HIST 106: Evolving Europe
Midterm Essays Online
Alexander College, Spring 2023
Dr. Iain O’Shea
Name: _________
Student #: _________
EXAM CHECKLIST
□ ONE Passage Analysis (5)
□ ONE Essay (5)
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Answers may be hand-written and photographs submitted on Canvas OR answers may be
typed into the attached word document (open and enter answers) and submitted on
Canvas.
There is no word limit. Aim for 3-5 page essay-format answers (outlines are
recommended and thesis statements are required).
You will be provided with four days in which to write AND submit the test, but the
expectation is that each student will spend about 3 hours total writing the exam.
If there are any circumstances that prevent your submission (ex. Government-mandated
internet outages) please submit the essays as quickly as possible and see the instructor in
office hours to explain the situation. Late assignments will only be accepted in
extenuating circumstances.
EXAM POLICIES
OPEN BOOK: You are welcome to use the course textbook and class content when
writing the exam. Remember that this means information has less value than explanation
and analysis. Use information to support your ideas.
ANY USE OF NON-COURSE MATERIAL IS NOT ALLOWED. One single sentence
copied from the internet will mean ‘zero’ for the entire exam.
CITATIONS: Students are permitted to quote or paraphrase from lectures, documentaries
in-class readings and the textbook in order to support your position. It is not necessary to
cite general facts or knowledge, only direct citations or paraphrases. DO NOT COPY
LONG PASSAGES FROM THE TEXTBOOK.
GROUPS: DO NOT COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STUDENTS. This is an
INDIVIDUAL exam. If your answers appear to be the same as another student, both
students will receive ‘zero’ for unauthorized collaboration.
CHOICES: You may choose which passage to analyze and which essay question to
answer. There are no assigned questions.
QUESTIONS: Students may email the instructor at i.oshea@alexandercollege.ca if there
are exam-related questions. The instructor will NOT provide any hints, tips or locations
TIME: 4 Days (available 00:01 27 May)
DUE: 11:59 30 May 2021
Total: 10 points
Part I: Passage Analysis (5 Points)
CHOOSE ONE PASSAGE AND WRITE AN ANALYSIS IN ESSAY FORMAT.
Analyze the historical significance of the document. Make sure to consider the economic,
political, social and cultural context (both causes and consequences) of the document. Think
about the author’s position and intentions in writing this document and explain how it can add
important insight into the general narrative of events. The essay must go beyond a general
description of the topic and keep the focus on analyzing the significance of this specific passage
in the document.
You may cite from the passage without needing a citation. Cite textbook, documentaries or
lecture material when using ideas/explanation. DO NOT PARAPHRASE OR QUOTE FROM
INTERNET SOURCES AT ALL.
OPTION ONE: The Cremation of Strasbourg Jewry, St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1349
“On Saturday – that was St. Valentine’s Day – they burnt the Jews on a wooden platform in their
cemetery. There were about two thousand people of them. Those who wanted to baptize
themselves were spared. Many small children were taken out of the fire and baptized against the
will of their fathers and mothers. And everything that was owed to the Jews was cancelled, and
the Jews had to surrender all pledges and notes they had taken for debts. The council, however,
took the cash that the Jews possessed and divided it among the working-men proportionately.”
OPTION TWO: Daniel Defoe, On the Education of Women, 1719
“And, without partiality, a woman of sense and manners is the finest and most delicate part of
God’s Creation, the glory of Her Maker, and the great instance of His singular regard to man, His
darling creature: to whom He gave the best gift either God could bestow or man receive. And ‘tis
the sordidest piece of folly and ingratitude in the world, to withhold from the sex the due lustre
which the advantage of education gives to the natural beauty of their minds.
A woman well bred and well taught, furnished with the additional accomplishments of
knowledge and behaviour, is a creature without comparison. Her society is the emblem of
sublimer enjoyments, her person is angelic, and her conversation heavenly.”
OPTION THREE: Martin Luther, The 95 Theses
“39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to
commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.
“40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of
indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them – at least it furnishes
occasion for hating them.
“41. Papal indulgences must be preached with caution, lest people erroneously think they are
preferable to other good works of love.
“42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend that the buying of indulgences
should in any way be compared with works of mercy.”
OPTION FOUR: Hernan Cortez, Second Letter to Charles V, 1520
“I said everything to them I could to diver them from their idolatries, and draw them to a
knowledge of God our Lord. Moctezuma replied, the others assenting to what he said, That they
had already informed me they were not the aborigines of the country, but that their ancestors had
emigrated to it many years ago; and they fully believed that after so long an absence from their
native land, they might have fallen into some errors; that I having more recently arrived must
know better than themselves what they ought to believe; and that if I would instruct them in
these matters, and make them understand the true faith, they would follow my directions, as
being for the best. Afterwards, Moctezuma and many of the principal citizens remained with me
until I had removed the idols, purified the chapels, and placed the images in them, manifesting
apparent pleasure; and I forbade them from sacrificing human beings to their idols as they had
been accustomed to do….”
PART II: Essay Questions (5 Points)
Using course content and the textbook readings, provide an essay response to ONE of the
following questions. An outline is recommended to organize your ideas.
The thesis statement MUST provide a clear and decisive answer to the question asked.
The essay must take a clear position (your own informed opinion) and evaluate the evidence
for and against that position. Remember that there are many correct answers to the question,
and the focus is on how well you can assemble evidence from the course to support your
claims. Explain which factors you will be comparing/investigating, and why you believe
those aspects are the best way to evaluate the answers. Consider social, political, economic
and cultural context in your answer.
Cite textbook, documentaries or lecture material when using ideas/explanation. DO NOT
PARAPHRASE OR QUOTE FROM INTERNET SOURCES AT ALL [aside from assigned
documents]
- Discuss the impact of epidemics like tuberculosis or syphilis and pandemics like the
Black Death in shaping European history. In your scholarly opinion, are these diseases
more significant for their impact on gender, race or social class? - Discuss the nature of religious belief in Europe during the Reformation. In your scholarly
opinion, was the persecution of witchcraft the result of new Protestant ideas or more
traditional Christian beliefs? - Evaluate the economic and socio-cultural impacts of imperialism on European nations. In
your scholarly opinion, were the material benefits of international trade and commerce
MORE or LESS significant than the ideological and cultural influences of foreign
countries and peoples? - Discuss the nature of warfare as it was described by Carl von Clausewitz. Does your
scholarly opinion support Clausewitz’s perspective and, in your scholarly opinion, which
conflict mentioned in the course best represents the ideas presented by Clausewitz?