WORLD HISTORY EXAM PRACTICE QUESTIONS
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ Song Dynasty.
Answer: Chinese dynasty (960 - 1279 CE) that could be considered
their "golden age" when China saw many important inventions.
There was a magnetic compass; had a navy; traded with India and
Persia; paper money, gun powder
◉ Confucianism.
Answer: A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese
philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable
government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses
a moral code of conduct.
◉ Filial Piety.
Answer: In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a
love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.
◉ Neo-Confucianism.
Answer: The Confucian response to Buddhism by taking Confucian
and Buddhist beliefs and combining them into this. However, it is
still very much Confucian in belief.
,◉ Theravada Buddhism.
Answer: the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism.
Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, its
beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original
teachings of the Buddha
◉ Mahayana Buddhism.
Answer: "Great Vehicle" branch of Buddhism followed in China,
Japan, and Central Asia. The focus is on reverence for Buddha and
for Bodhisattva, enlightened persons who have postponed Nirvana
to help others attain enlightenment. It was a more "user friendly"
Buddhism that developed as Buddhism spread into East and
Southeast Asia.
◉ Tibetan Buddhism.
Answer: a Buddhist doctrine that includes elements from India that
are not Buddhist and elements of preexisting shamanism, a tradition
of Buddhism that teaches that people can use special techniques to
harness spiritual energy and can achieve nirvana in a single lifetime
◉ Champa Rice.
Answer: Quick-maturing rice that can allow two harvests in one
growing season; led to increased populations in Song Dynasty China.
Originally introduced into Vietnam from India, it was later sent to
,China as a tribute gift by the Champa state (as part of the tributary
system.)
◉ Grand Canal.
Answer: The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the
Yellow and the Yangzi Rivers. It was begun in the Han period and
completed during the Sui Dynasty.
◉ Seljuk Empire.
Answer: Turkic empire ruled by sultans in Persia and modern-day
◉ Iraq (11th and 12th centuries); Established Turks as major ethnic
group carrying Islam across Eurasia, along with Arabs and Persians;
Demonstrated weakness of Abbasid caliphate in its later.
Answer:
◉ years; sultans held real power in the empire; Helped to spread the
influence of Islam throughout the region.
Answer:
◉ Delhi Sultanate.
Answer: The first Islamic government established within India from
1206-1520. Controlled a small area of northern India and was
centered in Delhi.
, ◉ Abbasid Caliphate.
Answer: (750-1258 CE) The caliphate, after the Umayyads, who
focused more on administration than conquering. Had a
bureaucracy that any Muslim could be a part of.
◉ House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
Answer: Large Islamic-based Library and learning center. Focus of
conversion of Greek and Roman classics and Indian learning into
Arabic. Preserved knowledge.
◉ Bhakti Movement.
Answer: An immensely popular development in Hinduism,
advocating intense devotion toward a particular deity.
◉ Sufism.
Answer: An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union
with God--divine love through intuition rather than through rational
deduction and study of the Shari'a. Followed an ascetic routine
(denial of physical desire to gain a spiritual goal), dedicating
themselves to fasting, prayer, meditation on the Qur'an, and the
avoidance of sin.
◉ Meritocracy.
WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS 2026
◉ Song Dynasty.
Answer: Chinese dynasty (960 - 1279 CE) that could be considered
their "golden age" when China saw many important inventions.
There was a magnetic compass; had a navy; traded with India and
Persia; paper money, gun powder
◉ Confucianism.
Answer: A philosophy that adheres to the teachings of the Chinese
philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable
government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses
a moral code of conduct.
◉ Filial Piety.
Answer: In Confucian thought, one of the virtues to be cultivated, a
love and respect for one's parents and ancestors.
◉ Neo-Confucianism.
Answer: The Confucian response to Buddhism by taking Confucian
and Buddhist beliefs and combining them into this. However, it is
still very much Confucian in belief.
,◉ Theravada Buddhism.
Answer: the oldest of the two major branches of Buddhism.
Practiced mainly in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and Cambodia, its
beliefs are relatively conservative, holding close to the original
teachings of the Buddha
◉ Mahayana Buddhism.
Answer: "Great Vehicle" branch of Buddhism followed in China,
Japan, and Central Asia. The focus is on reverence for Buddha and
for Bodhisattva, enlightened persons who have postponed Nirvana
to help others attain enlightenment. It was a more "user friendly"
Buddhism that developed as Buddhism spread into East and
Southeast Asia.
◉ Tibetan Buddhism.
Answer: a Buddhist doctrine that includes elements from India that
are not Buddhist and elements of preexisting shamanism, a tradition
of Buddhism that teaches that people can use special techniques to
harness spiritual energy and can achieve nirvana in a single lifetime
◉ Champa Rice.
Answer: Quick-maturing rice that can allow two harvests in one
growing season; led to increased populations in Song Dynasty China.
Originally introduced into Vietnam from India, it was later sent to
,China as a tribute gift by the Champa state (as part of the tributary
system.)
◉ Grand Canal.
Answer: The 1,100-mile (1,700-kilometer) waterway linking the
Yellow and the Yangzi Rivers. It was begun in the Han period and
completed during the Sui Dynasty.
◉ Seljuk Empire.
Answer: Turkic empire ruled by sultans in Persia and modern-day
◉ Iraq (11th and 12th centuries); Established Turks as major ethnic
group carrying Islam across Eurasia, along with Arabs and Persians;
Demonstrated weakness of Abbasid caliphate in its later.
Answer:
◉ years; sultans held real power in the empire; Helped to spread the
influence of Islam throughout the region.
Answer:
◉ Delhi Sultanate.
Answer: The first Islamic government established within India from
1206-1520. Controlled a small area of northern India and was
centered in Delhi.
, ◉ Abbasid Caliphate.
Answer: (750-1258 CE) The caliphate, after the Umayyads, who
focused more on administration than conquering. Had a
bureaucracy that any Muslim could be a part of.
◉ House of Wisdom in Baghdad.
Answer: Large Islamic-based Library and learning center. Focus of
conversion of Greek and Roman classics and Indian learning into
Arabic. Preserved knowledge.
◉ Bhakti Movement.
Answer: An immensely popular development in Hinduism,
advocating intense devotion toward a particular deity.
◉ Sufism.
Answer: An Islamic mystical tradition that desired a personal union
with God--divine love through intuition rather than through rational
deduction and study of the Shari'a. Followed an ascetic routine
(denial of physical desire to gain a spiritual goal), dedicating
themselves to fasting, prayer, meditation on the Qur'an, and the
avoidance of sin.
◉ Meritocracy.
