AP World History Practice Exam 2025 – The Comprehensive All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The conclusion that both leaders of Western Europe and Tang China legitimized their rule through religious or ethical beliefs is supported by the painting. In both societies, rulers often used religion or ethical doctrines to justify their authority and reinforce their power. In Tang China, the Confucian ideology played a vital role in governance, promoting moral virtue and ethical conduct among rulers as a means of maintaining order and authority. Similarly, in Western Europe, leaders often intertwined their rule with Christian teachings, portraying themselves as divinely appointed and responsible for the moral welfare of their subjects.

This commonality illustrates how both regions recognized the importance of aligning their political leadership with widely accepted moral or spiritual frameworks to enhance their legitimacy. While other options may touch upon aspects of the respective societies, they do not capture the overarching theme of legitimacy through religious or ethical beliefs as effectively as this conclusion does.