Q (VE1) or Q (VE2) Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Q (VE1) or Q (VE2) - Research Paper Example a mean, ethics (how we are trained to handle any situation) is plainly the cause of the achievement of the ‘average’ feeling of happiness (happiness does not have a measure but either a lack or presence of it) (Aristotle 10a). Some of the moral virtues that Aristotle listed in his work include joy, pity, envy, confidence, appetite, friendliness, emulation, and more feeling-related human attributes. They are all considered to have an average, unlike such feelings as happiness and anger that stand as distinct feelings and can only be described by way of how they are expressed and not how much of them we can assess. If I were the shepherd in Plato’s story (Plato par 1-7), I would consider it ethical to wear the ring because the powers that come with it are bound to bring me a feeling of protection and, subsequently, happiness. The ethical dimension to it is the ability to acquire the average feeling of satisfaction knowing the power I

Study On The Olmec Culture

Study On The Olmec Culture The Olmec culture has been the focus of intense discussion and archeological exploration in recent years. It is considered to be one of the most interesting and also one of the mysterious ancient civilizations. The Olmec civilization is considered to be the first known ordered civilization to arise in Mesoamerica. It was also the first civilization in the region to build huge monumental temple mounds and building. In the Pre1classic Period, the period when this civilization flourished, the following Gulf Coast sites were occupied in overlapping succession; Firstly, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, which was occupied between 1450 and 400 BC., then at La Venta from 2250- 500 BC And Zapotes from 1000-50 BC. One of the most remarkable relics that we have of this culture is seventeen enormous stone heads. The stone used to carve the statues was transported from a great distance which implies the reach and extent of this civilization, as well as its spread and influence. These and other aspects of the culture will be discussed in more detail below. The Olmec culture and society has been described as extremely well organized with à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦complex calendar and hieroglyphic writing system as well as unique art objects of a very high standard. However, scholars also admit that there is a great paucity of archeological and other evidence and knowledge about this mysterious and complex civilization.We know far less about the Olmecs than we do about, for example, the Aztecs and Mayans. There are very few written records to tell us about the culture. The Olmec culture and civilization is estimated have begun in about 1200 B.C. and ended around 600 A.D. During this period the Olmec were the main group or culture in Mesoamerica. What is certain about this culture is the importance and centrality of religion, shamanism and religious ritual in their daily lives. There is as general consensus that religion and belief in the supernatural influenced every aspect of their lives. Olmec sites are characterized the prominent position of the ceremonial mounds and later by elaborate pyramids that were erected for worship and possibly for sacrifice. As one study on this aspect notes; As the clock tower often defines the center of Western town squares, a central raised mound signaled the center of Olmec cities. These mounds were used for religious ceremonies and around 900 BC, they were replaced with pyramids. The following discussion will refer to the various aspects of the culture, as well as their art and religion in an attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the mysterious and influential Olmec. Origins The term Olmec means rubber people in Nahuatl, the language of the Aztec. It was the name that the Aztecs used to refer to those people and the culture that had existed in the area of the Olmec Heartland during the fifteenth and sixteenth century. Simply stated the name means à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦those who live in the rubber land, which refers to the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦practice of extracting latex from Castilla elastica, a rubber tree in the area. There is a general paucity of solid data and information about the origins and the life-world of the Olmec culture. Our understanding of the civilization is made even more obscure by the fact that they did not appear to have a system of writing that would have provided records of their culture. As one commentator states; If the Olmec ever had a written language, all traces of it have disappeared. Even their bones are gone, rotted long ago in the humid rain forest. Virtually everything that scholars know about them is based on the remains of cities and on comparisons between their artifacts and imagery and those of later civilizations. It isnt surprising, therefore, that while the experts have plenty of theories about the Olmecs origins, social structure and religion, few of these ideas are universally accepted. Therefore, it is difficult to make incontrovertible and conclusive statements about the Olmec. In terms of what Historians and archaeologists know about the Mesoamerican Pre-Classic period, which extended from 1200 BCE-400 BCE, the Olmec civilization was the most dominant and influential during this time. The centre of this civilization at its peak was situated in La Venta in Tabasco, and San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan and Laguna de los Cerros in Veracruz. There are many theories and views about the origins of the Olmec. One theory that is often referred to is they were part of the immigration of Asiatic hunter-gatherers to the region after the ice-age. Another view that has achieved some credibility is that they were of African origin. The view that the Olmec civilization was of African origin seems to be partly substantiated by the large carved heads that possibly depict various rulers and which have African features. Some writers claim the Olmec were related to peoples of Africa based primarily on their interpretation of facial features of Olmec statues. This viewpoint is also allegedly supported by genetic and osteological evidence. This was a theory that was first put forward by Josà © Melgar, who discovered the first colossal head at Hueyapan. Some researchers such as Winters link the early origins of the Olmec with the Mandà © people of West Africa. However, this theory is very contentious and the proposed evidence has not lived up to modern scrutiny; for example, research during the past two decades has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦failed to yield evidence of pre-Columbian African contributions to the indigenous populations of the Americas. Another factor that goes against the view of an African origin to the Olmec is that the people of the region were very susceptible to diseases brought by the Europeans. This means that the Mesoamericans of the region has been isolated for a considerable time, which in turn goes against a theory of origins that would include contact with the African continent. There are numerous other theories, including the contention that the Olmec were of Chinese origin. This view states that the original Olmec were Chinese refugees who came to the region during the Shang dynasty. However, this view is not supported by the majorly of researchers. Most researchers are of the view that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec and their achievements arose from influences and traditions that were wholly indigenous to the region, or at least the New World, and there is no reliable material evidence to suggest otherwise. This view suggests that the Olmec and the subsequent cultures that developed in the region had their own specific and indigenous character and heritage and that they were independent of any outside influences. The study of the origins and development of the Olmec culture is steeped in mystery and doubt. Another issue that is debated is the transformation of the possible hunter-gatherer origins of the Olmec into a highly successful agricultural society. As one pundit comments; à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦archaeologists dont know what transformed a society of farmers into the class-based social structure of the Olmec, with their leaders and commoners, bosses and laborers, artisans and priests. Spread and Influence The mysterious Olmec civilization is estimated to have reached its peak a thousand years before the great Mayan civilization of Central America and twenty-five centuries before there Aztecs. This ancient civilization was extremely influential and affected many other cultures and tribes in the region, as one article states; Starting in 1200 B.C. in the steamy jungles of Mexicos southern Gulf Coast, the Olmecs influence spread as far as modern Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, Costa Rica and El Salvador. They built large settlements, established elaborate trade routes and developed religious iconography and rituals, including ceremonial ball games, blood-letting and human sacrifice, that were adapted by all the Mesoamerican civilizations to follow. Therefore, the Olmec were influential on a number of interconnected levels, from trade and economics to religion and cultural practices. David M. Jones ( 2007) states that the art and the architectural styles of the Olmec were influential in the region. The Olmec art style and architectural organization of ceremonial spaces were exported in the early stages of long-distance trading networks and, possibly, empire-building. What is clear from research into the spread and influence of this culture is that it influenced Gulf Coast as well as spreading inland to the Basin of Mexico and to the states of Morelos, Guerrero and Oaxaca. The Importance of Olmec Culture The importance of the Olmec culture lay in their inventiveness and their discoveries which influenced later civilizations that arose in the area. They à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦developed many things culturally and religiously that were later used by the Mayans and Aztecs and many other cultures. Many of their ideas spread throughout the region. In terms of farming and agriculture, for example, there there is strong evidence that the Olmec were responsible for the invention of a method of irrigation that was to influence the agricultural techniques of the Maya and Aztecs. This also applies to the water system that archeologist have found at the sites of Olmec cities. This refer to the finding that the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦most important features of an Olmec town center was a buried network of stone drain lines long U-shaped rectangular blocks of basalt laid end to end and covered with capstones. Social and Political Life There is a general paucity of information about the actual societal and political structure of the Olmec. While there is not much evidence to build a comprehensive picture of the daily and social life of these people, there is enough available data from certain archeological sites to provide some reasonable speculations. One of the assumptions that is derived from the excavation of sites at San Lorenzo and then at La Venta is that the society was very centralized. This in turn has led to the view that the society was highly structured, with a hierarchical basis of order and class stratification. This also implies the existence of a ruling elite and a system of power and control, which was possibly based on religious beliefs. This view of the structure of the society is summarized as follows: Olmec society was à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦highly centralized, with a strongly hierarchical structure and elite that was able to use their control over materials, such as monumental stone and water, to exert control over the people and legitimize their regime. There is also clear evidence of a class structure in Olmec society. This is the view for example of Olmec scholars like Ann Cyphers. She states that there is evidence of elaborate houses for the elite or upper classes, while there are simpler housing structures for the middle and lower classes. As one study notes, The architecture of the Olmec was complex. Structures in Lorenzo, for example, included public-ceremonial buildings, elite residences, and houses for commoners (a clear separation of the classes). Cyphers also makes the important point that archeological research indicates that the society was extremely complex in structure and stratification; All these things show a society of great complexityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Scholars are also of the opinion that the society was possibly a complex unity of various chiefdoms. These groups interacted on a religious and cultural level. Agriculture and farming played as vital part in the culture of these people. Besides the obvious fact of sufficient foods and nutrition it has also been seen by experts and being as tool in the politics of the society. As a study by Amber M. VanDerwarker (2006) indicates, the increase in the size and complexity of the society coincided with the development of village agriculture, which à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦has led scholars to theorize that agricultural surpluses gave aspiring Olmec leaders control over vital resources and thus a power base on which to build authority and exact tribute. Central to the society and social life was religious ceremony and ritual. This is evident in the large and centrally situated ceremonial centers. There are however some views that suggest a slightly different social structure. This refers to the view that as a result of the slash-and burn agriculture and crop-rotation that was practiced, most of the people would have lived in smaller villages and hamlets. Although the river banks were used to plant crops between flooding periods, the Olmec also likely practiced swidden (or slash-and-burn) agriculture to clear the forests and shrubs, and to provide new fields once the old fields were exhausted. The development of an agricultural economy also had a number of social implications. With the increase of an agricultural economy more people were needed to manage and administer the resources which led to a division of labor and a class structure in the society. The ones who controlled the rich farm land would naturally have been the ones who would rise up as the Elite of the community because they controlled the food supply, and as part of the management of resources, a central center had to be established. A number of theorists are of the opinion that the development of agriculture was the impetus which led to the expansion and development of the Olmec civilization. This would also have led to its influence through trade on the surrounding regions. As one study o0n this aspect notes: A new elite class probably asserted its leadership through charisma, control of trade networks and control of people, all of which led to the evolution of a complex society and, eventually, the art style we call Olmec. 5. Art There is as general agreement among scholars that the Olmec civilization producedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the earliest sophisticated art in Mesoamerica and that their distinctive style provided a model for the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the region. There are also certain changes in Olmec art over time that should be noted. One is that before 900 B.C. most of the art tend to be ceramic, while later objects were made form jade and serpentine; which were rare materials that required considerable skill to fashion. However, what has fascinated people for centuries is the subject matter and the significance of the figures in Olmec art. There are a number of subjects that are often repeated in Aztec art. These include dragons, birds, dwarfs, hunchbacks and, most important, the jaguar or more correctly the were-jaguar that is part human, part jaguar. It should also be made clear that art in this culture, as in many other ancient cultures, cannot be separated from the spiritual and religious underlying life of that culture. The art and shamanic and spiritual aspects of the society are inextricably intertwined. Olmec art is essentially an expression of the religious beliefs that permeated the entire society. A case in point is the image of the jaguar that is so dominant in Olmec art. The jaguar represents a belief system that was deeply involved in the supernatural and the shamanic vision of reality. The jaguar figure in Olmec art is similar to a number of other figures in that it shows a combination of or transition between human and animal. It must be remembered that in many ancient worldviews there is no distinction between the human and natural world. In other words, many ancient belief systems do not adhere to the more modern distinction between man and nature. The jaguar figure in Olmec art is possibly therefore a representation of this belief system where the barriers between humanity and nature and between man and animal is seen as illusionary or has been broken down. The above refers particularly to the shamanic perception of reality, where transformation of man to animal is seen part of the ability of the shaman. The shaman has the facility to change his or her form in order to achieve certain supernatural ends. Linked with this was the belief that was prevalent among the Olmec that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ each individual has an animal spirit. This refers as well to the general shamanic views about power animals. Shamans believe that everyone has power animals animal spirits which reside with each individual adding to their power and protecting them from illness, acting similarly to a guardian angel. Each power animal that you have increases your power so that illnesses or negative energy cannot enter your body. The spirit also lends you the wisdom of its kind. A hawk spirit will give you hawk wisdom, and lend you some of the attributes of hawk. The above quotation provides some insight into the way that the Maya possibly understood the link between man, nature and the supernatural. This shamanic aspect can be seen in the important figure of the jaguar. It is also worth reiterating the fact that Olmec art, like many ancient cultures, cannot be considered in isolation from the religious and spiritual beliefs of the civilization. This is an aspect that will be explored in more detail in the following section on religion. The jaguar was also very important for Olmec culture in that it was linked to one of their central gods. The jaguar was also referred to as nahual, which is an animal that is so closely related to a certain man, that if the animal dies, the man will also die. From another angle, jaguars were also seen as the alter ego of the shaman. The following provides insight into the reason why the jaguar figure was revered and why it was so prominent in Olmec art To the ancient Indians the jaguar was a symbol of supernatural forces-not a simple animal, but an ancestor and a god. In order to understand the significance of the jaguar figure one has to suspend the modern dualistic view of the world and reality that makes rational distinctions between man and nature and between the known and the unknown. The Olmec lived in a world where such distinctions were seen as illusionary and the jaguar was a symbol of this belief and a conduit between this world and the supernatural. As we explore the literature on Olmec art the references to the jaguar image also become more complex and intertwined when we enter further into the often confusing world of Olmec myth and religion. For example, in Olmec imagery we also encounter a werejaguar baby. This refers to the offspring of a jaguar mother and a human father. This mating à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦resulted in a race of infants combining the features of the jaguar and man in varying degrees. These are usually shown as somewhat infantile throughout life, with the puffy features of small fat babies, snarling mouths, fangs, and perhaps even claws. These werejaguars were deities of thunder, lightening, and rain. This in turn can be linked to depictions of an Olmec God who was half jaguar, half serpent. 5.1. Olmec Heads ( Source: http://www.theancientweb.com/explore/content.aspx?content_id=19) Another predominant characteristic of Olmec art are their distinct human heads and faces. As one commentator notes, Olmec-style human figures typically have squarish facial features with full lips, a flat nose, pronounced jowls and slanting eyes reminiscent (at least to early travelers in the region) of African or Chinese peoples. . There are seventeen of these massive heads and they are presumed to have been sculpted between 1200 B.C. and 900 B.C. The stone used is volcanic basalt and the height ranges from 5 ft. to 11 ft. and they weigh as much as 20 tons. The heads have been located at the following places; ten heads at San Lorenzo, four heads at La Venta , two at Tres Zapotes and one at Rancho La Cobata. One of the fascinating and intriguing aspects of the heads is that experts do not know how these large stones were transported over such long distances. Archaeologists still have not determined how the Olmec transported the basalt from quarries to various settlements as far as 80 miles awayand, in San Lorenzo, hoisted it to the top of a plateau some 150 ft. high. However it is the meaning of the heads that has made them such a source of interest and mystery. Experts conjecture that the heads were possibly representations of well- known and revered citizens or leaders. This however does not explain the facts that many of the heads have been intentionally defaced. There are two possible explanations for this. The one is that they were damaged when the leader or prominent figure depicted in the statue fell out of favor. However, taking into account the shamanic and religious nature of the culture, the second explanation is more likely. This refers to the sacrifice of the gods in order to replenishment and renewal of the earth and the relationship between man and the universe. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmecs did this themselves after a ruler died as a sacrifice to the gods or animal spirits. This form of sacrifice is also encountered in other ancient cultures and might explain the damage to the statues. Innovations The Olmec are credited with a number of major innovations in Mesoamerican history. However, there is still a great deal of speculation and debate about these innovations. They include the origins of the Mesoamerican ballgame, as well as aspects such as bloodletting and sacrifice, as well as writing and the invention of Zero. There is little doubt that the Olmec civilization had a far-reaching effect on the region one needs only refer to the complex political and social structure that was developed. Their political arrangements of strongly hierarchical city-state kingdoms were repeated by nearly every other Mexican and Central American civilization that followed. They are also credited with providing the basis for religious mythologies that were imitated in other civilizations. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec formulated the forerunners of many of the later Mesoamerican deities. There is considerable debate among scholars as to whether the Olmec invented a writing system and whether they were first civilization in the Western hemisphere to do so. Many are of the opinion that there is no evidence to suggest that there was a writing system among the Olmec. However there are more recent indications that a writing system was developed by the Olmec. These include, Symbols found in 2002 and 2006 date to 650 B.C.E. and 900 B.C.E. respectively, preceding the oldest Zapotec writing dated to about 500 B.C.E. The 2002 find at the San Andrà ©s site shows a bird, speech scrolls, and glyphs that are similar to the later Mayan hieroglyphsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The discovery of the Cascajal block near San Lorenzo in 2006 seems to suggest that the Olmec were one of the first cultures in this part of the word to develop a writing system. The Cascajal block à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦showed a set of 62 symbols, 28 of which are unique, carved on a serpentine block. This find has been hailed as the earliest pre-Colombian writing. However, this is by no means considered to be conclusive proof and many archeologists remain unconvinced that this block is representative of the Olmec culture. One of the reasons for this skepticism is that the Cascajal blockà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ bears no apparent resemblance to any other Mesoamerican writing system. However the debate also includes a view the Olmec may have developed a system of signs that was to lead to the writing systems of the Maya. This refers to well-known Epi-Olmec, hieroglyphs. There is a view that the Epi-Olmec may represent a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦transitional script between an earlier Olmec writing system and Maya writing. In this regard it is also important to note that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.Even less is known about the spoken language of the Olmec. Since the Mixe-Zoquean languages still are, and historically are known to have been, spoken in an area corresponding roughly to the Olmec heartland, it has generally been regarded as probable that the Olmec spoke a Mixe-Zoquean language. Many of the innovations ascribed to the Olmec are much less controversial; for example the view that the compass could have an Olmec origin. Various archeological discoveries have led to view that, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦the Olmec may have discovered and used the geomagnetic lodestone compass earlier than 1000 B.C.E. The Olmec are also considered to have discovered the concept of zero. This refers to the Long Count calendar that was developed by cultures after the Olmec but which probably had its origins in the Olmec civilization. The Long Count calendar required the use of zero as a place-holder within its vigesimal (base-20) positional numeral system. Many archeologists are convinced that because of various objects found in the Maya homeland, the Long Count Calendar most probably had its origins in the Olmec civilization. However, as with most of our knowledge about the Olmec, this view is also mired in doubt and controversy because of a lack of substantiated evidence Religion and mythology Figure 2. Olmec holds a half human-half jaguar baby. ( Source: http://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html) The Olmec civilization was immersed in religious and spiritual significance. It is often stated that the supernatural and religion was the formative factor in this culture. It is also conjectured that the Olmec were essentially shamanistic in their religious activities and outlook. One of the central myths and beliefs of the Olmec people was the view that there were different but interlinked planes and dimensions to reality and not just the world of ordinary sense experience. They also believed that the human body, and especially the body of ruler or king, was divided into to correspond with the main cosmic levels in their mythology. These were the celestial or heavenly, the terrestrial, the earths surface and the watery underworld. This cosmology therefore had the following implications. The head represented the celestial realm and hence the colossal heads found in Veracruz and Tabasco were probably ancestral portraits depicting the seat of the mind and the most exalted part of the most important rulers. The bodies, standing, sitting or kneeling, represent our environment in different aspects. And the lower parts, like the limbs and feet, as the roots of a tree, penetrate into the underworld and contact its forces. The priest or the shaman enters into these different regions and levels of reality at will in order to achieve balance between the different realms of existence and to bring about healing and other effects. Furthermore, as noted in the above discussion on art, The ruler or the shaman could do this through ritual transformation into his nagual, his animal spirit companion. There are many different types and categories of Olmec gods. They also have different attributes and powers and different relationships to the human world; while some of the gods have healing powers, others represent dark forces. However, as there are no written records no names can be given to the gods and they are usually designated by a number. Another interesting fact is that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦No Olmec deities can be categorically defined as male or female. What is clear is that they influenced later Mesoamerican cultures and civilizations. The Olmec deities and Gods were a à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦source of many aspects of pan-Mesoamerican mythology and religion, and as prototypes of later gods and goddess. There are at least ten gods in the Olmec pantheon. The following is a brief overview of some of the central gods and deities and their major characteristic and influence on humanity. God 1: Olmec Dragon This is also referred to as Earth Monster. it has à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦flame eyebrows, a bulbous nose, and bifurcated tongue. This is one of the most commonly depicted gods or deities. God 2: Maize God This God has plants growing from as cleft in his head. God 3: The Bird Monster This God has both Mamalis and reptilian features and is linked to ruling and kingship. God 4: Rain Spirit and Were-jaguar It is not clear if this god is one or two separate entities. Other gods include, God 7, The Feathered Serpent and Fish or Shark Monster (God 8). There is as great deal of confusion about the exact nature of these gods and many are combined by some experts. In order to make list of Olmec gods more comprehensible, the following is a selection of the best known of these gods and the ones that have had the most influence on subsequent civilizations. The Jaguar God The Jaguar God was a principle deity in the Olmec mythology. It was seen as an Earth god as his power was limited to the terrestrial plane. This god represented the forces of life and was linked or the water and earth. The Feathered Serpent The plumed serpent or the feathered serpent is a mythological figure that is found in many cultures in Mesoamerica and it is believe that this figure originated with the Olmec culture. This god is linked to time and calendars and is seen as the provider of maize to humanity. It is also very strongly associated with the concepts of death and resurrection, which were primary factors in the Olmec religion, as is evident in their emphasis on ritual sacrifice. Man of Crops. This is an important fertility figure. The Man of Crops à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ was a human man or boy who chose to give his life so that his people might grow food. The heroic Man of Crops is sometimes mentored or assisted by a god figure from the other world. The Rain Spirit. This god plays an important role in Olmec mythology and was also carried into the civilizations that came after the Olmec. This god often had many helpers. As has already been referred to, the idea of sacrifice and making an offering to the gods in order to maintain harmony and peace was central to the Olmec culture. This involved a continuous succession of rituals and ceremonies where, it is suggested by some, that there were human sacrifices. In these rituals the priest or shaman would à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦cut himself to produce blood, which would be presented to the gods. Certain animals, such as turkeys, dogs, squirrels, quail, and iguana, were also considered as acceptable sacrifices. Some claim that there is strong evidence that the Olmec indulged in human sacrifice. However, others state that this is pure speculation. No Olmec or Olmec-influenced sacrificial artifacts have yet been discovered and there is no Olmec or Olmec-influenced artwork that unambiguously shows sacrificial victims (like, for example, the danzante figures of Monte Albà ¡n) or scenes of human sacrifice à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Conclusion: Decline of the Olmec In about 300 B.C. the Olmec civilization suddenly seemed to disappear. What is known is that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ between 400 and 350 BCE, population in the eastern half of the Olmec heartland dropped precipitously, and the area would remain sparsely inhabited until the 19th century. It is not clear why this occurred. One possible reason is that some natural catastrophe occurred. The depopulation could also have been the result of radical environmental changes in the area. Archeologists also suggest that à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ these changes were triggered by tectonic upheavals or subsidence, or the silting up of rivers due to agricultural practices. While the Olmec civilization still remains shrouded in mystery and conjecture, what is very clear from the literature is that this culture had an enormous impact on the region and on the modern word. The Olmec left behind some examples of the most enigmatic and thought-provoking art that the world has seen. The Olmec also very possibly provided agricultural as well as economic models that were influential in the region and which led to the advanced Aztec civilization. What is also clear from the lite

Having a Career in Fashion Design Essay -- Fashion Employment Educatio

Having a Career in Fashion Design The fashion design career, has recently emerged as one of the most popular and competitive among young people. Those who actually succeed in design have a very individualistic personal style and don’t follow trends set by others. Having fashion design as your profession sometimes allows you to meet glamorous people. It can also put you in charge of what is in and out when it comes to clothing through ramp shows and fashion write-ups. Most designers have a great social status, and are accepted by everyone. However, There are many aspects which may or may not help you choose it as your career. Many talented individuals are attracted to careers as designers. Those with little or no education, as well as those who lack perseverance, will find it difficult to establish and maintain a career in fashion design. There were over 16,000 people employed in this field in 2003 and demand will stay strong for designers because of our consumer culture is always wanting new styles and fashions. The employment is expected to grow fast through the year 2010 and some designers will need to be replaced as they retire, leaving more jobs available. Although, these jobs are only available in large cities such as New York or Los Angeles. Fashion designers don’t work on commission so they do earn wages. The pay is great even for beginner designers. Most beginning designers earn as much as twenty-four thousand dollars annually and upper level designers earn as much as one hundred-five thousand dollars annually. The hourly wages for a beginner is twenty dollars and ninety-five cents while more experienced designers earn as much as fifty dollars or more per hour. Fashion designers may have to keep irregular hours to meet deadlines production deadlines for fashion shows. They may have to travel over seas to productions sites or for showings and conferences or even material shopping. Designers under incorporations normally negotiate their benefits and normally receive full benefits of paid vacations, group insurance plans, and sometimes sick days or break days. It all dep ends on your employer. As for those who are self-employed benefits may depend on themselves. If they set up a health plan for them selves the y may only pay a partial amount on their expenses. Although, they will be able to take time off, but it won’t a paid vacation ... ...ando florida. When wanting to become a fashion designer you must also acquire a licence which you may receive from your school as you graduate. â€Å" You should intern at fashion companies during college. You may have to do administrative stuff, but you’ll be around creative and important people.† (Baron, pg. 73) After college, you may still have your internships but, you may want to fully establish your career. Future designers may find jobs through their training facility job placement offices. Experienced designers are able to locate jobs through other people in the industry, personal affiliations, or advertisements in trade journals or newspapers. Direct application to employers remains the most effective. You can also look for jobs online. The fashion design industry is very large and you must work hard to join those whom re part of it. Its not just about the pay or benefits that draw most people to this career. It’s the liberal feeling of creating new things and making creative, new looks. Its about self expression and freedom to share an opinion on what you think is cool. Some like it, and others don’t, because of everything it stands for or what they would have to do.

Ottoman Empire and Empire Building

Compare/Contrast Essay Student Essay Samples Directions: Using the grading rubric, read the attached essays and score them. Be sure to read thoroughly, and remember that you are trying to find ways to GIVE the writer points, rather than trying to find ways to TAKE points away. With that said, however, the information must still be correct in order for a point to be awarded **You MUST record the final score, as well as why you are/are not giving the writer points. **You are allowed to give the essay 2 possible scores (Example: I think the essay is either a 3 or a 4). *Please do not look at the official explanation until after you have scored the essays. You don’t get any special reward for getting them right. The goal is to learn something. Essay Question: Within the period from 1450-1800, compare the processes (e. g. political, social, economic) of empire building in the Spanish Empire with the empire-building processes in ONE of the following: The Ottoman Empire OR The Russia n Empire. CC Essay #1 (3RR) Between the years 1400 and 1800, new empires appeared on the globe. One of these empires is the Spanish and the other is the Ottoman Empire.Both of these bear similarities but had their differences as well. They both carved out major chunks of the globe and were both major powers in the newly formed global world. Politically, economically, and socially, these empires were similar in many ways, but they had important differences that separated them apart. The Spanish were an up and coming world power in this time period between 1400 and 1800. They soon dominated overseas and trading. Differing from the Ottoman Empire to the east. The Spanish Empire was largely sea based.Their advanced ships and naval technologies allowed the to discover new continents and claim them to be their own. The Spanish set up colonies for the economy to run and they relied heavily on imports from their distant colonies across the Atlantic. They imported large amounts of silver and food goods to run their economy. Also, the foundation of their empire was primarily focused on the spreading of Christianity. They founded the Americas on their slogan â€Å"Gold, God and Glory† as they forcefully converted the natives in the New World.Also, their government was based on a monarchy with lesser nobles beneath him. The Spanish completely opposed the Islamic religion which can be seen it the Spanish Inquisition as they fought the Moors in Spain to make it purely Christian. The Ottoman Empire holds many differences against the Spanish Empire. Unlike the Spanish, the Ottoman Empire as a land-based empire that dominated the Middle East right up to Eastern Europe. The economy of the Ottoman Turks was based on conquering new lands and exploiting them for their value.The Ottoman’s continued to conquer, not only so their economies wouldn’t fall but also to spread their religion, Islam. Unlike the Spanish, they did have some religious tolerance in their e mpire, but hey mostly forcefully converted who they conquered The Ottoman Empire was an ethnocentric one, not open to too many outside ideas. The Empire was reigned over by a religious leader know as the Sultan, but his advisors, or the viziers were the rue voices of the government. They made those who didn’t covert to Islam their military or the janissaries, unlike the Spanish who just enslaved or killed them.Though having many differences, the Spanish and the Ottoman Empire were actually quite similar. Both were ruthless empires that conquered and dominated. Also, both empires wouldn’t have been established if it wasn’t for the desire to spread their religious beliefs and they both persecuted if necessary. Both of the empires had a lowe class of slaves or serfs that did all the work to maintain production and they both participated in the slave trade out of Africa. The governments of the Spanish and Ottoman Empire were run by religious icons or figures who had absolute control.These empires were among the wealthiest in the world, but only the elite had the money. The economy of both the Spanish and the Ottoman Turks both would not prosper if they had not conquered in the first place. Politically, economically, and socially the Ottoman Empire and the Spanish Empire were similar in many ways. The Spanish and the Ottoman Empire, one dominating the sea and overseas, one dominating the land, were politically similar in governing system, but different tin the way the distributed their policies.Economically, they differed in that the Ottoman’s relied on conquering and the Spanish on colonies but were similar in that they both needed to take over lands that weren’t originally theirs. Socially, the class system was rough and rigid in both with slaves at the bottom and absolute rulers at the top but they differed in the religion that was part of life in the two empires. Both empires would eventually see their downfall but for the tim e period 1400 – 1800 they made their time worthwhile, similarly and differently.CC Essay #2 (3EE) European colonialism had an enormous impact on the world, then and today. What most tend to overlook, however is the empire of Russia, simultaneously rising in the east. In the 350 years after 1450, Spain and Russia built their empires, each with different locations, political structures , and goals. Spain, during this time period, was colonizing Latin America. A very small mother country, in relation to its colonies, was expanding greatly into weakly established tribal lands.The strongest threat, the Aztecs were conveniently naive and unlucky, leading to their fall, and the ultimately largely uncontested spread of the Spanish Empire. In Russia, however, strongly established nations bordered a large mother country. Russia’s targets were its immediate neighbors. Russia needed careful diplomacy and established treaties and pacts to craftily add land to its empire, as opposed to Spain’s method of forceful takeover. Spain, in order to maintain control of colonies so far away, appointed officials to rule over designated areas and report to the mother country directly.The landlords in the new colonies, who employed forced labor of natives, had to report to the officials. This was called the hacienda system. The Russians, by virtue of the means which they used to add to their empire, were forced to grant more power to their local governments, leaving them nearly sovereign. The landlords, employing forced labor of serfs, had to report to their local officials, who in turn made their own decisions. Oddly enough, the Spanish colonial system, spread out over the globe, was more centralized than the Russian counterpart.The Spanish colonies were set up in such a manner as to yield the greatest economic benefit to the mother countries. Precious metals were exported in vast quantities to Spain, cementing Spain’s economic influence in the world market. Spain’s silver was especially valuable in China, who would soon only accept silver as currency. Cash crops such as tobacco, sugar and bananas brought more wealth to Spain and only served to make the colonies more dependent on the mother country to staple foods and supplies. Russia, however assimilated the newly acquired land into their culture.Northern Eurasia has very poor farmland and so the farther south Russia expanded, the more crops Russia could make available. Northern Russia’s population could not support itself farming the dirt that the cold tundras provided, but the more warmer lands added to Russia’s empire, the more surplus crop that could be sent north. The most valuable resource of Russia’s empire was the vast numbers of people who could enlisted or recruited. Spain’s empire was meant to create wealth, while Russia’s was meant to create power. Two empires, occupying the same time period, were as different as empires can be.Spa in had a spread-out, yet centralized empire governing forcefully conquered lands with the goal of creating great wealth, while Russia created her condensed, loosely organized diplomatic coalition of an empire, with the goal of accumulating power, should war become necessary. CC Essay #3 (3M) The Spanish and Otoman Empire were both involved in the process of empire building during the period of 1450 to 1800. Though both began to develop economically, politically and socially, their underlying strategies for this process differed greatly.The Spanish Empire followed and was helped along by the Catholic Church, while the Ottoman were a Muslim people that were governed by the Islamic religion. The differences between the Spanish and the Ottoman Empires stemmed from their very different religions, though the were both involved in global trade which made many of their developments similar. Economically, both the Spanish and Ottoman Empire had similar aspirations. During this period trade, as well as agriculture dominated.The Ottoman Empire, like the Spanish Empire cultivated their own crops and through importing received their needed goods on one of the developing trade routes such as the Indian Ocean route. However, the Spanish Empire during this period also began the process of widespread colonization along with the Portueugese. The Ottoman Empire began to conquer surrounding regions but was not a part of the major movement into the Americas. Both Empires, however, took part in the developing and growing slave trade during this period. The Ottoman especially used African slaves, as it was against the Islamic faith to use Muslim slaves.Economically the Ottoman and Spanish Empires followed very similar paths, though they differed significantly in their political structures. The Ottoman Empire based on Islam, and the Spanish Empire based on Christianity followed very different political paths. The Spanish Empire, for instance, began the process of colonization which m eant the use of administrators as bureus. The Ottoman Empire also moved into surrounding areas in the Middle East, though they favored a more centralized form of government. Also a crucial difference was that the Ottoman Empire followed the Islamic faith.This meant strict adherence to Islamic laws. Similarly, the Spanish Empire had no separation of church and state and received influence from the Catholic Church. This often meant that both political structures were dominated by a leader that was influenced by religious motives, rather than what was best for the state. This religious backing also produced a new practice for the Ottoman, the janissaries, or an army of Christian men taken as prisoners. The Spanish Empire relied on their own men to produce an army, such as the conquistadors which were used in colonization into the Americas.The major differences between the Ottoman and Spanish Empires politically was significant as were those socially. Socially, both empires saw signific ant influence from religion. For example, the Ottoman Empire followed the practices of the Islamic faith, and remained tolerant of other religions in their Empire. However, those that were non-Muslim were forced to pay a tax, but conversion was still not mandatory. The Spanish Empire was not as tolerant of other religions, and missionaries were widely used to convert others.Also in the Spanish Empire stratifications between those in Latin America and Spanish Europeans developed, along with colonization. The Ottoman Empire promoted relative equality among its people, as all were seen equal under Allah. Nonetheless, however, traditional ideas towards women remained the norm in both empires. Women were seen as child-barers and remained in the home, while in the Ottoman Empire some even were convened to the Islamic faith. Socially, as in other regions, similar developments occurred among the Ottoman and Spanish Empires in their social structure.The period 1450 to 1800 saw many developme nts in Empire building for the Spanish and Ottoman Empire. Though, like in all other empires, these were forced to go through the tedious work of building a social, political, and economic structure, one major difference existed. In the case of the Ottoman and Spanish Empires religion had the biggest effect on the paths that were taken in building empires. CC Essay # 4 (3 AA) The Spanish Empire and Russian Empires during 1450 – 1800 were two different Empires with different goals in mind. The Spanish were more oncerned with overseas expansion, while the Russians were concerned with Westernization efforts. During 1450-1800 the Spanish were one of the leading countries in terms of overseas expansion. They were one of the first countries to have a representative sailor reach the New World. The reason for their great success in overseas expansion was the support the government had for it. The King and Queen payed for many explorations to new lands because they knew the fruit disc overy could bear. They were rewarded with new goods and new markets of trade.Soon, Spain began colonizing these newfound lands which benefited them even more. By colonizing lands rich with resources and commodities such as silk, gold, and silver, the Spanish made themselves the primary beneficiary. They were able to control imports and exports from these lands and open new trade routes. Also, in the colonies they made the citizens work for the prospects of Spain, for example searching for gold, or growing prosperous cash crops. The result of all this was that Spain was becoming increasingly powerful and spreading throught the world.The Russian Empire during 1450-1800 was one that was trying to establish itself as a world. It’s leaders were focused using the ways of the West to promote itself. For example Peter the Great who greatly reformed Russia using Western European ideology. He rebuilt buildings, roads, and government systems. BY 1800 Russia, although not exactly a world power, had built itself up from its lowly state 400 years earlier. The major differences between the processes of Empire building between the Spanish and Russia from 1450-1800 was that Spain was already an empire to begin with which made it easier to grow.Spain was already powerful around 1450 while Russia was not. Therefore Russia and Spain had two different mindsets about building up their Empires. Russia was focused on establishing itself through reforms of government, architecture and other things. Spain wanted to expand its empire and did so by using their navy and by taking advantage of these newfoundlands. It was easy for the Spanish to colonize these new lands because they had superior weapons, tactics, and they brought diseases with them that killed off many of the native populations. CC Essay #5 (BBB)Within the period 1450 to 1800 the Spanish and Russian empires grew greatly. Both had changes in political structures, social structure, and economic structure. The political structure of the Spanish empire and Russian empire both changed within 1450 to 1800. The Spanish empire went from a monarchy to a democracy after having a few very bad kings and queens. The Russian empire went also from a monarchy to a democracy. This change also changed the social structure. As in most countries around this time the caste system was released and there was no more of it.With the change of the political structure also came the change of the economical structure. Spain along with Britain, France, and the other western countries, became westernized with factories and the new trade routes faster than Russia. The Russian empire became westernized later because, of course, they were very far away from the major technological countries. But as Spain did Russia became very westernized. The two empires were very similar and Russia seemed to follow in Spains footsteps. AP WORLD Scoring Rubric for 2007 CC Essay: Empire Building in Spain, Russia & Ottoman EmpireSample Identifi er: 3MScore: 9 Strong thesis in first paragraph. (1 pt) Addresses similarities at beginning of 2nd paragraph and differences in first paragraph of page 2. (2 pts) Evidence abounds. (2 pts) Direct comparison in 5th line of page 2. (1 pt) Analysis on 4th line of page 3. (1 pt) Two expanded core points for thesis and rich evidence. Sample Identifier: 3RRScore: 8 Thesis is found at beginning of last paragraph. (1 pt). Addresses similarities in 5th line, page 1. Address differences in 3rd line of the 2nd paragraph. (2 pts) Rich in evidence. 2 pts). Direct comparison found on page 2, 1st paragraph: â€Å"Unlike the Spanish†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Analysis is found on page 3, at top: â€Å"Also, both empires wouldn’t have been established if†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Expanded core for evidence and comparisons. A strong 8. Sample Identifier: 3JJScore: 7 Thesis is found in the last sentence of the essay: â€Å"†¦politically, and socially different but economically both needed to exp and†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). Similarities are addressed in the narrative just above the thesis. Differences are addressed at the beginning of the essay (2 pts).Enough evidence for (2 pts). Direct comparison is found in middle of page 1: â€Å"The Spanish however†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt). The analysis point follows immediately: â€Å"It was easier for the Spanish to expand rather than the Russians because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Use asset model to ignore references to Ottoman Empire. A solid 7. Sample Identifier: 3CScore: 6 No thesis at beginning or end of the essay that compares (similarities and differences) of the process of empire building in Spain and Russia. Addresses similarities at the end of page 1, â€Å"†¦and Russia too felt the pull of expansionism. Beginning of the essay addresses a difference just before â€Å"because†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (2 pts). Rich in Spanish evidence on page 1. Russian evidence is on page 2, 3rd line. (2 pts) Direct comparison in first sentence of page 2, which r eferences the previous sentence. (1 pt) First sentence of last paragraph on page 1 isn’t a direct comparison because it is not true of Russia in 1450. Analysis of a comparison is found in the 3rd line of page 2, â€Å"†¦so Russia expanded eastward†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Evidence may be found within analysis or within a direct comparison. ) Addresses similarities on line 10 of page 1.Sample Identifier: 3EEScore: 5 No thesis. Addresses differences at beginning of essay. (1pt) Especially strong in Spanish evidence. 2 examples of Russian evidence. (2 pts) Direct comparison in second paragraph: â€Å"In Russia, however†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1 pt) Analysis of differences between Spanish and Russian empires on first half of page 2. Sample Identifier: 3RScore: 4 No thesis. Addresses similarities in middle of first paragraph, and differences beginning in 4th line of page 2, in regard to the way each empire accumulated wealth as they expanded. 2 pts) Evidence for Spain: silver, encomiendas, ha ciendas and â€Å"mining† (other than silver). Ottoman evidence in 2nd paragraph: â€Å"religion played a big role when building the empire. † (2 pts) Last paragraph unscorable because the argument is unquantifiable. Sample Identifier: 3AAScore: 3 No thesis. (â€Å"†¦Russians were concerned with Westernization efforts† does not explicitly address empire building process). Addresses differences in first paragraph. (1 pt) Evidence for Spanish empire building on most of page 1. Russian empire building evidence begins in 1st paragraph of page 2 (2 pts).Attempt at direct comparison at bottom of page 2 is historically inaccurate. Sample Identifier: 3DDDScore: 2 No thesis. Addresses similarities in first two sentences of 4th paragraph. Addresses differences in first sentence of 3rd paragraph. 2 relevant examples of evidence for Spain, none for Ottoman Empire. No direct comparison or analysis. Sample Identifier: 3BBBScore: 1 No thesis. Addresses similarity in first sentence of second paragraph. Not sufficient evidence supporting empire building in Spain and Russia. No direct comparison or analysis.

Analyze The Anatomical Structure Of Ten Essay

Distinguish among the four tissue types found in the human body. Provide an example of each type with its function and location. Epithelial tissue covers the body surface and forms the lining for most internal cavities. The major function of epithelial tissue includes protection, secretion, absorption, and filtration. The skin is an organ made up of epithelial tissue which protects the body from dirt, dust, bacteria and other microbes that may be harmful. Cells of the epithelial tissue have different shapes as shown on the student’s worksheet. Cells can be thin, flat to cubic to elongate. Connective tissue is the most abundant and the most widely distributed of the tissues. Connective tissues perform a variety of functions including support and protection. The following tissues are found in the human body, ordinary loose connective tissue, fat tissue, dense fibrous tissue, cartilage, bone, blood, and lymph, which are all considered connective tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Skeletal muscle is a voluntary type of muscle tissue that is used in the contraction of skeletal parts. Smooth muscle is found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels. It is an involuntary type. The cardiac muscle is found only in the walls of the heart and is involuntary in nature. Nerve tissue is composed of specialized cells which not only receive stimuli but also conduct impulses to and from all parts of the body. Nerve cells or neurons are long and string-like. Distinguish among five different types of connective tissue with examples of functions and location within the body. Adipose fatty tissue; type of loose connective tissue that stores energy, insulates and cushions the body Fibrous Tissue composed of bundles of collagenous white fibers between which are rows of connective tissue cells. Bone tissue Most rigid connective tissue, internally supports body structures, very active tissue, heals much more rapidly than cartilage cartilage tissue Dense, flexible tissue similar to bone tissue blood tissue Consists of blood cells surrounded by nonliving fluid matrix called plasma.  Funcion: transport vehicle for cardiovascular system, carrying nutrients, wastes, respiratory gases, and many other subs thru body hemopoietic tissue Produces blood cells that are added to the circulating blood, removes worn out blood cells from the blood stream, red bone marrow, lymphatic tissue, yellow bone marrow Analyze five different types of epithelial tissue with examples of functions and location within the body. Simple squamous-single layer of thin, flat, many-sided cells each with a central nucleus. It lines internal cavities, the heart and all the blood vessels. Also lines parts of the urinary, respiratory, and male reproductive tracts. Stratified squamous-consists of many layers of cells. Innermost layer produces cells that are first cuboidal or columnar in shape, but as cells push toward the surface, they become flattened and begin to accumulate a protein called keratin and eventually die. Keratin makes the outer layer of epidermis tough, protective, and able to repel water. The linings of the mouth, throat, anal canal, and vagina are examples of stratified epithelium. The outermost layer of cells surrounding the cavity remains soft, moist, and alive. Simple cuboidal-single layer of cube-shaped cells, each with a central nucleus. Found in tubules of the kidney and in the ducts of many glands, where it has a protective function. It also occurs in the secretory portions of some glands, where the tissue produces and releases secretions. Simple columnar-single layer of tall, cylindrical cells, each with a nucleus near the base. This tissue, which lines the digestive tract from the stomach to the anus, protects, secretes, and allows absorption of nutrients. Pseudo stratified ciliated columnar-appears to be layered, though actually all cells touch the basement membrane. Many cilia are located on the free end of each cell. In the human trachea, the cilia wave back and forth, moving mucus and debris up toward the throat so that it cannot enter the lungs. Smoking destroys these cilia, but they will grow back if smoking is discontinued.

Testimony vs. Testimonial

Testimony vs. Testimonial Testimony vs. Testimonial Testimony vs. Testimonial By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between testimony and testimonial? The former word refers to formal presentation of facts, while the latter, while denoting the same meaning, has a more qualitative connotation in which opinion (and perhaps deception) is expressed as well. Testimony means â€Å"the statement of a witness† and is used generally used only in a legal sense; originally, it also referred to evidence, but that sense is obsolete. Testimonial, as an adjective, means â€Å"of or pertaining to testimony,† but as a noun it means â€Å"a statement of one’s character or qualifications.† This sense has been extended to refer to a common type of advertising in which a person testifies to the efficacy or quality of a product, as well as to a gift symbolizing appreciation. And just as testimony may be faulty or may involve perjury, testimonials are not necessarily reliable or deserved. Testify, meanwhile, is a verb meaning â€Å"to bear witness.† A related word is testament, from the Latin word testamentum, meaning â€Å"a will† or â€Å"publication of a will†; it derives ultimately from testis, meaning â€Å"witness.† Other words with the syllable -test include the verbs attest (â€Å"affirm† or â€Å"prove†), contest (â€Å"dispute† or â€Å"oppose,† originally in the sense of witnessing against someone, but now also meaning â€Å"compete†), detest (with the original sense of â€Å"denounce† but now generally meaning â€Å"abhor, dislike intensely†), and protest (originally, â€Å"declare or state formally or solemnly† but now meaning â€Å"complain† or â€Å"speak out against†); noun forms of contest and protest and nouns extending from attest and detest (attestation and detestation); and adjectival forms such as detestable. The syllable -test in these words is related to Indo-European root word for â€Å"three†; the connection is that a third person, ostensibly neutral, is the ideal witness for providing testimony. Also, curiously enough, the word test, as a synonym for exam or trial, probably has no connection to the Latin syllable; it comes from the unrelated Latin word testum, meaning â€Å"earthen pot,† the earliest type of vessel used for assaying precious minerals. (This term is related to texere, meaning â€Å"to weave,† from which we get the word textile.) Testicle (plural testicles, medical terms testis and testes), meanwhile, is associated with the sense of witnessing, perhaps in that the male reproductive organ bears witness to virility; one scholar, however, does make a connection between testis, the Latin origin of testicle, and testum, the Latin word for a pot. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Addressing A Letter to Two PeopleThe Difference Between "will" and "shall"10 Writing Exercises to Tighten Your Writing

The Treasure of the Aztecs

The Treasure of the Aztecs In 1519, Hernan Cortes and his greedy band of some 600 conquistadors began their audacious assault on the  Mexica (Aztec) Empire. By 1521 the Mexica capital city of  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Tenochtitlan was in ashes, Emperor Montezuma was dead and the  Spanish were firmly in control of what they took to calling New Spain. Along the way, Cortes and his men collected thousands of pounds of gold, silver, jewels and priceless pieces of  Aztec art. Whatever became of this unimaginable treasure? The Concept of Wealth in the New World For the Spanish, the concept of wealth was simple: it meant gold and silver, preferably in easily negotiable bars or coins, and the more of it the better. For the Mexica and their allies, it was more complicated. They used gold and silver but primarily for ornaments, decorations, plates, and jewelry. The Aztecs prized other things far above gold: they loved brightly colored feathers, preferably from quetzals or hummingbirds. They would make elaborate cloaks and headdresses out of these feathers and it was a conspicuous display of wealth to wear one. They loved jewels, including jade and turquoise. They also prized cotton and garments like tunics made from it: as a display of power, Tlatoani Montezuma would wear as many as four cotton tunics a day and discard them after wearing them only once. The people of central Mexico were great merchants who engaged in trade, generally bartering goods with one another, but cacao beans were also used as a currency of sorts. Cortes Sends Treasure to the King In April of 1519, the Cortes expedition landed near present-day​  Veracruz: they had already visited the Maya area of Potonchan, where they picked up some gold and the invaluable interpreter Malinche. From the town they founded in Veracruz they made friendly relationships with the coastal tribes. The Spanish offered to ally themselves with these disgruntled vassals, who agreed and often gave them gifts of gold, feathers and cotton cloth. In addition, emissaries from Montezuma occasionally appeared, bringing great gifts with them. The first emissaries gave the Spanish some rich clothes, an obsidian mirror, a tray and jar of gold, some fans and a shield made from mother-of-pearl. Subsequent emissaries brought a gold-plated wheel six and a half feet across, weighing some thirty-five pounds, and a smaller silver one: these represented the sun and moon. Later emissaries brought back a Spanish helmet which had been sent to Montezuma; the generous ruler had filled the helm with gold dust as the Spanish had requested. He did this because he had been made to believe that the Spanish suffered from an illness which could only be cured by gold. In July of 1519, Cortes decided to send some of this treasure to the King of Spain, in part because the king was entitled to a fifth of any treasure found and in part because Cortes needed the kings support for his venture, which was on questionable legal ground. The Spanish put together all of the treasures they had accumulated, inventoried it and sent much of it to Spain on a ship. They estimated that the gold and silver was worth about 22,500 pesos: this estimate was based on its worth as a raw material, not as artistic treasures. A long list of the inventory survives: it details every item. One example: the other collar has four strings with 102 red stones and 172 apparently green, and around the two green stones are 26 golden bells and, in the said collar, ten large stones set in gold... (qtd. in Thomas). Detailed as this list is, it appears that Cortes and his lieutenants held much back: it is likely that the king received only one-tenth of the treasure taken thus far. The Treasures of Tenochtitlan Between July and November of 1519, Cortes and his men made their way to Tenochtitlan. Along their way, they picked up more treasure in the form of more gifts from Montezuma, loot from the Cholula Massacre and gifts from the leader of Tlaxcala, who in addition entered into an important alliance with Cortes. In early November, the conquistadors entered Tenochtitlan and Montezuma made them welcome. A week or so into their stay, the Spanish arrested Montezuma on a pretext and kept him in their heavily defended compound. Thus began the plunder of the great city. The Spaniards continually demanded gold, and their captive, Montezuma, told his people to bring it. Many great treasures of gold, silver jewels and featherwork were laid at the feet of the invaders. Furthermore, Cortes asked Montezuma where the gold came from. The captive emperor freely admitted that there were several places in the Empire where gold could be found: it was usually panned from streams and smelted for use. Cortes immediately sent his men to those places to investigate. Montezuma had allowed the Spaniards to stay at the lavish palace of Axayacatl, a former tlatoani of the empire and Montezumas father. One day, the Spanish discovered a vast treasure behind one of the walls: gold, jewels, idols, jade, feathers and more. It was added to the invaders ever-growing pile of loot. The Noche Triste In May of 1520, Cortes had to return to the coast  to defeat the conquistador army of Panfilo de Narvaez. In his absence from Tenochtitlan, his hotheaded lieutenant Pedro de Alvarado ordered the massacre of thousands of unarmed Aztec nobles attending the festival of Toxcatl. When Cortes returned in July, he found his men under siege. On June 30, they decided they could not hold the city and decided to depart. But what to do about the treasure? At that point, it is estimated that the Spanish had amassed some eight thousand pounds of gold and silver, not to mention plenty of feathers, cotton, jewels and more.   Cortes ordered the kings fifth and his own fifth loaded onto horses and Tlaxcalan porters and told the others to take what they wanted. Foolish conquistadors loaded themselves down with gold: smart ones only took a handful of jewels. That night, the Spanish were spotted as they tried to flee the city: the enraged Mexica warriors attacked, slaughtering hundreds of Spaniards on the Tacuba causeway out of the city. The Spanish later referred to this as the Noche Triste or Night of Sorrows.The kings and Cortes gold was lost, and those soldiers who carried very much loot either dropped it or were slaughtered because they were running too slowly. Most of the great treasures of Montezuma were irrevocably lost that night. Return to Tenochtitlan and Division of Spoils The Spanish regrouped and were able to re-take Tenochtitlan a few months later, this time for good. Although they found some of their lost loot (and were able to squeeze some more out of the defeated Mexica) they never found all of it, despite torturing the new emperor, Cuauhtà ©moc. After the city had been retaken and it came time to divide the spoils, Cortes proved as skilled at stealing from his own men as he had in stealing from the Mexica. After setting aside the kings fifth and his own fifth, he began making suspiciously large payments to his closest cronies for weapons, services, etc. When they finally got their share, Cortes soldiers were dismayed to learn that they had earned less than two hundred pesos each, far less than they would have gotten for honest work elsewhere. The soldiers were furious, but there was little they could do. Cortes bought them off by sending them on further expeditions which he promised would bring in more gold and expeditions were soon on their way to the lands of the Maya in the south. Other conquistadors were given encomiendas: these were grants of vast lands with native villages or town on them. The owner theoretically had to provide protection and religious instruction for the natives, and in return the natives would work for the landowner. In reality, it was officially sanctioned slavery and led to some unspeakable abuses. The conquistadors who served under Cortes always believed that he had held back thousands of pesos in gold from them, and the historical evidence seems to support them. Guests to Cortes home reported seeing many bars of gold in Cortes possession. Legacy of the Treasure of Montezuma In spite of the losses of the Night of Sorrows, Cortes and his men were able to take a staggering amount of gold out of Mexico: only Francisco Pizarros looting of the Inca Empire produced a greater amount of wealth. The audacious conquest inspired thousands of Europeans to flock to the New World, hoping to be on the next expedition to conquer a rich empire. After Pizarros conquest of the Inca, however, there were no more great empires to find, although legends of the city of El Dorado persisted for centuries. It is a great tragedy that the Spanish preferred their gold in coins and bars: countless priceless golden ornaments were melted down and the cultural and artistic loss is incalculable. According to the Spanish who saw these golden works, Aztec goldsmiths were more skilled than their European counterparts. Sources Diaz del Castillo, Bernal. . Trans., ed. J.M. Cohen. 1576. London, Penguin Books, 1963. Levy, Buddy. . New York: Bantam, 2008. Thomas, Hugh. . New York: Touchstone, 1993.

Smart Alternatives for SAT Practice Tests

Smart Alternatives for SAT Practice Tests SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips You probably already know that the gold standard for studying for the SAT is to use the official practice tests released by the College Board. Unfortunately, theSAT is getting completely redesigned after January 2016 – and there aren’t that many official questions for the new test yet. But the great news is that there are many ways to use otherresources to study effectively! Questions from other standardized tests, materials from your high school education, magazines and other publications –there is no shortage of ways to practice the knowledge and skills you’ll need for the new SAT! In this article, I’ll go through each section of the new SAT and talk about all the possible alternatives to regular practice questions. When it comes to the SAT redesign, the world really is your oyster. Which SAT Are You Studying For? After January 2016, the SAT will undergo a dramatic redesign. Each section will undergo major changes to both the format of the questions and the content that they cover. The main big picture change is that the SAT will no longer focus on testing skills and knowledge in isolation. For example, instead of checking your understanding of vocabulary or grammar through single sentences, the new SAT’s reading and writing sections will be entirely passage-based and depend a lot more on your ability to understand ideas in context. Sherlock Holmes: understandingincontext since 1887. In general, if you’re in the Class of 2016 or 2017, our advice is to take thecurrent version of the SAT (maybe even the ACT). That way you can take advantage of existing study resources. For some options, read ourroundup of the best SAT books, sometips for better test taking, and our detailed and extensive guides to the current SAT’smath,reading,writing, andessay sections. In this article, I'll describe how best to use alternative resourcesto study for the new SAT (the one that will be given after January 2016). Alternative Resources and the Best Way to Use Them Getting better scores on the SAT comes from better mastery of content and greater familiarity with format. In other words, to do well on the new SAT, you have to understand the math, grammar, logic, and writing concepts that are being tested. And at the same time, you have to have a good sense of timing and pace, the way test questions are phrased, and how the scoring system works. The best way to have the format start to feel like second nature is to use official tests from the College Board to imitate test-day conditions as closely as possible However, brushing up on the ideas and key concepts that are tested bySAT questions doesn’t have to be done only through officially released SAT materials. This is good news because there simply aren’t that many official materials available for the new test yet. In fact, since the new SAT tries to test reasoning and logicrather than your ability tospot confusing tricks, you don't need to rely quite as much on SAT guides that help you beat the test's weirdtricks. Instead, you can use published essays to help you understand how authors put arguments together, whichyou'll need for the new essay portion,or use science writing to get familiar with the way graphs and charts work as evidence, which will be key for the new reading questions. Mypoint is that the SAT is now trying to test actual real-world understanding, so using materials from that real world is a great way to build skills. Real-world knowledge? Finally, a chance to wow everyonewith my point-by-point comparison ofthe 7190 and 4504 Millennium Falcons! (R K/Flickr) In the next part of the article, I'll go through each of the new SAT’s sections and explain all the unofficialresources that can be used to study for it. Alternative Study Resources for Each New SAT Section Overall, the new SAT is a big change from the current format. But not each section has been changed to the same degree! I will go through them in order of least to greatest transformation. For a bird's-eye perspective on study approaches, you shouldreadour guide to studying for the new SAT. Math This is far and away the least changed part of the SAT, though there will be slight shiftsin question distribution. For example, there will now be fewer geometry questions and 5% of the questions will be on trigonometry. There will also be a greater emphasis on being able to interpret charts and graphs, and a general move towards more realistic scenarios for questions. Finally, there will be some multi-step questions based on a single problem. Math Content: Algebra – most questions will be about algebra concepts Geometry – now less than 10% of the test Basic trigonometry – now about 5% of the test Data interpretation – using graphs and charts Alternative Study Resources for Math Practice Tests: Old SAT math sections. These can help zero in on your knowledge and skill weaknesses, if youuse a notebook to keep track of your mistakes. These are also probably the closest to what you’ll see on test day. Companion books to official old SAT tests. Combining books that explain the answers toold SAT questionswith the notebook method could be a great way to figure out exactly why you are making the mistakes you’re making – and in turn this will help you isolate the content you need to review. Online SAT-style math questions. Although question banks written by other companies don’t tend to faithfully represent actual SAT questions, they are perfectly fine for studying content and for getting in even more practice with your math weak points. Check out ouroverview of the best question bank websites. SAT review books. There are so many of these that we have put together areview of the best ones to make your life easier. Your math textbook or an online version. Few SAT-type materials have questions on trigonometry because it has never been included on the SAT before. To review it or relearn it, you have to go back to the source. You can also tryKhan Academy’s math zone for the same thing. ACT math questions. Not only is the material covered quite similar, but the ACT also includes trigonometry. Trigonometry: where sin(gerine) / cos(gerine) = tan(gerine) Writing and Literature (previouslyReading and Writing) The old SAT’s separate Reading and Writing sections will now be combined into one section called Writing and Literature. Questions will now be entirely passage-based and will come from 1 passage on US and World Literature, 2 on History/Social Studies, and 2 on Science. Reading Content: Defining vocabulary in context – figuring out complex words through the role they play in a passage Logic and argumentation – identifying the way arguments are structured Evidence support questions – understanding how evidence is used to make arguments Data interpretation – making sense of charts and graphs used as evidence in nonfiction writing Alternative Study Resources for Reading Practice Tests: Passage-based reading questions from the old SAT. These won't be exactly like the ones on the new test, but they can help you practice context-based questions. For help onhow to tackle passage-based questions, read our guide. Passage-based reading questions in SAT review books. We havea list of the best ones for critical reading skills, so you don’t drown in the almost limitless choices out there. ACT Reading questions. The ACT Reading is also based on interpreting passages, so this is a useful source for more multiple-choice questions. GRE Reading Comprehension questions. The GRE Reading Comprehension passages (in the GRE Verbal Reasoning section of that test) are pitched at a higher level than the old SAT. If you are already a medium- to high-scoring student, thisis a great way to be exposed to more complex reading passages and questions. ACT Science questions. This suggestion may seem to come out of left field, but because the new SAT will feature data interpretation questions, ACT Science is a great place to test your graph and chart understanding skills. AP Language and AP Literature multiple choice section questions. These questions are all passage-based, and focus on the complexities of passage structure and logic. They are pitched at a higher level than the SAT, but if you do well on these, you’ll be fine on the SAT as well. Vocabulary guides. The new test will approach vocabulary very differently (only in context), but it could still help to check out ourfree set of 200 flashcardsof the most frequently occurring words on the old SAT as well as ourexplanation of the most effective way to use them. Read widely – particularly nonfiction. Books, magazines, and newspapers are great for gaining familiarity with the kind of language you will encounter on the new SAT. They'll also give you thebackground knowledge to help you understand reading passages better. Finally, they'll show you real-world examples of how charts, graphs, and other visual data representation areused as evidence in a passage. I recommend a weekly deep dive into a few articles fromWired, Grantland, The Atlantic, Slate, or FiveThirtyEight.If you have access to a subscription, you can also readThe Economist, the New York Times, Time Magazine, the magazine Science, or The New Yorker. I'll practice reading passages. I'll learn grammar and vocab. But charts and graphs? That's where I draw the line! Writing Content: Grammar – explaining grammar as it relates to the passage Punctuation rules – the proper way to use punctuation to clarify meaning Paragraph organization and logic – how individual sentences work within paragraphs, and how paragraphs are organized for logical flow Alternative Study Resources for Writing Practice Tests: Improving Passages questions on old SATs. These aren’t exactly like the questions you will find on the new SAT, but they will drill some of the same content. Grammar guides. Though there will be less gotcha-type grammar questions, you still need to know these rules of writing cold. To brush up, read through ourthorough explanation of SAT grammar. ACT English questions. These are already all passage-based and cover similar content, so they makeuseful toolsfor practicing your skills. Reading widely will help with this section as well. The more you read, the more language is embedded in your brain, the more you pick up on nuances of syntax and grammar. Read a piece of nonfiction every day! My go-to nonfiction? Science. I read a book on anti-gravity the other day, and couldn't put it down! The Essay The Essay section will be completely different on the new SAT. Not only will it now be 50 minutes long, but it will also be much closer to the essays you’ve been writing all along in high school. Essay Content: Analytical writing – you'll have to analyze an essay and explain how the author builds the argument Using evidence in your writing – your analysis should be supported by evidence from the passage (not examplesyou preslected inpreparation) Close reading – your analysis will necessarily focus not just on big-picture logic, but also deconstruct the author’s use of rhetorical devices and diction (also known as word choice) Alternative Study Resources for the Essay: AP English Language and Composition –Free Response Question 2.This part of the APtestalso asks you what the author is arguing and how the author is doing it – exactly what you will need to be able to do on the SAT. Things you learned in English class. Look through your notes, through your English class textbook, and over the essays you’ve written throughout high school to refresh your memory about the kind of writing you will have to do on this part of the SAT. Focus on close reading and learning to recognize rhetorical devices – hyperbole, figurative language, metaphors and similes, and other techniques to produce a response in the reader. Guides to the standard 5-paragraph essay. You will still be able to successfully use this format to answer the essay section of the SAT. For many explanations of the structure, search for â€Å"5-paragraph essay.† Excellent essays written by others. Reading well-written essays can help you understand how essays work and how authors structure arguments and ideas. Being very familiar with the genre makes itmuch easierto analyze the essay text you'll get on the SAT. You may pick up some helpful ideas for your own writing as well!One great source of excellent short essays isThe Electric Typewriter. What’s Next? Can’t get enough SAT books? We have more reviews of the best SAT prep books overall, and those books best suited to intense study. Want to explore more online resources? We have compiled a list of all the websites you should be using for your SAT prep. Need a break from all that studying? Relax with somefun SAT facts, feed yourcelebrity gossip cravings, and marvel at theaccomplishments of the famous. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We have the industry's leading SAT prep program. Built by Harvard grads and SAT full scorers, the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through advanced statistics, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible. Check out our 5-day free trial today:

Motorola's stock market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Motorola's stock market - Essay Example In the year 2006 the Motorola Company was ranked number 54 from a previous ranking at number 49, the ranking was based on revenue levels and the size of the company, therefore it would be advisable to invest in the company due to the fact that it is growing in terms of revenue, profits and earnings to share holders. 4 In 2005 the earnings per share amounted to 1.81 pounds, the percentage change from the year 2004 was 182.8%, the total percentage returns to investors amounted to 32.5% in the year 2005 and the annual growth rate in the returns amount to 3.8% from the year 2005.5 Over the years there has been an increase in the level of returns to investors as dictated by the above table, a 6.4% increase from the year 1995 to the year 2005. The total returns to investors in 2005 amounted to 32.5% and also the growth in the rate of return from the year 1995 is an annual rate of 3.8%.7 It would be therefore be profitable to invest in this shares which will yield returns to an investor, the growth rate in the level of returns is an indication that the investment made will yield more returns in a very short period, evidence can also be linked to the rise in its ranking among other companies, the Motorola compa

Assessment For The Financial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Assessment For The Financial Accounting - Essay Example Info: EasyJet Plc along with its subsidiaries ‘EasyJet Airline Company Limited' and ‘EasyJet Switzerland', is the second largest low-cost carrier within all of Europe. Formed only in 1995, that makes it much younger than most of its direct competitors; yet the company has been able to make a great name for itself in a very short duration of time (EasyJet Plc, 2010). Following are some achievements of the company (EasyJet Plc., 2011): Info: EasyJet Plc along with its subsidiaries ‘EasyJet Airline Company Limited' and ‘EasyJet Switzerland', is the second largest low-cost carrier within all of Europe. Formed only in 1995, that makes it much younger than most of its direct competitors, yet the company has been able to make a great name for itself in a very short duration of time. Following are some achievements of the company (EasyJet Plc., 2011):   48.8 million passengers flew by EasyJet in 2010 (out of 56 million flight seats).   The fleet of 196 aircraft   509 routes   Was amongst the very first companies to start e-commerce, they started selling online seats in 1997. As of today, easyjet.com remains "UK's most visited airline website".   Gargantuan revenues worth  £ 2,973.10 million. (Moneycentral; Thomson Reuters, 2011)The aforementioned figures are absolutely remarkable, especially considering the fact that this was a very bad year for airline carriers to the UK as the Eyjafjalla volcano in Iceland erupted and many flights were canceled during April-May (2010);... mpany Backgrounds EasyJet plc Company 1: EasyJet Plc Industry: Airline Info: EasyJet Plc along with its subsidiaries ‘EasyJet Airline Company Limited’ and ‘EasyJet Switzerland’, is the second largest low cost carrier within all of Europe. Formed only in 1995, that makes it much younger than most of its direct competitors; yet the company has been able to make a great name for itself in a very short duration of time (EasyJet Plc, 2010). Following are some achievements of the company (EasyJet Plc., 2011): 48.8 million passengers flew by EasyJet in 2010 (out of 56 million flight seats). Fleet of 196 aircrafts 509 routes Was amongst the very first companies to start e-commerce, they started selling online seats in 1997. As of today, easyjet.com remains â€Å"UKs most visited airline website† (EasyJet Plc., 2011, pp.6-8). Gargantuan revenues worth ? 2,973.10 million. (Moneycentral; Thomson Reuters, 2011) The aforementioned figures are absolutely remarkable , especially considering the fact that this was a very bad year for airline carriers within UK as the Eyjafjalla volcano of Iceland erupted and many flights were cancelled during April-May (2010); EasyJet executives place the estimate of damage and loss to be around ? 30 million. And then there was the air traffic control strike, which significantly affected the profits by increasing the overheads and costs. (EasyJet Plc., 2011, p.17) And even after such incidents, EasyJet managed to bring about an increase in its YoY net and gross profits, whilst increasing the revenues slightly. Tullow Oil Plc Company 2: Tullow Oil Plc Industry: Oil or Gas Exploration / Production Info: For a company with such a humble beginning, the progress that Tullow Oil has made from its inception in 1985 is nothing short of a miracle.

Renters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Renters - Essay Example If it there is no comparison, one should lower the tax rate. To report rental income, one can use the form 1040 that comprises of all the schedules from A to F, J, L, M, & SE, and the other form 1040 with few information and no schedules. If your buildings, apartments, or rooms provide only trash collection, heat, and light among others, one should only report the rental income and expenses on part 1 in schedule E form 1040. If the apartment provides extra services that are essential to tenants’ convenience, like maid service, regular cleaning, and changing linen should report the rental expenses and income in Schedule C form 1040. It indicates considerable services of the apartment or business as the real estate dealer One can include rental income from the real state property owned by the taxpayer with the income they are reporting for their convenience store by including it on the schedule C used to report sales activities. This may be helpful as in most cases one may be subject to risk on activities carried out as business or trade. Typically, schedule C highlights the loss and profit from the business. It underlines basic services imposed for tenant’s convenience, and the total rental expenses and income (Anderson, 2011). The rental income is an income that is subject to self employment taxes. It is worth noting that, rental income is indicated on schedule E with Supplemental loss and income of tax return. Such incomes are derived from corporations, rental income, royalties, and trusts just to name a few. Nevertheless, even though such are categorized as income, it is not earned until one rent a personal property rather from real estate. Rental income takes place when one invests money in estates, which is return on investment in the form of rent. Therefore, the rental income can only be subject to self-employment taxes if there is investment obtained. However, if the apartment does not give

Project Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Project Management - Essay Example The trade show materials have to be shipped in time to reach before the trade show, the vendor/printed has to deliver in time so that they can be shipped in time. The timing for training the staff is vital as Pat will be away on vacation; travel arrangements are essential to avoid last minute complications as shows of this magnitude attract participants from all over the world. Not all, but many activities are dependent on the previous activity, which adds importance to adhering to time schedules. Hence, time management would involve defining and sequencing the activity, estimate the duration and the resources, and develop the schedule (ITPM, n.d.). The second most important knowledge area recognized by the PMBOK is the human resources management. Every knowledge area includes a planning area (ITPM). Most effective use of the people involved in the project has to be done. The first task is to identify the staff and assign roles, like Pat and Terry have been identified, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses. The project roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships have to be assigned (Duncan, n.d.). Staff acquisition is essential after which the team development needs to be executed. For any project to be a success teamwork is essential, hence acquiring, developing and managing the project team is essential. Effort and expertise of different individuals are necessary to execute the project effectively. Hence, this knowledge area also involves delegating, motivating, coaching and mentoring. The third most important knowledge area relevant to the trade show project is communication. This involves timely and effe ctive generation, dissemination, storage and disposition of the project information (Duncan). Since most activities are independent, communication at all levels gains importance. Everyone involved in the project must be prepared to receive and send communication in the language understood by all.Communication planning

History and Memory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

History and Memory - Essay Example To see all these through, South Africa as a nation established Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to handle infamous crimes experienced in the past wicked regime. So many individuals have aired their opinions about the past of South Africa, and they have been trying to consolidate history of the same country making it as recent as possible. A question, therefore, arises as to whether suggestions of the recent history are in support of a vigorous confrontation in the public realm or to be left to be slowly forgotten. To start us off, Stanley (526) observes three main sub-committees of TRC delegated to deal with the infringement of human rights, general pardon and rehabilitation and compensation. However, all of their functions were disregarded because they were not in line with desired types of social transformation. Recent history has exposed several appeals to significances of truth, justice or reconciliation, something that has been confronted by embattled politicians. These individuals as Wilson (16) cannot stand against essentialness in institutionalizing the past contraventions to come out with legitimacy for administration. Moreover, Tutu (32) argues that there are no possibilities of reconciliation with past denial. As Wilson (16) rightfully observes, truth commission ultimately has a symbolic meaning in that it is incapable of prosecuting any individual. Moreover, evidences that they obtain from different individual cannot be of any use in later prosecutions. All these suggest no room for considering actions taken by the TRC for they only hold ineffective claims that they may use to carry out their justice. They have a fundamental role in ensuring that memory is fixed in the members of the nation. In fact, Wilson still talks of the same memories of the past as those that are multiple and fluid at the same time. They are uncertain and vague, a reason why TRC is vital in institutionalizing past occurrences of conflict. In search of effective ways t o bring about healing to individuals of the South African nation, much is done to consider public confrontations in terms of storytelling. Talking about this, storytelling has so far been the best way to share the bitter past, Colvin (153). This is making South Africa acquire its new history. It is preferred to works of its history that aim at the creation, analysis and distribution of apartheid memories that cause trauma. It is a clear fact that the old South Africa bears bitter characteristics owing to what individuals experienced in the past. As old as to is so should be the history, even though it is upon the old history that a new one will bear its foundation. To make the above more clear, Colvin (153) depicts past narrations as a privileged way of communicating the bitter past. Sees individuals come out publicly to narrate their painful past apartheid experiences in line with authorized testimonies, freely telling a story that occurred this situation to someone. This resulted into encouraging result in a healing process of the offended South African individuals. It brought peace and contentment as all of them could just accept the past as it was, to think of the present and the future new history of their land. They anticipated for a future in a new South Africa that bears no traumas, as opposed to what all concerned bodies wanted to hear about. As Colvin observed, it is the same trauma that the news

Services in Your Area Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Services in Your Area - Assignment Example The home depicted in the above illustration can be represented as the cable organizations i.e. AT&T and Motorola which provides their respective services with the help of a router and a link is created with the help of a cable. By this way, the connectivity gets transmitted to a fiber node, thereby providing connections to home computers and telephones (LChu.net, n.d). Comparison and Evaluation of the Speed of DSL of AT & T and Cable Modem of Motorola In terms of speed, AT&T is regarded as one of the fastest providers of internet in the respective industry. The DSL service of the company has been viewed to deliver high speed that ranges from 200 Kbps -768 Kbps and even goes to 18.1 Mbps -24 Mbps (AT&T Intellectual Property, 2013). However, the cable modems of Motorola helps in delivering high speed data that offers the option of sharing a single data plan between multiple computers. Its data plans are used for delivering voice as well as data services. However, Motorola’s cabl e modems can fetch a speed of 38 Mbps which is far impressive as compared to the DSL of AT&T (Motorola Mobility LLC, 2013). Comparison and Evaluation of the Cost of DSL of AT & T and Cable Modem of Motorola After making a thorough comparison between the costs of DSL and cable modem of AT&T and Motorola respectively, it can be apparently observed that the price range of cable modems of Motorola is quite high. But, on the other hand, the cost of DSL’s belonging to AT&T is not so much high as compared to Motorola. A high quality wireless based cable modem of Motorola costs around 100 Dollars, whereas, most of the DSL’s of AT&T costs less than 50 Dollars which holds Motorola in a very high position in terms of pricing of the products (AT&T Intellectual Property, 2013). Comparison and Evaluation of the Reliability of DSL of AT & T and Cable Modem of Motorola In terms of reliability, both the products seem to deliver customer oriented services However, the services which del iver by Motorola are quite user-friendly and most significantly different options are provided for trouble shooting and diagnosing any sort of problem related to connectivity. In addition, the company also provides facilities for remote configuration of the devices. In comparison, AT&T also delivers services that are well suited with the convenience as well as the preferences of the customers. It has been viewed that the products of AT&T generally allows the multiple users to access the devices from different locations. Moreover, the DSL service which provides by the company enables to establish a strong collaboration within the employees by ensuring proper connection among them through incorporating wide range of connectivity. The services of the company are supported by global infrastructure of Internet Protocol which ensures proper reach to the consumers along with high performance and total security (AT&T Intellectual Property, 2013). Recommendations Based on the services that p rovides by both the companies, it can be recommended that Motorola must opt for making cable modems that best suits the preferences as well as the requirements of the consumers. The company can lower down the costs of its service i.e. cable modems in order to increase its profitability along with overall productivity. On the other hand, AT&T can follow extended efforts for making its DSL service more reliable, trustworthy as well as customized. However, the