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Worksheets

Civilizations in East and Southeast Asia

Total questions: 50

Worksheet time: 26mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which writing system developed during the Koryo dynasty that is still used in Korea today?

a)

Devanagari

b)

Bengali

c)

Hurrian

d)

Hangul

2.

What do we call the person that the earliest Koreans believed could communicate with spirits?

a)

Shaman

b)

Kahuna

c)

Witch Doctor

d)

Pawang

3.

This type of Korean pottery is known for its green color and elegant shapes. What is it called?

a)

celadon

b)

opaque

c)

feldspathic

d)

earthenware

4.

Between what two countries was Korea a cultural bridge?

a)

Japan and China

b)

Vietnam and China

c)

Japan and Russia

d)

China and Mongolia

5.

Where did most of the population of Korea live and why?

a)

Korea is a mountainous peninsula, which made farming difficult and caused the population to live along the western coastal plains and river valleys where farming was easier.

b)

Korea is a desert nation, which made farming extremely difficult. Most people lived along the southern border where farming was easier due to the Yalu River.

c)

Korea is an island nation surrounded by water, which meant most people lived along the coast as they turned to the sea for food and trade.

d)

Korea is a heavily forested nation, which meant the majority of the population lived on the outskirts of the forests and used the lumber from the forest to build their homes and villages.

6.

How did the Chinese influence Korea during the Koryo dynasty? (Select All That Apply)

a)

Buddhism and Confucianism from China influenced the way Koreans would set up their government and society including the use of Civil Service exams.

b)

Chinese culture influenced Korea in areas such as art, architecture, and literature.

c)

The Koreans adopted the Chinese alphabet, which they still use today.

d)

The Koreans copied the Chinese technique for making celadon pottery.

7.

What three ancient kingdoms ruled Korea from 100 BCE until 676 CE?

a)

Koguryo, Paekche, and Silla

b)

Byzantine, Ottoman, Roman

c)

Shang, Zhou, Qin

d)

Han, Tang, Ming

8.

Which dynasty replaced the Silla in 918?

a)

Koryo

b)

Qin

c)

Tang

d)

Han

9.

What happened after the Mongol invasion of Korea in 1231?

a)

Korea became a colony of Japan

b)

Mongols were defeated and expelled from Korea

c)

Koryo dynasty allied with China against the Mongols

d)

The Koryo dynasty became a tributary state of the Mongol Empire

10.

Who helped the Silla conquer the other Korean kingdoms?

a)

Byzantine Empire

b)

Mongol Empire

c)

Ottoman Empire

d)

Tang Dynasty of China

11.

Why is Southeast Asia considered to be a crossroads?

a)

It is a region with very little cultural diversity

b)

It is a region with no significant trade routes

c)

It is a region where only one religion is practiced

d)

It is a region where different cultures, religions, and trade routes intersect.

12.

What regions were connected through the trade in Southeast Asia?

a)

Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia

b)

North America, Antarctica, Europe, and South America

c)

Russia, Canada, China, and Japan

d)

China, India, the Middle East, and East Africa

13.

What evidence of India's cultural influence can be found in Southeast Asia?

a)

Spread of Christianity and Islam, adoption of European architectural styles and cultural practices

b)

Influence of Chinese culture, adoption of Chinese architectural styles and cultural practices

c)

Spread of Hinduism and Buddhism, adoption of Indian architectural styles and cultural practices

d)

Spread of Zoroastrianism and Sikhism, adoption of Persian architectural styles and cultural practices

14.

Historically, how did China influence Vietnam's culture?

a)

By promoting the spread of Hinduism and Indian traditions

b)

By introducing Christianity and European customs

c)

By imposing strict isolationist policies

d)

Through centuries of trade, migration, and conquest.

15.

What is a monsoon?

a)

A type of dessert made with ice cream and fruit

b)

A type of fast-moving river

c)

A type of tropical bird found in South America

d)

Seasonal wind pattern that brings heavy rainfall

16.

Which of the following statements best describes the geography of Southeast Asia?

a)

Characterized by its temperate climate and lack of natural resources

b)

Consists mainly of deserts and arid landscapes

c)

Known for its cold climate and lack of biodiversity

d)

A conglomeration of several peninsulas and more than 20,000 islands

17.

Urbanization: ________ of people from rural areas to cities.

a)

Movement

b)

Settlement

c)

Displacement

d)

Migration

18.

Porcelain: A thin, beautiful ________ invented in China.

a)

pottery

b)

metal

c)

glass

d)

plastic

19.

Khan: Title given to Mongol leaders, meaning "________ ruler."

a)

supreme

b)

lesser

c)

nomadic

d)

temporary

20.

Steppe: Sparse, dry, treeless ________.

a)

grassland

b)

forest

c)

desert

d)

tundra

21.

Block Printing: A system of printing where characters are carved onto a wooden block. The block is then inked and pressed onto a sheet of ________.

a)

paper

b)

cloth

c)

metal

d)

plastic

22.

Archipelago: A large group of ________.

a)

islands

b)

mountains

c)

rivers

d)

lakes

23.

Clan: Group of families related by blood or ________.

a)

marriage

b)

friendship

c)

location

d)

occupation

24.

Regent: A person who governs in place of a ruler who is ill, absent, or still a ________.

a)

child

b)

adult

c)

citizen

d)

foreigner

25.

Shogun: Supreme military ________.

a)

commander

b)

leader

c)

officer

d)

general

26.

Samurai: Class of warriors in feudal Japan who pledged loyalty to a noble in return for ________.

a)

land

b)

money

c)

titles

d)

protection

27.

Daimyo: Japan's large ________.

a)

landowners

b)

cities

c)

rivers

d)

mountains

28.

Noh: Japanese drama that appealed to the nobles and ________.

a)

samurai

b)

merchants

c)

farmers

d)

artisans

29.

Kabuki: A type of Japanese drama in which music, dance, and mime are used to present ________.

a)

stories

b)

paintings

c)

sculptures

d)

poems

30.

Shrine: A place of worship that is often dedicated to a sacred object or ________.

a)

person

b)

animal

c)

building

d)

ritual

31.

Mantra: A word or sound repeated to aid concentration in ________.

a)

meditation

b)

exercise

c)

cooking

d)

reading

32.

Zen Buddhism became popular in Japan in the 1100s. This distinct form was especially popular with the warrior class. It was different from other forms because it placed importance on 

a)

faith and good behavior

b)

observance of rituals and wisdom

c)

self-discipline and meditation

d)

sacrifice and ancestor worship

33.

Medieval Japan was based upon the feudal system, where weaker territorial lords owed their loyalty to stronger ones. All power was held by military dictatorships led by the 

a)

emperor

b)

shoguns

c)

knights

d)

samurai

34.

Why was fishing the main source of food in Japan?

a)

Japan was a volcanic (mountainous) island

b)

Japan had no soil so no food could be grown

c)

The people were excellent fishermen

d)

Eating other meats was forbidden in Shinto

35.

Many great works of early Japanese literature were written by

a)

Buddhist scholars

b)

Samurai warriors

c)

Shinto priests

d)

Noblewomen

36.

What does the term bureaucracy mean?

a)

A type of fruit found in tropical regions

b)

A method of farming using organic materials

c)

A system of government or organization in which decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

d)

A style of music originating from South America

37.

In Tang and Song China, what was a scholar-official?

a)

A farmer who owned a large piece of land

b)

A member of the elite class who passed civil service exams and held government positions

c)

A skilled artisan who worked for the royal family

d)

A military general who led the emperor's army

38.

Which dynasty eventually reunited China after the fall of the Han?

a)

Ming Dynasty

b)

Qin Dynasty

c)

Tang Dynasty

d)

Sui Dynasty

39.

How did Emperor Taizong bring stability to the government?

a)

He established an absolute monarchy.

b)

He revived and extended China's bureaucracy.

c)

He allowed corruption to flourish.

d)

He implemented a system of hereditary succession.

40.

Why did the Song rulers withdraw to the south, or "South Song"?

a)

To expand their territory

b)

To seek better trade opportunities

c)

To avoid conflicts with neighboring kingdoms

d)

To escape the invading Jin forces from the north

41.

What made southern China suited for growing rice?

a)

Cold and dry climate, mountainous terrain, and lack of access to water for irrigation

b)

Hot and dry climate, flat terrain, and lack of access to water for irrigation

c)

Warm and wet climate, flat terrain, and access to water for irrigation

d)

Temperate climate, hilly terrain, and access to water for irrigation

42.

Why did the population of China double between 750-1100?

a)

Advancements in agriculture

b)

Time travel

c)

Magic potion

d)

Alien invasion

43.

True or false: The Tang and Song dynasties represent a golden age for Chinese art and literature.

a)

Not sure

b)

Partially true

c)

True

d)

False

44.

Who were the Mongols?

a)

A nomadic group of people from the steppes of Central Asia.

b)

A group of traders from the Middle East.

c)

A farming community from South America.

d)

A seafaring civilization from Europe.

45.

Who was Genghis Khan?

a)

An Egyptian pharaoh

b)

A famous Roman philosopher

c)

A powerful Mongolian warrior and founder of the Mongol Empire.

d)

A Chinese emperor

46.

Which famous explorers wrote about their travels through China during the Yuan dynasty?

a)

Captain James Cook and Hernan Cortes

b)

Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta

c)

Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama

d)

Amerigo Vespucci and Ferdinand Magellan

47.

What is a despot?

a)

A compassionate and benevolent monarch

b)

A democratic leader chosen by the people

c)

A ruler or leader who holds absolute power and often uses it in a cruel or oppressive way

d)

A peaceful and fair ruler

48.

Who was Zheng He?

a)

Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and fleet admiral

b)

Indian mathematician

c)

Japanese samurai

d)

European painter

49.

Confucianism is a belief system that focuses on

a)

morality

b)

harmony with nature

c)

enlightenment

d)

the afterlife

50.

What development helped increase literacy in Song China?

a)

Metal engraving

b)

Stone carving

c)

Paper making

d)

Block printing