Question

How did skilled artisans contribute to the successes of the Ming dynasty?
The artisans fulfilled the ideals of Confucianism, which encouraged employment.
The artisans produced beautiful items, which decorated the emperor’s palace and the Forbidden City.
The artisans produced silk and porcelain goods that demanded high prices, thus increasing China’s trade and wealth.
The artisans provided jobs to the Chinese peasants who could no longer work in agriculture because of the famine.

Answer 1

The best option from the list would be that "The artisans produced silk and porcelain goods that demanded high prices, thus increasing China’s trade and wealth," since these items were in high demand, especially in Europe. 

Answer 2

The correct answer is "The artisans produced silk and porcelain goods that demanded high prices, thus increasing China’s trade and wealth.". The skilled artisans of the Ming dynasty produced silk and porcelain goods that were sold at high prices, which represented not only the value of the goods itself but a symbolic value because of the representation of China's culture. The selling of these goods benefited China’s trade and wealth, and even nowadays, these goods are considered of high value.