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9th grade · Social Studies · Unit 14 of 16

Ottoman & Ming Empires

Two great powers, 1368 to 1600

What your child practices

How the Ottoman Empire and Ming China rose, how Islam and Neo-Confucianism shaped their governments and societies, how each ruled people of many backgrounds, and how they saw their place in the world.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 9.7; 9.7a; 9.7b; 9.7c · the rise, organization and worldviews of the Ottoman Empire and the Ming dynasty, and the belief systems that shaped them

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The Ottomans took Constantinople in 1453 and turned the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Suleiman “the Lawgiver” ruled 1520–1566.
  2. Under the millet system, religious communities ran many of their own affairs.
  3. Ming China followed Neo-Confucianism. Yongle moved the capital to Beijing and built the Forbidden City; tribute let others trade with China.

Example: Which belief system most shaped the Ming government? Ming officials passed exams on Confucian classics. The updated version was Neo-Confucianism. Answer: Neo-Confucianism

Ottoman & Ming Empires in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 14 of 16 in 9th grade Social Studies, after Crusades & the Black Death and before Absolutism to Enlightenment.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    The Ming rebuilt and strengthened the Great Wall to defend against…

    • Ottoman armies
    • raids from peoples to the north
    • Spanish ships
    • pirates from Portugal

  2. Question 2

    Ming government officials were chosen through exams based on…

    • Greek philosophy
    • the Confucian classics
    • the Quran
    • Roman law

  3. Question 3

    Under the tribute system, other states sent gifts to the Ming emperor to…

    • buy Ottoman ships
    • join the Catholic Church
    • pay for the Crusades
    • show respect and gain the right to trade with China

  4. Question 4

    The main belief system of the Ottoman state was…

    • Buddhism
    • Islam
    • Neo-Confucianism
    • Hinduism

  5. Question 5

    The Ottoman architect Sinan is famous for designing…

    • the Great Wall
    • the Forbidden City
    • great mosques, such as the Süleymaniye Mosque
    • Machu Picchu

  6. Question 6

    After conquering Egypt in 1517, Ottoman sultans claimed the title of…

    • pope
    • emperor of China
    • tsar
    • caliph, leader of the Muslim community

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