Question 1

What effect did accommodation to local cultures have on the overall unity of Christianity,Islam,and Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

The accommodation to local cultures had different effects on the overall unity of Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.

In Christianity, the accommodation to local cultures led to the development of different denominations and sects, each with their own unique practices and beliefs. This diversity has at times led to division and conflict within the Christian community, but it has also allowed Christianity to adapt and thrive in various cultural contexts.

In Islam, the accommodation to local cultures has also led to the development of different schools of thought and practices within the religion. While this diversity has at times led to tension and disagreement, it has also allowed Islam to spread and take root in a wide range of cultural and geographical settings.

In Buddhism, the accommodation to local cultures has led to the emergence of different branches and traditions, each with its own unique interpretations and practices. This diversity has allowed Buddhism to flourish in various parts of the world, but it has also led to differences in beliefs and practices among Buddhist communities.

Overall, the accommodation to local cultures has both enriched and complicated the unity of Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism. While it has allowed these religions to adapt and grow in diverse cultural settings, it has also led to differences and divisions within each tradition.

Question 2

In what ways did the sponsorship of ruling elites help bring about the spread of Buddhism in South and East Asia?

Accepted Answer

The sponsorship of ruling elites played a significant role in the spread of Buddhism in South and East Asia in several ways. Firstly, the patronage of rulers provided financial support for the construction of Buddhist monasteries, temples, and stupas, which served as centers for the dissemination of Buddhist teachings and practices. This allowed for the establishment of a physical presence for Buddhism in these regions, making it more accessible to the general population.

Secondly, the endorsement of Buddhism by ruling elites lent the religion a sense of legitimacy and authority, which helped to attract followers and converts. Rulers often promoted Buddhism as a unifying force within their kingdoms, using it to foster a sense of national identity and cohesion among diverse populations.

Additionally, the patronage of rulers facilitated the translation of Buddhist texts into local languages, making the teachings more accessible to a wider audience. This helped to bridge cultural and linguistic barriers, allowing Buddhism to take root in diverse communities across South and East Asia.

Furthermore, the support of ruling elites allowed for the organization of large-scale religious events and ceremonies, which served to popularize Buddhist practices and rituals among the general populace. These events also provided opportunities for rulers to publicly demonstrate their piety and devotion to Buddhism, further legitimizing the religion in the eyes of their subjects.

Overall, the sponsorship of ruling elites played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhism in South and East Asia by providing financial support, legitimacy, and organizational resources that helped to establish and popularize the religion in these regions.

Question 3

Mahayana Buddhism

Accepted Answer

A)   held very closely to original Buddhist teaching.
B)   held that enlightenment could only by achieved in incremental stages over many lifetimes.
C)   held that a person could achieve enlightenment in only one lifetime.
D)   is sometimes called "lesser vehicle" Buddhism. C

Question 4

The holiest site in the Islamic faith,the Kaaba,was

Accepted Answer

A)   built by Muhammad.
B)   originally a pagan shrine.
C)   built by the Caliph Umar.
D)   a site of pilgrimage in Medina.

Question 5

Buddhism was first introduced into China by the Emperor Ming during the

Accepted Answer

A)   first century B.C.E.
B)   first century C.E.
C)   second century C.E.
D)   fourth century C.E.

Question 6

Why does monastic practice not exist in the Islamic faith? What has taken the place of a monastic movement in Islam?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

What were the essential elements needed for a world religion to be successful?

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

One of the primary ways that Buddhism spread into Eastern Asia was through

Accepted Answer

A)   trade.
B)   war.
C)   news of its success.
D)   the beauty of Buddhist art.

Question 9

What doctrinal or practical accommodations did Christianity,Islam,and Buddhism make with the exercise of violent force by its believers?

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Using specific examples,discuss and compare how Muslim and Christian rulers treated religious minorities in their territories around 1000 C.E.

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Question 11

Which of the following is NOT common to Buddhism,Christianity,and Islam?

Accepted Answer

A)   They each insist on monotheism.
B)   Their founders left no writings of their own.
C)   They prohibit forcible conversion.
D)   They prohibit killing.

Question 12

How did the Christian church change or modify its practices in order to attract new followers?

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

In the Christian world,most young men who entered monasteries came from

Accepted Answer

A)   poor families.
B)   the peasantry.
C)   the merchant classes.
D)   wealthy families.

Question 14

For what reason did no comparable monastic movement develop in Islam?

Accepted Answer

A)   Asceticism was forbidden.
B)   It just never happened.
C)   Fasting and meditation is not practiced by Muslims.
D)   There was no need for missionaries or clerics in Islam.

Question 15

Jews and Christians living in the Islamic world

Accepted Answer

A)   faced unceasing pressure to convert to Islam.
B)   could continue in their beliefs as long as they paid a tax.
C)   were persecuted and often killed unless they converted.
D)   had to wear badges denoting their religions and could only live in specified places in the cities.

Question 16

The Emperor Charlemagne spread Christianity among the Saxon peoples by

Accepted Answer

A)   imposing taxes on those who did not convert.
B)   discriminating against pagans economically.
C)   his remarkable example of faith and peaceful persuasion.
D)   giving pagans a choice of conversion or death.

Question 17

What role did monasticism play in the spread of Christianity and Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

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Question 18

Of the foreign merchant communities in Guangzhou (Canton)in 879 C.E.,the largest was

Accepted Answer

A)   Buddhist.
B)   Christian.
C)   Muslim.
D)   Jewish.

Question 19

In which area of the Christian world did believers hold that Christ was wholly divine and not human?

Accepted Answer

A)   Armenia
B)   Ethiopia
C)   Rome
D)   Constantinople

Question 20

As a new religion became dominant,it was common for

Accepted Answer

A)   it to wipe out all traces of the previous faith.
B)   it to take over places that had been sacred in earlier religious practice.
C)   only new places to be considered sacred.
D)   the people to reject anything that made them change their ways.

Exam 9: Contending with Isolation: ca. 1000–1200