Questions and Answers (Verified Answers) (Latest Update 2025) UPDATE!!
CLEP Western Civilization I – Practice Exam
1. Which of the following were Phoenician cities or colonies?
A. Alexandria and Cairo
B. Tyre and Carthage
C. Corinth and Chersonesos
D. Messina and Rhegium
E. Syracuse and Naples
2. The first known writing system, cuneiform, was developed by which civilization?
A. Sumerians
B. Egyptians
C. Babylonians
D. Hittites
E. Persians
3. The Code of Hammurabi is significant because it:
A. Was the first monotheistic religion
B. Introduced democracy
C. Was one of the earliest written law codes
1
D. Invented the wheel
Page
E. Created the first library
EXAMPREPMASTER
,4. Which empire conquered the Babylonian Empire in 539 BCE?
A. Roman
B. Egyptian
C. Persian
D. Greek
E. Assyrian
5. Which of the following is a major contribution of Ancient Egypt?
A. Democracy
B. Hieroglyphic writing
C. Philosophy
D. Greek theatre
E. Roman law
6. Which civilization is known for the Olympic Games?
A. Romans
B. Greeks
C. Egyptians
D. Phoenicians
E. Babylonians
7. Who was the leader that united the Greek city-states and created the Hellenistic Empire?
A. Pericles
B. Alexander the Pope
C. Alexander the Great
D. Julius Caesar
E. Leonidas
8. What was the dominant political structure of Athens during the 5th century BCE?
A. Democracy
B. Monarchy
C. Oligarchy
D. Tyranny
E. Republic
2
Page
EXAMPREPMASTER
,9. Sparta was best known for its:
A. Philosophy and arts
B. Military training and discipline
C. Maritime trade
D. Writing and science
E. Architecture
10. The Peloponnesian War was fought between:
A. Persians and Greeks
B. Athens and Sparta
C. Rome and Carthage
D. Macedon and Persia
E. Thebes and Corinth
11. Which philosopher was a student of Socrates and teacher of Alexander the Great?
A. Socrates
B. Plato
C. Aristotle
D. Epicurus
E. Pythagoras
12. The Roman Republic was established after the overthrow of:
A. Julius Caesar
B. Augustus
C. The Roman monarchy
D. The Senate
E. The Etruscans
13. The Twelve Tables of Rome were significant because they:
A. Created Christianity
B. Ended the Punic Wars
C. Codified Roman law
D. Expanded Roman territory
E. Invented Latin literature
3
Page
EXAMPREPMASTER
, 14. Who was the Carthaginian general that crossed the Alps to attack Rome during the
Second Punic War?
A. Hannibal
B. Scipio Africanus
C. Julius Caesar
D. Pompey
E. Cato
15. The Pax Romana refers to:
A. A type of Roman coin
B. The rise of the Republic
C. A long period of relative peace in the Roman Empire
D. The Roman army formation
E. A Roman festival
16. Constantine the Great is known for:
A. Expanding the Roman Senate
B. Legalizing Christianity in the Roman Empire
C. Founding Athens
D. Conquering Carthage
E. Writing Roman law
17. The fall of the Western Roman Empire occurred in:
A. 27 BCE
B. 313 CE
C. 476 CE
D. 1453 CE
E. 330 CE
18. The term “Dark Ages” usually refers to:
A. Early medieval Europe after the fall of Rome
B. The Renaissance in Italy
C. The Enlightenment in France
D. The Roman Republic
4
Page
E. The Industrial Revolution
EXAMPREPMASTER