World History MCQs

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Newton (1642-1727) concluded that the movements of all celestial bodies were controlled by gravitation. With the new astronomical knowledge that was available, the old Julian calendar was reformed in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.

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A large number of soldiers were brought to Versailles and Paris. Necker, the popular minister was also dismissed. On hearing this, the mob of Paris became violent. They attacked the State prison called the Bastille, murdered the guards and freed the prisoners. The fall of the Bastille was regarded in France as a triumph of liberty. The nobles voluntarily surrendered their feudal rights and the privileges on 4th August 1789. Feudalism and serfdom were abolished. The principle of equality was established.

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The Revolutionary government at Paris led by Danton massacred 1500 suspected supporters of the French king. Then the French army defeated the Austrian army at Valmy. This was known as the “September Massacres”.

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The invention of the sewing machine by Elias Howe, in 1846, accelerated the production of clothing and made possible the modern clothing industry. Thus, one invention followed another, not only in textile industries but also in many others. In this way, the present-day complex machinery has evolved.

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Russia was a big and powerful country. Even Napoleon Bonaparte could not conquer Russia in 1812. However, during the beginning of the 20th Century Russia was no longer a powerful country. During this time Russia was ruled by the Romanov dynasty. Tsar Nicholas II ruled Russia at the time of the Revolution.

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In Russia when the workers’ organizations were set up they were dominated by Marx’s ideas on socialism. In 1883, the Russian Social Democratic Party was formed by George Plekhanov, a follower of Marx.

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In 1924 Dr. Sun Yat Sen passed away. The leadership of the Kuomintang party was assumed by Chiang Kai Shek. In the beginning there was an understanding between the Kuomintang and the Communists. But, soon both became rivals. Chiang wanted to exterminate Mao’s Communist Party. Mao retired to northern China. It is known as the Long March. There the Communists established their control.

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Even before the end of the Second World War the Soviet Union had imposed Communist regimes in the East European countries of Poland, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Immediately after the War the Soviet Union brought East Germany under her influence. West Germany came under the influence of the U.S.A. The Soviet Union blocked all roads to the west-occupied zones in Berlin. This is known as Berlin Blockade. Thus, a tense situation developed between the two blocs of the Cold War groups.

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The U.S.A. had created a military alliance to prevent further spread of communism into Western Europe. A beginning in this direction was made by the signing of the Brussels Treaty in March 1948. Britain, France, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg signed this treaty promising military collaboration in case of war.

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In 1989, Poland conducted its first partially free elections, marking a pivotal moment in its history. This event led to the collapse of communist rule and paved the way for the establishment of a democratic government, signifying a major shift in Poland’s political landscape and its approach to governance.