Final Exam

Explain why some scholars have called the Ancient Egyptians a "death obsessed" culture. Do you agree?

Thesis:Yes,Egyptians loved death, but they also loved living.Egyptians were not obsessed with death.

1. "Lord of the fish, during the inundation, no bird alights on the crops. You create the grain, you bring forth the barley, assuring perpetuity to the temples. If you cease your toil and your work, then all that exists is in anguish. If the gods suffer in heaven, then the faces of men waste away."

Hymn to the Nile, c. 2100 BCE
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/Hymn-Nile.html

2."Then reciting the appointed psalms, he said the burial prayers and thought to himself"

The Life of Our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/maryegypt.html

3."His advent, has beautified by residence, has consecrated by suffering, has redeemed by death, has glorified by burial."
Urban II (1088-1099):
Speech at Council of Clermont, 1095,
Five versions of the Speech
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/urban2-5vers.html

The first primary source shows that the Egyptians did like to live, but the following two primary sources show how they did love death and honored it with great burials and prayers.



Do you think Alexander honestly felt like he was avenging Persian wrongs? Or was that just propaganda to mask his goal of conquest?

Thesis: Alexander just wanted to fulfill himself with conquering the whole world and the Persians were just one of the next to be conquered.

1. "With the conquest of Thrace our situation changed: we controlled the whole of the western coast of the Aegean; but our mastery of the Aegean was threatened by the maritime power of Persia. Fortunately I struck before Darius was ready. I thought I was following in the footsteps of Achilles and should have the glory of conquering a new Ilium for Greece; actually, as I see today, it was absolutely necessary to drive the Persians back from the Aegean Sea; and I drove them back, my dear master, so thoroughly that I occupied the whole of Bithynia, Phrygia, and Cappadocia, laid waste Cilicia, and only stopped at Tarsus. Asia Minor was ours. Not only the old Aegean basin but the whole northern coast of the Mediterranean was in our hands. "

The Need for Source Criticism:
A Letter from Alexander to Aristotle?

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/alexfake.html

2."Alexander the Great imitated Achilles, Caesar Alexander, Scipio Cyrus. And whoever reads the life of Cyrus, written by Xenophon, will recognize afterwards in the life of Scipio how that imitation was his glory, and how in chastity, affability, humanity, and liberality Scipio conformed to those things which have been written of Cyrus by Xenophon. A wise prince ought to observe some such rules, and never in peaceful times stand idle, but increase his resources with industry in such a way that they may be available to him in adversity, so that if fortune chances it may find him prepared to resist her blows. "

Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527):
The Prince, 1513

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/machiavelli-prince.html

3. "Alexander was driven to launch his Asian campaigns by his firm belief that he was invincible and godlike. His family was thought to be descended from Hercules, and Alexander often emulated him as well as his personal hero, Achilles. Throughout his life, Alexander was encouraged by favorable omens and miracles that his diviners interpreted for him. "

Alexander in Persia

http://wso.williams.edu/~junterek/persia.htm

Alexander in the first primary source says that they were "threatened" and that was he reason he attacked Persia. That it was not for conquest. However the other two primary sources say that he did do it for conquest and that he could not "stand still".


Who is a better model for modern historians: Herodotus or Thucydides? Why?

Thesis: Both HErodotus and Thucydides were great historians and inspired many people.

1. "Greek historian, called the Father of History"

11th Brittanica: Herodotus
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/eb11-herodotus.html

2. "Now the Persian nation is made up of many tribes. Those which Cyrus assembled and persuaded to revolt from the Medes were the principal ones on which all the others are dependent. These are the Pasargadae, the Maraphians, and the Maspians, of whom the Pasargadae are the noblest. The Achaemenidae, from which spring all the Perseid kings, is one of their clans. The rest of the Persian tribes are the following: the Panthialaeans, the Derusiaeans, the Germanians, who are engaged in husbandry; the Daans, the Mardians, the Dropicans, and the Sagartians, who are nomads."

Herodotus:
On The Customs of the Persians, c. 430 BCE

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-persians.html


3."The present division of the History into eight books is one which might well have proceeded from the author himself, as being a natural and convenient disposition of the contents. The first book, after a general introduction, sets forth the causes of the Peloponnesian War. The first nine years of the war are contained in the second, third and fourth books-three years in each. The fifth book contains the tenth year, followed by the interaval of the "insecure peace." The Sicilian expedition fills the sixth and seventh books. The eighth books opens that last chapter of the struggle which is known as the "Decelean" or "Ionian" War, and breaks off abruptly-in the middle of a sentence, indeed-in the year 411. "

11th Brittanica: Thucydides
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/eb11-thucydides.html

The second and third primary sources give accounts made by Herodotus and Thucydides. They both wrote great accounts of history. Herodotus, the Persians and Thucydides the Pelponesian wars. The first primary source shows that people considered Herodotus the best history writer.


Were the Vikings "barbarians"?

The vikings were barbians that killed people for there goods and money.

1."843 A.D. Pirates of the Northmen's race came to Nantes, killed the bishop and many of the clergy and laymen, both men and women, and pillaged the city. Thence they set out to plunder the lands of lower Aquitaine. At length they arrived at a certain island [the isle of Rhé, near La Rochelle, north of the mouth of the Garonne], and carried materials thither from the mainland to build themselves houses; and they settled there for the winter, as if that were to be their permanent dwelling-place. "

Three Sources on the Ravages of the Northmen in Frankland, c. 843 - 912
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/843bertin.html

2."One summer Harald Grayskin with his troops went north to
Bjarmaland, where be forayed, and fought a great battle with the
inhabitants on the banks of the Vina (Dwina). King Harald gained
the victory, killed many people, plundered and wasted and burned
far and wide in the land, and made enormous booty."
Heimskringla
or
The Chronicle of the Kings of Norway

http://omacl.org/Heimskringla/grafeld.html

3. " He plundered
much in the East sea. One summer, as he was coming from the
eastward on a viking's expedition to the coast of Viken, he
landed there and made a cattle foray. As King Harald happened,
just at that time, to be in Viken, he heard of it, and was in a
great rage; for he had forbid, by the greatest punishment, the
plundering within the bounds of the country."

All three of these primary sources show the horrible side of the vikings. All they did was plunder different countries, but if they plundered their own it was a punishment. They killed anyone that got in the way of their plundering.




Describe the significance of the Battle of Tours.

The battle was really important to they Muslims if they had won.

1."From 711 Muslim forces crossed the Straits of Gibraltar, conquered the Visigothic Kingdom, and in less than a decade crossed the Pyrenees. In 732, under the command of Abd-er- rahman, they were decisively defeated by Charles Martel and the Franks at the Battle of Poitiers [or Tours]. This event looms much larger in Western history than Muslim - leading to a famous passage of purple prose by Edward Gibbon about minarets rather than spires in Oxford if the Muslims had won. The event was notice the Muslim world.."

Anon Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Poitiers, 732
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/arab-poitiers732.html

2. "..was right great and perilous, and many deeds of arms there was done the which all came not to knowledge. The fighters on both sides endured much pain: king John with his own hands did that day marvels in arms: he had an axe in his hands wherewith he defended himself and fought in the breaking of the press."Jean Froissart: On The Hundred Years War (1337-1453)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/froissart1.html

3."But many of the Moslems were fearful for the safety of the spoil which they had stored in their tents, and a false cry arose in their ranks that some of the enemy were plundering the camp; whereupon several squadrons of the Moslem horsemen rode off to protect their tents. But it seemed as if they fled; and all the host was troubled. And while Abderrahman strove to check their tumult, and to lead them back to battle, the warriors of the Franks came around him, and he was pierced through with many spears, so that he died. Then all the host fled before the enemy, and many died in the flight. . . . "

Anon Arab Chronicler: The Battle of Poitiers, 732
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/arab-poitiers732.html

These primary sources show that the Muslims really needed to win the battle.They did not however win, but they had heart to try and fight even if they were not real soldiers.


What was the long range political impact of the reign of the Medici popes?

The Medici popes were all about power and getting their whole family to be the most powerful family of the Renaissance.

Thesis: The Medici pope's were dictators and did not care what other people thought in their dictatorship.

1. "Giovanni later ruled as Pope Leo X (reigned 1513-1521) and was also a patron of the arts. "

Lorenzo De Medici: Paternal Advice To A Cardinal (C. 1491)
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/lorenzomed1.html

2. "Florence lay at the mercy of the Pope, and had to submit to his terms, one of which was that the Medici should be restored. The return of the Medici to Florence on 1st September 1512, and the consequent fall of the Republic, was the signal for the dismissal of Machiavelli and his friends, and thus put an end to his public career, for, as we have seen, he died without regaining office. "

Nicolo Machiavelli (1469-1527):
The Prince, 1513
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/machiavelli-prince.html

3. " The Open Letter is, therefore, Luther's first publication after the time when he recognized that the breach between him and the papal church was complete, and likely to be permanent. Meanwhile, the opposing party had come to the same conclusion. The verdict of the pope upon Luther had been long delayed, but on the 15th of June, midway between the letter to Spalatin, above mentioned, and completion of the Open Letter, Leo X signed the bull of excommunication, though it was not published in Germany until later. Thus Open Letter shows us the mind of Luther in the weeks when the permanent separation between him and Rome took place."

Martin Luther: Open Letter to German Nobility, 1520
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/luther-germnobintro.html

These primary sources show that the Medici pope's were fully in charge. Luther sent the pope a letter telling him he was wrong and was then excommunicated. The Medici pope's did not rule as a republic, but as a dictatorship.

Who was Augustine of Hippo?
Augustine of Hippo was a bishop of the city Hippo.

"I might, indeed, reply that miracles were necessary before the world believed, in order that it might believe."

"Medieval Sourcebook: Augustine: City of God: Book 22:8-10. On Miracles." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .

"Augustine tried to defend the Church by tracing the history of two cities or states from the beginning of the world"

"Medieval Sourcebook: Augustine of Hippo: The City of God, Excerpts." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .

"I came to Carthage, where a caldron of unholy loves was seething and bubbling all around me."

"Medieval Sourcebook: Nicene Creed." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .


5. Explain how the Medici encouraged "exploration". Why did they do it?
Medici encouraged exploration so they could be in charge of Florence.

"He was a humanist, arts patron - and a skillful politician"

"Medieval Sourcebook: Lorenzo De Medici: Paternal Advice To A Cardinal (C. 1491)." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .

"These proofs of regard from foreign sovereigns caused Lorenzo to be looked upon with the greatest admiration by all Italy; and his reputation was daily increased by his rare ability"

"Medieval Sourcebook: Niccolò Machiavelli: History of Florence: Lorence De' Medici." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .

"for during this time he took a leading part in the affairs of the Republic"

"Medieval Sourcebook: Nicolo Machiavelli: The Prince, 1513." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 04 June 2010. .


Summarize how Elizabeth rises to the throne -- from her birth to her coronation.
Elizabeth had a very troubled childhood and one of the best reign as queen of England.

Example Exam Questions

From Primary sources of Greece and Perisans, how do you think things would have been different if Persians won?

If the Persians won the war, there would have been a different Athens.

1."...that thereby I may obtain vengeance from the Athenians for the wrongs committed by them against the Persians and against my father."
a. He would have been a dictator and not cared about the Athenians.
2."The sun will then shine on no land beyond our borders; for I will pass through Europe from one end to the other, and with your aid make of all the lands which it contains one country. "
a. Xeres wanted to make Athens under the rule of Persia. This would mean Europe would have been under the rule of Xeres and the Persians.
3"...not for any wrong that they had done us, but only to increase our empire, we should then allow the Greeks, who have done us such wanton injury, to escape our vengeance.”
a.Persians only wanted to conquer. They did not care about who they conquered, just that it was conquered.
4. Under the Persians, Athens would not have conquered how they did. All of the other countries off of Athens would not have become who they were because the land would have been under Persian control.


"Ancient History Sourcebook: Herodotus: Xerxes Invades Greece, from The Histories." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 27 May 2010. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-xerxes.html.

Thesis
and
Outline of
Three Body Paragraphs
Primary Sources
Explanations

Egpyt and Greece Notes

• feather of Maht heavier than the heart you could pass into the after life and your name is put in the book of the dead and you can pass into eternity
• Osiris king of the dead
• Isis queen of the dead

• Herodotus wrote the Persian war between the Greeks and Persians- considered the "Grandfather of History"
• Thucydides wrote the second half of the 5th century- peloponisian war between Spartans and Athenians
• Xenophon wrote about the time of Socrates
• Aristotle wrote the first encyclopedia which he ogt help from the students at his school
• Plutarch- greek living during the roman era- known for his biographies
• Pausanias- wrote the first travel guide to the sites in greece

• Persian war takes place during the end of the 5th century-beginning of the classical age- largest empire in the world
• xeres goes up the coast and says- Join us or we'll destory you
• Bosphorus is a strait that forms the boundary between Europe and Asia
• go across greek through macedonia
• stopped at thermopoli
• spartans held them off for 3 days so Athens could be evacuated
• harbour called Piraeus
• When persians got to acropolis they burned everything
• athenians came back and rebuilt the acropolis from funding from the League of athens which was put together to help defend themselves from other cities
• side wall- constructed from remains of the sack-memorials to persian war
• Grove of dyonisus in bottome left- trees- then the theater of dyonisus
• Theater and Religon very strong linked with acropolis- war, gods,
• another theater that wasnt there during the 5th century..put in by the romans
• enter acropolis from a stair area and there are some temples-Athena,
• Pathenon- big building- most important pice of Doric architect(oldest)-center of the city-temple to Athena who was the protector God-built from funds of Athenian legue
• Athens win at the battle of Soronius and Persians kicked back

More notes on Medici Movie

• Two cousins try to gain ultimate power
• 1501- Florence- Rennaissance for 200 years
• 13 foot block of marble was being made by Michaelangelo
• The project took 3 years to complete
• It symbolized the struffle of the family he once adored-Medici
• A civil war came out because of the wealth of the Medici family
• The heirs to the dynasty were cast into exile
• Julio-ordanded priest
• Govani- Already a cardinal
• Michaelangelo was almost done with his masterpiece to show the independence of Florence
• 1504- Michaelangelo showed his work to the outside world- The David
• The symbol of resistance to the overbearing Medici
• The cousins arrived in Rome after 9 years of exile
• The Pope was sympathetic and helped them assemble an army which headed back to Florence
• Some of the artists starteed taking dead bodies to study them- One of them was Leonardo
• Leonardo knew he was the greatest artist of his time, but Michaelanglo was his rival
• They each were given a wall to draw battle scenes on to see who was the best
• 1512- there was heavily armed soldiers getting really close to Florence
• The people prepared for the onslaught, but they knew they were outnumbered
• Nikelo Macheveli- determined to defend the city from the Medici dictatorship- he assembled a well equipped national army
• The army reached Platto just outside of Florence- It was a bloodbath
• Leaders of Republic Surrendered
• Medici got control of the city, but not the trust of the people of Florence
• The pope died and the cardinals were called to Rome
• Giovanni Medici became Pope Leo the 10th
• Florence welcomed him back with open arms
• First time the leader of the Catholic Church born in Florence
• In a month, his cousin was made Archbishop and Cardinal
• Giovani had risen higher than any of his ancestors
• Michaelangelo was forced to paint the Sistein chapel
• He had people help him paint it
• It was fresco-had to work really fast
• 300 figures and stories in the Bible- Creation of Adam, The Flood
• Crafted brilliance and greatest work of the Renaissance
• Medici saw power in Michaelangelo's work and made him an offer he dared not refuse
• Ordered him to build glorious tombs for their dead fathers that honored the Medici
• Machiaveli was thrown in prison and tortured- he was then exiled
• He wrote a handbook for dictators- Called the Prince-described the politics devoid of morality
• Medici refused to employ Machiaveli
• 1516- group of cardinals conspired to assassinate the Pope
• Leo was warned of the conspirators and went to kill the conspirators
• The Medici made sure the people surrounded them were loyal
• Leo created 100's of new jobs and sold them to those he could trust- he needed the money because he had used all the money
• He sold indulgence's to people, so they could get rid of their sins
• An indulgence could even be bought for the dead
• Profits soared and lifted Pope Leo out of death
• Luther was horrifed at what the church was doing
• Matin Luther published a Manifesto for change- it was printed and circulated- traveled really far and fast
• Start of a Revolution- Luther was trying to reform the church, not destroy it
• The Manifesto reached the Pope- it didn't really matter to him
• Leo wrote a document to silence heritichs-denied Luther access to heaven
• Luther didn't accept his punishment
• 1521- Leo suddenly died and Julio was left with the problem
• Julio was then crowned king and was left with the problem
• Armies went to Rome- you don't sack a sacred city
• Julio fled to somewhere and Rome was torn apart
• 8,000 people died on the first day
• Julio changed his clothes and had all the gold melted- he bribed his way out of the city
• The David was ruined- all in the defiance of the Medici
• Pople Julio was ready to attack Florence
• Michaelangelo cowered in the tombs that he had built
• Katherine Medici was 11 and next in line for the thrown- "Called her My pearl beyond price"
• Julio called off his troops- he had plans for Katherine
• He married her off to the son of the French king- she was 14
• Religious fate would soon infect France as well
• Julio asked Michaelangelo to paint a fresco- Painted the Last Judgement
• Transition of from Impressionism to Expressionism
• 1534-Julio died which ended the era
• Corrupt reign of the Medici Pope's were over

German Reprimation-Martin Luther

• 1483-desolation and disease-plague can wipe out entire towns, most children dead before they were 5
• only consolation was the church and promise of heaven-which made it most powerful-really rich, but also corrupt
• 1546-Luther travels to Eisleben on his final journey
• Came from Northern Germany with the Church as a major thing there
• Church declared everything
• Luther was an alter boy and sang in the choir
• His father broke free from the futile system- he was really hard on Luther and judged him-wanted him to become a lawyer
• Luther was always afraid of failing
• Enrolled in the university of Erford-gained his bachelor and masters
• Great center of the Church
• 1505- the plague struck Erford-Black Death
• 3 of Luther's friends were killed by the disease
• Returning home from visiting his family, he was caught in a thunderstorm, he vowed himself to become a monk
• He finally took charge of his life and did what he wanted
• Welcomed into the heart of the Catholic church
• Devoted himself to the church life and graduated to the black robe monks
• They imitated what happened to Christ
• The years in the monastery ruined his health
• Different from other monks because he carried about reconciled to God
• Went to Rome on a pilgrimage
• 1510- arrived in Rome when Rennaissance was in its height
• Overwhelmed by the city
• It was as much about money as it was religion
• Didn't like the way reflected Christianity
• Stayed in penance for a really long time
• Went to Wittenburg monastery
• Was taken under the wing of one of the monks and was made professor of bible study

Is a Monarchy more Effective than Democracy?

Two types of government have greatly affected our government how it is today. These two types are monarchy, with a king or queen, and democracy with a president and representatives. In England around 1509, they had a monarchy and Henry VIII was the king. Our type of government today is a democracy. The government we have is a much better type of government than a monarchy.

In 1509, Henry VIII was crowned king after the death of his brother (“Web”). With him being the monarch, he had all of the control over England except for the church which the Pope was in charge of (“Web”). Because King Henry VIII had all the power he could do what he wanted, so he just focused his attention on foreign policies in Western Europe (“Web”). Also, during Henry’s reign, there was a problem with the church and caused the formation of the Church of England (“Web”). Henry wanted a son, but his current wife Catherine could not have one (“Web”). He therefore wanted to divorce her and marry Anne Boleyn (“Web”). The Pope however, because he was in charge of the church, would not let him have the divorce (“Web”). So, Henry broke away from the church and created the Church of England. Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy saying that Henry was 'the only supreme head of the Church of England called Anglicana Ecclesia' (“Web”). The first line of the Act states, “Albeit the king's Majesty justly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England…” (“Act”). This shows that the king is the only one in charge instead of the Pope.Because you had to follow what the king made law; it caused many religious differences between the Protestants and the Catholics (“Web”).

Democracies help the country more. They allow everyone to have a say in what happens to their nation instead of just allowing one person to. In this type of government there are representatives to serve as the “people’s” voice. If the people do not like the person they have elected, they then have the opportunity to take them out of office. Also, there are three branches, legislative, executive, and judicial (“More”). They help to keep the representative in line, so there is no corruption of the government (“More”). Our president is in charge of the government, but they have to pass their ideas through Congress. Our current president Obama has many problems that were pushed upon him as soon as he stepped up as president (Kakutani). He inherited a major financial crisis and two wars (Kakutani). About the war, Obama says, “There is no denying the progress,'' Obama said. ''Nor, however, can we deny the very serious challenges still facing Afghanistan.'' (“New”). Obama understands the need for him to pull our country together and face the challenges put in front of him. Because other people have a say in the government, it runs smoother because it involves everyone else’s ideas.

The monarchy of Henry was a great reign and he accomplished many achievements. Monarchies are not very good because they involve absolute power. If someone has absolute power then there are always problems. In a democracy there might be problems, but they can be fixed very easily with help from representatives.



Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/TheTudors/HenryVIII.aspx.

"The Act of Supremacy." Then Again. . . Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.thenagain.info/Classes/Sources/ActSupremacy.html.

"1.6 Henry VIII (1509 - 1547)." PinkMonkey.com-450+ Free Book Notes,Study Guides,Chapter Summary,Online,Download Booknotes. Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.pinkmonkey.com/studyguides/subjects/euro_his/chap1/e0101601.htm.

"A More Perfect Union - History of Democracy." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. Web. 13 May 2010. http://library.thinkquest.org/26466/history_of_democracy.html.

Kakutani, Michiko. "Books of The Times - ‘The Promise - President Obama, Year One’ by Jonathan Alter - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. 12 May 2010. Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/books/13book.html?src=twt&twt=nytimes.

"The New York Times Log In." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/12/us/AP-US-US-Afghanistan.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimes.

"File:Hans Holbein D. J. 074.jpg." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 13 May 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hans_Holbein_d._J._074.jpg.