Abstract This paper takes an in-depth look at the intense passion that the ancient Mayan civilization had for sporting activities. The author discusses how the ballgames of the times had many different levels of meaning, ranging from entertainment to ritual, as tributes to the gods. The paper details the rules and regulations of such ancient games as Poc-a-tok and Ollama, and how Mayans saw sports as public reenactments of warfare.
From the Paper:
"Through this ballgame one can learn a lot about Mayan culture. The never-ending love and devotion that they held for the Gods of their people is apparent in the fact that they organized these ballgames to please them. They played until they collapsed from exhaustion, in some instances, so that they could be sacrificed if they won. The Mayans were a people of respect and warfare. This is evident in the way that after each raid that they planned only with the specific alignment of the sun and the planets they always held the game at the Victor's homeland, there was no straying from the tradition. They placed value in worship of their gods and honor to those brave players who opted to die for the game and in turn for their Gods."
Abstract This paper describes the life of Galileo Galilea--his childhood, youth and how this affected his chosen path in life. It analyzes his theories as well as the harsh and life threatening criticism he faced from the Church.
From the Paper Galileo's father was a musician who eventually challenged Aristotelian beliefs about music theory and who proved some of it wrong, so Galileo grew up in a forward-thinking house where beliefs that had been long-held by educated people were being questioned. His father was part of a small group of musicians who revolutionized the way music was written. These changes led to the birth of opera. He saw his father's musical experiments, which contradicted the most basic assumptions regarding music theory. These older beliefs were also tied to church theology. It was believed at the time that the rules of harmony paralleled the motion of the heavenly body. This concept was known as the ?music of the spheres.?
Abstract This paper discusses the rise of the Klu Klux Klan and how it has influenced the establishment of other hate groups in the United States. It also analyzes the reason why these groups find support from certain sectors in the community. The paper gives a review of historical moments when the Klan was powerful and when it was not, and analyzes the reason for this.
From the paper:
"The Ku Klux Klan adopted its name from the Greek word, ?kuklos,? meaning circle, and the English word, ?clan,? meaning tribe. The Klan's main philosophy was superiority but often, the group used violence and terrorist activity to exercise their sense of superiority over blacks. The Klan strongly opposed any rights that were gained by blacks flowing the Civil War, and harassed blacks that attempted to vote in elections or exercise any other rights."
From the Paper The Ku Klux Klan adopted its name from the Greek word, ?kuklos,? meaning circle, and the English word, ?clan,? meaning tribe. The Klan's main philosophy was superiority but often, the group used violence and terrorist activity to exercise their sense of superiority over blacks. The Klan strongly opposed any rights that were gained by blacks flowing the Civil War, and harassed blacks that attempted to vote in elections or exercise any other rights.
Abstract This paper looks at how King Louis XIV of France used the remodeling of his magnificent palace at Versailles, and the visual art in the palace, as a propaganda tool. The author discusses Louis' constant campaign for absolute power as a divine ruler. The paper pays close attention to the architecture at Versailles.
From the Paper:
"King Louis XIV used visual arts within the palace of Versailles to establish the primacy of the French monarch. Louis XIV wanted to legitimatize his form of strict absolutism through art. The pinnacle of this propaganda campaign was the remodeling of the ch?teau of Versailles into a palace. He and his artists made specific choices to flaunt his wealth and give the king credibility. The gardens, grand staircase, hall of mirrors and salons parade with grandeur and thick allegorical comparisons between the Gods and Louis. The propaganda was effective in targeting its three intended audiences to the degree that later monarchs and artists mimicked it. "
Tags: allegory, art, france, history, king, monarchy, palace, louis, mirror, hall, ceiling, france
This essay examines the importance of the Great Wall of China as one of a handful of human creations around the world that encompasses an entire national identity.
1,860 words (approx. 7.4 pages), 5 sources, 2001, $ 59.95
Abstract This paper looks at both the physical and the cultural history of the wall, demonstrating how it has meant different things to different dynasties of Chinese lives, not only reflecting what it is that the Chinese believe themselves to be but also shaping what it is that they have become.
From the paper:
?The Great Wall remains a powerful symbol of China's national tradition and historical continuity. And yet it is important to understand that it is in many ways the product of an historical myth ? like Washington's wooden teeth. It is probably true that all people tell stories about themselves as a way of creating a sense of both national identity and national pride and there is nothing wrong with this ? so long as we recognize the fact that we are dealing with myth and not with history.?
Abstract This essay discusses the Vietnam War not just as a war fought in Asia, but as a war fought in American as it related to cultural change. It was, in many ways, a cultural war that was coming for several years and only needed some powerful fuel to ignite radical changes. The essay concludes with the realization that the psychological impact left on the families and soldiers involved in Vietnam, was greater than anyone imagined.
From the paper:
?The country was living in the lap of luxury, or more specifically in the lap of capitalism. America was proud, yet was also beginning to feel pressure concerning truly solid realities such as the inequality of the African American and women. The Vietnam War served to ignite many fires, changing the American culture in many ways.?
Abstract This paper analyzes the early American settlers in regard to their identity. It compares the attitude of Ben Franklin and the Puritans. It surveys the history of the pre-Revolutionary Puritans and what lead to the search of their identity. It shows how Franklin was a figure who addressed all these issues and was one of the first to document them.
From the paper:
"From Puritan writings onward, and throughout all American literature, a dominant concern has been the question of identity, and/or the search for identity. Puritans, for example, sought to retain their identity and so found themselves having to escape to a "New World" in order to preserve their convictions about God. In the end, Puritans came to view themselves as a "chosen people" ("Introduction" 2). Benjamin Franklin, on the other hand, as one of the authors of the "Declaration of Independence" (amongst other important revolutionary documents), helped construct a later version of the American identity as both independent and self-determining. And as he further advanced the question of identity in American letters, he helped bring to the table related notions of the "American dream" and personal virtue. In so doing, Franklin's vision of America was forged in ways much different than the more communal vision of his Puritan ancestors."
Abstract This paper argues that Adolf Hitler had some alternative personal reasons for why he may have caused the largest mass killing in world history. Some reasons include his personal life and sexuality. This paper examines how these impacted Hitler's rise to power and motivation.
From the paper:
"Due to Adolf Hitler's embarrassing family roots, stern, emotion filled upbringing, and his inner turmoil in dealing with his sexuality he had built up guilt, aggression, frustration, and self loathing which as result caused the holocaust. The context of this paper will discuss how his family roots were considered embarrassing, how they came to be, and how in turn it caused him to feel disgusted with himself and what he was which caused aggressive and malevolent behavior. Also it shall speak of what consists of a strict upbringing, what certain events and regular happenings occurred in this childhood, and finally what in this rigid upbringing could cause a man to have this inner anger build to lead way to cause such death and destruction. And lastly, the paper will speak of Adolf Hitler's sexuality and how his homosexuality or sexuality, which was kept hidden, as it was not proper for men to like men during his time and was gravely frowned upon, caused such guilt and pain within himself to lead to this horrifying event we call the holocaust."
Tags: adolf, hitler, holocaust, ii, war, world, personal, distress, aggression, frustration, family, sexuality
Abstract In his book "Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream", Lerone Bennett claims that the glorification of Lincoln by Americans is not totally justified. He claims that Lincoln himself was a racist. In making these statements, an overall study of the issue of racism vs. slavery is discussed in a historical context.
From the paper:
"Lerone Bennett's book Forced into Glory : Abraham Lincoln's White Dream is designed to make any reader rethink all of her or his preconceptions about Lincoln. American schoolchildren are taught that Lincoln was the savior of our nation, a man so motivated by the highest of ideals in terms of both guaranteeing the continuing union of our states and ending slavery that he willingly put himself into deadly peril.
Bennett suggests that this is not quite an accurate picture, and indeed in some measure he must be right. No one is perfectly self sacrificing, no one perfectly good, no one perfectly wise. Lincoln was flawed as any great man. He was not, however, perhaps as flawed as Bennett makes him out to be."
Tags: abolishment, slavery, racist, reality, American, Gettysburg, military, Union
This paper takes a look at what caused the Holocaust, traces the progress of discrimination and oppression through society and the legislative body, and looks at the horrible outcome of the tragedy.
1,820 words (approx. 7.3 pages), 2 sources, 2000, $ 58.95
Abstract This paper is focused on the progression of the anti-Semitic actions of the German people in the 1930's and 40?s. It looks at the roots of hatred, the legislation that was passed that discriminated against the Jews, an overview of the Holocaust, and the war crimes trials at Nuremberg.
From the paper:
"Hitler harbored a hatred for the Jews that was unparalleled anywhere in the world. Where this hatred stemmed from is unclear, but it was very evident that Hitler blamed the Jews for all the problems in Germany and in his own life, and that he was sincere in his convictions. When he became Fuhrer his view was not only pushed upon the public, it became a nightmare for all the Jews in Germany, and later, for all the Jewish populations of Europe. Hitler sought not just to eliminate their power and influence, but to wipe out the people themselves. What makes it even more ghastly is that he felt that he was doing the world a favor by these actions, and that God had selected him for this mission of purification, which he called "the Final Solution". Using his unique speaking ability, Hitler preached that the Aryan race was the master race, and the inferior Jews were holding them back, spreading lies and evil in Germany. The story of the ordeal that the Jews in Europe endured includes the beginning of discrimination, the legislation passed against them, the concentration camps, the liberation of the camps, and the war criminals trial held in Nuremberg. All of these parts play key roles in trying to understand how this could happen and how it can be prevented from ever happening again."
Tags: camps, concentration, crimes, genocide, hitler, holocaust, war, world
Abstract This is a paper about the different treatments toward blacks and Native Americans in colonial America by whites. The author looks at the differences and the similarities in the way these two populations were treated.
From the Paper "In dealing with "outsiders", White Europeans who controlled the continent held many similar views. These outsiders included the Native Americans and the African Americans. Both peoples were treated in parallel and in opposing ways by the whites in power. The most obvious way that the two groups were treated the same is that they were dealt with in a very ethnocentric way; whites assumed that they were superior to both groups. Both groups were not dealt with in the same way from the onset. Native Americans, who were living in the country long before the whites, were killed, stripped of their land, and mislead as to their future in the new white world. Africans were brought into the country, a large distinction, because whites needed them here. They were at first used as indentured servants, and it was a gradual change that shifted over to slavery. From there on came restrictive legislature, and a view of them as savages. The two groups were both treated differently by whites in terms of how they were oppressed, but the overriding theme in both cases is that the white Europeans saw both as inferior races."
Abstract This paper looks at how Gandhi used non-violence and peaceful protest as a weapon against British Imperial Rule throughout the early twentieth century. The paper looks at key events such as the Quit India protest, the two World Wars and the involvement of Irish nationalists. Gandhi's actions are considered within the global events that shaped Britian's ability to take action against Gandhi: Gandhi was not the only reason the British eventually left India!
From the Paper "Throughout the ages mankind often instinctively turns to the use of violence to defeat an enemy. Violence is part and parcel of the culture of human beings. And yet one of the greatest freedom struggles in modern history was apparently won through the specific rejection of violence, and the active use of a policy of non-violence. That struggle was between the Indian independence movement and the British colonial administration. At the head of that independence movement was Mahatma Gandhi, a simple Indian who held no office or great wealth, and yet was able to unite a whole subcontinent against the British Empire. Not only that, but he did it in such a peaceful, virtuous way that he made the British question their own morals and eventually forced them out of India. This is the general version that is recorded in history. However, this version of events generally ignores the other forces that influenced the British to withdraw from the Empire in India. Here we will critically examine the view that the use of non-violence was the main reason for the ending of British rule in India, by examining the true organizational nature of non-violent civil disobedience and other events, British and global."
Tags: independence, Mohandas, Mahatma, Hindu, passive, resistance, campaigns, defense, Raja, Viceroy, Lord, Irwin, World, War, II
Abstract This paper discusses religious freedom as a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution including historical background and current issues like religion in politics, polygamy, the Native American Church, and Seventh Day Adventists. This paper is about how the religious freedom that we cherish in the United States was established historically and discusses some of issues involved in maintaining religious freedom today.
From the Paper "The religious beliefs of a person are the most sacred and intense commitments of the individual self. Religious beliefs should not be assaulted or hindered by any outside force. These convictions are the most private and personal thoughts that a person cherishes. They should neither be affected by nor influenced by any law or government restriction in our society. The right to religious freedom is established in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."
Abstract This paper looks at the harrowing effects of chemical warfare and how it changed the face of war during WWI. It gives examples of the types of weaponry used, their side effects and how these have developed to become the destructive arms of today.
From the Paper "According to many of the period's experts, WWI was supposed to be fought by large numbers of men, in a heroic fashion, with the other technologically advanced weapons such as planes, machine-guns and tanks. Instead of the 'normal' war of the attacker winning and the defender put on the run, this war was interrupted by trench warfare and battles of attrition. Trenches were the norm, and to help get battles back to 'natural' means, gas was put into practice to help each side get back into (in their eyes at the time) a more modern conflict. So what were these chemical weapons? How and when were they used? What role did they play in the soldier's day-to-day life both physically and psychologically? "
Tags: bombs, chemicals, france, gas, germany, hague, history, military, trench, war, warfare, wwi
Abstract This paper explores the construction and meaning of Mary Rowlandson's famous Captivity Narrative, first published in 1682 which tells how she was held captive during King Philip's War of 1675 by Algonquin Indians. The author explains how her autobiographical narrative reveals her religious fervor and struggles, within the context of New England Puritan thought. Within this paper on the Captivity Narrative, there is an analysis of Calvinist thought, and insight into White New Englander prejudices against the Algonquin Indians, and how those prejudices were influenced by a loathing of the Catholic Church.
From the Paper "Mary Rowlandson was captured by the Indians from her home in Lancaster, Massachusetts, during King Philip's War of 1675. She wrote a narrative about her captivity and "restoration" which was so widely read that its popularity lasted for another century and more, after its first publication in 1682. Rowlandson's captivity narrative was reissued in Boston in 1770, 1771, and 1773, and it was also released many more times in various colonies and states during the 19th century. (Slotkin: 1973, p. 96). Thus it became one of the most representative documents by which white New Englanders remembered King Philip's War. But just how representative was Rowlandson's narrative, when it came to the realities of the conflict, on both sides, Puritan and Indian? Having been trapped in the wilderness as a prisoner of war, and surviving, Mary Rowlandson saw herself as spiritually renewed and redeemed. While many of the events in her account are probably true, her narrative is still somewhat mythical and shaped, both consciously and unconsciously, to fit her religious and cultural ideals. "
