Analysis essay- see instruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis - see instruction - Essay Example In today’s economy, those that pursue agriculture, mining, medicine, and teaching are the best placed when it comes to getting a job. The article also adds that those who majored in physics or chemistry have very high chances of securing themselves jobs. For those who pursue either social science or architecture, possibilities of getting a job are close to nil. Researchers at Georgetown University found out that the numbers of unemployed graduates with majors in education, nursing, and chemistry were at a minimum (Ehrenfreund 2015). The recession is blamed for contributing to the high numbers of unemployed architects as it led to the collapse of construction and housing sectors(Ehrenfreund 2015). Social scientists often depend on governments and non-governmental organizations that, unfortunately, saw their profits plummet(Ehrenfreund 2015). Still, those who went to college, whether they pursued a social science or architecture, are more likely to get a job than those who did not go to college at all. The article states that about 18 percent of all youths with only a high school education were unemployed. Current college graduates are having an easier time finding a job while compared to experienced workers who only have a diploma 9.9 percent of whom are presently out of work(Ehrenfreund 2015). Initially, an individual with work experience and a diploma only was better than a college graduate. Currently, the job market is shifting from manufacturing to service industry(Ehrenfreund 2015). Emphasisis now put on technology which means that people taking physics and chemistry are better placed than those who take social sciences. The article states that while those who take architecture may have some difficulties finding a job while compared to their counterparts in education, when they do get a job, nonetheless, they make substantial amounts of money. The article shows the shift in

About 4 sources Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

About 4 sources - Assignment Example This work is written for commercial experts as the main target audience. One unique thing about this material is that it focuses on how gays and lesbians indirectly make use of visual interpretations to find meaning. Most articles focus on how media directly influences perception. The research methodology used to gather this information was interviewing. 25 self-proclaimed gays and lesbians were interviewed. The strength of this material is that it focuses on the effect of stigma as a major factor that affects gays and lesbians. One weakness is that the article ignores the negative impacts of advertisements on this group. The second article focuses on ‘media, sexuality and identity’ (Meyer 380). The purpose of this work is to provide a detailed understanding of the role of the media on people’s perceptions of sexuality. In summary, the article explains that the manner in which media communicates issues of sexuality influences cultural perceptions either positively or negatively depending on how individuals interpret the messages. This work has been written for scholars who want to have a better understanding of the role of the media in culture. Analysis of secondary data is the research methodology that has been employed in this work. The unique thing about this work is that it provides a deep insight on how sexuality develops through media. The strength of this article is that it focuses on both the media and the audience as active players in the determination of sexuality. The weakness is that it does not clearly highlight how media messages are culturally interpreted to influen ce sexuality. The third article is about ‘global gayness’ (McAllister 89). The purpose of the work is to analyse how gay culture has become a global affair. In summary, the work explains that imagery portrayed by the media about sexuality has had an influence on all cultures globally. However, the writer suggests that this

Reasons for Government Involvement in Tourism

Reasons for Government Involvement in Tourism What is tourism? Tourism can be defined in more than one way. Conceptually, it refers to the ideas and opinions people hold which shape their decisions about going on trips, about where to go, and what to do (Leiper 1995). Technically, it refers to the activities of the persons traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, health, business and other purposes (Leiper 1990, Pearce 1989). From the sociological point of view, tourism also refers to commercialized hospitality, democratized travel, a modern variety of the traditional pilgrimage, and an expression of basic cultural themes (Cohen 1984). However, the most significant form of tourism is its relations with the economic development of a country. In many countries, tourism is an economic activity which consumes a large part of its natural resources, generates revenue of billions of dollars every year and involving thousands of stakeholders and the general pu blic. As a result, it is one of the most important responsibilities of the government as to the planning, facilitating, coordinating, monitoring and protecting of tourism of that country. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) has conducted an examination on the involvement of the governments in tourism. According to Richardson Fluker (2004), a government has the responsibilities of establishing the framework of tourism, constructing infrastructure and communications; promoting the tourist destinations to the visitors, providing legislations, regulations and controls for tourism and the protecting the interests of the stakeholders. As Accrcnza (1985) pointed out there are basic stages in tourism planning which required the involvement of the government. They are analysis of previous tourism development, evaluation of the present position of tourism, formulation of tourism policy, definition of development strategy and elaboration of an action programme. All these require large amount of manpower and resources which are impossible for private sectors to manage. For instance, in establishing the framework of tourism, a functioning tourism system is identified which might affect governments decision on tourists destinations. Two major major force, demand (marketers) and supply (development), are to be considered in this respect. While the demand side is tourists who are going to the destinations, the supply side is related to the land and the geographic characteristics of the destinations (Gunn 1993). In addition, the supply side also made up of five major components, the attraction; transportation; services; info rmation and promotion. The attraction is the most powerful element as it helps to encourage and increase the desire of the tourists to visit the area. However, to develop the attraction, it may also involve the considerations of such external factors as the natural resources and the cultural resources. The natural resources provide the foundation for tourism development which preferred by tourist, such as water life; vegetative cover; wildlife; topography, soils, geology and climate, atmosphere. The Cultural resources are important for attractions developed as historic; ethnic national, craft and related economic development. As a result it may require the government to win the support of the community regarding the development of these destinations as the community is a significant factor on the functioning of tourism. Its acceptance and willingness to support tourism industries would greatly facilitate the long term development of the sites. Transportation which enable tourist to travel to different destinations; and services and information such as shops, banks and restaurants; are two other components of the supply side. As Gunn (1993) pointed out it was the responsibility of the government to create new and improve physical plants such as superstructure and infrastructure. Superstructure refers to the land and building developments used directly by travelers, such as hotels, restaurants and attractions. Infrastructure is applied to necessary support developments, such as roads, airports, water supply and fire protection. These public facilities have to be provided by the government so as to promote the growth of tourism. In addition, (Gee, Dexrer James 1984) physical development of tourism is made up a great diversity for business, government, and nonprofit components, such as direct provider, include transportation, travel agencies and restaurant; the support services which are tour organizers, management; and the developmental organization include planners and government agencies. Regarding the promotion of the tourist industry which helps to increase tourist to visit that area, government agencies have an important role as the promoter in this industry. Advertising in mass media and internet is very important in promoting and stimulating travel to the destinations. Familiarization tours and travel shows can provide information and attract tourist to visit that destination. Moreover, if they are organized by the government, they will become promises with reputation and will increase the numbers of the visitors significantly. Tourism product such as parks, historic sites or convention centers can increase the tourist flow, but these attraction products must be aware as a promised. If tourists discover the destination is not the same as its promise, it may affect the number of tourist who willing to come to the destination (Gunn 1993, Pearce 1989). Therefore, management of these tourism products has to be carefully supervised and monitored. Management is to make institutions capable of producing result (Drucker 1998). According to Richardson Fluker (2004), the management method which adopted by the WTO are the consulting with various stakeholders through meetings with industry, advisory groups and the general public The aim of these meetings is to discuss specific subjects such as strategic planning; issues on tourism industry such as promotions and regulations; setting up and funding of specialized tourism agencies which help to develop the tourism industry, and providing facilities and operations in ord er to provide money or facilities for national or communities interest. Moreover the meetings are also about creating the appropriate fiscal, regulatory and social environment within private business; and adjudicating between conflicting interest on society which are concerned with the environment, recreation and wildlife recourses. As we can see, management is also related to the protection on destinations interest. It is very important in tourism industry. Decision-making through managerial perceptions and the objective dimensions of tourism industry structure influence the natural environmental resources. The tourism resorts and its environment are necessary for survival and growth. The strategic managers have the most responsibility to that environment. As a result, the planning process in tactical (short-term) and strategic (long term) has to be carefully considered and monitored as it can improve the tourism industry performance and allow an effective response to a continually changing environment (Knowles, Dianmantis El-Mourhabi 2004). All in all, the development of tourism of one country is closely related to the policies of that government. According to Richardson Fluker (2004), policy is a course of action adopted and pursued by a government, expressed as a broad statement of general intent which guides the actions of public servants and others in carrying out the governments wishes. In other words, only the government has the power to command (including by legislature) such an enormous resources to develop strategy which matches the demand and supply factors such as an evaluation of tourist and market resources; the visitor satisfaction; environmental protection and adequate rewards for developers and investors. In conclusion, the government plays an important role in the tourism industry. Government agencies have to provide legislations, regulations and controls for tourism in order to ensure its tourism industry can sustain its level and compete with other tourist destination. They have to establish a framework which ensures its tactical and strategic in the attractiveness within the tourist destination in order to increase the amount of tourist visitation. The protection of interest is another important factor of the destination area needed to be considered too. If the attractiveness of its destination decline, it will affect the numbers of tourists who are willing to visit. As a result, to maintain a stable attractive in tourist destination, a new destination may have to be explored or artificial attract resources may be needed. Government agencies have to be concerned with the acceptance in the society whether they welcome or in conflict with the tourist interests. Government agencies need to make a good balance between two important factors. The promotion on tourist destinations helps its national economic and attraction competitiveness around the world. Tourists who are attracted by the promotion will come to visit instead of other places, so that the national economics will increase. However, if the destination doesnt match with what the government agencies promote, the national reputation may decline. As a matter of fact, government agencies play an important role in the tourism industry as the planner, coordinator, legislator and regulator, stimulator, promoter and protector of the destination interest.

The Montgomery Bus Boycott Essays -- Rosa Parks, civil rights

In the late eighteen hundreds, the Reconstruction by Congress was overturned by the Supreme Court. Segregation or separation by skin color was made a law which was adopted by private organizations, institutions and businesses (loc.gov). Physical violence and mental harassment was imposed upon those whom were deemed inferior in color. Some citizens accepted the law, as is, without question while others believed it was their supreme right to remain separate without modification. Human activists, that opposed this way of living, pursued an extensive battle to abolish racial inequity and segregation from American life (loc.gov). During the nineteen hundreds, many understood this treatment as an offense to human beings and activists began receiving assistance toward this common goal. Support and hindrance, for equality, were both on the rise throughout the Montgomery Bus Boycott. There were also citizens and organizations or groups who neither supported nor opposed segregation. They just wanted some sort of compromise or settlement to put a stop to all the chaos happening in their city. Two groups in particular that attempted to acquire an agreement between Montgomery city officials, the transportation company and protest leaders were the Men of Montgomery and the Alabama Council on Human Relations. The Men of Montgomery, a businessmen’s group, recruited by protest leaders to resolve the issues was unsuccessful in obtaining a consensus to meet the demands of the bus boycott. These men were able to construct a meeting with the opposing sides; however, they did not take a stand for complete humanity. Choosing sides would possibly gain repercussions from either side. City officials were only willing to produce a partial agreement that... ...unity joined together which was not normal among them. Civility was the conquest among boycotters. Montgomery wasn’t ready for the change. They were forced, by the Supreme Court, to accept the terms of the protesters. The long process and struggle finally paid off, integration legally was adopted. WORKS CITED Garrow, David J. â€Å"Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.† Bearing the Cross. William Morrow. New York Quill. 1-82. Interview, â€Å"Montgomery Bus Boycott,† Mrs. Janice Chapital, 09 Apr 2014. Library of Congress Exhibitions. 06 Oct 09. A Century of Racial Segregation, 1849-1850. 22 Feb 2014. Olson, Lynne. â€Å"The Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement from 1830 To 1970.† Freedom’s Daughters. Murrow. New York. Scribner. 13-17, 87-191.

Curse: Having Diverse Ethnic Identity

CURSE: HAVING DIVERSE ETHNIC IDENTITY Multicultural people can be defined as a people who have more than one culture in other words who grew up with more than one cultural identity. A person who grew up with more than one culture is having a mixed ethnic identity. Amin Maloouf, who has mixed ethnic identity, is a Lebanese author, who born in Beirut. His father was from Melikte Greek Catholic community and on the other hand his mother was from Turkey. Also Maalouf (1998) mentions that he has lived in France for twenty-two years, (as cited in Eken, A. N. amp; Rodrigues, B & Atabas, H. G. & Harris, J & Gunceri, M & Bilgic, M. L. & Tack, S& Onel, Z, 2010, p. 255), which shows that he is living three different cultures, in other words he is having mixed ethnic identity. Maalouf argues that â€Å"having mixed ethnic identity is not a curse; on the contrary, it is blessing. † As arguments and evidences show that having mixed ethnic identity is not always blessing, it is mostly a curs e for some reasons like; psychological and behavioural problems, educational and communicative problems and some problems in team work.Having different cultural identity is having two different cultures both from your mother and father, which will come up with; both having different perspectives and which will make person to remain open-minded. Different perspectives make people to think in different ways also different conversations thus Parekh (2006) argues that â€Å"different perspectives intended to equip individuals with the ability to converse in multiple cultural idioms, leading to an appreciation of the complexity of the truth, freedom from ethnocentric practices and the ability to learn from other cultures. (as cited in McGlynn, 2009, p. 300), which makes mixed identical people better than mono identical people. Even though bi ethnic individuals having bad experiences like marginalizing from society and come across with racism. On the other hand also they are experiencing the positive way of having mixed ethnic identity like being open-minded. As Korgen (1998) and Ross (1996) argued that, as a result of being open-minded, people with diverse identity correspond to the situations and people in different ways, thus this makes them to have â€Å"ability to see things from different point of views. (as cited in Abu-Rayya, 2006, p. 670). According to what Maalouf says, without any counter argument diverse ethnic identity is blessing just for having ability to see things in different point of views and being open-minded for different situations and different. In contrary what Maalouf has said, that mixed ethnic identity is blessing, in diverse team work there are both positive and negative effects of multicultural diversity but the negative effect of the diversity makes the team performance less effective than non diverse team.With having different cultures at the same time means having various acquirements and being interested in more than one thing as mixed cultural identity provides. Thereby Bodenhausen (2009) argues that team performance will positively affected by mixed cultural members of the team which they come up with various knowledge and skills. By bringing different skills and knowledge together in the group, Somers (2006); Wrap & Mahoney (2008) argue that these differences make other people to think in more sophisticated way, which makes the team performance better. (as cited in Bodenhausen, 2009, p. ) Sharing the knowledge by mixed ethnic members, there emerges a competitive motivation that will increase the performance in the team (Launt & Philips, 2007). Because of these reasons in the group each member of the team will complement each other and it will end with the increment of the team performance. In contrary to this positive situation, there are bad effects of having diversely ethnic members in the team. Trianduis (1960) argues that interpersonal problems and communicative difficulties have occurred by cultural diversity in the group, which does affect the performance negatively.Additional to this Kirchmeyer & Cohen (1992) indicate that this communicative difficulties bring to an end to the emotional conflicts. This communication problem and emotional conflicts or generally conflicts within the group are because of not having a common, exact culture. More over Pfeffer (1983) says that the reason for these problems are â€Å"having fewer shared experiences, having less in common and expressing more difference of opinion. † (as cited in Collin & Tagesson, 2008, p. 24). Because members express their selves in different way, they will be misunderstood by the other members of the team, and even because they do not have in common much; like culture or experiences; they will come across with a communication problem. As a result of these, O’Reilly, Cardwell, and Barnett (1989) claim that these problems will â€Å"threat the cohesiveness of the team† (as cited in Collin & Tages son, 2008, p. 224). In these circumstances, performance of the diverse eam will be much lower, when it is compared with ethnically homogenous team. Beside mono cultural identity; multicultural identity enables people to compose their own identities but while composing, some problems emerge like; not forming a coherent identity because of the result of acculturation, also undermining the national identity. Sen (2006) â€Å"rejects a plural mono culturalism that essentializes identity in favour of multicultural practice that endows the freedom to cultivate reasoned choice of identity priority (as cited in McGylnn, 2009, p. 00). In contrary to blessing part of having diverse ethnic identity, there is an issue that called acculturation which is the â€Å"exchange of cultural features that results when groups of individuals having different cultures come into continuous first hand contact. † This acculturation may cause culture shock or acculturation stress while identifying your self. In other words Jensen (2003) says, in forming a coherent identity, people come across with difficulties because of acculturation.They are having paradox because of the cultures’ various requirements. Thereby, they cannot properly decide which one to own or which one to not so, they mess up and then with the identity confusion they are marginalized from homogenous society. More over because of multiculturalism; Uberoi (2008) claims that â€Å"multicultural policies sometimes make people to focus on their cultural identities instead of their national one, thus making the latter unimportant to them. Having multicultural identity bridges the cultures and makes these cultures develop but on the other hand it has negative effect on identity which are cultural shock and acculturative stress; which is not blessing but it is cursing for a person who has diverse ethnic identity. For the positive side of having diverse ethnic identity Parekh argues that â€Å"no single culture c an embody all that is valuable in human life nor develop the full range of human possibilities. † (as cited in McGlynn, 2009, p. 00) In other words, cultures correct and complement each others’ both mistakes and missing and also expand each others’ perspectives by bringing different cultures in one body, which shows that they are bridging each other. More over multicultural identity help humans to develop their selves by learning from others. But in contrast to this, bridging and complementing the cultures, it affect people negatively and it brings acculturative stress and cultural shock both behavioural and psychological way. While trying to bridge cultures it come up an end with behavioural and psychological problems because of identity confusion.By identity confusion Arnett claims that â€Å"substance use, prostitution, armed aggression, and suicide† have emerged in multicultural individuals. (as cited in Jensen, 2003, p. 194) Because diverse ethnic ind ividuals sidelined by the society, they are having some psychological problems like; â€Å"low self-esteem, feelings of anxiety, depression, guilt, despair, hopelessness† (Brown (2001); Moyotshi (1990), as cited in Abu-Rayya, 2006, p. 669) also the feeling of ambivalence over their personal, racial, or ethnic identity (Brandell (1988); Brown (1990); Pinderhuges (1995), as cited in Abu-Rayya, 2006, p. 69). For example; Abu-Rayya mention about Arap-European children who are the having both Arabic and Europen culture together, â€Å"which may subject them to psychological maladjustment and disturb their personal and ethnic development. † More over Abu-Rayya says that as a minority group in the mono-ethnic Arabs, they live as scattered individuals and â€Å"may be perceived as a threat to the continuity of the ethnic and cultural structure(s) of the Arab group† which this threat may surrender them to social exclusion.Although the social exclusion or any behavioural or psychological problems, multicultural education is more effective in culturally integrated school, however less parents choose these integrated schools. Reich (2002) indicates that multicultural education is more effective in schools which are culturally integrated (as cited in McGlynn, 2009, p. 301). According to McGlynn it is effective but it is â€Å"frequently highly contentious. † Children are not attending to integrated schools because of their parents.In Northern Ireland, education system remains separate, McGlynn claims that: â€Å"with children either attending Catholic maintained schools or de facto Protestant controlled schools. Parents are against to integrated school in Northern Ireland; under 1989 Education Reform (Northern Ireland) Order to government has a duty to meet the needs of parents requesting integrated education and provides two types† (p. 301), both integrated schools and controlled schools According to NICIE (2008) only 6% of the pupil pop ulation attend integrated schools (as cited in McGlynn, 2009, p. 01). This shows even the education is better in integrated, diverse schools; parents do not want their children to study in those schools because of the other problems. As a conclusion, Amin Maalouf, who has ethnic diverse identity, has said that having mixed ethnic identity is blessing; but as evidences shows that it is not blessing it is cursing because of the behavioural and psychological problems, having difficulties in education, decreasing the team performance and problems while creating the identity.So; having diverse ethnic identity is not blessing, it is cursing. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Abu-Rayya, H. M. (2006). Ethnic identity, ego identity, and psychological well-being among mixed-ethnic Arab-European adolescents in Israel. Brithis Journal of Development, Vol, 24, DOI: 10. 1207/s1532706xid0604_3 Bodenhausen, G. V. (2009). Diversity in the person diversity in the group: Challengesof identity complexity for social percep tion and socail interaction. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40 from http://icproxy. abanciuniv. edu:2055/ehost/detail? sid=1cd41c5e-d9eb-4053-86e0-b31165dd43e1%40sessionmgr12&vid=20&hid=12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=47805859 * Jensen, L. A. (2003). Coming of Age in a Multicultural World: Globalization and Adolescent Cultural Identity Formation. Applied Developmental Science, Vol. 7 from: * http://icproxy. sabanciuniv. edu:2055/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer? vid=20&hid=12&sid=1cd41c5e-d9eb-4053-86e0-b31165dd43e1%40sessionmgr12 * McGlynn, C. (2003).Integrating education: Parekhian multiculturalism and good practice. Intercultural Education, Vol. 20, DOI: 10. 1080/14675980903351938 Tagesson, T. (2008). Ethnic and gender diversity, process and performance in groups of business students in Sweeden. Intercultural Educati? n, Vol. 19, DOI: 10. 1080/14675980802078608 Uberoi, V. (2008). Do Policies of Multiculturalism Change National Identities? The Political Quarterly, Vol. 79, DOI: 10. 1111/j. 1467-923X. 2008. 00942. x http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Multiculturalism

The Illiad by Homer Homer The Ancient Inspiration

A wise man once said, â€Å"Like that star of the waning summer who beyond all stars rises bathed in the ocean stream to glitter with brilliance† (Homer 22). This is a beautiful line from Homer’s The Iliad. It is a comparison to the stars describing someone or something that stands out amongst an ordinary crowd and proves himself. This seems to fit Homer’s description perfectly. Despite the fact that his life was a mystery, Homer, â€Å"The teacher of Greece†, is legendary due to the multiple theories about his existence, his poems, and his beliefs. To begin, Homer had a very incomprehensible life that scholars have been researching for many years. One historian stated, â€Å"In the absence of documented evidence, beginning in the Renaissance, disputes arose over exactly when Homer had lived and how he had composed these works. Some scholars even suggest that a historical Homer had never existed and that The Iliad and The Odyssey had evolved over time wi th input from many unidentified poets† (Zanker 15). Although the time range of Homer’s life remains unknown, some place Homer in the 7th or 8th centuries B.C, or at a time contemporary to The Iliad. It is most commonly said that he was born in Asia Minor, but specifically Ionia or the Island of Chios. The dialect of The Iliad is considered to be Ionic. Homer’s unknown past led to many inquiries about his life and his true identity. Next, because of Homer’s puzzling background, there are many theories as to who Homer really was. OneShow MoreRelatedJacques Louis David, Andromache Mourning Hector1145 Words   |  5 PagesAndromache Mourning Hector (1783) Homeric inspiration, allusion and grandeur is no better typified than that of Jacques-Louis David’s 1783 painting Andromache Mourning Hector. David, a neoclassical artist and later influent to the latter Romantic movement, blends various elements and allusions of Homeric times to his artwork, encapsulating important Homeric textual and philosophical references. Masterfully, David engages audience with four central themes of the illiad; the rage of Achillies, Hectors deathRead MoreThe Trojan War : History Not Myth1545 Words   |  7 Pagesbattles. This battle is told to have lasted ten years, resulting in the eventual collapse of Troy, under the siege of Greek forces. Modern knowledge of the Trojan War has survived mainly through the account given in Homer’s Illiad, and while having proved to be a rich source of inspiration for other writers, artists, and even filmmakers in recent history, much speculation still exists surrounding his account. I will analyze modern inte rpretations of the Trojan War and examine both speculation and supportRead MoreThe Greek s Victory Over Persia989 Words   |  4 Pagesnot only an era, but of cultural expansion that continues to impact our modern day society. The accomplishments and endeavors of the Ancient Greeks, both visible, such as arts and architecture, as well as intellectually in areas such as philosophy, science and government continue to influence the world today. Many or none of these influential elements of Ancient Greece would have come to fruition in such a†¦. way if the Greeks had not defeated the Persians. The freedom to think and expand providedRead MoreDid the Ancient Greek Gods Exist?1234 Words   |  5 PagesDid the Ancient Greek Gods exist? The Ancient Greeks regarded their religion and mythology with much respect and loyalty. Although the Ancient Greek Gods are now seen as an explanation created by man, for natural forces and the world around us, there has been much evidence both for and against the debate that these Gods were real. The Greeks believed that the Earth was created with the birth of Gaia, or Mother Earth, from the dark void known as Chaos. It was believed that Gods were all-powerfulRead MoreAn Integral Part Of The Culture Of Ancient Greece1986 Words   |  8 Pages Polytheism was an integral part of the culture of ancient Greece. Polytheism is the belief of multiple gods.This allowed for a very diverse society in terms of belief and kept the conflicts between people of different beliefs to a minimum, although not entirely. In ancient Greece, many of the people followed one of the fourteen major gods, Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Apollo, Artemis, Aphrodite, Ares, Dionysus, Hephaestus, Athena, Hermes, Demeter, Hestia, and Hera. These fourteen gods were theRead More Comparing the Struggle in Dante’s Inferno and Book VI of The Aeneid4312 Words   |  18 PagesAeneid and the Inferno are associated with history, both literally through Virgil’s poetry and metaphorically through their enduring wisdom in eyes of the pilgrim and Aeneas. For Aeneas and the pilgrim, however, religious history evolves from an ancient world of paganism to medieval Christianity and these values are transposed onto hell itself--showing that its history changes over time. Furthermore, the living realities that the pilgrim and Aeneas take into the underworld prove unstable when juxtaposed

Crusades Effects on the Middle East

Between 1095 and 1291, Christians from western Europe launched a series of eight major invasions against the Middle East. These attacks, called the Crusades, were aimed at liberating the Holy Land and Jerusalem from Muslim rule. The Crusades were sparked by religious fervor in Europe, by exhortations from various popes, and by the need to rid Europe of excess warriors left over from regional wars. What effect did these attacks, which came from out of the blue from the perspective of Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land, have on the Middle East? Short-Term Effects In an immediate sense, the Crusades had a terrible effect on some of the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants of the Middle East. During the First Crusade, for example, adherents of the two religions joined together to defend the cities of Antioch (1097 CE) and Jerusalem (1099) from European Crusaders who laid siege to them. In both cases, the Christians sacked the cities and massacred the Muslim and Jewish defenders. It must have been horrifying for the people to see armed bands of religious zealots approaching to attack their cities and castles. However, as bloody as the battles could be, on the whole, the people of the Middle East considered the Crusades more of an irritant than an existential threat. A Global Trade Power During the Middle Ages, the Islamic world was a global center of trade, culture, and learning. Arab Muslim traders dominated the rich trade in spices, silk, porcelain, and jewels that flowed into Europe from China, Indonesia, and India. Muslim scholars had preserved and translated the great works of science and medicine from classical Greece and Rome, combined that with insights from the ancient thinkers of India and China, and went on to invent or improve on subjects like algebra and astronomy, and medical innovations such as the hypodermic needle. Europe, on the other hand, was a war-torn region of small, feuding principalities, mired in superstition and illiteracy. One of the primary reasons that Pope Urban II initiated the First Crusade (1096–1099), in fact, was to distract the Christian rulers and nobles of Europe from fighting one another by creating a common enemy for them: the Muslims who controlled the Holy Land. Europes Christians would launch seven additional crusades over the next 200 years, but none was as successful as the First Crusade. One effect of the Crusades was the creation of a new hero for the Islamic world: Saladin, the Kurdish sultan of Syria and Egypt, who in 1187 freed Jerusalem from the Christians but refused to massacre them as the Christians had done to the citys Muslim and Jewish citizens 90 years previously. On the whole, the Crusades had little immediate effect on the Middle East in terms of territorial losses or psychological impact. By the 13th century, people in the region were much more concerned about a new threat: the quickly expanding Mongol Empire, which would bring down the Umayyad Caliphate, sack Baghdad, and push toward Egypt. Had the Mamluks not defeated the Mongols in the Battle of Ayn Jalut (1260), the entire Muslim world might have fallen. Effects on Europe In the centuries that followed, it was actually Europe that was most changed by the Crusades. The Crusaders brought back exotic new spices and fabrics, fueling European demand for products from Asia. They also brought back new ideas—medical knowledge, scientific ideas, and more enlightened attitudes about people of other religious backgrounds. These changes among the nobility and soldiers of the Christian world helped spark the Renaissance and eventually set Europe, the backwater of the Old World, on a course toward global conquest. Long-Term Effects of the Crusades on the Middle East Eventually, it was Europes rebirth and expansion that finally created a Crusader effect in the Middle East. As Europe asserted itself during the 15th through 19th centuries, it forced the Islamic world into a secondary position, sparking envy and reactionary conservatism in some sectors of the formerly more progressive Middle East. Today, the Crusades constitute a major grievance for some people in the Middle East, when they consider relations with Europe and the West. 21st Century Crusade In 2001, President George W. Bush reopened the almost 1,000-year-old wound in the days following the 9/11 attacks. On September 16, 2001, President Bush said, This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while. The reaction in the Middle East and Europe was sharp and immediate: Commentators in both regions decried Bushs use of that term  and vowed that the terrorist attacks and Americas reaction would not turn into a new clash of civilizations like the medieval Crusades. The U.S. entered Afghanistan about a month after the 9/11 attacks to battle the Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists, which was followed by years of fighting between U.S. and coalition forces and terror groups and insurgents in Afghanistan and elsewhere. In March 2003, the U.S. and other Western forces invaded Iraq over claims that President Saddam Husseins military was in possession of weapons of mass destruction. Eventually, Hussein was captured (and eventually hanged following a trial), al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed in Pakistan during a U.S. raid, and other terror leaders have been taken into custody or killed. The U.S. maintains a strong presence in the Middle East to this day and, due in part to the civilian casualties that have occurred during the years of fighting, some have compared the situation to an extension of the Crusades. Sources and Further Reading Claster, Jill N. Sacred Violence: The European Crusades to the Middle East, 1095-1396. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2009.Kà ¶hler, Michael. Alliances and Treaties between Frankish and Muslim Rulers in the Middle East: Cross-Cultural Diplomacy in the Period of the Crusades. Trans. Holt, Peter M. Leiden: Brill, 2013.  Holt, Peter M. The Age of the Crusades: The Near East from the Eleventh Century to 1517. London: Routledge, 2014.