Duiker Chapter 5 Guided Reading Questions and Gupta Age in India Document
Directions: To truly understand the information you will be reading this year, it is important for you to be actively
involved with the material. In the beginning of the year, to help you with this process, we will be providing you with
guiding questions to help you organize the textbook information. As you read the textbook, answer these guiding
questions in your own words and in complete sentences. While this may slow down the speed at which you read, this
method will help you to connect with the material and to retain the information. You are required to answer these
questions on Vision for credit, BUT you will ALSO want to bring in the typed copy of YOUR responses to these
questions on the date of the Socratic Seminar (Sept. 15/16). To answer the questions effectively by the due date, you
SHOULD read approximately 15 pages a day to complete this assignment (NOT 15 pages per class period, but 15
pages per CALENDAR day!).
1. Explain how geography played a part in Rome’s success in conquering or dominating neighboring territories.
2. Describe the organization of the political structure of the Roman Republic. What were the causes of the decline
of the Republic?
3. Trace the evolution of the expansion of political control by the Roman emperors. List several methods emperors
used to consolidate and increase their power.
4. How are the ideals associated with Roman citizenship reflected in principles associated with Roman law?
5. Read the passage on page 137 titled “Cato the Elder on Women.” Answer the questions that follow the reading:
What particular actions on the part of the women protesting this law angered Cato? What more general concerns
did he have about Roman women? What did he believe was women’s ultimate goal in regards to men?
6. What were the roles of slaves in Roman society and economy? Why, in your opinion, were Romans so dependent
on slaves? How did Rome acquire many of the slaves owned by Romans?
7. What were the causes of the decline of the Roman Empire? How did the decline of the Roman Empire compare to
the decline of the empire of Alexander the Great? To the Qin Dynasty?
8. How is the spread of Christianity similar to the spread of Buddhism? What did both religions offer, in terms of
beliefs and/or practices, that caused or created so many converts?
9. How was the rule of an emperor during the Han dynasty influenced by Confucian ideals? Be sure to also include
information from the section titled “A Prescription for the Emperor” at the top of page 147 and “An Edict from
the Emperor” at the top of page 148. How, in practice, were these ideals sometimes ignored?
10. Describe the role of the government in the economy during the Han Dynasty.
11. Look at Map 5.4 on page 149 titled “Trade Routes of the Ancient World” and the accompanying key. Why did
China import and export so few types of goods? Why did India, Arabia, and East Africa trade so many more
types of goods?
12. List and explain the reasons for the decline of the Han Dynasty. How did this compare to the fall of the western
Roman Empire?
From the additional section on the Gupta Age in India
13. Describe the political organization of the Gupta government and its role in the economy.
14. Describe the status of women during the Gupta empire
15. List the technological innovations that occurred during the Gupta Empire.
16. What were the reasons for the decline of the Gupta Empire?