DBQ Thesis Example

2019 DBQ Prompt

Evaluate the extent to which the Portuguese transformed maritime trade in the Indian Ocean in the sixteenth century.

Remember your steps: Look at the years. Figure out if this is political, social, or dealing with economics. And then, is it comparison, change or continuity over time, or causation.

If you want to see an example of the ENTIRE DBQ done well, remember that it is in your Google Classroom.

Example of a Great Thesis:

• Although the arrival of the Portuguese was a very important change in Indian Ocean maritime trade in the sixteenth century, it did not completely transform trade, as the Portuguese never extended their control beyond a few ports and had to compete with Indian merchants and regional states such as the Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Aceh.

Gives a time frame: sixteenth century.

Gives a counterpoint: was a very important change...did not completely transform trade.

Makes an argument: never extended their control beyond a few ports...had to compete with Indian merchants and regional states...

Gives pieces of evidence: Ottoman Empire and the Sultanate of Aceh.

Example of a Minimally Okay Thesis

• The Portuguese transformed maritime trade in Indian Ocean in the sixteenth century by taxing non-Portuguese ships that traded in the region.

Gives a time frame: sixteenth century.

Makes an argument: by taxing non-Portuguese ships...

However, I want you to be a BETTER writer than this. This may not pass water.

Example of a Strong Thesis

• The Portuguese brought a few changes to the Indian Ocean trading networks but most Indian goods, including spices, continued to be traded locally, or to Middle Eastern and Chinese markets, as they had been for centuries before.

Makes an argument: brought a few changes...continued to be traded locally...as they had been for centuries before.

Gives pieces of evidence: including spices...Middle Eastern or Chinese Markets...

Examples of BAD, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD Theses

• In the sixteenth century, the arrival of the Portuguese completely transformed maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region.

All this did was repeat the prompt.

• Portuguese merchants came to dominate Indian Ocean trade by organizing themselves into powerful joint-stock companies.

Not a historically defensible claim.

• Despite its small size and population, Portugal used its location on the Atlantic Ocean to transform itself into a major maritime power.

Too much mystery. They alluded too much, so no point, because they're waiting to give us more in the evidence.

Please refer to the powerpoint for more information on this. I have taken out the extra slides that we'll go over in class later. I have left in the last slide that we have not touched on in class yet. Do not feel obligated to touch it yet but if you feel comfortable, you can start playing with that prompt.