A letter written to the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on the various aspects and causes for the rise of the Christian religion in light of the book, "The Rise of Christianity" by Rodney Starks.
Abstract The letter explains that the reasons for the continued success of the Christian religion in the Roman empire lies in its policies of tolerating alien gods, the belief and practice of martyrs which strengthened the Christian religion, and the willingness of the elite, the educated and the general masses in accepting the Christian religion.
From the Paper "My dear Emperor, another reason for the speedy rise and growth of Christianity amongst the Romans is our belief in many gods, and their strong belief in one god, also termed as Monotheism. As you are well aware, that Roman Pagan religion does accept the presence of a dominant god, yet, the presence of other gods makes our religion polytheism, and it is here where our true conflict begins."
Abstract This paper discusses the history of slavery - examining it roots and how it developed over the years. In shows how slaves are as old as civilization itself, listing several ancient cultures which used slaves. It shows how the experience of slavery differed for men, woman and children and examines the various ways in which slaves were obtained - through debt, war, pacts and heritage. It compares the experiences of slaves in the ancient world to that of the Middle Ages and finally looks at the more recent issue of slavery in the United States. The paper concludes with the phenomenon of the emancipation of slaves in America.
From the Paper "Slavery might be defined as the now unlawful ownership of one person by another, with the purpose so that the owner can exploit the labor of the person he owns for his own gain or enjoyment. When we think of slavery we usually think of the period in United States history where slave owning was condoned as a necessary evil by many, or of isolated reports in the current news of private slave ownership. The truth is that the practice of one human being enslaving another is as old as civilization itself."
Abstract Using the presentation of London in 'Mrs Dalloway', this essay argues that the advent of modernism had a profound effect on post-war Britain. Using many examples from the text, modernist notions of commercialism, freudian theory, individuality and science, as well as traditional markers of religion and royalty are all encompassed.
From the Paper "Set in 1923, Mrs Dalloway portrays a period of great social upheaval in England. For some it was an exciting, promising time: the war had been over for five years, and there was a feeling of exuberance in the nation. Modern forms of transport and commerce changed the very face of the country; and developments in social reform and the literary, scientific and arts worlds made people consider life in a different way. Others did not find this modernisation so appealing, however; as England was bombarded with the "new", traditional values and the old order were challenged, enhancing the nation's sense of loss. Woolf employs London, the very heart of the country, as a metaphor to convey these contradictory feelings. The city is, therefore, used to represent the unstable mixture of optimism and fear rife in society at the time."
Tags: britain, city, modernism, post, war, commercialism, freud, individuality
Abstract The paper begins by tracing the origin and development of colonialism throughout Africa. It continues with a colonial history of Chad. Following this historical outline, the paper explores the effects of colonialism on this African country. The paper follows this form (of giving a historical outline and then exploring the effects of colonialism on the country) when discussing Nigeria and Angola. The paper also includes a comparison of the three countries in terms of the political, economic and national consequences of colonialism.
From the Paper "Colonialism by stronger nations has been a part of history for thousands of years. The Romans practiced colonialism in ancient times, and the practice was exceedingly common in the 19th century. European nations tried to add to their power and prestige by adding to their cache of land, especially in Africa, where countries were ripe for the taking. "This colonial frenzy in the last twenty years of the nineteenth century saw all but 10 percent of the African continent colonized in a complex mix of political, economic, strategic, cultural, and religious rationales" (Wright 13)."
Abstract This paper looks at the most common types of weapons used in combat by medieval fighters from 480-1487 A.D. It evaluates what they were made of, their uses, how deadly they were in combat as well as different tactics used in battle at the time. Medieval weapons served two important purposes. Some of them, such as armor and shields, existed to protect the wearer, others existed solely to do bodily harm and were extremely deadly. Razor sharp swords could slice a man in halfor sever a limb whereas arrows could kill, mutilate or set wooden buildings and thatched roofs on fire in an instant. Lances could kill a man, or remove him from his horse for the foot soldiers to deal with. Siege weapons could lay utter waste to a town ? decimating the people within. Medieval weapons were created to cause havoc and they did. They were early weapons of destruction and they served their purpose well.
From the Paper "The hauberk was central to the armour a knight wore. It was usually knee length, and slit on the front and back to allow the rider to sit on a horse. It would be worn over a padded undergarment. This mailshirt weighed about 25 pounds. There was also a hood made of similar material worn underneath the mail helmet. Later in the twelfth century, a type of mail mitten was developed to protect the hands, and a long "surcoat" or "coat armour" was added over the mailshirt for additional protection, especially from the hot sun. Chausses, or mail leggings were also added, and developments in the thirteenth century led to the "great helm" a large helmet with a flat top protecting the head and some of the neck."
Abstract This paper studies the origins of military jargon and measures the influence of military jargon and slang on the English language. It shows how the conquesting armies of the colonial British government adopted many phrases, words and slang which have made their way into everyday spoken English. It compares how British soldiers and American soldiers, when interacting in the World Wars, transfered military slang between each other.
From the Paper "The English language has been going through the evolution process for hundreds of years. A number of words that were not recognized a few hundred years back are now commonly used. English has been continuously changing for centuries because of several reasons. Influence of other societies and cultures on English is the primary reason for this continuous change. Moreover, several military adventures conducted by the British Empire, which led to the expansion of the United Kingdom to almost one fourth of the earth's surface, also significantly influenced the English language. During these military operations, several English soldiers were exposed to some new cultures and societies. As a result of the influence from other cultures, they started using jargons and slang in their conversation, which were primarily adopted from several foreign languages. Similarly, American soldiers also adopted some jargons and slang during the Wars fought by American Army. "
Abstract This paper examines the masterpiece, "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee, about racial injustices and gender discrimination observed through the eyes of a young six-year old girl, as well as the movie version of the book produced by Robert Mulligan, and presents a comparison of the two. It shows how the movie was made black and white, in such a technologically revolutionary period, in order to capture the gloominess and the dullness of the Depression era and how the book paints a far more effective picture of that time period probably because it gave room to the author to get her personal experience into the play for she was a resident of the Southern town. The book symbolizes the theme of innocence and pureness through the use of mockingbird. However in the film version, the most fundamental theme of the novel has deviated slightly in terms of the plot by emphasizing more on the theme of racial prejudice than the theme of innocence. Both the movie and the book have been recipients of awards.
From the Paper "The representation of the world where racial injustices and gender discrimination prevail are observed through the eyes of a young six-year old girl whose widowed father is not only a man of words but is also a man of deeds. Gregory Peck plays Atticus Finch, the tomboy's father and a principled attorney (Marja: B06) who fights for the rights of a local black man wrongly charged with the rape of a white woman in their segregated town (Marja: B06). Gregory Peck has managed to do justice to his role and Robert Mulligan deserves equal credit for an aptly portrayal of the novel. However, since Lee wrote the novel keeping in mind her horrifying personal experiences as a child that gave birth to the protagonist of her novel, Stout, the novel turned out to be far more effective in its representation of the Depression-era Alabama than the movie version of it (Marja: B06)."
This paper examines the forgotten black roots of rock music in America, its influence on rebelling youth, and the evolution of new popular musical genres.
Abstract Rock and Roll music was both influenced by and influenced the youth movement of the 1960s. The beginnings of Rock music during the 1950s were actually quite rebellious and controversial. This paper puts the development of rock music into a cultural and historical context, drawing on examples such as Wynonnie Harris, Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Bob Dylan. The paper also mentions beatniks and the psychadelic counterculture.
From the Paper "Rock and Roll music broke into the forefront of American culture as the baby boomer generation came of age. During the 1950s, the new musical style helped young people begin to rebel against their parents? generation in a stylistic, subtle, and symbolic way, generating more differences and encouraging a widening of the generation gap. Popular culture tends to disregard the 1950s as a sterile and orderly decade, however, the youth of the 1950s were beginning to rebel much more drastically and blatantly than we are led to believe, and more so than what remains as the lasting image in the historical memory of Americans who were alive at that time. While this music that we now call "oldies" seems so boring and unhip by today's standards, the earliest Rock and Roll music contained sexual implications and a gift of immediate gratification that spoke to the so-called juvenile delinquents of the time. By the early Sixties and the beginnings of the ?movement,? Rock and Roll music had already established itself as a successful form of cultural radicalism, that is, an individuality of spirit and expressive form of defiance against the norm. (The "movement" collectively refers a shift to the "New Left" which supported the Civil Rights Movement, was against the Vietnam War, and opposed the Old Left Liberal methods of working within the system to end poverty and racism by means of a technocracy.) The more the youth rebelled, the more the music changed to suit this rebellion. The lyrics became more overtly political and explicit, and Rock and Roll music began to ?evolve out of artistic necessity,? when new ways to rebel were necessary, in order to keep on rebelling, as it were. Folk musicians began to blend their lyrics and style with Rock music, and wrote songs that were true reflections and reactions to the times and responded to the changing world. By the mid 60s, a youth "counterculture" hit the scene, and Rock and Roll had split into two breeds of music: one which served an industry and popular culture, and another type of music for political activism, which eventually infused itself in the drug-laden hippie subculture."
This paper discusses Byzantine Art, post-Roman Empire art: Political and religious contexts, architecture, statuary, geometric painting, icons and monumental sculpture.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 3 sources, 1980, $ 47.95
From the Paper "The following research concerns Byzantine Art. Byzantine Art developed after the split in the Christian world which took place after the division of the Roman Empire. Christianity came to the fore in the Roman Empire during the first three centuries of the Christian era. The emperor Constantine was converted in the fourth century A.D., and this was but the official recognition of a development toward Christianity that had long been in preparation. This new religion gave hope to the masses of people for whom living conditions had become impossible. Rome finally fell not so much because of outside invasions as from internal social decay, poverty, corruption, and the loss of control by the civil government. When Constantine moved the capital from Rome to Constantinople, the empire was divided into west and east..
Constantinople was the new name for the Greek town of ... "
Compares scientific & Biblical views on the beginning of the world & life. Discusses Big Bang theory, Genesis, verification, cause-effect issue, philosophy and proofs of God.
1,350 words (approx. 5.4 pages), 3 sources, 1989, $ 47.95
From the Paper "This essay concentrates on the relationship between the scriptural and scientific views of creation and their implications. The position taken is that there is a balance between the Big Bang theory of creation and the opening sentences of Genesis: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light" (Genesis 1:1-3).
According to the Big Bang theory, the event that began this universe took place some twenty billion years ago. All the matter and energy now in the universe were condensed into a mathematical point with perhaps no dimensions at all. Then there was a cosmic explosion, and the universe began an expansion which (...)"
This paper examines the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War and argues that Cold War imperatives more than national security led to U.S. this involvement.
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 8 sources, 1990, $ 87.95
From the Paper "This study will examine the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. The study will consider whether the national interest or Cold War imperatives primarily inspired American involvement in that war, and will argue that Cold War imperatives far more than any true national security interests were responsible for the involvement. The word "imperatives" should be first defined, however. An imperative implies that the United States had no choice but to engage in war in Vietnam, as if the Cold War confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union (with Communist China thrown in for good measure) required that the United States involve itself in Vietnam to guard against, for example, a collapse into the Communist camp of every nation in Southeast Asia.
In fact, the United States became involved in Vietnam ... "
From the Paper "When Joe McGinniss published his The Selling of the President 1968 in 1969, he shocked the reading public with his expose of how a political campaign was won by the "media manipulators." It was McGinniss's contention that Richard Nixon was marketed as the chief executive for the United States just like Madison Avenue would sell a package of cigarettes. In fact, the original dust cover of the book had that very image: the new president's face on a tobacco pack. It is the thesis of this paper that McGinniss was correct in his assertions, and that the 1968 campaign forever changed the way in which Americans judged and voted for presidential candidates.
McGinniss starts his book off with an epigraph from Nixon himself: "When style and charisma connotes the idea of ... "
From the Paper "In 1936, John Maynard Keynes published a book entitled The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money. In economic and political circles, the book was an immediate success, particularly among the new breed of American economists. Not to be immodest, British Keynes wrote a letter to the philosopher George Bernard Shaw stating that, "I believe myself to be writing a book on economic theory which will largely revolutionize . . . the way the world thinks about economic problems". Keynes' theory, and the furor it continues to cause, will be the subject of this paper. The paper will begin with a background analysis of both Keynes and his General Theory. It will then focus on the Keynesian legacy in economics, politics, and intellectualism. Finally, the paper will conclude with an assessment of the General Theory within the context of the modern ... "
The paper examines the global response to Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait: War crimes history and theory, practical & legal issues of trying Hussein, role of Israel and the United Nations and the U.S..
6,750 words (approx. 27 pages), 9 sources, 1991, $ 135.95
From the Paper "On August 2, 1990, the Iraqi forces of President Saddam Hussein invaded and swiftly occupied the neighboring emirate or principality of Kuwait. The optimistic hope that the largely bloodless Eastern European democratic revolutions of 1989 marked an "end of history" and the beginning of new era of peace and democracy was quite brutally dashed. By invading Kuwait, Saddam was challenging the world. He was in effect asserting that in spite of lofty rhetoric about the rule of law, naked force could still have the final word.
Saddam was asserting this principle, the principle of force, quite apart from any question about the rights or wrongs of his previous diplomatic dispute with Kuwait. It may well be that Iraq had some merit in its claims that were the immediate pretext for the war: Iraqi rights to a waterway into the Persian Gulf, ... "
From the Paper "The English defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 is undoubtedly the pivotal event in the annals of European naval history. It marked the transition from the era of ocean piracy and small-scale naval engagements to the era of full scale naval warfare that involved massive national fleets meeting head on in decisive engagements. There are volumes of historical accounts describing the events that occurred during the naval campaigns of 1588. The bulk of these historical accounts has of course been written and published by either English or Spanish historians. The historical account that will be reviewed in this paper is also the product of a British historian. The book that will be reviewed here is Garrett Mattingly's The Armada. Mattingly's approach to his topic is atypical: rather than attempting to confound his readers with numerous charts, graphs, and other ..."
