© 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. The nobility constituted about: 1.eight to ten percent of the population 2.one to five percent of the population 3.twenty

© 2006 Pearson Education, Inc.

The nobility constituted about:

• eight to ten percent of the population• one to five percent of the population• twenty to twenty-five percent of the population• one-third of the population

15.01 Q


The nobility constituted about:

• eight to ten percent of the population• one to five percent of the population• twenty to twenty-five percent of the population• one-third of the population

15.01 A


EXPLANATION:The nobility constituted about:

2. one to five percent of the population

The eighteenth century was the great age of the aristocracy. The nobility constituted approximately one to five percent of the population of any given country. Yet in every country, it was the single wealthiest sector of the population, had the widest degree of social, political, and economic power, and set the tone of polite society.

15.01 E


The smallest, wealthiest, and best-defined aristocracy resided in:

• Germany• Great Britain• France• Russia

15.02 Q


The smallest, wealthiest, and best-defined aristocracy resided in:

• Germany• Great Britain• France• Russia

15.02 A


EXPLANATION:The smallest, wealthiest, and best-defined aristocracy resided in:

2. Great Britain

The smallest, wealthiest, best defined, and most socially responsible aristocracy resided in Great Britain. It consisted of about four hundred families, and the eldest male members of each family sat in the House of Lords.

15.02 E


French nobles were divided between those “of the robe” and those:

• “of the sword”• “of the crown”• “of the land”• “of the blood

15.03 Q


French nobles were divided between those “of the robe” and those:

• “of the sword”• “of the crown”• “of the land”• “of the blood

15.03 A


EXPLANATION:French nobles were divided between those “of the robe” and those:

a. “of the sword”

In France, the approximately 400,000 nobles were divided between nobles “of the sword,” or those whose nobility was derived from military service, and those “of the robe,” who had acquired their titles either by serving in the bureaucracy or by having purchased them.

15.03 E


In many ways, the Russian nobility was created in the:

• eighteenth century• tenth century• fifteenth century• fourteenth century

15.04 Q


In many ways, the Russian nobility was created in the:

• eighteenth century• tenth century• fifteenth century• fourteenth century

15.04 A


EXPLANATION:In many ways, the Russian nobility was created in the:

1. eighteenth century

In Russia, the eighteenth century saw what amounted to the creation of the nobility. Peter the Great’s (r. 1682–1725) linking of state service and noble social status through the Table of Ranks (1722) established among Russian nobles a self-conscious class identity that had not previously existed.

15.04 E


The economic basis of eighteenth-century life was:

• regional trade• international trade• the land• manufacturing

15.05 Q


The economic basis of eighteenth-century life was:

• regional trade• international trade• the land• manufacturing

15.05 A


EXPLANATION:The economic basis of eighteenth-century life was:

3. the land

Land was the economic basis of eighteenth-century life and the foundation of the status and power of the nobility. Well over three-fourths of all Europeans lived in the country, and few of them ever traveled more than a few miles from their birthplace.

15.05 E


In eastern Europe:

• few people married before the age of thirty• men usually married before the age of twenty• women usually married before the age of fifteen• both men and women usually married before the

age of twenty

15.06 Q


In eastern Europe:

• few people married before the age of thirty• men usually married before the age of twenty• women usually married before the age of fifteen• both men and women usually married before the

age of twenty

15.06 A


EXPLANATION:In eastern Europe:

• both men and women usually married before the age of twenty

As one moved eastward across Europe, the structure of the household and the pattern of marriage changed. In eastern Europe, both men and women usually married before the age of twenty.

15.06 E


Over the course of the eighteenth century, bread prices:

• slowly fell• skyrocketed• slowly rose• sharply fell

15.07 Q


Over the course of the eighteenth century, bread prices:

• slowly fell• skyrocketed• slowly rose• sharply fell

15.07 A


EXPLANATION:Over the course of the eighteenth century, bread prices:

3. slowly rose

Historians now believe that during the eighteenth century bread prices slowly but steadily rose, spurred largely by population growth. Since bread was their main food, this inflation put pressure on the poor.

15.07 E


Which of the following countries saw the most improvement in agricultural methods in the eighteenth century?

• the Netherlands• Poland• Russia• Prussia

15.08 Q


Which of the following countries saw the most improvement in agricultural methods in the eighteenth century?

• the Netherlands• Poland• Russia• Prussia

15.08 A


EXPLANATION:Which of the following countries saw the most improvement in agricultural methods in the eighteenth century?

1. the Netherlands

The drive to improve agricultural production began during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in the Low Countries, where the pressures of the growing population and the shortage of land required changes in cultivation. Dutch landlords and farmers devised better ways to build dikes and to drain land, so they could farm more land. They also experimented with new crops, such as clover and turnips, that would increase the supply of animal fodder and restore the soil.

15.08 E


In 1700, Europe’s population was between:

• 50 and 60 million• 100 and 120 million• 300 and 340 million• 400 and 430 million

15.09 Q


In 1700, Europe’s population was between:

• 50 and 60 million• 100 and 120 million• 300 and 340 million• 400 and 430 million

15.09 A


EXPLANATION:In 1700, Europe’s population was between:

2. 100 and 120 million

In 1700, Europe’s population, excluding the European provinces of the Ottoman Empire, was probably between 100 million and 120 million people. By 1800, the figures had risen to almost 190 million and by 1850, to 260 million.

15.09 E


Over the course of the eighteenth century, disposable income:

• rose in England, but fell on the Continent• fell throughout Europe• rose only in central Europe• rose throughout Europe

15.10 Q


Over the course of the eighteenth century, disposable income:

• rose in England, but fell on the Continent• fell throughout Europe• rose only in central Europe• rose throughout Europe

15.10 A


EXPLANATION:Over the course of the eighteenth century, disposable income:

4. rose throughout Europe

For reasons that are still not clear, during the eighteenth century, first the English and then the people on the Continent came to have more disposable income. This wealth may have resulted from the improvements in agriculture. Those incomes allowed people to buy consumer goods that previous generations had inherited or did not possess.

15.10 E


The Industrial Revolution came first to:

• France• Great Britain• Prussia• the Netherlands

15.11 Q


The Industrial Revolution came first to:

• France• Great Britain• Prussia• the Netherlands

15.11 A


EXPLANATION:The Industrial Revolution came first to:

b. Great Britain

Great Britain was the home of the Industrial Revolution and, until the middle of the nineteenth century, remained the industrial leader of Europe.

15.11 E


Between 1600 and 1750, the cities that grew most rapidly were:

• university towns• market towns• capitals and ports• All of the above

15.12 Q


Between 1600 and 1750, the cities that grew most rapidly were:

• university towns• market towns• capitals and ports• All of the above

15.12 A


EXPLANATION:Between 1600 and 1750, the cities that grew most rapidly were:

3. capitals and ports

In particular, between 1600 and 1750, the cities that grew most vigorously were capitals and ports. This situation reflects the success of monarchical state building during those years and the consequent burgeoning of bureaucracies, armies, courts, and other groups who lived in the capitals.

15.12 E


Most European Jews lived in:

• eastern Europe• central Europe• northern Europe• southern Europe

15.13 Q


Most European Jews lived in:

• eastern Europe• central Europe• northern Europe• southern Europe

15.13 A


EXPLANATION:Most European Jews lived in:

1. eastern Europe

Although the small Jewish communities of Amsterdam and other Western European cities became famous for their intellectual life and financial institutions, most European Jews lived in Eastern Europe.

15.13 E

Documents

© 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. The nobility constituted about: 1.eight to ten percent of the population 2.one to five percent of the population 3.twenty