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Do you know how to read world history for the UPSC mains exam? It is one of the selected high-scoring subjects of the UPSC Civil Services Exams. There are many interesting topics such as Colonization, World Wars, Industrial Revolution, and more in the syllabus of UPSC world history.We have shared the list of important topics, and a question bank to practice. Apart from that, you can also find the previous year’s questions, also. Without spending much time, let’s start with the blog directly.
Table of Contents
📝 Previous Year Questions :World History UPSC
Below you can find the previous year questions for the World history UPSC from the year 2023 to 2013.
2023
Why did the Industrial Revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?
To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically.
2021
Explain how the foundation of the modern world was laid by the American and French Revolutions.
The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.
2020
There was no question in the World History segment of UPSC Mains GS 1 in 2020. Download UPSC Mains Question Papers from the linked article.
2019
- Explain how the foundation of the modern world was laid by the American and French Revolutions.
2016
- The anti-colonial struggles in West Africa were led by the new elite of Western-educated Africans. Examine.
2015
- Why did the industrial revolution first occur in England? Discuss the quality of life of the people there during the industrialization. How does it compare with that in India at present?
- To what extent can Germany be held responsible for causing the two World Wars? Discuss critically
2014
- What were the major political, economic and social developments in the world which motivated the anti-colonial struggle in India?
- What were the events that led to the Suez Crisis in 1956? How did it deal a final blow to Britain’s self-image as a world power?
- The New Economic Policy – 1921 of Lenin had influenced the policies adopted by India soon after independence. Evaluate.
2013
- “Latecomer” Industrial revolution in Japan involved certain factors that were markedly different from what west had experienced.
- Africa was chopped into states artificially created by the accident of European competition. Analyse.
- American Revolution was an economic revolt against mercantilism. Substantiate.
- What policy instruments were deployed to contain the great economic depression?
Most Important Topics to Cover for World History UPSC
Below you can find the topics that are highly relevant for World History UPSC ⬇️
Industrial Revolution
- Decline of feudalism
- Beginning of Renaissance
- Pre-industrial Europe
- Factors that led to the industrial revolution and its Impact
French Revolution
- Causes of the Revolution in France
- The fall of Berlin Wall
- France under Napoleon
- Impact and Significance of Revolution
Nationalism in Europe
- Rise of the nation-state system
- Unification of Italy and Germany
Colonialism and Imperialism
- Colonialism in Africa and its Analysis
- The Age of Imperialism (1870-1914)
- Imperialism in Asia
Emergence of USA
- Foundation of American Colonies
- The Independence of USA
- The American War of Independence and its impact
- Political Effects of the Revolution
- How did the American Revolution influence the French Revolution?
World War 1
- Causes and Course of the war
- Consequences of World War I
- Aftermath of World War I
- League of Nations
Russian Revolution
- Major events in pre-revolution Russia
- Causes and Course of revolution
- Consequences and Aftermath of the war
- Post-Lenin Russia
Inter-War Years (1919 TO 1939)
- The Great Depression- an economic perspective
- Rise of Fascism in Italy & Nazism in Germany
- Soviet Union (USSR)
World War- II
- Causes & Course of World war 2
- Aftermath &Analysis of the war
- Decolonization Phase
Development in Middle East
- Democratic Reforms in Middle East
- Arab nationalism
- Israel and Palestine
Cold War Era
- Cold War
- Impact in India
- Indian Policy
Post Cold-War World
- Global issues since 1991
- Integration of Europe
- Rise of global Islamic terrorism
- Rise of China
Communism, Socialism and Capitalism
- Capitalism (concept, types and example)
- Communism (concept, types, example)
- Relevance of capitalism in present era
Also Read: Difference between Colonialism and Imperialism
Also Read: 🇻🇳 Colonialism in Vietnam
📃 World History Timeline for UPSC
Below, you can find the important timeline of important topics of history till 1950.
| B.C.3000 | The majestic Great Pyramids were built |
| B.C 776 | The first Olympiad took place in Greece |
| B.C 753 | The founding of Rome |
| B.C 490 | The Battle of Marathon occurred The Greeks triumphed over the Persians |
| B.C 360 | The era of Aristotle and Plato |
| B.C 332 | Alexander the Great conquered Egypt |
| B.C 323 | Alexander the Great passed away in Babylon |
| B.C 214 | The construction of the Great Wall of China commenced |
| B.C 4 | The birth of Jesus Christ |
| A.D. 29 | Jesus Christ was crucified |
| 375 | The Huns invaded Europe |
| 570 | Prophet Mohammed was born in Mecca |
| 632 | The death of MohammedThe Hijri Era began |
| 1280 | Roger Bacon invented gunpowder |
| 1338 | The Hundred Years’ War began |
| 1348 | The Black Death Plague swept across Europe |
| 1453 | The Turks seized Constantinople |
| 1453 | The Renaissance period started in Europe |
| 1492 | Columbus discovered America |
| 1498 | Vasco-de-Gama discovered the sea route to India |
| 1588 | The Spanish Armada was defeated |
| 1600 | The British East India Company was established in India |
| 1660 | The monarchy was reinstated in England |
| 1665 | The Great Plague of England |
| 1668 | The Glorious Revolution took place in England |
| 1704 | The Battle of Blenheim |
| 1707 | England and Scotland were united |
| 1776 | The American Declaration of Independence |
| 1789 | The French Revolution took place George Washington was elected the first President of America |
| 1805 | The Battle of Trafalgar |
| 1815 | The Battle of Waterloo |
| 1832 | The Reforms Bill was passed in England |
| 1837 | Queen Victoria ascended to the throne of England |
| 1861 | The American Civil War started |
| 1863 | Slavery was abolished in the USA |
| 1865 | President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated |
| 1869 | The Suez Canal was opened for traffic |
| 1895 | Roentgen discovered X-rays |
| 1896 | Marconi invented the wireless |
| 1904 | The Russia-Japan war broke out |
| 1905 | Einstein discovered the Theory of Relativity |
| 1911 | The Chinese Revolution |
| 1912 | The Republic of China was established |
| 1914 | World War I began |
| 1917 | The Russian Revolution |
| 1918 | World War I ended |
| 1919 | The Treaty of Versailles was signed |
| 1920 | The League of Nations was formed |
| 1923 | Turkey was declared a Republic |
| 1933 | Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany |
| 1936 | The Spanish Civil War erupted |
| 1939 | World War II began |
| 1941 | Hitler invaded Russia Japan invaded Pearl Harbour |
| 1945 | The United Nations Organization was established World War II ended President Roosevelt died. The atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the first time |
| 1946 | The Civil War in China |
| 1947 | Ceylon and Burma gained independence |
| 1948 | The United Nations Organisation was established World War II ended President Roosevelt died. The atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the first time |
RELATED POSTS
| 🤝Warsaw Pact | 🌏Redrawal of National Boundaries |
| 🇮🇹 Unification of Italy | 🌐 Colonialism in Latin America |
| 🏙️ Industrialisation (1760 to 1840) | 🌏 Industrial Revolution in USA, Germany, Russia and Japan |
FAQs
There are various popular history topics including Religion in Ancient Greece, Causes of the American Revolution, American Neutrality in World War Ⅰ, and more.
Yes it is easy to cover the whole history syllabus but with utmost strategy and dedication.
History allows you to learn and understand how people and societies handled the situation.
This was all about the “ World History UPSC”. For more such informative blogs, check out our UPSC Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page.