The passage highlights China's development through the acceptance of Western technology, similar methods of rule were seen in Japan during this period, and Verbiest's view of the emperor was likely influenced by the emperor's interest in Western knowledge and technology.
The passage discusses the influence of the Jesuit missionary Ferdinand Verbiest at the imperial court of China during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It provides insight into the development of China during this time period.
a) One way in which the passage illustrates the development of China is through the acceptance and adoption of Western technology. Verbiest, through his knowledge of astronomy and mechanical devices, was able to gain favor with the emperor and contribute to the development of new technologies in China.
b) Another state in the period 1450-1750 that used similar methods of rule as described in the passage is Japan. During this period, Japan went through a period of isolation and centralized rule under the Tokugawa shogunate. The shogunate promoted cultural exchange, including the adoption of Western ideas and technology, similar to the emperor in China's court.
c) One factor that might have contributed to Verbiest's view of the emperor in the second paragraph is the emperor's interest in Western knowledge and technology. The emperor's curiosity and openness to foreign ideas would have encouraged Verbiest to see the emperor as a potential ally and supporter of his mission. This alignment of interests would have shaped Verbiest's view of the emperor as a figure supportive of innovation and progress.