Writing about one topic from the text book “the human journey” that follows with prompts that need to be answered.

One will compose a 6-8 page paper, double-spaced, with 12 pt. font, focusing on one area of the world that your textbook, The Human Journey, Vol. I A Concise Introduction to World History, by Kevin Reilly, discussed.  The seven areas are:  The Middle East;  Africa;  Europe;  China;  India;  the Americas; and Pacific (Polynesia)

Having picked your area, thoroughly read about, and THINK ABOUT, the coverage of your area throughout the book; then, use that as your base for discussing your area’s development, and importantly, how it interacted with OTHER areas.  YOU MUST ANSWER ALL OF THE PROMPT QUESTIONS  BELOW:

Did the area you picked experience variety, diversity of beliefs and practices? Give examples, explaining why or why not there was diversity.  Was there a geographic pattern to these differences – explain. What role did cities play – or not play – in your area?

Did your area “butt heads” with other areas, or rather , was there a mutually beneficial relationship…or even a combination of these two phenomena? Discuss.  I am especially interested in how your area connected to other areas. 

Discuss in your essay the spread of religion(s) within your area…and even beyond your area. Who carried the religion outwards? priests? trader – businessmen? or who?  

Discuss the social and political trends of your area, being sure to tell how power and prestige were structured in your area.  For example, what power or prestige did soldiers, priests, scholars, and business people have in your area.

Discuss the language (s) spoken in your area, and how language, written or unwritten, had a major impact upon your area’s development.