Quiz #1 History

-Columbian Exchange: what things are brought to the Americas / what things are brought to Europe (no need to memorize all--just be familiar with a few)

The Columbian Exchange moved plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old World and the New World.

To the Americas: horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, wheat, sugarcane, coffee, smallpox, measles.

To Europe: potatoes, tomatoes, corn, cacao, tobacco, squash, beans, syphilis.

This exchange transformed global diets and economies.

-How Columbus characterized the natives and why (review Columbus’ Letter to Luis de Santangel)

Columbus repeatedly describes Indigenous people as timid, fearful, generous, simple, and lacking weapons, writing that “they are timid and full of fear” and “exceedingly generous with all they have”.

He emphasizes their innocence and generosity to convince the Spanish Crown that the people would be easy to convert, control, and use for labor, and to justify Spanish colonization by portraying the New World as peaceful, profitable, and ripe for Christianization.

-Transatlantic Slave Trade: what was traded during each part of the “triangular trade,” where did most slaves go

The triangular trade moved manufactured goods (guns, textiles) from Europe to Africa, enslaved Africans to the Americas, and raw goods (sugar, cotton, tobacco) back to Europe.

Most enslaved Africans were sent to Brazil and the Caribbean, not North America.

-Treatments received by slaves / how did slaves resist?

Enslaved people endured brutal physical punishment, family separation, forced labor, and dehumanization under chattel slavery. They resisted through sabotage, work slowdowns, escape attempts, maintaining cultural traditions, and forming communities of solidarity.

-Main achievements of Ming Empire

According to your lecture, the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) stabilized Chinese society for ~300 years, increased material and economic wealth, and constructed the Great Wall while preserving Chinese cultural traditions.

-Zheng He: what did he do + why is he significant

Zheng He was a 15th‑century navigator whose massive voyages across the Indian Ocean brought wealth, tribute, and international prestige to China; your lecture notes state he was “almost entirely responsible for China’s wealth accumulation in this century” and one of the earliest deep‑ocean navigators.

-Qing Empire: major characteristics + how did it see itself + relationship with Great Britain (review Letter to King George III)

The Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) was founded by the Manchu, doubled China’s territory, and maintained Chinese culture and Confucianism as the backbone of society while ruling as outsiders.

The Qing viewed China as the Celestial Empire, self‑sufficient and superior to foreign nations.

In Emperor Qianlong’s letter, he insists China “possesses all things in abundance and lacks no product within its own borders” and calls Europeans “barbarians,” rejecting British requests for expanded trade and missionary freedom .

-Give and define the five pillars of Islam

Shahada — declaration of faith.

Salat — daily prayer.

Zakat — charitable giving.

Sawm — fasting during Ramadan.

Hajj — pilgrimage to Mecca.

These form the core religious obligations of Muslims.

-Define the following arabic terms: qanun, shari'a, ulama, shaykh

Qanun — state law or administrative regulations.

Shari’a — religious law derived from the Quran.

Ulama — elite Muslim scholars/interpreters of scripture.

Shaykh — a political or religious leader in the Muslim world

-Identify the difference between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims

The split centers on who should lead the Muslim community after Muhammad’s death: Sunnis support leadership by elected/caliph successors, while Shi’ites believe leadership must remain within Muhammad’s family (through Ali).

Your lecture notes emphasize that Islam has “two major sects: Shi’ite and Sunni” and that Muslims vary widely in belief and practice .

-reasons for the expansion and domination of the Ottoman Empire (gunpowder, Mamluks, Janissaries)

The Ottomans expanded rapidly due to their early mastery of gunpowder weapons, their elite Janissary corps (enslaved Christian boys trained as soldiers and officials), and Mamluk cavalry, all of which created one of the strongest military powers of the 16th century.

Your lecture states they were “the first power to really utilize [gunpowder] within warfare” and that Mamluks and Janissaries formed key strengths of the empire .

-cultural contributions of the Ottoman Empire

The Ottomans produced distinctive Muslim art, architecture, and poetry; developed the coffeehouse culture; and maintained a diverse society of Muslims, Christians, and Jews living mostly in harmony.

Your lecture notes list “creation of explicitly Muslim art, architecture, and poetry,” “development of the coffeehouse,” and a “diverse society… living in harmony” .