Bentley Chapter 12 Reading Guide AP World History Corder
(1) Describe trade before the Classical period. What two developments during the Classical period reduced the risks of travel?
(2) What brought about an increase in trade during the Hellenistic era? Explain.
(3) On your map, label Bactria, the Mediterranean, Syria, Persia, Egypt, Nubia, Meroe, and Palestine. What routes did the Ptolemies maintain? By the way, who were the Ptolemies?
(4) How did mariners from Ptolemaic Egypt use the monsoon winds? From whom did they learn about the monsoon winds?
(5) What items did India trade with Hellenistic cities? How did these items get there?
(6) What came from Persia and Egypt?
(7) What items came from the Mediterranean to Persia and Bactria?
(8) From where did slaves come in the trading network?
(9) What items came from Africa’s interior?
(10) Label the items in numbers 5-8 on your map, placing them on the point of origin.
(11) What impact did the establishment of Classical societies have on trae? Explain. What empires maintained order in each empire during the Classical period?
(12) What were the Silk Roads? Look at the map on page 300. Put the Silk Roads on your map, labeling the land and sea routes different colors. What was the final destination in the east? Label this city on your map.
(13) Label the Taklamakan Desert on your map. What was unique about this desert? How did merchants avoid this place where “he who enters does not come back”? Label the city where the roads come back together.
(14) If you were a merchant traveling west from Bactria, you would have two choices. What are they? Label Taxila on your map.
(15) Label the Caspian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf on your map.
(16) What two cities were the final destinations on the Silk Road in the west? Label on your map.
(17) What fine spices came from S.E. Asia?
(18) Why were spices so important in Classical times? Give all the reasons?
(19) From where did strong horses come?
(20) What came from the Roman Empire?
(21) Give two examples that show how far individuals traveled during Classical times.
(22) Why wasn’t it necessary for merchants to travel the full length of Eurasia to acquire goods on the other side of the continent?
(23) After the 3rd century BCE, where did Buddhism spread as a result of the Silk Roads? Make another map separate from your trading routes map. Label Bactria, Ceylon, Persia, China, India, Arabian Sea, South China Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and SE Asia. See page 303. Use red to show the route of Buddhism from its point of origin.
(24) Explain the role of oasis towns in the spread of Buddhism.
(25) How did Buddhism find its way to the steppes of Central Asia?
(26) When and how did Buddhism establish a foothold in China? What brought about the popularity of Buddhism in the fifth century CE?
(27) How did Buddhism and Hinduism spread to SE Asia? Use green to show the spread of Hinduism on your map.
(28) Label Vietnam and Cambodia on your map. How did these two regions show Indian influences? Be specific.
(29) Discuss two reasons why Christians were persecuted by Roman officials. In spite of these obstacles, Christianity still spread. How?
(30) Who was Gregory the Wonderworker? What is his significance? Be specific.
(31) During the late third century CE where did devout Christian missionaries flourish? Label these on your map. Look at the map on page 304. Use blue to show the path of Christianity from its point of origin.
(32) Who was responsible for the beginnings of Manichaeism? From where did he draw influence? Describe Man’s beliefs. Why was it significant? Show the spread of Manichaeism from its point of origin on your map.
(33) What eventually became of Manichaeism? Explain.
(34) How do scholars determine population estimates about societies?
(35) Read the section on epidemic diseases that begins on page 308. Create a chart that represents the information in this section.
(36) What was the main reason the Han dynasty declined? Describe specific internal struggles that occurred in the Han dynasty.
(37) What was the Yellow Turban Uprising? When did this occur?
(38) Describe the political organization of the Han Dynasty in 190 CE. What significant event occurred in 220 CE? What was China like for the next 350 years?
(39) So now that you’ve read all about the last days of the Han Dynasty, what factors brought about the fall of the Han Dynasty?
(40) Discuss specific cultural and social changes that occurred as a result of the fall of the Han Dynasty.
(41) How did Buddhism develop as a major religion in China during this period? Be specific.
(42) Discuss the internal political problems that led to the fall of the Roman Empire. Be sure to address the barracks emperors in your answer.
(43) How did size play a role in the fall of the Roman Empire? How did Diocletian (284 – 305 CE) try to address this problem?
(44) What else did Diocletian do to strengthen the empire? What was a negative outcome of his efforts?
(45) Who had secured the empire in 324? What did he do once he had consolidated his power?
(46) What specific nomadic societies contributed to the fall of the Western Roman Empire? Explain.
(47) What was the most prominent survivor of the Western Roman Empire? What factors enhanced Christianity’s influence in the Mediterranean?
(48) How did the groups who embraced Christianity change?
(49) Who was St. Augustine and what was his legacy?
(50) What were some of the disagreements among Christians? What were some things Christian leaders did to standardize their faith? What were some of the issues the leaders dealt with?
(51) What was the Council of Nicaea? Why is it important?
(52) What happened to the authority of the Pope with the fall of Roman imperial authority?