This will be our final CCOT (change and continuity over time) essay for awhile. Next week we will be moving onto the C&C essay (compare and contrast) format. I want you to focus on your thesis statements and your supporting evidence this week as they are crucial to the AP exam. Remember, you receive one point for your thesis and an additional two more points for substantiating that thesis by using appropriate evidence. If you do not have a strong thesis or evidence, it will be very difficult to gain points in the other categories. On the AP exam, you also receive points by addressing all parts of the question (up to 2 points), bringing in relevant world historical context (1 point), and analyzing the process (1 point). Again, if you need a copy of the scoring guideline, please visit the college board AP World History Free Response Questions site: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/216943.html.
You should spend 35 minutes writing this essay (no more!) and should post it by November 5th. You will then respond to two other posts within your CCOT group by November 7th. I will be assigning new partners for the C&C essays coming up.
(From the 2013 College Board AP World History Test)
Analyze how political transformations contributed to continuities and changes in the cultures of the Mediterranean region during the period circa 200 C.E. to 1000 C.E.
Matthew Semaan
ReplyDeleteMrs. Furchert
WHAP
10/18/2013
The classical civilization of Rome was one of fluctuations and consistencies, just like all other classical period civilizations. Rome had many changes though, and this is what was led to it’s fall. Rome changed mainly in politics and it’s separation into two later
Rome made an important change in politics in 46 BCE, and became an Empire instead of remaining a Republic. This happened with the coronation of Emperor Augustus (Octavian) and lasted until the emperors began to disintegrate in 462 CE. Around the mid 200 CE a multitude of short term emperors caused political unrest and social upheaval. Diocletian was able to reverse this, but when he resigned around 300 CE the unrest resumed. It wasn’t until Constantine emerged that this unrest was quelled again, and established the prominent new eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. Later, when Western Rome, and the Capital Rome itself were no longer recognisable due to the Germanic tribes and Vandals (which moved closer to Rome due to the Huns and displacement) the empire truly split into two. This was a major change, the whole empire had been cut into two, and lost the dead arm of the dou. Also, an important change in the politics of the Eastern Empire was that it did not separate the ruling class from the rest of society as much as Rome did. In terms of culture, the Roman culture of going out and conquering lands, a concept embedded in the essence of Rome, switched in the later year of Rome due to the encroaching tribes and made for a defensive strategy. Also the culture of being able to have nice imports from the rest of the world would be ending with the ever encroaching tribes. Another Major change in culture was the conversion of Rome's religion to Christianity, after a long lineage of Roman polytheism. This happened under the rule of Constantine, and it was Constantine himself who converted. This ended the persecution of the Christians and began it’s spread.
Rome did have somethings that were ever constant. For one, slaves and some levels of women (especially female slaves) were always on the bottom of society, along with the poor. The Roman Army did not change much during this time period in either weapons or tactics. Pottery would remain the same. Architecture did not change much at all, and in fact had not really changed since the very early years of Rome, when the Greek influence was still being incorporated into everyday architecture. Rome had no changes in math or science due to the fact that they were do-ers, and thinkers. Rome still had agriculture, and didn’t change it’s main diet of wheat. The Navy was kept rather moderate throughout most of this time period, but may have been shrunk or enlarged by a few ships to counteract pirates. No real naval threat to Rome was around at this point in history. Over all, the everyday norms of life stayed the same, even after Rome fell. People still farmed, baked bread and died.
The Roman Empire is regarded as one of the strongest, and is one of the most popular empire in all of history. It is only commonplace that it would fluctuate with changes both good and bad, and eventually as all empires do, collapse. Rome lasted longer than the Guptas, and rivalled the Han in achievements. At the end of the day, even after it fell, daily life for the poor and farmers changed very little. Rome’s biggest change was splitting in two and losing political practicality, while it was able to stay the same in everyday life.