Category: History

D.T. Niane, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali (Apollo, 2024). ISBN-13: 978-1035905997.

Your book review should be 4 – 5 pages long, typed and double-spaced, with a one-inch margin.

Before submitting your book review, make sure to read it thoroughly, checking for grammatical

errors, factual accuracies, analysis, and argument. Use chicago style.

For this discussion board, I want you to think about what we might call the balance of power between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch. Here is a bit of background information: At times in our history, the Congress was a dominant institution, and the Presidency for the most part responded to Congressional initiatives. Times of crisis always tend to empower the executive for a short time, but when America’s role in the world was much less than it has been for the past century, Congress wielded agenda-setting power more so than the president. As the 20th century progressed, the country became more urbanized, more wealthy, and a world power. The responsibilities required to manage a growing federal government shifted primarily to the president, especially during World War I, World War II, and through a great deal of the Cold War (1949-91). Congress balanced against the president in the 1990s, but the attacks of 9/11/2001 and the subsequent security policies have favored executive power over legislative power.

The question: Do you support a relationship between the two institutions that is overall dominated by Congress, dominated by the Presidency, or one in which there is a fairly equal balance between the two. When I use the term “dominant” or “dominated,” I do not mean a situation in which one institution has all power and the other is irrelevant. It is never an all-or-nothing situation in politics. Rather, I mean a situation in which one institution or the other is dominant in deciding which issues are most important, interacting with the public, and setting the agenda for how issues are addressed by government. Are there certain times in which one institution should be dominant? Or are there certain issues in which one or the other institution should be dominant? Explain your answer as clearly and as great a degree of detail as possible. Refer to specific examples to illustrate your main points in a 300-550 word essay, roughly. You should be able to come up with good examples to discuss.

ESSAY PROMPT: Inga Clendinnen begins her article by asking one of the most enduring mysteries for historians of colonial Latin America: How was it that a motley bunch of Spanish adventurers, never numbering much more than four hundred or so, was able to defeat an Amerindian military power on its home ground in the space of two years? What was it about Spaniards, or about Indians, that made so awesomely implausible a victory possible? ESSAY QUESTION: For this second writing assignment, students should attempt to answer the same question with which Clendinnen began her article. Students should draw primarily from Clendinnen’s and Camilla Townsend’s articles. If helpful, students could also deploy evidence/examples from the primary sources we read, including the Corts letter and the Daz del Castillo excerpt. In developing their arguments, students should interrogate what we can actually know about the encounter between Corts and Moctezuma. *NOTE: Please try to avoid simply restating one of the arguments that the authors make in their articles. Instead, I want to see you develop your own interpretations. If, for whatever reason, you agree entirely with one of the authors in question, do not simply summarize her argument. Instead, explain why this particular argument is more convincing vis–vis the other arguments in the readings. Always use evidence and examples to support your interpretations. Remember to make an argument in the first paragraph and weave it throughout the paper. Make only one argument and support it with evidence from the primary and secondary sources assigned. Additional research is not necessary. Where helpful, provide quotations to prove your point. Because this is a very short paper, make sure to be concise. Re-read and revise your paper until you are absolutely sure that every word is helping you bolster your argument. Use topic sentences at the beginning of each paragraph, and relate the content of each paragraph to your main argument.

Explain why Athens and Sparta could not coexist in peace? Directly address the topic. Demonstrate a grasp of historical facts and the narrative (what happened in history) Most importantly, offer an explanation that answers questions such as how? why? what does it mean? why is it important?. History.com/articles/classical-greece#The-Rise-of-Athens Western Civilization_A Concise History-volume 1

To successfully complete this primary source analysis, you must produce a formal essay between 500 and 900 words that examines the document “THE C HRISTOPHER COLOMBUS PRIMARY SOURCE.” This assignment IS NOT A SUMMARY; it is a scholarly evaluation that requires you to move beyond the literal text to uncover the historical subtext, rhetorical strategies, and the broader socio-political environment of the Post-Reconstruction era. Your writing must adhere to the PRIMARY SOURCE ANALYSIS GUIDELINE THAT IS GIVEN HERE IN WEEK ONE.

Structural coherence is essential for a high-quality submission. Your essay must exhibit “architectural precision,” beginning with an introduction that sets the historical stakes and ending with a small summary of your opinion. Do not merely restate your thesis in the conclusion; instead, demonstrate how your argument has evolved and deepened through the evidence you have presented. Each body paragraph should be unified around a single thematic point, led by a strong topic sentence. Use “signposts”sophisticated transitional phrasesto guide the reader through your logic. For example, instead of listing points, show the relationship between the authors legal advice and the underlying threat of racial violence that made such advice necessary.

Finally, you must respect the mandatory length requirement of at least 500 words. This threshold is non-negotiable and is designed to ensure you have sufficient space for the analytical depth and rigorous interrogation required of professional historical work. Submissions that fall below this minimum will face severe academic penalties of losing at least twenty points removed from their grade, as a truncated response is viewed as a lack of intellectual ambition. Throughout the essay, maintain a formal authorial tone, utilizing field-specific terminology such as “disenfranchisement,” “agency,” and “hegemony” where appropriate. By following these guidelines, you will create a polished, professional analysis that meets the highest standards of the Primary Source Analysis Rubric. That all being said, please answer the questions below IN PARAGRAPH FORMAT.

1. Columbus’s Motivations and Intentions
2. What do you believe were Christopher Columbus’s true intentions for the lands he encountered in the Americas? Analyze the tone and content of the letter to uncover how Columbus presents his role as a representative of the Spanish Crown. How does his language about taking possession of the islands and his emphasis on resources reflect his priorities?
3. Perception of the Indigenous Peoples
4. How does Columbus describe the Indigenous populations he encountered? Consider the assumptions he makes about their culture, governance, and way of life. How do these assumptions reflect European attitudes of the 15th century? Evaluate the ways Columbus justifies his treatment of the Indigenous peoples, particularly in his references to their “timidity” and his intentions for their conversion to Christianity.
5. Use of Natural Resources
6. What observations does Columbus make about the natural environment, including gold, spices, and fertile lands? How does Columbuss focus on these resources align with the Spanish monarchys expectations for his voyage? Reflect on the economic ambitions driving Columbuss narrative and their implications for the future of colonization.
7. Religious Undertones
8. In what ways does Columbus frame his voyage as a religious mission? Examine his references to divine favor, the role of Christianity, and his vision for the conversion of the Indigenous peoples. How does this religious framing serve both his personal objectives and the broader goals of the Crown?
9. Historical and Cultural Implications
10. What does this letter reveal about the interplay between exploration, colonization, and economic ambition during the Age of Discovery? Reflect on the broader consequences of Columbuss voyages, both for the European powers that benefited from the Americas resources and for the Indigenous peoples whose lives were irrevocably transformed.

Essay Brief Eastern Question (Pre-1914) Topic: The essay analyses the significance of the Eastern Question in Europe before 1914, focusing on Ottoman decline, Balkan nationalism, and the wider impact on European tensions. Current Progress Introduction Completed The introduction is finished and clearly frames the argument about the Eastern Questions importance for European stability before WWI. Only minor stylistic polishing may be needed. Paragraph 1 Needs Major Revision This paragraph exists but lacks sufficient historical evidence (as noted by my tutor). It needs: More specific examples and references. Clear structure (topic sentence evidence analysis link to argument). Stronger connection to why the Eastern Question mattered for Europe. Paragraph 2 Draft Written but Messy This paragraph focuses on nationalism in the Balkans. Key points already included: Rise of nationalism in Europe (French Revolution, German & Italian unification). Balkan identities initially structured by religion rather than nationality. Ottoman millet system and Tanzimat reforms. Churches as organisational spaces for nationalist movements. Russia as protector of Orthodox Christians, later shifting to pan-Slavism. Ottoman decline enabling nationalist mobilisation. Western ideological influence (Romanticism, liberalism). Nation-building examples like the Tarnovo Constitution (1878). Transformation from religious communities to national states. First Balkan War (unity against Ottomans) vs Second Balkan War (national divisions). Main issue: The ideas are good but the paragraph needs clearer structure, smoother sentences, and tighter analysis. Paragraph 3 Not Written This will compare the Eastern Question with other international crises to show why the Balkans were more destabilising. Examples to include: Franco-Prussian War (187071) Fashoda Crisis (1898) First Moroccan Crisis (190506) Second Moroccan Crisis (1911) Main argument: these crises were easier to contain, while Balkan tensions involved multiple Great Powers and risked wider war. Target: ~500 words