Despite Its Dazzling Achievements, China Did Not Generate, as Europe

question 36

Multiple Choice

Despite its dazzling achievements, China did not generate, as Europe did in the Middle Ages, the forces that ultimately led to the modern scientific and industrial world. All of the following can help explain this except:

• A) Europeans, such as Marco Polo, travelled to China, but the Chinese did not venture out of their territory.
• B) conformity was not one of the primary European virtues.
• C) the question of what Europeans should do with their lives was less dependent on the political powers than in China, especially with religion and the church kept distinct from the state.
• D) Europe discovered such crucial inventions as gunpowder and printing before the Chinese.

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Definitions:

High-context Cultures

Societies or groups where communication is often indirect, and understanding depends heavily on context, non-verbal cues, and shared backgrounds.

Contracts

Legally binding agreements between two or more parties.

Individualism Versus Collectivism

A cultural dimension that reflects the degree to which people in a society are integrated into groups or expected to be independent and self-reliant.

Individual Freedoms

Rights and liberties that allow individuals to express themselves, make choices, and pursue their interests without undue interference.