Question

Compare the Silk Road with the Great Wall of China as symbols of Chinese foreign policy.

A. The Silk Road allowed Chinese armies to conquer an empire stretching all the way to Europe. The Great Wall kept the Chinese military confined to the eastern parts of Asia.
B. As massive construction projects that helped connect with other cultures, the Great Wall and the Silk Road were symbols of cultural transmission, stability, and economic interdependence.
C. Both symbolized Chinese economic power and technology, though the Great Wall was built to prevent contact with hostile invaders while the Silk Road promoted trade with other cultures.
D. The Great Wall was a symbol of Chinese openness to other cultures, while the Silk Road threatened Chinese culture by giving outsiders the chance to invade China's territory.

Answer 1

The third alternative is correct (C).

Both the Wall of China and the Silk Road represented, in their respective periods, the political power of China as a nation.

The Great Wall crosses mountains and rivers and is considered one of the great wonders of the world. Many of the stones used in its construction measure more than two meters and its weight exceeds one ton. The main reason for its construction was the desire to defend itself against the attacks of the nomadic peoples of the north, but also was used to transfer people and armaments at great speed from one side to another, demonstrating the technological character of the work.

The Silk Road was a series of commercial and cultural transmission routes that were central to the cultural interaction between the West and the East. Silk was certainly China's main trade item, but many other goods were also marketed. These routes allowed the development of strong commercial relations of the Chinese empire with Persia, India and the Roman Empire.