1- Why does Islam become such a popular and widespread religion? What did it offer its followers? How did the spread of Islam stimulate the development of an empire?
2- How did a revival in Confucianism in China affect the development of that empire? Do you think it was a positive influence on the development of China? Why or why not?
3- What are some of the differences and similarities between pre- Black Death and post- Black Death eras?
4- What were some of the trends in global trade and expansion in Europe and China?
5- People today use the term “globalization” to describe the high level of global interaction, transaction, and communication that we experience in the contemporary era. Some historians argue that globalization is not a late 20th/early 21st century occurrence though, and suggest that globalization started many hundreds of years ago. Based on what you read in this chapter, what are some signs that show that increased interaction on a regional and global scale was becoming more common?
