Question

section 3 – east asia and the mongols
reading passage
gunpowder and the compass were first introduced by tang and song china. the magnetic compass and paper currency made trade easier during this time. buddhism came to china from india along the silk road. during the post - classical era, improved transportation technologies and commercial practices led to increased trade routes and trade volume. the mongols like the ancient greeks established a vast empire and spread their culture to new regions. trade flourished across asia under the mongol empire because peaceful relations encouraged safe travel. the mongols crossed a wide range of physical features to expand their empire. the mongol empire allowed ideas, goods, and technologies to move across eurasia.
comprehension questions

1. which two inventions were first introduced by tang and song china?
2. how did the compass and paper currency influence chinese society?
3. which trade route helped spread buddhism into china?
4. what best describes the post - classical era?
5. how was mongol rule similar to ancient greek rule?
6. why did trade flourish under the mongol empire?
7. what would a map of the mongol empire suggest about geography and expansion?

Explanation:

To answer these questions, we analyze the reading passage:

1. From the passage: "Gunpowder and the compass were first introduced by Tang and Song China." So the two inventions are gunpowder and the compass.

1. The passage states: "The magnetic compass and paper currency made trade easier during this time." So they influenced Chinese society by making trade easier.

1. The passage says: "Buddhism came to China from India along the Silk Road." So the Silk Road helped spread Buddhism into China.

1. The passage mentions: "During the Post - Classical Era, improved transportation technologies and commercial practices led to increased trade routes and trade volume." Also, cultural spread (like Buddhism) and technological/idea exchange (like inventions) were part of it. A good description would be a time of increased trade, cultural diffusion, and technological exchange, with empires (like Mongol) and improved transport/commerce playing key roles.

1. The passage states: "The Mongols like the Ancient Greeks established a vast empire and spread their culture to new regions." So they were similar in establishing a vast empire and spreading their culture to new regions.

1. The passage says: "Trade flourished across Asia under the Mongol Empire because peaceful relations encouraged safe travel." So trade flourished because peaceful relations under Mongol rule encouraged safe travel.

1. The passage says: "The Mongols crossed a wide range of physical features to expand their empire." A map of the Mongol Empire would suggest that they expanded across diverse physical features (like different terrains) to build a vast empire, and this expansion facilitated the movement of ideas, goods, and technologies across Eurasia.

Answer:

1. Gunpowder and the compass.
2. They made trade easier.
3. The Silk Road.
4. A time of increased trade, cultural diffusion, and technological exchange, with empires (like Mongol) and improved transport/commerce playing key roles (or based on the passage details: a period with improved transportation, commercial practices, increased trade routes/volume, and cultural/technological exchange).
5. Both established a vast empire and spread their culture to new regions.
6. Because peaceful relations under Mongol rule encouraged safe travel.
7. The Mongols expanded across diverse physical features to build a vast empire, and this expansion facilitated the movement of ideas, goods, and technologies across Eurasia.