Quarter 1 Essay

Objective: Students will create a 5 paragraph argumentative essay on a topic covered during the first quarter of World History.

Listed below you will find possible topics for your quarter 1 essay. The goal is to write a paper based on the research questions listed below. Some research materials will be provided for you, but you are not limited to these resources.

The following outline the expectations for this project:

• Review this Google Slides presentation
• Review this rubric that will be used to grade your project
• You will receive an additional 10 points (pass or fail) for completing your rough draft by the due date (to be discussed in class)

Directions:

• Choose a research question to answer.
• Conduct research by reading the sources connected to your topic. Please note that many of the sources below are Document Based Questions (DBQs). You do not need to complete the DBQs, they are there because they provide multiple sources that can be used to answer your specific question. Do not complete your essay according to the expectations outlined in any of the DBQs, but instead refer to lesson 1.12 (see link above).
• Brainstorm for your essay by completing either an outline or the brainstorming worksheet provided.
• Complete the rough draft for your essay. Use the template found on Google Classroom, labeled "Quarter 1 Essay"
• Have at least 2 people (the more the merrier) review your essay for grammatical and spelling errors.

Bronze Age

• How did the Neolithic Revolution change human society?
  • Anonymous. "Neolithic Revolution DBQ." 2019.
  • Jared Diamond. "The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race." 1987.
• How did geography affect the development of early civilizations?
  • Prentice-Hall, Inc. "The Influence of Geography on History." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Egypt: Gift of the Nile." 2019.
• How did the Nile River shape Ancient Egypt?
  • The DBQ Project. "How Did the Nile Shape Ancient Egypt?" 2016.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Egypt: Gift of the Nile." 2019.
• How did the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt develop into successful civilizations?
  • Anonymous. "Mesopotamia & Egypt DBQ." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Egypt: Gift of the Nile." 2019.
• How much power did women of the ancient world possess, and how did they exert that power? (you may focus on one civilization, or approach this question broadly by analyzing multiple civilizations)
  • Cliffs. "Ancient Women & Wives DBQ." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Egyptian Life." 2019.
  • Joyce Salisbury. "Athenian Women." 2019.
  • Joyce Salisbury. "Spartan Women." 2019.
  • Joyce Salisbury. "Roman Women." 2019.
• Was Hammurabi’s Code morally right and fair?
  • Anonymous. "Hammurabi's Code: Was it Just?" 2019.
  • "Stela of Hammurabi." 2019.

Pre-Contact America

• How advanced were the Mayan, Aztec, Olmec, and Incan civilizations? What were their major accomplishments? (You may focus on just one civilization or broadly cover multiple civilizations)
  • J. Weston Walch. "Civilizations of the Americas DBQ." 1999.
  • Ellen Bialo. "Maya Civilization." 2019.
  • Linda Unger. "Aztec Civilization." 2019.
  • Linda Unger. "The Olmecs." 2019.
  • Ellen Bialo. "The Inca." 2019.

Ancient World

• What were some of the contributions to Western Civilizations from the ancient Greeks?
  • Anonymous. "DBQ: Ancient Greek Contributions." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Greek Philosophy and Science." 2019.
• Compare and contrast Athens and Sparta. Which civilization do you believe was more advanced?
  • Anonymous. "Document Based Essay and directions." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Athens." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Sparta." 2019.
  • James B. Tschen-Emmons and Lee L. Brice. "Peloponnesian War." 2019.
• How great was Alexander the Great?
  • Anonymous. "DBQ: How Great Was Alexander the Great?" 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "Alexander the Great." 2019.
• What were the primary reasons for the “fall” of Rome? (2 DBQs)
  • The DBQ Project. "What Were the Primary Reasons for the "Fall" of Rome?" 2011.
  • Anonymous. "Ancient Rome: DBQ ESSAY: Causes of the fall of the Roman Empire." 2019.
  • James Tschen-Emmons. "Why Did Rome Fall?" 2019.
• What contributions has the Roman Empire made to our modern society?
  • Anonymous. "Roman Contributions Document." 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "The Roman Republic." 2019.
• Did Justinian revive the Roman Empire or create a new Byzantine Empire?
  • DBQ Focus. "Byzantine Empire Under Justinian." 2019.
  • Michael Frassetto. "Justinian I." 2019.
• How democratic were the Athenians of Ancient Greece?
  • Anonymous. "AP World History: Document Based Question Essay." 2019.
  • Ryan Hackney. "Athenian Democracy." 2019.

Medieval Europe

• How was Charlemagne able to successfully unite the various Germanic tribes as part of the growing Carolingian Empire?
  • DBQ Focus. "Charlemagne's Frankish Empire." 2019.
  • Michael Frassetto. "Charlemagne." 2019.
• How did the Vikings change medieval Europe?
  • Anonymous. "The Vikings: Terror of Europe." 2019.
  • Booth, Brandon. "Lesson 2.9: The Viking Age." 2019.
  • James Tschen Emmons. "The Viking Invasions." 2019.
• To what extent did Feudalism and Manorialism impact the Social, Political or Economic aspects of Medieval Society?
  • Anonymous. "Feudalism & Manor Life (DBQ): A Middle Ages Society." 2019.
  • Amy Hackney Blackwell. "Manorialism." 2019.
  • James Tschen Emmons. "Feudalism and the Three Orders." 2019.
• How did Joan of Arc and the Hundred Years War benefit France?
  • DBQ Focus. "100 Years War." 2019.
  • Nancy McLoughlin. "Joan of Arc." 2019.
• What label fits Europe during the period between 500 and 1400 best: the Dark Ages, the Age of Feudalism, the Age of Faith, or the Golden Age of Europe?
  • Anonymous. "DBQ Middle Ages." 2019.
  • Crash Course History. "The Dark Ages...How Dark Were They, Really?: Crash Course World History #14." 2012. (video)
  • Tom Sizgorich. "Middle Ages." 2019.

Asia

• What was the impact of the Mongols on world (not just Europe) history?
  • Anonymous. "DBQ: Impact of the Mongols." 2019.
  • Kallie Szczepanski. "What Effect Did the Mongols Have on Europe?" 2019.
  • Jennifer Hutchinson. "The Mongol Empire." 2019.
• How did the Tang and Song dynasties create a Golden Age in China?
  • Anonymous. "Document Based Question Assessment for Tang and Song China Unit." 2019.
  • Kim Draggoo. "Song Dynasty." 2019.
  • James Tschen­ Emmons. "Tang Dynasty." 2019.
• What was the traditional role of women in Ancient China?
  • Kaplan. "When in China DBQ." 2019.
  • Mark Cartwright. "Women in Ancient China." 2017.
• Did the benefits of the Great Wall of China outweigh the costs?
  • The DBQ Project. "The Great Wall of Ancient China: Did the Benefits Outweigh the Costs?" 2013.
  • Donald Langmead and Christine Garnaut. "Great Wall of China." 2019.