History

I. History of Christianity

Establishing the Empty Tomb - In the aftermath of the crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in a tomb, the disciples went home, and the world went on - for three days, that is. In the present paper, we want to answer the following question: can it be established that women found Jesus' tomb empty shortly after his death (either in 30 or 33 C.E.)?

Have We Misunderstood the Gospels? - How can we know that Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (collectively referred to as “the Evangelists”) did not intend their gospels to be understood as mere fables? Did the Evangelists want their audiences to get a kick out of an interesting fairy tale, or did they intend to spread the saving truth? At issue here is the genre of the gospels. We want to know if the gospels are of a historical genre (like biography or historiography) or of a fictional genre. I contend the gospels are of a historical genre.

The Fall of Rome - Christianity to Blame? - Did the spread of Christianity lead to the downfall of Rome, and the corresponding "Dark Ages" that lasted for the next thousand years? Bruce and I exchange a few thoughts on this frequently heard claim. Throughout the dialogue, I flesh out two reasons to conclude that the Christian religion, whatever else it might have given to Rome, did not lead to its destruction: (1) the Byzantine empire was predominately Christian, and yet endured for a thousand years, and (2) Christianity is a missionary religion.  My friend Louis and I engage in a few final remarks.

The Absurdity of a Christian Conspiracy - Were the earliest Christians liars and deceivers? Did they dupe the whole world into believing something they knew was false? In any case, can this suggestion be disproven? Herein I address the so-called conspiracy hypothesis: roughly, the idea that early Christians made everything up (out of thin air, presumably) about Jesus, his life, death, and resurrection. I argue that not only is there no evidence for this claim, but there are many and varied reasons to reject it.

II. United States History

The Foundations of America - I explore three different historical and philosophical influences upon the American government and decide which of the three was most influential.

Towards a Unified Government - The Constitution outlines several principles upon which the United States government was to be based, and in this essay I explain in what ways three of those principles have shaped the role and function of each branch of government.

III. World History

Maintaining Peace After World War I - Cynically speaking – and perhaps realistically speaking as well – peace is an impossible dream, defying all attempts to achieve it. In the case of world affairs following World War I (WWI), peacekeeping was not a successful undertaking. In particular, the Treaty of Versailles, the League of Nations, and Wilson’s Fourteen Points all failed to achieve peace between nations.

What Caused World War I? - Imperialism – the policy of acquiring and holding colonies to extend the authority of an empire – explains why a general European war broke out in 1914. Other causes of war (e.g., nationalism and militarism) did exist, but were not decisive nor effectual on their own.

The Forgotten Fold of History - Peter the Great, towering over his peers at nearly seven feet, was one of the most influential Tsars ever to arise in Russia. This paper explores the specific ways in which he changed the structure of Russian society.

The Human Family: Thoughts on Ancient Civilizations - This was the cumulative assessment for the unit on ancient civilizations in my current world history course. In it, I explore the religious, political, and economic systems of Rome and China. I argued that religiously and politically, China and Rome were related. Their economic systems, however, differed greatly.

Holocaust: Hoax of History? - My first historical research paper ever.