How to Write A

Thesis for An

LEQ Essay

Your First LEQ Question

2. Analyze the effects of human migration and settlement patterns on the environment in ONE of the following historical periods:

ca. 10,000 BCE to ca. 600 BCE

ca. 1450 CE to ca. 1750 CE

ca. 1750 CE to ca. 1900 CE

Forming Your LEQ Thesis• First Sentence: Needs to restate the question

including all pertinent terms, regions, and

dates.

• Second-Fourth Sentences: Need to address

the topic of each individual paragraph

– Within these three sentences you need to ensure

that you have answered EVERY part of the

question.

• Fifth Sentence: Needs to summarize the

points of the previous three and state what you

will prove. This is your thesis.

Thesis ExampleHuman migrations and settlement patterns had a

significant impact on the environment throughout the time

period of 10,000 BCE – 600 BCE. Originally during the

transition from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age

humans first transitioned from nomads to sedentary farmers.

After settlement occurred social classes arose and

merchants became migratory transferring raw and precious

resources between various regions. Likewise other

specialized workers became engineers, modifying the

environment for irrigation projects and walls especially in

areas lacking natural defenses. Following the Agricultural

Revolution humans, due to a new sedentary lifestyle,

impacted and modified their environment through farming,

trade routes and the accumulation of raw materials, and a

variety of engineering projects.

As a result of the transition from the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age mankind experienced numerous SOCIAL outcomes such as classes developing and gender roles altering. Early nomadic bands tended to be more egalitarian with few distinctions between males and females, and leaders and followers. As village communities such as Jericho and CatalHuyuk developed people became specialized artisans, warriors, and farmers. These early professions gradually developed into social classes as a result of the advent of agriculture which required the food producers to ensure there would be a large enough surplus to feed the non-food producers. Women who were the gatherers during the Paleolithic age became the first farmers of the early Neolithic period. Conversely it was men who became more dominant in the early sedentary villages as women’s status gradually decreased. This transition in gender roles occurred because men became leaders and warriors that protected and defended fertile territory, women were thereby slowly relegated to a lower status. These same processes occurred again as an outcome of the Industrial Revolution. As people migrated from rural to urban areas a new middle class developed and gender roles changed as women began working in factories.

As farming villages became city-states and eventually full fledged civilizations the need for specialized labor increased and eventually resulted in social classes emerging. Warriors and priests rose as the dominant social class in Mesopotamia. This process occurred as a result of civilizations fighting over scarce fertile territory and resources. Conflicts over resources are illustrated in the ancient artifact the Stele of Naram Sin which depicts a god-king fighting over a tree that represents fertile soil. Under this ruling class a middle class (merchants and skilled artisans) and a lower class (peasants, field laborers, and slaves) developed as portrayed on the Royal Standard of Ur. These classes occurred because people began to collect and possess material things. The more “wealth” a person collected the higher they rose in the social hierarchy. Likewise, a person could rise in social status by learning an important skill or trade. The same process occurred as an outcome of the Industrial Revolution. As entrepreneurs invested in factories they gained wealth and status as a new class of factory owners. Meanwhile most people were relegated to the lower working class because they lacked a specific skill or trade.

The Assyrians were able to conquer and maintain a large and diverse region through the use of superior technology, a central government, and fear and intimidation. The Assyrian conquest was made possible by new technology. They were the first to use iron weapons which gave them an advantage over foes only equipped with bronze. They were also the first to develop a paid professional army divided into specialist groups including, cavalry, bowmen, engineers, and charioteers. These special divisions allowed the Assyrians to conquer less organized or trained people. This organization carried over into the government as well. The Assyrians were able to administer their government by creating a central bureaucracy made up of provincial governors who were responsible for the collection of taxes and the preservation of public works. As a means to prevent revolts the governors were usually natives of the region who were respected by the local inhabitants. Their loyalty to the emperor was sustained by swearing oaths of obedience and rewarding them with land grants or a percentage of the taxes they collected. In addition the Assyrians used scare tactics and intimidation to maintain control of their empire. These tactics included skinning people alive and displaying the severed heads of defeated kings. ISIS currently has gained control of much of the same region as the ancient Assyrian Empire. Similar to the archaic practices of the Assyrians ISIS uses fear and intimidation (such as beheadings) as a means to gain converts and ensure loyalty.

The process of the Hebrews becoming migratory and sedentary came about as a result of religious beliefs, environmental struggles, and military conquests. The initial migration was when Abraham left polytheistic Ur to find a promised land. This occurred due to the beliefs of the Hebrews that stated this Land was theirs by a covenant with their monotheistic God. Shortly afterward they were forced to migrate to Egypt as a result of a severe drought within the Promised Land. After being led back to the Holy Land by Moses, the fourth migration to the Babylon occurred. As this began the Diaspora in which the Hebrews were spread throughout the Middle East. This occurred because the Hebrews were conquered by the Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar and forced to migrate to Babylon as slaves. This same process is occurring today in the same region of the Middle East and modern Syria. Many people are migrating as a result of ISIS’s political conquests to find better lives while others who cannot escape are being forced to accept their barbaric rule.

Your Questions

2. Using specific evidence, analyze the causes of imperial expansion and consolidation in the period ca. 600 BCE-600 CE.

3. Using specific evidence, analyze the causes of imperial decline and collapse in the period ca. 600 BCE-600 CE.

Simple Thesis ExampleImperial expansion and consolidation during the

period from 600 BCE to 600 CE had numerous causes. The

Romans expanded due to fear of their barbarian neighbors

and consolidated around a bureaucracy made mostly of

merchants. In India, the social hierarchy created by the

Hindu religion, facilitated the Gupta’s expansion and

consolidation through the establishment of a theater state.

Likewise, the Confucian philosophy was the main catalyst

for the consolidation of the Han Dynasty in China while the

need to control trade routes inspired their expansion.

Throughout the Classical Age the causes of imperial

expansion and consolidation tended to occur by means of

military conquest and the creation of a bureaucracy although

each had their own individual characteristics.

Simple Essay Format

1. Write three LEQ Body Paragraphs for each of your topics addressed in your thesis.

2. 1st Body paragraph should be about Rome.

3. 2nd Body Paragraph should be about the Guptas.

4. 3rd Body Paragraph should be about the Han.

5. If time permits write a summative conclusion.

Analytical Thesis Example

Imperial expansion and consolidation during the

period from 600 BCE to 600 CE had numerous causes.

Empires and Dynasties of the Classical Age all rose to power

as military conquests caused their territory to expand.

Once established, the need to govern each empire

effectively resulted in the consolidation their power by

creating bureaucracies to maintain power. In addition, the

cultural unification process caused the empires to further

consolidate around a set of common traditional values.

Throughout the Classical Age the primary causes of imperial

expansion and consolidation were military conquests,

bureaucratic institutions, and cultural unification.

Analytical Essay Format

1. Write three LEQ Body Paragraphs for each of your topics addressed in your thesis.

2. 1st Body paragraph should be about military conquests.

3. 2nd Body Paragraph should be about the bureaucracy.

4. 3rd Body Paragraph should be about cultural unification.

5. If time permits write a summative conclusion.

Outline for Military Conquests

1. Romea. Territory began expanding during the Republic

b. Generals and Dictators (Name some) had to win territory to prove worthy

a. This tradition carried over to the emperors (Name some)

c. Romans feared barbarians; conquered to feel secure

2. Guptasa. Early kings conquered territory (Name some)

b. Used horse cavalry armed with bows and arrows

3. Chinaa. Emperor Wu defeats Xiongnu

b. Expands territory westward along silk road through military conquests

Outline for Bureaucracy

1. Romea. Octavian establishes bureaucracy around merchant class of

equites

b. Responsible for collecting taxes and maintaining public works – roads, aqueducts, bridges, temples etc.

2. Guptasa. Developed a theater state (explain it)

b. Allowed local governors to have some degree of autonomy

3. Chinaa. Established Confucian exam system creates Gentry class

b. Collected taxes, maintained building projects (especially flood control).

c. Eventually became hereditary

Outline for Cultural Unification

1. Alexander’s Empirea. Hellenism – blended Greek, Persian, and Egyptian culture

b. Spread Greek as a common language

c. Adopted Persian dress

2. Romea. Romanization

i. Common language of Latin replaces Alexander’s Greek

ii. Common dress

iii. Cities built to mimic Rome

b. Granted conquered people citizenship

3. Guptasa. Brahmin priests controlled individual temple regions

b. Strengthened culture through Hinduism