Ancient History (Egypt in particular)

General Directions & Reminders: Follow the directions for each section. When you are finished, submit your completed exam essays AS ONE FILE to the Canvas submission page as a word document (doc/docx file) or a PDF file. Remember, follow the Paper Guidelines found in the Master Document List and properly cite anything taken form a source: quotations, summaries, or ideas, as not citing properly may lead to claims of plagiarism. Finally, do not forget to complete the unit quiz; it is often better to complete the quiz BEFORE completing the exam.

Special note: The exam essay prompts are often formatted to allow for multiple interpretations, making them somewhat broad and generalized. Despite this, these essays seek to illicit specific answers from students. As such, students should attempt to respond to the essays in a deep and specific manner. Student responses should provide detailed historical examples from the timeframe or genre of the course to support their theses.

Section 1 (Analysis and Evaluation):

Directions: Write out the full prompt as the TITLE of your essay. Then, using the prompt below, type out an essay that either DEFENDS or REFUTES the prompt, making sure to follow the Paper Guidelines found in the Master Document List. Be sure to pick one side (defense or refutation) in your thesis and support this thesis with detailed historical evidence. You must cite the unit’s Seminar Materials at least once. (50 pts)

Professional bureaucracies were the sole reason that both Ancient Egypt and China were able to survive dynastic collapses.

Section 2 (Synthesis):

Directions: Out of the two questions below choose ONE, write out the full question you selected as the TITLE of your essay. Type out your essay, making sure to follow the Paper Guidelines found in the Master Document List. Be sure that the essay provides a clear thesis that answers the prompt and supports this thesis with detailed historical evidence. You must use at least one academic source. (100 pts)

Why do large empires (e.g. Rome, Persia, or China) resist complete destruction or collapse?

How did a large empire’s culture facilitate its perpetuation past various forms of political collapse?