Unit notes and practice questions
Everything here is for unit 4 of the Grade 11 History textbook: what the chapter covers, the short notes, practice questions with their answers, and the lesson video where one exists.
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A short video lesson on this chapter, made by Temari. It loads only when you press play.
The Renaissance and the people behind it · 4 min · 2 past exam questions worked through
Tap a part to play the lesson from there.
The cards filed under this chapter on the Grade 11 History page. Open one at a time.
When you use it
Reach for this when a question asks which crusade attacked Christians, or about the sack of Constantinople in 1204.
Watch out
The fourth crusade (1202-1204) fought other Christians, not Muslims. The crusaders helped Venetian merchants defeat their Byzantine rivals in 1204, then captured and looted Constantinople. Do not describe it as a holy war against Muslims.
Drafted from Grade 11 History, pages 74-118, then checked twice before it went up
When you use it
Reach for this when a question asks why Islam divided, or how Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims differ on leadership.
Watch out
Sunnis call the successor a caliph, who had no divine or prophetic functions. Shi'ites prefer the terms Imamate and Imam, and hold that the Imam is infallible. Do not swap the terms: Imam is the Shi'ite leader and caliph the Sunni one.
Drafted from Grade 11 History, pages 74-118, then checked twice before it went up
10 multiple-choice questions written against this chapter, each with its answer and the reason. Try one before you open the answer.
Question 1
What was the Justinian Code?
Answer: C A collection of ancient Roman laws organized by the Byzantines
Why
The text says the Byzantines organized many laws of the ancient Romans. This collection was called the Justinian Code. It has been the basis of the legal systems of many countries since then.
Question 2
In what year did Charles Martel defeat the Arab armies from Spain at the Battle of Tours?
Answer: B 732 A.D
Why
The text says Charles Martel defeated Arabs from Spain at the Battle of Tours in 732 A.D. Because of this, Muslim Arab armies could not advance further into Western Europe.
Question 3
In what year did the Ottoman Turks conquer Constantinople?
Answer: A 1453
Why
The text says the Byzantine Empire finally collapsed in 1453, when the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople. The last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI, died while defending the city.
Question 4
According to the Chinese idea of the Mandate of Heaven, what was a sign that a dynasty had lost the mandate?
Answer: B Natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes
Why
The text says that natural disasters were the symptoms of the loss of the Mandate of Heaven. A new ruler who unites China gains the mandate. Peace and lower taxes are signs of a good government, not of losing the mandate.
Question 5
According to the text, which group built large fleets that transported the crusaders?
Answer: D Venetian and northern Italian merchants
Why
The text says merchants from Venice and other northern Italian cities built large fleets and transported the crusaders. Later, they used these fleets to trade goods such as sugar, cotton and rice with the Middle East.
Question 6
The Muslim era starts from the Hijira. In which year did the Hijira happen, making it year one of the Islamic calendar?
Answer: D 622 A.D
Why
The text says that in 622 A.D, Muhammed and his followers retreated to Yatrib (later Medina). This event is the Hijira, and 622 became year one in the Islamic calendar.
Question 7
Where were the Ottoman Janissaries recruited from?
Answer: B Christian children from the Balkans, paid as tribute by Christian families
Why
The text says the Janissaries were recruited from the regular tribute of Christian children paid by Christian families in the Balkans. These children were brought up as Muslims and trained as highly skilled soldiers at the palace school.
Question 8
Which factor did the historian Ibn Khaldun emphasize as a cause of historical events?
Answer: A Economic and social factors
Why
The text says Ibn Khaldun (1332-1406) set the rules for the scientific study of history. He emphasized economic and social factors as causes of historical events.
Question 9
The text gives several reasons why the Tang Dynasty gradually weakened. Which of these was NOT given as a reason?
Answer: D The extension of the civil service system
Why
The text lists rebellions, loss of territories in central Asia to the Arabs, corruption, drought and famine as causes of Tang weakening. The Tang did the opposite of this with the civil service. The text says the Tang extended the civil service system, so it was a strength, not a cause of weakening.
Question 10
The text says Ottoman timars were much like medieval European fiefs. In what main way were they similar?
Answer: C They became hereditary
Why
The text says that Ottoman timars became hereditary and were much like medieval European fiefs. This is why the text describes a military feudalism in the Ottoman Empire that was quite similar to Medieval Western Europe.
The app holds 21 questions on this unit, marked as you go. These are the first 10.
Unit 4 runs from page 74 to page 118 of the Ministry of Education edition.
Ministry of Education edition, English, 270 pages
Temari turns this chapter into timed practice and marks it as you go, with an AI tutor to explain anything that did not land.
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