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
[B] He wanted control of Moscow
[C] He wanted control of the country’s oil and wheat fields
[D] None of the above
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.
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. Which country was the location of “May 68 Events”?
[A] United States of America
[B] France
[C] Canada
[D] United Kingdom
[B] France
[C] Canada
[D] United Kingdom
Correct Answer: B [France]
Notes:
Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, and the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which have since become known as May 68, the economy of France came to a halt. The protests reached such a point that political leaders feared civil war or revolution; the national government briefly ceased to function after President Charles de Gaulle secretly fled France to Germany at one point. The protests spurred movements worldwide, with songs, imaginative graffiti, posters, and slogans.
Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, and the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which have since become known as May 68, the economy of France came to a halt. The protests reached such a point that political leaders feared civil war or revolution; the national government briefly ceased to function after President Charles de Gaulle secretly fled France to Germany at one point. The protests spurred movements worldwide, with songs, imaginative graffiti, posters, and slogans.
23. Which two countries fought the “War of 1870”?
[A] United Kingdom and France
[B] Portugal and Spain
[C] France and Germany
[D] Turkey and Greece
[B] Portugal and Spain
[C] France and Germany
[D] Turkey and Greece
Correct Answer: C [France and Germany]
Notes:
The War of 1870, also known as the Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, was a conflict between the Second French Empire (and later, the Third French Republic) and the German states of the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 January 1871, the conflict was caused primarily by France’s determination to restore its dominant position in continental Europe, which it had lost following Prussia’s crushing victory over Austria in 1866.
The War of 1870, also known as the Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, was a conflict between the Second French Empire (and later, the Third French Republic) and the German states of the North German Confederation led by the Kingdom of Prussia. Lasting from 19 July 1870 to 28 January 1871, the conflict was caused primarily by France’s determination to restore its dominant position in continental Europe, which it had lost following Prussia’s crushing victory over Austria in 1866.
24. Which country was the location of “Battle of Dien Bien Phu”?
[A] Cambodia
[B] Laos
[C] Vietnam
[D] Philippines
[B] Laos
[C] Vietnam
[D] Philippines
Correct Answer: C [Vietnam]
Notes:
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was fought from 13 March to 7 May 1954 in Dien Bien Phu, a city of Vietnam in the then French Indochina region. It was a climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War which was fought between the French Unions French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. This war leads to the decisive Viet Minh victory.
The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was fought from 13 March to 7 May 1954 in Dien Bien Phu, a city of Vietnam in the then French Indochina region. It was a climactic confrontation of the First Indochina War which was fought between the French Unions French Far East Expeditionary Corps and Viet Minh communist revolutionaries. This war leads to the decisive Viet Minh victory.
25. Which of the following is also known as the “November Revolution”?
[A] French Revolution of 1918-1919
[B] German Revolution of 1918-1919
[C] Russian Revolution of 1918-1919
[D] Italian Revolution of 1918-1919
[B] German Revolution of 1918-1919
[C] Russian Revolution of 1918-1919
[D] Italian Revolution of 1918-1919
Correct Answer: B [German Revolution of 1918-1919]
Notes:
The German Revolution of 1918-1919 or November Revolution, happened as part of the Revolutions of 1917–1923 and political violence in Germany (1918–33), was a civil conflict in the German Empire at the end of the First World War that resulted in the replacement of the German federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic that later became known as the Weimar Republic. The revolutionary period lasted from November 1918 until the adoption in August 1919 of the Weimar Constitution. It leads to the Weimar Republic victory, abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II, the monarchy of Germany and its 22 constituent monarchies abolished, suppression of leftist uprisings, including Spartacist uprising, end of the First World War and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
The German Revolution of 1918-1919 or November Revolution, happened as part of the Revolutions of 1917–1923 and political violence in Germany (1918–33), was a civil conflict in the German Empire at the end of the First World War that resulted in the replacement of the German federal constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliamentary republic that later became known as the Weimar Republic. The revolutionary period lasted from November 1918 until the adoption in August 1919 of the Weimar Constitution. It leads to the Weimar Republic victory, abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II, the monarchy of Germany and its 22 constituent monarchies abolished, suppression of leftist uprisings, including Spartacist uprising, end of the First World War and the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
26. Which country’s naval sailors revolted in the “Kiel Mutiny”?
[A] France
[B] Russia
[C] Germany
[D] Denmark
[B] Russia
[C] Germany
[D] Denmark
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Germany’s naval sailors revolted in the “Kiel Mutiny”. The Kiel mutiny was a major revolt by sailors of the German High Seas Fleet on 3 November 1918. The revolt triggered the German revolution which was to sweep aside the monarchy within a few days. It ultimately led to the end of the German Empire and to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
Germany’s naval sailors revolted in the “Kiel Mutiny”. The Kiel mutiny was a major revolt by sailors of the German High Seas Fleet on 3 November 1918. The revolt triggered the German revolution which was to sweep aside the monarchy within a few days. It ultimately led to the end of the German Empire and to the establishment of the Weimar Republic.
27. Which country was the location of the “Berlin Wall”?
[A] France
[B] Netherlands
[C] Germany
[D] Belgium
[B] Netherlands
[C] Germany
[D] Belgium
Correct Answer: C [Germany]
Notes:
Germany was the location of the “Berlin Wall”. The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Construction of the wall was commenced by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) on 13 August 1961. The Wall cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany, including East Berlin. The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, accompanied by a wide area that contained anti-vehicle trenches, beds of nails, and other defences. In 1989, a series of revolutions in nearby Eastern Bloc countries—in Poland and Hungary in particular—caused a chain reaction in East Germany that ultimately resulted in the demise of the Wall. The demolition of the Wall officially began on 13 June 1990 and was completed in November 1991. The “fall of the Berlin Wall” paved the way for German reunification, which formally took place on 3 October 1990.
Germany was the location of the “Berlin Wall”. The Berlin Wall was a guarded concrete barrier that physically and ideologically divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989. Construction of the wall was commenced by the German Democratic Republic (GDR, East Germany) on 13 August 1961. The Wall cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany, including East Berlin. The barrier included guard towers placed along large concrete walls, accompanied by a wide area that contained anti-vehicle trenches, beds of nails, and other defences. In 1989, a series of revolutions in nearby Eastern Bloc countries—in Poland and Hungary in particular—caused a chain reaction in East Germany that ultimately resulted in the demise of the Wall. The demolition of the Wall officially began on 13 June 1990 and was completed in November 1991. The “fall of the Berlin Wall” paved the way for German reunification, which formally took place on 3 October 1990.
28. Which country was the location of the event “Viannos massacres”?
[A] Austria
[B] Italy
[C] Russia
[D] Greece
[B] Italy
[C] Russia
[D] Greece
Correct Answer: D [Greece]
Notes:
The Viannos massacres were a mass extermination campaign launched by Nazi forces against the civilian residents of around 20 villages located in the areas of east Viannos and west Ierapetra provinces on the Greek island of Crete during World War II.
The Viannos massacres were a mass extermination campaign launched by Nazi forces against the civilian residents of around 20 villages located in the areas of east Viannos and west Ierapetra provinces on the Greek island of Crete during World War II.
29. What was “Amilcar Cabral” famous for?
[A] As a nationalist from Guinea-Bissau
[B] As a nationalist from Ethiopia
[C] As a nationalist from Kenya
[D] As a nationalist from Angola
[B] As a nationalist from Ethiopia
[C] As a nationalist from Kenya
[D] As a nationalist from Angola
Correct Answer: A [As a nationalist from Guinea-Bissau]
Notes:
Amilcar Cabral was a Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, pan-Africanist, intellectual, poet, theoretician, revolutionary, political organizer, nationalist and diplomat. He was one of Africa’s foremost anti-colonial leaders. Also known by the name Abel Djassi, Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence in Guinea-Bissau. He was assassinated on 20 January 1973, about eight months before Guinea-Bissau’s unilateral declaration of independence. He was deeply influenced by Marxism and became an inspiration to revolutionary socialists and national independence movements worldwide.
Amilcar Cabral was a Bissau-Guinean and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, pan-Africanist, intellectual, poet, theoretician, revolutionary, political organizer, nationalist and diplomat. He was one of Africa’s foremost anti-colonial leaders. Also known by the name Abel Djassi, Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence in Guinea-Bissau. He was assassinated on 20 January 1973, about eight months before Guinea-Bissau’s unilateral declaration of independence. He was deeply influenced by Marxism and became an inspiration to revolutionary socialists and national independence movements worldwide.
30. Which country was the location of the event “May 1998 riots/1998 tragedy”?
[A] Cambodia
[B] Malaysia
[C] Indonesia
[D] Vietnam
[B] Malaysia
[C] Indonesia
[D] Vietnam
Correct Answer: C [Indonesia]
Notes:
Indonesia was the location of the event “May 1998 riots/1998 tragedy”. The May 1998 riots of Indonesia, also known as the 1998 tragedy, were incidents of mass violence, demonstrations, and civil unrest of a racial nature that occurred throughout Indonesia. The riots were triggered by economic problems, including food shortages and mass unemployment. It eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto and the fall of the New Order government.
Indonesia was the location of the event “May 1998 riots/1998 tragedy”. The May 1998 riots of Indonesia, also known as the 1998 tragedy, were incidents of mass violence, demonstrations, and civil unrest of a racial nature that occurred throughout Indonesia. The riots were triggered by economic problems, including food shortages and mass unemployment. It eventually led to the resignation of President Suharto and the fall of the New Order government.