Social Structures of Han China and Ancient Rome

During the classical era, Han China and Ancient Rome were the pioneers for the change and the plethora of improvements that took place in civilized societies. The Han Dynasty consisted of persistent regional riots and rebellions against harsh state demands, and Ancient Rome expanded through the Mediterranean and areas of Hellenistic civilization.Together, these two civilizations introduced many essential changes in human life and provided an arena for the spread of organized civilizations. Although both Han China and Ancient Rome acquired powerful religious systems, Ancient Rome’s social structure was far more structured than Han China’s in regards to treatment of women and social status.Han China and Ancient Rome both demonstrated prosperous, influential religious systems that influenced other religious systems. In Han China, many followed Confucianism as a religion. Confucian teachings emphasized strong rulers and the consolidation of political power. Confucianism was not a religion, but a philosophy.It advocated rule by the highly educated, male elite, and it was primarily an ethical system. Respect for elders, art, music, and elegant calligraphy in the cultivation of scholar-bureaucrats were all important. Other Confucian teachings were Legalism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Confucianism has exerted a pervasive influence on other societies throughout Asia.Confucianism has affected and been incorporated in nearly every aspect of life. Education, government, behavior, and how the people should live their lives are all connected and Confucianism provided a code and a guide to have effective government and education, and lead a happy, successful life.China’s Confucian ideals, technological advancements, and prosperous agrarian state captivated major thinkers in Europe and the United States. The Roman Empire provided an arena for the spread of Christianity and the interaction of numerous diverse cultures. Christianity emerged during the first years of the Roman Empire under Augustus. Originally an offshoot of Judaism, early Christianity had little to do with Roman culture.In the centuries after Jesus' execution, many outside of Judaism converted to the new religion. Perhaps as many as 10 percent of the Roman population were Christian by the fourth century C.E. Christianity spread most rapidly among the poor and disadvantaged classes of the empire. Christianity also won converts from among those seeking a more emotionally satisfying form of religion. Roman stability and communications aided in the spread of the religion.The early political form of Christianity was drawn from the imperial constitution. In Christianity, bishops were governors of local communities and supervised activities from cities in which they resided. Bishops in the most powerful cities gained greater authority.The apostle Paul, who brought Christian beliefs to a wider public, was a critical figure in the dissemination of the new religion. Gradually Christi an theologians began to define religious beliefs in terms of Greco-Roman philosophy. Christianity became the most creative intellectual area of later imperial culture.In this sense, Christianity was an important conservator of earlier intellectual traditions. Refusal of Christian communities to participate in state rituals caused some early emperors to persecute individuals and groups. Persecution was only episodic, and eventually the state was able to allot to the Church a legitimate, if subordinate, place in the world.Women enjoyed more freedom and status in Han China than in Ancient Rome, which was a much more structured society for women. Because marriages were arranged with family alliances in Han China, young men had as little say in the choice of their spouses as women. Young brides usually could rely on their powerful relatives to ensure that they were well treated in the new home.Widowed women were permitted to remarry, and all women participated in family ceremonies. Women of upper class families were often tutored in writing, the arts, and music. Although political positions were reserved for men, women could sometimes exert powerful influence from behind the throne.In Ancient Rome, on the other hand, the Roman law stipulated that the husband is the judge of his wife. If she commits a fault, he punishes her; if she has drunk wine, he condemns her; if she has been guilty of adultery, he kills her. If divorced because of adultery, a Roman woman would lose one-third of her property and had to wear a special garment that set her apart like a prostitute.As wives and mothers, many aristocratic Roman women wielded political power, but only through their husbands. Inequality between men and women increased in the empire’s final stages. Roman family structure was very patriarchal.There was much less lenience in the class structure of Han China than Ancient Rome. In Ancient Rome, there was class conflict between the growing  ranks of the poor and the Roman aristocracy. Some political leaders attempted to aggrandize their careers on the basis of this conflict.Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, two tribunes, attempted to introduce land reform and other social legislation in favor of the poor between 133 B.C.E. and 123 B.C.E. Both were killed by aristocratic mandate. After 107 B.C.E., the Roman consul Marius began to use paid volunteers to staff his armies in place of conscripted Roman citizens.The creation of a permanent military force dedicated to its commander threatened the position of the Senate. A second commander, Sulla, drove out Marius and his political allies. A succession of military commanders dominated Roman politics thereafter. A civil war between two of them, Pompey and Julius Caesar, brought the republic to an end. After Caesar took over the government in 49 B.C.E., he introduced various reforms. The result was to destroy the political monopoly of the Roman aristocracy.Traditionalist senators plotted against Caesar and h ad him assassinated in 44 B.C.E. Caesar's death precipitated a civil war from which Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, emerged the victor. While maintaining the external appearance of the republic, Octavian created an imperial state. For his success, he was granted the name Augustus.The Han class systems were much different. In Han China, rebellion was almost nonexistent. Ordinary farmers held varying amounts of land, and those who worked on the land of others as tenants or did landless labor were even more miserable. Many peasants joined secret societies with colorful names. Merchant classes became wealthier and more numerous, but they found it incredibly difficult to translate their profits into political power or social status.However, even when people were unhappy, they did not complain. Status was often unchangeable, so unlike Ancient Rome, people did not and could not revolt. These great classical civilizations lend themselves to a variety of comparisons to other civilizations du ring the time.In particular, Confucianism of the Han Dynasty and Christianity of Ancient Roman have spread throughout the world. Because of the Roman Empire, Christianity has spread throughout Europe from Jerusalem to Mesopotamia. Today, it is most influential in North and South America and Europe.Because of the Han Dynasty, Confucianism and Confucian ideas have had an impact on Eastern Asia, especially Japan, Egypt, and Vietnam, and it has even influenced Taoism. Even though both Han China and Ancient Rome acquired  incredible religious systems, Ancient Rome’s social structure was far more controlling than Han China’s in regards to treatment of women and social status.

Regulatory and Economic environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Regulatory and Economic environment - Essay Example Sweden and the United Kingdom are both members of the European Union (EU). Twelve of these nations are tied together with the common currency, the Euro, and the EU's remaining members are obligated to join by treaty once they meet specific criteria. Sweden and the UK have made no plans as of yet to change to the Euro. The EU is the world's largest economy, which is projected to grow at a rate of 2.1% per year. The Growth and Stability Pact insures that each state's deficit doesn't exceed 3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and its public debt must remain below 60% of their GDP. The United Kingdom is one of the best places in the world to do stem cell research. This is because of the strong history in stem cell biology in the UK, the tight regulatory system administered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) and the strong commitment we have, both financially and politically, from the government." (Rehwagen). Simon Best, chairman elect of the United Kingdom Bio Industry Association, also said that, "Australia, the U.K., some U.S. states, and Sweden are world class in this field. The U.K. is in a good position to build on the talents." (Rehwagen). Currently, Sweden is in a phase of economic growth. ... Sweden has a population estimated in 2006 at 9,103,551, with a highly skilled workforce. The World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Sweden as third in their survey of 104 economies and their capacity for future growth. ("Economy of the European Union"). Business growth in Sweden is deemed successful due to many factors such as: a very healthy macro-economic environment, easy access to advanced technologies, qualified workforce, good infrastructure, and competitive costs for staff, rent, and business expenses. The unemployment rate of Sweden is highly contested among political officials but the official figure is currently at 5.4% (2006.) ("Sweden."). Many Swedes also choose to work abroad in neighboring countries such as Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom. In relation to this, Sweden has had one of the highest tax quotas in the world since the 1960's. Countries such as France, Belgium, and Denmark have very similar taxation rates. Sweden's taxation plan is known as a two-step progressive plan. The average municipal income tax is around 31% to 56% and a capital tax rate of a flat 30%. Single persons with a net wealth more than 1,500,000 Swedish Kroner (SEK) (equivalent to 111,280) are taxed a flat rate of 1.5%. ("Economy of the European Union."). Employers are obligated to pay a 32% tax which is called an "employers fee." Other taxes in Sweden include the national Value Added Tax (VAT) of 18% or 25%, food carries a 12% VAT, and transportation and books are taxed at 6%. Miscellaneous items such as petroleum and alcohol are taxed at higher rates. Due to the high tax rates, Swedes are eligible for many government funded benefits such as:

The coursework focuses on the Airbus Industrie (Airbus), the civil Essay

The coursework focuses on the Airbus Industrie (Airbus), the civil aircraft manufacturer, jointly owned by BAe plc, and French, German and Spanish interest (t - Essay Example Airbus required an overall cost-cutting plan for travel management, an important target being to reduce the travel budget by at least 10%. To achieve that, Airbus decided to implement some new steps. Commercial jet aircraft is universally dependent on long-standing trends in airline passenger traffic. And this tendency can be explained by factors such as financial growth in developed and up-and-coming markets, political stability, profitability of the airline industry, and the globalization and consolidation of the industry. Other important factors are restrictions in air transport communications such as government and environmental regulations and air traffic control. Finally product development strategy and overall competition between manufacturers also impact the market. The industry is very demanding; it requires a long time to regain investments portrayed by long development cycles. It also requires a large base of skilled and experienced workers, high tech supporting industries and sophisticated and serious customers to flourish. Government involvement also plays a major role in determining the industry forces in various countries' industrial strategies and international t rade associations. Airbus strategies internationally operate in an environment shaped by three forces: the industrial constrictions of building modern aircraft, the demands of world and regional markets, and the configuration and objectives of the consortium itself. These factors map onto an integrated strategy analysis. The positional analysis for Airbus must focus on its status as the challenger to the dominant firm, on the consortium's peculiar organizational structure, and on the opportunities and constraints offered by its non-market context. One way of looking at Airbus's experience is as a continual series of disruptions aimed at creating openings for Airbus to enter markets dominated by well-established competitors, in particular, Boeing. These strategic moves have involved both market and non-market elements. The following lines summarize and assess the market and non-market key competitive strategies that Airbus industrie has engaged to establish itself in the crucial world market. 1. Widespread aircraft portfolio to assure the requirements of customer airlines across the board. Boeing is the best positioned with aircraft capacity ranging from 100 passengers (737-500) to 500 (747-400). Airbus had entered the market with small and medium sized carriers, but is fast catching up with the introduction of its four engine long haul A340 aircraft. 2. Pushing high technology, electronic fly by wire systems in order to reduce the number of pilots required-from three to two-and establish re-assigning easily from one type of plane to another, thus curtailing training time by developing the family concept. As an example, Airbus succeeded in achieving authorization from the FAA to have a single pool of pilots to operate its A320, A330 and A340 models. 3. Emerging resolution to pick up cost effective management of their planes, such as the general trend in migration to twin engine wide body planes, providing fuel efficiencies and quick reconfiguration of seating

Strategic Management for Smirnoff Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Strategic Management for Smirnoff - Assignment Example Smirnoff is a brand of Vodka used in UK and is own and operated by British Company Diageo however, it has its roots in Moscow Russia. Smirnoff is now distributed in well over 130 countries with a network which is expanding and catering to the needs of different customers all over the world. Being an alcoholic drink, the overall external environment for this brand is relatively challenging considering the fact that many countries have banner alcoholic drinking. Issues like the underage selling, drunk driving and other strategic issues are considered as of significant importance. This is because these issues can actually affect the overall demand of the product. This report will look into the target market, value given by the company to its target market, a closer analysis of the internal as well as external environment including analysis of the industry as well as competition. This report will also look into the SWOT analysis of the firm to unearth strategic issues faced by the firm a nd what strategic options could be exercised to correct the situation. Company Background Smirnoff is a brand name managed by a British Company with the name of Diageo. It is however, important to note that Smirnoff as a brand has its historical roots in Russia when during 19th Century, Smirnoff as a vodka brand was started by Pytor Aresenievich Smrinoff. (Diageo Inc) Over the period of time, brand gained recognition and is now considered as the leading vodka brand in the world. What is also important to understand that Smirnoff was the only vodka available outside the communist countries after the Second World War? This therefore has given an edge to the brand to dominate the European and North American market and become the leading selling brand in the world. The company owning and operating this brand is also selling other brands which are also maintained as the strategic brands. These strategic brands therefore serve as the primary source of growth for the firm across all the ma rkets it operates. Some of the leading brands of Diageo include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B etc. Smirnoff is also one of the strategic brands for the firm generating the required growth for the firm in the Spirit market.1 It is important to note that Smirnoff exists as a separate strategic business unit for the firm and it is sold through different channels. Delivery of the product through online market of the firm is also one of the ways firm manages sales for this brand. Target Market of the Company Diageo is considered as the premium drink company offering high worth brands to the individuals all over the world. As such the geographical distribution of the company’s target market is across the whole world with concentration in the European and North American market. It is critical to note that the drink market continuously evolve due to the market innovation and changing preferences of the customers. (ASIMOV, 2005). Though Diageo is a well diversified company with man y brands serving different niches in the drink market, however, Smirnoff caters to a different niche of the market. Though Vodka is famous for its uniqueness as a drink however, firm has been able to introduce new flavored drinks in order to cater to the needs of varying degree. The essential market for the drink comprises of those individual customers looking for ready to drink market with variety offered according to the Season of the year. This is because of

US Supreme Court Decision AT&T. versus Hulteen Research Paper

US Supreme Court Decision AT&T. versus Hulteen - Research Paper Example Hulteen 1). The matter in controversy is clear, if the employer does not give an employee full pension benefit by excluding the time of pregnancy leave on the ground that when the employee took pregnancy leave, the PDA Act was not operative, Can the employee file a suit for discrimination? Can the employee enforce credited leave time for such absence? Can the employee get relief under U.S. law and enforce greater pension benefit? What is the present law with regard to this matter? To find answers to the above questions, a research and in depth analysis of the case in hand would surely prove to be of great help, as discussed in the latter context of the paper. 2. The Dispute Before proceeding further into the case, knowledge of the facts of the case is essential. The petitioner of this case was the American Telegraph & Telephone Company, whereas the respondents consisted of individual respondents in the form of Noreen Hulteen, Eleanora Collet, Elizabeth Snyder, Linda Porter, and the c ollective-bargaining representative of the employees, the CWA or the Communications Workers of America (AT & T Corp v. Hulteen 3). AT & T provided pensions and other benefits to its employees on the basis of seniority system, relying upon the term of employment, which was equivalent to service at the company minus uncredited leave time. For a period extending from 1960 to mid-1970s the employees on disability leave got full service leave but those who took personal leave, which also included leaves for pregnancy, received a maximum service credit of 30 days. The respondents of this case received less service credit for pregnancy leave than they should have received, if they had taken a leave for disability. Respondent Noreen Hulteen received seven months less credit, Eleanora Collet received six months less credit, while Elizabeth Snyder and Linda Porter received two months less payment. If the total term of employment was not so decreased, they would receive greater pension benefit (AT & T Corp v. Hulteen 2-3). The individual respondents of this case and the CWA filed charges of discrimination against AT & T with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). After receipt of complaint EEOC issued a Letter of determination finding that AT & T had discriminated against Hulteen and similar class. The EEOC issued a notice of right to sue to the respondent and the CWA, after which Hulteen filed a suit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Certiorari was granted by the Supreme Court on this issue to resolve a split between the decision of the Ninth Circuit on the one hand and on the other hand the Sixth and Seventh Circuits on the same issue (AT & T Corp v. Hulteen 3-4). Hulteen had to take the issue to the Court without negotiating a settlement due to the fact that she had to satisfy herself with considerably low pension than she would have received, if she would not have taken the pregnancy leave. The policy of AT & T Corp. will never have allowed her to enjoy the full pension benefits and she had to file a suit. The EEOC had to resort to a case, as it had to keep in mind the interest of the other workers. Finally, AT & T had to move to the Supreme Court, as it was not satisfied with the decision of the Ninth circuit. 3. The Procedure The suit never reached the District Court at the first instance. The individual respondents of this case and the CWA filed charges of discrimination with the EEOC, stating that discrimination has taken place on the basis of sex and pregnancy in violation of Title VII. The suit

What is the problem of communication with aliens, according to Peters Term Paper

What is the problem of communication with aliens, according to Peters - Term Paper Example Otherness is the condition in which an individual develops the belief of being different or possessing another form as compared to the majority around him/her. The notion of otherness in philosophy has been advanced since the debate on the existence of extraterrestrial beings and other unidentified objects within space. The feeling of otherness exists in a number of situations and depends on an individual state of being, experiences and level of knowledge and exposure (Peters 231). In the development of the otherness feeling, two classification of individuals arises which includes the 'us' versus 'them' feeling, one which is currently dominant in the discourse of aliens and terrestrial life. The out-group, which in this situation happens to be the aliens, is coherent as a group due to the opposition it receives from the in-groups, which are the human beings. One common example of the feeling of otherness arises from the western versus others feeling which is created by the strong bel ief that the west are more superior to the others. In this ethnic discourse, the feeling of otherness is strengthened by binary logic, which is more attached to the strong principle of self-identity. Within this set of argument, 'us' and 'them' hypothesis and reasoning is created from the grouping that exists in us and the distinctions from their groupings. For example, the division of one group into heterosexuals and homosexuals while the other group forms the male and female dichotomy forms the basis behind the advancement of this notion (Peters 243). The preoccupation with alien invasion and the need to develop communication means with the extraterrestrial beings has led to the establishment of the communication with extraterrestrial intelligence, which seeks to develop communication protocols. Just like the craze for developing human-animal communication processes, alien communication has grown since the 20th century. In case of any alien encounter, attempts to communicate will occur due to human instinct power but communication will not be the end of the problem. Just as human-animal communication has been described as one way communication, human-alien communication can also fall into this category. In an attempt to understand and discern the information from the aliens, human may be subjected to erroneous fabrication and interpretation of the message from the aliens. It is common knowledge that the desire to communicate with extraterrestrial beings is capped with dialectic enlightenment. Human have shown interest in communicating with the aliens and the number of studies that followed the telephone signal that was received from space demonstrates this. According to Peters in his speaking to the space discourse, there is no other kind of communication other than that with the aliens, a statement that he supports in his writing. Whenever we speak, we speak to the air and the aliens are the real occupants of space according to this discourse. The electroma gnetic communication that occurs from voice vibration results into the travel of sound into space, which incites the aliens. All communication, whether between ourselves may seem to be internal communication but it is all directed to the others who are not part of the ‘us’ (Peters 235). With communication, misunderstanding occurs from several avenues and this may be possible in instances where there is no otherness. However, miscommunication with aliens does not occur as a result of the semantics as words have the same meaning but from figuring out what is meant by otherness. Through this statement, Peters refers to the fact that without misrepresentation of the words from the aliens, it would be possible to understand each other’

Playing Wii Games to Playing Real Games Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Playing Wii Games to Playing Real Games - Essay Example The paper explains the importance and role of the games in our life. Sports like hockey, soccer, rugby and boxing require a lot of physical stress and stamina. These sports are considered healthy as well as tough. They help humans in maintaining a healthy body. The efforts required for these activities fulfill the criteria of exercise needed to keep a healthy body. These exercises increase one’s heart rate, glucose breakdown, and stamina. The movements, power and strategy involved in these activities put one’s mind and muscles to work which in turn shapes the body in to an ideal body. Wii gaming system was released in 2006 by Nintendo. â€Å"Wii is actually an exergame. That is, it’s a video game that requires players to use actual physical movements to manipulate the action. Employing a wireless handheld controller with acceleration sensors and an infrared camera built into the console, the Wii senses players’ Motions and translates them into on-screen movement. For instance, in Wii Tennis you swing the controller like a racket; for Wii Golf, the controller is your club†. ... These sports are considered healthy as well as tough. They help humans in maintaining a healthy body. The efforts required for these activities fulfill the criteria of exercise needed to keep a healthy body. These exercises increase one’s heart rate, glucose breakdown, and stamina. The movements, power and strategy involved in these activities put one’s mind and muscles to work which in turn shapes the body in to an ideal body. Wii gaming system was released in 2006 by Nintendo. â€Å"Wii is actually an exergame. That is, it’s a video game that requires players to use actual physical movements to manipulate the action. Employing a wireless handheld controller (about the size of a TV remote, ironically) with acceleration sensors and an infrared camera built into the console, the Wii senses players’ Motions and translates them into on-screen movement. For instance, in Wii Tennis you swing the controller like a racket; for Wii Golf, the controller is your cl ub† (Anders). Wii has released almost all the popular real world sports games such as boxing, tennis, golf and baseball so its range of games encompass many of the real sports. As mentioned earlier in order to play these games, one needs to mimic the exact movements in front of the screen as used in playing real sports. The player’s actions in real time resemble very closely to actions performed in playing real sports. Playing Wii games helps burn calories just like in playing real sports. Moreover, players even perspire while playing Wii games. â€Å"In fact, in addition to burning the most calories, boxing was the only Wii game tested that would be considered intense enough to maintain or improve cardiorespiratory endurance as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)† (Anders). The