Middle Ages: Asia

Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of the Goldn age of India (Gupta Dynasty)?

a. The textile indusry which produced calico, muslin, cashmere, linen, silk, wool, and cotton

b. Ajanta Cave Frescos depicting  the life and legend of Buddha

c. Advanced medicine including caesarean operations, bone setting, plastic surgery, and drugs.

d. The promotion and harmonious adoption of the Muslim religion.

e. Advanced math and astronomy.


• Who was the mathematical and astronomical genius of the Gupta dynasty in India?  He studied equinoxes; solstices; sines & co-sines among other subjects.

  a. Asoka;       b. Kalidasa       c. Aryabhata


• Who was the dramatist of the Gupta dynasty that inspired Shakespeare and the Grimm Fairy Tales with his animal stories?    a. Asoka;       b. Kalidasa      c. Aryabhata


• Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic or accomplishment of the Golden Age of China  (Sui, Tang, and Sung dynasties)?        a. conquering the Mongols        b. woodblock printing and movable type

c. expansion of Buddhism d. the invention of gunpowder                   e. landscape painting

 

• Li Po & Tu Fu were Chinese       a. artists        b. poets         c. philosophers

            d. rulers         e. scholar-gentry

 

• Hsuan Tsang's journey to India was historically significant for all of the following reasons except one.  Which one of the following is NOT true?

a. He brought back Buddhist texts and thereby contributed to the expansion of Buddhism in China.

b. He brought back knowledge of India's government, culture and lifestyles.

c. His journey inspired stories, including the "Monkey Tales"

d. He forced India to become a colony in China's empire.

 

 •  Which of the following is NOT true about Kublai Khan?

a. He welcomed Marco Polo to his kingdom.

b. He established  an efficient communication and transportation system.

c. He conquered Korea.                             d. He conquered Japan.

e. He was interested in, and promoted, drama as an art form.

 

 •  Which of the following is NOT true about Japan's geographical setting.

a. Japan is self-sufficient in natural resources.

b. According to legend the Japanese islands were created by the gods.

c. By being separated from the mainland of Asia, Japan has avoided foreign domination of its culture and politics throughout most of its history.

 

• Throughout most of its history, Japan looked to China:                   a. as a great enemy;                      

b. as a source of culture and learning;   c. as an underdeveloped country in need of Japan's help.

 

• Japan's oldest indigenous religion is:            a. Zen Buddhism;   b. Taoism                c. Shintoism

d. Hinduism;   e. Confucianism.

 

 • "Bushido" refers to Japanese:  a. flower arrangements;   b. landscape gardening;  

c. Noh Drama;                      d. military code of chivalry;                         e. Japanese tea ceremony.

 

• Which of the following is NOT true about the Shinto Religion.

a. It was introduced to Japan from India.

b. It includes no concept of sin; but has purification rituals for transgressions.

c. It means "Way of the Gods"                               d. It worships Kami or Spirits of Nature.

e. It teaches that the Japanese emperor  is descendant from the gods.  

 

 • Noh Drama and haiku poetry were developed during Ashikaga times and illustrate that: 

a. Japan slavishly imitated Chinese styles;       b. Japan adopted Indian styles as well as Chinese styles; 

c. Japan gradually developed its own unique cultural characteristics;       

d. Japan enjoyed very ornate, undisciplined & unpredictable art styles.

 

 • Lady Murasaki Shikibu is historically significant because she:

a. Wrote excellent literature in classical Chinese.

b. Is known as the Òvoice of the massesÓ in her political speeches because she expressed the grievances of the people.

c. Was the first and only woman ruler of Japan.

d. Wrote excellent literature in Japanese and described the customs of her times.