Humanities Homework Help

HUMANITIES 1: Prehistoric to 1600

Researched Argument Paper

For this essay, choose one of the following topics:

1. Choose a ruler, philosopher, or otherwise influential figure from any chapter in the book, and support a claim for how this person has impacted our world today.

You are arguing in effect that if it weren’t for this person, the world would have been different in a significant way.

Your essay should present the different ways in which he/she has influenced history—in terms of religion or politics and/or culture Your paper should be persuasive, not just a neutral discussion of history. You are trying to persuade me, your reader, to your point of view. Make me see how this person is important.

1. Western cultural heritage is divided into three periods: 

Ancient (3000 BCE to 500 CE), 

Medieval  (500 to 1500 CE—which is comprised of the Early Middle Ages

(500-1000); the High Middle Ages (1000-1300); and the Late Middle Ages (1300- 1500)–

and  Modern  (1400 to today; we are only concerned with 1400-1600 in this course however).

In these periods, the arts were intertwined with political, social and economic events.  According to the text, “The creative accomplishments of an age tend to reflect a shared perspective.”

For your paper, choose an artist(s) or creative individual(s) from one of these time periods, and make a case for how that person’s works were influenced by the times in which he/she lived. For example, Dante’s  Divine Comedy epitomized the ideals of the High Middle Ages. Another example is how the creators of the Gothic cathedrals were in part proclaiming the new economic well being of the times.

OR: Come up with your own idea. If you choose this option, I need to see your proposal by early July.