Description
Part II. Longer Essay. Write an essay of about five solid paragraphs (double spaced) on one of the following questions. Include at least two pictures and note how the pictures help us understand the topic. Please make sure the information you share is different from what you wrote about in Part I.
Islamic World. Explain how Islam was a cultural and political phenomenon in the era leading up to 1600. Describe developments in at least two Islamic societies in this era.
African Societies. How do you see African societies developing in the era of 1000-1600? Give specific examples of changes in at least two kingdoms or regions. How were these societies influenced by increasing contact with the Islamic World, India, and Europe?
Christian Europe. Explain how Christianity was a cultural and political phenomenon in the era leading up to 1600. Describe three key events or movements that shaped European society in this era.
America before 1500. What do you find most remarkable about the societies of the Americas before the era of European contact? Discuss at least two of the societies depicted in our reading. Do you see these societies following a path very similar to the societies of Eurasia in the same era, or do you see them on a very different kind of path?
China. What do you find remarkable about China in the Song and Ming eras? In what ways did China influence other parts of the world in this era? How do you see other parts of the world influencing China?
India. In what ways was India a “cultural mosaic”? Describe three social, economic, or political trends in India and the societies touching the Indian Ocean in the era leading up to 1600.
Atlantic Trade. Explain the importance of trade in the Atlantic in the 1400s and 1500s. In what ways did trade bind together societies of Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Use specific examples from your reading to show positive as well as negative impacts related to trade.