| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | 15 | Reference code | 19M.3op3.HL.TZ0.1 |
| Level | Higher level only | Paper | Paper 3 (History of Asia and Oceania) | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | To what extent | Question number | 1 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Section 1: Trade and exchange: The Silk Road in the medieval world (750–1500)
To what extent did the Silk Road enable political and cultural integration in the medieval world?
Markscheme
The question requires that candidates consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the Silk Road enabled political and cultural integration in the medieval world. Candidates may offer equal coverage of political and cultural integration, or they may emphasize their assessment of one more than the other. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the exchange of creative arts and design, products, ideas of astronomy, medicine, chemistry, mathematics, religion, languages and literature, as well as the growth of cosmopolitan cities, as examples of cultural integration. Examples of political integration may include increased trade and dialogue between rulers and religions of Europe and Asia. Political, commercial, and religious competition and conflict between kingdoms, markets, and religious groups across Europe and Asia, may be referred to as examples of non-integration.
Examiners report
The question required candidates to consider the merits or otherwise of the suggestion that the Silk Road enabled political and cultural integration in the medieval world. Candidates may have challenged the assumption in the question by suggesting the Silk Road led to other more significant developments.
