Abstract Using Stephen Pressfield's "Gates of Fire", the unique role of Spartan women and their influence over men is shown. The paper explains that women were not subservient mothers, but played an active role in polis life and had considerable leverage in directing the men and the state to act.
From the Paper "During the times of the ancient Greeks, women were generally considered inferior to men and afforded very few rights and privileges. In these male dominated societies, a woman's only function was to bear children and attend to the needs of her husband. However, the Spartans thought very highly of their women and granted them more freedoms than anywhere else in Greece. This is because unlike the women in other cities, Spartan women played an active role in the life of the polis. The role of Spartan women was not merely to produce male warriors, but to uphold Spartan ideals and ensure that the men maintained the standards which Spartan society was built upon."
Abstract This paper analyzes the autobiography, "Jarhead", by Anthony Swofford, which tells the story of the author's life before entering the Marines, the time of his engagement in the Middle East, and some of his struggles in reintegrating into civilian life after the war. The paper also critiques the book and comments on the author's excessive use of description.
From the Paper "One of the most critical revelations in Swofford's Jarhead is the depiction of the soldiers as simply human, flawed, and ultimately scared young men. There are no over-the-top heroic posturing here, as the elite special forces solder tells about the terror that led him to wet himself as rockets exploded close by. His tale ultimately makes the reader wonder if the soldiers sent into operation Desert Storm were as coolly professional and prepared as the government's spin machine made them out to be."
Abstract This paper provides a comprehensive look at how the United States failed in Vietnam. Its main focus is that the U.S. didn't understand the nature of the war. The paper provides a summary of the war, intertwined with evidence about why American leadership did not have a full understanding of the war.
From the Paper "The Vietcong instead utilized guerilla warfare, which was effective against the French, and fared well against the U.S. too. This was a strategy that was also coined total war, because it was the destruction of the adversary at all calls. In addition, it included a myriad of small-group surprise attacks with the Vietcong then retreating back into the jungle. But also, the United States did not realize how powerful the Vietcong could be, thanks to the Soviet Union and China. "American technology was well matched by defensive fighter aircraft and radar-directed antiaircraft weaponry put in the hands of the Vietcong by the Soviet Union". One such example was the widely used Soviet-built surface-to-air missle (SAM). "The SAM was a kind of highly sophisticated aerial torpedo launched from the ground" (Larson 52). Along with the SAM, the Soviets supplied AK-47s and MiG interceptor aircraft among other items."
Abstract This paper examines how the military force that the Athenians fielded in the Sicilian Campaign was unprecedented in the Peloponnesian War. It attempts to determine why it was it utterly defeated. It looks at how a series of failures of command from the political and military leadership exacerbated the likely failure of the campaign. It also explores how the end result was a greatly weakened Athens, how there were numerous defections from the Delian League, and how the myth of Athenian invincibility on the seas was shattered.
Outline
Introduction
Discussion
Hubris Within Athens
Hubris Within the Expedition
The Athenian Failures of Command
Counterpoint
Conclusion
From the Paper "The war-time footing on which the Athenians found themselves was difficult for them to maintain. The destruction of their lands and homes outside of the walls of Athens, the plague, and gradual breakdown of the structure of Athenian society led a shift away from Pericles? strategy for victory and away from the unity of purpose and common good within Athens and towards private ambition and gain. By the Melian dialogue, a year or so before the Sicilian Campaign, the Athenians had given up Pericles? conservative approach and limited war aim, the defeat of Sparta, when an Athenian acknowledged that of gods and men, ?by a necessary law of their nature they rule wherever they can.? Though not universal, by 415 B.C., the dominant theme among Athenians was the overbearing belief in their abilities and the growth of the empire."
Tags: hubris, pelopennisian, sicilian, sicily, sparta, thucydides, war
Abstract This paper, written from a pro-union stance, provides background information on the development of unions, explains the reasons that workers unionize, and takes a look at the pro and con sides of unionization.
From the Paper "It goes without saying that the balance of power between the employers is always heavily tilted in favor of the employers. The workers are, therefore, vulnerable to gross exploitation leading to low pay, long working hours and poor working conditions. In an unequal relationship, a lone worker stands no chance against an employer who is focused on deriving the maximum profit from his business. Collectively, of course, the workers can be a force to be reckoned with. The initial period of the Industrial Revolution, both in Europe and the United States, was marked by appalling working conditions, and grinding poverty for vast numbers of the working people. Twelve-hour or longer working days for 7 days a week under the harshest of conditions were the norm. The birth of the Labor Movement was, therefore, a logical outcome. Workers in factories, coal-mines, and rail-roads began to organize themselves and demanded better pay and working conditions. The employers, who were used to getting things done cheaply, opposed the formation of such "unions" vigorously. This led to confrontation and strikes but eventually the workers were able to get some of their demands accepted."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the topic of the history of the Pacific Northwest. Specifically, it discusses how the Great Depression, World War II, and the Cold War impacted regional demographics in the Pacific Northwest.
From the Paper "Before the Great Depression in 1929, the Pacific Northwest had been growing significantly. By 1920, the area had grown by 254 percent from 1900 (Schwantes 365). However, the Great Depression put a stop to the growth and migration. By the time the Great Depression hit, the area was economically sound, but still rural in much of its' character. The Great Depression had a deep effect on the economy of the region, because so much of the area relied on agriculture, timber, and mining for their livelihood, and these industries suffered as the nation suffered. Historian Schwantes writes, "The Pacific Northwest as a whole experienced mortgage foreclosures, delinquent taxes, and sharply rising unemployment. A sense of desperation led to protests and in some cases to direct action and other forms of self-help by angry farmers and industrial workers" (Schwantes 382). To make matters worse, arrivals from the Midwest Dust Bowl arrived in the area looking for work, but there was none. They simply added to the problem of unemployment and public assistance that was facing the entire area."
Abstract The paper asserts that the "Mass in B Minor" not only sums up Bach's own eclectic style, but also sums up the styles of previous periods as well. This paper first addresses some of the historical aspects surrounding the Mass. It then discusses controversial theories regarding Bach's purpose in writing such a work and finally acknowledges a small variety of those styles, i.e., stile antico, galant, that Bach assimilated into this monumental work.
From the Paper "Throughout the Mass in B minor there are three clearly distinct styles of Baroque vocal writing that can be heard influencing this quite eclectic work. The first is the traditional stile antico or "church style," the somewhat plain and simple manner inherited from the Renaissance (prima practica). In this musical style the notation employs long note values, dissonance and melodic ornamentation are used cautiously, and the instruments are used primarily to double the choral parts. In contrast, the vibrant, sometimes harsh Baroque style displays an often lively rhythm, brilliant orchestration, expressive dissonance, and melodic lines that are highly ornamented. The third and final type is that of the arias and duets, derived predominately from the virtuosic solo writing of the opera and cantata."
Abstract This paper examines the life of Adolf Hitler through his childhood, service in World War I, and the formation of the Nazi Party in Germany. It looks at his rise to power over the years against the backdrop of the changing political scene in Germany.
From the Paper "The age-old view of the Jewish people as "the Christ-killers" served as a suitable backdrop in which to place the blame for a wide variety of social ills now gripping the nation. Whether by their nature, or some cruel trick of fate, the Jewish community in Germany had largely secured their assets in durable items such as real estate, artwork, and precious stones. Thus, as the economy crashed around them, the Jewish minority remained financially secure. Resentment among Germans grew strong as they watched their children grow weak with starvation while the Jewish community thrived."
Abstract In Hemingway's story, "Big Two-Hearted River," the character, Nick Adams, returns from war with a feeling of great despair toward life. This paper shows that, after getting back to his natural settings, he Adams regains his strength to live. The paper looks at the meaning of story's title and how it symbolizes the different phases of life, such as joys and sorrows, just as the river passes through rough mountains to the plains. It also shows how this message is reflected in Adams's journey from war to peace.
From the Paper "In the story the author has chosen the omniscient point of view. The main purpose of the story is not to reveal the emotional sufferings of the character, Nick, but to describe his activities after he comes back to the natural settings. If the author had chosen to tell a story from Nick's point of view, it would have been a psychological story or a war story. The author has chosen an omniscient point of view because he does not want the readers to realize that people do not have to do something significant to get rid of traumatic experiences."
The history and development of the architecture of the Roman theater building. An in-depth look at how the ancient Romans borrowed heavily from the Greek example, but improved upon it to create a building that was uniquely Roman.
Abstract The paper discusses in great detail the evolution of the Roman theater, beginning from the Greek wooden origins to the stone monuments that became iconic with Roman architecture during the Republic and the Empire. A brief history of theater is discussed in the beginning of the paper, with special attention given to the religious implications of how theaters were originally set up. The importance of the orchestra and "skene" are given historical background, dating back to early Dionysian worship. The layout of the early Greek theaters are discussed, with a complete layout included that describes the circular performance area, the seating arrangements, background adjustments and a rudimentary stage. The rest of the paper deals with how the Romans, eager to take the art of theater from being a religious practice to more of an entertainment value for the masses, incorporated their own unique designs to the Greek theater layout to create a more efficient and clearly Roman design. Heavy attention is give to Vitruvius and his work " De Architectura" which provides a step-by-step process in which Roman theaters were built. Improvements are discussed from eliminating the completely circular stage to a half-circle, as well as creating an official stage that persists in modern theatrical performances. The paper takes each part of the theater and discusses the area extensively in terms of what the Romans did to improve upon or change from the early Greek models.
From the Paper "Ancient Rome's concept of art and architecture was heavily influenced by the cultures that the Romans had conquered, but were in no way identical copies of the art that existed in those subjugated areas. The Romans excelled at taking artistic ideas from other civilizations and molding them into a form that could undoubtedly be identified as uniquely Roman. This technique can easily be seen in practice when one examines the Roman theater building. Roman theaters can be found throughout the area that used to be the Roman Empire, with remnants of theaters all over Europe and the Mediterranean. These theaters have details and building techniques that are exclusive to Roman designs, but when they are viewed in comparison with ancient Greek theaters, one can clearly see where the Romans received their inspiration."
Analyses the Reagan foreign policy, and how it consistently confronted the Soviet Union in ways that forced it to spend huge amounts of money on defense. Makes the argument that this is the main reason that the Soviet Union collapsed.
Abstract This paper highlights the portions of Ronald Reagan's foreign policy that confronted the Soviet Union in ways that forced the United States to spend large amounts of money. The foreign policy issues that are examined include Afghanistan, The Iran-Contra Affair, Reagan's support of Eastern-European Dissidents and Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, (also known as "Star Wars"). Afghanistan is heavily analyzed, with a breakdown of significant historical points, such as the introduction of the US-made Stinger missile, which stripped the USSR of air superiority. The Iran-Contra affair is included as a way to demonstrate Reagan's willingness to confront communism everywhere. This was a marked policy shift from Jimmy Carter and caught the USSR off guard. The Strategic Defense Initiative is analyzed and is linked to an increased amount of money being spent by the USSR on research and development. The support of dissidents by Reagan is looked at as well, with the conclusion that with relatively little amounts of effort, Reagan's foreign policy fomented large amounts of political opposition to the Soviet Union in Eastern European satellite countries. This caused the Soviet Union to spend money combating this problem as well, with their spy apparatus. Definitive numbers are given that explain just how much the Soviet Union spending increased while Reagan was in office.
From the Paper "In the 1980's, a swirling of events converged to form a perfect storm that met the conditions for bringing down what Ronald Reagan termed the "evil empire." The first incident was that Old School communists in the Politburo sought to make an impression in Central Asia, but found stalwart resistance in The Gipper. Second, Reagan's abrupt shift from Carter's lax foreign policy took the Soviets by surprise, with the new administration's desire to challenge communism on every front possible; out of this desire came the ill-fated support of the contras, along with the hugely successful backing of Eastern European dissidents, namely the Solidarity movement in Eastern Europe. The third event in Reagan's foreign policy shift that took the world by surprise was the administration's renunciation of the doctrine of Mutually Assured Destruction; Reagan took the steps of beginning a Ballistic Missile Defense program, which he coined the Strategic Defense Initiative. The Soviets, with few options of recourse, were forced to make concessions that led to the implosion of the "evil empire" shortly afterward. Thus, by applying a policy of confrontation of spreading Communism, bleeding the Soviets in Afghanistan by supporting the mujahideen, and abruptly announcing a paradigm shift in American foreign policy with the Strategic Defense Initiative, Ronald Reagan certainly hastened, if not caused the downfall of the USSR."
Abstract This paper explores the reasons for the Irish Civil War of 1922-1923. While the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921 is widely considered the instigation for the war, this paper examines the underlying tensions in the country. The author investigates three primary factors, which he concludes are the actual causes of war: (1) the nationalist split that had developed within the Irish leadership before World War I; (2) the resignation of President Eamon De Valera and his support for the anti-Treaty position; and (3) the the nature of Irish political culture.
From the Paper "The nationalist split concerned the basis of the Irish claim for self-determination. Both factions had Irish independence as their goal, yet they differed in their rationale and proposed courses of action. This split pre-dated World War I, but was brought to a crux by the Treaty. One faction claimed national self-determination on the basis of Ireland's equality with other white, English-speaking countries. Rather than focusing on Ireland's uniqueness, this faction emphasized Ireland's similarity to these other countries."
Tags: anti, civil, collins, de, eamon, history, ireland, irish, michael, partition, politics, treatyites, valera, war
Abstract The central thesis of Eduardo Galeano's 1971 work of poetic, economic nonfiction, "Open Veins of Latin America" is that the cash crops and natural resources of Latin America have provided the fundamental tools for the rich nations of North America and Europe to grow richer, at the expense of the poorest of the poor of Latin America. This paper examines the book and shows how Galeano speaks of the colonial powers as "the winners" and Latin America as "the loser" because of its subsequent political instability after colonial economic exploitation.
From the Paper "At times, Galeano makes great philosophical leaps, and because his analysis is more poetic than statistical, one must as a reader essentially 'go on a ride' with him, and accept some of his sweeping assumptions about the world. However, the ride is ultimately an enriching one. The world cannot sustain itself, if we all remain focused on selfishly profiting our own nations, as was typical during the colonial era. It is no longer sustainable for a national community to focus on enriching itself with greedy policies, because we as a world have come to see that everyone is affected by such an attitude, from our air, water, soil, and the whole of our environments."
Abstract This is a lifespan development and personality paper centering on a developmental perspective of Adolph Hitler. The paper discusses the negative effects of Hitler's early home life such as the lack of a father figure. The paper also discusses his search for a substitute father figure as an adult and the failure of Hitler's mother to provide guidance. Furthermore, the paper looks at Hitler's neurotic conception of the world and his growing belief that only he could become the leader of his vision, not other people.
From the Paper "This paper offers a developmental perspective of Adolf Hitler who rose to power from a man who occupied seemingly insignificant political positions to become the unchallenged leader of Germany until his death. His dictatorial governmental policies that led to the elimination of political opponents and his hatred of the Jews can be traced back to his childhood influences, developments and experiences. The significance of these influences will be explored in the discussion of the background of Hitler. Furthermore two theories of personality-Maslow's Hierarchy..."
Tags: Lifespan, Development, and, Personality, Paper
Abstract This article examines Florence Nightingale's contributions to the nursing profession. The writer discusses how she transformed the whole practice of nursing into a profession. The writer uses different sources to demonstrate that Florence Nightingale's achievements produced many contributions to nursing theory in addition to the nursing practice.
From the Paper "Gorrell states that Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, transformed the practice into a respectable profession and set the standards for clean and safe hospitals throughout the world. The purpose of this paper is to review the multiple accomplishments of Florence Nightingale and their contribution to the nursing profession. Clearly one of the ways in which Florence Nightingale advanced the profession of nursing was in her concern for hygiene. Gillian points out that part and parcel of ... "
