1. Roman Military Expansion
DBQ Walk Through
Roman Military Expansion

2. Where to Start? Look at the question
Identify exactly what the question is asking you to do
Information that does not specifically address the question will not earn you any points (irrelevant)

3. Example Roman Military Expansion
DBQ Question: Using the documents and your knowledge of world history, evaluate the effects of Roman military expansion between 200 b.c.e. and 400 c.e.

4. Pre-Writing Template (15 minutes)
Write down what exactly the question is asking you to do
Read each document
Who was the author?
What is it about their background that makes them think the way that they think?
Why would they write this document? What would their motivation be?
What is the historical context going on that would impact the meaning of this document!
Who is the author writing this document for? Why?

5. Pre-Writing Template (continued)
Take notes on each document looking specifically for answers to the question
In this case, we are looking specifically for the effects of Roman military expansion
Pull out facts that support your argument
Identify how that document addresses the question
This will help identify groupings

6. Example Roman Military Expansion
DBQ Question: Using the documents and your knowledge of world history, evaluate the effects of Roman military expansion between 200 b.c.e. and 400 c.e.

7. Grouping CollegeBoard uses the term “corroborating documents”
We will refer to them as “Groupings”
Once you have completed your pre-writing, look for common themes
These common themes will serve as your Thesis Statement
Generated large amounts of wealth (D1, D4)
Increase in the reliance on slave labor by the Roman elite (D2, D3, D5)
Massive division / tension between the social classes (D2, D6, D7)

8. Opening Paragraph Two main components that have points on the rubric:
Contextualization
Thesis

9. Contextualization
“Situates the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question.”

10. Contextualization
“Situates the argument by explaining the broader historical events, developments, or processes immediately relevant to the question.”
A good starting point would be to look at the Key Concepts poster.
Example:
Between 200 B.C.E. and 400 C.E., many states were developing and empires were expanding around the globe. Societies grew in strength due to the centralization of power, and across Eurasia many empires were able to expand because their military technology made them superior to their enemies. Imperial expansion has both positive and negative effects, and reaches all levels of societies.

11. Thesis Statement
“Presents a thesis that makes a historically defensible claim and responds to all parts of the question.”
Use the categories identified in pre-writing exercise:
Generated wealth (D1, D4)
Increased dependence on slave labor (D2, D3, D5)
Caused division/tension between the social classes (D2, D6, D7)
Example:
When the Roman military expanded the empire, it generated a large amount of wealth (D1, D4), increased the reliance on slave labor by the Roman elite (D2, D3, D5), and created a massive amount of division and tension between the social classes (D2, D6, D7).

12. Putting it all together…
Between 200 B.C.E. and 400 C.E., many states were developing and empires were expanding around the globe. Societies grew in strength due to the centralization of power, and across Eurasia many empires were able to expand because their military technology made them superior to their enemies. Imperial expansion has both positive and negative effects, and reaches all levels of societies. This was especially true in the case of the Roman Empire. When the Roman military expanded the empire, it generated a large amount of wealth (D1, D4), increased the reliance on slave labor by the Roman elite (D2, D3, D5), and created a massive amount of division and tension between the social classes (D2, D6, D7).

13. Body Paragraphs

14. Topic Sentence
Use the categories that are laid out in your Thesis Statement… When the Roman military expanded the empire, it generated a large amount of wealth (D1, D4), increased the reliance on slave labor by the Roman elite (D2, D3, D5), and created a massive amount of division and tension between the social classes (D2, D6, D7).
Example:
As the Roman military conquered more territory and expanded, it generated a large amount of wealth (D1, D4).

15. Summarize Analyze Source
SAS the Documents
Summarize Analyze Source

16. Summarize the Document
Describe what the document is saying
You can do this by quoting and/or giving an overview of what the document is saying
When making reference to the document, put the document number in parentheses after the summary portion.
Example:
The Roman historian Livy points out in The History of Rome that the army was responsible for bringing in massive amounts of luxury items to Rome. He specifically points out bronze couches, tapestries, and silver salvers. High end musical instruments like harps were played at banquets and even those who prepared the food for these celebrations were viewed in high regard (D1).

17. Analyze the Document
ALWAYS say how it relates back to the topic sentence
Point out how the document addresses the question
Example:
Rome would not have had access to any of these luxury items were it not for the expansion by the military.
Explain how documents within the same grouping are saying similar things…
Document 4 reinforces Document 1’s point that the military generated large amounts of wealth.

18. Source the Document
“Explains the significance of the author’s point of view, author’s purpose, historical context, and/or audience for at least FOUR documents.”
Look at the author’s background…what is it that about who they are that makes them think the way that they think (baggage)
Why are they writing this document?
What is going on in that region at that time that makes that person say what they do?
Who’s attention are they trying to get? Who are they trying to appeal to?
Example:
As a historian, Livy was a well-educated mid to upper class citizen of Rome. He would have had access and firsthand knowledge of the lifestyles of the wealthy thus making his observation credible.

19. Evidence Beyond the Documents
Bring in evidence not mentioned in the documents that would strengthen your argument
In the case of this essay…
What events caused Rome to expand its territory?
What caused the rise of slavery in Rome?
How did the government promote social inequality?
Again, the prompt is about the “effects of Roman military expansion,” so your additional evidence MUST relate to that.

20. Topic Sentence and First Document
Example: As the Roman military conquered more territory and expanded, it generated a large amount of wealth and increase in foreign luxury items (D1, D4). The Roman historian Livy points out in The History of Rome that the army was responsible for bringing in massive amounts of luxury items to Rome. He specifically points out bronze couches, tapestries, and silver salvers. High end musical instruments like harps were played at banquets and even those who prepared the food for these celebrations were viewed in high regard (D1). Rome would not have had access to any of these luxury items were it not for the expansion by the military and their conquest of foreign powers. As a historian, Livy was a well-educated mid to upper class citizen of Rome. He would have had access and firsthand knowledge of the lifestyles of the wealthy thus making his observation credible.

21. Synthesis

22. Synthesis Example
Example: Much like Rome, Han China was an expansionist empire. Like the Roman roads, the Han developed extensive trade routes that allowed for both troop mobilization and merchant travel. The Han expanded their territory into Korea and Vietnam, and built a meritocracy based off of the Civil Service Examination system. Much like Rome, the Han suffered a widening gap between the rich and poor, as well as an over- stretched army in an empire that covered a massive amount of territory. In addition, the Han government became overrun with corrupt officials that eventually destroyed the central government.

23. Conclusion