Check for Understanding: China

Questions 1 to 3 refer to the passage below.

“[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 marketplaces, 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 (Italian traveler and explorer), The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300

1. 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 China 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.

“[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 marketplaces, 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 (Italian traveler and explorer), The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300

2. 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 travel safely between Europe and Asia, going around 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.

“[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 marketplaces, 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 (Italian traveler and explorer), The Travels of Marco Polo, c. 1300

3. 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

Questions 4-6 refer to the image.

Source: Wujing Zongyao. 1040 to 1044. Traction trebuchet on an early Song Dynasty warship. Trebuchets like this were used to launch the earliest type of explosive bombs.

 

4. This image can be used as evidence for which of the following c. 1200 to c. 1450?

• The Song Dynasty continued to rely on Confucianism and Confucian scholars to legitimize their rule.

• The effects of Chinese cultural traditions on neighboring countries over time.

• China’s continued tradition of scientific and technological innovations.

• The Chinese maritime voyages led by Admiral Zheng He

Questions 4-6 refer to the image.

Source: Wujing Zongyao. 1040 to 1044. Traction trebuchet on an early Song Dynasty warship. Trebuchets like this were used to launch the earliest type of explosive bombs.

5. Which element of the image above would have the greatest impact on Afro-Eurasia due to increased cross-cultural interactions

in the period c. 1200 to c. 1450?.

• The trebuchet on top of the ship

• The oars used to steer the ship

• The design of the ship

• The explosives carried on the ship

Questions 4-6 refer to the image.

Source: Wujing Zongyao. 1040 to 1044. Traction trebuchet on an early Song Dynasty warship. Trebuchets like this were used to launch the earliest type of explosive bombs.

6. Which of the following Chinese cultural traditions had the largest impact on neighboring regions in East Asia c. 1200 to c. 1450?

• Canals

• Confucianism

• Paper Money

• Foot Binding