Literature, Art, and Architecture 600 CE to 1450

Help Questions

AP World History: Modern › Literature, Art, and Architecture 600 CE to 1450

Questions 1 - 10
1

Where was Borobudur built?

Indonesia

Gupta India

Mauryan India

Khmer Cambodia

Song China

Explanation

Borobudur was built in Indonesia in the ninth century. It is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world.

2

Which of these was not a development from the Golden Age of Islam?

Religious Iconography

Algebra

Mosaic Artwork

Epic poetry in the style of 1001 Arabian Nights

Calligraphy

Explanation

Religious iconography was a product of orthodox Christianity, not Islam. The beliefs of Islam prohibit representing the face of Allah or Mohammed, and as a result religious artwork could contain neither image.

3

Borobudur and Angkor Wat are both examples of architectural wonders inspired by __________.

Indian cultural diffusion

Chinese cultural diffusion

Mongol cultural diffusion

British cultural diffusion

French cultural diffusion

Explanation

Angkor Wat was built by the Khmer rulers of southeast Asia and was initially a place of Hindu worship, before being converted to a Buddhist temple. It was heavily inspired by Indian architectural designs. Borobudur was a massive temple built by the Srivijayan Empire of Indonesia and was also heavily influenced by Indian architectural style. These are both examples of the spread of Indian culture in southeast Asia during the classical and medieval periods.

4

Who wrote The Canterbury Tales?

Geoffrey Chaucer

Dante Alighieri

Petrarch

Thomas More

Francis Bacon

Explanation

The Canterbury Tales was written by the Englishman Geoffrey Chaucer in the fourteenth century. It is considered to be of particular importance for encouraging the spread of vernacular English in English society.

5

Which of the following authors wrote The Canterbury Tales, a work of fiction famous for criticizing the spiritual life of England and popularizing the use of English as a medium for literature?

Geoffrey Chaucer

Jonathan Swift

John Locke

William Shakespeare

Explanation

Jonathan Swift was best known for A Modest Proposal and he lived a few centuries after the publication of The Canterbury Tales, so he would not be a good choice. John Locke was an English philosopher and did not write fiction, so he would also not be a good choice. William Shakespeare might seem to be a good choice, however he wrote many years after The Canterbury Tales, and English was a popular medium for literary works in his time. Lastly, Chaucer is very well known for The Canterbury Tales, and as such he is the best choice.

6

Europeans first began building stone castles __________.

as a result of their exposure to Islamic stone castles during the Crusades

as a result of their exposure to Islamic stone castles in Al-Andalus

as a result of their exposure to Mongol stone castles in the Ilkhan Empire

after Marco Polo wrote extensively about the stone castles of Yuan China

after Marco Polo wrote extensively about the stone castles of the Delhi Sultanate

Explanation

Europeans first began building stone castles in the twelfth century, as a result of their exposure to the Islamic stone castles they encountered during the Crusades. Prior to this, most castles in Europe were built of wood and were naturally much less effective. The introduction of stone castles contributed to the growth of the feudal system in Europe at this time, as castles allowed for lords to more effectively protect their lands.

7

Rumi is a notable poet in the __________ tradition.

Sufi

Sunni

Shiite

Salafist

Wahhabi

Explanation

Rumi is a notable Sufi poet who lived in the thirteenth century. Sufism is often called “the mystical branch of Islam.” It grew in popularity during the rule of the Abbasid Caliphate. Sufism, as distinct from other denominations of Islam, emphasizes spiritual union with Allah through a series of mystical ceremonies. Sufism has a long tradition of elegant poetry, and Rumi is the most famous poet in this tradition.

8

Which of these was NOT a feature of the Gothic architecture style?

Simplistic interior design meant to reflect on the austerity of pious living

Flying Buttresses supporting thinner, taller walls

Pointed Arches and High Vaults

Ornate Stained Glass

Gargoyles and other decorative exterior features

Explanation

Gothic architecture emerged as the antithesis to the dark, heavy style of Romanesque building that preceded it. Gothic style was defined by more delicate stonework meant to incorporate height, air, and natural light. Buildings became taller and more ornate. Detailing became more delicate in an effort to venerate God, and create structures to venerate man's heavenly blessings.

9

Wu Chengen is most famous for __________.

authoring Journey to the West

authoring The Art of War

authoring The Tale of Genji

his contributions to mathematics and astronomy

his contributions to philosophy and political theory

Explanation

Wu Chengen is most famous for authoring Journey to the West. Wu lived during the Ming dynasty, but his most famous work is based on the travels of Xuanzang in the 600s CE. Xuanzang travelled to the Indian subcontinent and returned to China with a treasure trove of Buddhist writings and artefacts.

10

The Japanese city of Heian was designed to emulate __________.

the Chinese capital Chang’an

the Chinese capital Beijing

the Mongol capital Karakorum

the Abbasid capital Baghdad

the Umayyad capital Damascus

Explanation

The Japanese city of Heian was built during the classical period of Japanese history (The Nara and Heian periods). This was a time when Japanese culture was closely tied to Chinese culture. The Japanese city of Heian was modelled after the Chinese capital of Chang’an, with its notable grid layout.

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