Final Examination
Each essay should be well-organized, with a clear beginning, middle and end, and should be at least 5 paragraphs, and should have an interpretive title. Therefore, your document should have 3 parts, with each clearly marked.
Essay 1
Explain in detail the impact of religion on the development of World Civilizations (world history) from earliest times to the 1600s CE, in particular the civilizations we have encountered on our ‘bus tour’. Your essay should discuss 3 major religions (and thus 3 civilizations). Remember to discuss specific civilizations and to provide several examples of important consequences or changes, or, focus on a particular (broad) region and discuss how several major religions brought changes in civilizations in that one region through time. The best answers also will consider the historical significance of ‘heresy’ and ‘blasphemy’ (that is, religious conflict). Do not just write a vague answer, and do not write on just a single religion. Do focus on change over time, and give specific historical examples to support your discussion.
Essay 2
Throughout the semester, we have discussed various civilizations and their Golden Ages before about 1800 CE. Please select three civilizations from three different time periods and three different regions of the the world and describe and compare (and explain) their individual Golden Ages. Be sure and include what characterizes a Golden Age, how factors from each civilization encompassed its Golden Age, and why each civilization’s Golden Age came to an end. The best answers will include significant historical examples as well as basic chronology (‘when’).
Essay 3
Explain why and how Europeans “turned west” after about 1400 CE. Your answer should have three main reasons, with specific historical examples, and should discuss three main consequences for world history.
Development of World Civilizations