Question

section three: essays
of the following essays, three will be on the final examination, and you will choose one to write a very substantial long essay. the purpose of these essays is for you to reflect critically on the material you have been given and think through certain problems. please refer to the reading assigned in the class and to specific examples in your essay. i am concerned with two things: 1) that you have an argument, and 2) that you demonstrate a familiarity with the points and readings that could support your argument.

1. was the development of agriculture a mistake? refer to the fundamentals of nippur, uruk, and old kingdom egypt in your answer, as well as the scott and zerzan readings.
2. was ancient chinese culture during the shang and zhou dynasties authoritarian? use information from the textbook and the reader on the oracle bones, confucius, and laozi in your answer.
3. was the development of writing a tool of social control? refer to writing systems in ancient mesopotamia, egypt, and china, as well as the scott and zerzan readings, in your answer.
4. compare the basic philosophies of governance of socrates, confucius, and laozi. which has the most merit?
5. you are a reasonably prosperous merchant in the ancient world. would you rather live in uruk, in olmec civilization, middle kingdom egypt, babylonia under hammurabi, eastern zhou china, ancient sparta, or the persian empire under xerxes the great? why? pick one answer, but you must compare your answer to

Explanation:

These essay - questions pertain to historical analysis. They require students to draw on knowledge from different ancient civilizations, texts, and readings to form arguments. For example, questions involve evaluating the development of agriculture, nature of ancient Chinese culture, role of writing, comparing governance philosophies, and making choices about living in ancient civilizations based on their characteristics.

Answer:

1. For the question "Was the development of agriculture a mistake?": One could argue that it led to social stratification and environmental degradation in some cases (e.g., deforestation for farmland in ancient civilizations). However, it also provided a stable food source, enabling population growth and the development of complex societies. Referencing the readings on Nippur, Uruk, Old Kingdom Egypt, Scott, and Zerzan would help support either side of the argument.
2. For "Was ancient Chinese culture during the Shang and Zhou dynasties authoritarian?": Information from oracle - bones can show aspects of governance and social structure. Confucius and Laozi's ideas can be used to discuss the nature of authority and social order. One might argue that the hierarchical nature of society during these dynasties was authoritarian, or that philosophical ideas provided counter - balances.
3. For "Was the development of writing a tool of social control?": In ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China, writing was used for record - keeping, law - making, and religious texts. It could be seen as a tool for the elite to maintain power and control over the population. The Scott and Zerzan readings might offer perspectives on the relationship between writing and social organization.
4. For "Compare the basic philosophies of governance of Socrates, Confucius, and Laozi. Which has the most merit?": Socrates emphasized the importance of self - knowledge and moral virtue in governance. Confucius focused on social harmony, respect for authority, and moral leadership. Laozi advocated for a more laissez - faire approach, with an emphasis on following the natural way. The answer would depend on one's values and understanding of what makes for effective governance.
5. For "You are a reasonably prosperous merchant in the ancient world. Would you rather live in Uruk, in Olmec civilization, Middle Kingdom Egypt, Babylonia under Hammurabi, Eastern Zhou China, ancient Sparta, or the Persian Empire under Xerxes the great? Why?": Each civilization had different economic, social, and political characteristics. For example, Uruk was a major urban center with a developed trade network. Babylonia under Hammurabi had a well - defined legal code. One would need to consider factors like trade opportunities, security, and social status in each civilization to make a choice.