Europe in the 1600's

Multiple choice questions. Choose the best answer.

1. The downfall of Spain in the 17th century can be blamed on
   
   

   a) weak and ineffective monarchs.
   b) an over expansion of industry and trade.
   c) the growth of slave labour in the Americas.
   d) the rise of a large middle class.




2. After the United Provinces of the Netherlands won independence from Spain, their government could best be described as
   
   

   a) a strong monarchy.
   b) a centralized parliamentary system.
   c) a weak union of strong provinces.
   d) a democracy.




3. The Dutch economy was based on
   
   

   a) fishing, world trade and banking.
   b) gold and silver mines in South America.
   c) the export of textiles.
   d) a moral and religious disdain of wealth.




4. The commercial and financial capital of Europe in the 17th century was
   
   

   a) Rome.
   b) Amsterdam.
   c) Paris.
   d) London.




5. The word "republic" refers to a
   
   

   a) dictatorship.
   b) democracy.
   c) constitutional monarchy.
   d) government with no monarchy.




6. In the 17th century, the country most centered on middle-class interests was
   
   

   a) England.
   b) Spain.
   c) France.
   d) the Netherlands.




7. Which of the following is a characteristic of an absolute state?
   
   

   a) Sovereignty embodied in a representative assembly
   b) Bureaucracies solely accountable to the middle classes
   c) A strong voice expressed by the nobility
   d) Permanent standing armies




8. The dominant artistic and architectural style of the 17th century was
   
   

   a) Gothic.
   b) romantic.
   c) baroque.
   d) impressionistic.




9. All of the following reflected the power and magnificence of royal absolutism EXCEPT
   
   

   a) soaring Gothic cathedrals.
   b) baroque palaces.
   c) royal cities.
   d) broad urban avenues.




10. Absolute monarchs secured mastery over the nobility by all of the following EXCEPT
    
    

    a) the creation of a standing army.
    b) the creation of a state bureaucracy.
    c) coercive actions.
    d) regulating religious groups.




11. French Protestants tended to be
    
    

    a) poor peasants.
    b) the power behind the throne of Louis XIV.
    c) a financial burden for France.
    d) clever business people.




12. Cardinal Richelieu consolidated the power of the French monarchy by doing all of the following EXCEPT
    
    

    a) destroying the castles of the nobility.
    b) keeping nobles from gaining high government offices.
    c) eliminating the intendant system of local government.
    d) ruthlessly treating conspirators who threatened the monarchy.




13. Cardinal Richelieu's most notable accomplishment was
    
    

    a) the creation of a strong financial system for France.
    b) the creation of a highly efficient administrative system.
    c) winning the total support of the Hugenots.
    d) allying the Catholic church with the government.




14. One way in which Louis XIV controlled the French nobility was by
    
    

    a) maintaining standing armies in the countryside to crush noble uprisings.
    b) periodically visiting the nobility to check on their activities.
    c) forcing nobles to participate in a parliamentary assembly.
    d) requiring the presence of major noble families at Versailles for at least part of the year.




15. The French army under Louis XIV
    
    

    a) had no standardized uniforms and weapons.
    b) lived off the countryside.
    c) had an ambulance corps to care for the troops.
    d) had no system of recruitment, training or promotion.




16. Thomas Hobbes proposed that
    
    

    a) the king should rule over the people.
    b) the people should ignore the king.
    c) basic human rights were protected by "natural" laws.
    d) people were basically good and should share power.




17. John Locke stated that people had basic rights which were
    
    

    a) protected by the king.
    b) protected by Parliament.
    c) "natural".
    d) privileges.




18. Who proposed that the purpose of government was to protect life, liberty and property?
    
    

    a) Thomas Hobbes
    b) William of Orange
    c) John Locke
    d) Edmund Burke




19. Mercantilism
    
    

    a) was a military system.
    b) favoured a balance of trade.
    c) was adopted in England but not in France.
    d) claimed that state power was based on land armies.




20. 
    
    

    a)
    b)
    c)
    d)

Answer key	1. a	9. a	17. c	25. _	33. _	41. _
	2. c	10. _	18. c	26. _	34. _	42. _
	3. a	11. d	19. b	27. _	35. _	43. _
	4. b	12. _	20. _	28. _	36. _	44. _
	5. d	13. _	21. _	29. _	37. _	45. _
	6. d	14. d	22. _	30. _	38. _	46. _
	7. _	15. _	23. _	31. _	39. _	47. _
	8. c	16. a	24. _	32. _	40. _	48. _

Compiling such a data bank is an ongoing process. Comments and contributions are appreciated by those persons who use this resource.

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