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All questions of Changing Cultural Traditions for UPSC CSE Exam

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Petrarch was given the title of ‘Poet Laureate’ in Rome in
  • a)
    1341.
  • b)
    1342.
  • c)
    1343.
  • d)
    1344.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Pooja Choudhury answered
Petrarch was an Italian scholar, poet and humanist. A major force in the development of the Renaissance, he was famous for his poems addressed to Laura. He was crowned as a poet laureate in Rome.

The author of the book 'The Prince' is
  • a)
    Lorenzo Valla.
  • b)
    Gutenberg.
  • c)
    Machiavelli.
  • d)
    Alberti.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Saranya Gupta answered
The Prince: Author and Explanation

The correct answer is option 'C', Niccolò Machiavelli. He is the author of the book "The Prince." Now let's delve into the details and understand the background and significance of this work.

About Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian Renaissance political philosopher, historian, diplomat, and writer who lived from 1469 to 1527. He is considered one of the most influential political thinkers of his time. Machiavelli served as a diplomat in the Florentine Republic and witnessed the political upheavals and power struggles of the era.

Background of "The Prince"
"The Prince" is a political treatise written by Machiavelli in 1513. It is his most famous and influential work. The book was dedicated to Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici, who was the ruler of Florence at the time. Machiavelli wrote this treatise with the intention of gaining favor with the ruling Medici family, hoping to secure a political position.

Key Concepts in "The Prince"
"The Prince" explores Machiavelli's observations and theories on political power. It offers advice to rulers on how to acquire, maintain, and expand their power. Key concepts discussed in the book include:

1. Realpolitik: Machiavelli argues that politics should be based on practical considerations rather than moral or ethical ideals. He emphasizes the importance of effective governance and the preservation of the state, even if it requires the use of ruthless and cunning tactics.

2. Fortune and Virtù: Machiavelli discusses the role of fortune (external circumstances) and virtù (personal qualities) in political success. He suggests that a successful ruler must possess both luck and skill to navigate the complexities of power.

3. Morality and Politics: Machiavelli challenges the traditional notions of moral behavior in politics. He argues that a ruler should prioritize the stability and welfare of the state over personal ethics. This controversial stance sparked much debate and criticism.

Influence and Legacy
"The Prince" had a profound impact on political thought and continues to be studied and debated today. Machiavelli's ideas were considered radical and controversial during his time, as they challenged traditional notions of morality in politics. His work laid the foundation for the modern concept of political realism and had a significant influence on subsequent political thinkers.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Niccolò Machiavelli is the author of the book "The Prince." This treatise presents Machiavelli's ideas on political power, emphasizing the importance of effective governance and practical considerations over moral ideals. It remains a significant work in political philosophy and has shaped our understanding of politics and leadership.

Renaissance is best known for its
  • a)
    cultural developments.
  • b)
    social develoments.
  • c)
    political developments.
  • d)
    economic developments.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Anjali Khanna answered
Renaissance is a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th century to the 17th century. This movement began in Florence in the Late Middle Ages and later spread to the rest of the Europe. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheavals, it is best known for its artistic developments.

Write true or false against the following statements:
Andreas Vesalius wrote his-On Anatomy in 1575.
  • a)
    True
  • b)
    False
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
In 1543, at the young age of 29, Vesalius published his most important work, De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (Seven Books on the Fabric of the Human Body), generally known as the Fabrica. The Fabrica is the most famous anatomy book ever written and also the first book on human anatomy to be reasonably accurate.

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
In 1517, a young German Monk called Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement - called the Protestant Reformation - led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In Switzerland, Luther’s ideas were popularized by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509 – 64). Backed by merchants, the reformers had greater popular appeal in towns, while in rural area the Catholic Church managed to retain its influence. Other German reformers, like the Anabaptists, were even more radical: they blend it the idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression. They said that since God had created all people as equal, they were not expected to pay taxes and had the right to choose their priests. This appealed to peasants oppressed by feudalism.
Q. Who argued that a person did not need Priests to establish contact with God?
  • a)
    Andrea Vaseline
  • b)
    Thomas more
  • c)
    Martin Luther
  • d)
    Ulrich Zwingli
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Mehta answered
In 1517, a young German monk called Martin Luther (1483-1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement – called the Protestant Reformation – led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church.

Direction: For each part choose from the following:
Assertion (A): Many scholars were indebted toArab translators who had carefully preserved and translated ancient manuscripts.
Reason (R): Among the Christian writers who were regarded as men of wisdom in the Italian world were Ibn Sina.
  • a)
    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • b)
    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • c)
    A is true but R is false.
  • d)
    A is false but R is true.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
The monks and clergymen had familiar with the works of Greek and Roman scholars from the ‘Middle Ages’ but they did not popular those writings to other classes of people; they kept this knowledge as their exclusive intellectual treasure. By fourteen century, various scholars started to read the translation of Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle in Arabic; for this they were indebted not to their own scholars but to Arab translators who had carefully preserved and translated ancient manuscripts (Plato was Aflatun, and Aristotle Aristu in Arabic).

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
Formal education was not the only way through which humanist shaped the mind of their age. Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas.
Artists were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were sought with as much excitement as ancient text: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration for the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386-1456) broke new ground with his life-like statues.
Q. After studying the extract, what do you think what are the main factors which effectively transmit humanist ideas?
  • a)
    Art
  • b)
    Architecture
  • c)
    Books
  • d)
    All of these
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Mehta answered
Formal education was not the only way through which humanists shaped the minds of their age. Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas.

The earliest universities in the European continent were setup in the country of
  • a)
    France.
  • b)
    Germany.
  • c)
    Italy.
  • d)
    England.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Priyanka Choudhury answered
The universities of Padua and Bologna were the two earliest universities in Europe set up in Italian towns. The earliest subject to be taught in both universities was law. Later, there was a shift in emphasis, in the context of ancient Roman culture.

The families that gave more importance to women during the 15th century were those of
  • a)
    aristocrats.
  • b)
    artists.
  • c)
    merchants.
  • d)
    scholars.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Krish Chaudhary answered
The position of women in the families of merchants was somewhat different from that of aristocratic families. Shopkeepers were very often assisted by their wives in running their shops. In families of merchants and bankers, wives looked after the businesses when the male members were away on work.

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
Formal education was not the only way through which humanist shaped the mind of their age. Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas.
Artists were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were sought with as much excitement as ancient text: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration for the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386-1456) broke new ground with his life-like statues.
Q. Who was Donatello?
  • a)
    Italian sculptor
  • b)
    Philosopher
  • c)
    Humanist
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, better known as Donatello, was an Italian sculptor of the Renaissance.

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
Formal education was not the only way through which humanist shaped the mind of their age. Art, architecture and books were wonderfully effective in transmitting humanist ideas.
Artists were inspired by studying works of the past. The material remains of Roman culture were sought with as much excitement as ancient text: a thousand years after the fall of Rome, fragments of art were discovered in the ruins of ancient Rome and other deserted cities. Their admiration for the figures of perfectly proportioned men and women sculpted so many centuries ago, made Italian sculptors want to continue that tradition. In 1416, Donatello (1386-1456) broke new ground with his life-like statues.
Q. Which of the following was perfectly related to the thoughts of Humanism?
  • a)
    Free thinking
  • b)
    Reasoning
  • c)
    Selfishness
  • d)
    Both (a) and (b)
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Kavya Khanna answered
Understanding the Concept of Humanism
Humanism was a cultural and intellectual movement during the Renaissance that emphasized the value of human potential and achievements. It marked a shift from medieval scholasticism to a focus on classical antiquity, particularly the texts and art of Ancient Greece and Rome.
Key Attributes of Humanism
- Free Thinking:
- Humanism encouraged individuals to think independently and challenge existing doctrines. This free-thinking approach allowed for the exploration of new ideas and perspectives, promoting creativity and innovation in various fields, including art and literature.
- Reasoning:
- Humanists valued rational thought and empirical evidence. They believed in the power of human reason to understand the world, leading to advancements in science, philosophy, and ethics. This emphasis on reasoning helped shape modern education and inquiry.
Why Selfishness Is Not Related
- Selfishness:
- While humanism promotes individual potential, it is not synonymous with selfishness. Humanism advocates for the betterment of society through individual contributions, focusing on collective human experience rather than mere self-interest.
Conclusion
The correct answer, "Both (a) and (b)," highlights that humanism fosters free thinking and reasoning, which are integral to its philosophy. By embracing these values, humanists aimed to cultivate a more enlightened society, thus shaping the cultural landscape of their time.

The opening of trade between Europe and China started in the
  • a)
    9th century.
  • b)
    10th century.
  • c)
    11th century.
  • d)
    12th century.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Gayatri Mukherjee answered
From the 12th century, Mongols started trade relations with China, via the Silk Route, and trade with European countries also increased. Due to this increase in trade, the Mediterranean towns developed.

Direction: For each part choose from the following:
Assertion (A): Humanists thought that they were restoring ‘true civilization’ after centuries of darkness.
Reason (R): They believed that a ‘dark age’ had set in after the collapse of the Roman Empire.
  • a)
    Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
  • b)
    Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
  • c)
    A is true but R is false.
  • d)
    A is false but R is true.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Humanists thought that they were restoring ‘true civilisation’ after centuries of darkness, for they believed that a ‘dark age’ had set in after the collapse of the Roman Empire. Following them, later scholars unquestioningly assumed that a ‘new age’ had begun in Europe from the fourteenth century. The term ‘Middle Ages’/‘medieval period’ was used for the millennium (thousand years) after the fall of Rome. In the ‘Middle Ages’, they argued, the Church had had such complete control over men’s minds that all the learning of the Greeks and Romans had been blotted out. The humanists used the word ‘modern’ for the period from the fifteenth century.

In Arabic, the person who was known as 'Aflatun' was
  • a)
    Plato.
  • b)
    Aristotle.
  • c)
    Dante.
  • d)
    Ceasar.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Kaavya Dey answered
During 14th century, many scholars read translated ancient works of Greek writers, which had earlier been translated and preserved by Arab scholars. In Arab manuscripts, Plato was known as Aflatun and Aristotle as Aristu.

Gregorian calendar was introduced by Pope
  • a)
    Evaristus
  • b)
    Gregory XIII
  • c)
    Peter St
  • d)
    Pius I
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Megha Sharma answered
The Gregorian calendar is an international calendar, used throughout the world. It is a solar calendar based on arithmetical calculation.

Direction: Study the given picture from Changing Cultural Traditions carefully and answer ANY THREE questions from the below-mentioned questions with correct options:
Q. Copernicus asserted that the planets including earth revolve around Sun.
  • a)
    The statement is True
  • b)
    The statement is False
  • c)
    The statement is partially True
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Mehta answered
Copernicus was not the first to propose a model of the solar system in which the Earth and planets revolved around the sun, his model of a heliocentric universe was both novel and timely. For one, it came at a time when European astronomers were struggling to resolve the mathematical and observational problems that arose out of the then-accepted Ptolemaic model of the universe, a geocentric model proposed in the 2nd century CE.

Direction: Look at this picture and study the extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
The self-portrait is by Leonardo da Vinci (1450 -1519) who had an amazing range of interest from botany and anatomy to mathematics and art. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
One of his dreams was to be able to fly. He spent years observing birds in flight and designed a flying machine.
He signed his name Leonardo da Vinci disciple of experiment.
Q. What was the area of interest of Leonardo da Vinci?
  • a)
    He took interest in botany, anatomy, mathematics and art
  • b)
    He took interest in European paintings
  • c)
    He took interest in politics
  • d)
    He took interest in religious transformation
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Da Vinci's interests ranged far beyond fine art. He studied nature, mechanics, anatomy, physics, architecture, weaponry and more, often creating accurate, workable designs for machines like the bicycle, helicopter, submarine and military tank that would not come to fruition for centuries.

Direction: Look at this picture and study the extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
The self-portrait is by Leonardo da Vinci (1450 -1519) who had an amazing range of interest from botany and anatomy to mathematics and art. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
One of his dreams was to be able to fly. He spent years observing birds in flight and designed a flying machine.
He signed his name Leonardo da Vinci disciple of experiment.
Q. What do you know about Leonardo da Vinci?
  • a)
    He was a humanist.
  • b)
    He was an Italian Renaissance philosopher.
  • c)
    He was a scientist.
  • d)
    He was a famous painter of Italy.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
While Leonardo da Vinci is best known as an artist, his work as a scientist and an inventor make him a true Renaissance man. He serves as a role model applying the scientific method to every aspect of life, including art and music. Although he is best known for his dramatic and expressive artwork, Leonardo also conducted dozens of carefully thought out experiments and created futuristic inventions that were groundbreaking for the time.

Direction: Study the given picture from Changing Cultural Traditions carefully and answer ANY THREE questions from the below-mentioned questions with correct options:
Q. Copernicus was a devout Christian.
  • a)
    The statement is True
  • b)
    The statement is False
  • c)
    The statement is partially True
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Mehta answered
Copernicus was a devout man, anxious to serve both the world of natural philosophy and the church and hesitated to publish findings that contradicted the church. However, his theories eventually became public and they were accepted by many scientists of the day.

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
In 1517, a young German Monk called Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement - called the Protestant Reformation - led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In Switzerland, Luther’s ideas were popularized by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509 – 64). Backed by merchants, the reformers had greater popular appeal in towns, while in rural area the Catholic Church managed to retain its influence. Other German reformers, like the Anabaptists, were even more radical: they blend it the idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression. They said that since God had created all people as equal, they were not expected to pay taxes and had the right to choose their priests. This appealed to peasants oppressed by feudalism.
Q. According to the given information who was Martin Luther?
  • a)
    He was a great philosopher of Spain
  • b)
    He was a famous historian of Florence
  • c)
    He was the leader of protestant reformation movement
  • d)
    He was a professor in Padua university
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Kiran Mehta answered
Martin Luther, often called the father of Protestantism, fundamentally changed the Christian world through his force of will and new ideas.

Identify the following image and write their names:
  • a)
    Self-portrait by Robert Cornelius
  • b)
    Self-portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci
  • c)
    Self-portrait by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
This self portrait was painted in 1512 using red chalk, when Leonardo da Vinci was 50 and living in France. The original painting measures 33.3 x 21.3 cm (13 1/8 x 8 3/8 in). It is now held in the magnificent collection of the Biblioteca Reale, Turin.

Identify the following image and write their names:
  • a)
    Self-portrait by Leonardo Da Vinci
  • b)
    self-portrait by Robert Cornelius
  • c)
    Self-portrait by Copernicus
  • d)
    None of the above
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Nicolaus Copernicus was an astronomer who proposed a heliocentric system, that the planets orbit around the Sun; that Earth is a planet which, besides orbiting the Sun annually, also turns once daily on its own axis; and that very slow changes in the direction of this axis account for the precession of the equinoxes.

Identify the following image and write their names:
  • a)
    ‘The Pieta’ by Michelangelo depicts Mary holding the body of Jesus.
  • b)
    The Communion of the Apostles, by Luca Signorelli, 1512
  • c)
    Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard van Honthorst 
  • d)
    Jesus before Pilate before his death.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
The Pietà was a popular subject among northern european artists. It means Pity or Compassion, and represents Mary sorrowfully contemplating the dead body of her son which she holds on her lap. This sculpture was commissioned by a French Cardinal living in Rome.

Direction: Look at this picture and study the extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
The self-portrait is by Leonardo da Vinci (1450 -1519) who had an amazing range of interest from botany and anatomy to mathematics and art. He painted the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
One of his dreams was to be able to fly. He spent years observing birds in flight and designed a flying machine.
He signed his name Leonardo da Vinci disciple of experiment.
Q. Name the world-famous paintings made by Leonardo da Vinci?
  • a)
    Mona Lisa
  • b)
    The Last Supper
  • c)
    The Pieta
  • d)
    Both (a) and (b)
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa and The Last Supper occupy unique positions as the most famous, most reproduced, most parodied portrait and religious painting of all time.

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
In 1517, a young German Monk called Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement - called the Protestant Reformation - led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In Switzerland, Luther’s ideas were popularized by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509 – 64). Backed by merchants, the reformers had greater popular appeal in towns, while in rural area the Catholic Church managed to retain its influence. Other German reformers, like the Anabaptists, were even more radical: they blend it the idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression. They said that since God had created all people as equal, they were not expected to pay taxes and had the right to choose their priests. This appealed to peasants oppressed by feudalism.
Q. Which of the following is the correct statement?
  • a)
    No person needs a priest to establish contact with God
  • b)
    The followers to have complete faith in God
  • c)
    Both (a) and (b)
  • d)
    None of these
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Direction: Read the following extract carefully and answer ANY THREE of the following questions by choosing the correct option:
In 1517, a young German Monk called Martin Luther (1483 – 1546) launched a campaign against the Catholic Church and argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God. He asked his followers to have complete faith in God, for faith alone could guide them to the right life and entry into heaven. This movement - called the Protestant Reformation - led to the churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In Switzerland, Luther’s ideas were popularized by Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) and later by Jean Calvin (1509 – 64). Backed by merchants, the reformers had greater popular appeal in towns, while in rural area the Catholic Church managed to retain its influence. Other German reformers, like the Anabaptists, were even more radical: they blend it the idea of salvation with the end of all forms of social oppression. They said that since God had created all people as equal, they were not expected to pay taxes and had the right to choose their priests. This appealed to peasants oppressed by feudalism.
Name the person who was responsible for / behind the popular rise of Martin Luther’s ideas:
  • a)
    Andrea Vaseline
  • b)
    Thomas more
  • c)
    Jacob
  • d)
    Ulrich Zwingli
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Chapter doubts & questions for Changing Cultural Traditions - Lucent for GK 2025 is part of UPSC CSE exam preparation. The chapters have been prepared according to the UPSC CSE exam syllabus. The Chapter doubts & questions, notes, tests & MCQs are made for UPSC CSE 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests here.

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