland.
[B] A general term to denote the foreign subjugation of a smaller country by a powerful country.
[C] An economic development model to sustainably harness the nuclear energy.
[D] A social welfare model of poverty alleviation.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [A general term to denote the foreign subjugation of a smaller country by a powerful country.]
Notes:
Finlandization is a general term used to denote the foreign subjugation of a smaller country by another powerful country. It is a process by which one powerful country makes a smaller neighboring country abide by the farmer’s foreign policy rules while allowing it to keep its nominal independence and its own political system. The term means “to become like Finland”, referring to the influence of the Soviet Union on Finland’s policies during the Cold War.
23. Which revolution was formally brought to an end through the “Coup of 18 Brumaire”?
[A] American Revolution
[B] French Revolution
[C] Russian Revolution
[D] Serbian Revolution
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [French Revolution]
Notes:
The coup of 18 Brumaire was happened on 9 November 1799 in France, which brought General Napoleon Bonaparte to power as First Consul of France and in view of most historians ended the French Revolution. This bloodless coup overthrew the Directory, replacing it with the French Consulate.
24. Which country was the location of the “Potsdam Conference”?
[A] Russia
[B] Poland
[C] Germany
[D] Denmark
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
The Potsdam Conference was held in Potsdam, Germany, from July 17 to August 2, 1945. The participants were the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, represented respectively by Premier Joseph Stalin, Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee, and President Harry S. Truman. They gathered to decide how to administer Germany, which had agreed to unconditional surrender nine weeks earlier on the 8th of May (Victory in Europe Day). The goals of the conference also included the establishment of the postwar order, peace treaty issues, and countering the effects of the war.
25. In the “Great Offensive”, which country fought against the Kingdom of Greece in 1922?
[A] Italy
[B] Egypt
[C] Germany
[D] Turkey
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Turkey]
Notes:
The Great Offensive was the largest and final military operation of the Turkish War of Independence, fought between the Turkish Armed Forces loyal to the government of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, and the Kingdom of Greece, ending the Greco-Turkish War. The offensive began on 26 August 1922 with the Battle of Dumlup?nar. The operation ended on 18 September 1922 with the liberation of Erdek and Biga. The staggering defeat caused great dissent within the Greek army and a general loss of morale, which led to an unwillingness to continue fighting.
26. What was “Toussaint Louverture” famous for?
[A] As the most prominent leader of the Guinean Revolution.
[B] As the most prominent leader of the Jamaican Revolution.
[C] As the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution.
[D] As the most prominent leader of the Bahamian Revolution.
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [As the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution.]
Notes:
Toussaint Louverture was a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. During his life, Louverture first fought against the French, then for them, and then finally against France again for the cause of Haitian independence. As a revolutionary leader, Louverture’s military and political acumen helped transform the fledgeling slave rebellion into a revolutionary movement. Louverture is now known as the “Father of Haiti”.
27. Who was the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1805 constitution?
[A] Toussaint Louverture
[B] Jean-Jacques Dessalines
[C] Alexandre Petion
[D] Jean-Pierre Boyer
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Jean-Jacques Dessalines]
Notes:
Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of an independent Haiti under the 1805 constitution. Under Dessalines, Haiti became the first country to permanently abolish slavery. Initially regarded as governor-general, Dessalines was later named Emperor of Haiti as Jacques I (1804–1806) by generals of the Haitian Revolution Army and ruled in that capacity until being assassinated in 1806. He is regarded as one of the founding fathers of Haiti.
28. Which of the following was the period of the “Indonesian mass killings/ Indonesian Communist Purge”?
[A] 1955–1956
[B] 1965–1966
[C] 1975–1976
[D] 1985–1986
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1965–1966]
Notes:
1965–1966 was the period of the “Indonesian mass killings/ Indonesian Communist Purge”. The Indonesian mass killings of 1965–66, also known as the Indonesian genocide, Indonesian Communist Purge, Indonesian politicide, were large-scale killings and civil unrest that occurred in Indonesia over several months, targeting Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) party members, Communist sympathisers, often at the instigation of the armed forces and government, which were supported by the United States and other Western countries. It began as an anti-communist purge following a controversial attempted coup d’etat by the 30 September Movement.
29. From which country, Iraq gained independence in 1932?
[A] United Kingdom
[B] France
[C] Italy
[D] Netherlands
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [United Kingdom]
Notes:
Iraq gained independence in 1932 from the United Kingdom. In April 1920 the British Mandate of Mesopotamia was created under the authority of the League of Nations. A British-backed monarchy joining the vilayets into one Kingdom was established in 1921 under Faisal I of Iraq. The Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq gained independence from the UK in 1932.
30. Which of the following organization intervened to stop the Kosovo War of 1999?
[A] EU
[B] NATO
[C] ASEAN
[D] UN
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [NATO]
Notes:
The NATO played a significant role by intervening in the Kosovo war to end the war in 1999.