Research Proposal

Research Proposal

For my potential controversy paper, I would like to look into an issue pertaining to the classics community. The classics community is a community of scholars, students, and other interested individuals who study art, literature, history, philosophy, government, politics, and much more from ancient cultures; particularly Greece and Rome. The reason that I am a part of this particular community is because I am currently a classics major student and prior to being on I was an interested individual in the classics. Both as a classics major student and an interested individual, I have done a great deal of research on ancient history and more significantly have traveled across seas several times to visit old sites pertaining to things I have done personal research on. The matter surrounding the visiting of old sites brings me to the issue that has been, and still is facing the classics community.

Currently around the entire old world, but in this particular case Turkey, many ancient Greek and Roman sites are being neglected/ damaged. This neglect/damage is happening for a wide variety of reasons. In the case of Turkey though, they argue that this process is occurring because they lack funds necessary to upkeep many of the old sites which is why they are being left in neglect. While this would appear understandable, many political/economic based parties within Turkey are pushing to destroy some of these sites in order to provide economic stimulus which is much needed for them in certain regions. This currently can be seen in certain places such as the Roman city of Allianoi which is being buried by sand in order to build a dam/floodplain over it to provide a boost in the agricultural economy there. In addition, those who support the degradation of the historical sites within Turkey cite cultural/ethnic reasons for letting them fall apart.

On the flip side of the coin, those who protest the neglect/damage of Ancient sites within Turkey are the members of the classics community. They argue that the neglect/damage of the ancient sites is purely wrong and that they must be preserved for educational purposes worldwide. Damaging the sites is something that is irreversible in most cases (such as the damn project near Allianoi). If Turkey were to preserve the sites, they could generate money from revenue which in turn would help maintain the sites.

Overall there is more to each side then that, but for the most part that is the general grasp of each opposing side. Nevertheless I propose my line of inquiry which is as follows; “Is it right for Turkey to neglect/damage these sites when taking their economic/political situation in consideration”?