Both are 1~2 pages long.

Unit 1 Writing Assignment (WA)1

Why was Rome/Byzantium interested in ruling the Middle East and what were the main effects in the Middle East of her rule?

Be sure to use information in the module including one of the three online selections (one of Kennedy, Mango, Millar). Don’t forget to look at all of the parts of the module. In unit 1, these include the three “sub modules” at the bottom – on various aspects of Roman society and state system. The module and the sub-modules serve in this online course as my “lectures”. All are essential to your learning what I expect you to learn. You may choose to focus on Imperial Rome or Byzantium depending on which of the 3 selections you chose.

You should submit your assignment in the WA1 Dropbox, found in the tabs for Unit 1. Please place at the top of your assignment – whether you cut and paste it into the dropbox space or whether you upload a document – your name and which WA this is – in this case WA1.

Be sure that you have read thoroughly the Frequently Asked Questions and their answers in the Lessons Tab for the course. If you have trouble finding these, please email us immediately. It is there that I provide my rules for submitting assignments in this course.

Unit 2 – Sasanian Empire and the Middle East

WA 2

Answer the following question and submit in your Dropbox for Unit 2. It will be difficult to write a good assignment in fewer than 8 paragraphs I would think. Be sure to use information in Donner (you will need to look back at the assignment in Donner for Unit 1), the modules including the online readings and especiallytheir sub units! And the online reading you have selected will help you to produce an excellent submission.

This question asks for a comparison with topics from Unit 1. In an historical comparison, it is important to avoid making two lists – characteristics of one and then of the other – and leaving the actual comparison to the reader. We want YOU to make the comparison. So it is always best to pick a couple of topics to include – we are here asking for 2. In future assignments we may ask for 1 or 2 or even more. And we will usually be asking you to go back and use information you learned in previous units.

At the top of the assignment, you should include the “password” I assigned you in my comments on your first writing assignment – I will increase your grade for WA 1 by 2 points if you do this.

I would think that 8 – 10 paragraphs would be a good target for this assignment.

Compare the policies of the Byzantine and Sasanian Empires in the Middle East. You should choose at least two aspects of their societies, for example: governmental system, religion, treatment of religious minorities, economy and international trade.