Book is by: Robert W. Strayer and Erick Nelson, Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources, 5th ed. Vol. 1, (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2022)
I will provide the page copies of whichever option you chose if you do not have access to correct book
Write an analytical essay of 400-600 words addressing ONE of the following prompts:
OPTION 1
Information in these sources is useful for historians seeking to understand India, China, and West Africa during the period, yet historians view some of the evidence with skepticism. In what ways is this evidence useful even when it is not necessarily factual? In your response, be sure to point out specific examples from the primary sources.
For essay Option 1, consult the following course material:
“Working with Primary Sources,” pp. lxi – lxiv
“Working with Evidence: Travelers’ Tales and Observations” pp. 311-317
“Historians’ Voices: On Travel Writers” p. 319
OPTION 2
What key values are most apparent in the assigned sources and how does that connect more broadly with Chinese cultural traditions? In your response, be sure to consider the different ways that the values of elite figures in China are reflected in the sources as well as the extent to which the images reflect changes in the treatment of women in China during this period.
For essay Option 2, consult the following course material:
“Working with Primary Sources,” pp. lxi – lxiv
“Working with Evidence: Society During China’s Golden Age” pp. 353-360
“Historians’ Voices: Economy and Society in Golden Age China” p. 361
This paper should follow the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) format. Please use the CMOS Note-Bibliography Style, CMOS (NB), not the Author-Date system. Be sure all sources have been cited in the Chicago Manual of Style. Cite all sources using a footnote (or endnote). A footnote contains critical information about sources as they appear in your paper in numeric order. Follow the CMOS (NB) style to properly format each source type. Also, include a bibliography.
