World History : Iron Age Empires

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for World History

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Iron Age Empires

Under the Statesman Pericles in Athens, what type of democracy was used to pass laws?

Possible Answers:

Direct Democracy

Indirect Democracy

Republican Democracy

Representative Democracy

Correct answer:

Direct Democracy

Explanation:

Direct democracy is the answer because the Athenians, under the rule of Pericles, allowed every Athenian male citizen over the age of 18 to have one vote, whenever a political decision needed to be made. In a direct democracy, every citizen who is eligible to vote is able to vote directly on any law. The other choices involved scenarios in which the citizens collectively vote on a representative who can vote on the law, but the individual citizen cannot vote directly on a law.  

Example Question #2 : Iron Age Empires

Which of these is NOT a step in the cycle of the Mandate of Heaven?

Possible Answers:

The Gods send natural disasters and war to punish the dynasty

The dynasty wins back the Mandate of Heaven

A dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven

A new dynasty emerges with the Mandate of Heaven

Correct answer:

The dynasty wins back the Mandate of Heaven

Explanation:

All of the other choices are part of the cycle of the Mandate of Heaven. Once a dynasty loses the Mandate of Heaven they cannot regain it. Instead, a new dynasty arises which overthrows the corrupt dynasty which the gods had forsaken.

Example Question #3 : Iron Age Empires

What is a significant difference between the legacies of the Roman Empire and the Han Empire in China?

Possible Answers:

While the Han dynasty still remained intact in Eastern China for many centuries, the Roman Empire fell all at once.

Whereas the imperial system in China continued until the 20th century, the Roman empire devolved into a feudal system in Western Europe.

While Rome declined mostly due barbaric invasions, the Han collapse was because of large epidemics that took centuries for China's population to recover.

While Latin-based languages are still widely spoken around Europe, Han Chinese is considered to be a dead language with no resemblance to modern Chinese.

Correct answer:

Whereas the imperial system in China continued until the 20th century, the Roman empire devolved into a feudal system in Western Europe.

Explanation:

Due to Rome's over-expansion, increasing power of the Catholic Church, and the emergence of the feudal system, Western Europe 500 years after Rome's collapse was very different. While there were major changes in the 500 years following the Han dynasty in China, much of the institutions and government systems established by the Han remained largely intact.

Example Question #4 : Iron Age Empires

What caused the Late Bronze Age collapse, leading to the Iron Age?

Possible Answers:

Widespread famine

Religious upheaval in major kingdoms

The cultural collapse of major kingdoms

Decimation of populations from plague

Correct answer:

The cultural collapse of major kingdoms

Explanation:

The cultural collapse of the Mycenaean Kingdoms, Hittite Empire, and the Egyptian New Kingdom led to political instability and large-scale war. Most of the major cities in the Near East were destroyed, never to be re-settled. This allowed a new generation of civilizations to rise to power and create the Iron Age.

Example Question #5 : Iron Age Empires

Which of these is not an Iron Age Empire?

Possible Answers:

The Neo-Babylonian Empire

The Neo-Assyrian Empire

The Middle Kingdom in Egypt

The Kingdom of Israel

Correct answer:

The Middle Kingdom in Egypt

Explanation:

The Middle Kingdom is considered to have ended around 1600 BCE, while the Iron Age is not widely considered to have begun until 1300 BCE. The Neo-Assyrian and Babylonian Empires rose from the ashes of the Late Bronze Age Collapse, and the Kingdom of Israel only began its expansion after the Iron Age began.

Example Question #6 : Iron Age Empires

The Kingdom of Israel encompassed all of the following tribes before its fall in 950 BCE EXCEPT _____________.

Possible Answers:

Hebrews

Philistines

Canaanites

Sumerians

Hittites

Correct answer:

Sumerians

Explanation:

The Kingdom of Israel was an iron-age monarchy that expanded through modern-day Northern Israel and Jordan. It expanded quickly, conquering and absorbing nomadic tribes including the Canaanites, Hittites, and Philistines before succumbing to rebellions in 950 BCE and collapsing. The Sumerians were not a part of the Kingdom of Israel; they did, however, build their own empire nearly a thousand years earlier centered around the state of Ur.

Example Question #7 : Iron Age Empires

The earliest evidence of iron use, dating back to 3000 BCE, traces the technology to what region?

Possible Answers:

Mesopotamia

Southeast Asia

India

The Iberian Peninsula

North Africa

Correct answer:

Mesopotamia

Explanation:

States in Mesopotamia including Sumer, Akkad, and Assyria are thought to have been the first to use iron, which then spread to North Africa and Southwest Asia by 1000 BCE. Iron was quickly adopted due to properties that made it superior to bronze, such as strength and durability. The ability to produce massive amounts of iron armor and weaponry allowed for quick expansion by iron age empires.

Example Question #8 : Iron Age Empires

Which empire dominated China for most of the Iron age?

Possible Answers:

Han Dynasty

Japanese Empire

None (in China the Iron age is known as the Warring States period)

Jin Dynasty

Mongolian Khanate

Correct answer:

None (in China the Iron age is known as the Warring States period)

Explanation:

Various kingdoms throughout China fought for regional authority for centuries of the Iron Age. Although the Eastern Zhou Dynasty ruled for some of this period, the emperor was a mere figurehead with no control over the warring states. The period, which began during the 5th Century BCE, followed the Spring and Autumn period and ultimately led to the establishment of the Qin dynasty in 221 BCE.

Example Question #9 : Iron Age Empires

Which of the following is responsible for the increase in range and effectiveness of cavalry seen in the Iron Age?

Possible Answers:

Domestication of the camel

Increase in available food supplies

New herding and breeding techniques

Innovations in bridle and saddle design

Correct answer:

Innovations in bridle and saddle design

Explanation:

During the Iron Age pastoral cultures revolutionized the saddle and bridle, allowing such historic cavalry forces as the Scythians, Cimmerians, and Bedouin to arise.

Example Question #10 : Iron Age Empires

Which of the following cultures is responsible for developing the first written alphabet?

Possible Answers:

Persia

Qin Dynasty

Phoenicia

Assyria

Correct answer:

Phoenicia

Explanation:

The Phoenician alphabet is considered the first written alphabet, with prior scripts referred to as phonetic or syllabic.

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