Roman Empire

Comparative Essay – Step By Step STEP 1 – Diagnosis • Read the Question and break it down in for what it is asking • In the Margin, determine all of the information that you know about it o Start from broad to specific (time period, location, concepts, events, etc. . . ) STEP 2 – Organization and Planning • Find three topics that you can group together into paragraphs • Plan out your essay into a brief skeleton that you can draw upon as you write STEP 3 – Creation • Write your essay following the point structure below and paying attention to the examples. POINT 1 – Thesis If you don’t have one you can’t gain this point or point #3 for supporting your thesis o Consider the thesis to be the essence of the paper, it is your essay in one or two sentences o Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence linked to the thesis o The thesis MUST address Similarities AND Differences in either the introduction or the conclusion to get full credit • The thesis can only be counted as the thesis and not also as a direct comparison • You don’t need to write an introduction, so don’t. Leave blank space to come back and write one if you have extra time.

POINT 4 – Direct Comparisons • 1st Sentence for each body paragraph should be a comparative (a direct comparison sentence) o Remember you must make Direct Comparisons, (apples to apples) so make it very clear to the reader your comparing in your sentence ? Use linking comparative words such as “whereas” to help set up direct comparisons ? For Example: “Both the Haitian and Russian revolutions drew considerable strength from the subjugation of the under classes into oppressive conditions, slaves and serfs repectiveley. POINT 5 – Analysis for Direct Comparisons • 2nd sentence then explains/analyzes the direct comparison in the first sentence. ? For Example: “The Haitian Slaves were worked in the demanding sugar market in a foreign continent without a demographic representation that allowed for stable familial ties that had been a strong part of their culture, without the widespread allowances to have families the choice was clear, “rebel now and maybe die, or be worked to death slowly”.

While Russian Serfs were allowed few more rights than a slave, they were bound to the land the worked for their elite Boyar ‘Little-Princes’ while the influences of the enlightenment and liberalization of Western Europe had long since freed their equals to the west. As the wars of their absolutist Czars brought Russians into contact with western ideas it was only a matter of time that the lower classes would demand a change. Thus the regimes dominating these two classes created a ‘powder keg’ in their much larger in population under classes. POINT 3 – Historical Evidence Then subsequent sentences in the paragraph should provide at least 2 prior knowledge statements/evidence in each paragraph. o You will do this for each of the body paragraphs in the paper so at least six will be written o This content should be from your coursework and can POINT 2 – Addresses all parts of the question • Must address similarities AND differences for a full 2 points • Address Comparisons, Chronology, Causation, Connections, Themes, Interactions, and Content EXTENDED CORE • You have already written yourself into the extended core if you have followed the step by step!!! If in the comparative question there is a parenthetical qualifier such as (political, economic, cultural), it is not required that evidence is given for each. This parenthetical qualifier helps students think about what to write. AP World History Comparative Essay Generic Rubric Overview |Basic Core |Expanded Core | |Historical skills and knowledge required to show competence. |Historical skills and knowledge required to show excellence. |1. Has acceptable thesis. 1 Point |Expands beyond basic core of | |(addresses comparison of the |1-7 Points. The basic core of a 0-2 Points | |issues or themes specified) |score of 7 must be achieved | | |before a student can earn expanded | |2. Addresses all parts of the 2 Points |core points. |of the question, though not | | |necessarily evenly or thoroughly. |Examples: | | |Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis | |(Addresses most parts of the (1) |Addresses all parts of the question (as relevant): comparisons, | |question: for example, deals with |chronology, causation, connections, themes, interactions, content. |differences but not similarities) |Provides ample historical evidence to substantiate thesis. | | |Relates comparisons to larger global context. | |3. Substantiates thesis with 2 Points |Makes several direct comparisons consistently between or among | |appropriate evidence. |societies. | | |Consistently analyzes the causes and effects of relevant | |(Partially substantiates thesis with (1) |similarities and differences. |appropriate evidence. ) | | | | | |4. Makes at least three relevant, 1 Point | | |direct comparisons between or | | |among societies. | | | | |5. Analyzes at least three reasons 1 Point | | |for a similarity or difference | | |identified in a direct comparison. | | | | |Subtotal 7 |Subtotal 2 Points | |Points | | TOTAL 9 Points

Towns are like people. Some are rich and influential from their conception; others need to acquire such qualities over centuries. Minsk is an example of the latter though founded as a border fortification in the Polatsk Principality, over its millennial history Minsk has managed to be the predominant centre of power in an appanage, capital of a province and at long last the capital of an independent nation counting 10 million people. Well, as Minsk is more that 900 years, it is quite enough to speak about its antiquity. But unfortunately almost all traces of old times are lost.

There are practically no ancient buildings in Minsk, but the hero-city tries to keep memory about its past. And nowadays numerous names of the streets and squares, churches remind us not about the stormy past of Minsk, but of our country. And the first place that is worth visiting is the Red Church (the church of St. Simeon and Helen). It was built in the early 20th c. under the sponsorship of the Vaynilovich family (a Slutsk judge, landowner Vaynilovich and his wife Olyrnia) who donated all their money to commemorate their children Simon and Helen who died unexpectedly of an unknown disease.

Their names are given to 2 small towers, white the big one as the symbol of eternally mourning parents. The church is mainly decorated in Roman style with its majestic forms, balance, quiet strength though some details of Gothic style could also be seen. The sculptural composition of Archangel Michael who kills a winged dragon symbolizes the victory of the divine army over the forces of darkness. Nowadays, the red church building, which has already served as Belarusian SSR’s National Polisk Theatre, a film studio and a cinema, has since 1990 been returned to believers, but it serves not only a religious purpose.

Concerts of organ music, religious music concerts of world-famous composers are held here, one-actor theatre performances are staged and sketches are played. The Church of the Holy Trinity and St Roch on Golden Hill is another attraction. Golden Hill is the old name for this region of the town. Maybe for the wonderful golden decoration of trees, maybe for that as the legend says “the citizens collected the golden coins for the church building, this region was called Golden Hill. The church was dedicated to St. Roch, who was noted pilgrim a healer, invoked for his miraculous powers against the plague and cholera. The church is a monument f neogothic architecture. The interior of the church was of timber painted to resemble marble. On the High Altar stood a wooden statue of the Madonna and Child and a represent of the Holy Trinity. The church was restored in 1983 and given over to the nearly State Philharmonic as a small concert chamber on account of its excellent acoustics. You can’t but visit St Alexander Nevski Ghurch which was built in memory of Belarusian soldiers who perished in the Russian-Turkish conflict of 1877-78 and carries a miraculous story. In June 1941 a bomb managed to pierce the church dome and fall in front of the altar without exploding.

Later it was one of only two active churches in Minsk. Both of the nations celebrated poets Y. Kupala and Y. Kolas, as well as various masters of art, culture and science in Belarus, are buried in the Military cemetery alongside the soldiers who laid their lives to free Minsk from the Fascists. Even the name of the next place to see reflects the historic past of the country. That is Victory Square. The obelisk of Victory commemorates the deaths of soldiers, partisans, and all the inhabitants of Belarus killed in the struggle with fascism during WWII. Its height is 38 m. It is covered by grey granite.

It is topped by the Order of Victory which is decorated by multi-coloured smelt. The Eternal Flame was inflamed on the 3 d of July in 1961 and bright scarlet flowers seem to bum together with the flame till late autumn. Well, I suppose that nobody can resist the temptation of visiting one of the chief glories of Minsk – Trinity Suburb. It is a tangle of narrow streets lined with a fascinating array of little craft and curio shops. Delightful small houses seem to whisper their secrets to each other across the cobbled way. Here you have a feeling of coming back into the 18th c.

Suburb is renowned for its historic buildings. You can enjoy the view of the Holy Spirit Cathedral and the church of St. Paul and Peter also can be seen here. Not far from these sacred places, on a bend in the river Svisloch there is a humpback bridge leading to the Isle of Tears, the monument to the sons of Fatherland who died beyond its borders. The monument is designed in the shape of a temple. It stands on 16 piles which go deep into swampy soil. In the centre of the monument there are figures of mourning mothers, who personify Belarusian women crying over their dead sons.

Some of them hold icons in their hands, others – portraits of their sons. Mothers, standing at the front, hold lamps which symbolize the warmth of home health. Inside there are altars with the inscribed names of 771 dead soldiers. In the middle of the monuments there is the sacred Place where the Bells of Memory are ringing. Weeping willows bend over the water. So you see, there are a lot of sights in Minsk that are connected with the history of Belarus. Their beauty and their historical heritage attract thousands of tourists from all over the world and make Minsk and amazing place, which is really worth seeing.

The economy of the early Roman Empire and the late Republic of Rome was driven primarily by trade. Although in modern times history the economic basis of the Roman Empire has been neglected and focus has been directed to the exploits of the Roman Legions and Lingua France of Latin, it is important to note that Rome had an estimated population of over a million and to sustain its population, the economy had to be centered on a central avenue and this avenue was trade.

Most of the Romans were traders and this ensured that the empire lasted a long time, probably one of the longest lasting empires the world will ever witness[1].

Theoretically, there was a prohibition of the members of the senate to be indulged in business and this also applied to their family members. However, the Equestrian Order members were hugely involved in business not withstanding the fact they belonging to the upper class, the society expected them to be involved more in leisure and military activities and pursuits.

There were also a huge proportion of slaves who were responsible for doing most of the work while the Plebeians practically held shops and manned stalls around the vicinity of the markets.

The slaves were also involved in the commerce of the empire and they played a great role in giving the empire’s commerce a distinct flavor compared to other commerce in the world[2].

Thesis Statement

The study will focus on the Roman Empire involvement in the Mediterranean trade and how this trade was conducted and how it benefited the Roman Empire. The study will look in the Maritime routes that were present during the trade and how they helped in the development of trade among various regions in the world including Asia, India, Africa and Western Europe.

The study will also strive to look into the regions that benefited from the various commodities of the trade and how they came to be powerful empires as well. This study will look into the ancient Roman trade partners and what commodities were exchanged during the trade.

The Study will also look into the importance of certain commodities to the Roman Empire and chief among them will be marble.

Maritime Routes

Archaeological studies of the ancient maritime trends supported by manuscripts derived from Classical antiquity have proved that the Roman Empire was in possession of numerous fleets of ships. Also as a show of evidence of the maritime trade conducted by the Roman Empire are the ruins and remains of lighthouses, moles, harbors and warehouses which were found in the ports of Caesarea Maritima, Ostia, Civitavecchia, Leptis Magna and Portus.

As with other forms of technology, the Roman maritime technology was not as advanced as that of the Greeks. It is evidence that the Roman fleets were constructed with great concern about the security of the fleets.

This is because there was lead sheeting for hulls which were meant for protection. They used sailing ships which were round hulled. One of the factors that led to the success of the Roman Maritime Commerce was the continued policing that run over a number of centuries. This was necessitated by the fact that their ships had been an easy prey for the pirates[3].

The sea transport was widely used for transporting of commodities which were low valued yet very bulky. This mainly comprised of construction materials and grains. One of the reasons for this was that the sea transport was the cheapest mode of transport that the Roman Empire could afford. They used to import cereals and papyrus from Ptolemaic Egypt and this followed a continuous fashion[4].

The Roman Empire trade via the Indian Ocean blossomed in the first two centuries of CE. The Roman sailors would make use of the Monsoon winds to cross to such ports as Myos Hormos, Roman Egypt, Red Sea Muziris and Malabar Coast. The Tamil dynasties were their leading trade partners the region of and this can be evidenced by the numerous Roman artifacts that are found in India.

[1] Donkin, Robin A. (2003). Between East and West: The Moluccas and the Traffic in Spices Up to the Arrival of Europeans. Diane Publishing Company, p. 45, pp 65 – 94
[2] Carter, Mia; Harlow, Barbara (2004). Archives of Empire: From the East India Company to the Suez Canal. Duke University Press pp 54 – 96.
[3] Casson, L., Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1971. pp 12 – 59
[4] Rawlinson, Hugh George (2001). Intercourse Between India and the Western World: From the Earliest Times of the Fall of Rome. Asian Educational Services. pp. 87 – 198.