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1. Creation myths. Every early society that we have studied has provided an explanation of where they come from and why. But what, exactly, are creation myths? How were they preserved and what can they tell us about the people who passed them down to us? Why?
2. Religion and politics. We have seen several societies in which religious and political power were closely connected. In what ways did these cultures combine religion and politics, and to what end? What problems, if any, did this combination present? And how did societies respond to any potential problems? Why?
3. War and imperialism. Many empires rose and fell in Mesopotamia, Egypt, Anatolia, Greece, and elsewhere. How were empires built and for what purpose? Who benefited? And how did empires collapse? Why?
4. International and social relations. Kingdoms and empires often came into physical conflict with one another, as did different classes and interests within the same society. But sometimes they reached peaceful resolutions to their disputes. What did different governments and social classes fight over and why? What methods or tools did they employ to achieve peaceful outcomes? How successful were these outcomes? Why?
5. How to understand the history of western civilization. Every society that we have studied had remarkable individuals who were highly successful in achieving their goals. Some of them even had the title of “the Great” added to their names, men such as Ramesses, Cyrus, and Alexander.
However, we have also seen instances of the collective power of people in groups. What is “History”? And is it best understood as the outcome of the actions of “great men,” the outcome of “social movements,” or both? Why?
