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 examines two of the most important school in art and literature, that of Romanticism and Realism. The author discusses how although these schools tend to be assigned to certain specific and bounded moments in history, in fact the impulses toward the Romantic and the Realistic run throughout human history and across the cultural landscape.
From the Paper "Realism as a style in art and literature attempts to describe human behavior and surroundings or to represent figures and objects exactly as they act or appear in life in an objective and unidealized way. Attempts at realism have been made periodically throughout history in all the arts, however the term is usually applied to a movement that began in the mid-19th century that was a direct reaction to the highly subjective approach of romanticism. Realist artists as a group exhibited a profound sense of social consciousness and a high degree of commitment to addressing the political problems of their times; this was also in contrast to the Romantics who often sought to escape the problems of their day and who felt too alienated to try to intervene in the political process."
Abstract The writer of this paper claims that the 1994 Rwandan genocide of 800 000 people was preventable. The paper shows how during the affair, the UN appeared disorganized and lacked any initiative and the author recounts chains of events and also the results of the UN's actions (or inaction).
From the Paper "In 1994, from April 6 until June 14, one of worse and deadliest massacres of the 20th century occurred in Rwanda. These bloody two months, triggered by the mysterious assassination of Rwandan President Habyarimana, resulted in the murders of 800,000 people (approximately 6 people per minute). Despite these outrageous figures, the international community reacted in an extremely slow manner. The huge death toll of this genocide could have been prevented if various countries and international organizations had not allowed personal politics hold them back."
Tags: 25, dallaire, decision, directive, genocide, hutu, nations, peacekeeping, presidential, romeo, rwanda, tutsi, un, unamir, united
The communication between leaders during the Cuban missile crisis with special attention to JFK's decisions on how to determine the best approach to handling the outbreak of nuclear war are examined in this paper.
Abstract A detailed summary of the motivation causing Cuba and Russia to provoke this situation; including a day by day summarized narration of President John F. Kennedy's actions as well as Khrushchev's plans. This paper presents exclusive quotes of men on both sides of this potential nuclear war.
From the Paper "The start of the first nuclear war seemed inevitable as the interactions between the United States, Russia, and Cuba became hostile. The cold war had been going on for a few years before the missile crisis in October of 1962. After WWII America's relationship with the communist Russia was deteriorating, and problems with Cuba's dictatorship, lead by Fidel Castro, were becoming worst. The race for nuclear weapons was as important as ever, and because Russia feared the United States were too far ahead, they altered their strategy and made a bold move to construct offensive missiles in Cuba, 90 miles off the Florida shore, without telling anyone. Nikita Khrushchev was the current Premier of the Soviet Union and presented his plan to Castro who couldn?t turn down the offer. Castro knew that the USA were still attempting to override his dictatorship and had already been threatened by the "Bay of Pigs" unsuccessful invasion that happened less then 2 years previously. The Soviet Union began to ship missiles and equipment along with troops to Cuba, and in October of 1962, the "Cuban Missile Crisis" would begin."
Tags: castro, fidel, john, kennedy, khrushchev, missile, nuclear, war, cuba
Abstract This paper discusses a wide range of topics about fascist Italy under Mussolini. The paper includes: A discussion of Mussolini - Dictator and Ideology, Propaganda and Terror, Directed Economy, and the Role of the Family, Youth and Religion in Fascist Italy.It also details the affect of Mussolini's friendly relationship with the Catholic Church on his policies.
From the Paper "Benito Mussolini ruled Italy as a Fascist dictator from 1922 until 1945. He employed several tactics to gain power and maintain his regime. Elements of central Fascist ideology, the party's widespread use of propaganda, Mussolini's ?corporate state,? and vast Fascist power over the Church and family resulted in the development and perpetuation of the Fascist single party state in Italy from 1919 until 1945."
Abstract This paper explains the effects, circumstances, causes and happenings of the Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Battle of the Ardennes. It also suggests what went wrong for the Germans and what mistakes Hitler made. Military tactics of both sides are analyzed - Germans and Allies.
From the Paper "The Battle of the Bulge, which lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945, was the largest battle of World War II in which the United States participated (Toland). Over a million men fought for their lives, countries and families. Although many a soldier dreamed of the day they could return to their families, many of them did not make it home. At the conclusion of the battle there were 81,000 American casualties including 23,554 captured and 19,000 killed. The British suffered 1,400 casualties, with only 200 killed. Also, the greatest number of all, there were 100,000 German soldiers killed, wounded or captured (Cole)."
Tags: allies, ardennes, army, battle, belgium, casualties, germans, hitler, ii, offensive, red, russian, war, world, wwii
Abstract The paper argues in depth why men and women had different reactions to the Holocaust and how both roles were changed forever. It describes the women's burden of being both Jewish and female, with its different emotional and psychological experience, the domestic changes with the emergence of working women and biological issues.
From the Paper "Treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany, during WWII, brought a whole new meaning to the phrase ?women and children first.? Traditionally this phrase implies that women and children are the first to be saved, but in Nazi concentration camps they were the first to perish. Due to a man's natural physical strength, his manpower could be utilized in slave labor camps. Although there were some female labor camps, women and young children were often deemed unfit for such a brutal assignment, and were therefore sent to be executed upon arrival at various concentration camps. Babies and pregnant women, once at camps such as Auschwitz, were automatically targeted for death. Women and children, who have traditionally been protected in times of war, were mercilessly forced into gas chambers after being separated from their husbands and fathers. They too were part of an ideological goal to exterminate races deemed unfit by the Nazi Reich."
Tags: camp, concentration, gender, germany, hitler, ii, jewish, jews, war, warsaw, world, wwii
Abstract This paper attempts to find a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. It covers these areas:
The Issue
Background to the Tensions and the Present State of the Conflict:
Justification for Continued Israeli Occupation
Past US Role in the Israeli Palestine Conflict
Possible Reasons for the American Administration's Current Inaction
Saudi Peace Plan
Recent UN Resolution
A Proposal to Resolve the Problem
From the Paper "As violence escalates in Palestine, the intractable problem becomes even more intractable. Intense fighting between Israelis and Palestinians, the most intense inside the borders of the former Palestine since Israel's creation in 1948, are claiming a daily toll in double digits. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's increasingly tough tactics are exacerbating the conflict. A war of attrition is going on that has the potential to escalate into an all out regional war."
Tags: sharon, arafat, america, arab, intifada, oslo, accord, terrorism, middle, east, peacemaking, un
Abstract The following paper explores the pros and cons of providing amnesty to all Mexican immigrants residing in the U.S. and discusses how this would impact other foreign nationals who are not from Mexico.
From the Paper ?America has always been known as the melting pot of the world. Huddled masses travel here from all over the earth to begin life anew and to seek their fortune in the American dream they grew up hearing about. Whether the dream comes true or not is not as important as the ability to survive once they get here and the nation's government is currently entertaining the idea that amnesty to illegal Mexicans in the US would be a good idea. This has caused quite a controversial stir in the nation as people take sides, either for or against the idea.?
Abstract This paper examines a few art forms and details the influence of religion and the Bible on them. Dante and Chaucer's literature is mentioned, and examined for its use of deity and religion. Many Italian artists are mentioned regarding the way they used the Church as a showroom for their talent.
From the Paper "Around 500 AD, western civilization began to emerge from the period generally known as "The Dark Ages", the time when invading hordes of Vandals, Huns, and Visigoths overran Europe and brought an end to the Roman Empire. For the next centuries, the newly emerging Christian Church would dominate Europe, administrating Justice, instigating Holy Crusades against the east, establishing Universities and generally dictated the destiny of music, art and literature. From the Crusades and other sources the Europeans came in contact with the Arab culture, which has preserved the works of Greek authors, whose writings did not survived in the Europe. Philosophy, science and mathematics from the Hellenistic period were assimilated into the tenets of the Christian faith and the prevailing philosophy of Scholasticism. St. Thomas Aquinas to the Christian doctrine adopted Aristotle, who was long considered to be a heretic. Christian values dominated the scholarship and literature, especially the Medieval Latin literature, the influence of Christian faith was also dominated in the German literature and Middle English literature ."
Abstract This paper explores the motivations behind acts of terror. It is written in the light of the September 11th attack on the USA in 2001 and it studies recent acts of terrorists both in the United States and elsewhere in the world. It focuses on the personality of Osama Bin Laden and what he symbolizes for the American people.
From the Paper "A great deal has been written about terrorism since 11 September 2001, but this should not blind us to the fact that terrorism is hardly a new phenomenon. Although it is hard to believe that there is anyone in the world who is not now more aware of the possible reach and effects of terrorism than they were six months ago, if we are to come to a better understanding of the ways in which terrorists operate and the basic human psychology of terrorism than we must take a longer view of the phenomenon (McDermott 2002). Only if we do so ? if we look at terrorism over a period of centuries and include an analysis of both religiously motivated and other forms of terrorism ? can we come to any clear understanding of what happened in the United States in September as well as what has happened since then (Miller 2002)."
Tags: motivations, reasons, USA, Osama, Bin, Laden, Sptember, 11
Abstract This paper studies the causes of the American Civil War. While most historians maintain that slavery was the main cause of the war, this paper argues that slavery was only responsible to a certain extent and that there were complex political and economic factors which played an important role in the Civil War. The writer discusses the South's waning ability to maintain its army of slaves and asserts that the North's growing industrial power also fueled the conflict. Political factors, including the issue of equal representation in the Congress and states? autonomy, are considered as possible causes of the war in this paper.
From the Paper "Civil war is the most momentous and crucial period in the history of America. Not only did this war bring an end to centuries of slavery in the country but also gave way to numerous social and political changes. The country had already been torn by the negative trend in race relations and numerous cases of slave uprisings were taking their toll on the country's political and social structure. While slavery is cited as the most common cause of the Civil War, it is believed that there were several other factors involved. In other words, though slavery was the major cause it was certainly not the only cause. Civil war and abolition of slavery have become synonymous terms as the former led to the latter. But still some historians maintain that slavery has been turned into a too convenient excuse in connection with the Civil War."
Abstract This paper describes the goals and methods of reconstruction of the southern states after the American Civil War. It states that reconstruction tried to achieve a certain degree of racial egalitarianism of the blacks with two vital amendments to the constitution: The 14th and 15th amendments. The paper describes the counter productivity with the government's clemency towards the southern states, which introduced black codes to suppress the African-American population. The author states that reconstruction achieved much regardless of its obvious weaknesses: schools were built to educate blacks and the poor whites, roads were constructed and the shield given to life and property were certainly key achievements of the government.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Reconstruction and its Weaknesses
Attitude of white Southerners
Compromise of 1877
Conclusion
From the Paper "Even after the liberation declaration proclamation, two more years of war, service by African American troops, and the overwhelm of the confederacy, the nation was still unprepared to deal with the question of full citizenship for its newly at liberty black population. The reconstruction implemented by Congress, which lasted from 1866 to 1877, was aimed at reorganizing the Southern states after the Civil War, providing the means for at restructure the southern states. After the Civil War, providing the means for readmitting them into the union, and defining the means by which whites and blacks could live jointly in a no slave society. The South, however, saw reconstruction as a humiliating, even unforgiving burden and did not welcome it."
Abstract This paper examines the reason why President Ronald Reagen may have considered getting involved in toppling the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. It looks at the domestic and foreign policies of the administration and questions the possible motives for such a potential scandal. It looks at what the government thought it could benefit from involvement in this matter.
From the Paper "High-ranking members of the administration of President Ronald Reagan and President Ronald Reagan himself were amongst the people who violated United States laws during the Iran Contra Affair. The reasons for doing this may be speculative, it is certain that these people arranged the secret sales weapons to the terrorists of Iran. Why did Reagan do this? How did the government allow such actions by members of Reagan's Administration? Who was the Nicaraguan "contra" rebels? Was Reagan's hatred of communism so great that he placed America in danger?"
A discussion of the affects of World War II on American culture,focusing on popular music, visual arts, literature and our worldview for the years between the 1940s and 1950s.
Abstract This paper explores the great social and cultural changes that took place in America following the Second World War. It examines music, art and literature to show the changes in cultural trends. It looks at the shift in the job market and new opportunities for women in specific labor fields. The paper also discusses the baby boom era where many women returned to the home and focused on child rearing and homemaking. Changes in healthcare are also mentioned which came with progress in medical practices.
From the Paper "World War II changed the way we lived in America, and how we looked at the world. It also changed the way the world looked at us. We were a world power, who had won the war, and had a devastating weapon at our disposal. Our economy was booming, and life was good in the United States."
