A Vanished World Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

A Vanished World - Essay Example Visigoths had swept over the old Roman Hispania in the fifth century and similarly Islamic Arabs led by Tarriq stormed over Iberian Peninsula just as Carthaginians conquered centuries earlier. The Christian kingdom of Visigoth’s fall was dramatic, swift and complete that it appeared no reversal could be brought about for several centuries later. Conquest of Spain by Muslims started in July 710 when Tariq ibn Ziyad, the governor of Tangier was deputed by the Governor of the whole Maghrib (presently Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia) to invade the Christianized Visigoth kingdom ruled by the Visigoth king Rodrigo (Roderic) whose forces were defeated at the Battle of Barbate (Wadi Lago) on 19 July 1971. Visigoth lost to Tariq forces because of their loosely administered kingdom. King Rodrigo who had clashed with Basques rushed to Cordoba where he kept his army in the waiting to oppose Tariq’s forces. Tariq chose to wait at Algeciras instead and by then strength of his army incre ased to 12,000 men. While the war was on, Witza’s sons Sisbert and Oppa who had been commanding Visigoth’s army abandoned the king owing to some secret arrangement with the enemy and allowed themselves to be routed. King Rodrigo disappeared and only his white horse and a golden saddle were found by the victors. Tariq’s original intention was only to reconnoiter but he could easily take over the kingdom. Surviving Christians attributed the fall of Visigothic kingdom due to the vices of Witiza or Rodrigo. Still others felt that the fall of Spain to Muslim rulers was a divine punishment for the sins committed by Visigoths. The last thirty years of Visigothic Empire had been characterized by warring factions. As there was no hereditary monarchy, the kingdom had been subjected to constant conspiracy and civil war. At the time of Tariq’s invasions, Visigoth king had not cared to settle the consequences of rivalries within the kingdom at the time of Tariqâ€℠¢s invasion. Visigoths had not cared to secure control of ports and adjacent regions. It emerges therefore that minority Muslims could take over majority Visigoths (Christians) dominated Spain by their sheer brilliance and because of the inefficient administration and preoccupation in worldly pleasures by the Christians (O'Callaghan),(Lowney 29-42). Christian Martyrdoms Christian martyrdom began with the beheading of Euologius who was a martyr activist. He denounced Islam and harbored a Muslim apostate in 859. Islamic culture flourished in Cordoba and some Cordoban Christians violently reacted to the situation. Eulogius and his co-activists wanted to awaken the conscience of their fellow Christians who were attracted to Islam. Lowney draws a parallel to the present situation of Muslims embracing martyrdom against Christians. Isaac, a Christian scholar who was mediating between majority Christians and minority Muslims and in a prestigious Government job for tax collections suddenly r esigned for unknown reasons and pursued Christianity more vigorously. In that connection, in 851 he deliberately blasphemed

Victim- Blaming Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Victim- Blaming - Assignment Example at have attracted the attention nationally and on social media are the latest trends of police officers shooting dead blacks in America beginning with the recent coverage of the shooting case of Mike Brown in Missouri to Walter Scot in South Carolina (BBC, 2015). In all cases, the media was full of outrage from the subscribers, some of whom condemn the acts while others question the actions of the victims leading to their shooting. Media on the other hand instead of playing neutral, have always portrayed bias in reporting (being black). â€Å"In the aftermath of deaths like these, the media scrutiny almost reflexively falls on the victims rather than the police, especially if the former come from a poor or minority neighborhood† (Alterman & Richardson, 2014). Sadly, even the New York Times referring to the case on Mike Brown, was quick to ask if the victim brought it on himself or if his upbringing or family suggest the police somehow could not be blamed (Alterman & Richardson, 2014). Social media was full with arguments and counter arguments for the cases. Some were reading racial hatred while others read arrogance on the side of the victim. Other social media users questioned if there was bad motive for the systematic murdering of t he blacks by the white police officers. Whatever the case, my viewpoint is that the constitution guarantees the right to life for every American citizen whether black, Hispanic, white or whichever color. In fact this right to life is guaranteed by every country’s constitution worldwide. Nobody regardless of your position in the society should be allowed to take that right from anybody. For these cases of police shooting, one is left wondering whether the due process was followed especially when a police officer fires 8 shots at unarmed civilian running away from the police. One is left wondering if the motive was to enforce the law or to kill. In fact the statistics show that police officers kill black males at a rate 21 times

Concept of social entrepreneurship

Concept of social entrepreneurship Understanding the concept of social entrepreneurship will be of value in whichever career path I choose As the concept of entrepreneurship becoming important sources in economic fields, many existing businesses have been trying to implement that concept onto their own running business. It is not simple to define or decided entrepreneurship as only one set word or concept, because it has wide range of meaning and is the method that contains complex mixture of fundamental economic principle. In addition to that, when the concept is applied in certain industry it could be developed in many different ways depending upon which industries are targeted. Finally, the misunderstanding of implementing that entrepreneurship concept may lead the outcome that entrepreneur planed it in the process to unexpected situation, could be negative or coincidently positive for them. The concept of entrepreneurship has been studied for many years and it was illustrated by the classic theory of development worked by author named Benjamin Higgins; By entrepreneurship is meant the function of seeing investment and production opportunities: organizing an enterprise to undertake a new production process; raising capital, hiring labor, arranging for a supply of raw materials, finding a site, and combining these factors of production into a going concern; introducing new techniques and commodities, discovering new sources of natural resources; and selecting top managers for day-to-day operation (1997 ,228p) In putting another word simply, entrepreneurship basically means to start companies and organizations based on the findings of the entrepreneur of certain niches in the marketplace, and willing to assume the risks of a business to take significant opportunities for success. Moreover, entrepreneurs also create their own niches for the products or services they want the company to produce. (Hodgetts R.M, 2004) It is not surprised anymore hearing the term of entrepreneurship in the success stories in the real many different type of business industry. That is, it is just part of example that how entrepreneurship is important concept should be concerned to success, besides it is required to understanding the true concept of this topic. Entrepreneurship could be classified by under 5 categories in order to clarify that how actual processes which the entrepreneurship contains is working in the certain business; Entrepreneur traits, creativity, innovation, business planning and growth management. These elements can be representing the segments of characteristic of entrepreneur. In Entrepreneurial creativity part, it is required to have different view of perception and thinking of something and a paradigm shift in order to create new ideas. There 4 critical processes to get the concept of innovation can be classified as invention, extension, duplication and synthesis. Strategic planning is the key sources that to access the entrepreneurs position through internal/external factors then identify these factors to implement a strategy. Finally, in the management, it is required that identify what size of company will be through, the capability of which how direct control the company is afforded and how entrepreneurial spirit can be retained in a growing business.( Bailey, J. 2003) Once entrepreneur concept is cleared, to move on to a Social entrepreneur is next step. What is a social entrepreneur? They act similar to entrepreneur does, such as facing risks, inspiration and creativity, in order to take hidden or uncovered significant opportunities. What the social entrepreneur seeks for value in the certain market is the changeable factors that would result positive effect on disadvantaged communities, ultimately, society at large. (Martin.R,2009) It will be given some particular examples about how entrepreneur have been successfully in implementing the concept of entrepreneurship into real-world business industry. That would be able to help clear understanding then, furthermore developing the ideas of fundamental business principle. There is the national food business named Food Connect, aim is to supply local, sustainably produced food tothe community in South East Queensland. They are creating a new, more equitableway of distributing local produce in a socially responsible way. The seasonal produce comes from local farmers livingwithin a five hour radius of Brisbane who are paid afair price for their hard work andwho are encouraged to farm using the most sustainable methods possible.Our subscribers know where their food comes from and are invited to see for themselves on regular farm tours. Moreover, there are as an entrepreneurial way of which they run the business practices are markedly different from thosein other corporateorganizations: Our staff presents educational talks and seminars to the general public about food issues. Weorganize regular farm tours and other eventsfor our subscribers. Individuals cannot profit from Food Connect, except in terms of earning a fair wage for fair work. We provide, when feasible, opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in the daily life of the Homestead (our headquarters). Staffs have a major say in the running of Food Connect, particularly at our staff review days which are held every three months. We are environmentally aware in the Homestead, recycling everything possible. We even have our own worm farm for food scraps. (Food Connect,2008,story of food connect) As it describe at above, the Food Connect company has faced some niches as in terms of entrepreneur point of view that the other competitors does not challenge it due to failure of changes, which briefly are; creating the new way of satisfying the local distribution channels and to guarantee providing the best quality products with reasonable price for everyone, not only customer but also employee. As the results, the company could have had strong faith from consumers due to finding out risky factors to run the business according to their created entrepreneurial processes and they made huge changes after implementing it into real business. Muhammad Yunus, he is the one that begin offering microloans model to the indigent Bangladesh in 1976. How the microloans work was that loaned money to the people was small adequate amount of money that they were able to take out the loan. As the result, he could have helped the people to become self-employed. According to this case, it can be recognized that entrepreneur also can take the role of a leader, not only government, which to make a social change or movement that supporting opportunities and benefit to the people in certain categories. The achievement that he has contributed to the society is not only for gaining profit himself but also involving more people having the beneficial opportunities. Another example can be found out in India. Social entrepreneur Bunker Roy who built the Barefoot College in India to educate uneducated people such as illiterate and semiliterate, whose lose the opportunity of education due to social situations. There are many successful achievements the college has develop and improve the level of Indian society, for instances, teachers, workers and architects have installed and maintain solar-electrification systems that about 100,000 people in over 500 villages could have received the benefits by the college. The last example will be Ann Cotton, who made a effort of the right for female education(Campaign for Female Education : Camfed) in Africa. The launched programs by Camfed, which is providing opportunities of having education for whose cannot afford to pay school fee or join a school throughout awarding a scholarship, could have supported many numbers of young girls, approximate 700,000 students, in Zimbabwe, Ghana, Zambia and Tanzania in the educational sector. Some of graduated students returned to this community as leaders and over 5,000 started their own business. In terms of business point of view, it can be seen entrepreneurs as only a pragmatist because they are the people who born to seek for success and benefits in the business. However, that is just general ultimate purpose of entrepreneurs. The points according to examples are the process how and ways they achieve to drive the business successful. A common denominator of among entrepreneurs in these examples is that they are not afraid of facing current and potential risks to make changes. In addition, the social entrepreneurs have emphasis on the processes of creating a new idea throughout inspiration, creativity, courage in order to reach the final goal that ensure that everyone have social benefits and opportunities, called a new equilibrium.(Social Enterpreneur,2009)

Exposing the Truth in There Are No Children Here :: There are No Children Here Essays

There Are No Children Here – Exposing the Truth  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚      Since I find myself most interested and concerned with the problems of children in our country I have decided to focus on one area densely populated by children who suffer from numerous disadvantages. The modern day ghetto is rampant with violent crime, gang activity, and death. From 1985 to 1993 the amount of children who died as a result of violent death got ten percent worse. Rather than believe otherà ­s opinions as to why this is true I have decided to investigate the situation myself. Rather than just blaming the individuals within the affected areas I would like to expose the reason behind the behavior so as to find where the real fault lies and what the solution is.    Los Angeles is a city where fear of crime and criminals is arguably the single most important social and political issue for the majority of citizensà ® (Zimring Hawkins 46). In other words in Los Angeles there is so much crime and violence that it is the primary concern for the citizens of the area, according to numerous sources it is safe to say this of many urban areas of low socio-economic status. South Central Los Angeles as well as many other ghettos have such widespread gang activity. Gang activity has essentially taken over the normal way of life. Innocent people are no longer safe in their neighborhood. With gang members as young as ten years old, many people wonder, what makes children so violent and deviant at such a young age? Where do people like Kody Scott, an LA gang member notorious for his extreme violence and brutality, come from? Is he to blame? Are his parents to blame? Are these type of people born with violent minds, do they watch too much violent television, a re they influenced by violent friends It seems as though the answer to this question could be one of a million different possibilities.    However, after all the research and reading that I have done regarding this issue I feel as though violent children of the ghetto are not à ¬badà ® at all, but a product of their bad neighborhood. The difference between these two explanations is: A. where the blame lies and B. what are the solutions. It is not only frustrating to me to hear someone blame the individuals for their deviant behavior but it accomplishes nothing.

The Soundtrack of Your Life

Music is a key factor in my life, now and has been for as long as I remember. Music is one thing that can control my mood and emotions unlike any other. The sounds and melodies of the composition have the potential to sway my moods from a dark gloomy state all the way to a joyous and soothing harmonic atmosphere. Music allows me to control how and what I want to be, or represent. Music is almost like picking out a favorite outfit. When one picks out an outfit to wear they most likely pick an outfit that expresses them and how they are feeling at that direct moment. They have the ability to change shoes, accessories, or their hairstyle to make it appealing to their particular desires, just as one has the will to change a song on their ipod, or flip the channel on a local radio station. Recently, my life has been undergoing many changes. I am now starting to apply myself in a way that allows me to develop my potential and show forth the results as an outcome of the pursuance of fulfilling my aspirations. More than ever now I am starting to realize that â€Å"you get out of life what you put in†. Life is dependent only on â€Å"what you bring to the table†. If one tends to put in minimal effort then one should not expect to experience a great aftermath. I have chosen three songs that apply to my life right now in the stance that I am currently in. Its ironic that all of these songs are from different genres, songwriters, and generations but, they somehow tie into my life perfectly. The main theme of the â€Å"soundtrack of my life† is â€Å"overcoming obstacles and changing that are essential to the growth and the perseverance of an individual†. Natasha Bedingfield’s song â€Å"Unwritten† has made quite an impact on me. When I first heard the song all I could really say is â€Å"wow†. This song made me feel empowered in a sense and I felt inspired to go out, make a difference and do something great. She explains how the world is offered to you and that it’s up to you to decide not only your fate but your destiny and how your life will end up. She states â€Å"I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined, I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned†. By reading these lyrics and interpreting them more as a poem I realized the true and pure essence of this lyrical stanza. I believe the message of this is to convey that although we’re taught certain things as simple as proper etiquette and how to act, that doesn’t define us. It’s almost as if the writer is referring to herself as anonymous, as if she doesn’t really know herself but, in the process is trying to reveal and create herself transforming from a nonentity into a being with an individual personality, demeanor, and identity whether she knows where she’ll end up or not. This line can apply hugely to my life. I am 17 now and as a child we were all conditioned and taught to behave in a certain manner. Now that I am older I feel as if I can speak for myself and in a sense â€Å"reincarnate or change† myself into what I want to be instead of what my parents have taught me. I think that being a child one doesn’t always really know who they are other than what they are told that they are. I still don’t know exactly who and what I am but, being in this position I feel as if I can create a new identity with myself without having to know exactly where and how I will end up. This songs main message was not only that â€Å"you are who you say you are to be† but also that â€Å"perseverance is a choice that we all have to take advantage of to prosper on our own terms. Miley Cyrus’ song â€Å"The Climb† is a basic analogy of my life as a whole. She states that through life anything worth having is going to take some struggle and hard work if its something that one truly wants to be successful at or accomplish. Though, her lines in her song are very simple they are simple enough in nature to strike with a hard meaning. Miley states â€Å"the struggles I'm facing, the chance I'm taking, sometimes might knock me down, but no, I'm not breaking. † These effortless lines may seem juvenile but are very mature and take a leading stance in my life. I am transitioning from the mind of a child into an adult. I might not necessarily make the right decisions all the times or the best moves but, I never give up on my ending goal, which is to be just a more wholesome and better person. I realize that â€Å"there's always gonna be another mountain, I'm always gonna wanna make it move, always gonna be an uphill battle, sometimes I'm gonna have to lose, ain't about how fast I get there, ain't about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb. Miley Cyrus has never stated my life in general in a better way. This song can be considered the epitome of how I live and the thesis for this paper alone. Finally, I would like to introduce the classic song off of the movie â€Å"Space Jam† that has respectively impacted my life. This song simply is real and to me defies the essential steps in creating growth in myself. This song teaches that one must be able to see and visualize themselves in an instance in order to â€Å"touch the sky† or in other words overcome an obstacle that would once never be thought of or made possible. This song is none other than the 1996 billboard topping hit of â€Å"I Believe I can Fly† by R. Kelly. Kelly sings confidently â€Å"see I was on the verge of breaking down, sometimes silence can seem so loud, there are miracles in life I must achieve, but first I know it starts inside of me, oh, if I can see it, then I can be it. † Through my conquest of life I have had times where faith has been broken and when all seems to fail my life has just spiraled out of control. This song is like a â€Å"pick me up, and booster† to reassure that in the end all will be well if you just let go and believe wholeheartedly that things will work out for you. This also means that staying positive is key to a change that you are wanting to see in yourself but, essentially you have to be proactive and press on to change and develop yourself into the idol that you have created in you mind for yourself. In the end the soundtracks of my life are austerely defined as â€Å"overcoming obstacles and changing essentially to the growth and the perseverance of an individual†. If anything I think that I am drawn to these songs because of the messages that they bring. It’s not the catchy beats, the talented artist, the flashy music videos, or the encoded messages that draw my attention forth but rather what the song has to offer to me in such a plain way. In considering things as far as the music that I listen to I am very eclectic. If the track can provide me with insight, motivation, or reality of life then I most likely will be listening to it. It’s not so much of what we are listening to but, more so why we are listening and engaging in an artistic piece of music.

The Danielles Gordon Rule Architecture Essay

For my Gordon Rule Paper I have decided to compose about the Egyptians since I have ever found them intriguing. The primary subject I will be discoursing would be the manner in which the antediluvian Egyptians would see, and considered decease, due to how immensly different we as Americans view decease today. The huge bulk of Americans fear decease more than anything else. We go to great lengths to guarantee our wellness, saftey, and endurance. To us there is nil worse than decease, whereas to every Egyptian decease was seen as a desirable transmutation, ? the transition of the true ageless life? ( Guide to The Valley of The Kings page 159, 1996 ) . Death in no case was considered a calamity or an terminal but as a welcomed ansition into the Afterlife. As decease was of such an importance it was necessary that great attention be taken for a smooth passage to immortality, this is a major ground that the Pharaohs contents of the grave were of such importance. Egyptians accent on the im portance of rites, imposts and beliefs every bit good as funerary architecture can be seen clearly in the find of the grave of King Tutankhamun, or as most people know him King Tut. The planning that went into every Pharaohs grave was highly complex, as each grave was significantly different in footings of the grave layout and wall ornaments. The tombs construction and layout had to somehow reflect the formation and projection of the solar star. Wall ornaments in the grave Don? t represent the Pharaohs mundane life but that of their Afterlife and the challenges the Pharaoh has to set about in order to make the Kingdom of Orisis – land of the Afterlife. These graves were expansive and consisted of a figure of suites and courtyards, grave walls were normally stoned lined walls and limestone columns. This type of grave was built below the land, as normally the chapel was built on the surface and the burial Chamberss below the land. Rock cut chapels were more normally used by Pha raohs and those of the richer society as the bouldery parts of Egypt best suited the edifice of these graves. The Nile country was bouldery and featured many drops, so these were first-class locations for the film editing of the graves straight in the hillside. The most common chapel consisted of a door which lead into a transverse hall, behind which was a corridor that ran directly to the drop. Over clip stone grave became more luxuriant, and became more cosmetic and narrower as they now ran straight into the drop, these graves were the most impressing of all the grave in Egypt, as they featured expansive frontages frequently with pillars and big staircases. Tombs contained wall ornaments, which dealt with the Afterlife and the way the Pharaoh will take to make the land of Orisis. A royal grave could be completed within a few months for a simple grave or for a more larger and complex grave it varied from six to ten old ages. Decorations varied for each Pharaoh from luxuriant pictur es to imitations of papyrus. All texts painted on walls were taken from? the great charming faith anthologies of the clip such as the Book of the Dead and the Book of the Earth? ( Guide to the Valley of The Kings page26, 1996 ) . These charming and spiritual texts were drawn on the walls for the deceased to inform, and usage as a valuable tool for them to do certain that they had adequate cognition of charming expressions for them to utilize during the Afterlife. The New Kingdom royal graves featured ceiling ornaments, which included star maps, which represented the day-to-day birth of the Sun. Puting a burial underneath a symbolic symbol was considered of great importance for the Resurrection of the organic structure. Texts and drawings on grave walls contained assorted colorss ; each coloring material used represent Egyptian rites. Colorss such as white represents Silver, Blackrepresented decease and ageless saving and Red represents fire and blood. As a lead up to the star the li fe of the deceased is painted, including all facets of the asleep households life. Today we chiefly bury our loved 1s in conformity with thier wants, or in a cemetery next to other asleep loved 1s. We bury them six pess under-ground, ( typically ) but merely because that is the minimum deepness a disintegrating cadaver can be buried without holding any consequence on the universe under-which it was buried. Typically it takes about seven yearss from the clip we die untill we are laid to rest. That allows us plentifulness of clip to take a good grave sight, excavation it up, lay the dead down, state some sort words, and make full the hole once more. Ancient Egyptians, on the other manus, took well longer.Before a organic structure was buried the procedure of embalming took topographic point for 70 yearss. Historian Herodotus Tells of three classs of mummification that depended upon the sum of money the deceased had. The most expensive process was the embalming which resembled the God Osiris. The ritual took topographic point normally within 70 yearss and a contract was drawn up between the embalmer? s and the asleep household, which specifies the sum of clip the embalming process will take topographic point. The organic structure was so placed on a wooden tabular array and was purified by rinsing the organic structure in a solution of Nutron. The encephalon was removed from thenasal pit, and the venters was cut and all variety meats were removed and so purified with olfactory property. Once the variety meats were removed they were placed into jars and placed inside the grave. The organic structure is so stuffed with straw, sawdust, clay or linen ; this assists in retaining the deaths organic structures form and is besides wrapped with linen and patchs. Egyptian rites and beliefs besides played an highly of import portion in the lead up to a asleep entombment. The instillment of the entombment, and its grave content, takes topographic point outside the grave. The conveyance of thebody to the grave took signifier of a ritual emanation that usually began on the East bank of the Nile River. After traversing the river to the West the organic structure was placed on a sleigh and drawn by cattle to the grave. Close to the mummy stood two adult females who usually were used to portray the diving grievers Isis and Nephthys who represented the married woman and sister of the God Osiris followed by grievers of the deceased. The last griever in the emanation burnt incense and sprinkled milk at the emanation as they wound their manner to the grave. Ritual terpsichoreans, known as Muu and a priest who honours the deceased now greet the emanation. The ancient rite of the â€Å" gap of the oral cavity † now takes topographic point ; this is the most important portion of the burial traditions, as the intent of this ceremonial is to reconstruct the ma and their power of address, sight and hearing.The organic structure has now completed the first port ion of Egyptian rites. When the asleep approaches the Entrance of the grave a priest who impersonates the God Anubis stands the organic structure in an unsloped place. The priest now touches the oral cavity of the deceased with ritual instruments, which now restores their senses. The following phase is the offering of apparels, unctions and offerings of nutrient so the asleep can take them into the Afterlife. The ma is now ready to be placed into it? s burial chamber, after the door is sealed all footmarks around the grave is swept off and the last rites are read. The phases taking up to the entombment of the deceased was an built-in portion of the Egyptians beliefs and rites, as the Egyptians regarded the dead as being really much alive, populating in their graves like they had antecedently lived in their places. This nexus between the house and the grave was really of import, the grave chapel was normally referred to? the house of infinity? . Outside the chapel it was common to see alcoholics gardens, and tombs environing as Cemeteries were planned to look like illumination metropoliss like the one at Giza. All the above beliefs and rites were clearly uncovered in November 1922 by British archeologist Howard Carter when he discovered the integral grave of King Tutankhamun. Analysis of Tutankhaman? s ma reveals that he was aproxamatly 18 old ages old when he died. The Kings life is still a enigma to this twenty-four hours as historiographers such as Carter believes that it? s about impossible to state whether the King was a victim of unwellness, accident, blackwash or was physically frail like his old inheritors when he passed off. Historians identified the month of his decease to be that of January by analyzing the types of fruit and flowers such as the strawflower which were buried with him. The strawflower normally reaches adulthood in March, and from these findings it is believed that? Amenophis III last boy died some clip in January 1343? ( Tutankhamun and the Discovery of the Tomb page 158, 1972 ) . Tutankhamuns grave features a simple design, which is typical of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The grave features starts, corridors, and Chamberss. The male monarch grave has a figure of suites such as the Annexe, Antechamber, Burial Chamber and the exchequer and all of these suites featured important ornaments. King Tutankhamens grave was so alone as the hoarded wealths inside the grave lay undisturbed to robbers, and during digging Carter recovered over three thousand five 100 articles such as expansive elegant furniture, statues, jewelry, and shrines that were placed in his grave to assist him through to the Afterlife.The male monarchs decease like other Pharaohs was a expansive matter, and was mourned by all of Egypt. By and large after a Pharaohs decease there was a three-month interval between his decease and his entombment. During this clip the complex rite of embalming took topographic point. The embalming of a Pharaoh was known as the? House of Vigor? ( Tutankhamen: Life and Death of a Pharaoh page 163, 1965 ) in which the Pharaohs organic structure was purified and all drosss were removed. After the concluding stage of the mummification ritual takes topographic point, the Pharaoh now passes into infinity. When King Tutankhamuns organic structure was bandaged, each bed contained a hoarded wealth such as aureate objects. When the Kings organic structure was unwrapped over 143 hoarded wealths were found such as pendents, talismans and aureate cots. Like the hoarded wealths wrapped in between the patchs the grave itself was fluxing with hoarded wealths, ? About everything was made of cherished stuff, and gold? this covered a broad mixture of articles necessary to guarantee infinity for the dead? ( Tutankhamun and the Discovery of the Tomb page 70, 1972 ) . All of the Kings suites inside the grave featured important ornaments. The Antechamber held the Tuta royal throne, which is one of the best known objects, found inside the grave. This throne engaged wood with sheets of gold and its dorsum is covered with a scene of the Pharaoh and his married woman Ankhesenamun. The burial chamber features the first wooden casket and the Kings ma. The scenes painted on walls show King Tutankhamun with his Ka at the ceremonial of the? gap of the oral cavity? ( The Discovery of the Tomb Tutankhamun page 37, 1977 ) and his replacement Ay. His burial bay the? ruddy quartzite sarcophagus? ( The Discovery of the Tomb Tutankhamun page 39, 1977 ) casket had five caskets, the first to the 3rd were apelike wooden caskets, the Forth was aureate and the fifth was his ma. The King Tutankhamuns entombment was the same as any Pharaoh and followed all rites and beliefs every bit good as mummification rules. The lone difference was that the King was so immature at the clip of his decease and that boulder clay this twenty-four hours no other grave has been uncovered that all points inside the grave are still integral.It can be seen that burial and decease in general in Egypt was of tremendous importance within the Egyptian society particularly when it was refering person of h igher position like that of a Pharaoh. Egyptians believed in the Afterlife and this played an of import portion in reenforcing the rites and beliefs of decease in Egyptian society as decease was non believed to be the terminal but the beginning of 1s life. This is why rites and beliefs every bit good as architecture and ornaments of graves were emphasised and carried out in the visible radiation of 1s decease. When an antediluvian Egyptian died, he was non buried into the land, mourned and so bury, as people are today. Nor was his grave merely visited at certain times and some nominal words spoken over it, so that one time once more he is forgotten until following visit, like so many of us do. Maybe its the manner we as people have evolved to get by with the hurting of fring a loved one. We as a state do non believe that decease is a good thing in any manner, and we are taught from bith to fear it and fly it for every bit long as we perchance can. I for one bash non fear decease. No t that I look upon it as a good thing like Egyptians, merely as a nessesary thing that all of us must hold happen.

Russia’s Nuclear Weapons Policies, Arsenal and Problems Essays

Russia’s Nuclear Weapons Policies, Arsenal and Problems Essays Russia’s Nuclear Weapons Policies, Arsenal and Problems Essay Russia’s Nuclear Weapons Policies, Arsenal and Problems Essay Essay Topic: We Real Cool The end of the Cold War signaled conclusion of the nuclear rivalry between the then two superpowers, the United States of America and the Soviet Union. This was a propitious event for global security. Many predicted this to be the end of history. While there was relative peace for a decade or so, there has been unending debate over recession of the threat of nuclear war. While commonly the United States and the Western Allies have been regarded as more responsible possessors of nuclear weapons, unfolding of Russian nuclear doctrine and policy provides greater confidence in exercise of responsibility by Moscow. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the successor state the Russian Federation with little choice but to follow Soviet-era policy in relation to nuclear weapons, but thought was given to revising strategies to meet the new and emerging threats. Basically this meant pursuing deterrence strategy as a means of maintaining international order. This is important for both i nternal and external policy of the Russian Federation. Nuclear weapons give Russia the status it needs to be called a great power and for the Government of the day a sense of keeping a national security asset as an important goal post. A detailed analysis of Russian nuclear policy in the light of past experience, change of leadership in Russia post Cold War, current and possible future policy directions is thus essential.History of Nuclear Weapons PolicyAt the end of the Second World War, the US was the only nation in the world possessing nuclear weapons and they thought it could offset the superiority Soviet forces had in Europe. The US also thought the atomic bomb could be used as a political pressure point against Joseph Stalin to gain concessions in negotiations in the aftermath of the Second World War. But in August 1949 the Soviet Union detonated an atomic bomb, thus bringing to fore the philosophy of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). This was the main theory underlying the two superpowers quest to develop new nuclear weapons and delivery systems during the cold war. While the Soviet Union had the bomb it did not have the capability like the US to deliver these weapons to the chosen target. First aircraft and then intercontinental ballistic missiles became the chosen systems of delivery of nuclear weapons.Given the state of relations between the US and the USSR at the end of the war, it was natural that latter decided to develop nuclear weapons and delivery systems to match that of the US. Of course, the Soviets lagged behind in technology and therefore could never really catch up. But for them the employment of nuclear weapons was for deterrence purposes. And this meant keeping forces ready for massive retaliation, should the US or its allies launch a first strike on Soviet soil.Cold War DimensionsDuring the Cold War the main aim of possessing nuclear weapons was to deter a nuclear or massive conventional attack from the enemy from the other end of th e East-West divide. Throughout the Cold War, the main aim of the US was to contain the spread of communism. This was done at various levels military, political, economic and ideological. When Stalin died in 1953, there appeared to be a chance that a cooling down of tempers would take place, but tensions increased again when Nikita Krushchev was removed from power. Through the Cold War, the US assumed that it had nuclear superiority. But this failed to prevent the Soviet Union from indulging in nuclear brinkmanship during the Berlin crisis in 1961 and in Cuba in 1962.In 1962 when the Cuban Missile Crisis erupted, both the US and USSR came to realize for the first time what dangers pre-emption could lead to. The Soviet Union had installed medium-range nuclear missiles in Cuba, following which the US President John F. Kennedy imposed a naval blockade. After a period of tension, the Soviets backed down and removed the missiles. What this cold war experience brought home to both the supe rpowers was the risks involved in playing one-upmanship with nuclear weapons.The collapse of the USSR in 1991 ended the Cold War. This reduced tensions between the two superpowers. But both countries still had a large nuclear arsenal in their possession. Additionally, with the end of the Cold War, the US became more concerned with the development of nuclear weapons by nations other than the former Soviet Union.Post-Cold War SituationAs a result of the political and financial fall out of the collapse of the USSR, the armed forces and in particular the nuclear forces in the Russian Federation suffered greatly.   The armed forces were downsized three times their original size in the 1990s. So was Russia’s nuclear arsenal. This was because Moscow just did not have the resources to maintain a nuclear force of ten thousand warheads and about twenty thousand tactical nuclear weapons. There was another issue of concern; this was the risk of continuing to stockpiling nuclear artille ry projectiles which were likely to prove dangerous to maintain and prove to be hazardous to Russias own troops, if accidental detonations occurred.The phased reductions in the Soviet nuclear arsenal in the early 1990s also coincided with the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Republics to the territory of the Russian Federation. This process was accelerated by the collapse of the Warsaw Pact in July 1991 and nuclear weapons from Central and Eastern Europe were moved to Russia.Changes in policies from Yeltsin to PutinThere is no doubt that despite the collapse of the USSR as a superpower, the Russian Federation still holds nuclear weapons in high esteem. In fact, nuclear weapons are still a major politico-psychological symbol of great power status for Russia. That is why it is often seen that Russian leaders repeatedly remind the international community, and in particular the US, that Russia is still a nuclear power. This gives both a feeling of Russia’s str ategic independence from the US and the domestic leadership is assured of a sense of importance in being able to have control over the nuclear button.The first post-1991 change in nuclear policy was introduced in the doctrine of 1993, which allowed the â€Å"first use† of nuclear weapons by Russia. Till then, official policy, allowed the use of nuclear weapons only in response to a nuclear attack.As a result of the post-collapse phase the Russian government adopted a series of measures in relation to nuclear weapons, including reductions in the size of strategic nuclear forces. But the basic premise that the sole purpose of possessing nuclear weapons was to deter a large-scale attack did not change. President Boris Yeltsin signed two major policy documents, one in 1997 and the second in 1998, both of which provided for drastic cuts in the nuclear arsenal. This aimed at getting rid of nuclear tipped missiles’ as their planned service life expired and modernization progr ams were curtailed to suit the reductions in the armed forces. But the theoretical debate within the Russian military, about the enlargement of NATO had consequences as it once again brought back to centre stage the role of nuclear weapons and created the ground for demonstrations of usage of nuclear weapons in a much broader range of threat scenarios.Two important documents provide analysts with the framework to understand the global implications of Russia’s nuclear weapons doctrine. The first one is the one titled, â€Å"Main Provisions of the Military Doctrine†, which Boris Yeltsin approved in November 1993. Then in 2000, Vladimir Putin approved another Military Doctrine.In the Yeltsin document the role of nuclear weapons was defined as â€Å"the removal of the danger of a nuclear war by means of deterring [other states] from unleashing an aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies† But keeping in mind the changes that had occurred in the post C old War war fighting scenarios, the doctrine, warned that even a limited war could become a global war. It also noted that even the limited use of nuclear weapons, say the use of tactical nuclear weapons, risked the outbreak of an all-out, nuclear war. The 1993 document did not spell out the right of â€Å"first use.† In fact there was no mention at all of the Cold War theory of ‘No-First-Use’ (Fedorov, 2002).The military doctrine of 2000 took the position that nuclear weapons were to be used for deterrence and not for aggression. The right to use nuclear weapons was reserved for retaliation against both conventional as well as nuclear aggression. Several things can be adduced from the 2000 document. (Fedorov, 2002). First, it has a clear geo-political message, implying a broader political role for Russia’s nuclear weapons. Second, Russia spelled out its willingness to use nuclear weapons first in response to a conventional attack.Additionally, like in the case of the US, Russia expressed a willingness to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of other Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).   What the Putin document sought to really do was to broaden the conflict spectrum in which nuclear weapons could be used. Armed conflict, intra-state or inter-state; local or limited wars; regional conflicts; and global wars – all these are situations in which the use of nuclear weapons is envisaged.Nuclear weapons are associated with the last two postulates, but the threat of using them in the Russian context is also supposed to be prevalent to ensure that one type of war does not escalate to another. President Boris Yeltsin for example, explicitly referred to nuclear weapons during an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) summit in late 1999, to suggest that external forces should not get involved in the second war in Chechnya.Current and Future ProspectsThe 2003 â€Å"White Paper† of the Russian Federation postulates two missions for nuclear weapons: deterrence of an attack against Russia and de-escalation of a conflict in case deterrence fails. In contrast to the earlier document, the new guidance elaborates on these missions in considerable detail. (Sokov, 2004)Given the experience of the Cold War, and post-1991 situation, the Russian Federation’s attitude towards the US, remains highly emotive. There are also complex interplays of geo-politics and domestic considerations, which govern Russian nuclear weapons policy in its relations with the US. The 2003 White Paper calls for a partnership with the US a â€Å"part of the solution† to the security problems afflicting the world. But at the same time it is argued that Russia (read its nuclear forces) are the only thing preventing the final destruction of international order as it currently stands. In fact the White Paper states that only the Russian armed forces can ensure global stability. (Sokov, 2004)What emerges from a study of the 2003 White Paper is that Russia wants to ensure that no force pressure and aggression is attempted against it or its allies. And, in case aggression of some sort does takes place, the new doctrine guarantees the defense of sovereignty, territorial integrity and other vital national interests of Russia. The 2003 White Paper gives an indication of how Russia will react to shifts in US nuclear weapons policy. It was projected by the White Paper that by 2007-2008, Russian Strategic Forces would consist of ten missile divisions. The 2003 document and subsequent remarks by Russian leaders provide an indication that Russia intends to keep its options open in preparing plans for the future of its nuclear triad.Another issue which will shape Russian nuclear policy in the years ahead is the ballistic missile shield planned by the United States in the close proximity of Russia in Czech Republic and other areas. The contours of this are not yet very clear, hence these cannot be c overed herein. However the debate has to be followed to enable understanding nuances of change that may ensue in Russian nuclear doctrine.ConclusionThe core of Russian nuclear weapons policy, i.e., nuclear deterrence, remains very much in place. It also determines the nature and state of Russia’s relations with the US, giving Moscow a measure of self-confidence. Nuclear weapons also remain underlying element of relations with China. Clearly, given past experience it is clear that Russia will determine the future shape of its nuclear policy depending on the developments that the US makes in developing more â€Å"usable† nuclear weapons. At the end of 2005, Russia still had around 7,200 active nuclear warheads and an estimated 8,800 inactive nuclear warheads. The state of the strategic forces that maintain these and are responsible for their delivery in case of a conflict is open to question. Additionally, issues of safety and security of these weapons, the nuclear weapo ns facilities and delivery systems continue to dog Russia. Still the very presence of these numbers of weapons on Russian soil sends a signal across the world.While international terrorism and non-proliferation are viewed as being important threats to Russia’s national security, the military in the Russian Federation still views US military capability as a threat and plans for it. This indicates a continuing vulnerability within the Russian establishment about its own capabilities. And that is why nuclear weapons are still on top the security agenda. In the second nuclear age, new uncertainties are emerging which will challenge the ingenuity of the Russian state as it attempts to handle the nuclear genie in all its manifestations.;