Quiz on Russian History

What geographic feature significantly challenged Russia’s expansion and defense efforts?

• The Himalayas

• The Mediterranean Sea

• The steppe to the south

• The Alps

What was Peter the Great’s primary motivation for traveling incognito across Europe?

• To find military allies against the Swedes

• To recruit scientists for Russian universities

• To learn Western skills and technologies for modernization

• To secure trade agreements

The Cossacks, who helped Russia expand eastward, were a combination of:

• Merchants and artisans

• Priests and scholars

• Farmers and traders

• Warriors, explorers, and settlers

Which Russian ruler is most associated with collecting human abnormalities to dispel superstitions?

• Peter the Great

• Catherine the Great

• Ivan the Terrible

• Ivan the Great

Who was the ruler known for expanding Russian territory and modernizing the nation?

• Ivan the Great

• Peter the Great

• Catherine the Great

• Feodor the Weak

Why did Catherine the Great change her stance on Enlightenment ideas late in her reign?

• She fully converted to Christianity

• She saw the dangers of Enlightenment ideas through the French Revolution

• She realized the ideas were ineffective for Russia’s economy

• She wanted to build stronger alliances with Western monarchs

What was the main consequence of the Pugachev Rebellion under Catherine the Great?

• Greater freedoms for serfs

• Stricter policies and suppression of dissent

• Removal of nobility privileges

• An increase in local governance

Which city did Peter the Great establish as Russia’s new capital to gain access to warm-water ports?

• Moscow

• Arkhangelsk

• Kiev

• St. Petersburg

Peter the Great’s approach to Westernization had a significant impact on Russian society. Which of the following was a major reform he implemented?

• Modernization of the Russian army

• Introduction of the Cyrillic alphabet

• Establishment of the Russian Orthodox Church

• Abolition of serfdom

The role of serfdom in maintaining Russia’s economy and social structure under the Romanov dynasty was primarily:

• To provide a stable labor force for agricultural production

• To promote industrialization and urbanization

• To encourage foreign trade and investment

• To support the development of a democratic society