Abstract This paper traces the origins and developments of the AztecEmpire from their humble roots in southern Mexico. The author traces their developments over some 1000 years.
From the Paper "The Aztecs were Central American Indian people who invaded central and southern Mexico and took control. As they grew in political status, they became sophisticated and civilized, learning from established peoples who had been town dwellers for more than 1,000 years. There are many myths and legends concerning these people called the Aztecs (Mayo 49). Some people describe the pyramids they built, the wars they waged and the human sacrifices they made. It has been said that their Emperor Montezuma was terrible and savage in his deeds (49). The Aztecs had a great civilization with a wealthy and diverse history. Fortunately, much of this history was preserved and recorded for us by early priest, conquistadors, Spanish chroniclers, and the Aztec themselves (49). "
Abstract This paper tries to understand the business practices and trade cultures of the Aztecs by looking at the environment in which the Aztecs lived, worked and raised their families. The paper briefly discusses the Aztec's ability to maintain their fundamental beliefs and practices relating to internal business affairs and trade despite Spanish colonization, as well as the natural geographical environment of the Mesoamericans and how this helped in creating innovations in farming and agriculture. The paper compares traders and merchants of the Aztecempire to today's merchants and also analyzes how the various economic systems and business practices that the Aztecs practiced, though primitive, allowed the various market sectors and regions to come together to create an extraordinarily dynamic economy.
From the Paper "Like many other Mesoamerican civilizations, the Aztecs relied heavily upon a variety of markets and business merchants to transport goods and commodities from the producer to the consumer. In this instance, the word "markets" does not connote what we today refer to as global and/or national markets, such as a country like Japan producing and marketing automobiles, televisions and audio equipment. Thus, "markets" refers to a physical space, such as a marketplace or agora as found in ancient Greece where buyers and sellers came together to exchange goods and services under the auspices of the reigning king or emperor."
This paper discusses the destruction of the AztecEmpire the advanced Mexican civilization, by the 16th Century Spanish invaders: Cortes, Spaniards' needs and aims, depopulation of Indians and Montezuma.
2,475 words (approx. 9.9 pages), 5 sources, 1985, $ 87.95
From the Paper "The period of exploration of the New World was also a period of exploitation as European adventurers and armies encountered the native population and took advantage of that population, robbing the civilizations found here and decimating the population. The Aztecs had a mighty civilization in the New World that was destroyed by the Conquistadors in the name of greed and Christianity. The Aztecs were regarded as uncivilized heathens, and their lands were taken from them, their goods were stolen, and their leaders murdered.
Aztec civilization--and it was indeed a civilization--created its most extraordinary achievements in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. It received a sudden and painful defeat at the hands of the Spanish army in 1519-1521. Aztec civilization flourished in the Valley of Mexico, a tiny area in comparison with the total ... "
Abstract This paper examines the defeat of the Aztecs by the Spanish conquistadors. It considers the significance of military technology, religious beliefs and the Aztec lack of resistance to Old World diseases, with the last being the most crucial factor in the conquest.
From the Paper "The defeat of the Aztec Empire by a couple of hundred Spanish conquistadors under Cortez is one of the most dramatic and one-sided wars of conquest in history equaled perhaps only by the contemporary..."
Abstract This paper discusses the Aztec practice of human sacrifice and cannibalism. It explains this practice and explains how widespread the practice was. It explores the Aztec belief in the religious significance of human sacrifice.
From the Paper "The Aztecs were constantly at war with neighboring tribes and groups. One goal of this warfare was to collect prisoners for human sacrifice. It is estimated that the Aztecs sacrificed approximately people per year. The best known of these religious sacrifices involved taking captives to the top of a temple pyramid where their hearts were cut from their chests. The bodies of the victims were then tossed down the steps of the pyramids. As gruesome as this is, many people believe that human sacrifice in the Aztec ..."
Abstract This paper examines how early in the fourteenth century, the Aztec people arrived in the Valley of Mexico and how they rose from squatters to mercenaries to become the dominant state in pre-Columbian Mexico. It also looks at how Tenochtitlan, their capital city, flourished until 1519, with the arrival of the Spaniards and how eventually, the entirety of Aztec civilization was brought to its knees by the Spanish invaders.
From the Paper "As the Aztec people rose to become a more successful state through military conquests, they also improved upon farming methods. They converted the highly fertile marsh lands into the largely successful chinampa system. They piled rows of mud and other materials, dug canals in between the raised piles, then planted willow trees around the perimeter to fortify their gardens. The results were long, rectangular patches of land, known as chinampas surrounded by marshy water which resembled floating gardens. The farmers would regularly apply soil from the bottom of the canals to the surface of the chinampas to rejuvenate the nutrients of the gardens. "
Abstract This paper is a detailed comparison of the Roman Empire and the Chinese Empire. The author shows how the imperial dynasties of Han and Qin along with the classical empire of Rome offered their people a combination of protection against external enemies and an infrastructure that was far more functional than individual cities or regions would have been able to provide for themselves. This paper describes the reign of all three of these dynasties and their effect on their people as well as world history.
From the Paper "While it is difficult to make any general statement that can cover the political and cultural complexities of the Roman Empire along with the Han and Qin dynasties in China because they were sufficiently different from each other as well as being possessed of substantial internal diversity. And yet, even given the range of institutions and ideals that the three cultures exemplified, there are some commonalties that strike the observer from the vantage point of the 21st century. The primary one of these is that neither the Chinese empire nor the Roman one could have extended its reach as far as it did in geographic terms, had as great a control over its subjects' personal lives as it did, nor ruled for such a long period of time had not the ruling house combined a high degree of bureaucratic efficiency with a depiction of the imperial family that was at least semi-divine."
Abstract This paper explores the creation of the Dutch and Portugese maritime empires, attempting to understand the primary impetus. The author maintains that in both the Dutch and Portuguese cases, means-not motivation-was the major factor in determining the creation and form of the countries' respective empires.
The Portuguese Maritime Empire in Monsoon Asia (1498-1825)
The Dutch Maritime Empire (1400-1800)
Conclusion
From the Paper "In the first stages of imperial expansion, means is more important than motivation. Some empires, such as the Dutch (though not the Portuguese), have a pre-imperialist phase of expansion in which this is particularly true. In this earliest stag, the country is simply trying to preserve the status quo, as the Dutch were trying to preserve their access to spices at the end of the 16th century. Without planning to, they lay the groundwork for imperialism-in the Dutch case, by consolidating trade under the VOC and forming alliances with Asian leaders not already allied with the Portuguese. Only when the necessary means for empire materialize does the country opportunistically and imperialistically expand."
Abstract This paper discusses Muslim Empires and the interpretation of Islam. It looks at the power of the Ottoman Empire and its demise, the Mughal Empire and emperors and the views of Edward Said regarding historical knowledge of another culture.
From the Paper "According to Akbar S Ahmed the main Muslim empires were the Ottomans the Safavids and the Mughals. At its height the empire of the Ottomans extended from Budapest to Yemen and from Baghdad to Algeria. In spite of the size of the empire and the power of the ..."
Tags: Said, Ahmed, Islam, Muslim empires, Ottoman, Mughal
Abstract The paper describes the birth of the Roman republic and the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and notes the aspects that are common to the Roman and the Greek cultures. The paper then discusses the end of the Republic and the beginning of the Empire that was marked by the naming of Octavian Augustus emperor for life. The paper outlines the era of the Five Good Emperors and focuses on Diocletian and Constantine who were some of the most important figures of the Roman Empire at that time and had a role in the spread of Christianity. Finally, the paper overviews the main reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire.
From the Paper "The history of the Roman republic and then empire represents one of the most important segments of the history of the world. It represents the first elements of the organization of the state. However, at the same time the development of the system of government pointed out the different means through which a community can evolve from a political point of view. From the early days of the republic to the late years of the Empire, the Roman state and its institutions were a representative example for the political development of a form of government."
Abstract An outline of the early medieval period, which saw the rise of new kingdoms in Western Europe. The paper discusses the rise and development of the Carolingian Empire. It also provides special attention to the economic and social structure that came from the collapsed Roman Empire and the Barbarian kingdoms.
From the Paper "In the pre-Christian era, the German tribes migrated from the northern Europe to the Roman Empire and occupied the northern lands. There were clashes between the German tribes and the Romans who considered them intruders into their lands and called them "barbarians". The collapse of the Roman Empire enabled the German tribes to explore the Western Roman Empire. There were three basic factions of these German tribes-Germanic Lombards who settled in northern and central Italy, Anglo-Saxons in Britain, And Franks in Gaul (France). The Frankish kingdoms later became one of the new western European civilizations."
Abstract This paper discusses the fall of the Roman empire, and the theory that the destruction of the empire was based on the greed of the wealthy Romans. The paper looks at evidence which contends that Rome experienced a time of peace, and that in that peace there was a need for wealth. Therefore, the wealthy began to tax the poor, and this was the beginning of the fall.
From the Paper "Throughout ancient history Rome was considered the strongest governmental and military force in the world. Researchers indicate that Rome had conquered many lands through the use of innovative military tactics, and with the numerous citizens who loyally served the country. Yet, as Rome had defeated its greatest enemies there came a time of peace for the nation. While this time should have been a rebirth for Rome, the opposite affect occurred. This was evident because without any other country to battle, Rome lost the opportunity to accumulate wealth that had built with each conquest. Therefore, peace for Rome meant growing poverty for it's citizens. This financial strain then spread to the country's hierarchy. It was then that Rome began to fall - for it was the greed of the wealthy that both built, and then destroyed this great power. "
Abstract This paper examines the discussion of the complex relationships the Ottoman Turkish Empire had with her European and Middle Eastern neighbors, as presented in Suraiya Faroqhi's book "The Ottoman Empire and the World Around It". In particular, the paper examines the writing style and expertise of author Suraiya Faroqhi. The paper discusses how the book examines the time period when the Turks were the foremost power in the Muslim world, taking the title from the Arabs before them.
From the Paper "One of the most controversial and most generalized peoples that ever entered the European continent are the Turks. Beginning with the Seljuks, this ethnicity originally from near Mongolia has stayed in the European mindset, even to this day. The actions of Turkish ancestors still might be affecting modern Turkey's inadmission to the European Union."
Abstract The author of the paper poses the following question: Can America be considered an empire? The author begins by defining what, in his opinion, defines an empire. He then proceeds to examine the foreign policy and actions of the United States in the past and specifically since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 before reaching his final conclusion.
From the Paper "While it may not actually serve as a breeding ground for terrorism, the Israel-Palestine conflict has been used by al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and numerous other Islamic terrorist groups to justify their actions and to gain recruits. With an end to that numbing struggle, the Middle East can 'move on.' The 'Road Map to Peace,' so vaunted in the early days of the Bush Administration, has clearly been supplanted by the 'War on Terror.' This crisis needs to be resolved, though. The current Israeli pulling out of the settlements in the West Bank is a good start, and horrible as it may sound, Yasir Arafat's impending demise may prove to be a good thing in the long run. Israel certainly needs to show understanding and willingness to compromise, however. Allowing Arafat to be buried in the city of Jerusalem would be a good start. A good next step would be a withdrawal to pre-1967 borders. Of course, Israel and Palestine must solve these crises themselves if this peace is to last. When it does, however, the Middle East will be a safe haven for democracy to take root."
Tags: iraq israel invasion terror empire imperialist democracy arab iran, middle east, palestine rome
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book "Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire," by Niall Ferguson. Specifically, the writer discusses whether she agrees with the following statement at the end of Ferguson's book: 'I believe the world needs an effective liberal empire and that the United States is the best candidate for the job'. The writer maintains that Ferguson's arguments for U.S. imperialism are the backbone of his book, and he makes some compelling and well thought out arguments for his thesis.
From the Paper "Under this definition, the United States could certainly be considered an empire, since we have had imperialistic relations with the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq. In all of these conquests or skirmishes, the country has been fighting for "democracy" and freedom, whether the people wanted it or not. Indeed, the author mentions more recent aggressions, such as the toppling of the Soviet Union (which America had at least some small part in), along with the regimes of Slobodan Milosevic, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein, as an example of American might overseas."
