Problem
A. What were the three types of government that were typical among Greek poleis? How did the Greek polis/city-state differ from city-states elsewhere, such as in Mesopotamia?
B. Whose interests did the Optimizes and Populares factions support during the Roman Republic? Why were these two factions opposed to one another? How did their views contrast regarding the traditional authority of the Senate and questions on needed reforms?
C. Prior to making Christianity its official religion, what was the Roman Empire's policy towards the various religions within its borders? Why Christianity was sporadically excluded from this policy of relative tolerance and why was Christianity initially viewed as a threat to Rome? How is this represented in the primary sources by Pliny the Younger and Tertullian?
D. What were the distinctive features of the Han period, and how did the Han Dynasty build on its predecessor, the Qin Dynasty?