Develop a thesis:

1. After the Persian Wars and again after the Peloponnesian War, the Spartans had an opportunity to create a unified Greece but failed. Why was Sparta unable to unify Greece? Was Athens more successful? Why did both finally fail?

2. In your opinion, what characteristics or practices of the Roman republic made possible the conquest of much of the Mediterranean? Why was Rome able to build a long-term empire while Greek city-states were not?

3. What caused the end of the Roman Republic? Consider political, economic, and social problems.

4. One of the cultural developments of the Pax Romana was the growing popularity of eastern religious cults. Compare and contrast the religions of the East, including Christianity and Judaism.

Why were the Christians persecuted? Why did some in the Jewish community revolt?

Please if possible use Civilization in the West, Volume I Author: Kishlansky, Mark as one of the references

Using MLA style