How this empire impacted Western European society with its numerous political, military, cultural, and economic contributions throughout the time it reigned, and the reasons for its collapse.
1,544 words (approx. 6.2 pages), 1 source, 2001, $ 50.95
From the Paper "The early Middle Ages marked the time of early barbarian kingdoms rebelling against traditional Roman law because they no longer recognized the emperor in Constantinople as their sovereign. Therefore, they established vast empires in Western Europe; a prime example of such a kingdom was that of the Carolingians. Charles the Great, or Charlemagne, is considered to be the most successful Carolingian ruler despite the relatively rapid collapse of his empire caused by three dominant factors: external pressures, dynastic competition, and the rise of the aristocracy. Although the Carolingian empire eventually crumbled as a result of the above occurrences, it tremendously impacted Western European society with its numerous political, military, cultural, and economic contributions throughout the time it reigned."
Tags: charlemagne, contributions, dynastic, dynasty, rule, society
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."
Examines costume and styles of dress in ancient Egypt. Focuses on the dynastic era from about 3100 BC to approximately 500 BC. Includes additional 7 pages of pictures and diagrams.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 6 sources, 1995, $ 79.95
Introduction
The intent in this paper is to examine costume and styles of dress in ancient Egypt. The focus is on the dynastic era in Egyptian history from about 3100 B.C.E. to approximately 500 B.C.E. Egypt became a recognizable country during this time period, centered on the Nile River Valley.
Historical Background
The history of people in Egypt extends much further back than 3100 B.C.E., however, The Paleolithic Age in Egypt was actually a fruitful one, with a number of predynastic peoples dwelling in the Nile River Valley by about 5500 B.C.E. These people engaged in some agriculture, along with herding, and there ..."
Abstract This paper discusses the Egyptian funerary rituals and equipment, which eventually became the most elaborate the world has ever known. The author states that Egyptians began the art of embalming in the very earliest dynastic times because the body had to remain intact to grant to the dead the illusion of life. The paper presents in detail the many processes of embalming.
From the Paper "The Predynastic Cultures of Ancient Egypt, for example, were relatively simple in their material possessions, including their grave goods, although these cultures seemed to enjoy a substantial degree of prosperity compared to the peoples around them and a relatively constant level of prosperity. As early as about 4000 B.C., some people were being buried with a relatively high number of grave goods compared to others, indicating that a complex society with a number of different social ranks had already evolved and was established well enough for people to want it to be reflected through eternity. The bodies of this time do not bear the elaborate preparations that they would by the New Kingdom thousands of years later. But, they do bear signs of an attempt to preserve them against the elements, including the wrapping of the body in cloth and at least sometimes the treating of the body with preservative chemicals ? sometimes by simply immersing or coating the body with these chemicals, sometimes by infusing the cloth wrappings with these chemicals. Except for the simplicity of this treatment, it resembles in essential ways later mummification techniques."
Abstract This paper examines the link between Asian Art and anthropology through the study of a figure from the T?ang Dynasty (618-907) entitled ?Figure: Tomb-guardian creature (zhenmushou) and dates circa 700-740?S1997.25?. It looks at how the figure gives an insight into the way of life during the T?ang Dynasty (618-907). It demonstrates how the art of China's earliest dynastic periods focused on the cult of the dead and the afterlife and how kings and their officers constructed and decorated lavish tombs which needed to be safeguarded from evil spirits. It shows how the figure in the gallery is obviously a depiction of one of these these warlike figures who stood to protect the dead.
From the Paper "There are some ways in which this relic is not representative of the later T?ang dynasty. "By the time China was unified under the T"ang"in the seventh century, the subject matter of art had become more cosmopolitan and worldly. Secular architecture reached unprecedented grandeur, landscape painting and portraiture flourished, and technological advances in ceramics led to the development of fine porcelain"? (Nelson 2000 p.1) This tomb guardian, while ascribed to the later T?ang dynasty, does not seem to match Dr. Nelson's description, because this is somewhat primitive in its execution."
Abstract This paper will focus on the autobiography entitled: "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China" by Jung Chang and express the life that she lived through the scope and influence of Chinese communism that was around at the time. Her family will also be analyzed within the scope of her life, but the main focus will be how the history of the country that she lived influenced her personal life and the way her family was changed by these political issues. In reflecting her life the period from Mao Zedong, when he ruled in the nineteen forties will be covered, to the end of the dynast dated around nineteen seventy-six.
Abstract This paper discusses the evolution of the religion of ancient Egypt from its predynastic beginnings, its rise during the time of the great pharaohs of Egypt, and its collapse after the introduction of Christianity by the Romans. It argues that, although the religion took different forms throughout those years, it never completely changed. Instead, there were carryovers through the years as it evolved. It discusses aspects such as animism, cults, animal worship, regional gods, fetishism, and magic.
From the Paper "Throughout the history of ancient Egypt, the religion of this land has advanced and changed. Additionally, there was never one universally accepted form of religion practiced throughout the country. Instead, many different forms of religion flourished in Egypt simultaneously. The evolution of the Egyptian's belief in magic, gods, spirits, and other spiritual can be seen from Egypt's pre-dynastic roots to its height of development during the dynastic period. Finally, one may see its breakdown and the spread of a new religion after the invasion of Egypt by the Greeks."
Abstract This paper discusses how much of the Western military legacy came from the Greeks, especially Alexander the Great, and looks at how, through his military genius and force, Alexander eliminated all dynastic rivals and promising monarchs in his first two years. In the next eight years, he annihilated the Persian Empire and expanded the Greek region 3,000 miles to the East. It analyzes his army, tactics, and use of weapons, such as the use of catapults, which made as much of an impact as assault artillery in the late 20th century.
From the Paper "The 20-year-old Alexander set the stage for victory with the destruction of Thebes. At Grancius, his first major attack following his father's Persian invasion, he developed a model of military strategy for his subsequent wins at Issus, Gaugamela, and Hydaspes. This approach consisted of adjusting to a difficult battle topography, personally leading his men into an attack with no concern for his own safety, and focusing on a vulnerable spot in the enemy's flank, attacking the startled foe with the advancing phalanx and destroying the field troops with the goal of complete eradication. Like his father Philip, before him, Alexander stressed that war did not bring negotiations. Rather, it meant the total destruction of the enemy and its culture (Durant, 541)."
Abstract This paper makes the argument that the principal factor in state formation across Europe was the power of monarchs to centralise and increase their effectiveness to rule in European states. Specifically, the author makes the assertion that the monarchies of Europe created early modern state formation through the centralisation of government institutions, military expansion, financial restructuring, dynastic marriage and the use of tools created through the scientific revolution.
From the Paper "This centralisation and increased effectiveness of tax administration in the Early Modern era allowed a larger revenue to be collected into the royal coffers, in turn meaning that more money could be pumped into the greatest expense for any Early Modern leader, the military. As military tactics and technology dictated an increased cost in the waging of war, so it was realised that the more effective a bureaucracy was, the more effective royal armies could be. The centralisation of resources for armies created a unique situation whereby relatively small countries such as England and the Netherlands were able to wage-war with more demographically prosperous countries such as France and Spain. 'Good' government also came through the scrupulous effectiveness of taxation: the less money that stuck to the hands of local barons and entered the royal treasuries, the more the central power of the monarch could spend on consolidating the state through standing armies and more charismatic schemes. This meant the population of a country would see both centralisation and state formation in a beneficial light."
This paper discusses themes in W. Ringle's paper, "On the Political Organization of Chichen Itza." Specifically, the authors looks at the leadership and worship of Quetzalcoatl in Mesoamerica.
Abstract This paper discusses three general themes that are addressed in Ringle's "On the Political Organization of Chichen Itza." First, the paper explains that, in contrast to other authors, Ringle notes that worship of Quetzalcoatl is a primary means of Mesoamerican leadership and puts forth the fact that it is more properly viewed as a set of visual symbolism. Next, the paper explains that Ringle states that the ceremonial cores of specific larger cult centers served as a location for this investiture of leaders who wished to attach themselves to the cult. Lastly, it is surmised that Quetzalcoatl cannot be simply defined as a dynastic patron. Rather, leadership was often subdivided, with often some facet of dual leadership. The paper also analyzes the sources used within the work, the overall argumentative structure, and the fact that Ringle seems to contradict known theories on Quetzalcoastl worship instead of supporting them. The author the paper then ends his discussion with a personal reaction to Ringle's paper, stating that through Ringle's paper it can be shown that ritual is a powerful leadership tool, binding groups of people together despite disparate locations.
From the Paper "In addition, Ringle notes that the UTJ jamb figures have this ornament as well. Likewise, so do all of the figures that are facing the Sun Disk figure that are found on the three faces that are carved on the inner lintel. Ringle further supports his disagreement with Kubler by observing that heron-feather ornaments only occur in the upper registers of the LTJ and the NT. This, he surmises, is further proof that this is an indication of specific rank or segment of warriors who were under the command of the 'Mixcoatl' figure. In addition, the author reminds the reader that among the objects given to initiates in the Quiche chronicles were heron feathers.
"Lastly, Ringle brings to light the fact that in the UTJ there is only one person who is lacking the heron feather ornament. This figure is situated to the left of the table bench carving. Ringle theorizes that if he is the initiate, the individual may simply not have been given his ornament yet, in the depiction. This theory would appear to be further supported by the fact that twin heron feathers are floating just above and to the right of the initiate."
Explores the thesis presented by James H. Morey in "The Fates of Men in Beowulf" regarding the "Beowulf" poet's description of the deaths of the ruling kings.
Abstract This paper examines how James H. Morey's thesis, in "The Fates of Men in Beowulf", centers on how the Beowulf'- poet describes, or just as importantly, doesn't describe the deaths of the ruling kings in each of the three dynastic houses. In particular, the paper looks at Morey's contention that the Swedish and Geatish houses have most of their king's deaths related in a clear and convincing way and that the Danish house is the only one with a significant number of kings whose demises are ambiguous. Contrary to Morey's belief, the paper concludes that a close look at the specific examples of explicitly detailed deaths in both the Swedish and Geatish royals, makes it obvious that these two houses are guilty of the same kin-slaying that to Morey makes the Danes special.
From the Paper "The Geatish house has an even more explicit depiction of kin-slaying in the example of Hrethel's eldest son Herebeald. The tale is related via Beowulf's speech before the dragon fight when he describes how the second eldest son of Hrethel, Haethcyn, hitting and killing his elder brother with an arrow. It is unclear whether or not this was a purposeful act, but the poet's description of it as "fyrenum gesyngad" paints it as deliberate, and malicious, act of violence."
