Final Exam

Section A:

Question: Explain why some scholars have called the Ancient Egyptians a "death obsessed" culture. Do you agree?

Thesis: Egyptian life was based on doing good works in order to get you to the after-life, meaning that they lived in a "death obsessed" culture.

Primary Source #1:

"Hail, gods, who dwell in the house of the Two Truths.

I know you and I know your names.

Let me not fall under your slaughter-knives,

And do not bring my wickedness to Osiris the god you serve.

Let no evil come to me from you.

Declare me right and true in the presence of Osiris,

Because I have done what is right and true in Egypt.

I have not cursed a god.

I have not suffered evil through the king who ruled my day"

The Book of the Dead

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/BOD125.HTM

Primary Source #2:

"Ho! king Neferkere (Pepi II)! How beautiful is this! How beautiful is this, which thy father Osiris has done for thee ! He has given thee his throne, thou rulest those of the hidden places (the dead), thou leadest their august ones, all the glorious ones follow thee"

Pyramid Texts

http://www.mircea-eliade.com/from-primitives-to-zen/167.html

Primary Source #3:

"Now are you a king's son, a prince,

as long as your soul exists, so long will your heart be with you."

Coffin Texts

http://www.mircea-eliade.com/from-primitives-to-zen/168.html

Explanation of Argument:

In the first source cited, they are saying how they had not done anything to insult the gods and that they deserved entrance into the afterlife. The second source tells that a Pharaoh has been given a throne in the afterlife. The final source says that the heart travels with the soul, implying that all the good and bad deeds stay with you.

Section B:

Question: Do you think Alexander honestly felt like he was avenging Persian wrongs? Or was that just propaganda to mask his goal of conquest?

Thesis: Alexander did not care about avenging Persian wrongs; he wanted to rule the world.

Primary Source #1:

"full of splendid furniture and quantities of gold and silver, they reserved for Alexander himself"

Plutarch: Alexander

http://classics.mit.edu/Plutarch/alexandr.html

Primary Source #2:

"Was, then, Alexander ill-advised and precipitate in setting forth with such humble resources to acquire so vast an empire? By no means. For who has ever put forth with greater or fairer equipment than he: greatness of soul, keen intelligence, self-restraint, and manly courage, with which Philosophy herself provided him for his campaign? Yes, the equipment that he had from Aristotle his teacher when he crossed over into Asia was more than what he had from his father Philip. But although we believe those who record that Alexander once said that the Iliad and the Odyssey accompanied him as equipment for his campaigns"

Plutarch: On the Fortune or the Virtue of Alexander

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Fortuna_Alexandri*/1.html

Primary Source #3:

"they were an object of general hatred, as was manifest from the fact that all the Greeks had bound themselves by an oath to demolish Thebes"

Marcus Junianus Justinus: Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus

http://www.forumromanum.org/literature/justin/english/trans11.html

Explanation of Argument:

The first primary source tells how they gave Alexander all of the gold and silver they found at one of the places they conquered. The second source says that he attacked an empire without the required resources. This shows that he was only interested to becoming stronger, and not the lives of his soldiers. The final primary source says that he had an oath to demolish Thebes.

Question: Who is a better model for modern historians: Herodotus or Thucydides? Why?

Thesis: Based on their written texts, Thucydides is a better model for modern historians.

Primary Source #1:

"Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it."

Thucydides: The Peloponnesian War

http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.1.first.html

Primary Source #2:

"These are the researches of Herodotus of Halicarnassus, which he publishes, in the hope of thereby preserving from decay the remembrance of what men have done, and of preventing the great and wonderful actions of the Greeks and the Barbarians from losing their due meed of glory; and withal to put on record what were their grounds of feuds. According to the Persians best informed in history, the Phoenicians began to quarrel."

Herodotus: The Histories

http://classics.mit.edu/Herodotus/history.1.i.html

Primary Source #3:

"After the second invasion of the Peloponnesians there had been a change in the spirit of the Athenians. Their land had been twice devastated, and they had to contend with the war and the plague at the same time. Now they began to blame Pericles for having persuaded them to go to war and to hold him responsible for all the misfortunes which had overtaken them"

Thucydides: Pericles' Last Speech

http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/thuc-sp.html

Explanation of Argument:

In the first source, Thucydides says that he is writing because of the greatness of the war. In the second one, Herodotus writes that he has taken down all of the stories so that lives will not be forgotten. Historians should write based on circumstances, not on remembrance of lives. In the final source, Thucydides mentions the people of the time.

Section C:

Question: Were the Vikings "barbarians"?

Thesis: The Vikings were ruthless when attacking, but they also had reasons for attacking in such a way.

Primary Source #1:

"The Northmen with a hundred ships entered the Seine on the twentieth of March and, after ravaging first one bank and then the other, came without meeting any resistance to Paris. Charles[4] resolved to hold out against them; but seeing the impossibility of gaining a victory, he made with them a certain agreement and by a gift of 7,000 livres he bought them off from advancing farther and persuaded them to return. Euric, king of the Northmen, advanced, with six hundred vessels, along the course of the River Elbe to attack Louis of Germany[5] The Saxons prepared to meet him, gave battle, and with the aid of our Lord Jesus Christ won the victory. The Northmen returned [from Paris] down the Seine and coming to the ocean pillaged, destroyed, and burned all the regions along the coast"

The Earlier Ravages of the Northmen

http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/Northmen.html

Primary Source #2:

"They went without shields, and were mad as dogs or wolves, and bit on their shields, and were as strong as bears or bulls; men they slew, and neither fire nor steel would deal with them; and this is what is called the fury of the berserker."

Mircea Eliade "From Primitives to Zen": INITIATION OF A WARRIOR

http://www.mircea-eliade.com/from-primitives-to-zen/145.html

Primary Source #3:

"The Northmen came to Paris with 700 sailing ships, not counting those of smaller size which are commonly called barques. At one stretch the Seine was lined with the vessels for more than two leagues, so that one might ask in astonishment in what cavern the river had been swallowed up, since it was not to be seen. The second day after the fleet of the Northmen arrived under the walls of the city, Siegfried, who was then king only in name but who was in command of the expedition, came to the dwelling of the illustrious bishop. He bowed his head and said: "Gauzelin, have compassion on yourself and on your flock. We beseech you to listen to us, in order that you may escape death. Allow us only the freedom of the city. We will do no harm and we will see to it that whatever belongs either to you or to Odo shall be strictly respected"

Abbo's Wars of Count Odo with the Northmen in the Reign of Charles the Fat

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/843bertin.html#abbo

Explanation of Argument:

The first source shows how fierce they are when in battle. The second shows that not all of the soldiers were considered "berserkers". It also only says that they were fierce while in battle. The final source says that they tried to give them time to escape from them and that they did not necessarily want to kill them.

Question: What was the significance of the Black Death and the 100 Years' War to the development of Europe as we know it today?

Thesis: The Black Death set forth a movement in the medical field while the 100 Years' War brought Europe together.

Primary Source #1:

"Now some of the physicians who were at a loss because the symptoms were not understood, supposing that the disease centred in the bubonic swellings, decided to investigate the bodies of the dead. And upon opening some of the swellings, they found a strange sort of carbuncle that had grown inside them."

Procopius: The Plague

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/542procopius-plague.html

Primary Source #2:

"[It is agreed] that the two kingdoms shall be governed from the time that our said son, or any of his heirs shall assume the crown, not divided between different kings at the same time, but under one person who shall be king and sovereign lord of both kingdoms; observing all pledges and all other things to each kingdom its rights, liberties or customs, usages and laws, not submitting in any manner one kingdom to the other."

Hundred Years War: Treaty of Troyes, 1420 and Conditions in France in 1422

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1420troyes.html

Primary Source #3:

"In consideration of the frightf

said Dauphin, it is agreed that we, our son Henry, and also our very dear son Philip, duke of Burgundy, will never treat for peace or amity with the said Charles"

Hundred Years War: Treaty of Troyes, 1420 and Conditions in France in 1422

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/1420troyes.html

Explanation of Argument:

The first source says that they started opening bodies, something that had never been done before. The second and third sources talk about how they made treaties to stop fighting.

Example Exam Questions

Is monarchy more or less effective than democracy?

• Thesis: Monarchies are much less effective than democracies because of they are led by a single ruler instead of an entire nation.

• Primary Sources:
• "TO ALL FREE MEN OF OUR KINGDOM we have also granted, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs"
• King John of England in the Magna Carta: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/magnacarta.html

• "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."
• The Declaration of Independence: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/text.html

• "I have brought together these acts of his [Nero], some of which are beyond criticism, while others are even deserving of no slight praise, to separate them from his shameful and criminal deeds"
• Suetonius talking about Nero, the Roman Emperor: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suet-nero-rolfe.html

What's So Wrong With Social Orders?

Thesis: Social Orders create unrest between the higher and lower social classes.

Outline

How would have things been different if the persians had won the persian wars

1. If the Persians had won the Persian War, they would have erased all the history and great works written by such people as Herodotus, Aristotle, and Xenophon.

2. "What need have I to tell you of the deeds of Cyrus and Cambyses, and my own father Darius, how many nations they conquered, and added to our dominions? Ye know right well what great things they achieved. But for myself, I will say that, from the day on which I mounted the throne, I have not ceased to consider by what means I may rival those who have preceded me in this post of honour, and increase the power of Persia as much as any of them. And truly I have pondered upon this, until at last I have found out a way whereby we may at once win glory, and likewise get possession of a land which is as large and as rich as our own nay, which is even more varied in the fruits it bears- while at the same time we obtain satisfaction and revenge. For this cause I have now called you together, that I may make known to you what I design to do"
1. In this speech, Xerces, the leader of the Persian army, talks to his soldiers about the glory and honor that would come from conquering Greece. He says that he needs to follow in the foot steps of past kings by making Greece part of the Persian empire. Having said this, it is clear that Xerces had no intentions of saving anything previous written or owned by the Greeks.

3. "So Xerxes, thus instructed, proceeded on his way with great gladness of heart."
1. Here, Herodotus is talking about the joy Xerces will have conquering Greece. This could have led to a brighter Greek history.

Article 12

Is monarchy more or less effective than democracy?

The success of a nation depends on what type of government is run inside of the country. The two most successful types are monarchies and democracies. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. Time has shown that democracies have come out to be longer lasting and more successful than monarchies.

According to dictionary.com, a democracy is a “government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/democracy). What this basically means is that the people are indirectly in charge of what goes on in the government and the country. In a democracy, the people vote for governors, senators, congressmen, House representatives, and the president. Elected officials that hold these positions are in charge of passing and creating bills.

The Constitution states that congressmen have the following powers: “The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; to borrow money on the credit of the United States; to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; to coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; to provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States; to establish Post Offices and Post Roads; to promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; to constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; to define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; to declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; to raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; to provide and maintain a Navy; to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces; to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; to exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And to make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof” (The Constitution http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html).

Many of these powers are now useless, but the majority of them still give the congress the ability to have great influence on the country. With this kind of power, congressmen need to be selected carefully. When intelligent and experienced congressmen, senators, and representatives are chosen, a democracy is a much better form of government than a monarchy. If the majority of the house, senate, and congress is of one party or corrupt, major problems may arise in the country.

Dictionary.com defines monarchy as a “supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/monarchy). This simple means that there is a sole ruler in charge of a country.

King Henry VIII was the king of England in the sixteenth century. He had one of the most controversial reigns over England out of all of the Tudor Kings. He had a total of eight wives, because none of them could produce a male heir. He had to change the official religion of England from Catholicism in order to divorce each of his wives. This put England through a time of great turmoil. The actions of one man changed the history of an entire country. In monarchies, the success depends on how intelligent the king or emperor is and how good of a ruler he or she is.

Monarchies are based on the readiness and leadership qualities of one person. This gives it a “hit or miss” trait. In a democracy, power is distributed throughout many people. This gives a larger range in the greatness of a person’s leadership qualities. Democracies are much more reliable because of the many people involved in the government, as opposed to the very few people involved the government of a monarchy.

"The United States Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net." Index Page - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. Web. 14 May 2010. .

"Democracy | Define Democracy at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 14 May 2010. .

"Monarchy | Define Monarchy at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 15 May 2010.

"File:Henry VIII V2 BestLo.jpg." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 14 May 2010. .

Daily

Did Leonardo Da Vinci deserve the title "genius"?

Leonardo Da Vinci was a brilliant man with a brilliant mind. He began an apprenticeship at the age of twelve to another great artist of the Renaissance. In the journals he kept, he wrote in a code so that no one could steal his scientific and artistic ideas. The fact that he wrote in code was genius. Even more genius was what he was actually writing. He was thinking of technologies that people use today. Leonardo Da Vinci was truly a genius by his time's standards and modern standards.

Leonardo Da Vinci Writing

Leonardo Da Vinci

• Moved to Florence when he was 12.
• Began as an apprentice to Verrocchio
• Kept notebooks where he wrote down all of this ideas of science and art
• Inspired by Brunelleschi.
• Used his concepts of perspective
•