Development in East Asia

Multiple Choice

"[Hangzhou, China, has] ten principal markets [They] are all squares of half a mile to the side, and along their front passes the main street, which is 40 paces in width, and runs straight from end to end of the city, crossing many bridges of easy and commodious [convenient] approach So also parallel to this great street, but at the back of the market places, there runs a very large canal, on the bank of which towards the squares are built great houses of stone, in which the merchants from India and other foreign parts store their wares, to be handy for the markets. In each of the squares is held a market three days in the week, frequented by 40,000 or 50,000 persons," Marco Polo, The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300

Based on the passage, which of the statements concerning the trading city of Hangzhou is most accurate?

• Foreigners were not welcome in Chinese trading cities, because they were considered barbarians and had nothing of value to trade.

• Many of the people coming to trade in cities in Chma were Europeans traveling along the Silk Roads.

• Hangzhou was a vital trading city because it had foreign merchants and was also accessible by the Grand Canal for internal trade.

• Chinese imperial governments limited the number of markets in Hangzhou to just a few centrally-located areas of the city.

Multiple Choice

What development, which began before the passage above was written, allowed Europeans to obtain the products of East Asia?

• Chinese dynasties, such as the Tang and the Song, grew stronger, so long-distance trade could be conducted with less risk.

• New maritime technology allowed for ocean-going ships to establish trade routes from Asia to Europe via Southern Africa.

• The Tang Dynasty expanded into the Middle East, so the trade routes between Europe and Africa were under one ruler,

• With the defeat of the Islamic caliphates, Europeans were able to establish direct contact with the Tang and the Song dynasties.

Multiple Choice

What products would Indians and other non-Chinese merchants be most likely to purchase in a market such as the one described in the passage?

• silk, porcelain, and tea

• pepper, nutmeg, and cinnamon

• cows, pigs, and oxen

• rugs, parchment, and horses

Open Ended

Describe ONE way in which Xu's argument was influenced by long-standing Asian cultural traditions.

Open Ended

Explain ONE example of Xu's recommendations to Chinese women that cross boundaries of gender in the period between c. 1200 and c. 1450.

Open Ended

Explain ONE historical situation from c. 1200—c. 1450 in which states in Asia attempted to limit Chinese political power or cultural influence.