Which of the following groups had the higher social status under the Yuan dynasty?
A.
Song scholar-officials
B.
southern Chinese merchants
C.
northern Chinese nobles
D.
Turks and other Muslims
C. northern Chinese nobles
Of the following statements, which one MOST accurately represents the major difference between the Japanese and European feudal systems?
A.
In Europe, feudal lords protected peasants in exchange for part of their crops. In Japan, feudal lords protected peasants without asking anything in return.
B.
Most Europeans shared one religion. The Japanese practiced several different religions.
C.
European knights followed a code of behavior. Japanese samurai did not.
D.
Japan had powerful noble landowners. In Europe, only the Catholic Church could own land.
Which of the following groups had the higher social status under the Yuan dynasty?
A.
Song scholar-officials
B.
southern Chinese merchants
C.
northern Chinese nobles
D.
Turks and other Muslims
C. northern Chinese nobles.
To determine which group had the higher social status under the Yuan dynasty, we can analyze the historical context and societal structure of the time.
During the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368), which was established by the Mongol ruler Kublai Khan, the social hierarchy was largely based on ethnicity and employment positions. The Mongols, who were the ruling class, held the highest social status, followed by other ethnic groups like the Turks and other Muslims.
In terms of the options given, let's examine each group:
A. Song scholar-officials: The Song Dynasty was the preceding dynasty to the Yuan, and scholar-officials were highly regarded in Chinese society during that time. However, under the rule of the Mongols, the status of the Song scholar-officials was significantly reduced. Many were removed from their positions or reassigned to lower-ranking roles. Therefore, they did not hold a high social status during the Yuan dynasty.
B. Southern Chinese merchants: Merchants, especially those engaged in trade, generally held a lower social status in traditional Chinese society. While they were important for economic activity, they were often considered lower in social standing compared to the scholarly and ruling classes. Therefore, it is unlikely that southern Chinese merchants had a higher social status during the Yuan dynasty.
C. Northern Chinese nobles: The Mongols, being primarily from the northern regions, had a preference for their own ethnic group and kinship ties. They placed some importance on the northern Chinese nobles who were part of the governing administration. However, their social status was still below that of the ruling Mongol aristocracy, making them unlikely to have held a higher social status.
D. Turks and other Muslims: Among the ethnic groups within the Mongol Empire, the Turks and other Muslims were specifically favored by the ruling Mongols. Many of them held important administrative positions and military posts, giving them a higher social status compared to other groups during the Yuan dynasty.
Based on this analysis, it can be concluded that Turks and other Muslims had the higher social status under the Yuan dynasty.