| Ramayana | Confucius | De Las Casas |
| Quiché | Ibn Battuta | Mongols |
| Cyrus Cylinder |
Ramayana
1. What was the attitude of the Ramayana to the family?
2. How did the book resemble other famous "epic" poems, such as the Odyssey, Iliad, Popol Vuh or Gilgamesh?
3. What were some of the characteristics of the ideal ruler?
4. What was the author's definition of "virtue" and "honor?"
5. Was there any resemblance between the ethical system of the Ramayana and Western ethical religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)?
6. According to the Ramayana, what were the essentials of good government?
7. In what ways was the religious conception of the Ramayana similar to Judaism, Christianity and Islam? Explain.
8. Did the epic provide any evidence about the nature of the caste system in South Asia?
Confucius
1. What was the attitude of Confucius to the family?
2. Why did the book take the form of a collection of sayings?
3. What were some of the characteristics of the "ideal" or "superior," man?
4. What was the definition of "virtue?"
5. Was there any resemblance between the Analects and Western ethical religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam)?
6. According to Confucius, what were the essentials of good government?
7. Was Confucius' understanding of "government" the same as that in the contemporary world? Explain.
8. Is the insistence of the moral character of governance still a valid principle of government?
De Las Casas
1. What was an "encomienda?"
2. Why could the Spanish so easily control the Indians?
3. Did De Las Casas identify any "positive" results of the Spanish presence in the New World?
4. Why did De Las Casas write this piece?
5. What were some of the characteristics of native Indian society?
6. Was this account an accurate and reliable source?
7. Why was there no organized resistance against the Spanish?
8. Did De Las Casas mention at all the impact of disease on the Indian population?
Quiché
1. How did the Popol Vuh resemble (or not resemble) other ancient creation epics?
2. How many times was man created?
3. What role did color play in the epic?
4. Did the Popol Vuh provide a behavioral standard, an ethical religious basis, for the Maya?
Ibn Battuta
1. What allowed Ibn Battuta to travel so widely across Asia and Africa?
2. Did Ibn Battuta have any contact with Jews and Christians during his journeys? What was the nature of that contact?
3. How developed was Islamic city life of the fourteenth century?
4. What was the economic basis of the Mali kingdom?
Mongols
1. How did William travel through Mongol lands, or, Why was he allowed to travel through Mongol territory?
2. What were some of the usual foods eaten by the Mongols?
3. With what sort of religious experiences did William have contact?
4. Did William provide historians with any evidence of the economic life of the Mongols?
Cyrus Cylinder
1. Why does the inscription denigrate Cyrus' predecessor on the throne?
2. What was the purpose of the cylinder?
3. Do we have any idea who the author of this ancient text was?
4. What does the cylinder say about Cyrus' motives in conquering adjacent territory?
5. In Persian terms, what does it mean to be a "just" king?