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."
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 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 The author begins this paper with an examination of the development and decline of the Roman Empire and its various trade connections. The author moves on to look at the rise of Islam in the 7th century and the subsequent fall of the Axum Empire. The author continues by looking at the rise of Christianity in the Mediterranean region and its move into Africa and then how Islam essentially eliminated Christianity in those regions. The author then discusses Islam's effect on commerce and military matters and its development in Africa by means of conquests and it's ideology of equality among believers.
From the paper:
?The spread of Islam, from its heartland in the Middle East and North Africa to India and Southeast Asia, revealed the power of the religion and its commercial and sometimes military attributes. Civilizations were altered without being fully drawn into a single Islamic statement. A similar pattern developed in sub-Saharan Africa, as Islam provided new influences and contacts without amalgamating African culture as a whole to the Middle Eastern core. New religious, economic, and political patterns developed in relation to the Islamic surge, but great diversity remained.?
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 paper traces the origins and developments of the Aztec Empire 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 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 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 looks at the internal politics of the time of the fall of the Roman Empires and examines whether these factors assisted in its collapse. It also details conflicts involving money, the Germanic tribes, religion and politics.
From the Paper "The great Roman Empire is famous for its extensive size, exciting culture, huge army, and its overall prosperity. The empire was easily the largest, and strongest, of its time. But not many people know what led to the fall of the western half of this huge empire. There was not one, but many causes that led to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. There were internal political, economic, and social causes for Rome's decay. The invasion by Germanic tribes was just the final nail in the coffin for the Western Roman Empire."
Abstract In this paper the author examines the trading routes of the Roman Empire and how changes in them led to the rise of Islam. The author pays particular attention to the development of Islam in Africa and how it remains a great influence in African society even in this modern day.
From the paper:
?Islam offered a number of attractions within Africa. Its fundamental teaching that all Muslims are equal within the community of believers made the acceptance of conquerors and new rulers easier. The Islamic tradition of uniting the powers of the state and religion in the person of the ruler or caliph appealed to some African kings as a way of reinforcing their authority.?
Abstract The rise of Islam, the fall of Rome, and the complications of Christianity in Europe and Africa are all intertwined. Next came Roman reception of Greek culture. The military and political conquerors adapted to their own society features of the Greek culture they dominated. While Europe received politics from Africa, Africa received religion, in part from Europe.
Abstract This paper discusses the passing of specific laws in the colonies of the New World where the first plan was to provide cheap labor in the form of indentured servants and local natives instead of slaves. The author discusses how it was this shift to indentured servitude which gave rise to slavery for the Negroes in the New World.
From the Paper "However, the British did not begin with a conscious plan to colonize the New World, establish plantations and garner great wealth by enslaving Africans. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, British and other European societies were suspicious of people of other races and believed themselves superior to other races. This facilitated the domination of New World lands, which were all populated by indigenous people of darker and presumed inferior races. Nevertheless, the enslavement of darker-skinned people such as Africans wasn"t a formal plan at first, at least partly because they did not welcome being in proximity with people of other races. By the time the American Revolutionary war had begun, the American colonists owned more slaves than any other European colony, and English traders transported more slaves to market than any other country. (Bernhard , 1999)?
Abstract This paper explores the lifestyle of people in a Nigerian village during the early nineteenth century under British colonial rule. It is based on the book "Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe and discusses factors such as schooling, system of government and relations between the rulers and the subjects.
From the paper:
"When a country is subjugated it is easy to assign all the blame for the colonization on the conquerors. They definitely are a key contributing factor in the downfall of the invaded country but by no means the only reason. The conquered are often "easy game" for the invading forces because of internal strife, factions, and strict adherence to tradition. In the insightful book, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, the author shows us both sides of the Nigerian colonization process with clarity and fair assessment of blame. "
Abstract This paper discusses the impact of Western Europe on the social growth of Russia during the eighteenth century and its making of an empire. It explains the actions of Peter the Great, his expeditions and finally his extensive modifications within Russia. It continues to expand on Catherine the Great's modernization and further growth of Russia.
From the Paper "Russia saw a number of changes in the eighteenth century under Peter the Great, many of which can be attributed to the influences of Europe. As it became stronger, the "church subordinated to the state, patriarche was formally abolished in 1721, church property was put under control of a government department and church theology taught obedience to the state. There was a new educational program to train soldiers, which included schools of navigation, mathematics, artillery, languages, medicine and engineering, the Academy of Sciences was established in 1724 and the first Russian newspaper was published in 1703."
Abstract This paper documents the Ottoman Empire based on the book; "A History of the Arab Peoples" by Albert Hourani. The paper explains the rise of Islam to the present day.
From the Paper "Albert Hourani provides a history of the Arab-speaking parts of the Islamic world, from the rise of Islam to the present day. Hourani writes extensively about the Ottoman Empire, a state founded in the late 18th century by Turkish tribes in Anatolia and ruled by the descendants of Osman I. The principality founded by Osman was at the main point of contact with the Byzantine Empire."
Tags: istory, Ottoman empire, islam, muslim, arab, faith, territorial expansion, sultan, europe
