Abstract This paper details how Marie Antoinette and the affair of the diamond necklace were catalysts to the French Revolution.
From the Paper "Several reasons account for the beginning of the French Revolution. First, France had the largest population in Europe and could not feed it adequately due to crop failure several seasons in a row. Second, the rich and expanding bourgeoisie (working class) was excluded from political power, a position which they met with much resentment. Third, the Philosophers, who advocated social and political reform, were more popular in France than anywhere else. However, the two most significant reason for our purposes involved the country's financial status and the view the common French citizen had of the ruling class."
Abstract This paper looks at the origins of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the historical and current reasons for its existence. Historical and political events involving disputes between England and Ireland are discussed, as well as the activities of the IRA today.
From the Paper "The beautiful island which lies off the coast of Britain, now known as Ireland, has a dark and painful history. Its roots are that of war and dispute. From about 200 BC when the Celts began to arrive in Ireland, up to today, conflict and turmoil have cast their shadow over her green countryside. Out of the rubble of this destruction emerged the Irish Republican Army. Its roots are also that of conflict and destruction going back to the Irish Home Rule movement and the 1916 Rebellion. It has been their sole campaign to liberate Northern Ireland from the rule of the English and up until recently there had been no end in sight. This generation to generation passing of hatred toward the English has led to the imprisonment or death of too many young Irish and English. This is the heritage of hate."
Abstract This essay includes a brief description of the founding of the United Nations and then argues in its defense that it is a necessary global force.
From the Paper "The United Nations began during World War II as a loosely organized confederation of states that had come together in alliance against the threat of German and Japanese imperial power, and as a successor to the failed League of Nations. However, it became a formal organization in 1945, when 46 member states attended the San Francisco Conference, and 51 member states signed the Charter of the United Nations. The principal organs of the Charter are the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, the International Court of Justice and the Secretariat. The cardinal objective of the Charter is the promotion and maintenance of international peace and security. Through the principal and subsidiary organs, the United Nations is dedicated to carry out and promote ?human rights, justice, social progress and better standards of life" all of which lead to a peaceful and healthy international community."
Tags: global, political, armed, forces, war, world, coalition
Abstract A look at the nature and changes in the construction of castles. The author looks at the background of castle construction, how they were built during the Medieval period and the insights that this provides about Medieval society and the inner workings of it.
From the Paper "We look at castles today, impressed by their enormous stature and the massive nature of their physical construction. Even today, with the skyscrapers and other marvels of modern construction, castles still imbue awe in the beholder. Imagining how the construction of such masterpieces could have been accomplished with the technology available to the Medieval person is almost incomprehensible. Castles have held this place in the mind from the Romantic period onward, with a revival of the wonder and majesty that such buildings can evoke. The truth of the matter, however, is that castles began as simple wooden structures and palisades, created to defend certain areas from attack by invaders. These simple wooden fortifications gradually evolved into the massive structures that we know and admire today, and the story of that evolution gives us key insights into the way that Medieval society evolved and the inner workings of the society as well."
Abstract The paper examines the works and life accomplishments of Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179). Hildegard was a notable medieval Christian Abbess and founder of the convent at Rupertsberg. The author discusses her contributions to philosophy, theology and science.
From the Paper "Many of the works of Hildegard stand as examples of primitive attempts to derive a rational explanation for the world in which she lived. She strove to provide a coherent philosophy of the material universe within the context of the Middle Ages. Her life was a time when matters of science, philosophy and theology were thought of as inexorably interdependent. Although her conclusions may appear grotesquely incorrect in comparison to modern standards, we must be careful not to underestimate her intellectual merits. There is great beauty and power to be found within her ecstatic mystical works, despite the absence of any modern scientific foundation."
Abstract An analysis of the use of mythology by Sophocles. The author discusses the use of myths in Ancient Greece to define gods and their laws, showing the terrible consequences of disobeying them and forming the structure of society and politics. The author discusses Sophocles, a Greek dramatist and his use of myths and religious rituals. Included is an analysis of Sophocles' play "Antigone".
From the Paper "Unlike his contemporaries, Sophocles based his tragedies on human actions and reactions, rather than on divine influence. He does not, however, ignore the gods or say they do not play a role. He uses them to show the human limits and possibilities. The Sophoclean gods thus are placed in the background of the plot, influencing it but not interfering in the course of action Greek dramatists often based their plots on myths, which are believed to reflect the national identity and various historic periods. Besides serving as lyric entertainment stories, myths were used to persuade and enlighten citizens in matters of politics, religion, and customary rituals (Bremmer, 58)."
Tags: myths, religion, gods, tradition, punishment, tales, citizen, society
Abstract This paper discusses the Renaissance specifically comparing the music and architecture of the time. The author specifically looks at the music of Josquin dez Prez, a composer of the Renaissance and compares his music to the architecture of the same time emphasizing their similarities in new styles, ideas and inventions.
From the Paper "The renaissance was a time of rebirth and renewal. All over Europe, people were looking back to times they saw as better, instead of towards the unpredictable future. Specifically, the people looked back to the ancient worlds, and found the humanitarian values of the ancient Greeks and Romans very inviting. The arts were reborn from classical ideas, and a new focus was placed on individuals and the natural world (Wright 80). New inventions and wonders filled Europe. This was the era of both the printing press and telescope's birth. New ideas permeated the world, remolding the way people thought. music and architecture were no exceptions to this rebirthing."
Abstract This paper examines the daily life of slaves. Slaves faced a lifetime of hardship yet by creating strong family bonds, relationships and a unique culture, slaves were able to bear the burden and suffering that they had to deal with everyday. The author examines in detail the everyday slave community life and how it helped to alleviate the hardships that slaves experienced.
From the Paper "Life on plantations for the individual slave was harsh. However, by forming strong communities within the plantations, slaves would draw moral support from one another and generally tried to make life easier for each other. A strong family sense was necessary to help soothe the burdens of everyday slavery, to help children make a proper adjustment to adulthood and also provide moral support for those who had relatives sold away from them. By creating their own unique culture, slaves made it easier for themselves to survive the harsh realities of slavery. Music helped to lift the sorrows of slavery. Slaves created their own distinct religion to save them from hatred against their masters and it also served as a vision for liberation. A strong community life among slaves was essential in helping to ease the burden of slavery. "
Tags: american, civil, community, history, slavery, war
Abstract A review of the mafia, its creation and development. The author defines what the Mafia is, where it was first formed and its purpose. Using this as a springboard, he then looks at the different ways in which the Mafia has changed over the years.
From the Paper "The Mafia is a secret criminal organization that wields great economic and political control over large segments of Sicilian society and operates both criminal and legitimate enterprises in the united states. It has been defined as ?a secret union of people of every type and status who give reciprocal help without regard to laws or morals but maybe the best definition was given by Mario Puzo (of The Godfather fame) who described it as "a business like any other with the difference that every so often they shoot each other". The Mafia first developed in Sicily in feudal times to protect the estates of absentee landlords. By the 19th century, it had become a network of criminal bands that dominated the Sicilian countryside."
Abstract This paper examines the relationship between culture and identity. Language, religion and aesthetics are used to show how culture gives a people their identity. The paper is written from an African perspective with the help of books written by African authors.
From the Paper "According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, culture is the customs, beliefs, art, music and all the other products of human thought made by a particular group of people at a particular time. Culture can also be defined as a configuration of learned ideas and solutions to conflicts in human society. Culture can be divided into two namely material culture and non-material culture. "
Abstract This is a study of the elements of President Kennedy's assassination and the conspiracy theories that correlate. The author examines the evidence available on Kennedy's assassination and lists possible conclusions.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial topics in America for the 20th century was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. The 35th American President was pronounced dead due to a gunshot wound at approximately 1pm Dallas time on November 22, 1963. As shocked as the nation was at the sudden loss of their beloved President, rumors on the uncertainty of his death were even more appalling. A country already under the scare of the Cold War was faced with doubts on the reliability of their government. After the assassination, officials arrested Lee Harvey Oswald and charge him as the sole gunman responsible for the shot to the back of President John F. Kennedy's head, as well as the shot that wounded Governor Connally of Texas, who was a passenger in front of the President. In the days following the event, many would doubt all the facts listed in the previous sentence."
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 is a step by step account of the murders committed by Jack the Ripper in the late 1800s. The author takes us through each one chronologically including a detailed look at the most cruel and ruthless murder, the fifth and final one.
From the Paper "Jack the Ripper terrorized the East End of London with his heinous acts of senseless violence in the Nineteenth century. The perpetrator who committed these malicious murders in which the victim's body was viciously mutilated is under speculation. By analyzing each murder, acknowledging the characteristics of the murderer, and providing a scenario, which links Prince Eddy to the murders, it establishes that he is a likely suspect to be Jack the Ripper."
Abstract This paper traces the role of the vice president and how it has changed over the years. It discusses how a vice president is chosen, how his role has grown over the years and how he is just a "heartbeat" away from the president.
From the Paper "The Vice President of the United States has to be ready at any time to take over the country in case of an emergency. The vice president must be ready to become president or acting president in a moments notice if the president becomes seriously ill, dies, resigns, or is removed from office. Out of the fourteen vice presidents that have become president, eight have become president because of death, and one because of a president's resignation. None of the vice presidents expected to become president on such a short notice, but due to death and a resignation they fulfilled their job as acting president very well. The other vice presidents who became President of the U.S. were not as lucky to have their president die or removed from office (World Book # 1)."
Abstract This paper shows how the study of the economics surrounding slavery can give a better understanding of the issues surrounding both slavery and the Civil War. Topics covered include the origins of slavery, opposing views on slavery, the and the economic effectiveness of slavery.
From the Paper "Slavery and the civil war are very complex economic and historical issues. Many prominent Economic Historians view the institution of slavery vastly different from one another. With the difference in views also comes opposing opinions on whether or not the Civil War was actually needed to end the practice of slavery. While it is impossible to truly know what would have happened had events been different surrounding the American Civil War, it is possible to learn about the differences in opinions. Examining the origins of slavery, the opposing views of slavery, and the economics of the civil war can lend a clearer picture of this time frame"
Tags: slavery, Civil, War, south, economics, emancipation, abolition, profit
