2009 CT 2 Answer
Saturday, May 8, 2010 @ 3:15 PM
1 (a)
IQE 1
I can infer that the government of Chandragupta was very efficient/ organized/ systematic
‘The empire was divided into administrative districts or zones, each of which had a hierarchy of officials.’
This shows that the government of Chandragupta was very efficient as it was not easy to amalgamate a kingdom as vast as India. It must have taken a very efficient government with an effectual bureaucracy to run the country.
IQE 2
I can infer that the government of Chandragupta has policies that benefited the people
‘These officials were responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining the army, completing irrigational projects, and maintaining law and order.’
This shows that government of Chandragupta had policies that benefited the people because collection of taxes was necessary for the economy, maintaining the army was important for defense and irrigational projects ensured that floods and droughts will not occur.
IQE 3
I can infer that the government of Chandragupta was a unitary one.
‘Chandragupta had united the whole of northern India under one rule and the Mauryan Empire was the first large, powerful, centralized state in India.’
This shows that that there was ultimately one person that everyone in the empire had to report to, thus the final say lay in the hands of that one person.
1 (b)
IQE 1
I can infer that Qin Shi Huang was harsh/cruel as a ruler.
Source B shows that, ‘During the construction of the wall, countless conscripts lost their lives’
This shows that Qin Shi Huang was harsh or cruel as a ruler. This is because he was willing to sacrifice the lives of countless of Chinese people in order to construct the great wall.
IQE 2
I can infer that Qin Shi Huang was an effective ruler that defended China well.
Source B shows that, “He ordered conscript laborers to link together the defensive works against marauding nomads already built by the former states”
This shows that Qin Shi Huang was able to protect the Chinese people from external attacks by foreigners.
IQE 3
I can infer that Qin Shi Huang’s rule benefited his people.
Source B shows that, “The emperor unified the Chinese characters, which promoted the development of the Chinese culture.’
This shows that Qin Shi Huang cared about Chinese culture enough to develop a system in which everyone could appreciate it.
1 (c)
Similarities
I.Both sources are similar in showing that the lives of the people were improved under the government of Qin Shi Huang.
Source B: ‘In culture, the emperor unified the Chinese characters, which promoted the development of the Chinese culture.’
Source C: ‘He organized China into a civilization that was highly systematic and brought the civilization to great heights’
II.Both sources show that a unitary system of rule was present in the system of government of Qin Shi Huang
Source B: ‘The symbol of the Chinese ancient civilization, the Great Wall bears witness to Qin Shihuang's centralism.’ OR ‘emperor unified the Chinese characters’
Source C: ‘ended the 250-odd years of rivalry among the independent feudal states during the Warring States Period, establishing the first centralized, unified, multi-ethnic feudal state in Chinese history—the Qin Dynasty.’
Differences
I.Both sources are different in showing the extent of standardization present during the Qin Dynasty’s rule .
Source B: “the emperor unified the Chinese characters, which promoted the development of the Chinese culture.”
Source C: “He standardized the written script, weights and measures, and currencies, and established the system of prefectures and counties. He organized China into a civilization that was highly systematic and brought the civilization to great heights”
(elaboration) Source B shows only the language was standardized, but Source C shows that a wider variety of things were standardized in the country.
II.Both sources are different in showing the effects that the government had on the people
Source B: ‘During the construction of the wall, countless conscripts lost their lives.”
Source C: ‘He organized China into a civilization that was highly systematic and brought the civilization to great heights.’
Source B shows that there was suffering during that period of time while Source C shows that everything was good and in order.