The Laws of History Exam (27037)

Questions and Answers

What is the impact of Roman political ideas on modern politics?

Roman political ideas have played a key role in shaping modern Italian nationalism and Italian fascism. (correct)

Roman political ideas have had a profound impact both on modern republican traditions and modern imperial traditions. (correct)

Roman political ideas have had no significant impact on modern politics.

Roman political ideas have influenced the structure and practices of religious institutions but have had no significant impact on secular politics. (correct)

The story of Dracula is a good illustration of which historical phenomenon?

That the level of human violence remains constant throughout history.

That vampires really existed in certain historical periods.

That nations tend to have a fixed national character that hardly changes much.

That historical personalities may be cast into roles that they themselves could hardly have imagined. (correct)

How many immigrants can a country absorb in a year without triggering a major political crisis?

About 10% of its total population.

For most of history, the answer was about 1%, but some countries have managed to absorb up to 10%.

There is no fixed answer; it depends on various factors. (correct)

About 1% of its total population.

Why is it very unlikely that the conspiracy theory that the pyramids were built by aliens is true?

If built by aliens, Egyptologists would have an incentive to reveal it for prestige. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes relations between rival cultures in history?

Rival cultures often influence one another and might occasionally merge. Signup and view all the answers

Prior to the British conquest and colonization of Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries, Australia was:

Inhabited by hunter-gatherers who belonged to many different and sometimes rival tribes. Signup and view all the answers

Historians who try to understand Brazilian history in the 20th century are MOST likely to study:

The main events of Brazilian history in the 19th century. Signup and view all the answers

Nationalism goes against many evolutionary tendencies, because:

It asks people to prefer the interests of foreigners over their own friends and family. Signup and view all the answers

What's wrong with the view of history as a chain of events?

Many events don't have any impact on subsequent events. Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of no redemption in history imply?

Moral behavior leads to defeat by immoral opponents. Signup and view all the answers

What is most true about the fall of the Roman Empire?

The year 476 holds no significant importance. Signup and view all the answers

If nations belong to the same civilization, it means that:

They are unlikely to fight each other. Signup and view all the answers

What lesson can be learned from the US invasion of Iraq about conspiracy theories?

History is complicated, affecting predictions and control. Signup and view all the answers

What is likely true about the history of Ruritania after being conquered by the Ruritanian people?

Ruritania will adopt ideas from Fenwick. Signup and view all the answers

What does the First World War teach us about the history of civilizations?

Nations of the same civilization may fight violently. Signup and view all the answers

According to Norman Cohn's The Pursuit of the Millennium, what are millenarian movements?

Movements believing in historical redemption. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about international violence after 1945?

Declined because of economic innovations. Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the life and influence of Jesus?

Historical sources about him appeared long after his death. Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes relations between Jews and Greeks during the Second Temple era?

They clashed but also adopted ideas from each other. Signup and view all the answers

What can be said about history from 10,000 years ago till today?

Global power shifted between East and West. Signup and view all the answers

What fact indicates the story of Jewish expulsion from the Roman Empire is inaccurate?

Empires allowed Jews to live in the Holy Land. Signup and view all the answers

When does the history of the United States begin?

There are several reasonable ideological perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

How does belief in historical redemption influence politics?

Promotes unrealistic political projects. Signup and view all the answers

Can historians' claims about Nazi Germany be seen as a conspiracy theory?

It's not a conspiracy theory since leaders did not conceal their power. Signup and view all the answers

What was the typical structure of archaic human societies?

Small bands with little contact. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between history and chemistry?

Chemistry has universally accepted facts. Signup and view all the answers

What does the law that 'there are no beginnings' imply?

Understanding an event requires prior context. Signup and view all the answers

How accurate is the comparison between nations and animal species?

It's not accurate; species don't merge the way nations do. Signup and view all the answers

Going back to the year 1023, how many ancestors did you probably have?

At least several thousand, probably millions. Signup and view all the answers

When writing about the history of Turkey, historians should:

Consider how their opening conveys ideological messages. Signup and view all the answers

Understanding the thoughts and feelings during the First World War is difficult due to:

Lack of knowledge about the war's outcome. Signup and view all the answers

When a country is divided into hostile tribes, which is the least likely outcome?

Maintaining a stable democratic system. Signup and view all the answers

How was the Roman Empire in 400 CE different from that in 1 CE?

All of the above. Signup and view all the answers

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

Perception of History:
- History is not linear; it resembles a tree with multiple roots and branches, highlighting the complexity of events and their interconnections.
Nature of Events:
- Historical events often stem from a multitude of causes, contrasting with simple cause-and-effect narratives.
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

Fall of the Roman Empire:
- Traditional view places 476 CE as the fall; however, significant events surrounding that date lacked impactful consequences.
Historiographic Debate:
- Historians contest the significance of specific dates, emphasizing gradual change rather than singular events.

Civilizations and Wars

Similarities Among Civilizations:
- Nations within the same civilization may have cultural similarities but can also engage in violent conflicts.
Lessons from Violence:
- Historical wars illustrate that nations from the same civilization can still engage in extreme violence against each other.
Millenarian Movements:
- Movements that seek fundamental change and hope for historical redemption often lead to significant social and political changes.

International Violence and Conflict

Trends Post-1945:
- The level of international violence seems relatively stable, shaped primarily by human biology rather than new conflicts.
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

Structure of Early Societies:
- Early human societies were typically small bands with limited contact outside their groups.
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.