Essay Topics for Test 1

History 101: Western Civilization

1. Discuss the importance of religion in ancient Near Eastern societies. Analyze the role of the Hebrews in the foundations of western civilization. What made the Hebrews different from other Near Eastern societies?

2. Assess the importance of Homer's writings in the formation of ancient Greek society. How does the Iliad illustrate ancient Greek values? Give specific examples.

3. Compare and contrast ancient Athens and Sparta. Discuss the importance of the polis in ancient Greek life, using Athens as an example. Trace the development of democracy in ancient Athens.

4. Discuss the philosophical thought of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. How did they differ from the Ionian philosophers and the sophists? Compare and contrast Epicureanism, Stoicism, Skepticism, and Cynicism. How did they differ from the ideas of Plato and Aristotle?

5. Compare and contrast the writings of Sophocles and Aristophanes. How did each compare or contrast with Aristotle’s view of drama?

6. Discuss the impact of Alexander the Great on the ancient world. How did Alexander’s world differ from the classical (Hellenic) Greek world?

7. Trace what your text calls "the evolution of the Roman Constitution." Analyze the impact of Rome's early conquests on Roman politics.

8. Discuss the transition in Rome from republic to empire and examine the role of Augustus (Octavian) in that transition. Trace the decline of Rome from the third century crisis through the efforts of Diocletian and Constantine to stop the fall.

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