Persia, India, and China

The Persian Empire served as the birthplace of —

• modern democratic traditions

• the earliest monotheistic religion

• the first iron weapons and tools

• government tests for job-seekers

How did Judaism differ from many other early religions prior to the classical period?

• Judaism encouraged missionaries to convert non-believers.

• Judaism relied on the interpretations of religious scholars.

• Judaism emphasized a belief in one God.

• Judaism imposed strict dietary laws.

Why did Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi adopt a legalist philosophy of governing after gaining power in China?

• He wanted peasants to abandon their Buddhist practices and customs.

• He understood that filial piety along with duty to society was very important.

• He wanted to speed up the rebuilding of the military after defeating the Zhou.

• He believed that strong laws and punishments would bring about social order.

Which belief system gained prominence in India during the Mauryan Empire?

• Hinduism

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Confucianism

Which of the following best describes Indian culture during the rule of the Gupta Empire?

• Buddhist traditions dominated, while Hindu customs were viewed unfavorably.

• Hindu culture flourished with many works of art and literature being produced.

• Cultural pursuits were prohibited so people could spend their time in meditation.

• Indian scholars were persecuted by political leaders who felt threatened by their ideas.

Why did the Mauryan Empire flourish under the leadership of Ashoka?

• Ashoka forced many to convert to Buddhism and exiled rebellious Hindus from India.

• Ashoka instituted a period of peace and open trade after his conversion to Buddhism.

• Ashoka divided the empire into smaller city-states ruled by his brothers and sons.

• Ashoka passed laws that were so strict, no one dared to rebel.

Which of the following was politically characteristic of many civilizations during the Classical Era (500BC-600AD)?

• Complex empires with bureaucracies developed.

• Small feudal kingdoms spread across Eurasia.

• Representative governments evolved throughout the world.

• Voting rights were given to more and more people.

Which of the following best describes the factors that contributed to the collapse of the Roman Empire and Han China?

• Internal rebellions led by peasant groups eventually resulted in the overthrow of both empires.

• Corruption in the government, social instability and the inability to manage vast borders eventually doomed both empires.

• A failure to standardize coinage along with high tariffs on trade resulted in a disruptive trade system and eventual decline of the two empires.

• Adoption of new religious practices among the elite political leaders created a vacuum of leadership and eventual decay of leadership in the empires.

Confucianism has remained a component of Chinese culture throughout most of history because —

• Confucian leaders prohibited other belief systems from being practiced in China

• Confucian teachings stressed family relationships regardless of who governed

• Confucian followers built large universities along the Silk Road

• Confucian warlords forced the nomadic peasants to convert

Which classical civilization created the decimal system and numeral writing used in the world today?

• Han China

• Gupta India

• Persian Empire

• Classical Greece