Abstract
This paper relates that gender as a category of historical analysis has traditionally been ignored by historians, anthropologists and sociologists. The author analyzes male and female gender roles in historical Japan. The paper concludes that gender was very flexible for males and very rigid for females.

From the Paper
"Gender as a category of historical analysis has traditionally been ignored by historians, anthropologists and sociologists. When discussing gender in "Gender in a Companion to American Thought", R.W. Fox and J.T. Kloppenburg explain, "Its contemporary scholarly use dates largely from the 1970s, when path-breaking feminist scholars began to distinguish between the biological characteristics they labeled `sex' and the attitudes, behaviors, and social structures they labeled `gender' "(Fox and Kloppenburg 272-273). This proves that gender is a much more complicated concept then originally thought."

Tags:gender, historical, analysis

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks at what may be learned from historical literature. The writer maintains that historical literature can give a good view of life in past time periods. It can also show the reader that people in these time periods had similar thought, feelings and motivations.

From the Paper
"Historical literature such as Oroonoko(1688), Canterbury Tales(1343), Pride and Prejudice(1813) and Twelfth Night(1623) attempts to provide a window to previous eras to readers. However, the viability of historical literature as a tool for studying history is debatable. This is because historical literature is usually fiction based in a given time period. This means that it is difficult to determine when the history ends and the fiction begins. All of this would seem to indicate that historical fiction is a poor tool for studying history. This leads to the question, what can we possibly ..."

Tags:historical, literature, tool

Abstract
The paper demonstrates the historical value of a text entitled, "The Life of Cola di Rienzo" and outlines what a historian can learn about the period in question from the life-story of this leader of medieval Rome. The paper describes the text and emphasizes that its real strength is in how it vividly recaptures the political machinations - the viciousness, the intrigues, the deceit and the murderous impulses - that allowed some men to rule over others whilst other men were condemned to death. The paper discusses how the book stands out as a glimpse into the seamier side of medieval Roman politics. From there, the paper proceeds to discuss the early life of di Rienzo, the unhappy situation which forced him into action, his eventful time as Tribune or imperial leader of Rome, and his eventual collapse. The paper asserts that the text is very good at showing how things really were during this period.

From the Paper
"The ensuing several pages will demonstrate/discuss the historical value of a text entitled, "The Life of Cola di Rienzo" and outline what a historian can learn about the period in question from the life-story of this leader of medieval Rome. To start things off, the essay will briefly describe the text and emphasize that its real strength is in how it vividly recaptures the political machinations - the viciousness, the intrigues, the deceit and the murderous impulses - that allowed some men to rule over others whilst other men were condemned to death; in short, the book stands out as..."

Tags:historical, value, rienzo

Abstract
In this article, the writer looks to 'Endgame' and 'Rough for Theatre I' to expound Beckett's themes of absurdity, futility, and interdependency of relations with the self. The writer thus highlights the near insignificance of historical context in relation to the interpretation of Samuel Beckett's early plays. The writer concludes that 'Endgame' and 'Rough for Theatre I' are deeply subjective studies of the self as it tries to survive yet another day in a world that has ceased to make sense.

From the Paper
"Similarly, Endgame tells the story of interdependent characters trying to get through yet another day. The main protagonists are fed up with their daily existence and pray for the end to come soon. Whether due to their circumstance or not, Hamm has become, or always was, tyrannical, sadistic, and cruel to the others. The subordinate Clov constantly obeys Hamm whilst constantly threatening to leave - which he never does. Nagg and Nell are utterly dependant on Hamm for their subsistence and comfort, and are completely dominated by their cruel son. Thus Beckett has set the scene for a deeply introspective study of the self to be revealed before his audience. Every level of social relations the self conducts with any 'Other' is laid bare in Endgame. The self's relationship with his/her lover, spouse, parent(s), colleagues or neighbors is examined, leaving an awkward feeling of intrusion in the audience. Whether Beckett is revealing the perpetual co-dependency of his relationship with his wife Suzanne, or that of his working relationship with Joyce, the end result is the same, for the same elements are found in the nucleus of every relationship. "

Tags:historical, context, plays, characters

Abstract
This paper consists of a five page discussion and conclusion for a previously written essay totaling more than 30 pages in length. The subject of both is historical trauma in the study of Native American populations. Specifically, the author draws parallels between the notion that traumas can be experienced over multiple generations and the Nez Perce Indians and the War of 1877.

From the Paper
"Evidently, then, there is strong evidence in the case of the Nez Perce Indians and the War of 1877 and the hypothesis that this group experienced--and continues to experience--historical trauma. The concept of an historical trauma is an almost natural extension of previously existing concepts of trauma in psychology. The major difference between historical trauma and the more ordinary varieties of trauma is that the latter are analyzed in terms of individual events having an effect on individual people. Posttraumatic stress disorder is an excellent example..."

Tags:historical, trauma, america

Abstract
In this paper, the theory of Historical Materialism (Marxism) is applied to libertarian economic theory. The paper identifies strengths and weaknesses in libertarian theory, the weakness being failure to recognize that real-world markets are imperfect. The paper examines the implications for development of a more just society.

From the Paper
"If a society is to be just, a requirement as fundamental as justice itself is that the society be able to work. That is it must function as a society in a material sense; feeding, housing, clothing, and otherwise providing for the needs and wishes of its people. If a society cannot meet these needs, it will die off or change into some other kind of society and not necessarily a just one anymore. It is therefore useless to pursue..."

Tags:historical, materialism, profit, capitalism, wages, oligopoly, free, markets, libertarianism

Abstract
The paper discusses one of the most famous and controversial historical inquiries that has ever occurred in the realm of natural science that was propagated by Charles Darwin who hypothesized the theory of man's evolution and the origin of species. The paper relates that Darwin was not swayed by the masses' acceptance of the Bible's version of creation of the first man and the first women, Adam and Eve, in the Book of Genesis (New International Version, Gen. 1:26-27).

From the Paper
"One of the most famous and controversial historical inquiries that has ever occurred in the realm of natural science was propagated by Charles Darwin who hypothesized the theory of man's evolution and the origin of species. Darwin was not swayed by the masses' acceptance of the Bible's..."

Tags:inquiry, darwin, historical

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts historical particularism and functionalism. The paper first discusses how historical particularism was a school of thought which concentrated on a holistic historical approach to the study of cultures and civilizations, from the development of their language to their physical appearance. Historical particularists believed in concentrated study of a people and their languages to gain a full understanding on their culture. The paper then discusses functionalism and explains that it sought to be a corrective to the excesses of the evolutionary and diffusionist theories of the nineteenth-century and the historicism of the early twentieth century. Functionalism concentrated all of its resources into describing the material, psychological, physical, and social structures of a civilization. The paper concludes with a brief summary of the differences and similarities of the two schools of thought and notes that they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

From the Paper
"Historical particularism and functionalism are related in the way that they both concentrate on details and pre-existing conditions. These methods were demonstrated in the various essays by Franz Boas and A. L. Kroeber for historical particularism, and Bronislaw Malinowski and A. R. Radcliffe-Brown for functionalism. Specifically, Boas, in The Methods of Ethnology, argued against the various traditional evolutionary theories proposed by Lewis Morgan, Karl Marx, Sir Edward Tylor, and Herbert Spencer. He criticized the theory of the nineteenth-century evolutionism as non-scientific and claimed historical particularism to be free from preconceived ideas. Stating simply that these theories had a particular resilience, but lacked any sort of empirical evidence, Boas argued that the evolutionary theory was based on the counterfactual assumption that our culture was the most advanced and all others were merely following us (Boas 1920). "

Tags:civilization, cultures

Abstract
This essay examines historical fiction as seen in the famous Hollywood movie Spartacus. The successes and failures of the film in accurately portraying Roman history and the struggle between Spartacus and the Roman Republic are analyzed. Through a look at real historical sources, we can see that for the most part the film is an entertaining but inaccurate retelling of this historical event and the story of Spartacus' life.

From the Paper
"The famous and award-winning film Spartacus was produced by Universal Pictures in 1960 and based on a popular historical novel of the same name by Howard Fast At over one-hundred seventy five minutes, it is a lengthy bit compelling viewing experience. The main characters are played by legendary Hollywood stars Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier, although a host of other renowned talents such as Charles Laughton and Tony Curtis also appear."

Tags:ancient, crassus, douglas, film, gladiators, kirk, laurence, movies, olivier, rome, slavery, spartacus

Abstract
This essay examines historical fiction as seen in the famous Hollywood 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 imperial Rome 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."

Tags:ancient, hollywood, quo, rome, vadis