Unit 1 SAQ (State Formation) with Feedback

AP World Short-Answer Question on State Formation from 1200-1450 CE

Use your understanding of World History to answer the following questions with evidence from the period c. 1200 - c. 1450 CE:

1. Identify a factor that fostered the development of a larger state(s) (context)
2. Describe ONE similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions
3. Explain ONE difference between the development of the political entities you compared in #2 above.

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Sample Answers and Feedback

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SAQ Practice Submission 1

1. One factor that fostered the development of states during the period from 1200-1450 was the growth of interregional trade. Interregional connections between states via the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean Trade Networks allowed states to establish and accumulate wealth.
2. Two of the largest empires during this period were the Mali Empire in West Africa and the Song Dynasty in East Asia, both of which accumulated wealth by controlling trade and taxing other peoples in their respective regions. The Song Dynasty used used the tribute system, which demanded periodic taxes and displays of reverence from surrounding states such as Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. In a similar fashion, the Mali Empire taxed all trade that occurred within western Africa. Both of these systems, which had very similar natures and purposes, allowed these states to collect wealth and assert authority over surrounding states.
3. One of the largest differences between the Mali Empire and Song China were the religions that they used to legitimize their rule. In the case of the Mali Empire, leaders such as Mansu Musa promoted Islam in order to establish a nation-wide religion and gain access to trading relationships with Arab merchants. This religion emphasized belief in one diety, Allah. On the other hand, Song China utilized the ideologies of Confucianism in order to legitimize their rule. This religion emphasized respect between different members of society rather than unification under one diety. While both religions allowed rulers to legitimize their rule, they did so using very different ideological and religious concepts.

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SAQ Practice Submission 2

1. One factor that fostered the development of larger states was trade. This can be seen in the states of Mali, Ghana, and Songhai because they used the gold and salt trade to become more wealthy and therefore gain more power in the region.- The development of England and Ethiopia is similar in that both used Christianity as a means to unite their empire.- The development of England and Ethiopia is different in that England was practicing feudalism for much of the time period while Ethiopia was united under one powerful ruler who centralized power.

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SAQ Practice Submission 3

1. One of the factors of state formation in 1200-1450 was the active participation in trade routes such as the Silk Road trade, Trans-Saharan trade network, and the Indian Ocean trade network. For example, the Malian empire was able to build as a state from their trade of gold and natural resources through the Trans-Saharan trade network and their trading with Middle Eastern states in the 14th century. Therefore, their participation in interregional trade routes led to the building of their empire because they were able to accumulate a vast amount of wealth from trade.- A similarity that the Malian and Mongol Empires shared with the formation of political entities is that their armies conquered lands to form empires. The Mongols conqueredthe Song empire, much of central Asia, and the Middle East. The Malian empire conquered lands to expand their influence. The development of their political standing as an empire could not have happened if they did not conquer lands to build their empires.- A difference between the formation in political entities that the Malian empire and the Mongol empire is how they were ruled. While the Mongol empire was broken down into multiple khanates to maintain their rule, one king ruled the Malian empire. This shows an important difference in how they ruled because the division of power was much more prevalent in Mongol politics than Malian Politics.

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SAQ Practice Submission 4

1. One factor that fostered the development of a larger states was the furthering of trade. Cross-culture exchanges was a result of trade. For example, champa rice was brought to China from Vietnam. This helped the Song Dynasty feed their growing population. This fostered the development of larger states because it helped sustain the population.- One similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions is religion. For example The Song Dynasty and Japan both used a form of Confucianism to run a powerful and long lasting dynasty.- One difference between the development of The Song Dynasty and Japan was the type of government. While both empires has a powerful government, The Song Dynasty was ruled by an omnipotent emperor and Japan had a weak emperor who was controlled by the daimyo.

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SAQ Practice Submission 5

1. One factor that fostered the growth of larger state’s was the facilitation of trade. Specifically the trade of paper manufacturing that spread from China to Eurasia led to growth of states. Through the trade of paper, literacy increased in Europe which also increased intellectual thought and education leading to advancements in mathematics and medicine which resulted to overall better quality of life. This contributed to the development of larger states as these intellectuals put their ideas to use in growing society,- There are similarities between the Song Dynasty and the Mali Empire in terms of opportunities for education. The Song Dynasty in China used the advancement of the Civil Service exam to provide educational opportunities to people. In Africa, the Mali Empire developed centers of Islamic learning where individuals studied Islamic subjects. In both of these regions, new opportunities of learning were created.- The differences between the Song Dynasty and the Mali Empire laid in their government and authority over the peoples. In the Song Dynasty in China, they relied on their imperial bureaucracy to be able to have a structured society with offials who successfully carried out the emporers orders. Contrasting this, the Mali Empires form of government lay in the responsibility of one Emperor, Mansa. The mansa had absolute power and authority. Through there differences in governments, these two regions differed.

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SAQ Practice Submission 6

1. 1 factor that led to the development of large states during the period of 1200-1450 is trade. This is seen in the Mali Empire and the Delhi Sultanate by using their surplus of natural products(gold mainly for Mali people and spices for the Delhi Sultanate) to acquire more wealth and becoming a bigger contender on the world stage by being known for trading these luxuries
2. One similarity between the development of the Mali Empire and The Delhi Sultanate is that they both used certain religious events/practices from Islam to spread their empires. This is seen in Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage to Mecca who is known for giving gold and inflating economies and the Delhi Sultanate using the jizya tax to cause conversions(mostly forced) to spread their religion through numbers and to also caused attempted wars called jihads(holy wars) and sometimes were just an excuse for an attempt to conquest.
3. One difference between the development of the Delhi Sultanate and the Mali Empire is that the spread of Islam influence had different levels of commitment. In the Mali Empire there was more commitment due to the fact that it came to Mali through trade and by choice and that there was also educational centers based on Islam mainly to create more of an Islamic influence on the people. On the other hand, in the Delhi Sultanate, people weren’t very committed to Islam since it came to them by force and not choice and that other religions weren’t respected as much as Islam and they were deprived of many things(left a bad impression on Indians). This is mainly seen as high positions in jobs were only for Muslims and non-Muslims had to pay a tax(jizya) to practice religion. And many people usually converted for better jobs, no jizya, and an improvement in lifestyle.

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SAQ Practice Submission 7

1. One factor that fostered the development of larger states from c. 1200 - c. 1450 was inter regional trade. Trade routes such as the Silk roads and the Indian Ocean trade helped spread ideas that helped foster the development of states, as well as allow states to accumulate wealth. An example of this is shown in the Song Dynasty with the Grand Canal, which enabled them to become the most populous trading area in the world.- Two of the most powerful entities in their region at the time, Mali and the Song Dynasty, were able to expand upon the ideas that made past dynasties powerful. Mali arose from the Ghanaian state, and cultivated a thriving gold trade, the same thing Ghana was able to do to rise in power. In the Song Dynasty, rulers were able to improve the imperial bureaucracy, which had been a feature of the Chinese government since the Qin dynasty, by allowing those in lower classes to take it. The Song dynasty was also able to build upon trade that the former Tang dynasty had encouraged, and they prospered because of it, becoming one of the most populous trading areas in the world- A difference between the development of the Song Dynasty and Mali was that the Song were able to develop a strong manufacturing capability. The Chinese were able to manufacture steel, which strengthened the agricultural equipment that they used, which helped grow more food. Artisans were able to produce porcelain and silk, which were able to be traded. Meanwhile in Mali, the thriving gold trade between them and Muslim merchants was the factor which made them powerful.

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SAQ Practice Submission 8

1. One factor that fostered the development of larger states was the Silk Roads and Indian Ocean trade routes. Empires like the Srivijava Empire and Majapahit empire prospered because of the ongoing maritime trade in Southeast Asia. Their strategic location near the Strait of Malacca allowed them to tax cargo ships and prosper economically.- One similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions was the use of feudalism in both Western Europe and Japan. Both Europe and Japan was divided into many different territories that were governed by local leaders instead of being entirely centralized.- One difference between the development of the political identities in Feudal Japan and Western Europe was that the daimyo (equivalent to the European lords) had more power in Japan. The lords in Western Europe generally had to listen to their king supervisor whereas the daimyo acted more independently.

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SAQ Practice Submission 9

1. One factor that fosters the development of a larger state during the period of 1200 to 1450 CE was the growth of trade. This can be seen through connections in Asia by the Silk Roads as well as in Africa via the Trans-Saharan routes. One clear example of this is in the African kingdom of Mali which grew wealthy by taxing gold trade.- One similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions is that of using religious principles to unite empires in West Africa and in China. The Mali Empire in Africa under Mansa Musa used Islamic virtues to foster prosperity and unification. During the Song Dynasty in China, the reintroduction of Confucian principles such as the Civil Service exam led to a more successful China.- One difference of the developments of the political entities of the Mali Kingdom and Song Dynasty is how each kingdom grew financially stable. The Mali Kingdom taxed merchants looking to participate in the gold trade. The Song Dynasty participated in the tribute system and collected different goods such as rice from Vietnam and Korea.

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SAQ Practice Submission 10

1. One factor that fostered the development of larger states was the rise of trade. The Grand Canal increased trade and made China the most populous trading area. Champa rice and porcelain were two important trading items that increased China’s wealth and trade.- One similarity between the Song Dynasty and Great Zimbabwe is that they both taxed other regions and kingdoms. Great Zimbabwe put a tax on the transport of their products such as gold, which made their kingdom wealthy. The Song Dynasty use the tribute system on Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, which gave them more power over these countries and increased their respect and wealth.- One difference between the Song Dynasty and Great Zimbabwe is their religion. The Song Dynasty mainly supported Confucianism because they saw it as a binding social force. They even incorporated Confucianism into their education. Great Zimbabwe’s religion did not consist of Confucianism, but they believed in the Shona religion instead. The Song Dynasty and Great Zimbabwe were both powerful kingdoms, but they believed in different religions which contributed to their development.

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SAQ Practice Submission 11

1. In the period 1200-1450 CE, the growth of trade routes was able to foster the development of larger states. For example, the demand for luxury goods such as Chinese porcelain on the Silk Road was able to make Song China very wealthy and powerful.- A similarity between the development of the Incan and Khmer Empires was the method that they used to legitimize their rulers, by connecting them to religious gods. There was an Incan belief that their leader was a representative of the Sun God, and in Khmer, images of their leader were fused into statues of gods.- A difference between the Inca and Khmer empires was the method they used to govern over their territory. The Incas had a more decentralized state, and was broken up into four provinces with their own government and bureaucracy. In contrast, the temple network in Khmer made it more centralized because it connected all the local temples to the king and the central temple in his capital.

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SAQ Practice Submission 12

1. One factor that fostered the development of larger states would be trade. Trade along routes like the Silk Roads created an interconnected world in which countries could benefit from each other. For example, crops like champa rice, bananas and potatoes spread and led to population growth.- One similarity between the development of political entities in different regions was the use of religion to unite. For example, in Europe the Catholic Church was used as a device to connect the hundreds of divided states. This is very similar to Ethiopia where they separated from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches to unite and create their own distinct form of faith.- One difference between the two regions compared above is the influence and lack of influence of Islam. Ethiopia created their own faith with traditions most likely taken from Islam and Christianity while the European states were trying to convert other religions, including those practicing Islam.

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SAQ Practice Submission 13

1. One factor that fostered the development of large states in the period 1200-1450 is wealth from trade. Great Zimbabwe became wealthy by transporting gold on the Indian Ocean Trade route. This wealth and trade helped become a powerful East African kingdom and led to the development of things like the swahali language.- One similarity between the development of political entities in the Song Dynasty and the Aztecs civilization is the influence of religion in the government. Both the Song Dynasty and Aztecs were ruled by religious/scholarly officials.- One difference between the development of the political entities in the Song Dynasty and the Aztec civilization is how they legitimize their rule and keep their subjects in line. The Song Dynasty used the religion Confucianism and its system of ethics to keep people obedient to their superiors. The Aztecs used their tribute system to instill fear in their subjects and insure their dominance.

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SAQ Practice Submission 14

1. One factor that fostered the development of a larger state was trade. The demand for goods such as champa rice and porcelain along the Silk Road increased trade in China. This helped make China more wealthy.- One similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions was the type of teaching between the Song Dynasty and the Muslim scholars. In the Song Dynasty, they used the civil service exam which helped bring local people to the government and have better opportunities. Muslim scholars translated themselves Greek literary books and brought back mathematic texts from India.- One difference between the development between the Song Dynasty and the Muslim scholars was their religion. The Song Dynasty believed in Confucianism. Confucianism helped the Song Dynasty guide them in the government and education. On the other hand, the Muslim scholars mainly believed in Islam.

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SAQ Practice Submission 15

1. A factor that fostered the development of larger states was the facilitation of trade. Trade during this time interconnected different regions through the Indian Ocean trade route, Silk Roads and the Trans-Saharan Trade Route. These major trade routes generated wealth for merchants and states because of the various trade items being sold across the routes. For example there were many luxury items sold on the Silk Roads like porcelain.- One similarity between the development of political entities in two different regions could be China and Japan. During 1200-1450 Japan tried to recreate China. The Japanese even sent their nobles to see chinas government so they could base their government off china’s. Once the Japanese nobles returned, they centralized their government.- One difference between the development of political entities in two different regions could be China and Japan. China was very powerful and even accepted tribute from other states. China was very powerful compared to Japan, which was one of the many reasons Japan wanted to recreate a China.

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