Abstract This paper discusses Isabel De Madariaga's book, "Catherine the Great: A ShortHistory" and shows that sometimes in history, events occur that are so out of the ordinary that they actually alter events that have not changed their course in decades or even generations. The paper explains that this is what took place when Catherine the Great, a woman and non-Russian, unexpectedly became Tsarina of Russia in 1762 without any claim to the throne, and goes on to tell her life story as De Madariaga described it. The paper notes that Catherine went unnoticed for many years until Isabel De Madariaga reintroduced Catherine in her book.
From the Paper "Catherine, herself, was a prolific writer. Thousands of sheets of paper covered in her journals have survived. The most noteworthy of all was her 1767 Great Instruction, published to present before the elected representatives of nobles, townspeople, Cossacks, tribesmen and state peasants, not serfs, the general principles through which the assembly should codify laws. The 650 articles of the Instruction defined the functions of social estates and described the means of establishing rule of law and citizen welfare. Catherine was influenced by German and French thinkers of the time, perhaps even the works of Adam Smith. "
Tags: efficient, practitioner, law, citizen, welfare, masculine, formal, conviction, government
Abstract This paper examines how in "World War I: A ShortHistory", Michael Lyons seeks to give an understanding of the nature of the conflict, starting with the socio-economic conditions, foreign policy atmosphere and general sensibilities of the continental leaders that started the Great War. It looks at how from there he goes on to describe the war itself, from the trenches to American involvement to the effect of the conflict on communist revolutions in eastern Europe. It shows how he concludes by showing how the Germans defeated themselves with the idealist principles that dominated the idyllic campus lives of trench-shirkers and leaves us with Europe unsettled and waiting for round two while America's young heroes suffer in anguish from a particularly bad flu season.
From the Paper "Unlike many of his contemporaries, Lyons also manages to satisfy his readers with an account of the wartime battles and strategies employed, playing both the role of a regular historian and a tactical one. He covers the nature of the conflict from an operational standpoint as well, and speaks of the home fronts of all of the respective states, ranging from the Russian embrace of Bolshevism to the defeat of American sanity at the hands of temperance-conscious American suffragettes. Lyons makes some effort to describe the economic situation in Europe, and talks of the rise in populist sentiments at the expense of traditional "night watchman" classical liberalism."
Abstract This paper discusses the book "A ShortHistory of Progress" written by Ronald Wright. Wright argues that progress, as an ideology, is merely a myth. The paper describes how humans see their own progress and advancement in the rapid transition from an industrial economy to information based one, while the reality is that the food technology of the late Stone Age is the only one we cannot live without. The writer explains that the crops of about a dozen ancient people feed the 6 billion people of the world today.
From the Paper "Ronald Wright is a British historian and the author of "A Short History of Progress", an interesting and challenging read. The book is small in appearance, but packs a big punch in terms of jamming the pages with historical facts and antidotes that are informative and intriguing. In his book, he examines the progress and downfall of ancient civilizations. Wright's purpose for writing the book is to warn people of the potential loom and doom facing contemporary society if no attempt is made to avoid the same disasters of civilizations past."
Abstract In this paper the author presents a brief history of Western architecture, highlighting the major epochs in European architecture, and modern architecture in the US. The paper further discusses the function of architectural space, its use and its aesthetic. Various architectural techniques and their historical development are analyzed. The paper concludes with an an examination of modern architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright, whose designs are considered a culmination of the works that preceded him.
From the Paper "It would seem logical to start our exploration of the history of architecture with one of the greatest artists of all time--Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475--1564), regarded by many as the "father of architecture in Europe and the greatest designer of the last 500 years" (Lowry, 167). Of all his architectural designs, the vestibule of the Laurentian Library, built to house the immense collections of the Medici family in Florence, Italy, stands out above all others. This vestibule gives the impression of a vertically compressed, shaft-like space which is dominated by a vast, flowing staircase that almost fills the interior, and unlike his contemporaries, Michelangelo ignored classical architectural ideals by placing his columns in pairs which are sunk into the walls; he breaks columns around corners and placed beneath them consoles not meant as support. In essence, Michelangelo "did away with classical architecture so prevalent in the High Renaissance and greatly influenced all architectural designs and forms that followed him" (Copplestone, 178)."
Abstract This paper includes a report of Armstrong's book which analyzes the history of Islam. It explains that Islam is little understood by many Christians in the world, and this succinct book helps make the religion more understandable and sympathetic. While illustrating the long history of the world's religions, this book looks at the long history of strife between them.
From the Paper "The author of this book, Karen Armstrong is an ex-Catholic nun who writes on various religious issues. She spent seven years as a nun, and wrote a book about her experiences called Through the Narrow Gate (1982). She is an expert on religion, and has written numerous books on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, along with her views of what the three religions have in common. She has won awards for her writing, and is viewed as an expert in attempting to show the commonality of the roots of religion. Some of these books include: A History of God (1993), Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths, (1996) and The Battle for God, (2000). As such, she is exceptionally qualified to write this book on Islam. In addition, her books make it easy for the layman to read about religion and religious beliefs at an understandable level, and so, the author is not only qualified to write this book, she is an excellent choice as author because of her style, her background, and her writing ability. Often called the "runaway nun," her work is often controversial, but eminently readable and interesting. She is a professor of Christianity at Leo Baeck College for the Study of Judaism in London, England."
Tags: judaism, christianity, moslem, allah, muhammed
Abstract A shorthistory of the great Greek mathematicians. Amongst those discussed are Pythagoras, Zeno, Euclid, Hippocrates, and Thales. This essay is a brief overview of their major contributions to modern mathematics.
Abstract This paper includes a shorthistory of the EU from its inception to today. This includes a year of membership for all EU nations, the historical evolution and future outlook for the EU. The paper also discusses the risk associated with exchange rate fluctuation and the present situation between the US dollar and the Euro.
From the Paper "According to Rodney Leach online, a number of European leaders became convinced that the only way to secure a lasting peace between their countries was to unite them economically and politically. The French Foreign Minister proposed integrating the coal and steel industries of Western Europe. As a result, the European Coal and Steel Community, ECSC, was established. The member countries were Belgium, West Germany, Luxembourg, France, Italy and the Netherlands."
Tags:History of EU, EEU, EC, European economic community, membership, evolution, future outlook of EU, risk associated with exchange rate fluctuation
Abstract This paper takes the reader on a tour of the history of architecture. It shows that the two main characteristics of good architecture are stability and aestheticism. The writer shows how the Ancient Egyptians managed to build with these characteristic so many years ago and how this has influenced modern architecture today. It compares later uses of material by the Romans and the Egyptians and analyzes which civilization introduced which material.
From the Paper 'The architecture of a building is conceived with two things in mind: Structural stability, and aesthetic design. In all structures, stability is obviously the aspect which takes precedence over aesthetics. A visually stunning building is worth nothing if it cannot stand the test of time. This is an idea which the Egyptians created, and then took to its utmost extreme. Many view the Egyptian style of creation as the father of modern architecture, being as durable as it was stunning. Several common elements of architecture such as pillars were reputedly created by the Egyptians, and these are still used in the creation of modern buildings. The Egyptian engineers had a good grasp of fundamental physics, and the role it must play in the design of structures. The Architects then took this knowledge, and fused it with grand aesthetic design, creating buildings which would become a simple base of reference for all structures which were built in the future. Egyptian civilization is known primarily for the structures it left behind. Most of which still stand, either in whole or in part today. "Although 3000 BC is considered almost prehistoric, the style of architecture which resulted from Egyptian building in this period is one which has endured as a major contribution to modern design and construction styles."
Tags: structure, beauty, stone, steel, brick, style, history, ancient, construction
Abstract This paper discusses Canada Place which is located on the waterfront of downtown Vancouver. It specifically discusses the history behind the construction of the building and the architectural design. The paper goes on to describe public opinion of the architecture of the structure, as well as the opinion of architectural critics.
From the Paper "Architecture in Vancouver In this essay I review Canada Place, a very unusual building situated at the bottom of Howe Street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. I consider this to be a post-modernist building. Canada Place is located on the waterfront of downtown Vancouver. It was built for "Expo 86" - the World Fair that was held in 1986 in Vancouver. The objective was an attempt to rival the impressive Sydney Opera House in Australia. The outcome was a somewhat strange looking building that elicits a wide variety of responses that run the gamut from admiration to disgust.The only thing it does not evoke is boredom. People have compared it to a tent, a camping trip, an insect and a sailing ship. "
Abstract This paper compares the music of Josquin, a composer of the Renaissance, to the architecture of the same time. The author examines how architecture and music expressed the new ideas that permeated the world during this period in history. A broad examination of both the music and architecture is included.
From the Paper "The renaissance was a time of rebirth and renewal. All over Europe, people were looking back to times they saw as better, instead of towards the unpredictable future. Specifically, the people looked back to the ancient worlds, and found the humanitarian values of the ancient Greeks and Romans very inviting. The arts were reborn from classical ideas, and a new focus was placed on individuals and the natural world (Wright 80). New inventions and wonders filled Europe. This was the era of both the printing press and telescope's birth. New ideas permeated the world, remolding the way people thought. Music and architecture were no exceptions to this rebirthing."
Abstract This in-depth paper explores the architecture of Japan from ancient times to the present day which has changed drastically. The writer discusses how Buddhism as a religion entered Japan and brought with it the architectural influences of the Chinese and Korean cultures which Japan adopted and made its own. While these historical monuments still remain and are cherished this form and material of their creation are no longer used. This paper examines the architectural artistry in Japan which is described as a dynamic art form that reflects the society and era in which it was introduced. Topics covered in this report include: Thesis Statement Abstract Influences Background Analysis Conclusion Thesis Support References
From the Paper "Under the influence of the West, modern Japanese architecture has come to regard rigid, steel-frame concrete-stiffened construction as the exemplar. Not only is the idea of balancing poles quite alien to this rigid style of construction, but, more fundamentally, this tradition, which regards a building as semi-permanent and therefore fixed and immutable, simply cannot accommodate the notion of a structure that moves about. Symbolically it is possible to present that the hanging pillar represents the final stage in the evolution of the shinbashira as a religious symbol. If the anchored pillar is seen as representing the gods dwelling within the earth and the pillar on a stone base as representing the gods on the earth, the suspended pillar may be taken to represent the gods of the skies."
Abstract This paper examines the relationship of fashion and architectural design from anthropological and philosophical perspectives. Art is considered as a function of the society that produced it. The Victorian Era is cited as an epoch in which architecture and fashion were interconnected. This paper includes an annotated bibliography.
Outline:
Background
Research Design
Outline and Research Structure
Annotated Bibliography
From the Paper "An age-old argument among scholars has been whether art influences society, or whether art is a reflection of the society that produced it. When one examines art as an expression of self, it is difficult to view it as anything other than an expression of society. Popular designers in architecture and fashion design works that achieve public acceptance. Therefore, it stands to reason that trends in architectural design and fashion design are a reflection of the society that surrounds them. This research will explore the link between fashion design and architectural design with an emphasis on the use of fabric and building materials as the medium. "
Tags: fashion, architectural, design, history, Victorian, Era
Abstract This paper discusses the Renaissance specifically comparing the music and architecture of the time. The author specifically looks at the music of Josquin dez Prez, a composer of the Renaissance and compares his music to the architecture of the same time emphasizing their similarities in new styles, ideas and inventions.
From the Paper "The renaissance was a time of rebirth and renewal. All over Europe, people were looking back to times they saw as better, instead of towards the unpredictable future. Specifically, the people looked back to the ancient worlds, and found the humanitarian values of the ancient Greeks and Romans very inviting. The arts were reborn from classical ideas, and a new focus was placed on individuals and the natural world (Wright 80). New inventions and wonders filled Europe. This was the era of both the printing press and telescope's birth. New ideas permeated the world, remolding the way people thought. music and architecture were no exceptions to this rebirthing."
Abstract The paper shows that ancient Roman architects implemented the elements of space, symmetry and construction with exceptional innovative skill. Although their most notable achievements, the arch and vault construction, was first conceived by the Etruscans and had a profound influence on Roman architectural style and design, the paper shows that the innovations made by the Romans were still tremendously substantial and distinct.
From the Paper "Another revolution can be seen in the Roman network of roads. The Romans were the first civilization to make well-designed roads. Around the time of Augustus the major roads were constructed to keep the incredibly large empire linked to avoid collapse. The Romans contributed a number of things to the basic idea of roads, such as archways, city streets, and arch bridges. This greatly increased the ability to build because of the way the roads were laid out. The roads allowed the Roman Empire to expand Rome in every direction; hence the saying "All roads lead to Rome". In fact, they were so abundant and well constructed that many of them still exist today as memorable landmarks today."
Abstract This paper discusses the systems theory as understood and expressed in comparative architectural design history. It offers the theories of the Archigram in the West and the Metabolism Movement in Japan to qualify the author's discussion.
From the Paper "The objective of systems thinking is a methodology to solve problems. It follows two basic premises first that reality is regarded in terms of wholes. Gestalten' and that the environment is an ..."
Tags: Archigram, Metabolist, architecture, systems thinking, obsolete, technological focus
