This paper reviews Jean Berenger's "A History of the HabsburgEmpire, 1273-1700", which explains the respective weights and roles in shaping the power structure of empire.
Abstract This paper discusses Berenger's "A History of the HabsburgEmpire, 1273-1700" that explicitly explains the colorful tapestry that is woven of the individual nations of the monarchy. The paper points out that this two-volume is a precise survey of Habsburg history from the late Baroque period to the monarchy's demise in World War I. The author believes that the information contained within the narrative has a strong overtone of politics which includes economic developments, social change and major cultural movements.
From the Paper "Only a handful of historians have been courageous enough to attempt to centralize the diverse historical accounts of the Habsburg Empire and the people who were part of this dynasty. The cultures of those involved and the development of the fortunes is dynamic. The works of Berenger displays this information in a systematic and knowledge manner that is understandable for the reader to digest. Five centuries of Habsburg rule is dramatically scribed and holds the interest so that the reader continues to follow the historical controversy of this time. One can follow the rulers of Spain and the Netherlands and understand how the head of the Holy Roman Empire was also a de facto family possession."
Tags: war, spain, monarchy, culture, narrative, politics
Abstract This essay argues that the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was due to a lack of real power. The paper demonstrates how, after 1848, the Empire's strength was derived from alliances with other nations, and then explains the consequences of such a reliance.
From the Paper "The existence of an empire over many centuries, or even into relatively modern times, often supposes great intrinsical power associated with such an empire. The task of expanding, dominating and controlling resources from which such power is derived is an enormous task. In the case of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, however, much of the power associated with the monarchy was present due to reasons other than a monopolization of resources or violence. It is said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and in the case of the Habsburgs, this proverb is easily proven. The military and diplomatic alliances forged, stumbled on, and generally experienced by Austro-Hungary were, to a large degree, responsible for the maintenance of the central European power. Of course, no monarchy wishes its power to be derived from the associations it has with other states, but for the lack of any other source of power, it does have its benefits. These benefits are sometimes more than outweighed by the obligations such alliances impose, and the consequences of breaking such alliances. The Habsburg monarchy was no stranger to these consequences, as they had a great deal to do with the eventual dissolution of the empire."
Abstract This paper is a detailed comparison of the Roman Empire and the Chinese Empire. The author shows how the imperial dynasties of Han and Qin along with the classical empire of Rome offered their people a combination of protection against external enemies and an infrastructure that was far more functional than individual cities or regions would have been able to provide for themselves. This paper describes the reign of all three of these dynasties and their effect on their people as well as world history.
From the Paper "While it is difficult to make any general statement that can cover the political and cultural complexities of the Roman Empire along with the Han and Qin dynasties in China because they were sufficiently different from each other as well as being possessed of substantial internal diversity. And yet, even given the range of institutions and ideals that the three cultures exemplified, there are some commonalties that strike the observer from the vantage point of the 21st century. The primary one of these is that neither the Chinese empire nor the Roman one could have extended its reach as far as it did in geographic terms, had as great a control over its subjects' personal lives as it did, nor ruled for such a long period of time had not the ruling house combined a high degree of bureaucratic efficiency with a depiction of the imperial family that was at least semi-divine."
Abstract This paper explores the creation of the Dutch and Portugese maritime empires, attempting to understand the primary impetus. The author maintains that in both the Dutch and Portuguese cases, means-not motivation-was the major factor in determining the creation and form of the countries' respective empires.
The Portuguese Maritime Empire in Monsoon Asia (1498-1825)
The Dutch Maritime Empire (1400-1800)
Conclusion
From the Paper "In the first stages of imperial expansion, means is more important than motivation. Some empires, such as the Dutch (though not the Portuguese), have a pre-imperialist phase of expansion in which this is particularly true. In this earliest stag, the country is simply trying to preserve the status quo, as the Dutch were trying to preserve their access to spices at the end of the 16th century. Without planning to, they lay the groundwork for imperialism-in the Dutch case, by consolidating trade under the VOC and forming alliances with Asian leaders not already allied with the Portuguese. Only when the necessary means for empire materialize does the country opportunistically and imperialistically expand."
Abstract This paper discusses Muslim Empires and the interpretation of Islam. It looks at the power of the Ottoman Empire and its demise, the Mughal Empire and emperors and the views of Edward Said regarding historical knowledge of another culture.
From the Paper "According to Akbar S Ahmed the main Muslim empires were the Ottomans the Safavids and the Mughals. At its height the empire of the Ottomans extended from Budapest to Yemen and from Baghdad to Algeria. In spite of the size of the empire and the power of the ..."
Tags: Said, Ahmed, Islam, Muslim empires, Ottoman, Mughal
Abstract The paper describes the birth of the Roman republic and the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and notes the aspects that are common to the Roman and the Greek cultures. The paper then discusses the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire that was marked by the naming of Octavian Augustus emperor for life. The paper outlines the era of the Five Good Emperors and focuses on Diocletian and Constantine who were some of the most important figures of the Roman Empire at that time and had a role in the spread of Christianity. Finally, the paper overviews the main reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.
From the Paper "The history of the Roman republic and then empire represents one of the most important segments of the history of the world. It represents the first elements of the organization of the state. However, at the same time the development of the system of government pointed out the different means through which a community can evolve from a political point of view. From the early days of the republic to the late years of the Empire, the Roman state and its institutions were a representative example for the political development of a form of government."
Abstract An outline of the early medieval period, which saw the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The paper discusses the rise and development of the Carolingian Empire. It also provides special attention to the economic and social structure that came from the collapsed Roman Empire and the Barbarian kingdoms.
From the Paper "In the pre-Christian era, the German tribes migrated from the northern Europe to the Roman Empire and occupied the northern lands. There were clashes between the German tribes and the Romans who considered them intruders into their lands and called them "barbarians". The collapse of the Roman Empire enabled the German tribes to explore the Western Roman Empire. There were three basic factions of these German tribes-Germanic Lombards who settled in northern and central Italy, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, And Franks in Gaul (France). The Frankish kingdoms later became one of the new western European civilizations."
Abstract This paper discusses the fall of the Roman empire, and the theory that the destruction of the empire was based on the greed of the wealthy Romans. The paper looks at evidence which contends that Rome experienced a time of peace, and that in that peace there was a need for wealth. Therefore, the wealthy began to tax the poor, and this was the beginning of the fall.
From the Paper "Throughout ancient history Rome was considered the strongest governmental and military force in the world. Researchers indicate that Rome had conquered many lands through the use of innovative military tactics, and with the numerous citizens who loyally served the country. Yet, as Rome had defeated its greatest enemies there came a time of peace for the nation. While this time should have been a rebirth for Rome, the opposite affect occurred. This was evident because without any other country to battle, Rome lost the opportunity to accumulate wealth that had built with each conquest. Therefore, peace for Rome meant growing poverty for it's citizens. This financial strain then spread to the country's hierarchy. It was then that Rome began to fall - for it was the greed of the wealthy that both built, and then destroyed this great power. "
Abstract This paper examines the discussion of the complex relationships the Ottoman Turkish Empire had with her European and Middle Eastern neighbors, as presented in Suraiya Faroqhi's book "The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It". In particular, the paper examines the writing style and expertise of author Suraiya Faroqhi. The paper discusses how the book examines the time period when the Turks were the foremost power in the Muslim world, taking the title from the Arabs before them.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial and most generalized peoples that ever entered the European continent are the Turks. Beginning with the Seljuks, this ethnicity originally from near Mongolia has stayed in the European mindset, even to this day. The actions of Turkish ancestors still might be affecting modern Turkey's inadmission to the European Union."
Abstract The author of the paper poses the following question: Can America be considered an empire? The author begins by defining what, in his opinion, defines an empire. He then proceeds to examine the foreign policy and actions of the United States in the past and specifically since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 before reaching his final conclusion.
From the Paper "While it may not actually serve as a breeding ground for terrorism, the Israel-Palestine conflict has been used by al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and numerous other Islamic terrorist groups to justify their actions and to gain recruits. With an end to that numbing struggle, the Middle East can 'move on.' The 'Road Map to Peace,' so vaunted in the early days of the Bush Administration, has clearly been supplanted by the 'War on Terror.' This crisis needs to be resolved, though. The current Israeli pulling out of the settlements in the West Bank is a good start, and horrible as it may sound, Yasir Arafat's impending demise may prove to be a good thing in the long run. Israel certainly needs to show understanding and willingness to compromise, however. Allowing Arafat to be buried in the city of Jerusalem would be a good start. A good next step would be a withdrawal to pre-1967 borders. Of course, Israel and Palestine must solve these crises themselves if this peace is to last. When it does, however, the Middle East will be a safe haven for democracy to take root."
Tags: iraq israel invasion terror empire imperialist democracy arab iran, middle east, palestine rome
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire," by Niall Ferguson. Specifically, the writer discusses whether she agrees with the following statement at the end of Ferguson's book: 'I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job'. The writer maintains that Ferguson's arguments for U.S. imperialism are the backbone of his book, and he makes some compelling and well thought out arguments for his thesis.
From the Paper "Under this definition, the United States could certainly be considered an empire, since we have had imperialistic relations with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. In all of these conquests or skirmishes, the country has been fighting for "democracy" and freedom, whether the people wanted it or not. Indeed, the author mentions more recent aggressions, such as the toppling of the Soviet Union (which America had at least some small part in), along with the regimes of Slobodan Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, as an example of American might overseas."
Abstract This paper analyzes the city structures of the Roman empire. The author gives a detailed explanation of the structure and functions of the roads, forums, aqueducts and baths that were used for social, religious and commercial activities.
From the Paper ?The discipline of engineering was very close to that of architecture in the Roman World. Roman architecture was a social art that gave the people of the Roman Empire benefits that no community had ever achieved before. Innovative city planning in the Roman Empire excelled in the creation of roads, forums, aqueducts and baths.?
Abstract This paper traces the origins and developments of the Aztec Empire from their humble roots in southern Mexico. The author traces their developments over some 1000 years.
From the Paper "The Aztecs were Central American Indian people who invaded central and southern Mexico and took control. As they grew in political status, they became sophisticated and civilized, learning from established peoples who had been town dwellers for more than 1,000 years. There are many myths and legends concerning these people called the Aztecs (Mayo 49). Some people describe the pyramids they built, the wars they waged and the human sacrifices they made. It has been said that their Emperor Montezuma was terrible and savage in his deeds (49). The Aztecs had a great civilization with a wealthy and diverse history. Fortunately, much of this history was preserved and recorded for us by early priest, conquistadors, Spanish chroniclers, and the Aztec themselves (49). "
Abstract Based on the work of two eminent historians, this essay clearly defines the multiple causes for the fall of the Roman Empire in 476 AD.
From the Paper "Many scholars disagree on the exact length of this historical event, but Grant believes that A.D. 365 is when the downward process began. Until that date, he writes, Rome was still seemingly invincible and immensely powerful, having put the turmoil of the third century behind it. Grant concludes that the ultimate blame for the fall rests with the Romans themselves, not with the barbarians who surrounded the Empire. He identifies internal economic, religious, institutional, ideological, and military forces that weakened Roman society. These forces, or more precisely, the conflicts between the groups representative of each force, led to thirteen defects that displayed one unifying thread: disunity. Grant places no formal weighting on individual causes; he recognizes that multiple causes provide the best explanation for historical events. According to Grant, these thirteen defects tore the Romans apart and limited their capacity to meet external aggression. These flaws within Roman society finally became so irreconcilably violent that the entire foundation of Roman society was shaken. In the end, resistance to external threats was virtually impossible, and the damage proved fatal. Rome fell, not by attack from the outside, but from appalling internal splits within the Empire."
Abstract This paper looks at the internal politics of the time of the fall of the Roman Empires and examines whether these factors assisted in its collapse. It also details conflicts involving money, the Germanic tribes, religion and politics.
From the Paper "The great Roman Empire is famous for its extensive size, exciting culture, huge army, and its overall prosperity. The empire was easily the largest, and strongest, of its time. But not many people know what led to the fall of the western half of this huge empire. There was not one, but many causes that led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. There were internal political, economic, and social causes for Rome's decay. The invasion by Germanic tribes was just the final nail in the coffin for the Western Roman Empire."
