History · General Awareness

World History

2,990 Questions

World history encompasses major events like the English Civil War, the American Civil War, and the Spanish colonization of Mexico. This hub provides practice questions on treaties, dynasties, and feudal systems. These concepts are essential for general awareness preparation in UPSC and SSC exams.

Feudal system terminologySpanish colonizationThirty Years War treatyEnglish Civil WarAmerican Civil War battles

World History Questions

Multiple choice

_____ were the agents of the fourteenth century Japanese secret mercenary organization.

  1. Ganjas

  2. Ninjas

  3. Ranges

  4. Ranjas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ninjas were covert agents or mercenaries in feudal Japan, active during the 14th century and beyond. They specialized in espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and asymmetric warfare using stealth tactics. The term 'ninja' derives from the Japanese characters meaning 'to stealth' or 'to hide',' which accurately describes their operational methodology. The other options (Ganjas, Ranges, Ranjas) are not historically documented terms related to Japanese secret organizations.

Multiple choice

What gave England an immense advantage in the war?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.

By the Salic law, as the lawyers called it, the crown was given, on the death of Charles IV, to Philip, Count of Valois, son to a brother of Philip IV, but it was claimed by Edward III of England as son of the daughter of Philip IV. Edward satisfied himself, however, with the mere declaration of his self-importance, until Philip annoyed him by attacks on the borders of Guienne, which the French kings had long been wanting to complete their possession of the South, and by demanding the surrender of Robert of Artois, who, being disappointed in his claim to the county of Artois by the judgment of the Parliament of Paris, was practising by sorcery on the life of the King of France. Edward then declared war, and his supposed right caused a century of warfare between France and England, in which the broken, down-trodden state of the French farmers gave England an immense advantage. The knights and squires were fairly matched; but while the English yeomen were strong, staunch, and trustworthy, the French were useless, and only made a defeat worse by robbing the fallen on the each side alike.

  1. Borders of the Guienne

  2. Well established states of French peasants

  3. Broken, down-trodden state of French farmers

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The lines 'the broken, down-trodden state of the French farmers gave England an immense advantage' suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question that follows.

Three generations of them were really great men — Robert the Strong, Odo, and Hugh the White; and when the descendants of Charles the Great had died out, a Duke of the Franks, Hugh Capet, was in 987 crowned King of the Franks. All the after kings of France down to Louis Philippe were children and grandchildren of Hugh Capet. By this change, however, he gained little in real power; for, though he claimed to rule over the whole country of the Neustrian Franks, his authority was little heeded, save in the domain which he had possessed as Count of Paris, including the cities of Paris, Orleans, Amiens, and Rheims (the coronation place). He was guardian, too, of the great Abbeys of St. Denys and St. Martin of Tours. The Duke of Normandy and the Count of Anjou to the West, the Count of Flanders to the North, the Count of Champagne to the East, and the Duke of Aquitaine to the South, paid him homage, but were the only actual rulers in their own domains.

According to the passage, in which year was Huge Capet crowned as the King of the Franks?

  1. 977

  2. 987

  3. 997

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The line 'Duke of the Franks, Hugh Capet, was in 987 crowned King of the Franks' suggests the answer.

Multiple choice

Pondicherry was under the rule of _____.

  1. British

  2. French

  3. Portuguese

  4. Spain

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

 French   The French rule in Pondicherry started in the 17th century when the French officer, Bellanger set up his residence in the Danish Lodge in the region of Pondicherry. The French had been invited to start trading units in Pondicherry by the ruler of Gingee. The invitation was forwarded to raise competition in trade between the French and the Dutch who had already settled in the region and set up their business unit.   

Multiple choice

Described as one of the 'best buys' of the millennium which (State) was purchased in 1819 from Spain for 5 Million Dollars by the US?

  1. Kansas

  2. Madrid

  3. Florida

  4. Alaska
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Florida was purchased from Spain in 1819 through the Adams-Onís Treaty for $5 million. This acquisition is often described as one of America's best land purchases, given the territory's strategic location and agricultural potential. Kansas was acquired through different means, Madrid is in Spain, and Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867.

Multiple choice

With which one of the following is the 'Tennis Court Oath' associated?

  1. English Revolution

  2. American Revolution

  3. French Revolution

  4. Russian Revolution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal event during the French Revolution in 1789. Members of the Third Estate, locked out of their usual meeting hall, gathered at a nearby tennis court and swore not to disband until they had drafted a constitution. It marked their defiance against the monarchy.

Multiple choice

The famous Tennis Court Oath is associated with the

  1. American War of Independence

  2. French Revolution

  3. Emperor Czar Alexander

  4. Italian Renaissance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal event during the French Revolution in 1789. Members of the Third Estate, locked out of their usual meeting hall, gathered at a nearby tennis court and swore not to separate until they had given France a constitution. This marked their defiance against the monarchy and unity in demanding constitutional reform.

Multiple choice

Before independence which Englishman influenced our education system the most?

  1. Warren Hastings

  2. Load Dalhousie

  3. Lord Macaulay

  4. Lord Curzon
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Lord Macaulay's Minute on Education (1835) fundamentally shaped India's education system by introducing English as the medium of instruction and promoting Western knowledge. This policy replaced traditional Sanskrit and Arabic-based education with English education to create a class of Indians educated in British culture. Warren Hastings, Lord Dalhousie, and Lord Curzon influenced education but Macaulay's reforms were the most transformative.

Multiple choice

The famous tennis court 'Oath' is associated with the

  1. American War of Independence

  2. French Revolution

  3. Emperor Czar Alexander

  4. Italian Renaissance
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume) was a pivotal event during the French Revolution in 1789. Members of the Third Estate pledged not to disband until they had drafted a new constitution for France, demonstrating their resolve against royal authority.

Multiple choice

The person who was held responsible for the reign of terror during the French Revolution was

  1. Robeespierre

  2. Danton

  3. Voltaire

  4. Mirabeau
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Maximilien Robespierre was the central figure of the Reign of Terror (1793-94) during the French Revolution. As leader of the Committee of Public Safety, he oversaw the execution of thousands deemed 'enemies of the revolution'. His ideology of 'virtue and terror' justified eliminating perceived threats, making him directly responsible for this violent period until his own execution in 1794.

Multiple choice

Double Entry system was introduced by

  1. American Merchant

  2. Italian Marchant

  3. British Merchant

  4. Indian Merchant
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The double entry system of bookkeeping was developed by Italian merchants, notably Luca Pacioli in 1494 who documented the system. This innovation became the foundation of modern accounting. American, British, and Indian merchants adopted it later.

Multiple choice

Which was not exported to Europe by the English in 17th century?

  1. Spices

  2. Tea

  3. Cotton

  4. Indigo
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

During the 17th century, the English East India Company exported various goods from India to Europe. Spices (especially pepper), tea, and cotton textiles were major exports. Indigo, however, was not a significant export to Europe during this period. The indigo trade became more prominent in the 18th and 19th centuries when it was used for dyeing textiles in Europe's growing textile industries.