Chinese and Indian philosophies
What is the primary focus of Confucianism in Chinese philosophy?
the cultivation of virtue in a morally organized world
Who is the founder of Confucianism?
Confucious
What was the Columbian Exchange?
The columbian exchange was the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, people, and ideas between the old world and the new world.
What is the name of the ancient kingdom known for its wealth and trade in gold, located in present-day Mali?
Mali empire
Who was the founder of the Mongol Empire?
Genghis Khan
How does Daoism Taoism differ from Confucianism in its views on nature and society?
Daoism prioritizes living in harmony with nature, often viewing human society as artificial and seeking to align oneself with the natural order
What are the Five Relationships in Confucianism, and why are they important?
Those between ruler and subject, father and son, elder brother and younger brother, husband and wife, and friend and friend.
Name three crops that were introduced to Europe from the Americas during the Columbian Exchange.
corn, potatoes, tomatoes,
How did the trans-Saharan trade routes contribute to the rise of African empires?
By generating substantial wealth through the exchange of goods like gold and salt, which allowed these empires to strengthen their political structures, expand their territories.
What were the main reasons for the rapid expansion of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century?
The rapid expansion of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century was primarily due to their exceptional military tactics, including superior cavalry skills, highly mobile armies, and skilled leadership under Genghis Khan, combined with the strategic use of intimidation and the incorporation of conquered peoples into their military forces.
What are the key concepts of karma and dharma in Hindu philosophy?
karma refers to the law of cause and effect, meaning that every action has a consequence, while dharma represents one's moral duty or righteous conduct,
How does Confucianism emphasize the importance of education?
viewing it as a fundamental tool for personal transformation, character development, and achieving social harmony by cultivating virtues like ren, yi, and li through lifelong learning.
How did the Columbian Exchange impact the population of Native Americans?
It caused a drastic decline due to the introduction of European diseases like smallpox, measles, and typhus.
What were the key characteristics of the Great Zimbabwe civilization?
large stone enclosures like the Great Enclosure, a thriving gold trade, a complex social structure, and a central location that facilitated trade routes between the African interior and the Indian Ocean coast.
How did the Mongol administration differ from that of the empires they conquered, particularly in terms of governance and trade?
By placing a strong emphasis on facilitating trade across their vast territory, allowing for greater religious tolerance, and utilizing a decentralized governance structure where local leaders were often left in place while paying tribute to the Mongol Khan.
Compare and contrast the ideas of wu wei in Daoism and the concept of non-attachment in Buddhism.
wu wei emphasizes aligning with the natural flow of the universe by taking non-action or effortless action, while non-attachment in Buddhism primarily focuses on detaching from personal desires and suffering to achieve enlightenment.
What role does the concept of "ren" (benevolence or humaneness) play in Confucian ethical thought?
It is considered the central virtue, representing the highest ideal of moral character and serving as the foundation for all other ethical behaviors
Discuss the role of the Columbian Exchange in the development of global trade networks.
It played an important role in the development of global trade networks by introducing new crops, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe, Asia, and Africa, significantly altering agricultural practices, population dynamics, and economic structures across the globe, creating new trade routes and dependencies between continents that had previously been largely isolated from one another.
Discuss the impact of European colonization on the social structures of African empires in the late 19th century.
Before colonization, African empires had their own leaders and systems of governance based on families and local customs. When Europeans arrived, they often ignored these systems and set up their own rules. This meant that traditional leaders lost power, and many people felt disconnected from their own government.
Analyze the impact of Mongol rule on the cultural exchanges between the East and West during the 13th and 14th centuries.
by establishing a period of relative peace across a vast territory, allowing for increased trade along the Silk Road, which led to the movement of goods, ideas, technologies, and people between different civilizations, fostering a cross-cultural interaction never seen before at such a scale.
How do the philosophical ideas of the Chinese concept of li and the Indian concept of Brahman relate to their respective views on the nature of existence?
li emphasizes the importance of proper social conduct and maintaining harmony within the world through ritual and ethical behavior, whereas Brahman focuses on a transcendent, unifying consciousness that is the ultimate source of all existence.
How does Confucianism address the concept of governance, and what principles does it advocate for leaders in relation to the ruled?
Governance is primarily based on the idea that a leader should rule through moral example, prioritizing the well-being of the people and cultivating their virtue by setting a high standard of personal conduct.
Analyze the long-term ecological consequences of the Columbian exchange on both the old world and the new world.
The introduction of new plant and animal species, which significantly altered ecosystems, disrupted native food chains, and led to widespread environmental changes due to intensive agriculture practices, often accompanied by deforestation and land conversion.
Analyze the cultural and political legacy of the Kingdom of Axum in shaping later African societies and interactions with the Mediterranean world.
The kingdom of axum left a significant cultural and political legacy in Africa, particularly in its role as a major trading hub between the continent and the Mediterranean world, its adoption of Christianity as a state religion, and its development of a unique writing system, Ge'ez, which contributed to later African societies and their interactions with other civilizations.
How did the Mongols facilitate trade and cultural exchange across their empire, particularly through the Silk Road?
by establishing a secure environment for merchants through the Pax Mongolica, implementing a sophisticated postal system called the Yam, standardizing currency, and allowing religious tolerance