Assignment
"Angkor and Benin" Please write ONE paragraph per part with a minimum of 125 words for each part of the discussion by responding to the following, using sources under the Explore heading as the basis of your response:
There are Two parts to Discussion Option A.
1) Compare Angkor (and its temple, Angkor Wat) in southeast Asia (ca. 1100s-1200s AD) with the city of Benin in West Africa (ca 1400s AD), and discuss differences, similarities, and religious ideals in each place.
2) Identify a modern day religious or political center that these call to mind.
Evaluation Criteria For Threaded Discussions: Your discussion must have ONE paragraph with a minimum of 125 words for each part of the discussion. Discussion question(s) should present well-reasoned and thoughtful analyses. Each student will also need to respond to a classmates Original Discussion Thread, but on a topic that is different than your Initial discussion. For example - if your initial response is to Discussion Option A, then your response to a classmate needs to be to someone who posts an initial response to Discussion Option B. The response needs to have a minimum of 50 Words and add to the discussion topic. Don't simply say "I agree with so-and-so" or " Mona Lisa is cool" and expect that to suffice. I look for well-reasoned and thoughtful comments; I will not penalize you for opinions with which I disagree. You are not limited to one post and are encouraged to be actively involved in the discussion.
Explore
Angkor and Benin -Southeast Asia and West Africa
• Chapter 11 (pp. 375-6), Angkor Wat (in Cambodia), history and connections to Hindu beliefs; (pp. 386-7), Benin (in Nigeria, West Africa); Review "Week 6 Music" folder
• Video on Angkor Wat at http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/specials/ancient-mysteries/angkor-wat-temples/
• Benin City's history: See and http://africa.si.edu/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/alonge/history-of-benin/; (This city is in Nigeria; don't confuse it with the modern country called Benin not far away)