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Ancient Studies 2014-­‐2015 Historical Themes & Core Questions The History sections of Ancient Studies will consider the impact of Ancient Greece and Rome on the development of Western Civilization. In particular, we will explore questions of: Freedom; Slavery; War; Democracy; Republicanism, Imperialism, and Culture. Students will engage the questions below in readings, discussion, journal writing, formal essays, and examinations. What contributions did Ancient Greece and Rome make to the development of WESTERN CIVILIZATION? What is the positive legacy of each society? What is the negative legacy of each society? Which Ancient Greeks contributed most to the development of Western Civilization? Who were the most significant individuals? Which were the most significant city-­‐states? In what ways were Athens and Sparta similar? In what ways were Athens and Sparta different? What did FREEDOM mean to the Ancient Greeks? From whom did they want it? For whom did they want it? To whom did they deny it? How did they apply it their lives? What did freedom help the Greeks to achieve? What challenges did freedom pose for the Greeks? How did the Greeks seek to preserve freedom? What caused the Greeks to lose freedom? Is freedom a core component of Western Civilization? What did SLAVERY mean to the Ancient Greeks? What examples of slavery did they find outside of Greece? What examples of slavery did they establish in their own societies? Was the presence of slavery necessary for the achievements of freedom? Does freedom for some depend on the enslavement of others? Is slavery a core component of Western Civilization? What role did WAR play in Ancient Greece? How did warfare develop from Homeric times to the Classical Period? What constituted heroism for Homer, for Sparta, and for Athens? How did the Spartans develop their military strength? What impact did the military have on Spartan society? How did the Athenians develop their naval strength? What impact did the navy have on Athenian society? Why did Athens and Sparta fight each other in the Peloponnesian War? What impact did the Peloponnesian War have on Athens and Sparta? What impact did the Peloponnesian War have on other Greek cities? What tactics did Athens and Sparta employ during the war? What mistakes did Athens make during the war? Why did the Spartans win the war? Is war a core component of Western Civilization? Ancient Studies 2014-­‐2015 Historical Themes & Core Questions How did DEMOCRACY develop in Athens? What was the structure of the Athenian democracy? How did the democracy function in Athens? What elements of democracy exist in America today? What leaders emerged in the Athenian democracy? Which Athenian leaders enjoyed the most success? What dangers did Athenian leaders face? How did democracy sometimes help Athens to thrive? How did democracy help Athens militarily? How did democracy help Athens culturally? How did democracy sometimes hurt Athens? How did democracy hinder Athens militarily? How did democracy hinder Athens culturally? What lessons does Athenian democracy provide for Americans today? Is the Athenian democracy a good model to follow? Is democracy a core component of Western Civilization? What role did IMPERIALISM play in Ancient Greece? How did the Greeks respond to Persian imperialism? How did the Athens establish an empire of its own? Why did Athens establish an empire? What benefits came to Athens as a result of its empire? What dangers came to Athens as a result of its empire? Were the Athenians hypocritical in the development of an empire? What was the connection between democracy and empire in Athens? Did the empire develop as a result of democracy? Did the presence of the empire fortify or undermine the democracy? Can a democracy oversee an empire? What lessons does Athenian imperialism provide for Americans today? Is imperialism a core component of Western Civilization? What were the core values of Greek CULTURE? How did the Greeks express their values in their literature? How did the Greeks express their values in their drama? How did the Greeks express their values in their art? How did the Greeks express their values in their architecture? How did the Greeks express their values in their philosophy? In what ways did Socrates express or embody core Greek values? In what ways did Socrates challenge or refute core Greek values? How did Athens respond to Socrates during his lifetime? On what grounds did Athens convict and execute Socrates? How did Athens respond to Socrates after his death? How did Plato and Aristotle build on Socrates’ ideas? What is Socrates’ lasting legacy to Western Civilization? Ancient Studies 2014-­‐2015 Historical Themes & Core Questions The History sections of Ancient Studies will consider the impact of Ancient Greece and Rome on the development of Western Civilization. In particular, we will explore questions of: Freedom; Slavery; War; Democracy; Republicanism, Imperialism, and Culture. Students will engage the questions below in readings, discussion, journal writing, formal essays, and examinations. Which Ancient Romans contributed most to the development of Western Civilization? Who were the most significant individuals? In what ways were Greece and Rome similar? In what ways were Greece and Rome different? What did FREEDOM mean to the Ancient Romans? From whom did they want it? For whom did they want it? To whom did they deny it? How did they apply it their lives? What did freedom help the Romans to achieve? What challenges did freedom pose for the Romans? How did the Romans seek to preserve freedom? What caused the Romans to lose freedom? Is freedom a core component of Western Civilization? What did SLAVERY mean to the Ancient Romans? What examples of slavery did they find outside of Rome? What examples of slavery did they establish in their own societies? Was the presence of slavery necessary for the achievements of freedom? Does freedom for some depend on the enslavement of others? Is slavery a core component of Western Civilization? What role did WAR play in Ancient Rome? How did warfare develop from the Republic to the Empire? What constituted heroism for Ancient Romans How did the Romans develop their military strength? What impact did the military have on Roman society? Why did Rome fight its neighbors in Italy? Why did Rome fight its rival in Carthage? How did the Punic Wars change the nature of Roman society? Why did Romans fight each other in the Civil Wars? How did the Civil Wars change the nature of Roman society? Why did Caesar win the war against Pompey and Cato? Why did Augustus win the war against Antony? Is war a core component of Western Civilization? How did the REPUBLIC develop in Rome? What was the structure of the Roman Republic? How did the republic function in Rome? What elements of a republic exist in America today? What leaders emerged in the Roman Republic? Which Roman leaders enjoyed the most success? What dangers did Roman leaders face? How did the Republic sometimes help Rome to thrive? Ancient Studies 2014-­‐2015 Historical Themes & Core Questions How did the Republic sometimes hurt Rome? What lessons does the Roman Republic provide for Americans today? Is the Roman Republic a good model to follow? Why did the EMPIRE develop in Rome? What was the structure of the Roman Empire? How did the Empire function in Rome? What elements of an empire exist in America today? What leaders emerged in the Roman Empire? Which Roman leaders enjoyed the most success? What dangers did Roman leaders face? How did the Empire sometimes help Rome to thrive? How did the Empire sometimes hurt Rome? What lessons does the Roman Empire provide for Americans today? Is the Roman Empire a good model to follow? What role did IMPERIALISM play in Ancient Rome? How did the Romans establish an empire of others? Why did Rome establish an empire? What benefits came to Rome as a result of its empire? What dangers came to Rome as a result of its empire? Were the Romans hypocritical in the development of an empire? What was the connection the Republic and empire in Rome? Did the empire develop as a result of the Republic? Did the presence of the empire fortify or undermine the Republic? Can a republic oversee an empire? What lessons does Roman imperialism provide for Americans today? Is imperialism a core component of Western Civilization? What were the core values of Roman CULTURE? How did the Romans express their values in their literature? How did the Greeks express their values in their architecture? What values were most evident in the early days of the Republic? What values were most evident in the late days of the Republic? What values were most evident in the Empire under Augustus? What values did Octavian exhibit during his rise to power? What values did Augustus promote during his reign as Emperor? What values were most evident in the Empire after Augustus?