Humanities 110

Paper Topics | Spring 2008 | Paper 1

Maximum Length 1500 words
Due Saturday, February 16th 5 p.m., in your conference leader's Eliot Hall mailbox.

1. Does Livys account of the origin and development of the monarchy and republic support Polybius theory of the natural change in types of government?

2. Cicero reports that, "some people believe that Epicurus, in order to avoid offending the Athenians, preserved the gods in words (verbis), but in reality (re) did away with them" (On the Nature of the Gods 1.85). Could the same charges be leveled at Lucretius, a follower of Epicurus?

3. Examine the way a Geertzian understanding of religion is relevant to one of the following: The Rise of Rome, On the Nature of Things, or the Ara Pacis. Support your argument with close readings of evidence.

4. Compare two virtues both Augustus and Livy associate with the Roman Republic. What is the significance of their different understandings of these virtues for the project of refounding Rome?

In addition to consulting with your conference leader, you can get help with all stages of the writing process from peer tutors at the Writing Center. You can find links to the Writing Center hours on the Drop-in Tutoring Schedule website. Extra tutoring help will be available in the week leading up to paper due dates.