Abstract There is a clear sense that Roman Imperialism was made possible to a large degree by the attainment of a high level of military knowledge and structure. Rome in the Imperial Period, roughly between 27 BC to 395 AD, was marked by a substantially large and well organized standing army. The Roman City State had developed and established sets of colonies, some of which created through collaboration and others through conquest, but delineated a sense of strategic protection and superiority regionally. According to this paper, it is the organization of the army which marks both Rome's success and its ability to utilize novel military tactics to defeat its enemy and gain imperial territory, which at its peak stretched through most of Europe, the Persian Gulf and North Africa.
From the Paper "The ebb and flow of military tactics was to a large degree dependent upon the character, flexibility and acceptance of the emperor, who was more often than not the traveling and demonstrative leader of the empire or the future leader of the empire. Additionally, most successful imperial leaders of Rome beginning with Augustus, demonstrated a keen sense of the need to alter tactics to the size of the available troops, the known tactics of the enemy and the environment of the region, an issue that became paramount in very distant campaigns such as that of Britain, and especially North Britain. (Shotter 53) Roman military tactics are clearly marked as a standard for modern warfare of the time including issues such as defined logistics, military intelligence gathering and preliminary constructions of fortifications, both permanent and temporary as well as road building, which to a large degree was the lasting mark of Roman military success. (Goldsworthy 43-78) The building of Hadrian's wall in fact is argued to be the delineation of the length to which Rome was willing to go in its occupation of Britain, based on political but mostly environmental reasons. The organization of the northern occupied regions was markedly less and the infrastructure was much sparser, for the most part because few Roman citizens saw the wisdom in living in such an unfavorable and un-Roman region, with very limited regional gains to be had. (Shotter 9)"
Abstract This paper examines the validity of the work of Tacitus in "The Annals of ImperialRome" and his bias on the government of the Roman Empire. It explains that, as a former official within the imperial regime, Tacitus had a bird's-eye view of the goings-on within the Roman Empire, beginning with the reign of Augustus Caesar; his experience within the Empire, however, influenced his opinions on the history of Rome. Tacitus had a tendency to change the speeches of Roman leaders to enhance his arguments about the effectiveness of leadership within the Roman Empire. This leads to many questions about the nature of his interpretation of Roman history.
From the Paper "Modern historians constantly grapple with the dilemma of accuracy and objectivity, or the lack of it, in the antiquated documents that their predecessors painstakingly devised for future examination. While many written documents of antiquity do not survive to reveal their obligatory tales, those that do are often miserably translated or fail to elaborate upon the subjects with which modern historians are concerned. However, these invaluable primary sources are, in some cases, the only evidence available of the events occurring during periods that have been obscured by contemporary affairs. The era of the notorious Roman Empire has fallen prey to this occurrence; the remaining documents of this period are few, and some are simply portions of the original works. Tacitus? work, The Annals of Imperial Rome, is especially intriguing since it is one of a few surviving reports chronicling a group of individuals who rule during the early empire. Herein lies the unavoidable question: because his work is one of a scarce group, against what scale may its exactness be measured?"
The following essay examines two related themes in the Modern Age that have dramatically weaved their way through history and into the present day, nationalism and its aggressive ethnocentric stepchild, cultural imperialism.
1,305 words (approx. 5.2 pages), 2000 sources, 2000, $ 44.95
Abstract This essay examines the two related themes that have significantly contributed to the development of social, political, and cultural changes across the planet. The writer examines several historical examples related to these themes, and then relates nationalism and cultural imperialism to current events. In addition this essay comments on nationalistic tendencies during the Protestant Reformation and creation of the dynastic states, surrounding the French Revolution and the Revolutions of 1848, within the Far East, and in other settings; and cite nationalism in current events.
From the Paper "Plenty of arguments surround the role of the Protestant Reformation in the rise of modern individualism, democracy, and industrialism, but most historians agree that the Reformation deeply influenced the formation of modern nationalism, especially through the Thirty Years War and the subsequent Treaty of Westphalia. By that time, several of the modern nation-states were solidified, particularly Spain, France, and England. Here we see nationalism originating in states that were based on religious and dynastic ties."
Abstract This paper discusses the relationship between imperialism and capitalism from the time of the Spanish Empire to the present. The author describes both forces--capitalism and imperialism--and argues that imperialism is the monopoly stage of capitalism. The paper relates the purpose of Spanish imperialism and how the forms of imperialism have changed over time.
From the Paper "For many world scholars, the form of slavery, begun by the English in the seventeenth century and continued into the nineteenth century by the Americans, is merely the most naked form of imperialism. It is the domination of an oppressor ..."
Abstract This paper looks at imperialism in the 20th century. It takes a look at both the pro-imperialism and anti-imperialism points of view. Included are the pro-imperialism ideologies of Teddy Roosevelt and Adolph Hitler and the anti-imperialism arguments of Frantz Fanon and Mahandas Gandhi,as well as others. The political ideas of expansionism and protectionism are explored.
From the Paper "As the 20th century unfolded, the struggle for and against imperialism continued escalate and became a dominant issue on the world political stage. While political figures in countries as disparate as Nazi Germany and the United States supported and justified imperialism, those who were subjects of it willingly put their lives on the line to oppose it and, hopefully, bring it to an end. For the most part, the pro-imperialist, based their arguments on economic need and/or racism. Such is true in the cases of Jules Ferry, Theodore Roosevelt, and Adolph Hitler. On the other hand, those who stood against imperialism based their arguments on human rights and self-determination. Just before the dawn of the 20th century, both Ferry of France and Roosevelt of the United States led the charge for expansionism by their respective countries."
Abstract This paper discusses Giles of Rome's theorem regarding essence and existence, in particular, his choice of the work "Res". It considers the philosophical and theological climate of the time of Giles of Rome and the theories and arguments of other philosophers. The paper details Gile's argument and also gives reasons why Gile's doctrine and terminology faced the criticisms and negative reactions that it had.
This paper uses MLA style footnotes but does not include a works cited page.
From the Paper "Existence and essence and the relationship between them was an issue among many that were argued about by the thinkers of the middle ages. Giles of Rome's theorem regarding essence and existence was controversial in that many opposed to it. His choosing of the word, res, was, according to many, a mistake. However, it was not completely the cause for opposition."
Abstract This paper examines the themes and issues presented in Robert Johnson's book "British Imperialism: Histories and Controversies". The paper also analyzes the historiography of British imperialism and discusses the consequences of colonization.
From the Paper "Johnson's purpose in this book is to explain some of the histories and controversies surrounding British imperialism, a concept he believes that was continuously evolving, was somewhat incoherent and even contradictory. Johnson considers his book an introduction to British imperialism, not a history of the British Empire. As such some of the content is presented in outline form rather than in depth. However presented, the content supports his aim of explaining how some of the historiography..."
Abstract The paper discusses three theories about the New Imperialism policies of Europe and the United States. The paper explains the causes of the New Imperialism policies, including economic reasons, emergence of nation states and nationalism, cultural and religious motives.
From the Paper "The phrase "New Imperialism" has historically been used to describe the various competing imperialist policies of Europe and the United States at the end of the Nineteenth and beginning of the Twentieth centuries. This new imperialism was different in a number of ways from the old practices, not the least of which was the fact that it was widely recognized and criticized in its own time. There has been much debate within the field concerning what the actual causes of the new imperialist era were."
Tags: new imperialism, hayes, hobson, lenin, ferry, bismarck, kipling
Abstract This paper argues that financial and other practical factors as opposed to supernatural factors shaped the practice of abandoning infants in the real world of ancient Greece and Rome .
From the Paper "To the modern reader the story of how the infant Oedipus was exposed to die on a hillside at his father's insistence is appalling. While it can be argued that the problem of child abuse and abandonment is still very much ..."
Tags: child exposure/abandonment, Greece, Rome, Oedipus, Ion
This paper uses the proverb "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" to demonstrate how proverbs can be used to assist with direction in certain events in life.
675 words (approx. 2.7 pages), 0 sources, 2005, $ 26.95
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that moments in life can often be categorized by the maxims or proverbs that have come before. The writer points out that hindsight allows one to see how these really surmise different events throughout a person's history, and, sometimes, maxims and proverbs can be used to give direction to a person's life. The writer explains that the maxim, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", came into play when the writer took up a new position at Acme Manufacturing.
From the Paper "Moments in life can often be categorized by the maxims or proverbs that have come before. Hindsight allows one to see how these really surmise different events throughout a person's history, and, sometimes, maxims and proverbs can be used to give direction to a person's life. The maxim, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do", came into play when the writer took up a new position at Acme Manufacturing. The writer had applied for the customer service position, knowing that Acme Manufacturing was a perfectly suitable type of company. After a series of interviews with not only the departmental manager, but also some of the other customer service team members, the writer wanted the position even more."
Abstract This paper discusses ancient Greece and Rome, noting first that the two major city-states in ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta, and these two cities had different social systems and concentrated on perfecting different aspects of life. The writer notes that the ancient Greeks developed a social system that reflected their geography and climate. The writer further points out that the city-state was the name given to the early kingdoms built around a small city, with the largest political unit being the city itself.
From the Paper "The two major city-states in ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta, and these two cities had different social systems and concentrated on perfecting different aspects of life. The ancient Greeks developed a social system that reflected their geography and climate. The city-state was the name given to the early kingdoms built around a small city, with the largest political unit being the city itself. In time, city-states would join together to form larger political units, creating larger kingdoms and eventually empires stretching across much of a continent or other large area. For the Greeks, the city-state was the basic political unit, and the major ones were Athens and Sparta. The leadership in Athens was democratic, while that in Sparta was based more on strong military leaders."
Abstract The paper explores how the new European imperialism of the 19th century relied on various stages of industrial, scientific and technological advancements that were causes for this to occur. The paper explains how the process of world domination relied on quicker methods of mass production, greater medical advancements and the ideological construct of Darwinism that was used to validate the colonization of so-called lesser races. The paper points out how before the 19th century, nations such as Great Britain could not as quickly produce or technologically be able to sustain the mass invasions that they had accomplished in this century.
From the Paper "This historical analysis will analyze the new imperialism of the 19th century and the various causes that helped to change the human condition in European history. In the advent of the industrial age, one can realize the growing reliance on electricity, machines, and the scientific advances that produced population growth in Europe and America. In many ways, these were the causes of the far easier usage of energy sources, mass production, and population growth, which powerful countries used in having access to a new global imperial agenda. With the advance of science and technology countries such as Great Britain could now exploit and militarily control lesser nations. These are the various causes of the new imperialism that changed the way powerful countries controlled the world in the 19th century.
Abstract This paper compares the decline and fall of Rome with the current situation in the United States today. It examines the current political, economic, social and cultural situation in America and compares it to the circumstances leading to the fall of the Roman Empire. The paper also includes a brief history of the Roman Empire, followed by an analysis of the factors which brought its decline and ultimately its fall in the fifth century A.D. The paper then parallels Rome and America and strives to illustrate the similarities between the two superpowers.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Roman Empire: A Short Overview
Why Rome Fell
The American Empire, New and Old
Conclusions
From the Paper "The moral fabric of American society has deteriorated. The most obvious signs of this deterioration are corruption, the state of education, the rate of divorces and separations as well as an increase in the rate of criminality. Irrespective of religious belief, morality is an ethical issue which can shed light on a number of other aspects of the modern American society such as the links within communities, the sense of identity, the lack of integrity and civility in society, and even the state of the national economy. Without a doubt, governmental actions teamed up with legislation have had a negative impact on virtue over the past five or six decades. Some have argued that individuals have lost much of their moral fiber due to welfare and a weak accountability of their actions imposed by the state. Morality cannot exist without incentives for moral conduct; from this perspective, the state is responsible for revitalizing civil society and limiting governmental intervention."
Abstract This essay examines historical fiction as seen in the famous Hollywoood movie Quo Vadis. The successes and failures of the film in accurately portraying Roman history and the struggle between early Christianity and Roman society are analyzed. Through a look at real historical sources, we can see that for the most part the film is an entertaining but flawed example of the retelling of a historical event and the personalities of that time. For example, the film leads viewers to believe that this period of history was the climax of the conflict between imperialRome and early Christianity, but in fact Nero was no worse for the Christians than many other emperors before and after his reign.
From the Paper "The characters of Marcus Vinicius and Lygia in the film are symbolic of the rift between imperial Rome and the early Christians, however, they are fictional characters and did not exist in ancient Rome. Galba was in fact the real leader who replaced Nero (he does in the film as well), but he was a seventy-year old man who only ruled for about six months before he was executed by rivals in the forum and replaced by Otho."
Abstract This paper discusses how Hadrian's Wall was one of several defensive structures put in place in Britain during the reign of the Emporer Hadrain to try to control the attacks of the wild northern tribes. It also looks at how the Wall stands as one of the great monuments to imperialRome and how it is as much a monument to the limitations of the empire as its success.
From the Paper "Julius Caesar made two attempts to penetrate the island. Caligula failed in his invasion, and then Claudius succeeded in subduing the southern portion of the island in 43 C.E. (Dio Cassius, bk. 60, 19-23; Black, 419-24) After the initial invasion, it was apparently assumed that the entire island would be conquered, and over the next several years, repeated thrusts were made to expand the Roman holding. Conquest, however, proved much more difficult than was initially expected. In 60 C.E., Boudicca led a savage revolt which should the strength of the underlying resistance. In 77-84 C.E., the Roman governor Agricola attempted to subdue Scotland, and in 84, at the battle known at Mans Graupius, the Romans defeated the wild northern tribes, but at such cost that they had to abandon their campaign (Drummond & Nelson, 135; Martin, 29). "
