1. In approx. 200-250 words address the following: what was the popular appeal of Buddhism? How does it compare and contrast to Hinduism? How did early Buddhism evolve into Mahayana Buddhism? How did that help spread the religion? Why did Buddhism eventually lose popularity in India?
2. In approx. 200-250 words address the following: the Persian Empires were noted for being part of a trade route critical to the economy of the classical world. What did the rulers do to facilitate trade? Why was Persia geographically so important?
3. In approx. 200-250 words address the following: what are the fundamental ideas and values of Confucianism? Make sure to include the concepts of ren, li, and xiao in your response.