Lesson 12 Review 2024–2025

Why did the Ming dynasty abandon Zheng He’s voyages?

• They lacked the technology to continue long-distance naval expeditions.

• The voyages were seen as wasteful and did not align with Confucian values.

• Foreign powers threatened Ming naval superiority.

• The Ming dynasty focused on colonizing Southeast Asia instead.

How did Zheng He’s naval expeditions help expand China’s influence?

• by conquering foreign territories and annexing them into the empire

• by establishing tributary relationships with foreign states

• by creating new trade routes between China and Europe

• by introducing Confucian governance to Southeast Asia

What role did Confucian principles play in the governance of the Ming and Qing dynasties?

• They promoted religious diversity and encouraged cultural exchange.

• They emphasized hierarchical relationships and loyalty to the emperor.

• They discouraged the use of state exams for selecting officials.

• They advocated for military expansion over economic stability.

Why did Tokugawa Japan adopt policies like the Sakoku Edict?

• to encourage rapid industrialization

• to prevent foreign influence and preserve cultural traditions

• to increase trade with neighboring Asian countries

• to strengthen alliances with Western powers

How did Tokugawa Japan ensure loyalty among the daimyo?

• by allowing them to maintain their independent armies

• by forcing them to spend part of the year in the capital city Edo

• by offering tax exemptions in exchange for military service

• by decentralizing political control and giving the daimyo more autonomy

What was the primary motivation for the Tokugawa shogunate’s rigid social hierarchy?

• to encourage innovation and economic growth

• to maintain social stability and control over the population

• to weaken the samurai class and strengthen merchant influence

• to align Japanese society with Confucian principles of equality

What was one key modernization effort under Peter the Great?

• the establishment of kabuki theaters

• the creation of a professional navy

• the introduction of Confucian state exams

• the adoption of isolationist policies

How did Catherine the Great contribute to Russia’s cultural and political development?

• by adopting isolationist policies and discouraging trade with Europe

• by promoting Enlightenment ideals and supporting educational reforms

• by focusing on military expansion at the expense of the arts

• by emphasizing agriculture and rejecting industrialization

How did all three empires—Ming/Qing China, Tokugawa Japan, and the Russian Empire—use centralized power to maintain stability?

• by delegating authority to local governors

• by strengthening the military and enforcing strict social hierarchies

• by promoting cultural diversity and religious tolerance

• by establishing trade monopolies with neighboring empires

What was one common challenge faced by the Ming/Qing dynasties, Tokugawa Japan, and the Russian Empire?

• overreliance on foreign trade for economic stability

• failure to modernize in response to changing global dynamics

• lack of strong centralized authority

• resistance to cultural traditions and heritage