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AP Modern World History Practice Quiz: Empires: Administration

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 10 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 10

According to the text, what was the primary reason rulers in land-based empires from 1450 to 1750 increasingly relied on bureaucratic elites and military professionals?

All Questions (10)

According to the text, what was the primary reason rulers in land-based empires from 1450 to 1750 increasingly relied on bureaucratic elites and military professionals?

A) To maintain centralized control over populations and resources.

B) To encourage democratic participation in government.

C) To reduce the overall cost of state administration.

D) To promote cultural exchange with neighboring empires.

Correct Answer: A

The text explicitly states that the recruitment of bureaucratic elites and military professionals was a method used by rulers "who wanted to maintain centralized control over their populations and resources."

The Ottoman practice of devshirme is cited as an example of which broader trend in state-building from 1450-1750?

A) The use of religious ideas to justify rule.

B) The collection of tribute to generate revenue.

C) The development of military professionals to centralize power.

D) The construction of monumental architecture to display wealth.

Correct Answer: C

The text lists the Ottoman devshirme system as a specific example of the "recruitment and use of... military professionals" as a method for rulers to "maintain centralized control."

Which of the following pairs correctly links a method of legitimizing rule with the empire that used it, according to the provided text?

A) Divine Right - Songhai Empire

B) Imperial Portraits - Mughal Empire

C) Human Sacrifice - Mexica Empire

D) Promotion of Islam - European Monarchies

Correct Answer: C

The text explicitly lists "Mexica human sacrifice," "European divine right," and "Songhai promotion of Islam" as examples of rulers using religious ideas to legitimize rule. Option C is a correct pairing from the text.

The construction of European palaces like Versailles and Mughal mausolea served a similar purpose of legitimization to which of the following?

A) The Ming practice of collecting taxes in hard currency.

B) The use of salaried samurai in Japan.

C) The creation of Qing imperial portraits.

D) The implementation of Ottoman tax farming.

Correct Answer: C

The text groups monumental architecture (Versailles, Mughal mausolea) and art (Qing imperial portraits) together as methods used by rulers "to legitimize their rule." The other options are either economic (A, D) or administrative/military (B) methods.

Which of the following economic systems mentioned in the text was used by the Mughal Empire to generate revenue for the state?

A) Collecting taxes in hard currency.

B) Zamindar tax collection.

C) Tribute lists.

D) Devshirme system.

Correct Answer: B

The text specifically cites "Mughal zamindar tax collection" as an example of an innovative tax-collection system used to generate revenue and forward state power.

What was the primary goal of rulers implementing systems like Ottoman tax farming and Mexica tribute lists?

A) To redistribute wealth equally among the population.

B) To generate revenue for state power and expansion.

C) To establish a class of professional bureaucrats.

D) To showcase artistic and cultural achievements.

Correct Answer: B

The text states that rulers used these various tax and tribute systems "to generate revenue in order to forward state power and expansion."

Rulers in the period 1450-1750 used all of the following methods to consolidate their power EXCEPT...

A) Employing bureaucratic elites to manage the state.

B) Using religious doctrines like the divine right of kings.

C) Establishing representative assemblies to grant political power to commoners.

D) Funding monumental architecture to display power and legitimize rule.

Correct Answer: C

The provided text focuses on methods of centralization and consolidation of power in the hands of the ruler (bureaucrats, military, religion, art, taxes). It does not mention the establishment of representative assemblies to share power with commoners, which would be contrary to the theme of centralized control.

The use of Qing imperial portraits and the Songhai promotion of Islam both demonstrate which of the following state-building strategies?

A) The development of military professionals for centralized control.

B) The use of art and religious ideas to legitimize rule.

C) The implementation of innovative tax-collection systems.

D) The recruitment of bureaucratic elites from conquered populations.

Correct Answer: B

The text explicitly categorizes "Qing imperial portraits" (art) and "Songhai promotion of Islam" (religious ideas) as methods rulers used "to legitimize their rule."

The Ottoman devshirme and the use of salaried samurai in Japan were both methods designed to achieve which of the following goals?

A) Generate revenue through tribute collection.

B) Legitimize the ruler's authority through religious displays.

C) Create a loyal and professional military or administrative class directly under the ruler's control.

D) Showcase the state's wealth through monumental building projects.

Correct Answer: C

The text groups "Ottoman devshirme" and "salaried samurai" as examples of the "recruitment and use of bureaucratic elites, as well as the development of military professionals" to maintain centralized control. This created a loyal class dependent on and controlled by the central ruler.

The various methods described in the text, such as the use of divine right, the devshirme system, and zamindar tax collection, all shared the common goal of...

A) Promoting trade with maritime empires.

B) Encouraging religious tolerance and diversity.

C) Legitimizing and consolidating the power of the ruler.

D) Decentralizing authority to local lords and merchants.

Correct Answer: C

The overarching theme, as stated in the first sentence of the content, is how "rulers used a variety of methods to legitimize and consolidate their power." All the specific examples provided fall under this main goal.