Consider the following questions:
A: Analyze the Augustus of Primaporta statue. What specific symbols refer to Augustus' divine lineage (explain exactly how the symbols do this)? What kinds of messages are intended from the images on Augustus' breastplate? Finally, how do his physical stance and bodily proportions connect to famous statues from earlier cultures?
B: Describe the historical event represented in the relief carving inside the Arch of Titus. What exactly was happening, when, and where? Explain how this relief and the arch itself functioned as propaganda in the Roman Empire.
C: What was the purpose of the Colosseum? How did it make use of Greek architectural orders? Identify TWO ways the Colosseum (or the activities held there) served as propaganda for the Roman Empire.
D: Why did Virgil write the Aeneid? What are the major themes of the Aeneid? Contrast this beloved poem with Ovid's work around the same time. What are the important themes in Ovid's poem, Metamorphoses? Explain how Ovid angered the emperor Augustus and got himself kicked out of the city, exiled to the freezing cold Black Sea (in modern-day Romania).
E: What was the importance of oracle bones in the Shang Dynasty? According to the Annenberg video "Evolution of the Early Chinese Empire," why do historians see the writing in ancient China as a "technology of power"? Could writing in our own culture today be considered a technology of power? Explain.
F: What were some of the important accomplishments of the Qin Dynasty? How did the Qin maintain control over the populace? Describe the importance of the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi (with the terracotta army).
G: Briefly describe the core beliefs of Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. What are their major differences?
H: Based on the article "Introduction to East Asian Art," describe some of the characteristics of Chinese painting. When was the "Golden Age" of Chinese art? What is meant by "flexibility of expression," and why is it important?