World History A

Final Exam Study Guide

Early African Civilizations: Chapter 10
1.) How did Islam spread across Africa?
2.) What helped Ghana, Mali and Songhai become wealthy and powerful kingdoms?
3.) Why is trade significant for early African civilizations? Use specific examples.

4.) What were the short term and long term effects of iron tools for African civilizations?

East Asian Cultures: Chapter 11

1.) How does the Chinese government change under the Song Dynasty?
2.) Which Chinese advancements achieved these results: aided exploration, increased the spread of ideas, lead to modern
warfare, allowed civilians to enter government?
3.) Why did Chinas population dramatically increase in the 10th Century?
4.) In what ways was the status of women diminished during the Song Dynasty?

5.) Why was trade important for China?

6.) What was the name of the major trade route linking China with the rest of the world?
7.) What was Pax Mongolia and what was its short term and long term effects?
8.) Who was Kublai Khan and why was he important?
Middle Ages: Chapter 12, 13, 14
1.) Where was the Byzantine Empire located and why was its main city, Constantinople, so successful?
2.) Who was Justinian and how did he impact the Byzantine Empire?

3.) What was the Schism of 1054? Which two churches were the result of the Schism?

4.) What is Christendom?

5.) Who was Charlemagne and how did he impact Europe?

6.) Who were the Vikings and what did they see as their purpose?

7.) Why were monasteries popular targets for the Vikings?

8.) How did the feudal system develop in Europe?

9.) What were the roles of the king, lord, knight and serf/peasant in feudal Europe?

10.) What were the goals and outcomes of the Crusades?

11.) What is the Hanseatic League and why did it help lead to the growth of towns in Europe?
12.) What is heresy and why was the Catholic Church opposed to it? How does the Catholic Church battle heresy?

13.) How does the Black Death arrive in Europe and what were its short term and long term effects?

Renaissance & Reformation: Chapter 15

1.) Why did the Renaissance start in Italy? What causes it to spread north?

2.) What were the short term and long term effects of the printing press on European society?
3.) Identify the causes of the Protestant Reformation.

4.) What was Martin Luthers role in the Protestant Reformation?

5.) What was the Counter Reformation? What were the short term and long-term effects of the Counter
Reformation?

6.) What role did the Council of Trent have in the Counter Reformation?

Age of Exploration: Chapter 16

1.) What was an early goal of the English, French and Dutch in exploration?

2.) What were the short term and long-term effects of the Columbian Exchange?

3.) In what ways does the Renaissance contribute to the Age of Exploration?

New Asian Empires: Chapter 17

1.) How do the Janissaries help the Ottoman Empire expand?

2.) Why was Suleyman I so great?

3.) How does the Ottoman Empire deal with its diverse religious groups?
4.) What factors led to the rise and fall of the Mughal Empire? Include leaders and their actions.

5.) Describe China under the Ming Dynasty. Include the rulers.

6.) What was the cause of decline in the Ming Dynasty

7.) Why did the Qing Dynasty limit trade with foreigners?
8.) What were the roles of the shogun, samurai and Bushido in feudal Japan?

9.) What was life like under the Tokugawa Shogunate in Japan?

Monarchs of Europe: Chapter 18

1.) Describe the Spanish Armada- its goals and final outcome.
2.) Why is Louis XIV considered an absolute monarch?

3.) Who were the Hugenots? Were they welcomed in France? How does their story end?

4.) What was the English Civil War fought over? What were the outcomes?

5.) What is Parliament and what is its effect on the monarchs of England?
6.) Why does Parliament reinstate the monarchy? What makes this official?

7.) Define divine right

8.) Define absolute monarch
Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Chapter 19
1.) What is the Scientific Revolution? What are the short term and long term effects?
2.) What events lead to the beginning of the Scientific Revolution?
3.) The Scientific Revolution was at odds with what traditional authorities?
4.) The Enlightenment Period is characterized by what?
5.) What were John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu views on government?

French Revolution: Chapter 20

1.) What are the causes of the French Revolution?
2.) How was the French society divided up prior to the French Revolution? What were the important features of
these divisions?

3.) What are the long-term effects of the French Revolution?

4.) What was the Reign of Terror?

You should also have a good sense of the geographical locations of all the empires, countries, and
civilizations we studied.