AP European History Practice Test (2026)

Which of the following best describes a central characteristic of Italian Renaissance humanism?

A primary goal of the 'New Monarchs' of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries, such as Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain or Henry VII of England, was to:

Which of the following best distinguishes the Northern Renaissance from the Italian Renaissance?

“The introduction of new foods from the Americas, such as potatoes and maize, had a profound and lasting impact on European agriculture and demographics. These crops, often more calorie-dense and able to grow in diverse climates, contributed to significant population growth and helped mitigate food shortages in various parts of Europe.”

The excerpt above best describes which of the following processes associated with European expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries?

"A ruler who wishes to preserve his state must learn how to depart from what is right, when the necessity of retaining his power demands it. The prudent prince does not keep faith when doing so is contrary to his interest, nor does he hesitate to make use of cruelty when it is necessary for the security of his rule — though he must take care that a reputation for cruelty does not cost him the goodwill of his subjects. It is far safer for a ruler to be feared than to be loved, when one cannot be both, for the love of subjects is a bond of obligation which men will break the moment it serves their own advantage, whereas fear is sustained by the dread of punishment, which never fails."

The argument advanced in the passage above represented a significant shift in European political theory by claiming that:

Which of the following was a key characteristic of Renaissance art in Italy?

A major motivation for European overseas exploration and expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries was the desire to:

“A woman must be careful not to give her husband any cause for offense, but rather to serve and obey him in all things. She must keep his house in order, bring up the children well, and be modest and chaste in her behavior, for her honor and that of her family depend upon it. Let her remember that her greatest glory is to be a good wife and mother, and to manage her household with diligence and discretion.”

The excerpt above best reflects which of the following aspects of European society during the Renaissance period?

The 'Price Revolution' in 16th-century Europe was most directly a consequence of:

"How greatly has God blessed His servants with the art of printing, that the truth of His Word, which had for so many ages lain hidden beneath the dust and superstitions of Rome, might now be spread into every land and tongue. For whereas the Bishop of Rome, by his bulls and thunderings, was wont to keep the minds of men in darkness and ignorance, now the Gospel is multiplied in a thousand books and sent forth to every cottage and farm in Christendom. Truly, neither by the sword nor by the fire, nor by the most cunning sophistries of the schoolmen, can the enemies of the Gospel hope any longer to suppress the truth; for as often as they burn one book, the press will cast up ten more, until the knowledge of God shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea."

The author's argument about the printing press's impact most directly supports which of the following conclusions about the technology's role in sixteenth-century Europe?

“The great rule of trade is to export as much as possible, and to import as little as possible, so that the balance of trade may be in our favor. By this means, the kingdom will be enriched with treasure, and its power and influence will grow.”

The economic philosophy expressed in the excerpt above was most directly used to justify which of the following policies in European colonial empires?

In most European societies during the Renaissance, the social and economic roles of women were primarily defined by:

The patronage system in Renaissance Italy, particularly by wealthy families like the Medici, played a crucial role in:

An image depicting a caravel, a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese. It features lateen (triangular) sails, which allowed it to sail against the wind, and a shallow draft, enabling exploration of coasts and rivers.

The technological innovation represented in the image was most significant for European exploration because it:

In the Valladolid Debate (1550–1551), Bartolomé de Las Casas argued that the indigenous peoples of the Americas:

The emergence of joint-stock companies, such as the British East India Company, during the Commercial Revolution was primarily a response to the need for:

A graph showing the estimated population of indigenous peoples in Central Mexico from 1519 to 1600. The population drops precipitously from approximately 25 million in 1519 to around 1 million by 1600. The graph also shows a corresponding, though much smaller, increase in the European population in the same region over the same period.

The dramatic demographic change illustrated in the graph most directly contributed to which of the following developments in the Americas?