World History MCQs
World History Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient World History, Medieval World History and Modern World History for various UPSC, PCS and other Competitive Examinations.
1. During the World War -II which among the following was not a major Axis Power?
[A] Germany
[B] Japan
[C] Hungary
[D] France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [France]
Notes:
The Axis powers during the World War-II included Italy, Germany and Japan. They were also known collectively as “Rome–Berlin–Tokyo Axis”. These three nations fought the WW-II against the allies but without any strong coordination between three of them. The major Allied Powers were Britain, France, Russia, and the United States. Thus, France was an allied power and not axis power.
2. Which among the following accord is known to led the formation of Palestinian Authority?
[A] Oslo Accords
[B] Camp David Accord
[C] Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum
[D] London Agreement
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Oslo Accords]
Notes:
Oslo Accords or Oslo Process refers to two agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. First is the Oslo I Accord, signed in Washington in 1993 and second is Oslo II Accord, signed in Taba, Egypt in 1995. It resulted in recognition of Israel by the PLO and the recognition by Israel of the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and as a partner in bilateral negotiations.
3. In context with the Vietnam War, the following statements holds correct?
[A] The US backed North Vietnam side and USSR was neutral
[B] The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR was neutral
[C] The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side
[D] The US backed North Vietnam side and USSR backed South Vietnam side
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side]
Notes:
The correct answer is: “The US backed South Vietnam side and USSR backed North Vietnam side.” During the Vietnam War (1955-1975), the United States supported the anti-communist government of South Vietnam, while the Soviet Union provided military and economic support to the communist North Vietnam. This conflict was a important aspect of the Cold War, illustrating the global struggle between capitalism (led by the US) and communism (led by the USSR). The war resulted in millions of casualties and important geopolitical changes in Southeast Asia.
4. Which country was known as Gold Coast in past?
[A] Burkina Faso
[B] Togo
[C] Ghana
[D] Mali
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Ghana]
Notes:
Gold Coast was a region in West Africa that is now known as the country Ghana. The region was named the Gold Coast because of its large supplies of gold and the market for it during the transatlantic slave trade. The Gold Coast was also a trade hub for slaves.
The Portuguese named the area Mina, which means “mine”, after finding so much gold between the Ankobra and Volta rivers in the 15th century. The English colonists later adopted the name Gold Coast.
The Gold Coast was a British colony. In 1957, the Gold Coast gained independence from Britain and became the country Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah led the independence movement and became Ghana’s first prime minister and president.
5. With which among the following countries, Egypt formed a state called theUnited Arab Republic in the late 1950s?
[A] Turkey
[B] Syria
[C] Libya
[D] Jordan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Syria]
Notes:
Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic (UAR) in 1958. The UAR was a sovereign state that was intended to be the first step toward a pan-Arab union. The union was short-lived, ending in 1961 when Syria seceded. Egypt continued to be known as the United Arab Republic until 1971. The UAR was formed as a single political unit with Gamal Abd al-Nasser as its president. Nasser gave each province two vice-presidents. The provisional constitution of 1958 was adopted. The United States recognized the UAR on February 25, 1958.
6. The term Rose Revolution refers to the change of power in which among the following countries?
[A] Croatia
[B] Syria
[C] Georgia
[D] Kyrgyzstan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Georgia]
Notes:
The Revolution of Roses, also known as the Rose Revolution was a pro-Western peaceful change of power in Georgia in November 2003.
7. Why the Soviet Socialist Revolution on October is celebrated every year on November 7?
[A] Lenin’s birthday falls on this date
[B] Russia’s victory over Germany coincides with this date
[C] The Provisional Government formed after the collapse of Czarist Government was overthrown on this day in 1917
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [The Provisional Government formed after the collapse of Czarist Government was overthrown on this day in 1917]
Notes:
During October Revolution, urban workers began to organize into councils wherein revolutionaries criticized the provisional government and its actions. Bolshevik Red Guards forces under the Military Revolutionary Committee began the occupation of government buildings on 7 November 1917.
8. Falkland Islands Sovereignty Dispute is a territorial dispute between two nations. Which among the following are those two nations?
[A] Argentina and Chile
[B] Argentina and United Kingdom
[C] Argentina and United States of America
[D] Argentina and France
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Argentina and United Kingdom]
Notes:
Both Argentina and United Kingdom raise their claim of sovereign rights over the Falkland Islands. Since 1833, the UK is exercising control over the islands in practical terms. The dispute escalated in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. This lead to a war when the UK retaliated which lead to its victory. Present-day Falkland Islanders prefer to identify themselves as British.
9. Which nation’s revolutionary organization was “26th of July Movement”?
[A] Iran
[B] North Korea
[C] Cuba
[D] Vietnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Cuba]
Notes:
26th of July Movement was a revolutionary organisation and a political party of Cuba led by Fidel Castro. It was active from 1955 to 1965. It was widely remembered as an attack against army barracks on 26th July 1953 to overthrow the rule of dictator Fulgencio Batista. It supported anti-imperialism and left-wing nationalism. Its area of operations was in the Caribean Sea.
10. The “Prague Spring” was a period of introduction of decentralisation, political liberalisation and democratisation measures happened in which nation/s?
[A] Italy
[B] Austria-Hungary
[C] Czech Republic-Slovakia
[D] Russia
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Czech Republic-Slovakia]
Notes:
From the late 9th century to the early 11th century the Dutchy of Bohemia (present-day the Czech Republic) were under the control of Great Moravian Empire. In 1198, the Holy Roman Empire undertook the control and established the Kingdom of Bohemia with Prague as its capital. In 1526, through Battle of Mohacs, it got annexed to Habsburg Monarchy under the Holy Roman Empire. In 1806, following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the Bohemian Czech got annexed into the Austrian Empire. In 1918, the First Czechoslovak Republic got established following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after World War II. It became the only democracy in Central Europe during the interwar period. And, from 1938 till the end of World War II, Nazi Germany annexed Czechoslovakia. After World War II, Germans got expelled and established Communist Party of Czechslovakia under Soviet influence. They unleashed a one-party Communist state through a coup in 1948 and ruled with lots of restrictions, dissatisfaction and curbs on basic freedoms. This lead to the Prague Spring of 1968, a movement to enforce and introduce basic reforms of decentralisation and democratization. This attracted the ire of the Soviet Union and they invaded Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia remained controlled by the Soviet Union until the 1989 Velvet Revolution for Gentle Revolution. The Velvet Revolution of 1989 was a non-violent peaceful transition of power which ended the Communist Rule and re-established democratic-capitalist state which finally culminated in the partition or dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993 into two independent states of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This dissolution or self-determined split is informally known as the Violet Divorce.