This assignment consists of 2 portions (A & B); the first, A, consists of short answer questions on the textbook, the second, B, consists of a series of questions on the Wiesner reading from Electronic reserves. You must do both A & B.

Instructions on how to get to Electronic Reserves reading

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Answer each of the questions below with a brief paragraph of your own words.


1) What aspects of Mongol culture contributed to their success as rulers after their initial conquest? That is, once Mongols became rulers (rather than simply conquerors), what made them successful as rulers? Be careful to read all of the material on the Mongols before formulating your response. DO NOT TELL ME WHY THE MONGOLS WERE SO SUCCESSFUL AS CONQUERORS, TELL ME WHY THEY MADE GOOD RULERS. Use your own words. (worth 10 points)

B) SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ELECTRONIC RESERVE READINGS (pp. 270 - 277 from the Chapter 10 of Discovering the Global Past by Wiesner et. al., up to "The Method")

Instructions on how to get to Electronic Reserves reading

et al: An abbreviation for et alius which means "and another" or et alii which means "and others

 

links to the class glossary for words from the Wiesner reading that you may not know emporia, autonomous, purveyor, commodity

 

 

NOTE: YOU MUST BRING THE WHOLE OF THE WIESNER CHAPTER (pp. 270 - 295) FROM ELECTRONIC RESERVES TO CLASS ON 9/09 SO THAT WE CAN GET STARTED ON YOUR HOMEWORK IN CLASS -- STUDENTS WHO DO NOT RISKING LOSING CLASS PARTICIPATION POINTS


3) (pp. 270 - 271) As Wiesner notes in the reading, after 1400 there emerged a network of commercial maritime links between Europe and regions of the North Atlantic; this trading system, dominated by Europeans, is often called the "Atlantic System" or "Modern World System." As Wiesner also observes, "Given the important role Western Europeans played in creating this global network," many historians once looked to the "rise of Europe as the key dynamic [or force] in modern history."

Wiesner, however, says that there is value in studying an earlier world system of trade centered not on Europe and the Atlantic ocean, but rather on Central Asia and the Indian Ocean. Why should we be interested in this earlier system and how might understanding this system oblige us to re-evaluate the role of Europeans in modern history? In short, the question asks why -- according to the author -- we should we care about this earlier system? USE YOUR OWN WORDS! DO NOT REPEAT WIESNER'S LANGUAGE IN YOUR RESPONSE. (worth 50 points).


4 ) Describe how and why the monsoon seasons created trading cities (emporia) from what had been safe harbors (havens) on the coast. Answering this question carefully will help you with the next question. Use your own words. (worth 5 points)

5 ) Print out the map on p. 274 and indicate the zones of maritime traffic described by the author. That is, on p. 275 the author specifically indicates a number of "maritime zones" -- draw on the map the outlines of each of the zones the author mentions and number them. The locations addressed in question 4 above will -- along with the other information the author provides -- help you in determining the outlines of each of the "maritime zones". Turn your map in with the rest of these questions. Answering this question carefully will help you with the next question. (worth 15 points)

6) Why was the European (or western) extension of the system cut-off from the larger network? Look to your mapping work from question 5 if you are having trouble. Use your own words. (worth 20 points)

EXTRA-CREDIT QUESTION

A) (worth up to 15 additional points): As Wiesner notes, Europe dominated the "Atlantic System"; but did any one region dominate the earlier world system of trade centered not on Europe and the Atlantic ocean, but rather on Central Asia and the Indian Ocean. What evidence allows you to assert one way or the other? Use your own words, requires 2 paragraphs.


NOTE: YOU MUST BRING THE WHOLE OF THE WIESNER CHAPTER (pp. 270 - 295) FROM ELECTRONIC RESERVES TO CLASS ON 9/09


"end of assignment"