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Mythology played a central role in the everyday lives of the Greeks and Romans, influencing their cultural practices, social norms, and even political strategies. This significant influence of mythology was manifested in several key areas:
Educational Tool: For the Greeks and Romans, mythology was not just a collection of stories, but a teaching tool used extensively in the education of children and the general populace. Myths were employed to instill moral values and teach lessons about bravery, wisdom, and virtue. Stories of heroes and gods provided models of behavior and helped to communicate societal values and expectations.
Religious Practices: Mythology was deeply intertwined with the religious life of these civilizations. Each god and goddess had their own set of myths, which explained their origins, personalities, and relationships with other deities and humans. These stories were integral to the worship practices, festivals, and rituals dedicated to various deities. Understanding these myths was essential for participating in the religious life of the community.
Political Influence: Mythology also had a profound impact on the politics of ancient Greece and Rome. Leaders and politicians would often invoke myths or liken themselves to mythological heroes to legitimize their actions or claim divine favor. For example, Roman emperors were known to associate themselves with gods to solidify their authority and divine right to rule.
Art and Culture: Mythology heavily influenced Greek and Roman art and literature. Artists and poets drew upon well-known mythological themes and characters, creating sculptures, paintings, and literary works that were both educational and entertaining. This cultural production helped to perpetuate the myths and ensure that they remained a vital part of the cultural consciousness.
Philosophical and Ethical Discussions: Philosophers in both cultures frequently referenced mythology to illustrate philosophical arguments or explore ethical dilemmas. Myths provided a framework for discussing abstract concepts and were often used in philosophical dialogues to make complex ideas more accessible.
Overall, mythology was not merely a backdrop but a vital component of daily life in ancient Greece and Rome, shaping their worldviews and influencing every aspect of their societies from education to politics.

Select ONE of the following questions and write a concise essay that directly responds to the question being asked. Develop a typed, double-spaced, and proofread MINIMUM 5 full pages. MAXIMUM 7 pages(Don’t count Works Cited page or a Title page), 12 font- 1″ margins, and numbered pages). Don’t use a separate title page. Remember to support your opinion with multiple persuasive evidence/examples from class reading assignments. Argue your point with conviction; like a lawyer in a courtroom! Assume the reader of your essay has already taken History 17. Thus, don’t write a short history or summary.
A thesis is a controlled argument. A thesis is a statement that reflects what you have concluded about specific topics based on critical analysis and interpretation of the source materials you have examined. A thesis is NOT a question or announcement about what topic you are examining.
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarized assignments and exams will receive a zero. Shared assignments and assignments copied from other students’ assignments will result in zeroes for all parties involved. If you are using ideas or phrases that are not your own, such as cutting and pasting from a website or textbook, you must cite the original author. When in doubt, it is always better to cite. A good site on how to avoid plagiarism is: https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/plagiarism.htmlLinks to an external site.
Artificial Intelligence programs like Chat GPT & Google Bard are not used in this course and students are strongly urged to avoid using them. It is expected that all submitted work, Discussion assignments and the final exam essay, will be the student’s own original work created without the aid of any artificial intelligence or other supports. Written assignments will be submitted electronically via “Turnitin” on Canvas. “Turnitin” and other programs I use, screen for plagiarism and report AI use and alert me to the percentage of material generated by AI.
All Assignments detected as AI written, will receive a Zero (0).
Use MLA format.  Underline your thesis statement. POST your essay on “Turn It In Link” located on “Modules” link. NO late papers after Thursday May 16th at 6pm will be accepted. 
The time period for the final exam topics is between 1920-2014. 2014 is the end date of your textbook. Assume the reader has already taken History 17. Therefore, don’t write a short history of the topic you select.
1.During the 20th century there have been numerous attempts to reform American society. Select ONE of the following reform eras: Progressive Era, New Deal Era or Great Society era. Discuss reform movement’s specific goals and objectives. What were the main accomplishments, shortcomings and failures? Provide specific examples/government programs and legislation. Do you believe overall the reform era you selected successful in achieving its goals? Why?
2.Defend or challenge the following Statement:  “Between 1945 and 2014 the United States was an imperialist country determined to crush any resistance to its desire to obtain American economic, political, and strategic hegemony worldwide.” Provide multiple specific historical examples to support or challenge this claim by “Radical” historians. Discussion of “Radical” historians can be found in my power point presentation on Vietnam War and the essay by Loren Barritz focusing on why the US “lost” the Vietnam War.
3. Defend or refute the following statement: “By 2014 American women and racial and ethnic minorities have essentially FAILED to achieve their specific goals focusing on empowerment and greater opportunities for themselves.” Defend or refute this statement by examining the goals, methods, and results of THREE social groups between 1950-2012. Provide specific examples.
4. How has organized protest or rebellion been part of U. S. life and politics between 1920-2014? Compare and contrast the efforts of THREE of the following: of labor, individual-rights, peace and environmental activists and provide specific historical examples of their methods of protest and results of their protests.
5.What impact did specific Supreme Court decisions have on American society between 1920-2014? Briefly discuss background on Three to Four specific cases and analyze the impact these cases had on the economy, politics, and social/race relations. Which Supreme Court Case do you believe had the biggest impact on American society between 1920-2014? Your thesis should revolve around the answer to this question. Explain Why a particular case is more important than the other two selected. Material for this question can be found at internet sites that provide a summary and analysis of the cases.