East Asia

Shinto

"Way of the kami (spirits)"; an indigenous religion of Japan that holds that everything in nature has a spirit; believers perform ceremonies to ask for the blessings of the spirits; traditionally, Shinto believers venerated the emperor; compared to animism in Africa and Taoism in China

Bushido

"the way of the warrior," the strict code by which Japanese samurai were supposed to live; compared to the knights' code of chivalry

Tokugawa

(1603-1867) Feudal Warlord rulers of Japan. Responisble for closing Japan off from the rest of the world. Overthrown during the Meiji Restoration.

Genghis Khan

(Temujin) took the title of Genghis Khan when he united the Mongol clans; over 40 years, he conquered the largest land-based empire in all of history

Mongol

A people of this name is mentioned as early as the records of the Tang Empire, living as nomads in northern Eurasia. After 1206 they established an enormous empire under Genghis Khan, linking western and eastern Eurasia.

Pax Mongolia

Also known as the mongol peace. A time when global trade expanded due to the political stability provided by mongol rulers. Trade along the silk road expanded.

Zheng He

Chinese admiral during the Ming Dynasty, he led great voyages that spread China's fame throughout Asia

Ming

Succeeded Mongol Yuan dynasty in China in 1368; lasted until 1644; initially mounted huge trade expeditions to southern Asia and elsewhere under Admiral Zheng He, but later concentrated efforts on internal development within China and isolated.

Marco Polo

Venetian merchant and traveler. His accounts of his travels to China offered Europeans a firsthand view of Asian lands and stimulated interest in Asian trade.

Which areas did the Mongols conquer and incorporate into their empire? a. China, Russia, and Iran b. Axum, Zimbabwe, and West Africa c. Spain, France, and Egypt d. Japan, India, and eastern Europe

a. China, Russia, and Iran

• Block printing, gunpowder, and the abacus were developed. • Porcelain making and black-ink painting on silk paper were perfected. • The compass was discovered and used to improve the determination of direction when sailing. These advances are associated with the a. Tang and Sung dynasties of China b. Gupta Empire in India c. Ghana and Mali civilizations of Africa d. Byzantine Empire in the Middle East

a. Tang and Song dynasties of China

Which situation was a result of Pax Mongolia? a. Trade increased between Europe and Asia. b. China became isolated from its neighbors. c. Warfare between Japan and Vietnam escalated. d. Europeans conquered the Aztecs and Incas.

a. Trade increased between Europe and Asia.

The feudal systems in both medieval Europe and early Japan were characterized by a. a decentralized political system b. religious diversity c. an increased emphasis on education d. the development of a wealthy middle class

a. a decentralized political system

Korea greatly influenced the development of early Japan by a. acting as a bridge for ideas from China b. providing Japan with the technology for industrialization c. serving as a barrier against Chinese aggression d. protecting Japan from early European exploration

a. acting as a bridge for ideas from China

One aspect common to both Shinto and Taoism is a a. deep reverence and respect for nature b. belief in one God c. ban on the consumption of pork d. belief in the reincarnation of souls

a. deep reverence and respect for nature

Which factor contributed to the fall of the Han dynasty and the fall of the Roman Empire? a. invasions by nomadic peoples from Central Asia b. demands for religious freedom by Christians c. long periods of drought that led to isolation d. dependence on slaves to produce manufactured goods

a. invasions by nomadic peoples from Central Asia

One way Japanese feudalism during the Tokugawa shogunate was different from European feudalism is that during this period of Japanese feudalism a. political power was more centralized b. foreign missionaries were welcomed c. emperors were overthrown in coups d'etat d. most wealthy merchants were able to attain high social status

a. political power was more centralized

One way in which Pax Romana and Pax Mongolia are similar is that both were characterized by a. political stability b. unifying religious institutions c. representative forms of government d. social equality for men and women

a. political stability

One similarity between the cultures of traditional China and traditional Japan was that a. the educated class was held in high esteem b. religion played a minor role in society c. social mobility was encouraged d. the people elected the political leaders

a. the educated class was held in high esteem

A person who practices the Shinto faith would be most likely to a. visit a shrine placed on the shore of a lake b. pray five times a day c. bathe in the Ganges River d. make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem

a. visit a shrine placed on the shore of a lake

During the Ming dynasty, why did China stop investing in overseas naval expeditions? a. Many foreigners were imitating Chinese culture. b. Chinese leaders saw little value in exploration. c. People disagreed with Confucius's demand for more territory. d. Chinese merchants were threatened by foreign competition.

b. Chinese leaders saw little value in exploration.

Eighty-five percent of Japan's topography is mountainous. How has this geographic feature affected Japan? a. The standard of living has declined. b. Farmers have used terracing to expand agricultural production. c. The power of the Emperor has been strengthened. d. The unemployment rate is high.

b. Farmers have used terracing to expand agricultural production.

Which fact relating to early Japan was a result of the other three? a. Japan experienced earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. b. The Japanese developed a nature-based belief called Shinto. c. Tsunamis and typhoons sometimes destroyed coastal Japanese villages. d. Mountains are found throughout the islands of Japan.

b. The Japanese developed a nature-based belief called Shinto.

Which statement about the geography of Japan is most accurate? a. Location has made it easy to invade. b. The irregular coastline has many natural harbors. c. Large plains are its primary physical feature. d. Earthquakes do not threaten the islands.

b. The irregular coastline has many natural harbors.

Which geographic characteristic is shared by both Greece and Japan? a. abundant mineral resources b. archipelagos c. irregular coastline d. navigable rivers

b. archipelagos

In European and Japanese feudal societies and in the Hindu caste system, social status was usually determined by a. marriage b. birth c. individual abilities d. education and training

b. birth

Technological achievements made during the Tang and Song dynasties were important because they a. were used to defeat Kublai Khan b. contributed to economic growth and cultural advancement c. increased contact with the Americas d. led to social equality between men and women

b. contributed to economic growth and cultural advancement

One factor that accounted for Chinese influence on traditional Japanese culture was the a. continuous warfare between the countries b. geographic location of the countries c. refusal of Western nations to trade with Japan d. annexation of Japan into the Chinese Empire

b. geographic location of the countries

One way in which the code of chivalry in Europe and the code of Bushido in Japan were similar is that both codes were intended to a. help the ruler control his people b. guide the behavior of a warrior class c. benefit all the social classes d. support revolutionary ideas

b. guide the behavior of a warrior class

One similarity between the Gupta Dynasty (A.D. 320-550) in India and the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618-907) in China is that each dynasty a. promoted equality for women b. made advances in the arts, sciences, and mathematics c. gained overseas colonies d. developed a representative government

b. made advances in the arts, sciences, and mathematics

One important impact of the Mongol expansion across Asia and Europe was the a. increased authority of the Kievan princes b. rise in trade along the Silk Roads c. introduction of Hinduism into Chinese culture d. maritime exploration of the Arabian seacoast

b. rise in trade along the Silk Roads

The terms Bushido, samurai, and daimyo are most closely associated with which group in Japanese history? a. emperors b. warriors c. peasants d. merchants

b. warriors

One similarity between animism and Shinto is that people who follow these belief systems a. practice filial piety b. worship spirits in nature c. are monotheistic d. are required to make pilgrimages

b. worship spirits in nature

Which statement about government during the Tokugawa period in Japan is most accurate? a. The power of the emperor was absolute and supreme. b. The real power was held by foreign countries. c. Actual power was held by the shogun. d. Political power was in the hands of the merchant class.

c. Actual power was held by the shogun.

• Foreign rulers were overthrown. • Admiral Zheng He established trade links. • Civil service exams were reinstated. These events in history occurred during the rule of the a. Han Dynasty b. Qin Dynasty c. Ming dynasty d. Shang Dyansty

c. Ming dynasty

Which characteristic is found in traditional Japanese society? a. Each person is considered equal. b. The rights of the individual are more important than those of the family. c. Women are expected to be obedient to men. d. Young people are free to choose their occupation.

c. Women are expected to be obedient to men.

The introduction of Buddhism into Japan and of Christianity into Africa are examples of a. modernization b. ethnic conflict c. cultural diffusion d. isolation

c. cultural diffusion

Carefully drawn calligraphy, Zen gardens, and the tea ceremony are examples of a. artifacts of Mansa Musa's Timbuktu b. the accomplishments of the Protestant Reformation c. early Japanese culture d. the achievements of Renaissance Florence

c. early Japanese culture

A valid generalization about early Japanese culture is that Japan a. had a strong influence on the development of culture in Korea b. spread Shinto throughout Asia c. maintained a uniquely individual culture while borrowing much from other cultures d. imported almost all of its cultural ideas from China, resulting in nearly identical cultures

c. maintained a uniquely individual culture while borrowing much from other cultures

Tang Dynasty

considered the golden age of Chinese civilization and ruled for nearly 300 years; China grew under the dynasty to include much of eastern Asia, as well as large parts of Central Asia

Which was a characteristic of feudalism in both medieval Europe and Japan? a. The middle class acquired more power than any other class did. b. Political power was held by a strong centralized government. c. The army encouraged strong nationalistic feelings among the people. d. All the people knew their roles in a rigid class system.

d. All the people knew their roles in a rigid class system.

What was one result of the travels of Marco Polo? a. Africa remained isolated. b. Ottoman power decreased. c. Colonies were established in Japan. d. Interest in Asian cultures increased.

d. Interest in Asian cultures increased.

What was one influence of Mongol rule on the history of Russia? a. Contact with kingdoms in western Europe greatly increased b. The Chinese writing system was introduced and adopted c. Most Russians converted from Orthodox Christianity to Islam. d. Russian leaders adopted the idea of strong, centralized control of the empire.

d. Russian leaders adopted the idea of strong, centralized control of the empire.

What is a primary characteristic of a feudal society? a. a representative government b. economic equality for all c. protection of individual rights d. an exchange of land for services

d. an exchange of land for services

Both Japan and China decided to limit trade with Europe during much of the 16th and 17th centuries because the Japanese and the Chinese a. had few products to sell to the Europeans b. held religious beliefs that prohibited contact with foreigners c. thought European technology would hinder any effort to modernize d. believed they would receive no benefit from increased contact with the Europeans

d. believed they would receive no benefit from increased contact with the Europeans

The Mongols played a significant role in Russian history by a. supporting Czar Nicholas II during the Russian Revolution b. supporting the rule of Ivan the Terrible c. ending the reign of Catherine the Great d. isolating Russia from western Europe during the early Renaissance

d. isolating Russia from western Europe during the early Renaissance

• The Ming emperor banned the building of large ocean-going ships in 1433. • The Tokugawa shogun issued the Act of Seclusion in 1636. One way in which these historical occurrences are similar is that both led to increased a. social mobility b. globalization c. cultural diffusion d. isolation

d. isolation

The leadership of Genghis Khan, the use of the stirrup, and excellent horsemanship skills all contributed directly to the a. collapse of Silk Road trade b.defeat of Tokugawa Japan c. beginning of European exploration d. rise of the Mongol Empire

d. rise of the Mongol Empire

In Japan between 1603 and 1868, the most notable action taken by the Tokugawa Shogunate was the a. military conquest of China b. development of extensive trade with the Americas c. formation of cultural links with Europe d. virtual isolation of the country from the outside world

d. virtual isolation of the country from the outside world

In medieval Japan and medieval Europe, the feudal system was dominated by a. middle-class merchants b. peasant farmers c. radical revolutionaries d. warrior aristocrats

d. warrior aristocrats