Short
Answer Questions
(class 2)
Note:
(1)
assignments appear in the syllabus on the day
assigned and are due the next class, unless noted otherwise
-- so this homework (assigned on Tu., 2/01) is due Thurs., 2/03
(2)
This is a double-homework, worth 3%
of your final grade (see details of grades here);
moreover, skipping it eats up two of your "dropped
grades" at the end of the semester (see details of dropped
grades here).
(3)
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.
(4) This assignment,
like ALL assignments in this class, must be typed. See handout on
class expectations
A) SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
ON TEXTBOOK READING
Answer each of the questions below with a brief paragraph of
your own words.
Note that for Question
1 -- and, to a lesser extent, Question 2 -- there is no single passage
in the text that will give you the answer. Rather,
to answer these questions, you will have to think analytically about
material that you have read.
1) Many historians argue that the political structure of
feudal Europe and sub-Saharan African societies were remarkable
similiar but that China's political structure was different from
those found in European and sub-Saharan African societies. Explain
in a brief paragraph why it make sense to make this argument. You
may wish to review pp. 9 - 11 of the textbook regarding sub-Saharan
African societies.
Do not simply repeat the textbook's descriptions of each society
-- explain why the political
structure of European
and Sub-Saharan African societies resembled each other but did not
resemble Chinese society. Address only these societies' political
structure. Be
sure to use your own words.
(worth 15 points)
2) 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 5 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")
| et
al: An
abbreviation for et alius which means "and another" or et alii
which means "and others |
NOTE:
YOU MUST BRING THE WHOLE OF THE WIESNER READING TO CLASS ON 2/03
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 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 should we care about this earlier system?
USE YOUR OWN WORDS! DO NOT REPEAT WIESNER'S
LANGUAGE IN YOUR RESPONSE. (worth 40 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. 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
QUESTIONS (worth up to 20 additional points): As Wiesner notes,
Europe dominated "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. Why or Why not? Use your
own words, requires 2 paragraphs.
NOTE:
BRING THE WHOLE OF THE WIESNER READING TO CLASS ON 2/03