RETINA Digest International affairs

Current and ongoing events in the world

60th US Election – November 5, 2024
th
Winning President: Donald Trump (47 )
❖ Major political parties in the United States – 2 (Republican Party, Democratic Party)
Characteristics Republican party Democratic party
Political symbol Conservative / Right wing Liberal/Left wing
Party symbol Elephant Donkey
Color Red Blue
2024 election candidate Donald Trump (winner) Kamala Harris (defeated)
Electoral vote gain 312 226
Running mate in 2024 James David Vance
Tim Wallace
elections (Winner)
2024 election slogans Make America Great Again! Let’s win this!
Manifesto Project 2025 Vote For Freedom

❖ United States Legislature

Legislature: Congress (Congress has the power to impeach the President).
Legislature: Bicameral. The total number of electoral colleges is 538. Namely:
1. Upper House (Name - Senate): Seats 100
2. Lower House (Name House of Representatives): Seats - 435
3. Washington DC: Seat - 03
❖ US presidential election
Elections are held: Through the Electoral College.
Timing: Elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November after 4 years.
Climate Conference (COP-29) – 2024
Full form of COP: Conference of the Parties
Duration: 11-23 November 2024
Host: UNFCCC
Location: Baku, Azerbaijan
Conference President: Ilham Oliev (Azerbaijan)
Participating countries and regions: about 200
Achievements:
❖ COP-29: At the conference, rich nations pledged to provide $300 billion in aid to reduce global warming emissions.
❖ Carbon Credit Agreement: Under the agreement, poor countries will undertake various projects such as plantations
and wind power generation. In this way, they will get a ‘carbon credit’ for every tonne of carbon dioxide or
greenhouse gas emissions they reduce. Different countries and organizations can buy those ‘credits’ in exchange for
money from a global market. For each ‘credit’ they buy, they are allowed to emit one ton of carbon.
❖ G Zero: On 10 November 2024, 4 small carbon negative countries of the world united to form the ‘G Zero’ Forum.
The forum formed at the COP-29 conference includes Bhutan, Madagascar, Panama and Suriname. Countries make a
joint declaration to work together to advance the fight for climate protection.
❖ COP-30 conference will be held in 2025 in Belem de Para, Brazil.

Palestine-Israel Crisis
Al-Aqsa On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked the Supernova Festival, an ongoing music festival in the Negev
Flood desert in the KButitz Re’im region of southern Israel, under the name ‘Operation Al-Aqsa Flood’.
On October 8, 2023, Israel declared war in the context of the Hamas attack by counter attacking under
Iron Swords
the name of Operation Iron Swords.
* 6-day ceasefire agreement in Gaza - November 24, 2023 (brokered by - Qatar, Egypt and US).
* South Africa files a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide.
* Behind the operation of Hamas in Israel was the special branch of the Palestinian independence movement - Nukhba
Force (Arabic word Al Nukhba meaning - the elite).
* The name of the Israel Defense Forces - IDF (Israel Defense Forces, established in 1948).
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RETINA Digest International affairs
* Rafah crossing is the only border crossing point between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
Veto against United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, blocked Palestine’s membership by
Palestine vetoing it (April 18, 24). The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting.
Palestine in Resolution to make Palestine a full member of the United Nations passed: The United Nations General
the General Assembly voted on May 10, 2024. Proposer: United Arab Emirates. Votes in favor of the proposal:
Assembly 143 countries.

Palestine in the United Nations: Palestine is currently an observer member of the United Nations. In 2012, Palestine was
recognized as a de facto state by the United Nations General Assembly. Currently, 146 of the 193 member states of the
United Nations General Assembly and the Vatican City are observer states to Palestine. Recognized as a sovereign state.
Currently the Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations - Riyad Mansour.
First UN Security Council passes resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza: First UN Security Council calls for
ceasefire in Gaza
As in the UN Security Council [15 member countries (5 permanent and 10 non-permanent members)]. Motion passed on
March 25, 2024. Fourteen countries voted in favor of the resolution, with the United States abstaining. [Proposal
submitted by Algeria.
Security Council Passes 2nd Resolution Calling for Gaza Cease-Fire: May 31, 2024 President Joe Biden proposes for
the first time a concrete 3-tier plan to end the war in Gaza. 3 levels- (1) A 6-week ceasefire will be declared in Gaza. (2)
Hamas will release all hostages it holds and in return the residents of Gaza will receive a permanent ceasefire. (3)
Construction of buildings and roads will begin in war-torn Gaza.

Russia–Ukraine War (February 24, 2022 – ongoing)

In 2014, the Russian military seized Crimea from Ukraine after pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in
the Revolution of Dignity.
Ukraine expressed interest in joining NATO in 2022. But Russia opposes it and gathers troops on the border with Ukraine.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a ‘special military operation’ invasion of Ukraine under the pretext of
‘demilitarizing’ and ‘liberating’ Ukraine and protecting Russian-speaking residents of Donetsk and Luhansk.
China’s proposal China presented a 12-point peace proposal to end the war in 2023.
Russia annexes 4 regions of Ukraine (Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson) on
Incorporation of four
October 5, 2022. Luhansk, Donetsk: east of Ukraine and Zaporizhia, Kherson is south of
regions of Ukraine
Ukraine. Crimea joined Russia on March 18, 2014.
For the first time, Vladimir Putin gave 3 conditions to stop the war in Ukraine on June 14,
2024. They are –
Putin’s 3 conditions
1. Ukraine must agree to cede more territory.
for ending the war
2. Ukraine must move its troops further into the country.
3. Must abandon their desire to join western military alliances NATO.
Ukraine Peace Conference: A Swiss-led peace conference was held in the resort town of Burgenstock, Switzerland, on
June 15-16, 2024, to pressure Russia to end the war on behalf of Ukraine. Representatives of 100 countries and
organizations (92 countries and 8 organizations) participated. Hosted by Swiss President Viola Amhardt. China and
Russia did not participate (not invited). Ukraine presented 10 proposals at the conference.

Russia-North Korea Defense Treaty: On June 19, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. According to the agreement signed by the two countries,
in case of an armed attack on one of them, the army of one country will help the other country. On 6 November 2024 the
Lower and Upper Houses of the Russian Legislature ratified the treaty. Then on 9 November 2024, Russian President
Vladimir Putin signed the country’s strategic partnership agreement with North Korea. On 13 November 2024, North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un issued a decree approving a defense treaty with Russia.

The fall of the Bashar regime in Syria

❖ On December 8, 2024, the 24-year dictatorship of the Bashar regime in Syria fell.
 Ruled by the ancient Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman and Ottoman
empires, Syria gained independence from France on 17 April 1946.

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RETINA Digest International affairs
 Syria is bordered by Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan
to the south and Israel to the southwest. The Golan Heights is located on the Syrian-Israeli border.
 During the Third Arab-Israeli War of 1967, Israel occupied two-thirds of the Golan Heights.
 The Syrian-Israeli ceasefire line on the Golan Heights is known as the Purple Line.
 Syria and Lebanon were French colonies.
 Palmyra in Syria is called the city of palm trees and the pearl of the desert.
 Egypt and Syria united in 1958 to form the United Arab Republic (UAR). Its capital was in Cairo. The United
Arab Republic was dissolved in 1961.
 Hama is a famous city in Syria. Hafiz Al Asad is called the Butcher of Hamar.
 Turkey, Russia and the US have military bases in Syria.
Organizations / Conferences / Sessions
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
The emerging economic alliance BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China. embarked on a diplomatic conference held in
Yekaterinburg, Russia on June 16, 2009 with these 4 countries. After South Africa joined in 2010, the organization
became known as BRICS. (Entrepreneur: Vladimir Putin, Russia in 2006).
The nine BRICS countries hold 28.3% of the world’s land area and 44.6% of the global population. In 2023, the country’s
gross domestic product (GDP) was US$29.06 trillion, 27.4% of global GDP.
16th BRICS Summit (October 22-24, 2024) – Kazan, Russia
Theme of the Conference: “Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security.”
36 countries participated in the conference including Bangladesh (organization invited: UN).
Official BRICS 13 Partner: On October 24, 2024, a new category called ‘Partner Countries’ was included based on
Russia’s proposal at the Kazan Conference. Partner countries may participate in specific initiatives or projects, but will
not be involved in decision-making or voting.
Asia 7 Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Vietnam
Africa 3 Algeria, Nigeria, Uganda Europe 1 Belarus
South North
1 Bolivia 1 Cuba
America America

Latest and next conference

Latest conference Next conference
Conference name Number Place Time Number Place Time
BRICS 16th Kazan, Russia 2024 17th Brazil 2025
OIC 15th Banjul, Gambia 2024 16th Baku, Azerbaijan 2026
th
NAM 19 Italy 2024 20th Uzbekistan 2027
G-7 50th Italy 2024 51st Alberta, Canada 2025
D-8 11th Egypt 2024 12th – 2027
G-20 19th Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2024 20th Johannesburg, South Africa 2025
th
COP 29 Baku, Azerbaijan 2024 30th Belem, Brazil 2025
Commonwealth 27th Samoa 2024 28th Antigua and Bermuda 2026
BIMSTEC 5th Colombo, Sri Lanka 2024 6th Bangkok, Thailand 2024
NATO 75th Washington, USA 2024 76th Hague, Netherlands 2025
Nobel Prize - 2024
Subject Gender Nobel Laureate Country Reason for Winning
United 3 people revealed the complex structure of protein, the
Demis Hassabis
Kingdom essential biomolecule of life.
John M. Jumper United States Demis Hassabis and John Jumper developed AI models
Chemistry Male
to solve a 50-year-old problem, which provides insights
David Baker United States into the complex structure of proteins. David Baker
created a completely new type of protein ‘Top 7’.
Physics Male John Hopfield United States For developing the fundamentals of Artificial Neural

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RETINA Digest International affairs
United States* Networks for AI technology i.e. Machine Learning. Hinton
Geoffery Hinton has been called the ‘Godfather of AI’.
Canada
Gary Ruvkun United States
In the discovery of micro RNA and recognition of its role
Medicine Male
Victor Ambros United States in the regulation of gene expression.
“Her writings have images of two-dimensional suffering or
Author, poet pain, the connection of physical and mental suffering,
Literature Female South Korea
Ham Kang closely connected or reflected in Eastern thought. It creates
an awareness of the relationship between body and soul.”

Mpox / Fourth HPV Vaccine

Mpox (previous name: Monkeypox or monkey pox - MPXV; caused infectious disease). Smallpox belongs to the virus
family of spring fever. It is a zoonotic disease. Symptoms of this disease are similar to flu; Creates skin lesions. The virus
is like DNA but does not mutate as easily or as quickly as the covid or flu virus.
First identified: 1958 (identified by von Magnus).
There are 2 main types of Mpox (clade 1 mild and clade 2 lethal). The new species is clade 1b (most dangerous).
WHO declares Mpox a global public health emergency: August 14, 2024.
WHO Approves Mpox’s Vaccine MVA-B: September 13, 2024 (Manufacturer-Bavarian Nordic A/S, Denmark).
Widely distributed: in various parts of Africa (especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Fourth HPV vaccine approval:

• World Health Organization (WHO) approves single-dose IV Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine ‘Cecolin’ for
public use-4 October 2024.
• The vaccine is manufactured by the Chinese company Innovax.
• Scientists at the International Center for Disease Research (ICDDR,B. tested the vaccine on humans in Bangladesh.

Sport
Paris Olympic 2024
• Organized – 33rd (Summer)
• Time: July 26 to August 11, 2024.
• Host Country- Paris, France.
• Participating team- 206
• Total Games - 32
• HIM - Games open to all.
• Mascot – The Freeze.
• Most medal winners - USA (126) [Gold-40, Silver-44 and Bronze-42].
• Second highest medal winners - China (91) [Gold-40, Silver-27 and Bronze-24].
• Soccer Team Gold Winning Countries - Spain (Men), USA (Women).
• Tennis (Singles) Champion Men - Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Women’s Champion - Zheng Qinwen (China).
• Gymnast with 30 medals - Simone Biles (USA. is the highest medal winning gymnast at the World Championships.
• Youngest Olympian to win gold - Zheng Haohao, China (12 years).

U-19 Asia Championship

• Champion: Bangladesh.
• Runners-up: India.
• Man of the Match and Tournament: Iqbal Hossain (Bangladesh).

Under-20 SAFF Championship

• Time: August 18-28, 2024. Edition: Second.
• Host Country: Nepal. Venue: Anfa Complex, Lalitpur, Nepal.
• Participating teams: 6 (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Maldives).
• Champion Country: Bangladesh (first time). Runners-up: Nepal.
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RETINA Digest International affairs
• Top scorer (tournament best): Mirazul Islam (4 goals; Bangladesh).
• Best Goalkeeper: Mohammad Asif, Bangladesh.
SAFF U-16 Women’s Football 2024
• Champion: Bangladesh (runner-up - India).
• Host Country: Nepal.
• Venue: Lalitpur Anfa Academy, Nepal.
• Best player: Surbhi Akand Preeti (Bangladesh). He scored 5 goals.
• Bangladesh national women’s football team is SAFF champion: in 2022 and Bangladesh women’s under-19
football team is joint champion with India in 2024.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

The ninth Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 was scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, but due to ongoing unrest, the ICC
shifted the event from Bangladesh to the United Arab Emirates on August 19, 2024.
• Host: Dubai and Sarjah, United Arab Emirates (Bangladesh remains the official host).
• Session: Ninth. Time: October 3-20, 2024.
• Champion: New Zealand. Runners-up: South Africa.
• Man of the Final and Man of the Tournament: Amelia Kerr (New Zealand).

2024 ICC Ninth Men’s T20 World Cup

• Time: June 1 to June 29, 2024. Participating teams: 20 Number of Games: 55
• Host Countries: West Indies and USA. Champions: India (2nd title).
• Runners-up: South Africa. Highest run scorer: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan).
• Man of the Tournament: Jasprit Bumrah. Man of the Final Match: Virat Kohli
• Highest run scorer for Bangladesh: Tawheed Hridoy, Highest wicket taker: Rishad Hossain.
World introduction
World map
 The first published map of the world was made by the famous geographer Claudius Ptolemy.
 A line encircling the Earth east-west equidistant from the two poles is called the Equator/Equator/Ecliptic. Equinox /
Equator value -0°
 South America’s Ecuador and Equatorial Guinea are named after the Equator.
1
 232 The north and south latitudes are respectively called
(Topic of cancer) Karkatkranti and (Topic of Capricorn)
1 1
Makarkranti lines; 662 (North pole) North and 662
(South pole) South latitude are called Sumeru and Kumeru
circle respectively.

 The line extending north-south over the city of Greenwich on the outskirts of the city of London in the United
Kingdom is called the principal meridian or Greenwich line.
 The International Date Line standard is 180° east and west longitude.
 Two points located at opposite ends of the imaginary diameter passing through the center of the earth are called
opposite points. The longitude between them is 180 degrees. Dhaka opposite end is located in the Pacific Ocean near
Chile in South America.
 A total of 195 independent countries.
Earth’s size and motion
 It takes 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes 47 seconds for the earth to revolve around the sun.
 It takes 23 hours and 56 minutes to complete one rotation on its own axis.
Date Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
21 March Day and night are equal (Spring equinox) Day and night are equal
21 June Longest day Longest night
23 September Equinox (Autumn equinox) Day and night are equal

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RETINA Digest International affairs
22 December Shortest day Shortest night
Space World
Solar system
 The solar system is a small part of the vast universe of boundless space.
 Scientists have discovered 5 billion solar systems so far.
 Sun is the center of the solar system.
 Copernicus was the first to discover the solar system in 1540.

The Sun
 Sun is called the soul of the solar system.
 Sun is a star.
 The diameter of the sun is 13 lakh 84 thousand km.
 Sun is 13 lakh times bigger than earth.
 Corona is the light gas that surrounds the Sun.
 The Sun consists of 91.2% hydrogen gas, 8.7% helium gas and 0.1% others.
 The outer surface temperature of the Sun is 6000°C.
 The average distance from the earth to the sun is 15 crore km. Or 150 million km.
 It takes 8m & 19 seconds for the light to reach the earth from the sun. 19 seconds.
 The distance from the Sun to the Earth is greatest on July 4 which is known as Apsur.
 Mercury is the closest planet to the sun.
 Sextant is an instrument for measuring the angular distance of the sun.
 Sun’s energy is produced by fusion of atoms.
Star
 The biggest star is Betelgeum.
 Nearest star to the solar system - Proxima Centauri / Alpha Centauri.
 The brightest star in the sky is Ludbhak.
 Name of largest constellation – Hydra.
 Used to measure distance from earth to star or star to star - light years.
 The distance light travels in one year is called one light year.
 6000 stars can be seen with the naked eye.
 The star “Canopus” is used to determine the direction of navigation.
 Great Bear, Orion, Casseopeia, Little Bear, Cains Major are the constellation star names.
Comet
 Comet means smoke trail.
 The brightest comet of the last century was Hellbop.
 Comet Hellbop was discovered in 1995.
 The last discovered comet is Nit.
 Halley’s comet was discovered by Edmund Halley.
 Halley’s comet occurs once in 76 years.
 Halley’s Comet was first observed in 1759. Will see you again in 2062. Last seen in 1986.
Planets and Satellites
 The number of planets in the solar system is 8. Namely –
• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars
• Jupiter
• Saturn
• Uranus
• Neptune

Subject Brief description

Mercury  Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun & the earth.
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RETINA Digest International affairs
 Mercury has no satellites.
 Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system.
 The fastest planet in the solar system.
 Venus has no satellites.
 Venus is mostly carbon dioxide.
Venus  Venus is called ‘Shuktara’ in the morning and ‘Sandhyatara’ in the evening.
 For long time it was thought that Venus is the nearest planet of earth.
 Venus is called the twin planet of the earth.
 Earth is the only ideal planet in the solar system.
 Moon is the only satellite of the earth.
 Earth is the 3rd planet in the solar system by distance.
 Earth rotates from west to east.
Earth
 Life in the solar system exists only on Earth.
 Most of the world’s population lives in the northern hemisphere.
 The earth revolves around the sun (centripetal force) in a ring of centripetal or centrifugal force.
 Earth’s orbit is elliptical.
 Mars is called ‘Lalgraha’/Red planet.
 The color of the surface of Mars is red, the color of the sky is pink.
 The planet is named after the Roman god of war Mars.
 Its two satellites are Phoebus and Deimos.
 The atmosphere of Mars is 99% carbon dioxide.
Mars  Mars Approaches Earth - 27 August 2003
 Sojourner, the NASA robot sent to Mars
 Mars space ships: Mars, Discovery, Pathfinder, Viking, Phoenix, Spirit, Aircraft.
 Curiosity is the latest robot sent to Mars.
 The nuclear-powered spacecraft that will take humans to Mars is the ‘Mayflower’.
 ‘Mars One’ is a Netherlands (Dutch) Mars research institute.
 It is called Graharaja.
Jupiter  Sun rises and sets twice on this planet.
 Satellites – Lo, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto.
 Saturn is called a ‘ringed’ planet.
 Moons of Saturn - Titan, Hua, Dione, Capitas and Tethys.
Saturn
 Saturn’s largest moon is Titan.
 Cassini spacecraft sent to Saturn.
 Uranus is called the ‘green planet’.
Uranus  3rd largest planet in the solar system.
 It was discovered in 1789.
 Neptune is the last planet in the solar system.
Neptune
 It was discovered in 1846.
 Those that do not have their own orbit, less than 12 thousandth of the mass of Earth, are called dwarf planets.
 Dwarf planets – 5. Namely-
▪ Pluto
▪ Ceres
Dwarf
▪ Ares
planets
▪ Mekmek
▪ Haumea
 Pluto is excluded from the solar system.
 Pluto’s newly discovered moon P-5.
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 The moon orbits the earth once in 292 days.
Moon
 ‘Shanta Sagar’ ‘Calm sea’ is located-on the moon.
 ‘Ross Sagar’ Fluid sea - the darkest place on the moon.
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RETINA Digest International affairs
 The weight of any object on the moon is 1/6th that of the earth.
 Lunar Prospector, a spacecraft sent to search for water on the Moon.
 Chandrayaan-1 is India’s unmanned vehicle sent to search for water on the moon
 1st man walked on the moon on July 20, 1969 (aboard Apollo 11).
 5 countries and 1 agency have made missions to the moon so far. Namely - Russia, USA, China,
Japan, India, European Space Agency.
 The solstice is seen in the Northern Hemisphere.
Pole star
 It takes 47 years for light to reach Earth from the star.
 A collection of billions of tiny stars is called a galaxy.
Galaxy  Another name of the galaxy is Akash Ganga/sky river, Serpent Ganga/snake river.
(Milky  Our galaxy is called the Milky Way.
Way)  American scientist Edwin Hubble discovered galaxies outside the Milky Way.
 The dark and light part of the earth is called the shadow circle.
Nebula  A nebula is a vaporous star that appears as a luminous or dark cloud floating in space.
(Nebulae)  Origin of stars from nebulae.
 Among the 8 planets of the solar system, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are very bright and can be seen
without the aid of any instrument. Uranus and Neptune are less bright and cannot be seen without binoculars. The first
4 planets are land-home and the next 4 planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are called gas giants.
 The name of the smallest planet discovered outside the solar system is ‘Kepler 37B’.
Space and Space Research
 Black hole discoverer John Wheeler.
 Sir Isaac Newton is the inventor of the theory of space.
 Humans first achieved success in space travel through the discovery of rockets in 1926. Discovered by Robert
Hatching Govard (U.S.A.).
 Satellites are of two types artificial and natural.
 The first artificial satellite Sputnik-1. Launched on 4 October 1957 (launching country Russia)
 In 1958, a dog called Laika was sent into space by Sputnik-2 (Laika did not return to Earth).
 First man in space - Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin (born: March 9, 1934, died: March 27, 1968) orbited the Earth
on April 12, 1961 aboard Vostok-1.
 First female astronaut in space: Russian Valentina Tereskova (born March 6, 1937) went into space on June 6, 1963
on the Vostok-6 mission.
 Elaine Collins, the first female leader of the space expedition team, on July 23, 1998 Miss Elaine led the space shuttle
Columbia into space.
 NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Cape Kennedy Space Launch Center in Florida, USA. Its
headquarters are in Washington DC. NASA was founded in 1958.
 China’s first female astronaut Yangli Oi (AB. 242 (Space craft-Shenzhou 5)
 Galileo is an artificial satellite sent from Earth to Jupiter.
 India’s first astronaut Kalpana Chawla (Space craft -Columbia).
Conquering the Moon
 The Soviet Union’s Luna-2 mission, the first manned object to land on the Moon, landed on the Moon on September
13, 1969. The Apollo 11 mission in the United States was the first successful manned landing on the Moon. On July
20, 1969, Neil Armstrong (Born: August 5, 1930, Died: August 25, 2012) became the first man to walk on the moon.
His collaborators were Michael Collins and Edwin Aldrin.
Space station
 The International Space Station was established in space by the efforts of 16 countries in the world.
Name of the space station Country
ISS (Int’l Space Station) Russia
Mir Russia
Skylab United States

Spaceship
Name of the spacecraft Country
Sputnik, Vostok, Soyuz Russia
Explorer, Columbia, Voyager United States
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RETINA Digest International affairs
Shonju-5 China
Space Launch Center
Launch center Location
Baikonur Kazakhstan
Cape Canaveral (NASA) Florida, USA
Jiuquan China
Uchinori Japan
Alcantara Brazil
Space Tourist
Name of Tourist Country Special information
Dennis Tito United States 1st space travel tourist
Anusheh Ansari United States 1st female and Muslim tourists. Of Iranian descent
Liu Yaping China 1st Chinese space tourist
Oleg Kononenko Russia Holds the record for longest stay in space

Space agencies of different countries

Country Organization Establishment
United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 1958
Russia Russian Federal Space Agency (RFSA) 1992
China China National Space Administration (CNSA) 1993
India Indian Spaces Research Organization (ISRO) 1969
Israel Israeli Space Agency (ISA) 1983
Europe European Space Agency (ESA) 1975

Space X
Some information about Space X:
• Space Exploration Technologies Corporation or SpaceX for short is an American aerospace technology company.
• Tech entrepreneur and entrepreneur Elon Musk founded SpaceX in 2002.
• The headquarters of SpaceX is located in Hawthorne, California, USA.
• On October 13, 2024, the first rocket landed safely on the launch pad. The name of the rocket is Starship.
Miscellaneous information on space
 Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) successfully launched the first space observatory ‘Astresat’ on 28
September 2015. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-30 took off from Sriharikota, 80 km from Chennai,
making India the fourth country in the world to launch its own space observatory after USA, Russia and Japan
through Astrosat.
 On April 24, 2015, the Hubble Telescope completed its silver jubilee in space. It was launched on 24 April 1990
aboard NASA’s space shuttle Discovery.
 IAU (International Astronomical Union) is located in Prague (Czech Republic).
 The 1st communication satellite launched into space is called ‘Telstar’.
 The first communication satellite was launched into space in 1962.
 The joint mission to Mars by Russia and the United States is called ‘Mars Together’.
 1st satellite launched by US is ‘Explorer-1’.
 The world’s 1st commercial space station is located in New Mexico, USA.
 China builds world’s first passenger drone.

Previous Year Questions

Medical and Dental Admission Test
01. Which planet is closest to Earth? [MBBS: 2013-14]
A. Saturn B. Mercury C. Mars D. Jupiter Ans: B
02. Who discovered the black hole? [MBBS: 2012-13]
A. Newton B. Stephen Hawking C. John Wheeler D. Einstein Ans: C
BCS Exam
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RETINA Digest International affairs
03. Yuri Gagarin Goes to Space - [33rd BCS]
A. In 1956 B. In 1961 C. In 1964 D. In 1969 Ans: B
th
04. Where is the headquarters of NASA? [28 BCS]
A. Florida B. Houston C. Washington DC D. Texas Ans: C
05. How many hours is the difference between Greenwich Mean Time and Bangladesh Time? [26th BCS]
A. Six hours B. Eight hours C. Ten hours D. Five hours Ans: A
06. Where is the headquarters of NASA? [24th BCS; RU (E): 2017-2018]
A. Florida B. Houston C. Cape Kennedy D. Texas Ans: Blank
[N. B: Cape Kennedy is located in Washington DC]
07. Name and Country of First Man to Land on Moon - [24th BCS]
A. Yuri Gagarin, Russia B. John Glenn, USA C. Richard Aldrin, USA D. Neil Armstrong, USA Ans: D
University Admission Test
08. Which planet is closest to the sun? [DU (B): 2016-2017; Chubby (B1): 2014-15]
A. Mercury B. Mars C. Jupiter D. Venus Ans: A
09. Which of the following is known as dwarf planet (Dwarf Planet)? [RU (A): 2023-2024]
A. Mercury B. Venus C. Pluto D. Earth Ans: C
10. Warmest Planet in Solar System-[RU (A): 2021-2022]
A. Neptune B. Uranus C. Mercury D. Venus Ans: D
11. ‘Valentina Tereskova’ was born- [RU (E): 2017-2018]
A. May 21, 1959 B. March 6, 1937 C. March 17, 1962 D. June 4, 1951 Ans: B
12. The first woman to travel to space? [DU (D): 2014-15; RU (A): 2015-2016]
A. Valentina Tereskova B. Olga Korbut C. Tatiana Kuznetsova D. Anna Karenina Ans: A
13. International Criminal Court Confirms [JU (B): 2023-24]
A. Liability for individual offences B. Liability for state crimes
C. Liability of international organizations D. a and b Ans: A
14. Which planets are called monster planets? [JNU (D): 2013-14]
A. Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Venus B. Saturn, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus
C. Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune D. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus Ans: C
15. Which is the dwarf planet of the solar system? [RU (E): 2016-2017]
A. Mars B. Saturn C. Jupiter D. Pluto Ans: D
16. First astronauts in space is- [RU (E): 2016-2017]
A. American B. British C. French D. Russian Ans: D
17. The distance from the sun to the earth is greatest on which date? [RU (E): 2015-16]
A. 30 January B. 4 July C. 22 September D. 22 December Ans: B
18. Who is the founder of SpaceX? [DU (7-College):2022-23]
A. Larry Page B. Mark Zuckerberg C. Tim Cook D. Elon Musk Ans: D

History of World Civilization

The Mesopotamian Civilization
Mesopotamian civilization is one of the oldest (5 thousand years old. civilization in the world. This highly developed
civilization was discovered in Mesopotamia between 3500 BC and 3000 BC. ‘Mesopotamia’ is a Greek word. It means
land between two rivers. This civilization was developed in the area between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers in present
Iraq. Which started around 5000 BC and was completed around 3000 BC. Areas of present-day Iraq, northern Syria,
northern Turkey, and the Khuzestan province of Iran are believed to have belonged to Mesopotamia in ancient times. This
civilization was controlled by Persian, Roman and Muslim rule respectively. During the rule of the Muslim Caliphate, the
region became known as Iraq. The ancient Mesopotamians believed in polytheism. There is evidence of idol worship of
various gods and goddesses among them. The spoken language of the Egyptians is called the Semitic language and the
literary language is called the Hametic language. This civilization gave rise to 4 successive civilizations.
1. Sumerian civilization
3. Assyrian civilization
2. Babylonian civilization
4. Chaldean Civilization.
The Sumerian Civilization
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The Sumerians were the oldest civilizations in southern Mesopotamia. The Sumerians were
native to the mountainous region of Elam. They existed between 4000 BC and 3000 BC. This
civilization fell with the rise of the Babylonian civilization. Agriculture was the main source of
income for the Sumerians. Improved irrigation system is their great invention. The Sumerians
invented a new script called ‘Cuneiform’. Cuneiform is called letter based alphabet. Some of the
Sumerian alphabet looks like the V of the English alphabet. The invention of water clocks,
lunar calendars and multiplication systems of arithmetic were important contributions of the
Sumerians. The greatest contribution of the Sumerians to civilization was the invention of the
wheel. This civilization is considered to be the first well-organized civilization in the world. Jawrat Cuneiform
was a temple dedicated to the Sumerian moon god.
The Babylonian Civilization
The Amorite people from the Syrian desert developed an urban civilization in Mesopotamia around
2050 BC. The architect of Babylonian civilization was the famous Amorite leader Hammurabi.
The first written law in the world was introduced in Babylon. Babylon’s greatest contribution to
civilization was therefore in the field of law. Hamburabi is still immortalized as a coder of laws.
The laws of the Babylonians are known as the ‘Laws of Hamburabi’. The Babylonians wrote
literature in imitation of the Sumerians. The famous ancient epic ‘Gilgamesh’ is the work of this
civilization. Which is written in ‘cuneiform’ script. The world’s oldest map is found in the ruins Hamburabi
of the city of Gathur, north of Babylon.
The Assyrian Civilization
Two hundred miles north of Babylon, on the banks of the Tigris River, a prosperous city called ‘Asshur’ was built. The
Assyrian emperor considered himself a representative of the sun god Shams. The Assyrians dominated Egypt from 670-
662 BC. Assyrians are known as warriors. The beginnings of warfare, weapons and tools are the contribution of this
civilization. The Assyrians first divided the circle into 360°. They first divided the world into latitudes and longitudes.
The Chaldean Civilization
The ‘New Babylonian civilization’ centered around the city of Babylon (Iraq) is called the Chaldean civilization. The
architect of the Chaldean civilization was the emperor Nebuchadnezzar. He is immortalized for building ‘The Hanging
Garden of Babylon’. He built it under the inspiration of the beloved empress. The foundation was laid on the roof of the
Khas shrine of the then emperor. It is known in history as ‘empty garden’ or ‘hanging garden’. The ‘Empty Garden of
Babylon’ is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, revealing Babylon’s reputation. The Calderians divided the first
week into 7 days. Again Chaldeans invented 12 pairs of hours and calendar system for each day. The Calderians
discovered 12 constellations. 12 Zodiac Circles are created from that. The chief god of the Chaldeans is Jupiter.
Egyptian Civilization
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization in eastern North Africa. The Greek historian Herodotus
called Egypt ‘the gift of the Nile’ as this civilization developed in the Nile steppe region. This region
currently belongs to the state of Egypt. The period 5000-3200 BC is called the Predynastic Period of
Egypt. At this time, the “initiator of urban civilization” is this Egyptian.
The Pyramids and
Civilization was divided into several (about 42) small city-states. Which were called ‘Nom’. The the Sphinx
kings of ancient Egypt were called pharaohs. By 3150 (3200) BC, the civilization was
consolidated through the political unification of Upper (Southern) and Lower (Northern) Egypt under the first pharaoh
King Nemes or Narmer. whose capital was ‘Memphese’ in southern Egypt. Thus the historical era begins with the reign
of the First Dynasty around 3200 BC. In 31 BC, the early Roman Empire conquered Egypt and turned the country into a
Roman province, ending the rule of the pharaohs.
Mythological beliefs existed in ancient Egypt for a little over three thousand years. Although many gods and goddesses
exist in mythology, it is during the reign of Akhenaten (4th Amenhotep) that the first practice of monotheism in the
history of civilization centered on the sun God Aten (Aton) is seen. Akhenaten was called Ikhnaton, corresponding to
the God’s name.
Scribes and officials were the upper classes of Egypt. A sign of their social class was bleached linen cloth. Slavery was
known in ancient Egypt but its extent is unclear.
Ancient Egyptians treated men and women at all levels of society as equals under the law, except for slaves. Both men
and women had the right to acquire and sell property, enter into contracts, inherit and be sued in court. Agriculture in
ancient Egypt was heavily dependent on Niles. They identified three seasons. They were the first to introduce the system
of counting 1 year in 12 months, 1 month in 30 days.
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The achievements of the ancient Egyptians include:
■ Skill in stone quarrying and construction techniques for construction of buildings from quarries
■ Irrigation systems and agricultural production techniques
■ Pyramids of historic Egypt
■ Construction of the first ship
■ Temples, obelisks
■ Medical system
■ Oldest peace treaty in world history (with Hittites) etc.
Egyptians used to express their feelings by drawing pictures. The pictures were symbols of each letter. This ‘script’ of
Egypt based on letters is called ‘hieroglyphics’. Which means holy script. The Egyptians made paper from reeds. The
Greeks called this paper ‘Papyrus’.
 Pyramids of Egypt
The Egyptian pyramids are stone structures located in Egypt. As of 2008, 138 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. Most of
them were built during the reign of ancient and medieval pharaohs as tombs for them and their wives. The oldest of Egypt’s
ancient pyramids is the ‘Pyramid of Djoser’ built during the Third Dynasty. It was designed by the architect Imhotep. It is
generally considered to be the oldest smooth stone structure in the world. The largest pyramid (Great PyramiD. in Egypt is the
‘Kepos’ or ‘Pharaoh Khufu’ pyramid. It was built over an area of about 13 acres. Its height was about 450 feet.
Among the seven wonders of the ancient world, it is the only one still in existence. In addition to the Great Pyramid, the Gi za
Pyramid Complex also features a colossal sculpture known as the ‘Great Sphinx’. It was built during the reign of King
Khafre. It is a mythical creature with a lion’s lower body and a human head on top. The oldest sphinx ever found is found at
Navalikori near Gobelkitep. This is the Sphinx of about 9500 BC. It was a symbol of the noble power of the pharaohs.
The Sindhu (Indus) Civilization
It is a copper age civilization. No iron objects were found here. Dravidians are believed to have developed this
civilization about 3500 years ago. The center of this civilization was mainly in the Sindhu River basin in the western part
of the Indian subcontinent. After the partition of India, most of the sites of the Indus civilization belonged to Pakistan.
Note that the land of Pakistan was the main center of this ancient civilization. At its peak, this civilization was known as
the Harappan civilization. The heyday of the Harappan civilization lasted from 2600-1900 BC. The Indus Civilization’s
predecessor, the Early Harappan Civilization, and its successor, the Harappan Civilization, spanned the period between
the 33rd century BC and the 14th century BC. Harappa was one of the first discovered cities of this civilization. The city
was discovered in the 1920s (1922) during archaeological excavations in the then British Indian province of Punjab.
Mohenjodaro is an important center of Indus Civilization. Harappan ruins were first mentioned in 1842 by Charles Mason
in his Narratives of Various Journeys in Baluchintan, Afghanistan and the Punjab. John Marshall, Dayaram Sahni
and Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay discovered the Indus Civilization.
The Indus Civilization, like the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Peru, arose in fertile agricultural lands surrounded by
highlands, deserts, and seas. In the field of agriculture, the agricultural tools of that time caused a revolutionary change in
the Indus civilization. However, hunting was one of the occupations of the people of the Indus region. Recently, traces of
the Indus Civilization have also been discovered in the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan.
In the history of civilizations the Indus civilization gave the idea of a planned city. Both cities had buildings on either side
of the road. There was a paved sewer on the road. Every house had a bathhouse and a well. Seals made of bone and stone
have been found at Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. Alexander Cunningham published the first Harappa seal in 1872-75.
Another important contribution of the Indus civilization was the invention of the measurement system. The townspeople
used scales of various measurements to weigh goods. They used different scales to measure length.
The decline of the Indus civilization began around 2750 BC. Scholars could not come to any correct conclusion about
how the Indus civilization was destroyed. However, it is believed that this civilization was destroyed as a result of the
attack of an external enemy or a major earthquake or a terrible flood.
The Greek Civilization
Ancient Greece is an ancient civilization in Greek history that existed from the Antiquity to the Classical Civilization.
The inhabitants of Greece are called Greeks. Ancient urban civilizations were discovered in the islands of the Aegean
Sea and on the west coast of Asia Minor, known as the Aegean Civilization or Pre-Classical Greek Civilization. Iron
was first discovered in Asia Minor. Most historians recognize ancient Greece as the foundation of modern Western
civilization. Greek culture had a great influence on Roman civilization, which spread to different parts of Europe. The
influence of Greek antiquity on the language, politics, education system, philosophy, art and architecture of the modern
world is immense. The Greeks believed in polytheism. Greek mythology consists of stories of their gods and heroes, the
shape of the world, its origins, and the importance of religion. The main God of the Greeks was Zeus. The god Apollo and
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the Goddess Athena were also particularly important. The Greeks believed that the Gods lived at the top of Mount
Olympus in northern Greece.
Name of a Greek goddess or god Introduction
Zeus King of Gods/ Presiding Deity
Apollo Sun, medicine and music
Aphrodite Goddess of love, adventure and beauty
Hera Goddess of marriage (wife of Zeus)
Ares God of war
Athena Goddess of Wisdom (Daughter of Zeus)

The Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena located on Archops Hill in Athens, Greece.
Socrates
Socrates was the most famous of Greek philosophers. In 399 BC, the ruling class of Greece killed this
great philosopher by consuming poison made from the hemlock vine in protest against unjust rule. He
is called the Master of all sages.
Plato
The philosopher Plato, student of Socrates, took Greek philosophy to extremes. He was born in Greece
and was a citizen of Greece. He recorded his thoughts in a book called The Republic. Plato founded the
Akademia school of philosophy in 386 BC. He wrote another book called Dialogues of Socrates on the
teachings of Socrates.
Aristotle
Plato’s student Aristotle was also a great philosopher. One of his famous books is called The Politics.
He is the founder of Lyceum. Aristotle was Alexander’s teacher.
The epics Iliad and Odyssey were written by the Greek epic poet Homer. Aeschylus was the most
popular dramatist of Greece. Oedipus the King is a famous tragedy by the playwright Sophocles.
Many small city-states developed in Greek civilization. These small countries are called city states.
Leading among them were Sparta and Athens. Sparta was a military city-state in Greece. The state
leaders were autocrats. On the other hand, neighboring Athens was a democratic state. Athens was the
first to start democracy in the ancient world. Greece is called the cradle of democracy.
In the management of the state, the parliament was formed with the tribal chiefs; It was called
‘Areopagus’ and the association made up of ordinary citizens was called ‘Ekklesia’. The golden age of Greek civilization
was during the reign of Pericles. It was at this time that democracy was finally established in Athens. Pericles came to
power in Athens in 460 BC. He ruled for 30 years.
Peloponnesian War
Ancient Greek civilization developed mainly around the Mediterranean Sea. The names of two cultures are associated
with Greek civilization for geographical and cultural reasons. One is ‘Hellenic’ and the other is ‘Hellenistic’. Greece is
also called the land of Hellenic civilization. Hellenic culture began in Athens, the capital city of Greece. This peninsula of
Greece was the main center of this culture. Hellenic civilization lasted until about 337 BC. At this time, a new culture was
born in Alexandria, Egypt under the leadership of the Greek hero Alexander, a mixture of Greek culture and advanced
culture. In history this culture is known as Hellenistic culture.
Miscellaneous
 Phoenician Civilization
In the history of ancient civilizations, the Phoenicians were famous for shipbuilding. They could determine direction by
looking at the fixed stars. That is why the constant stars are also called the Phoenician stars. Their greatest contribution to
the history of civilization was the invention of the alphabet.

 Ancient Chinese Civilization

Ancient Chinese civilization flourished in three regions. Lao Tzu was the oldest philosopher in China. His doctrine was
called Tawbat. Confucius was the most influential philosopher in Chinese history.

 Roman civilization
Rome’s economy was dependent on slave labor. Slaves were subjected to inhuman torture. As a result, a slave revolt was
organized under the leadership of a slave named Spartacus. The slave revolt ended in 71 BC. Julius Caesar was the most
famous emperor of Rome. “I came, I saw, I conquered” - the famous quote of Emperor Julius Caesar. After Julius Caesar
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was killed by Brutus and Cassius in a power struggle and conspiracy in Rome, Octavius Caesar, Mark Antony and
Lepidus ruled Rome. The rule of these three people is known in history as Triad rule.
The most popular philosophical doctrine in Rome was Stoicism. They were also famous in literature, Horace and Virgil
were poets of this era. The Aeneid is an epic poem written by Virgil. The largest theater in the world at that time was
built in the Roman Empire. Its name was Colosseum. About five and a half thousand spectators could sit here together.
The Colosseum is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The Roman Empire fell in 476 AD. The last emperor of this empire was Romulus
Augustulus.

 Inca civilization
The mighty Inca civilization flourished in Peru, South America. Its duration was from
1438-1532 AD. The city of Machu Picchu is a symbol of the Inca civilization. It is also
recognized as the Seven Wonders of the World. Another civilization of the American
continent is called the Maya civilization. Traces of it are found in Mexico. Mexico was
also the center of the Aztec civilization.
The Medieval Age
Problem of division of age
After the end of the ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Chinese, Indus and Greek civilizations, the Roman civilization arose.
The later Roman civilization arose against the backdrop of the decline of medieval European civilization.

The Roman Empire

Historians believe that Rome was founded in 753 BC. The city of Rome is named after King Romulus. The ancient
Roman city on the banks of the Tiber River was called the capital of the world. Because with the city of Rome, Europe,
Africa. And Asia-these three continents had extensive communication. Roman Emperor Constantine to rule this vast
empire. In the eastern part of the empire, he established a second capital at Byzantium on the shores of the Black Sea. This
second capital, established in 330, was named Constantinople. It was named after Emperor Constantine. The Roman
Empire was divided into 2 parts in 395 AD for administrative convenience. Namely –
A. Western Roman Empire: The Western Roman Empire centered on Rome
was ruled The Western Roman Empire fell to the barbarian Germanic tribes in 476 AD, but the Eastern Roman Empire
remained intact.
B. Eastern Roman Empire: Western Asia including Eastern Europe, Eastern Mediterranean region, Black Sea region,
Asia Minor was ruled by the capital Constantinople. This region came to be known as the ‘Byzantine Empire’. The
Byzantine Empire fell with the fall of Constantinople to the Turkish Muslims in 1453 AD. Constantinople is still in
Turkish possession under the name of Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most amazing architectural
styles of the Byzantine period.
Literature: Horace and Virgil are famous poets of this era. Virgil’s famous epic ‘Aeneid’. The famous historian Tacitus
was born in Rome during this period.
Architecture: The Pantheon, built by Emperor Hadrian, is one of the largest architectural monuments in Rome.
Colosseum, the largest theater in the world, was built in Rome. The Romans built arched artificial channels called
aqueducts to supply water to various centers of the city, including temples and monuments.
Law: The greatest contribution of the Romans to the history of world civilization was the making of laws. By 449 BC,
‘The Twelve Tables’, written on 12 bronze pages of civil rights and duties, were publicly displayed. Roman law is said
to be the foundation of modern Western law.

Holy Roman Empire: After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, a branch of the Germanic race became very
powerful. They were historically known as Franks. By the 8th century, the Franks had conquered large swaths of
Germany and France and were able to re-establish the Roman Empire. The nobleman of the line, Charlemagne the Great
(also known as Charles), became emperor of Rome in 800. The governance system, laws, customs, customs etc. of this
empire were centered on Christianity or the Bible. That is why this empire was called the Holy Roman Empire.
01. What is the ‘Bar Vidhi’ (The Twelve Tables)?
A. Basis of Roman Law B. 12 structure of architecture C. Rules of football game D. Local game Ans: A
02. Why is ‘Julius Caesar’ famous?
A. As a Roman emperor B. As anti-apartheid
C. As the King of Britain D. As President of America Ans: A

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Rise and development of Arabian civilization

Tribe-based social system existed in Arab land for a long time. But after Islam was the first to build a unified state system,
larger states and civilizations began to develop in and around Arabia.

A. Rashidun Caliphate (632 - 661 AD)

During the reign of Khulafay Rashedin, the capital of the Muslim empire was in Madinah.
1) Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (RA. was the first Caliph of Khulafay Rashedin. After the death of Hazrat Muhammad
(PBUH) in 632 AD, Abu Bakr (R.A.) was elected Caliph. At this time, various Arab tribes declared rebellion. Hazrat Abu
Bakr (RA. conducted an expedition against all the Arab tribes. All these religious wars are called ridda wars. He
suppressed all these rebellions with a strong hand. That is why he is called the savior of Islam. He established ‘Baitul
Mal’. The central financial fund or national treasury of an Islamic state is called Baitul Maal. He died in 634 AD.
2) Hazrat Omar Ibn Al Khattab (RA. was the second Caliph of Khulafay Rashedin. He was a very just and powerful ruler
That is why he is called ‘Omar the Great’. During his time, the Islamic empire expanded to the greatest extent. He
introduced the Hijri year.
3) Hazrat Othman Ibn Affan (RA.) was the third Caliph of Khulafay Rashedin. According to most historians, Hazrat
Osman (RA. was the first to introduce Islamic currency. He compiled the sacred. His surname is Junnurain.
4) Hazrat Ali Ibn Abu Talib (RA. Khulafay Rashedin and the last Caliph. He was the first among the children to accept
Islam. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) awarded him the title of ‘Asadullah’ (meaning - Lion of God.) for his outstanding
bravery in the Battle of Khyber. In 661 AD, he was martyred at the hands of an assassin in Kufa. His mausoleum is
located in Najaf, Iraq.

B. Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 AD)

Muawiyah (661-680 AD). held the key to power after the martyrdom of Hazrat Ali (RA). Umayyad rule begins. By
nominating his son Yazid as heir to his caliphate, the Khulafay replaced the Rashedin’s was replaced by democratic rule
with a hereditary monarchy. Muawiya established the first Muslim navy. The capital of the Umayyad Caliphs was
Damascus.
Abdul Malik (685-705 AD). was Rajendra (Father of kings) because later his four sons Umayya ascended the throne. He
introduced the first purely Arabic coinage and improved the postal department. He built the eight-cornered “Kubbatus
Sakhra” (Dome of the Rock) on which the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) used to stand on the rock he used to travel to the Holy
Miraj. Another major achievement of his was the establishment of the Muhafezkhana or Documentary store (Diwan-al-
Rasa’il) in Damascus.
The Umayyad Empire reached its greatest extent during the reign of Walid bin Abdul Malik (705-715 AD). His
commander Musa bin Nusair conquered all of North Africa and Tariq Spain. Muslims conquered Spain in October 711
AD.
Muslim rule in Spain
Muslims established a separate caliphate in Spain. At that time the country was known as Andalusia. The capital was
Cordova. Córdoba was called the ‘Light House of Europe’ as it became the epicenter of learning in Europe during the
Middle Ages.

The first Omar bin Abdul Aziz (717 – 720 AD) sat in the caliphate and accepted the principles introduced by Khulafay
Rashedin. He is called the Umayyad Saint or the ‘Fifth Caliph of Islam’.
C. Abbasid Caliphate
The Abbasid Caliphate is called the Golden Age in Islamic history. Abbasid caliphs gave ministers the title of ‘Wazir’.
A. First Phase (750-1258 AD)
Abul Abbas As-Saffah (750-754 AD) established the Abbasid Caliphate.
Abu Jafar al-Mansur (754-775 AD) set up his capital in Baghdad in 762 AD to streamline and strengthen the
administrative structure. Harun al-Rashid (786-809 AD. was the most famous Abbasid caliph. Zubaidah, the wife of the
Caliph, dug the ‘Nahr-e-Zubaida’ canal in the holy city of Makkah to ease the water woes of the Hajids. Al Ma’mun (813-
833 AD. established ‘Baytul Hikma’ (House of Wisdom) in Baghdad to practice knowledge. He appointed Hunayn Ibn
Ishaq as the Director General of ‘Baytul Hikma’. In 1258 AD, the city of Baghdad fell at the hands of the infamous
Mongol leader Halaku Khan.
B. Second phase (1261-1517 AD): At that time the capital was Cairo

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Previous Year Questions
Medical and Dental Admission Test
01. Which civilization is credited with inventing the alphabet? [MBBS: 2013-2014]
A. Egyptian B. Sumerian C. Phoenicians D. Greek Ans: C
02. In which of the following civilizations the day is divided into 12 pairs of hours? [MBBS: 2010-2011]
A. Chaldean B. Persia C. Roman D. Greek Ans: A
03. Who among the Greeks considered the goddess of fertility? [MBBS: 2009-2010]
A. Ceres B. Atis C. Aztec D. Artemis Ans: D
04. How many thousands of years old is the civilization of Egypt? [BDS: 2008-2009]
A. 5 B. 7 C. 8 D. 6 Ans: A
BCS Exam
05. What is the ‘Bar Vidhi’ (The Twelve Tables)? [46th BCS]
A. Basis of Roman Law B. 12 structure of architecture
C. Rules of football game D. Local sports Ans: A
06. Where is the historical city of Troy located? [45th BCS]
A. Italy B. Greece C. Turkey D. France Ans: C
07. Where is ‘Victoria Desert’ located? [45th BCS]
A. Canada B. West Africa C. North America D. Australia Ans: D
08. Smallest continent? [45th BCS]
A. Australia B. Europe C. Africa D. South America Ans: A
09. The idea of democracy originated in which country first? [44th BCS]
A. United States B. Ancient Greece C. Ancient Rome D. Ancient India Ans: B
10. Maya Civilization Discovered- [43rd BCS]
A. In North America B. In South America C. In Central Africa D. In Central America Ans: D
th
11. In which region did the Inca civilization exist? [41 BCS]
A. South America B. Africa C. Middle East D. Europe Ans: A
12. Where did the Mesopotamian civilization develop? [39th BCS]
A. On the banks of the Huangho River B. On the banks of Yasikiang River
C. On the banks of the Nile D. On the banks of the Trigris and Euphrates rivers Ans: D
13. Which river was the capital of the Byzantine Empire? [39th BCS]
A. Lisbon B. Constantinople C. Paris D. Vienna Ans: B
14. Mayan civilization existed in which region of the world? [39th BCS]
A. East Asia B. Central America C. Middle East D. East Africa Ans: B
15. Which city was the capital of the Byzantine Empire? [39th BCS]
A. Lisbon B. Constantinople C. Paris D. Vienna Ans: B
16. Why is ‘Julius Caesar’ famous? [32nd BCS]
A. As a Roman emperor B. As President of America C. As the King of Britain D. As anti-racist Ans: A
17. Where did the Mesopotamian civilization develop? [39th BCS]
A. On the banks of the Huangho River B. On the banks of the Yangtze River
C. On the banks of the Nile D. On the banks of the Trigris and Euphrates rivers Ans: D
18. Mayan civilization existed in which region of the world? [39 BCS]
A. East Asia B. Central America C. Middle East D. East Africa Ans: B
19. World’s smallest country by size-[34th BCS]
A. Fiji B. The Vatican C. Kuwait D. Maldives Ans: B
20. Which Hindu state of Asia? [34th BCS]
A. Nepal B. India C. Bhutan D. Maldives Ans: Blank
Note: Nepal was the only Hindu state in Asia. Currently, Nepal is a secular country.
21. ‘Layajirga’ is the legislature of which country-[34th BCS]
A. Fiji B. Syria C. Lebanon D. Afghanistan Ans: D
22. Copenhagen is the capital of which country? [34th BCS]
A. Denmark B. Belgium C. Vietnam D. Armenia Ans: A
23. Shyamdesh is the old name of which country? [34th BCS]
A. Egypt B. Iraq C. Iran D. Thailand Ans: D
24. What is the name of the currency of Sri Lanka? [33rd BCS]
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RETINA Digest International affairs
A. Dollar B. Pound C. Taka D. Rupee Ans: D
25. Where is the capital of East Timor? [32nd BCS]
A. Lhasa B. Porto Nova C. Deli D. Tien Anmen Ans: C
26. Which country is not included in Scandinavia? [27th BCS]
A. Denmark B. Finland C. Netherlands D. United States Ans: C, D
27. Where was the world’s oldest civilization? [24th BCS; RU (A): 2016-2017]
A. In Greece B. In Mesopotamia C. in Rome D. In India Ans: B
University Admission Test
28. Who is known as ‘Borgi’? [DU (B): 2023-2024]
A. English B. Marathi C. Tamil D. Portuguese Ans: B
29. Hieroglyphic is the ancient writing system of civilization-[DU (B): 2018-2019]
A. Egyptian B. Sumerian C. Persia D. Babilonian Ans: A
30. Ruins of Inca Civilization Found-[DU (B): 2017-2018]
A. in Brazil B. in Venezuela C. Peru D. in Bolivia Ans: C
31. Name of an ancient civilization centered around Mexico-[DU (B): 2016-2017]
A. Aksum B. Aztec C. Vikings D. Mesopotamian Ans: B
32. How old is the civilization of Uari-Bateshwar? [RU (A): 2021-2022]
A. 2500 years B. 2000 years C. 3000 years D. 3500 years Ans: A
33. Civilization began through which ethnic groups? [RU (A): 2014-2015]
A. Sumerian B. Babylonian C. Acerian D. Chaldean Ans: A
34. What is ‘hieroglyphic’? [RU (I): 2015-2016]
A. Ancient Egyptian script B. Ancient Greek script
C. Ancient Roman script D. Ancient Mesopotamian script Ans: A
35. Where did Confucius live? RU (A): 2016-17
A. China B. Japan C. Korea D. Mongolia Ans: A
36. Name of an ancient civilization centered around Mexico-[DU (B): 2016-2017]
A. Aksum B. Aztecs C. Viking D. Mesopotamian Ans: B
37. Which of the following primitive society people made? [DU (F): 2016-2017]
A. Pyramid B. Ziggurat C. Dolmen D. Parthenon Ans: C
38. In which ancient civilization was the ‘Law of Hamburabi’ practiced? [DU (F): 2014-2015]
A. Maya B. Mesopotamian C. Egyptian D. Greek Ans: B
39. Modern Turkey, Syria, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait are part of which ancient civilization? [DU (B): 2013-2014; RU
(A): 2014-2015]
A. Egyptian Civilization B. Roman Civilization
C. Indus Civilization D. Mesopotamian civilization Ans: D
40. What civilization developed in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins? [JNU (E): 2016-2017]
A. Egyptian Civilization B. Indus Civilization
C. Inca civilization D. Mesopotamian civilization Ans: D
41. Which is the statue of the Greek god? [JNU (E): 2016-2017]
A. NeffTiti B. Gemini C. Apollo D. Mikeri noos Ans: C
42. Which is one of the oldest sculptures in the world? [JNU (E): 2015-2016]
A. Laukun B. Venus of Willendorf C. Sphinx D. Kalimurti of Tanger Ans: C
43. ‘Igloo’ কী? [JU (B): 2019-2020]
A. Ice-covered region B. House of Eskimos C. Iceberg D. Frozen reservoir Ans: B
44. The ancient civilization of Babylon was located in which country today? [JU (C): 2023-2024]
A. Iraq B. Egypt C. Iran D. Syria Ans: A
45. Which ancient civilization is credited with creating the first known writing system? [JU (C): 2023-2024]
A. Iraq B. Egyptian C. Greek D. Roman Ans: B
46. Roman civilization developed-[JU (C): 2022-2023]
A. In the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers B. In the Nile basin
C. On the banks of the Indus River D. on the banks of the river Tiber Ans: D
47. Which did not change into phoenician script? [JU (C): 2021-2022]
A. Roman B. Latin C. Egyptian D. Hebrew Ans: C
48. Mesopotamian civilization developed [JU (C): 2020-2021]
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A. On the banks of the Nile B. Tigris-Euphrates River
C. On the banks of the river Indus D. on the banks of the Volga River Ans: B
49. Where are the traces of the Harappan civilization found? [JU (C): 2019-2020]
A. India B. Pakistan C. Both A+B D. None of these Ans: B
50. What is Stonehenge? [RU (I): 2016-17]
A. Prehistoric sculpture B. Prehistoric paintings C. Prehistoric architecture D. None of these Ans: C
51. Who was Hamburabi? [RU(A): 2016-2017]
A. Historical B. Legislators C. Physicians D. Traders Ans: B
52. Egyptian civilization traces which- [DU(7-College):2020-21]
A. Papyrus B. The Great Wall C. Cuneiform D. Parthen Ans: A
53. The Treaty of Hudaybiyah was concluded- [CU:2023-24]
A. In 624 B. In 628 C. In 626 D. In 627 Ans: B

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