Thursday, January 30, 2020
Year of Wonder Explores the Complexity Essay Example for Free
Year of Wonder Explores the Complexity Essay Year of Wonder explores the complexity of human nature and the consequences of human actions â€Å"He brought the wide world with him†Anna Frith admires George Viccars for being well-travelled but does not realise that he has brought not only his knowledge of the world but also the perils of disease with him. Silhouetted against the sepulchral backdrop of the blighted Eyam, Geraldine Brooks depicts a community caught in extraordinary times in her historical novel â€Å"Year of Wonder†. The novel conveys the complications and ramifications of human nature and human actions, interwoven with the cultural value of religion and beliefs in addition to the social value of trust. Brooks illustrates that the nature suspect and distrust has stemmed from the Plague, as well as the fact that to a degree, all humans have similar nature. Whilst some responded positively to these catastrophic turn of events, others suffered server negative impact to this result of human action. The similarities in nature between characters are evident in the novel. Through the first person narrative of Anna Frith, readers are invited to see the whole story from her perspective and insights on her own life and personality. As the intricacies of the plot unfolds, we began to see that, indeed, Anna was lost in an abyss of pain and suffering, yet in response to it, she has grown strong, no longer a child â€Å"to quail at terrors†. Since our first glimpse at her, Anna has proven herself to be a capable care-taker. Although her role is Michael Mompellion’s servant is quite circumscribed, she always goes beyond the restrict scopes of her duties in attempting to coax him out of his melancholia. She often takes on a mothering role towards Michael, as she says â€Å"treating him as if he was my child†. In result of her actions towards Mompellion, she saw the need to nurture others, even motherless child or plagued victims. As those around her starts to shrug off their responsibilities, Anna begin to shoulder more burdens then running a household and bringing solace to the afflicted. Just like Anna, Elinor Mompellion possesses a â€Å"sinewy mind†with a â€Å"driving energy†. She is a well-educated woman, whom, when first mentioned in the novel, is educating Anna on how to read. Elinor does not respect the division between â€Å"weak and strong, between men and woman, laborer and lord†, as Anna recalls â€Å"she never reminded me of my place (as a servant)†. Hence, the author’s ability to depict the complexity of human nature is evident in the novel as the personalities of characters are, to an extent, similar from each other. One of the fatal effects of the plague is that it breeds the human nature of mutual suspicion and distrust. It is possible that the plague is merely exacerbating tensions already present with in the village but it does so to an unprecedented degree. Thus, certain individuals of a somewhat antisocial and self-serving bent find their actions and inclinations magnified by the advent of the Plague. Josiah Bont, who is Anna’s abusive father, becomes a gravedigger, willing to pursue homicide as a stimulus to his profits; his wife, Aphra, shamelessly exploits the anxieties of her fellow villagers for monetary gain by pretending to be the ghost of the deceased Anys Gowdie. In what is, perhaps, a less culpable fashion, David Burton seizes the opportunity to advance his own interest at the expense of Merry Wickord, whose family mine has been left open to claim by the death of her parents. Instances such as these suggest that Michael Mompellion’s assertion that â€Å"the Plague will make heroes of us all†, however optimistic, is not well founded. Even more strikingly, the readiness of the villagers to turn against Mem and Anys Gowdie, whose service as healers have been much in demand, indicates that the plague deepens the rifts already exists in the community. As Jon Millstone comments, there is a grave danger that the time â€Å"will make monsters of us all†. Therefore it is the villagers own nature which acts as the catalyst for further tragic events. The onslaught of the plague has scarred numerous villagers in Eyam. As the plague creeps further into the village, people who begin to face corruption as they undergo catastrophic changes are omnipresent throughout the novel. Ever since the plague arrived, the villagers did not see it as an act of nature, but rather as a curse, as they are blinded by their own beliefs, relaying on superstition and living in the false reality of religion. In result, they saw the tailor, George Vicars, as the Devil and the architect of the plague. There for, they believed that Anys, who slept with George, as a witch and killed her. This was the first response to the crisis, a response of fear and panicking, as the villagers looking for a scapegoat for the cause of this problem. As Anna suffers the loss of both of her sons, she begins to seek comfort in the graveyard. She also begins to question â€Å"how can the just and merciful God take the life of innocents†. Soon after she became addicted to opiates and going as far as to stealing them, thus giving us insights on Anna’s weakness and the first crack in her religion. Others who are desperate in seeking sanctuary in such times also turned their backs on religion as they trust in the ‘ghost of Anys Gowdie’, who offers them demonic rituals, charms and spells in return for money. It is evident that in this novel, the certain characters walked the wrong path from desperation and resulted in unpredicted results. It is apparent however, that although the plague decayed the mind of almost the entire village, there are still those who fought for what they believed in and survived the corruption. After the arrival of the plague, it was always Mompellion who stands in front of the villagers and convincing in an optimistic tone that â€Å"trust in God to perform his wonders†. Such speech is the signpost the beginning to his leadership, which has also planted the seeds of discord between superstition and faith. His usage of God and trust are an obvious plot to influence the townspeople to trust and believe him. Through all the disorder, unexpected alliances are made. Mompelion confers with Puritan Thomas Stanley, a Purtian who quitted the parish three years ago. Thus showing that in times of crisis, religious differences can be overcome to unify for greater cause of human survival. Anna has encountered countless barrages alone the path, however because of her work and friend ship with Elinor, she was also able to rise from the adversity. After she discovers the truth about him and Elinor, she stands up to Mompellion as well as the Bradfords, thus breaking the social structure. Because of the plague, Anna metaphorically transformed from a simple, uneducated girl to a powerful, formidable woman. She escaped from her past and is able to create a promising future for herself and her children. Therefore, it can be said that a beacon of juxtaposition shines between those who survive and those who don’t, allowing the readers to see the different outcomes. In essences, the plague itself does not produce heroes or monsters, unity or division. It only amplifies the human natures which individuals already possess, in addition to the similarities and differences in nature between characters. Hence, there are those who like Anna, can emerge from the experience of the plague and responded with positive actions, and those that reached a breaking point in such times and suffered consequences as a result. The plague symbolises a test, just like in a furnace in which all must be melted to find the pure metal.
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Ancient Civilizations Essay example -- essays research papers
Early American Civilizations      Early American civilizations were composed of four different groups of people. These four groups were composed of the Mayas, Aztecs, Incas, and the North Americans. These groups were the same in many ways, but had some differences that would distinguish their group from the others. These civilizations ruled the Americas for long period of time. These civilizations were the same in almost every way, but they had their differences to show that they were a totally different group of people.      The first group that is going to be discussed is the Mayas. The Mayas were thought to be peaceful stargazers for a long time, but not until recently the truth was uncovered about the Mayas. The Mayas were actually rulers of the populous, aggressive city-states. The Mayas built large temples for the glory of the kings and sometimes the queens who ruled cities of tens of thousands. They also had a liking for self-mutilation, warfare, and a prolonged torture of captives. The Mayas had warfare with rival cities frequently. For the most part the Mayas did this to capture aristocrats for torture and sacrifice. If the Mayas sacrificed fewer humans than the Aztecs, against whom they often had been held up as superior, they tortured their victims more viciously. One way they would torture people is, in ancient ball games, like Roman gladiatorial contests, pitted                                                                                           captives were against one another for their lives; the heads of losers were sometimes used for balls. In this selection Reilly mentions how a king would prepare for war. He said, “Before going to war, for example, the king would puncture his penis with a stingray spine, while his wife drew a thorn-barbed rope through her tongue'; (Reilly, 326). The Mayas thought this was a vital process for s... ...ey had a pretty good communication system, but nothing as good as the Incas. The difference that separates the North Americans from the other groups is that they had the impressive mounds.      These groups had their distinct similarities, but the differences set them apart. The way for the Mayas to distinct themselves from the others is that they had harmony among all the groups of people. The Aztecs were different because they seemed to be stricter about things, and they didn’t have the harmony among all the people like the Mayas. Unlike the others, Inca’s rulers tried to keep in touch with the people he ruled over, and the Incas had a great source of communication unlike the others. The North Americans separated themselves by being less cruel to people, and had those huge mounds, which were very impressive structures. Even though they were the same in most ways, these people were different in a lot of ways. If the weren’t, then it would have been one group of people ruling the Americas. These slight differences make these people stand out against one another and the rest of the world because of their huge accomplishments.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
History of India Essay
India, or Bharat, the fifth largest and the second populated country in the world, is one of the few countries which can boast of an ancient, deep-rooted and diverse culture, which stretches back to 5000 years. In ancient times, India was known as ‘Bharata Varsha’, the country of the legendary king of Puranic times called Bharat, and was believed to be a part of the island continent called ‘Jambu Dvipa’. Geologically speaking, India formed part of the Gondwana land and was attached to Antarctica and Australia, before it was liberated from the Antarctica complex about 135 million years ago and started drifting towards the north and finally joining South Asia about 45 million years ago. The Siwalik foothills of the north-western Himalayas served as home to the fossil primate genus known as Ramapithecus, which lived some 14 million years ago. Researches have also found that a species resembling the Australopithecus lived in India some 2 million years ago. Some anthropologists believe that the Chotanagpur region witnessed the transformation of Homo Erectus to Homo Sapiens. This claim is based on the findings of hand axes and blades in the region of Pathalgarwa and the discovery of Harappan pottery in the nearby areas. Early Civilisations Extensive archaeological excavations carried out at Mohenjodaro in the present Pakistan in 1922 brought to light the existence of a highly sophisticated and urbanized culture known as the Harappan Civilization in India, which dominated the north-western part of the Indian Subcontinent. It is believed that this civilisation covered an area of 1600 km from east to west and 1100 km from north to south, which exceeds the area occupied by contemporary civilisations like the Egyptian and Mesopotamian Civilisations. This civilisation is generally dated from about 2600 to 2000 B.C. However, Carbon-14 analysis of the structures at Mehrgarh near the Bolan Pass has indicated that the people of this place were growing wheat and barley and tending sheep and goat as early as 5000 B.C. Archaeologists have by now discovered more than 800 sites related to the Harappan Civilisation. Most scholars believe that the Harappan Civilisation was decayed as a result of the ‘problems of ecology’. The next most important phase in the Indian history came centuries later with the advent of Aryans from the northwest of India. The Aryan migration to India was gradual and spread over many centuries. There is a difference of opinion about the original home of the Aryans. The different suggestions given by different scholars vary considerably in terms of geographic position in the world. Bal Gangadhar Tilak suggested that the Arctic region could be the home of Aryans. P.Giles suggested Hungary, Austria, Bohemia or the Valley of Danube as the possible home of Aryans, while Max Muller suggested Central Asia, Penka suggested Germany or Scandinavia, Edward Mayer suggested Plateau of Pamir and Dr B.K.Ghosh and Gordon Childe suggested South Russia. There are others who vouch for an Indian origin of the Aryans, like Ganganath Jha (origin from Brahmarishi Desh), D.S.Kala (hilly region of Himalayas and Kashmir), Avinashchandra Das (Saptasindhu Pradesh) and Rajbali Pandey (Madhya Desh). The Aryans developed a remarkable culture, popularly known as Vedic culture, which was markedly different from the Harappan Culture. The Vedic period is divided into the Rig Vedic Period (1500-1000 B.C.) and the Later Vedic Period (1000-600 B.C.). The Vedic period can be considered as the foundation stone for the Indian culture in all its multitudinous aspects. It laid the foundation for the Hindu Dharma and produced a host of religious and secular texts, which constitute a very important part of the religious heritage of India. The Vedas, Upavedas, Upanishads, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and the Dharmashastras were produced during these times. The institution of gotra and the caste system appeared in the later Vedic times. From this period onwards, India functioned as a virtually self-contained political and cultural unit, which gave rise to a distinctive tradition that was associated primarily with Hinduism, although other religions, notably Buddhism and Jainism in the ancient times, Islam in the medieval period and Christianity in the modern times, did make a strong impact on the socio-cultural aspects of India. Endless Diversity There is an endless diversity in India starting from its physical features to Geologic structure, fauna and flora, demographic structure, races, languages, religions, arts and crafts and customs and traditions. India has been variously described as â€Å"the Mini World†, the â€Å"epitome of the world†and an â€Å"ethnological museum†. The diversities are so bewildering that for many people in the Western world, India remains a land full of mysteries and myths. The diversity in India is unique in the sense that it binds the country together in some form of common identification. Underneath this diversity lies the continuity of Indian civilization and social structure from the very earliest times until the present day. This concept of ‘Unity in Diversity’ is perhaps typical of India and has served as its strength during all ages and during the roughest times in its political and cultural history. It is amazing that different elements of Indian culture, particularly its drama and the arts, despite passing through different political phases, are characterised by an unmistakable unity and continuity. The successive waves of migration into India starting with the Indo-Greeks (2nd Century B.C.), the Kushans (First century A.D.), the incursions from the northwest by Arab, Turkish, Persian and others beginning in the early 8th century A.D. and finally the establishment of the Muslim empire by the 13th century A.D. and the advent of Europeans ‘ the Portuguese, the Dutch, the English, the Danes and the French ‘ into India, have brought in new elements in arts, music, literature, customs and traditions, which got absorbed into the Indian way of life, thus enriching the Indian culture . From the very ancient times India not only absorbed the foreign cultures into its composite fold, but it also managed to spread the rich elements of its own unique culture in different parts of the world. It is historically recorded that the Chola rulers had cultural contacts with countries like Ilamandalam (Sri Lanka), Sri Vijaya (Sumatra), Chavakam (Java), Kamboja (Cambodia) and Kadaram (Malay Peninsula). Evidences of these early Indian contacts are still found in the art and architecture of these countries. The Southeast Asian countries formed a stronghold of Indian culture from the early centuries of the Christian era. The various Southeast Asian languages show strong influence of Sanskrit. Many earlier kingdoms of these countries had adopted Hinduism as their religion, whose influence is perceptible even today. India presents a picture of unity in diversity to which history provides no parallel. There is complete harmony in India in each of its cultural elements. Religion and philosophy, which forms the bedrock of any civilisation, are evident in India in the form of all major religions in the world  Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and Judaism. Several unique philosophical thoughts like Kapila’s Sankhya Philosophy, Patanjali’s Yoga, Gautami’s Nyaya, Kananada’s Vaisheshika and Jaimini’s Purva Mimamsa developed in India and attracted the attention of the outside world. Religious tolerance has been the characteristic of the Indian civilisation right from the ancient days. Hindu sages declare that there is no single religion that teaches ways leading to an exclusive path to salvation. All genuine spiritual paths are valid and all great religions are like the branches of a tree ‘ the tree of religion. This doctrine lays foundation for the Hindu ideal of universal harmony. This tradition was carried forward in the medieval times by the Sufi and Bhakti saints like Ramananda, Kabir, Guru Nanak, Baba Farid, Baba Malukadasa, Baba Dharinidasa and Garibadasa. Indeed, the framers of the Indian Constitution ensured the continuance of these glorious traditions when they declared India as â€Å"Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic†. Regional Diversity: Each state of India has its own language and set of tribes, festivals, arts and crafts and customs and traditions. While there are the Chenchus tribes in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, Bhils and Gonds in the Central India, Dogris, Gujjars and Ladakhis in the Jammu and Kashmir and Nagas, Bodos, Mishmis, Gharos and Khasis in the Northeast, there are tribes like the Jarewas, Onges, Andamanis and Sentinelese in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. There are some festivals, which are typical of particular states, towns or villages like the Bonnalu of Andhra Pradesh, Pushkar of Rajasthan, Rajrani of Orissa, Teej of Rajasthan and Bogali Bihu of Assam. Each region is also identified with its typical folk and tribal dance forms, like Puli Vesham of Andhra Pradesh, Keli Gopal of Assam, Chhau of Bihar, Dandia of Gujarat, Bhangra of Punjab and Otthanthulal of Kerala. A similar distinction can also be established in the folk drama, theatre and puppetry forms, as also the arts and crafts. Development of Arts and Fine Arts There was a continuous evolution of drama, music, dance, painting and folk art forms under the different political rules in India that ultimately led to the development of the definite ‘Indian’ element in each of these forms. Thus, within the ambience of Indian culture one can identify ‘Indian Music’, ‘Indian Dance’, ‘Indian Theatre’, ‘Indian Literature’, ‘Indian Fairs and Festivals’ and so on. Indian music has a very long and unbroken tradition, which is an accumulated heritage of centuries and traces its roots to Vedic days. Bharata’s Natyashastra (4th Century A.D.) is a great, comprehensive work on the science and technique of Indian drama, dance and music. The advent of Muslim rule in India brought in a changed perspective in the style of the Northern Indian music. The traditional Hindu devotional music form of dhruvapad got transformed into the classical dhrupad form of singing under the Muslim rule. The khayal developed as a new form of singing in the 18th century A.D. and became equally popular among the Hindus and Muslims. Different ragas began to be introduced from the medieval times. Tansen created many new ragas like Darbari Kanada, Darbari Todi, Miyan Ki Todi, Miya ki Malhar and Miya ki Sarang, which until now, are regarded as the foremost ragas of Northern India. Sultan Hussain Sarki of Jaunpur introduced ragas like Jaunpuri tori and Hussaini Kanada. Amir Khusro is credited with the creation of the Hemant, Prabhat Kali and Hem Behag ragas. A large variety of foreign musical instruments like Harmonium, Sarod, Shehnai, Sitar, Tabla and Violin were introduced in India to supplement the ancient musical instruments like Flute, Nadaswaram, Veena, Gootuvadhyam, Thavil, Mridangam and Plain drum. The six outstanding Sanskrit playwrights of all times, Shudraka, Harsha, VisakhA.D.atta, Bhasa, Kalidasa and Bhavabhuti have made tremendous contributions in the field of dramatics. Kalidasa’s Shakuntala, King Harsha’s Ratnavali, Bhasa’s Swapna-vasavadatta, Bhavabhuti’s Uttara-rama-charita and Mahavira-charita, Visakhadatta’s Mudrarakshasa are some of the outstanding Sanskrit plays, which indicate that India had a highly sophisticated theatre tradition in ancient times when in most other countries it was still in its infancy. Again in the field of literature, the earliest writing can be traced to the Rig Vedic poetry in Sanskrit. The Rigveda consists of 1028 suktas or hymns that are distributed in ten books called mandalas. This is perhaps, the earliest poetry in the world. The two great Sanskrit epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata composed by Valmiki and Vyasa respectively, along with the Puranas, constitute the pillars of the Indian literature. The Manu Smriti (1st century B.C.) is the best illustrator of the Dharma-sastras or Smritis or the Hindu religious laws. Kalidasa, Bairavi, Sudraka, Vishnu Sharma, Dandin and others composed several literary masterpieces in the ancient times. India’s contribution to the world was also immense in the field of astronomy, mathematics and medicine. Aryabhatta was the first to state that the earth moves round the sun and that the eclipses are caused by the shA.D.ow of the earth falling on the moon. Aryabhatta’s Aryabhatiya, Dasagitika-Sutra and Aryastasata belonging to the 5th century, Varahamihira’s Pancha-siddhantika, Brahmagupta’s Brahmasphuta-siddhanta and Khanda-khadyaka, Bhaskaracharya’s Siddhanta-shiromani and Karana-kutuhala and Bhoja’s Raja-mriganka are important ancient Indian texts on astronomy. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans, which was consolidated 2500 years ago by Charaka, who was described as the ‘Father of Medicine’. Another ancient Indian Sushruta, who is considered as the ‘Father of Surgery’, is believed to have conducted complicated surgeries using over 125 different surgical equipments. Usage of anaesthesia was also well known in ancient India. Like-wise deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, aetiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many ancient Indian texts. India’s most precious gift to the world is zero (0), which wa s referred to as Shunya in the ancient texts. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus also came from India. One of the best-known achievements of the Indian mathematics is the decimal system. Its first occurrence was on a plate of the year 595 A.D. where the date 346 A.D. was written in decimal place-value notation. Aryabhatta, who calculated the value of p as 3.1416, is also credited with the creation of Algebraic analysis. Budhayana explained the concept of the Pythagorean Theorem way back in the 6th century. Brahmagupta’s Brahma-Sphuta-Siddhanta has two chapters devoted to arithmetic, algebra and geometry. Bhaskara’s Lilavati was for many centuries a standard work on arithmetic and Mensuration in the East. The world’s first university was established in Takshila in 700 B.C., where more than 10,500 students from all over the world studied over sixty different subjects. The University of Nalanda established in the 5th century B.C. was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education. Described as â€Å"The Oxford University of Mahayana Buddhism†, it offered wide range of subjects like literature, logic, grammar, medicine, philosophy and astronomy. Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. A report in the Forbes magazine of July 1987 described Sanskrit is the most suitable language for the computer software. Vaishali, in modern Bihar, is often described as the World’s First Republic, as it had a duly elected assembly of representatives and efficient Administration as early as the 6th century B.C. Modern India The British rule in India, despite its several excesses and oppressive characteristics, had made several useful and lasting contributions to the Indian culture. Several social and administrative reforms were introduced during the British period. Warren Hastings brought about a reorganisation of judicial institutions and re-codification of the Hindu law. He established courts of appeal for civil and criminal cases at Calcutta and also a Supreme Court at Calcutta (now Kolkata). He also gave active encouragement to the formation of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. Lord Cornwallis laid the foundation for the present Indian constitution. He also brought about judicial reforms by replacing the Shariat law with the English law. William Bentick abolished evil practices prevailing in the Indian society like Sati and female infanticide and introduced modern western education in India. He also established the Calcutta Medical College and the Elphinstone Institution at Bombay (now Mumbai). Lord Dalhousie set up the Public Works Department to look after the construction and maintenance of roads. He also set up the Post & Telegraphs Department and issued the first postage stamp in 1852 at Karachi. He opened the first Railway line on April 16, 1853 between Bombay and Thane. He also legalized the marriages of Hindu widows. The British introduced the neo-Colonial and Indo-Saracenic styles of Architecture in India. They were also instrumental in encouraging the development of modern theatre and cinema movements in India. The British enacted several laws and regulations, many of which are still followed in the Indian administrative set-up in some form or the other. The positive outcome of English education was most felt when many Indian social reformers began to emerge on the scene to fight against the social evils like Caste system, untouchability and emancipation of women and the downtrodden. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the foremost among such social reformers, who established the Brahmo Samaj. Soon, other organisations like the Prarthana Samaj, Arya Samaj, Dev Samaj, Ramkrishna Mission and the Theosophical Society of India were set up with similar aims and objectives. After Independence, the Indian Government enacted several legislations to tackle the prevailing social evils. Several steps were also initiated towards the emancipation of women and protection of the weaker sections of the society. Economically and socially, India has made great strides since independence. It has a well-developed infrastructure and a highly diversified industrial base, its pool of scientific and engineering personnel is the third largest in the world, and the pace of its agricultural expansion has more than kept up with the growth in its population. Rapid strides were also made in the field of Science and Technology and Research. India’s eminent scientists like C.V.Raman, Hargobind Khorana and S.Chandrasekhar won Nobel Prizes for outstanding contributions in their respective fields. India has an advanced and well-developed Space Technology programme and the remote sensing data from its IRS series of satellites is much sought after all-over the world. India has even launched satellites for advanced countries like Germany and South Korea. India is now a nuclear power, but its nuclear policy is not aimed at the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or threatening the security of any country. India’s foreign policy is based on ‘enlightened self-i nterest’, peaceful co-existence and respect for international law and the United Nations Organisation. March into the New Millennium India marched into the new Millennium as the fifth biggest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). It has become the leading supplier of IT professionals in the world, particularly to the United States. Its population having crossed the one-billionth mark, India has perhaps the largest middle class market in the world. It is indeed a matter of great pride for India that the world has given due recognition to Indians and Indian leaders as major contributors, who have shaped the world during the last millennium. Mahatma Gandhi was voted the Man of the Millennium in an online opinion poll conducted by the British Broadcasting Service (BBC)’s online news site in December 1999. In an earlier BBC Online poll conducted in May 1999, Gandhi was also voted as the Greatest World Leader. The Time magazine also chose Gandhi as the most important person of the century, next only to Albert Einstein. The former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was named as the â€Å"Woman of the Millennium†in a BBC poll, ahead of several other distinguished personalities of the world. India’s culture and heritage is so rich and deep-rooted that it may take several months or even years to understand all its dimensions. From the time immemorial India has fascinated many a world traveller like Fahien, Hiuen Tsang, Ibn Batuta, Alberuni, Ferishta, Vasco da Gama, Marco Polo and several others. Albert Einstein once said: â€Å"We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.†The great German Indologist Max Muller said: â€Å"If I were to look over the whole world to find out the country most richly endowed with all the wealth, power and beauty that nature can bestow ‘ in some parts a very paradise on earth ‘ I should point to India. If I were asked under what sky the human mind has most fully developed the choicest gifts, has most deeply pondered on the greatest problems of life, and has found solution of some of them, which well deserve the attention even of those who have studied Plato and Kant ‘ I should point to India.’ The following quotation of the great American philosopher and writer Will Durant sums up the divine land called India, thus ‘India was the motherland of our race, and Sanskrit the mother of Europe’s languages; she was the mother of our philosophy; mother, through the Arabs, of much of our mathematics; mother, through the Buddha, of ideals embodied in Christianity; mother, through the village community, of self-government and democracy. Mother India is in many ways the mother of us all.’
Monday, January 6, 2020
An End To Slavery - 1400 Words
The society that became known as the United States had its beginnings when the first English settlers set foot on North American soil. Whether that settler landed in Massachusetts or Virginia, their beginnings on this continent were all influenced by the society that they had left behind. These included many aspects of Englands society, culture, economy, and politics. Those societal, cultural, economic and political beginnings can be traced throughout our history in the mindset that both the North and South represented. This migration to a new world set the stage for the culture of slavery that which was not the only cause by any means certainly went a long way toward bringing about the American Civil War. The Massachusetts settlers†¦show more content†¦To the chagrin of future generations this also included slaves. The route that became known as the â€Å"Triangular Trade†became infamous as the death sentence to thousands of captured Africans to supply the desire for slaves in the Americas. This trade went on for over 150 years, but by the early 19th century it was becoming much less respectable, and was banned by the United States. Not that this ban completely stopped it of course, profit being a big motive for keeping it going as long as possible. By the second half of the 18th century slavery was becoming less fashionable. Published stories about a slave in London who had freed himself from his master by simply walking away, and the abuse he had endured, sparked uproar in the Northern colonies, and combined with taxation issues in 1772 brought about another reasons for Americans to be unhappy with the British meddling in their affairs. Even as the new nation called the United States was being born the debate over slavery was raised in Philadelphia. The Northern colonies were intent that the issue of slavery was to be settled at that point in time, while the South was just as much against any such effort, due to a desire to keep any outsider from meddling in their affairs. It is certain that none of these concerns had gone away by the time of Thomas Jefferson’s â€Å"Declaration of Independence†where the issue, although intensely argued about, was given over to the more immediate concern ofShow MoreRelatedSlavery And The End Of Freedom912 Words  | 4 PagesHowever, their lives rapidly changed when Europeans arrived in their homeland. The early sixteen hundreds was the beginning of slavery and the end of freedom for many Africans. Getting shipped into a new country against your will would certainly be a traumatic and painful adjustment. The Africans had to overcome unfathomable obstacles just to s urvive the journey to America. Slavery was just gaining popularity in this time period, seeing as newly founded colonials in America were looking for labor to assistRead MoreThe End Of Chattel Slavery Essay1648 Words  | 7 PagesLooking back in history, you will find that slavery was always present. There are accounts of slavery in Babylon, Greece, and Rome, all occurring before the Common Era; but there was a major change during the year 1619 in the way slavery was implemented. This form of slavery was known as chattel slavery. Defined as â€Å"A civil relationship in which one person has absolute power over the life, fortune, and liberty of another†(Legal-dictionary.com), chattel slavery targeted African slaves that were broughtRead MoreDid Slavery End in 1865?1048 Words  | 5 Pagesï » ¿Did slavery end in 1865? 425 469 724 576 I do not believe that slavery ended in 1865, or that it has yet to end today. In 1865, the thirteenth amendment was passed it stated that slaver and involuntary servitude were illegal. While slavery may be deemed as illegal, it still occurs in our modern times, just as it did in the 1800s. This can be seen across our time in exampled such as how blacks were not allowed to vote even after emancipated, triangle shirtwaist company fire, and the way in whichRead MoreSlavery : The End Of The Civil War1543 Words  | 7 Pagesâ€Å"Slavery is founded in the selfishness of man s nature -- opposition to it is in his love of justice. These principles are an eternal antagonism; and when brought into collision so fiercely, as slavery extension brings them, shocks, and throes, and convulsions must ceaselessly follow. Repeal the Missouri Compromise -- repeal all compromises -- repeal the declaration of independence -- repeal all past history, you still can not repeal human nature. It still wil l be the abundance of man s heart,Read MoreThe Emancipation Proclamation : The End Of Slavery1313 Words  | 6 PagesOn January 1, 1863, sitting President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, a document decreeing the end of slavery throughout the United States of America. While symbolic at the time (the self-proclaimed and effectively sovereign Confederate States of America had no intention of recognizing a law issued by a political body with which it was currently at war, and whose authority it did not recognize) it was undebatably a momentous and powerful decision that would forever change theRead More The End to Slavery in the Caribbean Essay examples1245 Words  | 5 PagesThe End to Slavery in the Caribbean The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was the first successful slave revolt in the Caribbean, and it was one of the most important events in the history of the Americas. Along with the obvious human rights benefits that the Haitian Revolution achieved, there were some serious setbacks for the nation as well. Between 1783 and 1789, Saint Domingue was the foremost sugar producer in the region, but by the end of the war the economy was completely destroyedRead MoreAmerican Views On Slavery And The End Of Segregation2276 Words  | 10 PagesGomez December, 3 2014 Professor Troy American People I Term Paper: First Draft Changes in American Views On Slavery and The End Of Segregation Slavery was America’s darkest era, during this time period Africans and African Americans were exploited, over worked, tortured, separated from families and sexually violated. Rules were also imposed to keep slaves from running away, formRead MoreSlavery, Slavery And End The Most Brutal Piece Of American History1846 Words  | 8 PagesSlavery began in the United States as soon as the first Europeans stepped foot on the land. Many people had numerous hardships and losses because of this brutal part of American history. These slaves would lose every aspect of their lives including their spouses, children, and religion, and the only thing they gained was the scars on their backs from the beatings their owners brought upon them. Slavery lasted for over a century in the United States, and it was not until Thomas Jefferson’s NorthwestRead MoreThe End of Slavery and the Civil Rights Movement547 Words  | 2 PagesSlavery was abolished in 1865 after that there were Am endments passed that gave African Americans in the U.S legal freedom. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery, the Fourteenth Amendment gave them citizenship, and the Fifteenth guaranteed them the right to vote. African Americans were separated from whites they could not go to the same public places, schools, or sit with them on the buses. In 1896 the Supreme Court approved the segregation of the races by in ruling in the Plessy v. FergusonRead MoreLincoln s Emancipation Proclamation : The End Of Slavery935 Words  | 4 PagesProclamation: The end of Slavery in America†, he acknowledged that this is one of the representative of President Lincoln’s writings in the history demonstrating his dedication to free â€Å"four million black slaves†. At the end of Guezlo’s introduction, he proposed the idea of how Lincoln would be a white friend to African American due to the power, the position he had that can help him to start deliverance. The author stated, â€Å"It would be special pleading to claim that Lincoln was in the end the most perfect
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