Complete 700 Western Civilization Essay | Homework Helper

Help me study for my History class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

Primary Source Essay 1 (35 points)

Complete the Primary Source Essay 1 by choosing one of the two selections below.

Essay Instructions:

Select ONE of the primary source readings from those included below and write an essay on the selection. In writing this essay, integrate information from the textbook with the primary source reading. Write an introduction paragraph and present a thesis to the reader. Choose relevant and specific examples to support your arguments in an appropriate number of body paragraphs. Write a unified essay while answering each of the bulleted questions and organize the information by placing it in logical sequence. Come to a conclusion in a separate paragraph.

The use of any other sources beyond the one(s) assigned as well as the textbook in writing the essay is not expected. If other sources are used to gather information they must be documented and “historical” or written by a professional historian. If information (not just quotations) is used from a source and not documented, that is plagiarism, a form of cheating. See the section on documentation and Academic Honesty in the Syllabus. Also, if direct quotations are used from the sources assigned, textbook, or any other material they must be properly documented and a works cited page included.

Essays should be 700 to 900 words long, double-spaced with normal margins, in a 12 font, and your name and a title at the top. Indicate paragraph separation by indenting the first line rather than adding additional space. The essay should be in formal English, using proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Late papers may be downgraded 10% for every day late. Again, 700 words is the minimum requirement. Failure to follow through on these guidelines will result in a less than desirable grade. Save the essay with your last name and Primary Source Essay 1 as the title.

Submit the essay by following the instructions associated with the link at the bottom of this page.

Assignment Selections:

1. Read the following selection about the battle of Thermopylae from Herodotus’ The Histories:
(This is one of the most famous battles in history, and a very excellent story).

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

Using this source and your text, write an essay of 700-900 words answering the following questions:

• Who is Herodotus and what is his significance?
• What incidents in the primary source portray Xerxes as superstitious and tyrannical?
• What do the events of the battle tell you about Spartan culture?
• What values of Greek society did Herodotus’ narrative seem to promote?
• Evaluate the significance of the Persian invasions on Greek political and intellectual development.

OR

2. Read “Pericles’ Funeral Oration” from the The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides. You may use any book source for this that you choose, but it is available at:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/pericles-funeralspeech.html

Also Read The Melian Debate at:

http://mccandlessa.people.cofc.edu/Thucydides.htm#The Melian Dialogue

(You must read and analyze BOTH primary sources.)

Using these sources and your text, write an essay of 700-900 words answering the following questions.

• What was the role of Athens in the cultural and political life of Greece in the fifth century B.C.?
• Compare and contrast the depiction of Athenian democracy by Pericles with how a modern historian would evaluate Athenian democracy.
• Contrast the Athenian statements to the Melians with the sentiments expressed by Pericles in his funeral oration.
• How do these readings help you to evaluate Athenian values and limitations?