Introduction/Context:
In the first half of the course, we have spent a significant amount of time exploring the connections between Western civilizations like Greece and Rome with other civilizations in North Africa and the Near East. We understand that Western civilizations did not rise in a vacuum, isolated from the rest of the world. Now it is time to reflect on the relationship between the West and other parts of the world.
Question:
Between 500 BCE to 1204 CE, did North African and Near Eastern civilizations have a greater impact on Western civilizations like Greece and Rome, or was influence stronger from the West to North Africa and the Near East?
Instructions:
There is no single right answer to this question. It is up to you to design a persuasive argumentative thesis statement based on the lecture and reading materials from the first half of our course. You may choose to argue that the West and East mutually influenced each other to an equal extent. Regardless, your thesis statement needs analytical categories based on specific social, cultural, or economic historical dynamics discussed in our class. In other words, it needs to explain why. You cannot just re-state the questionyou need a thesis statement that refers to specific factors. Your argument must then be backed up by detailed evidence from both the lectures and readings.
Unlike the weekly short essays, you must have an introduction and conclusion in the midterm and final essays. These essays should be between 750-1000 words in Times New Roman size 12 font. You are required to include at least 5 key words from the lecture, as well as footnotes (Chicago/Turabian) to at least 3 of the assigne book 100 objects by MacGregor or primary source readings.
