HIST 209 EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
100% VERIFIED
Which of the following regions was best seen as a core power and center of the existing
interconnected world system before 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER China under Ming Dynasty rule
Why was the Indian Subcontinent a very important region in the context of pre-1500 C.E.
global trade and interaction? - ANSWER The region had a large population, and its monsoon
climate patterns made maritime travel easier than in other world regions
Which statement does not characterizes the role played by the Islamic world in the global
world system before 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER It had conquered parts of Western Europe and
brought those regions under Muslim influence
What was the Needham Puzzle, and why is it important for analyzing China during the early
modern period of world history? - ANSWER It represented attempts by various historians to
explain why China failed to maintain its predominant core position in the world system after
1500 C.E.
Which of the following statements does not characterize the situation in the Americas before
1500 C.E.? - ANSWER The peoples of the Americas did not develop complex civilizations, and
remained in hunter-gatherer societies
Which of the following statements does not characterize the Silk Routes of Eurasia prior to
,1500 C.E.? - ANSWER The Silk Routes came under the control of China after throwing off
Mongol rule, and China extended its power to the frontiers of Europe
What was the primary dilemma facing Portuguese explorers and traders when they first
reached the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia? - ANSWER They wanted to buy valuable goods
like spices, but lacked tradable commodities that they could exchange for them
Which of the following was not a key point of evidence that helps us to reconstruct the
Polynesian maritime expansions since ancient times? - ANSWER Written records of Polynesian
clans making migrations preserved on bamboo and palm-leaf books
What is the importance of the caravel ship that was developed by Portuguese sailors in the
fifteenth century? - ANSWER It could use its sails to engage in tacking, which allowed it to go
against the prevailing winds and currents if necessary
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas and why was it significant in the context of maritime
expansion in Western Europe? - ANSWER It was an agreement to divide the globe by a line
through the Atlantic, with Spain getting the routes west and Portugal the routes east
Which statement best explains why some historians use the term
"emporialism" to describe the Portuguese maritime expansion after 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER
Portuguese naval forces took over key ports throughout the Indian Ocean region and
extracted revenue from trade networks
,Which statement best describes the primary historical significance of the Portuguese maritime
expansion in world history? - ANSWER Portuguese exploration demonstrated an ability to cut
out the traditional middlemen of trade across the Eurasian landmass
Which of the following factors did not contribute to the early dominance of the Portuguese in
maritime expansion out of Western Europe? - ANSWER A need to develop new access points
to the Silk Routes to gain greater access to trans-Eurasian trade
Why did the Portuguese maritime experiment eventually fail to raise Portugal to the status of
a global power in Western Europe in the longer term? - ANSWER - The long supply lines
between the court at Lisbon and the far-flung ports of Asia were difficult to maintain
- Portuguese mariners often directed wealth from their trade to other parts of Europe to
avoid high taxes in Portugal itself
- Counter-responses by other imperial powers with interests in these trade routes and ports
eventually limited Portugal's power
- Portuguese explorers and governors began to intermix with local populations abroad,
creating tensions with the Catholic Church
Why did the Ming Dynasty rulers of the fifteenth century eventually reject
Zheng He's project of maritime exploration outside of China? - ANSWER Zheng He's fleet was
too expensive to equip, staff and maintain, which led later Chinese rulers to direct resources
elsewhere
Which of the following was a major problem for the Portuguese attempt to expand further
into sub-Saharan Africa via maritime routes? - ANSWER - Portuguese attempts to expand into
, North African Muslim kingdoms to access trans-Saharan trade routes were unsuccessful
- European travelers did not have immunity to sub-Saharan African diseases and could not
establish permanent settlements there
- The patterns of winds and currents along the West African coast made it difficult for
Portuguese missions to return home
- The Portuguese required African partners for trade and support, and they did not always
find cooperative groups
Which development made Martin Luther's ideas more widespread and better known in
Western Europe than previous religious debates during the medieval period? - ANSWER The
printing press, which could spread both text and illustrations of the issues more cheaply than
in earlier times
Which statement best describes the relationship between the spread of Renaissance ideas
across Western Europe, and the Catholic Church? - ANSWER The Catholic leadership often
supported Renaissance art and ideas, seeking ways to reconcile church teachings with classical
thought
Which statement best summarizes the nature of the Renaissance ideas that emerged in the
Italian city-states after the Black Death? - ANSWER The revival of the writings and thought of
Roman and Greek Antiquity, by which intellectuals could debate the contemporary present
What was the flashpoint issue that caused Martin Luther to launch a rebellion against the
Catholic Church in Europe? - ANSWER He rejected the practice of indulgences, by which
people could seek remission of their sins by making financial donations
100% VERIFIED
Which of the following regions was best seen as a core power and center of the existing
interconnected world system before 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER China under Ming Dynasty rule
Why was the Indian Subcontinent a very important region in the context of pre-1500 C.E.
global trade and interaction? - ANSWER The region had a large population, and its monsoon
climate patterns made maritime travel easier than in other world regions
Which statement does not characterizes the role played by the Islamic world in the global
world system before 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER It had conquered parts of Western Europe and
brought those regions under Muslim influence
What was the Needham Puzzle, and why is it important for analyzing China during the early
modern period of world history? - ANSWER It represented attempts by various historians to
explain why China failed to maintain its predominant core position in the world system after
1500 C.E.
Which of the following statements does not characterize the situation in the Americas before
1500 C.E.? - ANSWER The peoples of the Americas did not develop complex civilizations, and
remained in hunter-gatherer societies
Which of the following statements does not characterize the Silk Routes of Eurasia prior to
,1500 C.E.? - ANSWER The Silk Routes came under the control of China after throwing off
Mongol rule, and China extended its power to the frontiers of Europe
What was the primary dilemma facing Portuguese explorers and traders when they first
reached the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia? - ANSWER They wanted to buy valuable goods
like spices, but lacked tradable commodities that they could exchange for them
Which of the following was not a key point of evidence that helps us to reconstruct the
Polynesian maritime expansions since ancient times? - ANSWER Written records of Polynesian
clans making migrations preserved on bamboo and palm-leaf books
What is the importance of the caravel ship that was developed by Portuguese sailors in the
fifteenth century? - ANSWER It could use its sails to engage in tacking, which allowed it to go
against the prevailing winds and currents if necessary
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas and why was it significant in the context of maritime
expansion in Western Europe? - ANSWER It was an agreement to divide the globe by a line
through the Atlantic, with Spain getting the routes west and Portugal the routes east
Which statement best explains why some historians use the term
"emporialism" to describe the Portuguese maritime expansion after 1500 C.E.? - ANSWER
Portuguese naval forces took over key ports throughout the Indian Ocean region and
extracted revenue from trade networks
,Which statement best describes the primary historical significance of the Portuguese maritime
expansion in world history? - ANSWER Portuguese exploration demonstrated an ability to cut
out the traditional middlemen of trade across the Eurasian landmass
Which of the following factors did not contribute to the early dominance of the Portuguese in
maritime expansion out of Western Europe? - ANSWER A need to develop new access points
to the Silk Routes to gain greater access to trans-Eurasian trade
Why did the Portuguese maritime experiment eventually fail to raise Portugal to the status of
a global power in Western Europe in the longer term? - ANSWER - The long supply lines
between the court at Lisbon and the far-flung ports of Asia were difficult to maintain
- Portuguese mariners often directed wealth from their trade to other parts of Europe to
avoid high taxes in Portugal itself
- Counter-responses by other imperial powers with interests in these trade routes and ports
eventually limited Portugal's power
- Portuguese explorers and governors began to intermix with local populations abroad,
creating tensions with the Catholic Church
Why did the Ming Dynasty rulers of the fifteenth century eventually reject
Zheng He's project of maritime exploration outside of China? - ANSWER Zheng He's fleet was
too expensive to equip, staff and maintain, which led later Chinese rulers to direct resources
elsewhere
Which of the following was a major problem for the Portuguese attempt to expand further
into sub-Saharan Africa via maritime routes? - ANSWER - Portuguese attempts to expand into
, North African Muslim kingdoms to access trans-Saharan trade routes were unsuccessful
- European travelers did not have immunity to sub-Saharan African diseases and could not
establish permanent settlements there
- The patterns of winds and currents along the West African coast made it difficult for
Portuguese missions to return home
- The Portuguese required African partners for trade and support, and they did not always
find cooperative groups
Which development made Martin Luther's ideas more widespread and better known in
Western Europe than previous religious debates during the medieval period? - ANSWER The
printing press, which could spread both text and illustrations of the issues more cheaply than
in earlier times
Which statement best describes the relationship between the spread of Renaissance ideas
across Western Europe, and the Catholic Church? - ANSWER The Catholic leadership often
supported Renaissance art and ideas, seeking ways to reconcile church teachings with classical
thought
Which statement best summarizes the nature of the Renaissance ideas that emerged in the
Italian city-states after the Black Death? - ANSWER The revival of the writings and thought of
Roman and Greek Antiquity, by which intellectuals could debate the contemporary present
What was the flashpoint issue that caused Martin Luther to launch a rebellion against the
Catholic Church in Europe? - ANSWER He rejected the practice of indulgences, by which
people could seek remission of their sins by making financial donations
