Answer the seven questions below in the form of an essay. Be sure to include a thesis statement and then back it up with specific evidence. 1. As we have seen in our studies of ancient philosophies...

1. As we have seen in our studies of ancient philosophies and religions, the key concepts of the classical period included humaneness, compassion, and virtue, or excellence. Based on “Sermon on the Mount,” do you think Jesus of Nazareth embodied these concepts? A satisfactory response must focus on the “Sermon”; place Jesus in the historical context of the Pax Romana; and compare Jesus to other thinkers of the classical period (for example Confucius, Siddhartha, and Socrates). (You can find a link to the “Sermon” fromGospel of Matthewunder module ten)

2. In what ways did the political systems of Rome (circa 500-100 BCE) and Athens (circa 600-300 BCE) in the classical period increase the power of (male) commoners at the expense of traditional elites like kings and nobles? Be sure to discuss the development of their most important political institutions, for instance: the city-state; the citizens’ assembly; and the Senate. Note: in discussing Rome, focus on the period of the republic, not the empire.

3. Trace the development of the so-called “Silk Road” from its origins in the classical period (the Roman and Han Empires) through the Mongol Empire of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. What were the main economic, political, and religious factors that made it such an important part of Eurasian history during this period?

4. Trace the development of complex civilizations in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on the catalytic role of international trade in this process. Be sure to discuss: a) trade routes linking West Africa (the Niger River region especially) and East Africa (both the Swahili Coast and the interior) to the international economy; b) the main products being traded in each region); and c) the major kingdoms and city-states that emerged out of this trade.

5. Compare the two great empires of pre-Columbian America—the Aztecs and the Incas—with the early ancient societies of Africa and Eurasia that we studied in the first section of this course (chapters two through five in Bentley and Ziegler). Focus on agricultural techniques, writing and record keeping, political organization, and religion. Is it accurate to say that the Aztecs and Incas reached the same level of social, political, economic, technological, and religious development as civilizations such as Shang China, the Indus, Babylon, and Old Kingdom Egypt?

6. One theme we have studied in this section of the course is the close relationship between religions of salvation and imperial rule. How did the Carolingian dynasty promote the spread of Christianity across Western Europe? There are many ways to answer this question, but a satisfactory response must address the following: a) Charlemagne’s attempts to build an empire; b) Charlemagne’s policies towards the Catholic Church; c) the long-term impact of Charlemagne’s efforts across Western Europe.

7. Examine the development of the Islamic umma (community of believers) from the time of Muhammad through the Abbasid caliphate, paying attention to the five pillars of Islam and Muslim cultural institutions. Can you detect similar developments in Byzantium and Western Europe from the same period?