The key to success in all of your writing is to analyze.
Analyze= determine their component parts; examine their
nature and relationship.
Analysis can take many forms, depending what the question is
asking you to do. In historical analysis what is being done is
breaking down the item(s) being analyzed into component
parts which may involve discussion of:
Historical actors, events, processes, institutions,
ideas, etc. (examination of multiple causation which looks at
cause and effect relationships)
Evidence (determining the significance and reliability of
various perspectives like when point of view is analyzed)
Interpretations of what happened (comparing and
contrasting changing versions of developments or theories)
Underlying structures (determining how all the
processes, institutions, ideas, events, actors, motives, evidence,
interpretations are connected and related and affect one
another)
Overall process of change and continuity (connecting
different regions and eras)
“During the postclassical time period of history, before
1450, two new empires arose in the Eastern Mediterranean
and the Middle East/ North Africa- the Byzantine Empire
and the Islamic caliphates respectively. The Byzantine,
influenced by Christianity and the Islamic Caliphates
influenced by the teachings of Muhammad, effectively
established the reigns through the use of their respective
religions. The Byzantine and the Caliphates sponsored
Christianity and Islam respectively as the state religions
and established their head of state ,more or less as the key
religious leader. Additionally, they used religion in their
own ways as justification to spread their governorship.
The laws however were not similar. Byzantine laws were
established upon pre-established Roman ones and the
Muslims centered their laws on the Quran.”
Analyze similarities and differences in how TWO of the following empires used
religion to govern before 1450.
• Byzantine Empire
• Islamic Caliphates
• Mauryan/Gupta Empires
•Thesis must follow through to show how religion was used
to govern.
•Tolerance alone does not work. Tolerance must be
qualified with religious principals. Student must follow
through to show how tolerance was used to govern.
•NO: The caliphates used Islam to rule.
•YES: The caliphates supported Islam to strengthen their
rule.
•“To rule” is NOT sufficient.
•“To strengthen rule” IS sufficient.
“During the postclassical time period of history, before
1450, two new empires arose in the Eastern Mediterranean
and the Middle East/ North Africa- the Byzantine Empire
and the Islamic caliphates respectively. The Byzantine,
influenced by Christianity and the Islamic Caliphates
influenced by the teachings of Muhammad, effectively
established the reigns through the use of their respective
religions. The Byzantine and the Caliphates sponsored
Christianity and Islam respectively as the state religions
and established their head of state ,more or less as the key
religious leader. Additionally, they used religion in their
own ways as justification to spread their governorship.
The laws however were not similar. Byzantine laws were
established upon pre-established Roman ones and the
Muslims centered their laws on the Quran.”
WORLD HISTORY
SECTION II
Part C
(Suggested planning and writing time – 40 minutes)
Percent of Section II score – 33 1/3
Directions: You are to answer the following question. You should spend 5 minutes
organizing or outlining your essay.
Write an essay that:
•Has a relevant thesis and supports that thesis with appropriate historical evidence
•Addresses all parts of the question.
•Makes direct, relevant comparisons.
•Analyzes relevant reasons for similarities and differences.
____________________________________________________________
1.Compare the similarities and differences in how the leaders of
the Maya city kingdoms and the Achaemenid Empire used
religion to govern between 600 BCE and 600 CE.
Thesis:
Between 600 BCE and 600 CE the leaders of the Maya
city-kingdoms and the Achaemenid Empire used religion to
govern similarly in that leaders in both areas made a conscious
effort to associate themselves with religious power in order to
consolidate their rule. This association was demonstrated both
symbolically through art and architecture as well as practically
through ritual. However, differences in the way religion was
associated with leadership can be noted. While the Maya
leaders demonstrated their power through absolute control over
religious belief and activity, the Acahemenid leaders
demonstrated their leadership through tolerance of religious
belief and practice and so made government less vulnerable to
rebellion.
Question: Compare the similarities and differences in how the leaders of the Maya city kingdoms and the
Achaemenid Empire used religion to govern between 600 BCE and 600 CE.
Differences:
Maya:
• Subjects of Maya city states did not have religious freedom
• All Maya culture had uniform understanding of Maya cosmos, Maya polytheism
• All Maya city states had political centers that emphasized ritual connection to
this religion through architecture (temples) and art (stelae with altars)
• Political centers tied to religion = political control =state sponsored belief
system imposed with authority
Achaemenid:
• Zorastrianism was supported by Darius but was not a state policy
• Subjects within empire were allowed to practice their own religions if they
choose to do so (examples: Judaism, polytheism)
• Political control = keeping the various regions and ethnic groups happy by
allowing them to keep local rituals and beliefs and so encourage compliance
rather than rebellion
Question: Compare the similarities and differences in how the leaders of the Maya city kingdoms and the
Achaemenid Empire used religion to govern between 600 BCE and 600 CE.
Differences:
Topic Sentence:
Differences in how the Maya and Acahemenid leaders used
religion for political purposes can be seen in the degree to which they
practiced religious tolerance. The Maya leaders were intolerant of other
religious beliefs and practices and thus showed their absolute power over
their subjects. On the other hand, Darius for example, demonstrated the
ability to amass political power, stability and ultimately respect of his
subjects by allowing religious tolerance within the empire.
Question: Compare the similarities and differences in how the leaders of the Maya
city kingdoms and the Achaemenid Empire used religion to govern between 600 BCE
and 600 CE.
Similarities:
Maya and the Achaemenids:
•Both leaders tried to associate themselves with religious power (Maya leaders did
this by portraying themselves as priest-kings- many examples in Maya art of
political leaders ritual bloodletting as part of religious practice to maintain Maya
world (Bonampak, Yaxchilan)). (Darius often portrayed himself in art and
architecture in close proximity to Ahura Mazda/ Zorastrianism).
•Both leaders used their political centers as focal areas of religious activity (Maya
ceremonial plaza areas as ritual centers) (Persepolis as a lavish, wealthy city in
accordance with the material rewards promised in Zorastrianism through good life,
good deeds and good thoughts)
Topic sentence:
Leaders of both the Maya city states and the Achamemend empire used
religion to demonstrate political power by personally associating themselves and
their political centers with religion.
Question: Compare the similarities and differences in how the leaders of the Maya
city kingdoms and the Achaemenid Empire used religion to govern between 600 BCE
and 600 CE.
Reasons:
The reason that the Maya and Acahaemend leaders both wanted to
associate themselves with religious power may have to do with the strong
role that religious belief played in the lives of ancient societies in general at
this time. The creation of the world, the afterlife and the stability of the
cosmos were all concerns that early societies felt. If political leaders can
associate themselves with knowledge of these religious questions and
demonstrate that they can provide guidance to their subjects in this regard,
this will help legitimatize their political control.
The reason that the Maya and Acahaemend leaders used religion
in different ways may have to do with the history of their respective regions
of control. There already were strong belief systems established in the area
that the Persian Empire occupied, and so it made political sense to allow
these religions to be practiced as long as it didn’t interfere with Persian
imperial authority. The Maya area did not have this history of other
previous well established belief systems, and so they could be more
demanding in terms of a state religion.