Foundation

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Think about the examples of science fiction you have encountered, whether in literature, cinema, or even the visual arts. What are the main characteristics of science fiction? List 6-8 characteristics, noting examples with each.

Teaching Suggestion: Science fiction is a genre of fiction typically characterized by an emphasis on the potential of scientific principles, discoveries, or technologies. Though there are examples of science fiction from antiquity (e.g., Lucian’s A True Story), science fiction first rose to prominence in the 19th century under authors such as Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. The genre became increasingly popular in the middle of the 20th century, a period that produced some of the most famous science fiction authors (including Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert, and Ursula K. Le Guin). Science fiction also became extremely popular as a cinematic genre in the 20th and 21st centuries. Students might enjoy compiling their characteristics and sharing examples briefly; pairs or small groups might work together after sharing to discuss the impact of the genre on the publishing and film industries or on the history of storytelling in general. Extended discussion might include how changes in the genre reflect the time period in which works of science fiction are produced.

• This article from BBC Teach outlines a timeline of science fiction literature, discussing notable examples of science fiction from Gulliver’s Travels to Maddaddam.
• This literature resource page includes history, types, functions, and examples of science fiction.

2. What are some empires from history with which you are familiar? What are the basic elements of these empires? Where does an empire’s power come from and how is it maintained? Why do empires fall? How do empires represent, strengthen, or undermine the elements of human civilization and society?

Teaching Suggestion: The earliest historical empires arose in the Fertile Crescent more than 4,000 years ago, and empires have continued to exist in all parts of the world throughout history. An empire is typically defined as a state or authority that exerts political, military, economic, and ideological power over other states or entities; some examples of important historical empires include the Roman Empire, the Han Empire, the Mongol Empires, and the British Empire. Empires often spur cultural and technological growth both inside and outside of their borders, but tend to collapse for reasons such as overextension, lack of resources, or factionalism. Depending on your students’ familiarity with this topic, brief brainstorming sessions in small groups to address each question in the set will likely engage students. They may also want to address fictional empires (e.g., from the fantasy genre) in a separate prompt.

• This academic monograph by Columbia Professor Michael W. Doyle remains one of the authoritative scholarly account of empires and imperialism; Chapter 1 (available for free on Google Books) provides Doyle’s definition of empire.
• “Empires in World History” is a list from the Global Policy Forum that might serve as a starting point for additional research of empires.
• This 5-minute video from Khan Academy discusses some of the factors that lead to the fall of empires.
• “The Roman Empire: A Brief History” is a short article from the Milwaukee Public Museum; PBS sponsors a resource base on “The Roman Empire in the First Century.” Students might review facts about the Roman Empire as a helpful example before reading, then reference these or similar sources in post-reading discussion, activities, and essays.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

What do empires look like today? How are modern empires or “superpowers” similar to or different from earlier empires? Consider what you know about modern superpowers such as the United States, China, Russia, and other world powers that dominate news headlines.

Teaching Suggestion: Modern superpowers tend to maintain their power through economic and ideological control rather than through the territorial expansion that was so essential to most empires throughout history. Encourage students to draw on what they know of recent wars and current events to come up with a definition of modern empires or superpowers.

• This article from US News and World Report ranks the world’s most powerful countries today.