History
Closed Country Edict of 1635
- What type of document is this? How do you know this?
This is an official document because it is concerned with information that was issued by the military government at the time.
- When was this document written?
The document was written in 1630 because it is the time when the government issued laws to islolate Japan from other nations.
- Where was the document written? Why is this significant?
The document was written in Japan with a view of eliminating the influence of Catholicism.
- Who is the author? What can you determine about the background of the author
Tokugawa Lemitsu is the man who wrote the document. He was the leader of Japan from 1623 to 1651 when he died.
- For what audience was the document written? How do you know this?
He wrote the document to the commissioners of Nagasaki port because the catholic religion was fat spreading from the area.
- Document Information
- List the three most significant things that the author says:
- The Japanese ships are not to leave the nation and the foreign ships were to be sent away too.
- The commissioners were to be punished for any ongoing catholic teachings.
- The people were not allowed to purchase goods from foreign ships.
- Why do you think this document was written?
This document was written to convey the intended message to the commissioners.
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Provide a quote.
The document was intended to stop the spread of catholic religion in the nation as supported by the following quote. “If there is any place where the teachings of the [Catholic] priests is practiced, the two of you must order a thorough investigation”
- List two things the document tells you about life during that period of history:
- The main mode of transport used was mainly water.
2. Trading was an essential part of the nation’s economy.
- Does the document agree or disagree with other things you have read about this period? Why?
During the period, Japan was undergoing several economic and social changes. The exclusion from other nations was among them. Therefore the document is in line with the social changes in the region at the time.
- Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
What was the reason for denying foreign ships access to the nation if measures were taken to ensure that no priests were on board?
Père du Halde: Teaching Science to the Manchu Emperor, c. 1680
- What type of document is this? How do you know this?
This is a historical document because it shows about the role that the Jesuit missions helped people gain knowledge.
- When was this document written?
It was written in 1680 because that is the time when du Halde compiled the resources written in Chinese to make books that he used in teaching.
- Where was the document written? Why is this significant?
The document was written in China because the teachings took place there.
- Who is the author? What can you determine about the background of the author?
The author is du Halde who was a Jesuit missionary in China.
- For what audience was the document written? How do you know this?
The document was written to the general public and it aimed at educating the people and the future generations about the role that the Jesuits missionaries played in developing China.
- Document Information
- List the three most significant things that the author says:
- The emperor was delighted about the telescope.
- The Jesuits also made wheels, canals, and siphons.
- They presented the emperor with a hydraulic machine.
- Why do you think this document was written?
The document was written to act as a reminder of the great achievements of the Jesuit missionaries to the scientific field developments in China.
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Provide a quote.
The document was written to act as a source of knowledge on the contribution of the Jesuit missionaries to scientific development in the nation as supported by the following quote ”Père Grimaldi also made a present to the emperor of a hydraulic machine of a new type”.
- List two things the document tells you about life during that period of history:
- Water transport was a primary means of transport
2. Religion played a major role in enlightening the society.
- Does the document agree or disagree with other things you have read about this period? Why?
The document agrees with information available about the history of China in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries especially the role of the Jesuits.
- Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
Did the Jesuits work for free or were they paid?
Richard Hakluyt- Discourse of Western Planting (1584)
- What type of document is this? How do you know this?
This is an official document because it was addressed to the Queen Elizabeth I, the leader of a nation at the time.
- When was this document written?
It was written in 1584 because it during that time when Walter Raleigh had colonization schemes.
- Where was the document written? Why is this significant?
The document was written in England because it was addressing the issues affecting the people of England.
- Who is the author? What can you determine about the background of the author?
Document was written by Richard Hakluyt who was a politician in England.
- For what audience was the document written? How do you know this?
The document addressed the issues that Richard was recommending to the Queen, urging her to support colonization.
- Document Information
- List the three most significant things that the author says:
- All other English nations had their economies grow fast probably due to colonization.
- Colonization would enable the nation to gain goods from Africa, Asia and Europe.
- The revenues collected from the citizens in form of taxes were not to be exploitative.
- Why do you think this document was written?
Richard wrote the document so that he could present it to the queen and hopefully convince her support colonization.
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Provide a quote.
The author felt that colonization was the only way the nation could succeed economically as supported by this quote’ “That this western voyage will yielded unto us all the commodities of Europe, Africa, and Asia, as far as we were wonted to travel, and supply the wants of all our decayed trades”.
- List two things the document tells you about life during that period of history:
- Trade was important in building the economy.
2. Colonization was a major way through which countries gained resources.
- Does the document agree or disagree with other things you have read about this period? Why?
The document agrees with the historical evidence about the colonization of nations in Africa and Asia. Other nations gained resources from colonizing these continents.
- Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
Was colonization the only way to succeed economically?
Ming Shi-lu – Zheng He
- What type of document is this? How do you know this?
This is a historical document because it gives accounts of activities that took place in China in the early 1400s.
- When was this document written?
The document was written in the 1400s because it is then that the Chinese were ruled by Zheng He.
- Where was the document written? Why is this significant?
The document helps in understanding the struggle that the Chinese leaders went through to save the nation from colonization.
- Who is the author? What can you determine about the background of the author?
The author is Zheng He, a Chinese Muslim who was the commander of Nanjing.
- For what audience was the document written? How do you know this?
The document was written for the general public so that they could learn about the Chinese history and pass it to other generations.
- Document Information
- List the three most significant things that the author says:
- Zheng He ordered envoys sent to other nations to be returned.
- The envoys were rewarded with silk suits on their arrival to China.
- The nations that had good relations with China offered a good market place for its products.
- Why do you think this document was written?
The document was written to teach the generations about the historic events that took place in china in the 1400s.
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Provide a quote.
The document aws a way of passing information about the early days to the generations as supported by the following quote,” The envoys who had been sent by Siam, Samudera, Aden (哈丹) and other countries, who had accompanied He on his return, offered tribute of local products “
- List two things the document tells you about life during that period of history:
- There was war between China and other nations.
2. Trade was an important element of the economy.
- Does the document agree or disagree with other things you have read about this period? Why?
The document is in line with the historic sources about China at the time.
- Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
Did the move to direct envoys to return work to the nation’s advantage?
Hernan Cortes: Excerpt from Second Letter to Charles V, (1520)
- What type of document is this? How do you know this?
This is a literature document because it narrates about the beauty of Mexico city.
- When was this document written?
The document was written in 1520
- Where was the document written? Why is this significant?
The document was written in Mexico where Hernan lived.
- Who is the author? What can you determine about the background of the author?
The author is Hanan Cortes who was a conqueror of the Aztec empire.
- For what audience was the document written? How do you know this?
The document was written to the general public for the people to read and appreciate the beauty and value of Mexico.
- Document Information
- List the three most significant things that the author says:
- There were temples and houses in the city that enhanced its beauty.
- There was abundant food
- The city had a lot of public utilities such a public squares.
- Why do you think this document was written?
The document was written to educate the world about the beauty of Mexico.
- What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Provide a quote.
The document was written to show the beauty of the city as supported by the following quote,”The city has many public squares, in which are situated the markets and other places for buying and selling”.
- List two things the document tells you about life during that period of history:
- Trade was important
2. There was plenty of food in the region.
- Does the document agree or disagree with other things you have read about this period? Why?
The document agrees with other historical documents available about the Mexico city at the time.
- Write a question to the author that is left unanswered by the document.
How did the country manage its resources?