Chapter 7 For Further Thought, Chapter Checkup, Developing Basic Skills

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For Further Thought
1. Analyzing
(a) How did differences in religious beliefs contribute to clashes between Hindus and Muslims in India?
Muslims and Hindus had huge differences, and because both were unwilling compromise and were prepared to fight for their beliefs, there were constant disagreements, and sometimes these disagreements turned violent.
(b) In what ways was there a peaceful blending of the two cultures?
The creation of Urdu, and the creation of mosques and Persian and Muslim art by Hindus were all examples of synergy happening. Purdah could also have been introduced at this time.

2. Applying Information
(a) How did Chinese and Japanese attitudes toward foreigners change in the 1500s and 1600s?
Overall, both China and Japan limited trade with foreigners. China only let the Portuguese trade a Macau, and the only other city with which foreigners were allowed to trade in was Canton. Japan cut off all contact, and only let the Chinese and Dutch trade at Nagasaki, the only place in Japan available for foreign trade.
(b) Why do you think their views of foreigners changed?
Japan was afraid that the foreign powers might eventually invade Japan, and also, they were afraid of the growing number of Japanese Christians, who supported the pope rather than the shogun. The Chinese felt that they were superior, and probably the effects of the Yuan dynasty may have affected their thoughts.

3. Analyzing a Quotation
A Japanese saying states: “The rice that Hideyoshi cooked was eaten by Tokugawa Ieyasu.” Do you think that this saying accurately describes what happened in Japan after the late 1500s? Explain.
Hideyoshi created a strong unified nation during the decline of feudalism, in this saying compared with the rice, while Tokugaawa Ieyasu, who took power after Hideyoshi, created a centralized government and finished what Hideyoshi had started. Although this saying is relatively close to the truth, I believe the Tokugawa did more than that. Hideyoshi helped in no small way, but the Tokugawa finished the reforms.

4. Comparing
(a) Describe the structure of Japanese feudal society.
Although the emperor was the ruler, he was just a figurehead, and the shogun had the actual power. Nevertheless, the daimyo, who were the strongest samurai, had quite a bit of power, and also gave out land to other samurais in return for military service. Below them were peasants, artisans, and merchants.
(b) How was Japanese feudalism similar to feudalism in Western Europe?
The king and the emperor both had little power, although they were considered the highest rank in society. Lords, knights, peasants were pretty much equivalent to the daimyo, samurais, and peasants in Japanese feudal society.
(c) How was it different?
One of the major differences was the shogun in Japan. There was direct equivalent in European feudalism, although a strong lord maybe considered the same as a shogun. The addition of ronins and the separate class of merchants were also large differences.

Chapter Checkup

1.(a) How did Hinduism influence life in India?
Hinduism helped create a stable society in India by setting rules and limiting social mobility through its caste system, which set many rules regarding social life. In addition, it helped unite the people religiously, even though there were still constant warfare. Nevertheless, these warfare did not affect the people greatly.
(b) What effect did Muslim rule have on India?
The policies of the Muslims created many religious tensions in India, and many Hindus were forced to convert to Islam. Also, there were many different works of art influenced by both traditions, along with the introduction of Urdu.

2. (a) How did Akbar try to unify the Mogul Empire?
He tried to do that by tolerating other religions, and stopping prosecution of Hindus and many other policies that were based on religious discrimination.
(b) How did his successors change his policies?
His successors reinstated state discrimination against Hindus.
(c) What happened as a result of these changes?
Eventually, the Hindus became extremely angry at the prejudice, and tried to overthrow the Muslim government.

3. Describe Chinese achievements in each off the following areas:
(a) government
The civil service examination helped produce educated and loyal officials who agreed with the government policy based on Confucian values.
(b) technology
Starting with the invention of paper, the Chinese have a long history of innovation with printing. Later on, the Chinese built the largest ships in the world at the time, along with a magnetic compass and gunpowder.
(a) art
Porcelain items, poetry, and landscape painting were all developed during the T’ang and Sung eras.

4. (a) How did foreign trade affect China during the T’ang and Sung empires?
The Chinese were exposed to new ideas and things that they had never met before.
(b) Why did trade become even more extensive under the Mongols?
The Mongols created long and large highways which stretched right across the Mongol Empire, encouraging trade and travel between the different places of the world.
(c) What attitude did the Chinese take toward foreign trade by the 1500s?
By the 1500s, the Chinese were much more cautious, and restricted almost all trade with Europeans.

5. (a) How did Chinese culture influence the Japanese?
As Buddhism was introduced to Japan, Chinese ideas came along with it. These ideas led to great changes across almost all parts of Japanese society.
(b) Why did the Japanese borrow some Chinese ideas and not others?
The Japanese chose the ideas that fit with their traditions, so some ideas, such as the civil service system, which were contradictory to Japanese ideas, were dropped.

6. (a) what type of government did the Tokugawa shoguns establish in Japan?
The Tokugawa shoguns turned Japan into a centralized feudalistic government.
(b) How did they limit the power of the daimyo?
By ordering the daimyo’s families and the daimyo to spend half of their time in the capital, it greatly reduced the ease of creating revolts. In addition, the daimyo was required to receive permission before engaging in many activities.

7. (a) How were Buddhist teachings brought to Japan?
Buddhist teachings were brought to Japan via China and Korea by Buddhist missionaries.
(b) How did Buddhism affect Japanese society?
Because of Buddhism, Japan in the 600s-700s was greatly based on Chinese society, which in turn was highly influenced by Buddhist values.

Developing Basic Skills
1.Using Visual Evidence Study the painting on page 119. Does the painting express the same feelings about nature as Li Po’s poem? Explain.
I believe so, actually. The landscape painting seems to convey a very beautiful image of nature, and so does Li Po’s poem.

2. Map Reading Study the map on page 122 and the maps on page 197-198. Then answer the following questions:
(a) What was the extent of the Mongol empire?
The Mongol empire at its extent took almost all of Asia, stretching the Mediterranean and the Arabian seas to the Pacific Ocean.
(b) What countries today are located in the lands once ruled by the Mongols?
Dozens of countries are located in the former Mongol empire. This stretches from Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Israel, Iraq all the way across Asia until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. Only some Middle Eastern, South and South East Asian countries were not once under the power of the Mongols.
(c) Why do you think Genghis Khan divided his empire among his sons and grandsons?
I think Genghis Khan had to do that to help settle bitter rivalries between his descendent, lowering the chance of assassination of each other for power and land.

3. Using Diagrams Study the diagram of feudal society in Japan on page 127. Then answer the following questions:
(a) Who held the highest status in Japanese society?
The Emperor.
(b) Who had the lowest status?
The merchants.
(c) Why do you think the daimyo had so much power and influence?
The daimyo had many people, such as vassals and soldiers who were under obligation to be loyal and give military service to the Daimyo.
(d) What does the diagram tell you about the structure of Japanese society?
Japanese feudal society was a hierarchy, with low social mobility and dominated by the shogun, with the emperor acting as a figure head.