Hist. 101 = Early Western Civilizations

Paper - Argumentative Essay on Ancient Rome

 

Question:  Why was Rome able to build and maintain and empire that dominated the Mediterranean world?

 

Purpose

Knowledge:

After doing this assignment you will have a clear idea of the rise and dominance of Rome, as well as an understanding of complexity of the Mediterranean economic and cultural world.

Skills:

After doing this assignment you should be able to:

• Synthesize multiple sources to concisely create an effective argument.
• Use evidence from both primary and secondary sources to prove your argument.
• Analyze material based on historical context.

 

Task

1. Read all the primary sources dealing with Rome.
   
   • Roman law, The Twelve Tables (Links to an external site.)
   • Polybius on the Roman Constitution 146 BCE (Links to an external site.)
   • Grandeur of Rome (Links to an external site.)
   • Luxury of the Rich in Rome
2. Read all the textbook readings on or dealing with Rome.
3. Write an argumentative essay of no more than 700 words that answers the following question:

 

Why was Rome able to build and maintain an empire that dominated the Mediterranean world?   Use at least 2 different primary sources from the class, of your choice, to illustrate your stance.

(You may take any stance you want, but your argument must be original and well proven.)

 

 Tips

• The documents are evidence, not the subject of the paper.
• Remember this is a history course, not a literature course.

Submission instructions/Requirements (Failure to follow any of these will result in grade deductions)

-Submit paper as an attachment in the assignment box of Canvas before the due date and time.

-Must be in one of the following formats:    doc, docx, or pdf

-You must  use Footnotes for all information except that which comes from your own mind.

            + http://libguides.nvcc.edu/ChicagoTurabian

-Most follow the formatting outlined on the syllabus and Kinch’s Writing Guide.

 -Required Format:     -12pt.  font /Calibri / 1 in. margins / Double spaced

 Criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to analyze the historical era to develop, set forth, and prove your argument using primary and secondary sources effectively.