Midterm short answers

Question 1

What are the similarities between Christianity and Islam?

Answer 1

• Monotheist
• Caring about the poor
• Caring about injustices
• Muhammad and Jesus were troubled by the social injustices in their environment
• “Rules” that people have to follow
• Same values (charity, brotherhood)

Question 2

• Explain why the Black Death of 1346-1350 was so deadly.

Answer 2

easier spread of disease:
- No knowledge about epidemiology (Muslims thought it wasn’t contagious)
- Silk road = connecting the world
- Trade (italian commercial ships)
- Transmitted through rats and fleas which are everywhere
- Lack of hygiene
Deadly:
- Lack of immunity
- Spread quickly throughout the body

Question 2

• What were the consequences of the Black Death of 1346-1350?

Answer 2

• Rapid population loss
• Rising antisemitism
• The rich got poorer (unable to find tenants)
• Ordinary people had raised wages
• Abandoned villages
• Wars for riches

Question 3

• Compare Confucianism with the world vision of Classical Greece.

Answer 3

Confucianism:
- Bringing order in society
- Secular
- Society is built on unequal relationships. The superior are to be moral examples
- End goal is obedience and deference from inferiors, creating peace and harmony
- Patriarchal society
- Main focus is worldly

Greek vision:
- Individuality and freedom
- The poor, slaves and women are excluded from political life
- Secular
- Human-centered world view

Question 4

• What accounts for the success of the Mongols in building their empire?

Answer 4

• Ruthless in war against their opponents
• Psychological warfare
• Timing
• Powerful, efficient, organized army
• Disciplined
• Efficient governing
• Rich from silk route
  Adaptable:
• Incorporated conquered ppl in their army or as labour workers
• Used war tactics from others
• Religious tolerance
• Integrated local culture (Persian Mongol leader converted to Islam)

Question 5

• Explain the historical context that led to the European explorations in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Answer 5

• Renaissance
• Growing consumerism
• States need power and wealth
• Spread of Christians
• Bullion famine
• Need to bypass Muslim merchants and want to go directly to gold source
• Want for spices
• Sugar and slaves from Africa
• Developments of weapons and ships
• Kings financing explorations

Question 6

• Identify two similarities and two differences between the Aztec empire and the Inca empire.

Answer 6

Similarities:
- Believed in gods/deities
- Declining when Spaniards arrived
Differences:
- Emperor came from line of warrior-sages/Emperor came from God
- Many human sacrifices of captives/Less human sacrifices, perfect girls if done