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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of map did Ricci print in 1602?

2. According to "Chapter Four, The Second Image: The Huihui", what tenet was similar to the three major religions of China?

3. According to "Chapter Four, The Second Image: The Huihui", when Ricci cut the idiograph in half horizontally, what did the two halves mean?

4. According to "Chapter One: Building the Palace", how did Ricci believe that humans could remember anything?

5. Who encouraged the use of mnemonic devices as a way to remember the multitude of one's sins?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were some of the outside influences affecting Ricci's home city of Macerata?

2. During the 16th century, why did the Jesuits send two copies of their letters on two different passages when they wrote home?

3. Who was Alessandro Valignano and what did he think about the possibility of Asians and Japanese converting to Christianity?

4. What experiences led to Ricci's skill in drawing maps?

5. Does the author know with certainty where Ricci picked up the idea of mnemonic devices?

6. What had the Japanese done to make Ricci's life difficult?

7. What is a "huihui"?

8. According to Spence, how did Ricci use the four images and four Chinese characters?

9. What were conditions in Ricci's home city of Macerata when he was a young boy?

10. According to "Chapter One: Building the Palace", what was the size of the Memory Palace that Matteo Ricci used to teach the Chinese people?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sexual immorality caused Ricci great concern. Discuss the ways in which both the Jesuits and the Chinese challenged Ricci's view of sexual morality and the ways he chose to combat it.

Essay Topic 2

The Chinese practiced three major religions: Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. In his efforts to Christianize the Chinese, Ricci uses the beliefs from these three religions to show the similarities to his Catholicism. Explain the basics of all four religions and discuss their similarities and differences to each other.

Essay Topic 3

During the 16th century, the political life of Italy was unstable. Connected by a number of city-states, the country was constantly drawn into internal and external feuds, war and violence. Adding to the chaos was the powerful presence of the Catholic Church and the role of the pope. Taking into account his age, his family's position in the community, and his education, explain how these events influenced Matteo Ricci.

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