HISTORY 100
PART 1: However you choose to present your answer (see above), your answer should contain an introduction with a clear thesis statement and should provide supporting evidence from course materials, not outside materials. 45 points
- Explain the importance and impact of long-distance (global) trade in the late Middle Ages/early Modern Era.
- You should address trade from at least three perspectives, such as the movement of people and ideas, the spread of religion, technology, disease, economics, conquest, etc.
- You should also consider:
- Who were the main players involved in this trade? (You will, of course, want to consider more than just Europe.)
- Who were the “winners” and who were the “losers” in this trade?
Please note: I am looking for your conclusions about this topic. You have plenty of resources at your disposal to answer this question. I am looking for your ability to think creatively about the question and to make and support an argument. You should explain your ideas and arguments clearly and fully and you should provide support for your arguments / conclusions.
You don’t need to cite the textbook unless you are using specific information or quoting from the textbook, in which case a simple (Szostak page #) will suffice. If you are using information from supplemental materials provided, you may simply reference the name (Code of Hammurabi), or indirectly reference the source (“In the Code of Hammurabi, slaves are mentioned..”). You should include a Works Consulted at the end of your essay/project.
PART 2: Short-answer questions. Select and answer one question for each category (1 from A, 1 from B, and 1 from C) for a total of three (3) answers. 10 points each
Each answer should be a strong paragraph (about ½ to 1 page in length), double-spaced. You should be sure to include a thesis statement (argument) at the beginning of your paragraph, and you should explain your ideas and arguments clearly and fully.
Select and answer ONE question from each of the following categories:
Category A
Select and answer one
A1. What were the key political, economic, cultural, and other transformations in Eurasia after the fall of the classical empires? Why did these occur and what effects did they have?
A2. What were the major changes in Asian societies in the centuries after the fall of the Han, Persian, and Gupta Empires? What sorts of states existed in different regions and what policies did they pursue?
Category B
Select and answer one
B1. How did the unique experience of the Latin Christian (Catholic) Church shape European developments? What was the greatest influence of the Church on Europe?
B2. Why was the Islamic world more advanced technologically, culturally, and scientifically than Europe? What impact did Muslim knowledge and learning have outside of the Islamic world?
Category C
Select and answer one
C1. How did the different natural environments of the Americas and Africa influence political, economic and other developments there? How did Africa factor into developments in Eurasia during the Middle Ages?
C2. What were the effects of the Mongol conquests? On trade? On the flow of information and culture? On political developments in regions affected? On religions? On disease transmission?
- If you address the Mongols in Part 1, please don’t simply restate that answer here.