GLOBAL HONORS STUDY GUIDE #1

Travel Literature

A form of creative nonfiction where the narrator writes about encounters with foreign places from their perspective.

Ibn Battuta

A Moroccan scholar who traveled the medieval world, visiting Islamic territories and non-Muslim lands, and wrote "A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Traveling".

Audience for Travel Books

Other travelers interested in learning about his travels and potentially making a similar journey.

Description in Travel Books

Descriptions of medieval civilizations.

Value of Travel Literature

Provides a first-person account of daily life and societal workings in different settings.

Limitations of Travel Literature

May contain biased and misinterpreted ideas, seen from an outsider's perspective.

The Turkish Letters

A collection of personal correspondence by Busbecq about life in the Ottoman Empire, written between 1555-1562 and published in 1589.

Audience for The Turkish Letters

Anyone interested in the way of life in the Ottoman Empire during that time.

Purpose of The Turkish Letters

To negotiate a border treaty with Sultan Suleiman and provide insights into the Ottoman Empire for European audiences.

Zheng He's Voyages

Naval expeditions by Zheng He in the Ming Dynasty, visiting 37 countries and establishing China as a superpower on the oceans.

Confucianism

Main idea of reaching harmony through mutual respect and proper behavior, including elements like respect for elders and filial piety.

Neo-Confucianism

Emerged during the Ming Dynasty, blending elements from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

Civil Service Examinations

Allowed social mobility in Ming and Qing China, spreading Confucian ideas and finding the best workers for the government.

Twenty-Four Exemplars of Filial Piety

Stories emphasizing Confucian values like filial piety, written to teach ordinary people the importance of these values.