Introduction to Western Civilization homework is usually pretty cut & dry, but sometimes these multiple choice questions seem a little bit iffy.

Edit: Scroll down for the question, please.

It's multiple choice- Do what I do and guess

Are they in a state of crisis or not? Figure that out, and you have the answer.

B.

The paragraph speaks of the emergence of the Arabian peninsula as a major trade power (cities, caravans), so it's becoming more "commercially sophisticated." "State of crisis" wouldn't have such drastic growth.

These wars were on going at the time, and in some ways still going on today. I would not describe that as a crisis, like a full on invasion would be. However, what rose from the war conditions was a more sophisticated trading system. If the war resulted in no trade, then the crisis answer might be appropriate, but the question did not describe that.

The other way to look at this is only the first sentence mentions the war, as a condition. The rest of the question is about the new trading system.

So, the answer is B

Thanks for the input everyone. It was confusing to me because it never said that the routes actually expanded.

Edit: I'll let you all know when I get it wrong.

B

I'd go with B, too.

Also, anyone know of some cool websites where I can find scholarly reviews on books written about ancient history (Roman Republic era)?

Multiple choice answers often infer things that aren't stated in the question. As long as the rest of the answer is true, then that's probably the choice you want.

This also works the other way, if a part of the answer is false, then you can most likely eliminate that entire answer.

Either I've been doing homework for far too long, or this question is completely nonsensical and/or my professor is trolling me hard. Either way, wtf?

At Canossa in the winter of 1077:
a: King Henry IV humiliated himself before Pope Gregory VII
b: There begins the first historic battle between the concept-Church v. State
c: Both A and B
d: A only

Edit: Okay, the answer is B, but come on... Really, d, really?

D=A... lolwut

I guess it's a freebie?

I swear if I ever teach I'm going to troll the students beyond reproach.

Here is a good example to use on an oral quiz:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24FS-I67EPY

lol

B. The wars are not mentioned in connection with threats to Arabia. The only mention of Arabs are to describe how the situation advanced their economy. So, B best fits the question.

B is the best answer though I think that's obvious at this point. As for the second question? Yeah some professors do eff with people and want to see if they can think outside the box for once. Either two answers are right or two are wrong so if two can be right or wrong because they are the same answer that means they are both most likely incorrect and your teacher was trolling you and your classmates with a freebie. So basically a and d are both answers you can remove from the equation.

Last question guys, this one is ridiculous and I could seriously use some input on it:

Here is the pertaining material from the Power Point:

Five important steps to ensure Charlemagne's authority:
1. Aristocracy dependent upon king... basis for army and leaders. Limits local autonomy.
2. Created a Carolingian 'civil service'.
3. Issued capitularies; established the Missi Dominici
4. Established common currency based on Muslim coinage to encourage trade and economic uniformity.
5. Professionalized the Army--made it a standing army; conquered new lands and made army garrison to defend lands

Of the following, which is part of Charlemagne's five steps to ensure his authority?
a: Expanded local autonomy
b: Issued capitularies
c: Limited the abuses of the Missi Dominici
d: Established a standing army

Clearly between B and D.

Im prettty sure it was Charles Martel (Charlemagnes grandfather) that reformed the army into a standing army, so I would go with B.

Thanks for the input. Does anyone have a second opinion on this?

Why did you edit your posts? It's a bit strange to see answers to a no longer existing question.
And I'm sorry I could make a long post about history, but It's too stressful to do it in english.

Edit: Carl the great did own an elephant.

lol what?

Sorry about the edited question. But what is this about carl the great owning an elephant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abul-Abbas

A gift by the caliph of Baghdad to offer friendship (friendship is indeed magical).

I could just Google it, but I believe that the correct answer is A in the second question.