Essay Prompt- History 101: World Civilizations
You may choose whether to write an essay . You will still need to write one long essay [four pages]:
Religions are often products of their times. They are reflection of, and reactions against, the societies in which they arose. Moreover, religions often evolve as they spread across time and space. They adapt and adjust to new societies, and they evolve in response to changing circumstances. In this essay, you must address the following questions:
Short Essay [Two Full-Pages]:
Explain how either Christianity or Islam was a reflection of the society in which it evolved. How did it reflect prevailing social norms and values? Conversely, how was it a reaction against that society?
You do not need to write about both religions for this prompt; simply select one and answer the questions outlined above. In the case of Christianity, this will mean comparing and contrasting the teachings of the early Christian Church with the values of Roman society. It will, moreover, mean discussing why Roman authorities viewed Christianity as a threat and why Roman officials persecuted early Christians.
Long Essay [Four Full-Pages]: For the long essay, you must answer both of the questions listed above [i.e., answer the questions dealing with early Christianity and Islam], and then write a paragraph comparing and contrasting how both religions accepted and rejected some of the prevailing attitudes of the societies in which they emerged.