8th grade Social Studies practice sheet
Alabama Course of Study · from Gradelings · Name: ______________________
Question 1
Constantinople was well placed for trade because it sat between…
- North and South America
- Europe and Asia
- Africa and Australia
- two deserts
Europe and Asia
Hint: It controlled sea routes.
Question 2
Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen) made important discoveries in…
- farming
- mining
- optics, the science of light and vision
- chemistry of fire
optics, the science of light and vision
Hint: He used experiments to show that we see because light enters the eye.
Question 3
The Mongol Empire became the…
- first empire in the Americas
- largest connected land empire in history
- smallest empire in Asia
largest connected land empire in history
Hint: It stretched from Korea to Eastern Europe.
Question 4
Mansa Musa, ruler of Mali, is famous for his 1324 pilgrimage to…
- Beijing
- Rome
- Makkah
Makkah
Hint: He gave away so much gold that its price fell in Cairo.
Question 5
The Inca kept records using knotted strings called…
- glyphs
- quipu
- codices
quipu
Hint: Knots stood for numbers.
Question 6
Why did peasants give part of their crops and labor to the lord?
- Because the Church banned money
- Because there was no farming
- Because they owned the manor
- In return for land to farm and protection
In return for land to farm and protection
Hint: In the feudal system, each group owed something to the group above it.
Question 7
The First Crusade ended with crusaders capturing Jerusalem in…
- 1776
- 1453
- 1099
- 1492
1099
Hint: It was four years after the crusade was called.
Question 8
How did the printing press help the Reformation spread?
- Pamphlets and Bibles could be printed in large numbers.
- Presses were rare.
- Nobody could read.
- Books were banned.
Pamphlets and Bibles could be printed in large numbers.
Hint: Luther's ideas reached thousands of people quickly.
Question 9
Vasco da Gama was the first European to reach India by sailing around…
- Australia
- South America
- Asia
- Africa
Africa
Hint: He reached India in 1498.
Question 10
The Middle Passage was…
- a road through the Alps
- a route across the Sahara
- the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic
- a canal in China
the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic
Hint: Many died from crowding and disease on the ships.
Answer key
- 1. Europe and Asia (Rome's Fall & Byzantium)
- 2. optics, the science of light and vision (The Islamic World)
- 3. largest connected land empire in history (Empires of Asia)
- 4. Makkah (African Kingdoms & Empires)
- 5. quipu (Maya, Aztec & Inca)
- 6. In return for land to farm and protection (Medieval Europe)
- 7. 1099 (Crusades & the Black Death)
- 8. Pamphlets and Bibles could be printed in large numbers. (Renaissance & Reformation)
- 9. Africa (Exploration & Exchange)
- 10. the forced voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic (Encounter & the Atlantic World)
Want more than 10 questions?
In Gradelings the questions change every time and adjust to your child, with hints and kind feedback. See all social studies units.