Take home exam Quesitons 2015
Take Home Exam Questions _ 2015
1. What were the most important features of political and military relations
along the long Eurasian border between agrarian states and
pastoralists? You must illustrate your arguments with specific examples
(for example, What kind of threats and opportunities did the nomadic
pastoralists present for China?)
2. Which statement would you agree with: (1) The Yuan was a Mongol
empire which colonized China; (2) The Yuan was just another Chinese
dynasty. What implications does your choice of answer have for
understanding Chinese history?
3. How do you think about Chinese Communist Party’s persistent
statement that ‘Xinjiang, Tibet and Mongolia have been integral parts
of China since time immemorial’. Discuss your perception with
historical evidence by focusing on ONE of these three territories.
4. Since the break of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the
independent Central Asian states, China has been extremely active in
its effort to rehabilitate the concept of ‘Silk Road’. Discuss the geopolitical and economic viability of this endeavour, and look into what
does the term ‘New Silk Road’ refer to in the 21 st century.
5. How did ecological factors stimulate trade along the Silk Road? Look
into this question by reading David Christian’s “Silk Road or Steppe
Roads” and Robert Taafe’s “The geographic setting”.
1. For what reasons and by which means did nomads venture the
formation of empires? Please base your answer by reading David
Christian’s “State formation” and Nicola Di Cosmo’s “Those who draw
the bow” in Ancient China and its Enemies .
2. How and why did Islam spread so rapidly in Central Asia? Would you
agree with the statement Islam had a positive impact on cultural
exchange and development across Eurasia? Demonstrate your
contentions with specific examples.
3. What was the role of religious institutions and beliefs in advancing
trade in Silk Road regions?
1
1. What were the most important features of political and military relations
along the long Eurasian border between agrarian states and
pastoralists? You must illustrate your arguments with specific examples
(for example, What kind of threats and opportunities did the nomadic
pastoralists present for China?)
2. Which statement would you agree with: (1) The Yuan was a Mongol
empire which colonized China; (2) The Yuan was just another Chinese
dynasty. What implications does your choice of answer have for
understanding Chinese history?
3. How do you think about Chinese Communist Party’s persistent
statement that ‘Xinjiang, Tibet and Mongolia have been integral parts
of China since time immemorial’. Discuss your perception with
historical evidence by focusing on ONE of these three territories.
4. Since the break of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the
independent Central Asian states, China has been extremely active in
its effort to rehabilitate the concept of ‘Silk Road’. Discuss the geopolitical and economic viability of this endeavour, and look into what
does the term ‘New Silk Road’ refer to in the 21 st century.
5. How did ecological factors stimulate trade along the Silk Road? Look
into this question by reading David Christian’s “Silk Road or Steppe
Roads” and Robert Taafe’s “The geographic setting”.
1. For what reasons and by which means did nomads venture the
formation of empires? Please base your answer by reading David
Christian’s “State formation” and Nicola Di Cosmo’s “Those who draw
the bow” in Ancient China and its Enemies .
2. How and why did Islam spread so rapidly in Central Asia? Would you
agree with the statement Islam had a positive impact on cultural
exchange and development across Eurasia? Demonstrate your
contentions with specific examples.
3. What was the role of religious institutions and beliefs in advancing
trade in Silk Road regions?
1