West European Studies

Do your best to formulate a strong argumentative thesis, which you support with concrete evidence. Draw on your texts and class notes! In other words show that you have grasped course themes and materials.  Select oneof the three following essay topics 1. Sonia Sodha, in reflecting on Kwame Appiah’s essay on Western Civilization, writes, “We think of Western culture and values as being characterised by democracy, liberalism, enlightenment, scientific progress and individualism. We see it as a birthright to be passed on from generation to generation through the ages.” Which period that we have studied, if any—1. Classical Greece, 2. Hellenistic Greece, the 3. Roman Republic, 4. the Roman Empire or the 5. High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300)–do you think best exemplifies these values? Did they exist before or persist after the period you have chosen? Can you draw any conclusions from that?    2. Which social group or groups (three maximum) contributed the most to the making of Europe? 1. Philosophers, or 2. peasants/farmers, or 3. politicians/statesmen, 4. Slaves/serfs 5. knights/aristocrats, 6. townsfolk/merchants, 7. Slaves/serfs, and/or 8. women? Explain the reasons for your answer.    3. Some scholars argue that traditional Europe is less defined by a set of values (see 1 above) than by a set of institutions that include the Church, castle (with knights), village (with free and unfree peasants), and town (with town liberties), universities. Which definition better helps us understand the making of Europe between the classical and medieval periods? What might be the advantages and disadvantages of looking at Europe in these ways. Please offer some specific examples for your discussion.  *Please use the material I attached. The essay required to really use the class material as supporting evidence, provide detailed information and examples form the class notes to show I really do the reading.

Do your best to formulate a strong argumentative thesis, which you support with concrete evidence. Draw on your texts and class notes! In other words show that you have grasped course themes and materials.  Select oneof the three following essay topics 1. Sonia Sodha, in reflecting on Kwame Appiah’s essay on Western Civilization, writes, “We think of Western culture and values as being characterised by democracy, liberalism, enlightenment, scientific progress and individualism. We see it as a birthright to be passed on from generation to generation through the ages.” Which period that we have studied, if any—1. Classical Greece, 2. Hellenistic Greece, the 3. Roman Republic, 4. the Roman Empire or the 5. High Middle Ages (1000 to 1300)–do you think best exemplifies these values? Did they exist before or persist after the period you have chosen? Can you draw any conclusions from that?    2. Which social group or groups (three maximum) contributed the most to the making of Europe? 1. Philosophers, or 2. peasants/farmers, or 3. politicians/statesmen, 4. Slaves/serfs 5. knights/aristocrats, 6. townsfolk/merchants, 7. Slaves/serfs, and/or 8. women? Explain the reasons for your answer.    3. Some scholars argue that traditional Europe is less defined by a set of values (see 1 above) than by a set of institutions that include the Church, castle (with knights), village (with free and unfree peasants), and town (with town liberties), universities. Which definition better helps us understand the making of Europe between the classical and medieval periods? What might be the advantages and disadvantages of looking at Europe in these ways. Please offer some specific examples for your discussion.  *Please use the material I attached. The essay required to really use the class material as supporting evidence, provide detailed information and examples form the class notes to show I really do the reading.