The issues included in uncovering the historical Patrick Essay Example for Free

The issues included in uncovering the historical Patrick Essay When explaining the issues involved in uncovering the historical background, it is a most difficult task. This is for a number of reasons, but the main reason would be the lack of historical information in Patricks writings. Patrick felt dates were unimportant, and so didnt include many of them in his writings. This means that his writings are a lot more useful for getting an insight into his thoughts and feelings, for hearing Patricks spiritual journey in his own words, and hearing about the difficulties he faced in his mission, and how he responded to them. However, whenever it comes down to historical background, key dates, or geographical information, Patricks writings arent as useful as would be hoped, and therefore a lot of scholars draw their own conclusions, which we must take into account when trying to make our own. Kenney says that when we search for historical facts within Patricks writings, we are faced with an exasperating incoherence, which leaves the meaning constantly in doubt and suggests that Patrick may actually be a much more obscure character than we would like to admit. Sà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½an MacAirt refers to the fifth century as the lost century, because of the absence of any historical information. We are still in the era of pre-history, which the exception of Patricks writings, and Prospers reference to the arrival of Palladius. Within these two documents, which are of the utmost importance, there are only two place names given to us, and no dates, so it is very hard to gather historical fact. ORahilly rightly says of humble Patrick the last thing that the saint could have imagined, would be that hundreds of years later, the document would be scrutinised again and again with a view to gleaning biographical details of the writers life. The big problem is that there is a two-hundred year gap between the time Patrick actually lived, and when he was first written about, so this leaves plenty of room for false information or inaccuracy. In Patricks Confessio, Patrick tells us of his birth place, Bannaven Taburniae, but he does not tell us where it is actually located. There have been many unsuccessful attempts to agree on the location of the birth of Patrick; however there has been an agreement on three basic points that must be taken into account when trying to determine the location. The first of these is that it would have to be in the West of Britain. This is to facilitate easy access to the Irish raiders. At a young age, Patrick was taken captive, and taken to Ireland, so it Is important to consider how realistic suggestions such as Gaul where, in that were the Irish raiders really going to travel all the way to Gaul and back, without being caught? Charles Thomas adds to this point, by suggesting that it would be opposite the place of Patricks captivity in Ireland. The next important criterion is Patricks sense of Roman Identity. Patrick has a very strong sense of Roman Identity, so it is fair to say that his birth place would need to be a strongly Romanised part of Britain. Baring this in mind, Bannavem Taburniae would have to be south of Hadrians Wall. And the last of the three criteria, is that Patrick must have been living near a town with a civil administration centre. This is because Patricks father Calpurnius was a collector of taxes. Bearing these in mind, there have been different suggestions put forward to the location of Bannavem Taburniae. In the seventh century, Muirchà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ tells us that Bannavem Taburniae was identified as ventre. Although that does not directly help us with our identification, Bieler did find it useful when reconstructing the name as Bannaventa Taburniae. If this is correct, there was a small roman settlement in Northamptonshire. The name of this settlement was then taken and given to a place outside Daventry. However, this suggestion fails to meet one of the most important of the criteria- this area would not be very accessible to Irish raiders, as it is in the midlands. Charles Thomas believes that the only place to fulfil all three criteria would be the North West of Britain. He concludes that the most likely location is Carlisle, which entirely outweighs that of Daventry, Dumbarton or elsewhere. It is also far enough North to explain Patricks poor use of Latin. Dark warns us that any attempt to locate Bannavem Taburniae is based on assumptions, and cannot be taken as facts; however he believes the only place we can safely say for definite suffered from frequent raids by the Irish during the fifth and sixth century were the areas of Cotswolds and Dorset. There has also been a great deal of debate in regards to the location of Silva Foclutti (the wood of Foclut). It arises in Patricks narration of the call, when he says As I read the beginning of the letter, I seem to hear the voice of those who were by the wood of Foclut which is near the western sea, and they cried as with one voice, Holy Boy, we are asking you to come and walk among us again. Bury ORahilly and Hanson assume that this is referring to the place of Patricks captivity, and Mohrmann agrees, saying interpreting Patricks words seems to suggest that they are from the mouth of people from a part of the country that Patrick seems to have known from his captivity.Some scholars suggest that Patrick is speaking metaphorically here in that even at the furthermost point of Ireland; the people were calling to him. Bieler on the other hand believes that it could perhaps be a place that Patrick had heard of, but never been to, as he believed that Patricks call was from the Irish in general, and not from a specific area. There has been a great deal of difficulty in reconciling the two suggested locations of Slemish and Mayo, which are both traditionally held as the place of Patricks captivity. Tà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½rechà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½n himself was from that area. Others however believe that as it is the earliest identification we have, we should accept it as genuine. Patrick does give us a clue in his Confessio to the location, when he says it was near the western sea. Hanson believes that Patrick does give us further clues throughout his writings, such as when he tells us that he had to travel to a ship that was perhaps two hundred miles away. If we are to accept that, he was returning to Britain, perhaps he had to make a journey from the North coast of Mayo, to the coast of Wicklow or Wexford, diagonally across Ireland. There is also a long known tradition of Patrick tending the flocks as a boy on Mount Slemish. Hanson argues however that this does not fit the evidence of the escape story, as an escape from here would have involved only a thirty mile walk, rather than the two hundred Patrick mentions. Hanson argues that we must accept the plain evidence of his own words, and place his captivity in County Mayo, near the border with County Sligo. Bury ORahilly and Hanson all reject the location as being Slemish, however, Slemish is a mountainous area, while the area suggested around Killala is plain. Philbin and Concannon both suggest a compromise in that both localities can be accepted because Patrick changed master. We cannot be certain of the place of his captivity, and although we shouldnt accept something purely based on the fact its tradition, we also cannot dismiss a longstanding tradition In his writings, Patrick also mentions Gaul, and a strong desire to study there. This has led to some historians assuming he spent a significant portion of his life there, most likely undergoing clerical training. Patrick says he wishes to visit Gaul to see the Brethen, which may have been a desire to visit friends he made during his training. However, Binchy believes that this was merely a desire to visit the Holy men of God. Muirchà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ wrote in the seventh century, that Patrick stayed in Gaul for some thirty years, but ORahilly argued against this, saying that he got this account confused with Palladius training and ordination. The unresolved debate regarding Patrick and Gaul has led many to believe that some of the details of the life of the historical Patrick can never be resolved, and are forever lost to the historian. Others argue that the most important part of Patrick, such as his personality shall be preserved for eternity, in his own writings. There is so little historical information about Patrick that there is even conflict regarding the dating of Patrick, even his death. Charles Thomas believes that Patrick wrote his letter to Coroticus at some time between 465-475, and that the Confessio was written sometime after 480. He says that the annalistic dates from his death cluster around the early 490s may reflect with some reality, the tradition that he dies before the end of the century. In 1942, Thomas ORahilly suggested a later dating for Patricks mission, still within the fifth century. He took the evidence from the fifth and sixth century annals into account, and concluded that Patrick arrived in Ireland in 461, and died in 492/3. In conclusion, although it is very difficult to determine historical fact in regard to Patrick, if we focus on hints within his letters, scholarly opinion, and what he says himself, we can come up with some possible dates and locations for Patricks birth, mission, and death, and this will hopefully in time become more conclusive.

The Search for Christian America: History’s Echo Essay -- Christianit

In The Search for Christian America historians Mark A. Noll, Nathan O. Hatch and George M. Marsden address the recent insurgence of desire to return to the American nation’s â€Å"Christian Heritage†; a call to revisit the solid and revered foundations of the colonial period (15). This premise frames the authors’ two-part thesis: first, that America was never a Christian nation and secondly, that the very concept of a Christian nation, after the time of Christ, can be harmful to Christian action and effectiveness within society (17). This assertion, and the evidence which surrounds it, proves that Christians find great value in elements of the founding. When considering the reason behind this assumption the authors suggest many possibilities: love of a glorious myth, preaching and identification with the Mosaic prophecy, a â€Å"city on the hill† mentality, and or nationalistic necessity (108-116). However, these points still with standing, the author s do not fully develop the possibility that Protestants doctrinally resonate with the ideals of the founding. The authors do assert that many use the past as a mirror simply reflecting one’s already established views: â€Å"by a subtle and often unconscious process we pick out . . . those strands which reinforce our point of view† (145, 148). This paper will attempt to bring these two concepts together: asserting that the ideals of the founding, mainly liberty, freedom and individualism, are mirrored in Protestant doctrine itself, providing an echo American Christians can identify with, allowing reverence to be felt toward the founding and urgency to drive the search for Christian America. Toward the end of the text the authors set out to explain the difficulties and the necessity of â€Å"openi... ...ce of similar values or familiar echo, only uphold â€Å" a high regard for our country and its heritage. But . . . not, in the words of the Psalmist (118:9), ‘put confidence in princes’ instead of taking ‘refuge in the Lord† (102). Bibliography Luther, Martin. â€Å"The Appeal to the German Nobility.† In Documents of the Christian Church, edited by Henry Bettenson, 192-197. New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. --------------------Concerning Christian Liberty. Vol. XXXVI, Part 6. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14. Bartleby.com, 2001. www.bartleby.com/36/6/. (accessed Jan. 21, 2012). Calvin, John. "John Calvin: Institutes of Christian Religion." Translated by Henry Beveridge, Esq. Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics. http://www.reformed.org/master/index.html?mainframe=/books/institutes/. (accessed Jan. 21, 2012).

The Novel Deliverance as a Prophecy of Man :: James Dickey Deliverance Essays

The Novel Deliverance as a Prophecy of Man A true survivor can only depend on himself. The novel Deliverance is a story about four characters each with different views on surviving. Every man in the world can relate to one of the three secondary characters in the novel Deliverance. Men can relate to Lewis Medlock for his primitive views, Drew for his rationality, or Bobby for his lack of ability to survive. Many people say that Lewis is the man that most men want to be like, Drew is the man that most men are like, and Bobby is the man that most men fear becoming. Lewis is the man most men want to be because he does not depend on anyone or anything. He loves a challenge and will do anything he can to live life to its fullest extent. Ed Gentry, the central character, represents all in the way he looks up to Lewis and strives to be like him. Most men fall into the same category as Drew because their ability to survive has been clouded by rational thoughts. Then there is Bobby. Most men do not want to be linked with Bobby be cause he can not live without help from civilization. Even though these characters posses many of the same traits, their main differences are in their ability to survive life. They also have different views on life. Lewis sees life as a game that you must constantly challenge if you are to survive. Drew sees life as a struggle that should never be challenged. Then there is Bobby who sees life as something he does not have to worry about because their will always be someone their to help him through it. All three of these characters possess traits that can be identified in every man. First there is Lewis, a middle aged man that is at the prime of his life, and fears nothing. He is the strongest character in the book. He is, "†¦ a physical-conditioning perfectionist with misplaces survival-of-the-fittest instincts and cave-man yearnings"(Warren). Lewis is the man that most men want to be like because he needs no one to survive but himself. He constantly demonstrates a primitive l ife-style that no longer exists. The primitive life-style he demonstrates is one of survival. Lewis is an attractive character for males because of his need for no one. He needs no one to life his life for him.

Coca Cola Company Case Study

Date: 22/10/2012 The Coca-Cola Company is a multinational business organisation founded in the late 1890’s in Georgia, USA. Its main focus is selling soft drinks and is especially famous for its first soft drink, after which is named, Coca-Cola. The first product was patented in 1887 and registered as a trademark in 1893. By 1895 it was sold in the whole USA and since then has been expanding around the world (The Coca-Cola Company, Product Descriptions). Throughout its history it has been subject to a lot of criticism for its various practices and has enjoyed incredible success.The organisations main strength it’s the fact that it is the most recognised product worldwide. Part of that recognition can be attributed to the fact that The Coca-Cola Company localizes its products and advertising campaigns, which has been highly successful. Coca-Cola has been credited with forming the modern image of Father Christmas as a jolly, old bearded man, dressed in red. (Coca-Cola at home) The main goal of all the campaigns has been that people choose the soft drink as their favoured beverage, a mission that has been greatly accomplished in many areas.Another advantage of the company is that it also has different headquarters in each country, giving it the ability to dictate all campaigns and give ideas on products. (The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 2:Â  A global and local strategy). Also the company is always trying to expand its range of products, focusing on beverages, but not only soft drinks as it sells juice, water, energy drinks and squashes as well. (The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 4:Â  The corporate segment -Head Office).Coca-Cola is normally associated with the United States of America, mainly because of its patriotic advertisements that were then exported to other countries. It has a dominant role in modern popular culture, with mass media references and even films containing the company ’s name in the title. Coca-Cola has such an effect on culture, that it is sometimes considered a sign that someone is richer or higher class if they drink more Coca-Cola than others.The company has proven very popular, despite the facts that most of the company’s products are unhealthy. Coca-Cola’s main ingredient is sugar. As a lot of the marketing is aimed at young people, the fact that products are unhealthy has sparked a bit of controversy, seeing as there is a lot of aggressive marketing towards young people. This is usually in the form of sponsorships to high school in the form of sports facilities or funds. In return the company is allowed to sell its products in the schools, thus attracting people from an early age.Also there are accusations of children working for the company in sweat shops and not giving adequate healthcare, whilst not complying to workers right and destroying trade unions through rough ways (The Globalization of Coca-Cola) One of Coca -colas main external features that keep it favoured is that it maintains a very good relationship with its bottlers. In contradiction to common knowledge, it is not the company that actually bottles and distributes its products. Instead they only make the basic syrup and ingredients in concentrate and then sell them to bottlers and from there they end up with distributors..This is a example of how the business adhere to its ‘culture’ as it tries to promote teamwork, by allying itself with other companies. (The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 5:Â  Structure and culture). This is helpful in many ways as it creates good connections with many businesses, making the Coca-Cola products much more sought after and popular with vendors, shops, supermarkets. There are some external problems though. After endorsing Israel, the company lost its popularity in the Middle East and was heavily boycotted. This gave competitors a chance to swoop in and they a re now dominating those markets.Also, another problem with the company is that its products, however big role they play in popular culture, aren't considered essential. So if a country’s economy is weak, it is inevitable that the beverages market is going to fall quite steeply. Another factor is that there are many cheap substitutes for their products, which, while not international, can prove to be strong competition in local markets, as many of them promote the fact that they are local, while Coca-Cola retains its American image and the majority of them are cheaper. REFERENCES * Coca-Cola at home, http://xroads. virginia. du/~CLASS/coke/coke1. html, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 19:00 * The Coca-Cola Company, Product Descriptions, http://www. virtualvender. coca-cola. com/ft/index. jsp, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 18:10 * The Globalization of Coca-Cola, https://segue. atlas. uiuc. edu/index. php? action=site;site=estensl2;section=4052;page=13292, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 19:0 5 * The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 2:Â  A global and local strategy, http://businesscasestudies. co. uk/coca-cola-great-britain/creating-an-effective-organisational-structure/a-global-and-local-strategy. tml, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 19:10 * The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 4:Â  The corporate segment -Head Office, http://businesscasestudies. co. uk/coca-cola-great-britain/creating-an-effective-organisational-structure/the-corporate-segment-head-office. html, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 19:13 * The Times, Creating an effective organisational structure, Page 5:Â  Structure and culture, http://businesscasestudies. co. uk/coca-cola-great-britain/creating-an-effective-organisational-structure/structure-and-culture. html, retrieved on 21/10/2012 at 19:15

Speech public speaking Essay Example

Speech public speaking Essay Example Speech public speaking Essay Speech public speaking Essay Essay Topic: Public Speaking Book Report In the book, How to Develop-Self Confidence Influence People by Public Speaking The main takeaway from this book is that Dale Carnegie shows how improving public speaking and improving self-confidence are a function of preparation, education, determination and practice. There is no short cut to a better you rather a long path of self-improvement. He shows you how to develop poise, improve your memory, begin and end a talk, Interest and charm your audience, improve your diction, and Win an argument without making enemies. An important quote that Dale Carnegie mentioned in the book was, Is there the faintest shadow of a reason why you should not be able to think as well in a perpendicular position before an audience as you can when sitting down? Surely, you know there is not. In fact, you ought to think better when facing group. Their presence ought to stir and lift you. A great many speakers will tell you that the presence of an audience is a stimulus, an inspiration that drives their brains to function more clearly, more keenly. The reason I think that quote is so important is because it shows how to gain self-confidence, and develop courage. Being able to speak in public isnt only about changing the world. It can be about making your point heard and noticed, being respected and acknowledged. Another thing I can say related the book is that it is very important not to let anything disturb the focus of your audience. You dont want anything moving around on stage or in the room, peoples focus gets pulled directly to movement. I say this because being a good public speaker can change your life. It will open doors for you that you never believed you had access to and what is best, it is a skill you can learn and will learn, if you practice. Thats what I learned about the book How to develop Self-confidence Influence People. Speech about Censorship Special Occasional Speech Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Today I would like to talk about censorship. By the group taboos enforced by group leaders, censorship of a kind exists in primary groups, such as the neighborhood, village, or small community. Today censorship is a hash of social control closely correlated with rapid communication and with the extension of secondary group relationships transcending the usual limitations of space. Just as opinion had a narrow range in the village, so, too, the control of expression of opinion and of action had the same boundaries. Censorship is fundamentally a phase of social taboo against the expression of opinion. If it once had a narrow range in primary groups, today it reaches as far as political power and public opinion extend. In the primary group censorship of opinion for the most part as restricted to control of speech rather than of printing. In secondary groups censorship has moved definitely toward tabooing the printing of opinion as well as controlling speech. The fundamental purpose of censorship of free speech and of the crowd-audience, the censorship of the press attempts to control the public- audience. The purpose of this report is to give information on regarding censorship knowledge . N this presentation, I would like to talk about: The reason of censorship exists, the relationship between censorship and intellectual freedom, and orangeroot and censorship. Censorship occurs when expressive materials, like books, magazines, films and videos, or works of art, are removed or kept from public access. Individuals and pressure groups identify materials to which they object. Sometimes they succeed in pressuring schools not to use them, libraries not to shelve them, book and video stores not to carry them, publishers not to publish them, or art galleries not to display them. Censorship also occurs when materials are restricted to particular audiences, based on their age or other characteristics. According to George Bernard Shaw, all censorship exist to prevent anyone from challenging current conceptions and existing institutions. All progress is initiated by challenging current conceptions and executed by supplanting existing institutions. Consequently the first condition of progress is the removal of censorship. There is the whole case against censorship in a nutshell. When a society has intellectual freedom, citizens can collect and distribute any information they want without any restraints. The reason I say this is because this brings in dedication and commencement. The final thing that I want to talk about is blobs. I feel that blobs are a great addition to a literary classroom. Teachers could ask students to post thoughts, feelings, etc. About the novels in class. They can also post discussion boards where students can talk about issues in the book or answer questions. It takes the literary discussion away from the classroom and in doing so gives everybody a place to express what they feel about a novel being studied.

Essay on Egyptian Civilization

Essay on Egyptian Civilization Essay on Egyptian Civilization Essay on Egyptian CivilizationPeriods of Egyptian civilizationThe Egyptian civilization is not only viewed as one of the oldest civilizations, but also as one of the most durable ones. It is traditionally divided into the following major periods:1) Pre-Dynastic period (Prior to 3100 BC). During this period 42 territorial and political unities were formed. As a result of political, economic and military cooperation, they were merged creating the two major political formations: Upper Egypt (south) and Lower Egypt (north). Those, in turn, become part of a single Egyptian state. 2) Early Dynastic Period (1st–2nd Dynasties). Ancient Egyptian pharaoh Menes, the founder of the 1st Dynasty united Egypt in a whole. The integrity of the country was strengthened by establishing a centralized irrigation system and an administrative apparatus of the invention and spread of hieroglyphic writing. 3) Period of the Old Kingdom (3rd–6th Dynasties). Egypt is considered to be a powerful st ate based on economic and political factors. Economic prosperity and political stability have made possible the improvement of the irrigation system, as well as the construction of the pyramids such as Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure symbols of Egyptian civilization. 4) The first transitional period (VII-X Dynasties). This is a time of the internal strife and the collapse of the centralized state. The city of Thebes became one of the major centers that played a huge role in Ancient Egypt. 5) Period of the Middle Kingdom (XI-XIII Dynasties). The country was reunited, and the power of the prefecture leaders was limited. Egypt increased its territory, particularly in the south. In addition to this, it launched glass manufacturing and started a proliferation of tools made of bronze. 6) The second transitional period (XIV-XVII Dynasties). Egyptian states collapsed due to the invasion of the Hyksos nomadic tribes of Semitic origin, invaded from Asia and conquered the northern and central par ts of the country. The rulers of Thebes led national liberation struggles that ended the expulsion of the Hyksos. As a result, â€Å"the Hyksos attacked Egypt and occupied the Egyptian lands. Yet, the princes of Thebes, led by Ahmos I, managed to expel them out of Egypt† (â€Å"Pharaonic Era,† 2009, para. 9). 7) Period of the New Kingdom (XVIII-XX Dynasties). The era of the heyday of Egyptian civilization. Egypt expanded its ownership to the Euphrates in the east and the third cataract of the Nile in the south. Pharaohs put more effort to keep their land in the fight against the Hittite Empire, and later with the Sea Peoples. 8) Late Period (XXI-XXVI Dynasties). The time of strife, invasions and alien dominations: Libyan, Nubian, Assyrian. During this period, Egypt survived its last ascent. 9) The period of Persian rule (XXVII Dynasties). The Persian Empire conquered Egypt, but the increase in the tax oppression and abuse led to the Persians, the Egyptians revolted and liberated the country. 10) The last period of the independence of Egypt (XXVIII-XXX Dynasties). The union reduced to the internal strife that caused the weakening of the state and the restoration of Persian influence. 11) The period of the Persian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine domination (342 BC. 646 BC.). In 332 BC, Persians were driven out by Alexander the Great. After the collapse of the empire Alexander the Great in Egypt established the Hellenistic Ptolemaic dynasty, which lasted until the time of the Roman conquest.However, â€Å"the end of the Old Kingdom was not the end of Egyptian civilization†¦The calamity triggered by low Nile floods was the impetus to radical social changes and a reformulation of the notion of kingship. The legacy of this period is still with us today† (Hassan, 2011, para. 20).Hence, as we can see Ancient Egypt started with the primary association of tribes in the valley of the River Nile in 3150 BC and ended around 31 BC, when the Roman Empi re conquered Egypt. The latter event is not the first period of foreign Dominion, but the arrival of the Romans marked significant changes in the cultural and religious life of Egypt, as well as the termination of Egypt as a unified civilization. Ancient Egypt developed over three and a half thousand years. It all started with the primary association of tribes in the valley of the River Nile in 3150 BC and ended around 31 BC, when the Roman Empire conquered Egypt. The latter event is not the first period of foreign reign, but the arrival of the Romans marked the significant changes in the cultural and religious life of Egypt, as well as the termination of Egypt as a unified civilization.The significance of the Nile RiverThe basis of the existence of ancient Egypt was a constant control of balance of natural and human resources , which primarily meant control over the irrigation of the fertile valley of the Nile , the use of minerals occurring in the valley and surrounding desert reg ions, the development of independent systems of writing and literature, the organization of collective projects, trade with neighbors in eastern and central Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, and, finally, military campaigns, which demonstrated the strength and power of the empire, as well as the territorial advantage over neighboring cultures at different periods of time. Those actions were organized and motivated by socio-political and economic elite that reached a social consensus through a system of religious means. For administrative purposes, Egypt was divided into different districts. Starting from the pre-dynastic period (3100 BC) ‘noma’ represented an individual city. In the days of the Pharaohs a whole country was divided into 42 nomes.In Egypt, different taxes were paid according to the type of activity. The vizier controlled revenues from the people in the budget and plans for the collection. The householders also have to pay taxes, as annually they were engaged in social work for at least several weeks. There is no doubt that Egyptian civilization is widely known for its major achievements. This was â€Å"a time of a spectacular development in mathematics, astronomy, transport, government organization, and food production† (Kozma, 2006, p. 303).   It was a civilization that has reached a very high standard of production and intellectual activity as well as art and engineering (surveying), which led to the creation of the pyramids. Egyptians invented the hydraulic cement. In fact, â€Å"the first pyramid ever built in Egypt was Zosers, then Midums pyramid. However, the Giza pyramids together with the Sphinx, built during the 4th Dynasty, are the most famous of the 97 pyramids built to be tombs for Pharaohs† (â€Å"Pharaonic Era,† 2009, para. 12). Thanks to the irrigation system, Egypt became the breadbasket of the ancient world. Lake Fayoum was used by Pharaohs as a reservoir for the storage of excess water, w hich was very important during droughts.Egyptians’ cultures and worldviews were mainly based on the River Nile. Their view of the world, unlike most other nations, was focused not on the north and south, but mostly on the origins of the river. In addition, the river itself determined the three main seasons. Each of them consisted of four months:   1) July October; 2) November February; and 3) March June the harvest period and the lowest water level. Hapi as the god of the annual flooding of the Nile was portrayed as a fat man who brings gifts to the gods of the earth. Many pharaohs and the local nobility compared themselves with this divinity. In fact, â€Å"the Nile River brought an unlimited supply of water to the desert and the yearly flood built a fertile valley along the riverbanks. The almost regular and predictable pattern of yearly flooding of the Nile River guaranteed irrigation of the fields and adequate food production which caused the civilization to flouri sh† (Kozma, 2006, p. 303). Thus, it is possible to sum up that â€Å"the Nile valley is one of the oldest places in the world where its ancient inhabitants husbanded the water resources that engendered the valley a cradle of civilization, thereby creating ancient polities and empires† (Arsano, 2007, p. 25). The Nile River was an important shipping thread connecting Upper and Lower Egypt with Nubia (Ethiopia). In such favorable conditions, Egypt began the construction of irrigation canals. The need to service an extensive irrigation network has led to the emergence of polynomials large territorial associations of early farming communities. This particular area is denoted as a nome, written in the ancient Egyptian language depicting the land, and divided into sections of the irrigation network of the correct form. The system of Egyptian nomes, formed in the 4th millennium BC, remained the basis for Governorates of Egypt to the end of its existence. Creating a unified sys tem of irrigated agriculture has become a prerequisite for the emergence of a centralized state in Egypt. At the end of the 4th century BC and at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC the process of unification of certain polynomials has been implemented. This distinction throughout Egyptian history preserved in the division of the country into Upper and Lower Egypt and was reflected even in the titles of the Pharaohs, who were called â€Å"Kings of Upper and Lower Egypt.†Egyptian people venerated many different gods. Some of them were very old and looked more like animals cats, bulls, and crocodiles and thus they were kept in special rooms, ponds or stalls. Any insult to animals was punishable by death. Each nome had its own gods (sometimes unknown outside it), but there were various deities accepted throughout the country: Gore, Ra, Osiris, Isis, and others. As a result, Egyptians associated myths about the gods with the phenomena of nature, the major seasons, the floodi ng of the Nile River.In addition to the above-mentioned information, it is possible to add that thanks to Ancient Egypt, many contemporary people can use various inventions in their everyday lives, such as the invention of the alphabet and calendar. Like other nations, the Egyptians first took a time-calculation basis for the lunar year (354 days). But they soon realized that such a system did not have sufficient accuracy and prevented the smooth functioning of complex administrative machinery.ConclusionThus, taking the above-mentioned information into consideration, it is possible to draw a conclusion that Egypt is not only considered to be one of the oldest civilizations, but also one of the most durable ones. The major reason is, first of all, its location: the country as it stands alone, apart from other states and empires. As a result, Egypt got the opportunity to grow in the fertile valley of the Nile, without any outside interference and influence. Like a long stem of the pap yrus, it stretches from the south to the north, where the river flows into a series of flows in the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, Egyptian civilization is widely recognized for its major achievements in different aspects of our life. This was a time of various developments in various fields such mathematics, astronomy, food production, and more. Indeed, it was a civilization that has reached very high standards of production and intellectual activity as well as art and engineering processes (surveying), which resulted in the creation of the different pyramids known all over the world.The flooding of the Nile is like a gift for many farmers in Egypt. In addition, it is an important natural cycle in Egypt because it is presented in the form of brown sludge on the farmers’ lands. Moreover, Egypt itself has developed as a centralized state with its own system of writing. It soon became the center of a highly developed civilization where philosophy and literature, architecture a nd art, science and medicine have been flourished, as well as the management systems and the organizations of society have been formed. All in all, due to its geographical location and access to the Mediterranean Sea, the Egyptians had a brilliant opportunity to contact with Europe, which is constantly expanding, and the influence of Egypt on the western culture has enriched the entire world civilization.

Success and Failure of Intelligence essay

Success and Failure of Intelligence essay Success and Failure of Intelligence essay Success and Failure of Intelligence essayHistorically, intelligence played an important part in military operations and wars. However, intelligence operations may have not only positive but also negative effects on military operations as well as the balance of power between opposing parties. At this point, it is possible to refer to the experience of the US and allies’ intelligence during World War II, when the intelligence suffered both successes and failures. In this regard, it is possible to refer to the case of the failure of the US intelligence to foresee the attack of the Japanese on Pearl Harbor and the success of the allies’ intelligence in uncovering the way to crack Enigma, German encryption system used in the communication of Germans. These two cases reveal the full extent to which the intelligence operations may be influential and affect outcomes of large scale military conflicts. On the other hand, the revelation of the failure of the US intelligence in Pe arl Harbor shows the importance of the intelligence as the agency that can foresee and prevent large scale military operations and failures of the national defense system. Therefore, successes and failures of the intelligence show that the intelligence plays an important part in military operations, wars as well as socio-political development of nations and the effective performance of intelligence can help nations to take a stronger position in the competitive struggle between nations and international relations.The failure of the US intelligence in Pearl Harbor is a well-known fact as well as the cracking of Enigma is a renowned success of the allies’ intelligence. However, from the scientific point of view, the failure or success of the intelligence should be grounded on the revelation of facts and evidence that prove that the particular intelligence operation. In this regard, to determine whether the particular intelligence operation was a success or failure, it is possib le to elaborate criteria which mark the success of the intelligence operation. Criteria of the successful intelligence operation include several key elements (Cook, 2006). First, the intelligence operation is successful, if it has caused harms to the enemy. In fact, the ultimate goal of the intelligence operation is obtaining the target information or completion of the target action successfully that will directly or indirectly harm the enemy. For instance, even if the intelligence operation does not lead to the destruction of the enemy infrastructure, but helps to reveal certain information about the enemy’s infrastructure, then the intelligence will weaken the position of the enemy because the party conducting the military operation will know weak points in the defense line of the enemy.Second, the intelligence operation is successful, if it was conducted safely for agents and other stakeholders involved in the operation. The safety of agents is very important because, firs t, the intelligence agency has to invest funds into training of its agents that means that the loss of agents is costly. Second, the loss of agents weakens the position of the intelligence that naturally cannot be the marker of success of the military operation. Therefore, the safety of agents is definitely the evidence of the success of the intelligence operation.Third, the intelligence operation is successful, if it allows saving life of soldiers and civilians of the party that conducts the intelligence operation or those of its allies. One of the primary goals of any intelligence operation is the safety of soldiers and civilians. The protection of soldiers and civilians and enhancement of their security proves that the intelligence operation is successful.Fourth, the intelligence operation is successful, if it contributes to saving facilities, infrastructure, military equipment and other items essential for the successful military operations of the party conducting the intelligen ce operation. The protection of facilities and infrastructure is another priority of intelligence operations, especially, if they are conducted during the wartime. If intelligence operations secure the infrastructure and facilities of the party that conducts the intelligence operation then such intelligence operation is definitely successful.Fifth, the intelligence operation is successful, if its outcomes have a generally positive effect on the particular military conflict and balance of powers of parties involved in the war. Intelligence operations conducted during the wartime should have the long-lasting positive effects and bring positive impact on the position of the military of the party conducting the intelligence. In fact, truly successful intelligence operations may have the determinant effect on the development of military conflicts and large scale wars.Sixth, the successful intelligence operation remains unnoticed for the enemy until harmful effects of the operation become obvious or even after the end of the military conflict. The intelligence traditionally operates secretly. Therefore, if operations of the intelligence agency are uncovered, then they failed, while, on the contrary, if the enemy and public fails to notice the intelligence operation, then such operation is successful.The major success of the intelligence during World War II was cracking Enigma, German cryptographic system, which they used for radio and data transmission during the war. The operation was conducted by international intelligence forces, including Polish, French, American and British professionals. They coordinated their actions and the intelligence agencies of the allies collaborated to crack Enigma. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the Enigma machine based its cipher capabilities on a series of wired rotor wheels and a plugboard. Through a web of internal wiring, each of the 26 input contacts on the rotor were connected to a different output contact. The wiring connections of one rotor differed from the connections on any other rotor (Cornwell, 2008). Additionally, each rotor had a moveable placement notch found on an outer ring. The notch forced the rotor to its left to step one place forward. This notch could be moved to a different point on the rotor by rotating the outer ring. The Germans followed a daily list, known as a key list, to indicate where the notch should be placed each day (Cornwell, 2008). Theoretically, Enigma was considered to be extremely difficult to crack. Researchers (Cornwell, 2008) estimate that the Germans believed the encryption generated by the machine to be unbreakable. With a theoretical number of ciphering possibilities of 3 X 10114, their belief was not unjustified.Cracking Enigma was the results of the Polish breakthrough combined with a German traitor provided by the French that resulted in the major success against Enigma, since the British and Americans became able to expand their findings in to breaking Enigma as well as even more resilient German Navy encryption. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that the Navy played the key part in the national security of the UK because the breakthrough of the Navy defense line would lead to the opening the way for landing the German army in the UK.The operation was conducted safely and did not cause casualties among the allies involved in the operation. In fact, all participants of the operations and agents remained safe and were not vulnerable to any prosecution or attacks from the part of Germans. They had managed to complete the intelligence operation successfully without being uncovered by the enemy. This is why the operation conducted by the allies’ intelligence to crack Enigma was successful. At the same time, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that the intelligence operation on cracking Enigma involved the large scale cooperation of agents and intelligence agencies internationally. The intellig ence operation involved professionals from Poland, France, the UK and the US and even a German traitor. Therefore, the operation involved a large number of people that apparently increased the risk of its failure because the more there are people involved in the intelligence operation the higher is the risk of the failure of the operation. In case of the intelligence operation on cracking Enigma all professionals working on the operation had managed to survive and remained undiscovered by the enemy. This is why this operation was apparently successful.\Success and Failure of Intelligence   essay 2