Changing Social Hierarchies/AP Exam Practice

Topic 7 AP Exam Practice

Multiple-Choice Questions

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

“Learned men of various kinds and from every country, as well as adherents of many different religions and creeds, assembled at his court and were admitted to converse with him. Night and day people did nothing but inquire and investigate…His Majesty collected opinions of every one, especially of those who were not Mohammedans [Muslim]…and collected everything which people can find in books, with a talent of selection peculiar to him and a spirit of inquiry opposed to every Islamitic principle. Thus…as the result of all the influences which were brought to bear upon him, there grew…the conviction in his heart that there were sensible men in all religions and abstemious thinkers and men endowed with miraculous powers among all nations.”

Badaˉ’uˉ n1ˉ’s History – section on the Mughal emperor, Akbar

1. Based on the passage and what you have read in this unit, what were Akbar’s policies toward religion?

  • (A) Akbar favored strict Islamic practice and sometimes persecuted Catholics.
  • (B) Akbar focused almost exclusively on the relatively new religious teachings of the Sikhs.
  • (C) Akbar showed tolerance of and interest in a variety of religions.
  • (D) Akbar was not interested in religion, pursuing philosophy instead.

2. In the above passage, what is the author’s attitude toward Akbar’s behavior?

  • (A) He disapproves of Akbar’s lack of adherence to Islamic practice.
  • (B) He is impressed by Akbar’s curiosity and open-mindedness.
  • (C) He wants to participate in the religious discussions in Akbar’s court.
  • (D) He believes Islamic thought has too much influence over Akbar.

3. Which of the following had policies on religion that most resembled those of Akbar?

  • (A) Spain under Ferdinand and Isabella
  • (B) Qing dynasty
  • (C) Ottoman Empire under Mehmed II
  • (D) England under Edward I

Short-Answer Questions

1. Use the passage below to answer all parts of the question that follows.

“Nowadays, some 185 years after most of the Latin American nations obtained their independence, none of the Latin governments consider race to be an issue. All of these governments are firmly convinced that the racial caste system of colonial times has totally disappeared. This firmly held conviction is, however, not shared by academics and ordinary citizens who have noticed the distinct racial stratification of the Latin American societies. For these dissenters, the prevailing racial economic hierarchy and the easily uncovered attitudes that consider the dark-skinned unattractive and inferior clearly indicate that the racial caste system continues to operate.

Today’s racial caste system is, of course, not nearly as rigid as it was in colonial times. But the fact that it has survived 185 years of social, economic, and political advances implies that this system is deeply embedded in the Latin societies. Hence, it must have relevant social, economic, and political effects.”

Rutilio Martinez and Vish Iyer, Latin America’s Racial Caste System: Salient Marketing Implications (2008)

(A)(A) Explain the authors’ argument about in the passage about the racial caste system.
(B)(B) Explain ONE way in which the casta system changed European economies in the period c. 1450–c. 1750.
(C)(C) Explain ONE historical situation in the period 1450–1750, other than the one illustrated in the passage, in which imperial states adopted policies that limited the political power and influence of groups of people.

2. Answer all parts of the question that follows.

(A)(A) Explain ONE way in which social structures in c. 1450–c. 1750 in the Americas compares to the social structures in China during the Qing dynasty.
(B)(B) Explain ONE way in which challenges to an elite class affected political or economic structures in the period 1450–1750.
(C)(C) Explain ONE way in which policies of monarchs and leaders withstood challenges in the period 1450–1750.
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