Questions and Answers about: World History

Napoleon is said to have been one of the shortest generals in history. For years people believed that his height was just 1.58 meters (5 feet 2 inches). However, what most historians forgot was that Napoleon’s height had been measured in French units. When converted to Imperial units, this is 1.69 meters (5 feet 6.5 inches). His personal guards were part of an elite force of very tall soldiers. This also made him look smaller than he was.

Napoleon has inspired many leaders. He didn’t hesitate to take a tough decision, even if it meant destruction. He never accepted a treaty that gave him less than what he thought war could get him.

Nicholas Copernicus (1473–1543) is regarded as the father of the Scientific Revolution. He claimed that the Sun is at the center of the universe and that the Earth rotates on its axis once a day and revolves around the Sun each year. At the time, this claim shocked and upset people because they had always believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe and that the Sun went around the Earth.

The Industrial Revolution brought obvious advantages—health improved and more people were educated. However, it created huge slums and shanty towns where people with less money lived in unhygienic conditions. Some turned to crime. Roads and cities were built, wiping out forests and important environmental sites. Factories burning fuel spread pollution, the effects of which are still being felt.

The British needed educated people to work for their trading companies and help administer the colonies. So they taught the native people English and provided them with a Western style of education. This education, especially in the social sciences, exposed the residents of these countries to ideas of democracy and self-rule.

he British needed educated people to work for their trading companies and help administer the colonies. So they taught the native people English and provided them with a Western style of education. This education, especially in the social sciences, exposed the residents of these countries to ideas of democracy and self-rule.

John Cabot led the first British expedition to the west. Like Columbus, he wanted to find a shorter and safer route to the spice-producing countries of the East.

These rich Italians commissioned artists to paint their portraits

A During the Renaissance, Italians were able to travel further because of tools they had invented, like the astrolabe and the magnetic compass that helped sailors figure out where they were going. More travel meant more trade, which made the Italians richer.

People who had never seen books before could now learn to read and expand their horizons and their ambitions.