Unit 3 DBQs
DBQ 1: The Silk Roads and Economic Exchange (c. 1200–c. 1450)
Prompt: Evaluate the extent to which the Silk Roads fostered economic growth and cultural exchange from c. 1200 to c. 1450.
Suggested Documents:

1. Marco Polo’s Travels (c. 1300) – Description of trade in China and Central Asia.
2. Ibn Battuta’s Travel Account (c. 1325) – Observations on the goods and merchants along the Silk Roads.
3. Ming Dynasty Trade Records – List of imported goods from Central Asia and the Middle East.
4. Buddhist or Nestorian Christian Inscriptions from China – Evidence of religious exchange along the Silk Roads.
5. Persian Merchant’s Letter (c. 1250) – Discussion of trade networks linking Persia and China.
6. Map of Trade Routes under Mongol Rule – Visual representation of interconnected economies.
7. Chinese Porcelain and Islamic Metalwork Comparisons – Material culture demonstrating cultural diffusion.

DBQ 2: The Mongol Empire and Cross-Cultural Interactions (c. 1200–c. 1368)
Prompt: Evaluate the impact of the Mongol Empire on trade, governance, and cultural exchange during its height.
Suggested Documents:

1. Yuan Dynasty Tax Records – Evidence of Mongol economic policies.
2. Letter from a Venetian Trader (c. 1250) – Describes Mongol policies on merchants.
3. The Secret History of the Mongols – Excerpts on Mongol administration and leadership.
4. Persian Chronicle on Mongol Religious Tolerance – Accounts of Mongol acceptance of various faiths.
5. Illustration of Mongol Siege Techniques – Depiction of military innovations used in conquest.
6. Chinese Scholar’s Account of the Mongols – Critique of Mongol rule in China.
7. European Map Showing Mongol Trade Routes – Evidence of global trade expansion under Mongol rule.

DBQ 3: The Indian Ocean Trade Network (c. 1200–c. 1450)
Prompt: Analyze the economic and cultural consequences of the Indian Ocean trade network from c. 1200 to c. 1450.
Suggested Documents:

1. Arab Merchant’s Letter (c. 1300) – Description of trade between Africa, the Middle East, and India.
2. Chinese Maritime Trade Regulations – Government policies toward Indian Ocean merchants.
3. Swahili Coast Archaeological Findings – Artifacts demonstrating trade between Africa and Asia.
4. Zheng He’s Voyages (Ming Dynasty Chronicles) – Description of the scale and impact of Chinese naval expeditions.
5. Hindu Temple Inscription in Southeast Asia – Evidence of Indian cultural influence via trade.
6. Portuguese Report on Indian Ocean Trade (c. 1500) – European perspective on the region’s economic networks.
7. Shipwreck Findings of Indian Ocean Cargo – Material evidence of trade commodities.

DBQ 4: The Trans-Saharan Trade and West Africa (c. 1200–c. 1450)
Prompt: Evaluate the extent to which the Trans-Saharan trade network influenced West African states from c. 1200 to c. 1450.
Suggested Documents:

1. Account of Mansa Musa’s Hajj (c. 1324) – Description of Mali’s wealth and its impact on trade.
2. Arab Geographer’s Map of West Africa – Shows trade connections between North Africa and the Sahel.
3. Gold and Salt Trade Records – Economic data from Timbuktu and Taghaza.
4. Islamic Scholar’s Account of Mali and Songhai – Impact of Islam in West African societies.
5. Excerpt from the Timbuktu Manuscripts – Educational and cultural growth linked to trade.
6. North African Trader’s Diary – Perspective on trade routes and difficulties.
7. Illustration of a Caravan Crossing the Sahara – Visual representation of trade networks.

DBQ 5: Economic and Cultural Effects of Trade Networks (c. 1200–c. 1450)
Prompt: To what extent did trade networks between c. 1200 and c. 1450 lead to significant economic and cultural transformations?
Suggested Documents:

1. Merchant’s Account of Marketplaces in Samarkand – Role of commerce in Central Asia.
2. Chinese Porcelain Found in East African Ruins – Physical evidence of global trade.
3. Islamic Traveler’s Description of Trade in Southeast Asia – Cultural diffusion via merchants.
4. European Account of Spices and Luxury Goods from the East – Demand for Asian products.
5. Mongol Postal System Document – Facilitation of long-distance commerce.
6. Coins from Multiple Regions Found in an Indian Ocean Shipwreck – Evidence of a global economy.
7. Buddhist and Islamic Religious Texts Found in a Central Asian Caravanserai – Cultural interactions along trade routes.

DBQ 6: Land-Based Empires and Their Administrative Systems (c. 1450–c. 1750)
Prompt: Evaluate the extent to which land-based empires used administrative and military structures to consolidate power from c. 1450 to c. 1750.
Suggested Documents:

1. Ottoman Taxation Decree – Policies for revenue collection and governance.
2. Mughal Emperor Akbar’s Edicts on Religious Tolerance – Administrative strategies to unify diverse populations.
3. Qing Dynasty Civil Service Exam Questions – Bureaucratic recruitment and Confucian influence.
4. Illustration of Safavid Gunpowder Weaponry – Military innovations that strengthened control.
5. Russian Imperial Decree on Serfdom – Social and economic policies under the Tsars.
6. Jesuit Report on Ming and Qing Governance – European perspective on Chinese administration.
7. Map of Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Expansion – Territorial growth and consolidation strategies.