(UEL 2016) - Question Medium of History

The Cuban Revolution, led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, resulted in the overthrow of dictator Fulgencio Batista's regime and the establishment of a socialist government in Cuba. Considering the context and outcomes of the Cuban Revolution, what motivated the main leaders of the movement to promote the revolution?

Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century, with the revelations received by Muhammad, which laid the foundation for the Quran. Following Muhammad's passing, Islam quickly spread through military conquests and political alliances, leading to the establishment of caliphates that became significant centres of power and culture during the Middle Ages. Reflect on how this expansion influenced the political and social fabric of the era. What was one of the primary effects of the formation of the caliphates in the context of the Middle Ages?

During the Late Antiquity period, the Western Roman Empire faced a series of challenges that culminated in its fall, leaving a legacy of conflicts and transformations for the medieval period. Contemporary historians point out that the complex relationship with the barbarian peoples not only reflected the military and economic pressure on the empire but also evidenced the social and cultural transformation that accompanied the expansion of Christianity. In 'The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire,' Edward Gibbon highlights: 'the introduction of Christianity had ambiguous effects on Roman life and was one of the main causes of the Empire's decline.' Considering the presented context and the interdisciplinarity between History and Philosophy, and reflecting on the influence of Christian thought in Western Roman society and the determining factors for the empire's fall, analyze the following excerpt from Saint Augustine, one of the main exponents of Christian thought at the time: 'The City of God must oppose the City of Men, and what is praiseworthy in the city opposes what is condemnable in the City of Men.' Based on Augustinian thought and historical knowledge about the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, discuss how the advancement of Christianity and Augustine's dualistic interpretation contributed to the perception of crisis within Roman society and to the redefinition of cultural and territorial boundaries in the transition period to the Middle Ages.