Think/Write Questions

1. Do you think written records are necessary for us to truly understand past civilizations?

2. Do you think historians use their own personal values to interpret the significance of past events?

3. If creation myths help us understand our purpose in life, do you think the same could be said about the evolutionary theory?

4. Do you think archaeologists can have a good understanding of an ancient society based solely on the artifacts they uncover?

5. Do you think acceptance of either the candelabra theory or the "Noah's Ark" theory could be based on a person's view of modern day race relations?

6. How important do you think is the natural environment in determining the cultural characteristics of a civilization?

7. Do you think the Bible can help scholars understand the history and beliefs of the Jewish people?

8. For those who are doing Service Learning. Why did you choose SL?  What do you hope to learn from this experience?

9. For those who participated in the loko i'a (fishpond) service project on Saturday (9/18). Mai maka'u i ka hana; maka'u i ka moloa. (Don't be afraid of work; be afraid of being lazy.) Ma ka hana ka ‘ike. (In working one learns.) How did your work at Waikalua Loko help you understand either or both of these 'olelo no'eau (wise sayings) ?

10. Do you think the official ideology of a nation can influence its interpretation of archaeological remains (i.e. communist China's interpretation of Ban Po)?

11. Although they lack metal tools, wheeled vehicles, and writing, do you think the urban centers in the Americas should be considered "civilizations"?

12. Do you think Jenne-jeno should be considered a city, even if it lacks many of the characteristics of urbanization?

13. After having first developed villages and then cities, do you think the creation of empires was a natural progression for humans?

14. Do you think historians should use Homer's Iliad & Odyssey to help them understand parts of Greek history, or should we value these works as purely literary achievements with no historical authenticity?

15. Now that you know what the ancient Greeks thought about homosexuality, does this help you understand our modern-day "nature vs. nurture" debate regarding the origins of homosexuality?

16. Why do you think the Greek city-states, who were able to repulse the Persian attempts to conquer them in the early 5th century B.C.E., fell so quickly to Philip of Macedonia in 338 B.C.E.?

17. For those who are doing Service Learning. Discuss the new information you're learning and/or the skills you're acquiring from your SL experience.

18. For those who participated in the lo'i kalo (taro patch) service project at Ulupo Heiau (10/9). How did your taro patch experience complement what you're learning in this class? Did you learn any lessons that go beyond the study of history (i.e. work, community, the learning process)?

19. It took the plebeians of ancient Rome over 200 years of persistent legal battles to achieve equality. Do you admire their tenacity, or do you think a violent civil war would have been more effective in bringing about reforms in a timely manner?

20. The Roman practice of extending degrees of citizenship to conquered peoples contributed to Rome's wealth and power. Can you think of a modern-day country that has done something similar? Discuss the effectiveness of this strategy.

21. Why do you think both the Jewish religious authorities and the Roman colonial administrators disliked Jesus?

22. How do you think the actions of emperors Constantine and Theodosius changed the course of Christianity?

23. What do you think Confucius would say if he were confronted with modern American society? What are we doing right or wrong according to Confucius?

24. Considering that each new dynasty typically presented a negative view of the previous dynasty, do you think Qin Shi Huangdi was as bad as Han scholars have described him?

25. Why do you think the Chinese Empire lasted, with several interruptions, into the 20th century while the Roman Empire disintegrated in the 5th century C.E.?

26. For those who are doing Service Learning. Share specific instances that stand out in your mind. Why do you think they made such an impression on you?

27. How would you compare/contrast Hindu beliefs about karma, dharma, and reincarnation with your own personal beliefs about the purpose of life and the concept of a life after death?

28. What do you think of Buddha's Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path? Do you agree with his basic teachings? Why or why not?

29. What do Buddhism and Christianity have in common? What do you think could account for these similarities?

30. What do you think was the most important factor in the spread of Islam? Was it conquest, trade, spirituality, or culture?

31. If we recognize that Muslims and Christians have some common beliefs or values, then how would you explain their historically hostile relationship with each other?

32. Considering the information you’ve learned and the skills you’ve developed in this course, what were the important lessons for you?

33. For those who are doing Service Learning. How has this SL experience impacted you as a person and as a student of history?