1. The Apology of Socrates by Plato is a fascinating work of philosophy - but it also says a lot about politics. We know from the lecture that the trial of Socrates took place right after the removal of the Thirty Tyrants and the reestablishment of Athenian democracy. This, we would think, is a good thing. Democracy, we are led to believe these days, is infinitely better than tyranny. Yet, it is the democracy not the tyranny that condemns Socrates to death. What do you think Plato is trying to say about how democracies function? What are some of the dangers of a democracy, according to Plato?
2. Socrates spends a lot of time talking about doing what is best for Athens. Today we live in an individualistic society. Most people believe that by pursuing what is best for then, they are also benefiting the whole society around them. It was different in ancient Greece - individual interest and social good were not seen as going together. Why do you think the good of society was such an important issue during this time? Back up your response with information from the textbook.
3. We see during these centuries the near simultaneous rise of two great empires, the Persian Empire in the east and the Greeks in the west. What were the factors that led to the success of each civilization? What were some of the key differences between them?
4. Arguably one of the single most important characters in the drama of world history was Alexander the Great, the Macedonian conqueror who eventually controlled a vast empire from the Mediterranean to India. What made Alexander so successful? What happened to his empire after his death? Why do you think his empire was on such shaky ground without him? What was Hellenism and how did Alexander’s conquests foster it?
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HIST 120- Module 3: More Discussion Posts:
1. How do the laws enshrined in the Twelve Tables compare to the law codes you examined in previous chapters? (See Documents 2-2 and 3-4.)
2. Compare and contrast Plutarch’s descriptions of Caesar (Document 6-2) and Cleomenes III (Document 5-3). Which of these men did Plutarch find most admirable? Why?
3. What light do the documents in this chapter shed on the nature of Roman religion and the limits of Roman religious toleration?
4. What kind of relationship did Christians have with the Roman state, according to Pliny and Tertullian?
5. Compare Imperial Rome with the Han Empire. What were the processes of unification and expansion? What were some of the important ideas that held the empires together? How did each manage their economies, their militaries, and the issue of minorities within the empire? What were relations like between the empires and their neighbors? Finally, what were some reasons that the empires declined in power and stability?
6. Briefly explain the expansion of the Roman republic and its transition into an autocratic empire. How did Rome use the legacy of other Mediterranean cultures in its state formation?
7. Scipio's Dream is a densely philosophical work. You will not understand the piece in its entirety. Yet, with hard work you will be able to discern some of its key ideas. How does the elder Africanus explain to his ancestor the structures of the universe? What is the individual's place within this structure? What significance do you think this relationship between the individual and the universe has?
8. Why do you think the information about the duties of the individual to his community is revealed to Scipio in the form of a dream? What do you think Cicero is saying by using the dream form?
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