Question

unit 1 progress check: mcq
questions 10 through 12 refer to the following.
in that year 1450 c.e. there came to naples a three - man embassy from the king of ethiopia to his highness, our king alfonso. among the ambassadors was a certain pietro rombulo, an italian, native of the city of messina. this pietro claimed that he had lived among the ethiopians for over 40 years. and he described to me how in ethiopia there are innumerable christians - since both the people and the king there worship christ - among whom he had been able to live a good christian life safely and honorably. the ruler of ethiopia, king david, whom they call zara yacob, was said by the ambassadors to be the most civilized, the most just, and the most pious of princes.
pietro ranzano, catholic church official in naples and sicily, universal history written circa 1480
which of the following was a continuity in the development of african states in the period circa 1200 - 1450?
a african states such as ethiopia maintained close contacts with south and east asian states across the indian ocean but rarely had contacts with europe.
b despite geographical barriers, some african states were able to maintain diplomatic and cultural contacts with the broader afro - eurasian world.
c most african states rejected traditional forms of international diplomacy, such as dynastic marriages and tribute payments.
d african states needed to maintain friendly diplomatic relations with europe in order to expand their empires.

Explanation:

The text shows an Ethiopian embassy to Naples in 1450, indicating diplomatic contact. Option A is wrong as it says rarely had contacts with Europe while the text shows otherwise. Option C is incorrect as there's no evidence of rejection of traditional diplomacy in the text. Option D is not supported as there's no mention of empire - expansion motivation. Option B is correct as the embassy shows diplomatic contact despite geographical barriers, and Ethiopia's Christian nature implies cultural contact with the Afro - Eurasian world.

Answer:

B. Despite geographical barriers, some African states were able to maintain diplomatic and cultural contacts with the broader Afro - Eurasian world.