The Rise and Fall of Classical Empires

Which of the following was a cause of the collapse of the Han Empire?

• power struggles among government factions

• not enough spending on military defense

• the closing of the Silk Road

• overpopulation due to lack of disease

Who ruled northern India in the same period as the Han and Roman empires?

• the Byzantines

• the Gupta

• the caliphs

• the khans

How did the Roman emperor Diocletian solve the problem of governing an enormous empire?

• He formed an alliance with the Christian Church.

• He allowed each area to manage its own affairs.

• He split it into eastern and western halves.

• He created a complex bureaucracy.

What physical barrier shielded India from foreign invasion from the north?

• high mountain range

• a vast sandy desert

• the Ganges River

• dense jungle

As other empires were collapsing, the Sassanian Empire survived in

• northwestern Africa.

• southern India.

• Mongolia.

• Persia

Which feature of Russian culture resulted from contacts with the Byzantine Empire?

• musical folk instruments

• Orthodox Christianity

• Slavic language

• classical ballet

All of these peoples lived in Mesoamerica EXCEPT the

• Olmecs.

• Inca

• Maya.

• Aztecs.

Spiritual and political leaders of the Muslims were called

• scholars.

• caliphs.

• traders.

• khans.

A particular advantage of the Muslim Empire in warfare was its use of

• chariots.

• archers.

• camels.

• horses.

The Sunni and Shi’a branches of Islam originally split over

• whether the capital should move to Baghdad.

• whether Muhammad was human or a god.

• which ruler's authority they respected.

• which translation of the Qur'an to use.