Reference no: EM132497705

Question 1: Russia would become the largest land empire in the world by the eighteenth century. During this time, Imperial China would be led by the Qing dynasty. This age of Chinese history would see a rapid population growth leading to the world's most populated country. What factors led to imperial consolidation in Russia and China? Who were some of the most important rulers who helped to strengthen the power of Russia and China? In your essay you will wish to discuss the reign of Ivan IV "the Terrible", the achievements of Peter the Great, the ways in which a silver economy would produce links between China and the outside world, the reign of Emperor Kangxi in China, and the ways in which empire building changed the environment of Russia and China.

Question 2: In what ways did the development of Japan in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries differ from China? Did self-isolation seem to aid or hinder the development of Japan? How did Korea develop between China and Japan under the Yi dynasty? In your essay you will wish to discuss the social classes of early Japan (daimyo, samurai), how foreigners were viewed (nanban), how Japanese agriculture developed differently than China, and the ways in which Korea interacted with both Japan and China.