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.”

Thesis must follow through to show how religion was used to govern. 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. ____________________________________________________________ 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.

Subjects of Maya city states did not have religious freedom 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

Differences: Topic Sentence: 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.