Final Exam Review Terms And Essay Questions ✓ Solved

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Final Exam Review Terms Essay Questions General Questions Di

Choose two of the essay questions below and answer them in at least two double-spaced pages for each essay. Remember that you must use at least four terms from the term list in each essay. Please use a Times New Roman 12 point font.

Terms: Qur’an, Bedouin Arabs, Umma, Caravan Trade, Five Pillars of Islam, Sharia, Mercenaries, Dogma, Schism, Eastern Orthodox Church, Franks, Middle Ages, Catholic Church, Clovis, Charlemagne, Steppe Diplomacy, Resettlement programs, Bubonic plague, Silk Roads.

Question 1: We have discussed the rise and fall of several different empires and states since the midterm. For this essay, pick any two of the polities below and compare and contrast their origins and decline. In your essay you must describe at least two methods used by rulers to establish political legitimacy, at least one method by which rulers attempted to unify their subjects, and at least two factors that contributed to the decline of the polity. Note, I am not asking you to fully explain the demise of any of these states, but rather to simply identify two factors that contributed to decline and explain how these factors contributed to the fall of the state. Mongol Empire, The Western Roman Empire, The Carolingian Empire, The Byzantine Empire.

Question 2: We have discussed the impact of trade and travel extensively in class. For this essay, explain the role that trade and travel played in two of the areas listed below. In your essay, you must explain how trade and travel influenced the spread of ideas (Religion, politics, etc.), materials, and people in those areas. For each of the categories (ideas, material goods, and people), you must provide at least two examples. Also, be sure to explain not only how trade and travel influenced the diffusion of these things but also the circumstances that permitted (or restricted) trade and travel. Eurasia, Western Europe, The Islamic World (North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia).

Question 3: Religion played a significant role in both the ancient and medieval worlds. In this essay explain how religion impacted political and economic development in any one of the areas listed below. In your essay, you must first discuss the origins and beliefs/practices of the religion you write on and then provide at least two examples of how that religion impacted political development and two examples of how it affected economic development. Lastly, explain how religion was used to unify subjects within the area you write about. The Byzantine Empire, The Islamic States, The Western Roman Empire, The Carolingian Empire, Mongol Empire.

Paper For Above Instructions

The study of historical empires and their dynamics offers valuable insights into contemporary governance, diplomacy, and social orders. In this essay, the focus will be on two significant polities: the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire. Both of these states exhibit intriguing parallels and divergences regarding their origins, legitimacy, unification methods, and eventual decline.

The Western Roman Empire, founded in the wake of the Roman Republic’s transition to an imperial structure, perfected the use of political legitimacy through several means. Rulers like Augustus Caesar established a facade of traditional republican governance while consolidating power. This approach not only maintained allegiance among Roman citizens but also appeased the senatorial class concerns (Horsley, 2013). Additionally, the use of public spectacles and monumental architecture communicated divine favor, enhancing political legitimacy.

In terms of political unification, the Western Roman Empire deployed a significant military presence across its provinces and employed the concept of citizenship. By extending citizenship to conquered peoples, it integrated diverse populations into a singular political entity (Brown, 1989). However, the decline of the Western Roman Empire can be attributed to multiple factors: economic strain due to overextension and internal dissent fueled by corruption within the political elite.

In contrast, the Byzantine Empire, viewed as the continuation of the Roman legacy, also leveraged political legitimacy through its emperors’ claims of divine rights and support from the Orthodox Church. Emperor Justinian I, for example, sought to restore the Roman Empire’s former glory through military conquests and legal reforms, culminating in the Corpus Juris Civilis, which codified existing laws to maintain order (Cameron, 2009).

Moreover, the Byzantine Empire’s extensive diplomatic outreach and economic initiatives allowed it to unify its diverse territories (Mango, 2002). However, the Empire faced its decline through external pressures, such as the Crusades disrupting trade routes, and Islamist forces eroding territorial integrity, leading to the eventual fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The interplay between trade and travel significantly shaped both empires’ economic landscapes and cultural exchanges. The Western Roman Empire was a nexus of trade that connected the Mediterranean with northern regions, facilitating the wealth acquisition necessary for military campaigns. The silk trade, especially, allowed the movement of luxury goods and ideas (Horsley, 2013).

In the Byzantine Empire, the Silk Roads similarly played a pivotal role in economic development, connecting Asia with Europe. Turkish merchants engaged with Byzantine traders, ensuring the flow of silk and spices into Europe, which stimulated both economic growth and cultural diffusion (MacLachlan, 1997). The influence of the Christian faith spread along these trade routes, significantly affecting political and economic structures where new values from distant lands intertwined with local customs.

Therefore, the factors of legitimacy establishment and trade dynamics reveal how these two polities navigated their complexities. The Western Roman Empire highlighted the importance of military prowess and citizenship for unification while simultaneously grappling with dissatisfaction leading to its decline. In contrast, the Byzantine Empire’s strategic diplomacy and religious endorsement created a vibrant cultural and political landscape that would influence generations, even amidst its eventual fall.

In conclusion, the Western Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire showcase different trajectories regarding their political legitimacy, unification strategies, and decline. Their analysis underscores the quintessential elements of governance and adaptation to external and internal challenges.

References

• Brown, P. (1989). The Body and Society: Men, Women, and Sexual Renunciation in Early Christianity. Columbia University Press.
• Cameron, A. (2009). Byzantium: The Empire of New Rome. Harvard University Press.
• Horsley, R. A. (2013). Paul and Empire: Religion and Power in Roman Imperial Society. Trinity Press International.
• MacLachlan, C. (1997). Silk Roads and Cultural Exchange. Harvard University Press.
• Mango, C. (2002). The Oxford History of Byzantium. Oxford University Press.
• Runciman, S. (1989). A History of the Crusades. Cambridge University Press.
• Stephan, C. (2020). Diplomacy and Trade in the Byzantine Empire. Oxford Press.
• Whitby, M. (2013). The Roman Empire in Late Antiquity. Cambridge University Press.
• Wolf, J. (2015). Economics of the Byzantine Empire. Princeton University Press.
• Yarshater, E. (1991). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press.

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