Questions and Answers
What is the impact of Roman political ideas on modern politics?
The story of Dracula is a good illustration of which historical phenomenon?
How many immigrants can a country absorb in a year without triggering a major political crisis?
Why is it very unlikely that the conspiracy theory that the pyramids were built by aliens is true?
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What characterizes relations between rival cultures in history?
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Prior to the British conquest and colonization of Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries, Australia was:
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Historians who try to understand Brazilian history in the 20th century are MOST likely to study:
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Nationalism goes against many evolutionary tendencies, because:
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What's wrong with the view of history as a chain of events?
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What does the law of no redemption in history imply?
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What is most true about the fall of the Roman Empire?
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If nations belong to the same civilization, it means that:
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What lesson can be learned from the US invasion of Iraq about conspiracy theories?
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What is likely true about the history of Ruritania after being conquered by the Ruritanian people?
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What does the First World War teach us about the history of civilizations?
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According to Norman Cohn's The Pursuit of the Millennium, what are millenarian movements?
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What is true about international violence after 1945?
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What is true about the life and influence of Jesus?
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Which best describes relations between Jews and Greeks during the Second Temple era?
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What can be said about history from 10,000 years ago till today?
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What fact indicates the story of Jewish expulsion from the Roman Empire is inaccurate?
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When does the history of the United States begin?
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How does belief in historical redemption influence politics?
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Can historians' claims about Nazi Germany be seen as a conspiracy theory?
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What was the typical structure of archaic human societies?
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What is a key difference between history and chemistry?
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What does the law that 'there are no beginnings' imply?
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How accurate is the comparison between nations and animal species?
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Going back to the year 1023, how many ancestors did you probably have?
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When writing about the history of Turkey, historians should:
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Understanding the thoughts and feelings during the First World War is difficult due to:
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When a country is divided into hostile tribes, which is the least likely outcome?
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How was the Roman Empire in 400 CE different from that in 1 CE?
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Study Notes
Exam Details
- Course: The Laws of History
- Instructor: Prof. Yuval Noah Harari
- Exam Date: 16 July 2022
- Start Time: 9:00 am
- Duration: 3 hours
- Format: 33 multiple-choice questions; students must answer 30.
- Scoring: Each question is worth 3.33 points; final scores rounded up.
- Instructions: Clearly mark answers, prioritize the most accurate.
Key Concepts in History
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Perception of History:
- History is not linear; it resembles a tree with multiple roots and branches, highlighting the complexity of events and their interconnections.
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Nature of Events:
- Historical events often stem from a multitude of causes, contrasting with simple cause-and-effect narratives.
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Redemption in History:
- No guarantee of redemption; moral behavior does not ensure victory over immoral actions.
- Promises of creating a perfect society often go unfulfilled.
The Roman Empire
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Fall of the Roman Empire:
- Traditional view places 476 CE as the fall; however, significant events surrounding that date lacked impactful consequences.
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Historiographic Debate:
- Historians contest the significance of specific dates, emphasizing gradual change rather than singular events.
Civilizations and Wars
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Similarities Among Civilizations:
- Nations within the same civilization may have cultural similarities but can also engage in violent conflicts.
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Lessons from Violence:
- Historical wars illustrate that nations from the same civilization can still engage in extreme violence against each other.
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Millenarian Movements:
- Movements that seek fundamental change and hope for historical redemption often lead to significant social and political changes.
International Violence and Conflict
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Trends Post-1945:
- The level of international violence seems relatively stable, shaped primarily by human biology rather than new conflicts.
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Historical Perspectives on Wars:
- Understanding sentiments of past conflicts like WWI requires considering the lack of knowledge about outcomes at the time.
Jewish and Greek Relations
- Interactions during the Second Temple Era:
- Jews and Greeks underwent significant cultural exchanges despite conflicts.
U.S. History and Perspectives
- Start of U.S. History:
- Various perspectives offer different starting points for U.S. history, each reflecting ideological stances.
Human Societies and Political Ideas
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Structure of Early Societies:
- Early human societies were typically small bands with limited contact outside their groups.
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Impact of Roman Ideas:
- Roman political concepts have profoundly influenced modern republicanism and imperialism, evident in terminology.
Immigration Patterns
- Historical Absorption Rates:
- Countries historically could absorb about 1% of their population in immigration before crises arose; recent trends show variation.
Conspiracy Theories
- Scientific Skepticism:
- Conspiracy theories about aliens building the pyramids lack credible evidence, as scientists generally seek to uncover the truth rather than hide it.### Alien Theories and Egyptian Pyramids
- Claims of alien construction of the pyramids would likely attract Egyptologists' attention for prestige and funding.
- Current evidence is insufficient to definitively determine whether humans or extraterrestrial intelligence built the pyramids.
- The existence of intelligent life beyond Earth is considered scientifically impossible.
Rival Cultures
- Rival cultures often engage in conflict, but this does not preclude influences and potential merging.
- When fighting, rival cultures adapt and borrow from each other, leading to cultural blending.
- Some rival cultures aim to limit contact with one another.
- Many rival cultures originate from a shared, more ancient culture that has divided over time.
Pre-Colonial Australia
- Prior to British colonization, Australia was inhabited by diverse hunter-gatherer tribes, not unified under a single entity.
- These tribes were often different and sometimes in conflict with one another.
- Australia was not home to farming societies organized into kingdoms.
Brazilian History Research Focus
- Historians of 20th-century Brazil are primarily concerned with significant historical events of the 19th century.
- Studies typically do not cover unrelated subjects, such as planetary positions, evolution of species, or geological changes older than human history.
Nationalism and Evolutionary Tendencies
- Nationalism challenges evolutionary principles by pushing individuals to prioritize national interests over personal relationships.
- It emphasizes favoritism towards strangers and distant compatriots at the expense of local connections and familial ties.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the course 'The Laws of History' taught by Prof. Yuval Noah Harari. This exam consists of 33 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer a minimum of 30. Each question carries a specific point value, so strategy in answering is key.