Discussion Instructions
This assignment is due by 11:59 PM on Monday, April 8. Choose one of the below prompts and post a short answer to the discussion boards. Your answer will be assessed through the following criteria:
Identify the textbook chapter sections, Reilly reader selections, and relevant supplemental websites that you consulted. (15 points)
Completely answer the question, demonstrating an awareness of at least one broader module theme in your response. (25 points)
Identify at and discuss the relevance to the prompt of at least one piece of primary source evidence that the textbook, the source reader, or relevant websites use in their discussion of the material. (25 points)
Assess the World History, Volume 1’s use of primary source evidence in discussing your chosen prompt. Did the textbook use the primary sources fairly and effectively? Why or why not? (25 points)
Respond in a substantive way to at least two other classmates’ posts. You don’t have to respond to people who answered your prompt as well, although you may certainly do so. (5 points each for 10 points total)
Your main answer should be no more than 750 words, while your responses to other students should be no more than 250 words each. This assignment is one of four discussion opportunities you will have and is worth 20% of your final grade.
Module 8 Discussion Prompt
How did the spread of Christianity and its acceptance by emperors alter Roman society from what it was in earlier antiquity?
Module 9 Discussion Prompt
What benefits were provided by the early Umayyads’ decision to run their empire like that of the Byzantines and Sasanian Persians? Why did they change?
Module 10 Discussion Prompt
Why did the Indian subcontinent remain largely segmented and decentralized from the eighth through the tenth centuries, while many neighboring states (such as China) became increasingly centralized?
Module 11 Discussion Prompt
In what ways did the Crusades change the relationship between Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in the Middle East? What impact have the Crusades had on subsequent ideas of religious toleration?
Citation format:
Citing Primary Sources from the Reilly Reader [example/model only; be sure to list the primary source/figure you are actually using in the citation]: Enheduanna, The Exaltation of Inana, from the Reilly reader, page 50.
Citing a Secondary Source from the Reilly Reader [example/model only; be sure to list the primary source/figure you are actually using in the citation]: Virginian Hughes, “Were the First Artists Mostly Women?,” from the Reilly reader, page 5.
Citing the editorial commentary/introduction from the Reilly Reader [example/model only; be sure to list the primary source/figure you are actually using in the citation]: Kevin Reilly, Editorial Introduction to the Epic of Gilgamesh, from the Reilly reader, page 40. [note that the editorial introduction is considered a secondary source]
Citing Primary Sources from the Textbook [example/model only from Chapter 7 of the textbook; be sure to list the primary source/figure you are using from the appropriate chapter in the citation]: (Apuleius, The Golden Ass), (Petronius, The Satyricon), (Figure 7.8), (Gladiatorial Training Camp near Carnuntum), (Figure 7.9), Reconstruction of the Colosseum
Citing Textbook [example/model only from Chapter 7 of the textbook; be sure to list chapter title and section you are using in the citation]: (Kordas, et al., World History, Volume 1: To 1500, Chapter 7: Experiencing the Roman Empire, [page numbers])
Citing a course website [example/model only; be sure to have the actual author, title of the essay/source, title of the web page, and URL of the website you are using in the citation]: Mark Cartwright, “Slavery in the Roman World,” from World History Encyclopedia, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/629/slavery-in-the-roman-world/
Useful website:
Module 8-
https://www.worldhistory.org/Byzantine_Empire/
https://www.worldhistory.org/Sasanian_Empire/
https://www.worldhistory.org/Kingdom_of_Axum/
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Kushan_Empire
Module 9-
https://www.ancient.eu/Prophet_Muhammad/
https://www.ancient.eu/article/1571/early-muslim-conquests-622-656-ce/
https://www.ancient.eu/Islamic_Caliphates/
Module 10-
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Delhi_Sultanate
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Srivijaya
https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1080/buddhism-in-ancient-japan/
Module 11-
https://www.ancient.eu/Manorialism/
https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Seljuk_Turks
https://www.ancient.eu/Medieval_Church/
https://www.ancient.eu/First_Crusade/
