Question 1

Identify the following terms.
-Gobi Desert

Accepted Answer

The Gobi Desert is a vast, arid region in northern China and southern Mongolia. It is known as one of the largest deserts in Asia, covering an area of approximately 1.295 million square kilometers (500,000 square miles). The Gobi is characterized by its harsh climate, with extreme temperatures that can range from very hot in the summer to well below freezing in the winter.

The desert landscape includes bare rock, dry grasslands, and sand dunes, and it is surrounded by mountains on three sides. Despite its harsh conditions, the Gobi Desert is home to a variety of wildlife, such as the Bactrian camel, Gobi bear, and various bird species. It also has a rich history, as it was part of the Mongol Empire and an important segment of the ancient Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between the East and the West.

The Gobi Desert is also notable for its paleontological significance. It has been the site of many important dinosaur fossil discoveries, which have provided valuable insights into prehistoric life. The desert's unique landscape and its significance in history and science make it a subject of interest for geographers, archaeologists, and tourists alike.

Question 2

Discuss the significance and impact of the civil service examination on Chinese society.Who benefited and who did not from the system? Was it actually based upon merit? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The civil service examination in China had a significant impact on Chinese society, as it was the primary means for individuals to enter the prestigious and powerful bureaucracy. The examination system was established during the Sui dynasty and continued until the early 20th century, shaping the social and political structure of China for over a millennium.

The examination system had a profound impact on Chinese society by creating a merit-based system for selecting government officials. This allowed individuals from lower social classes to rise to positions of power based on their intellectual abilities rather than their family background or wealth. This helped to create a more stable and efficient government, as officials were chosen based on their knowledge and skills rather than their social status.

However, the system also had its drawbacks. While it provided opportunities for social mobility, it was also highly competitive and favored those with access to education and resources. This meant that individuals from wealthy and educated families were more likely to succeed in the examinations, perpetuating existing social inequalities. Additionally, the emphasis on Confucian classics in the examination system meant that individuals with different talents or skills were often overlooked, leading to a lack of diversity in the bureaucracy.

Overall, the civil service examination system in China did have a significant impact on society by creating a merit-based system for selecting government officials. However, it also perpetuated social inequalities and limited the diversity of talent in the bureaucracy. While it was intended to be based on merit, the reality was that individuals from privileged backgrounds often had an advantage, making it a system that was not entirely meritocratic.

Question 3

Identify the following terms.
-Sui Dynasty

Accepted Answer

The Sui Dynasty was a short-lived imperial dynasty of China that lasted from 581 to 618 AD. It succeeded the Northern and Southern dynasties period and was followed by the Tang Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty played a pivotal role in unifying China after a prolonged period of fragmentation and division.

The dynasty was founded by Emperor Wen of Sui, also known as Yang Jian, who managed to consolidate his power and unify the whole of China under a central government. The Sui Dynasty is often credited with laying the groundwork for the prosperity that would be experienced during the subsequent Tang Dynasty.

One of the most significant achievements of the Sui Dynasty was the construction of the Grand Canal, which was a monumental engineering project that linked the Yellow River in the north to the Yangtze River in the south. This facilitated trade, military movement, and cultural exchange between the northern and southern parts of China.

The Sui Dynasty also attempted to standardize various aspects of Chinese society, including currency, weights and measures, and the writing system. It also imposed a system of land distribution known as the Equal-field system, which aimed to ensure that all families had enough land to support themselves, thereby reducing the gap between rich and poor.

Despite these achievements, the Sui Dynasty was marked by extravagant spending on grandiose construction projects and military campaigns, which led to heavy taxation and forced labor. This caused widespread discontent among the populace. The final emperor, Emperor Yang of Sui, was particularly known for his costly military campaigns, including failed attempts to conquer the Korean peninsula. These factors, combined with internal strife and rebellion, led to the collapse of the dynasty.

The Sui Dynasty's fall came when Emperor Yang was assassinated in 618, and the throne was seized by Li Yuan, who established the Tang Dynasty. Despite its brief duration, the Sui Dynasty's contributions to Chinese infrastructure, administration, and culture had a lasting impact on the country's history.

Question 4

Identify the following terms.
-Yang Jian/Sui Wendi

Accepted Answer

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-Yang Jian/Sui Wendi...

Question 5

What were the main achievements in Chinese literature and art in the period between the Tang dynasty and the Ming,and what technological innovations and intellectual developments contributed to these achievements? With specific examples,discuss the relationship between Daoism and Chinese landscape painting.

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Question 6

"Chinese civilization reached its apex during the Tang dynasty." Discuss critically.

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Question 7

Identify the following terms.
-Liu Ling

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-Liu Ling...

Question 8

What brought on the several centuries of political division following the collapse of the Han dynasty? What was the appeal of Buddhism and Daoism during the era after the collapse of the Han dynasty?

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Question 9

"The Yuan dynasty was a brief irrelevance in China's long history." Discuss critically.

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Question 10

What roles did Buddhism,Daoism,and Neo-Confucianism play in Chinese intellectual life in the period between the Sui dynasty and the Ming? In the public sphere,what advantages did Confucianism have over Buddhism and Daoism,and why?

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Question 11

Identify the following terms.
-Sui Yangdi

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-Sui Yangdi...

Question 12

How significant was international trade to Chinese society? What was traded? From where and to where? Who benefited-China? Its neighbors? Within China?

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Question 13

Why were the Mongols able to amass an empire,and what were the main characteristics of their rule in China? What was the impact of the "Pax Mongolica" on Eurasian societies in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries?

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Question 14

"Although of short duration,the Sui dynasty was one of China's most significant." Discuss.

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Question 15

Discuss the possible reasons why China abandoned its seemingly successful naval accomplishments after the death of the emperor Yongle in 1424.Which do you believe to be most convincing,and why?

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Question 16

Identify the following terms.
-Grand Canal

Accepted Answer

The Grand Canal was a waterway built during the Sui Dynasty that connected the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers. It was notable for strengthening China's internal cohesion and economic development.

Answer: L
 Nara was Japan's capital and first true city, established in 710 and modeled on the Tang capital of Chang'an.

Question 17

What were the chief initiatives taken by the early rulers of the Ming dynasty to enhance the role of China in the world? Why did the imperial court order the famous voyages of Zhenghe,and why were they discontinued?

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Question 18

Discuss the impact of the northern nomad peoples upon Chinese society in the late Tang and Song eras.Be specific.

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Question 19

Compare and contrast the status of women in Tang and Song China with the status of women in two other societies of your choice.What are the similarities and what are the differences,and why?

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Question 20

Identify the following terms.
-Li Yuan

Accepted Answer

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-Li Yuan...

Quiz 10: The Flowering of Traditional China

Identify the following terms. -Gobi Desert

Discuss the significance and impact of the civil service examination on Chinese society.Who benefited and who did not from the system? Was it actually based upon merit? Why or why not?

Identify the following terms. -Sui Dynasty

Identify the following terms. -Yang Jian/Sui Wendi