Mock Exam SAQs

The modern nations came into being essentially by two roads. In one case, the state was, from the start of the process of national formation, already an established continuity, [most] often from the Middle Ages. These were states with their own ‘national elites’ and mature written cultural traditions. . . . For these states, the road to the modern nation was through an internal transformation . . . and the struggle to establish the modern nation was mainly a political struggle to define the nation as a community of equal citizens. . . .

This first type of development toward the modern nation was absent in Central and Eastern Europe. There, a different pattern was typical, [namely] that of multi-ethnic empires inhabited by many non-ruling ethnic groups. . . . Lacking not only statehood, but also written traditions in their own national language, these non-ruling ethnic groups in the multi-ethnic empires were in the most complicated situation. Their national movements had to pursue not only cultural and social emancipation and equality, but also political emancipation.

There are scores of rich Muslim merchants from the Kingdom of Srivijaya [in Southeast Asia] who are living or were born in our city of Quanzhou [in southern China]. Among them is a man called Shi Nuowei, who is a Muslim. He is famous for his generosity among his fellow foreign residents in Quanzhou. The building of a cemetery for foreign merchants is but one of his many generous deeds. This cemetery project was first proposed by another Srivijaya foreigner, but he died before he could finish it. Shi then built the cemetery on the hillside to the east of the city. The cemetery is covered with a roof, enclosed by a wall, and safely locked at night. All foreign merchants who die in Quanzhou are to be buried there.

Shi’s kind deed allows the foreign merchants in our city to not have to worry about being able to be buried according to the requirements of their own religions. Shi’s kindness will certainly promote overseas trade and encourage more foreigners to come to Quanzhou, where they could live and conduct their business in harmony. I have included this story here so that news of it will be widely circulated overseas.