The Character of Achilles in Homers Illiad Essay

For centuries now, the character of Achilleus, the great Achaean warrior, has been a subject of major debate among those studying Homers classic epic The Iliad. Ironically, though there is very little physical description of Achilleus in The Iliad, he is perhaps the most thoroughly developed character in the epic. It seems as though Achilleus has a tendency to make a very strong impression on the reader, and often a bad one at that. Those who dislike Achilleus in particular attack his overpowering sense of personal pride, or hubris, in Greek terminology, as demonstrated fully in his actions thought the epic. However, those who sympathize with him are able to see the characters nobility, even despite his stubborn tendencies. He is not†¦show more content†¦Zeus obliges, and the Achaean forces are slaughtered left and right. Then, when Agamemnon realizes his mistake and apologizes, saying I was mad, I myself will not deny it (9.116) and makes a genuine plea to Achilleus to save the Achaean troops, Achilleus does not listen. Agamemnon offers him land, gold, Briseis returned, and his own daughters hand in marriage, and Achilleus still refuses to help. He is content to continue nursing his wounded ego as his friends are being killed by the thousands. Even as the war rages on, and Achilleus actually wants to reenter the battle, his obstinate pride refuses to let him do so unless his own safety is threatened by the fighting. As he recounts, Still I said I would not give over my anger until that time came / when the fighting with all it clamor came to my own ships (16.62-3). Even arguing that a reader cannot understand Achilleus because of cultural differences does not justify him at this point. The manner in which Achilleus deals with this particular situation also brings to light another of his character flaws- a definite tendency towards childishness and immaturity. This is especially apparent in his complete refusal to accept Agamemnons apology. He has no sense of perspective and cannot see the larger picture of what he is doing to all his friends. Odysseus himself accuses Achilleus of being childish and closed-minded, saying Fail us now? What grief it will be to you / through all the years toShow MoreRelatedThe Fury of Achiles in Homers Illiad and Ovids Metamorphoses1066 Words   |  4 PagesAchilles Through the stories in both Homers Illiad and Ovids Metamorphoses one can see the power and the fury of Achilles, one greatest Greek warriors in the Trojan War. In Homers Illiad, Homer illustrates the battle between Achilles Hector, who was the Prince of Troy. In Ovids Metamorphoses, Ovid illustrates the battle between Achilles and Cycnus, who is the son of Neptune. In both battles, the outcome is the same both warriors are slain by Achilles. While both stories have the same endingRead MoreCharacteristics Of A Hero In The Illiad979 Words   |  4 Pagesanything in between. People tend to think about unrealistic heroes who wear crazy outfits and capes and have a different they hide behind, but during the time of the Ancient Greeks, they had slightly different thoughts on heroes. When it comes to The Illiad by Homer, one of the biggest things focused on is the image of the hero. Homer never directly gives the answer to the question â€Å"What makes a good hero?†, but he does write about many heroes, and through the writings it is easy to pick up what qualitiesRead MoreThe Heroic Code1182 Words   |  5 Pagesdecisions often affect the lives of others as well. They need the heroic code to guide them in their decision making. In this essay, I will describe the heroic code and share its applications in the stories of Beowulf, Gilgamesh and Noah, and The Illiad, as well as my other personal experiences. I will start with the story of The Man of La Mancha, which is a play based on the story of Don Quixote. In this story, you have a rather deranged man on a quest to become a knight. In order to become aRead MoreThe Greeks and The Illiad Essay examples1378 Words   |  6 PagesThe Greeks and The Illiad The Iliad was a masterpiece of a work, which entertained and gave a description of how the Greeks lived out their lives in battle and at peace. The Iliad, by Homer, is an epic classic set in Ancient Greece. The story ,in its own, contained the use of epic characteristics, which reveal further characteristics of the Greeks. A large influence on the book, was the Greeks religious and mythological stance along with their strengths and weaknesses that were alsoRead MoreGender Roles in the Illiad1517 Words   |  7 PagesGender Roles: Hector in The Iliad In Homer’s Illiad Hector, one of the primary leaders of Trojan forces and also a prince of the fated city of Troy fulfills the male gender expectations defined through prowess in war. However, male’s heroism is driven by the fear of shame and dishonor in war. Hector is an mortal character in Homer’s Iliad and all Hector seeks is war-glory, and he believes that one must die with a cause. He fears the indignity that he believes will come should he not fight noblyRead MoreLiterary Analysis Of The Iliad1050 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween the characters of the epic. Like all stories, The Iliad is filled with literary devices to allow the readers to garner a better understanding of the motivations of each character throughout encounters. Translators have to maintain the nuances of each situation while accounting for an unavoidable skewing from the original passage. In reality, this means that translations differ. A key example of this occurring in the Illiad is during Odysseus speech attempting to rally Achilles to war. WhileRead MoreThe Bronze And Iron Age Essay2093 Words   |  9 Pagesthrough war and other things. Here is just an example of Homer’s poetry â€Å"He cast on the fire bronze which is weariness, and tin with it and valuable gold and silver and thereafter set forth upon its standard the great anvil, and gripped â€Å". The poems of Illiad depict the seige of the city of Ilion or Troy during the Trojan War. The word Illiad itself means something concerned with Ilion. Illion was the city based in the state of Troy. When Illiad was created, is arguable. Some scholars are adamant thatRead MoreThe Aeneid is a poem written by the ancient Roman poet Virgil during the height of the Roman900 Words   |  4 Pagespeople away from Troy and on a journey to eventually found Rome. In the Aeneid, Virgil asserts the importance of one’s commitment to duty, and this assertion reveals that ancient Romans valued and admired one†™s commitment to duty above all other character traits. In the beginning of Virgil’s Aeneid, a storm causes Aeneas’ ship to wreck near Carthage, a civilization located on the northern shore of Africa. It is here, during his stay in Carthage, that Aeneas first demonstrates his full-fledged commitmentRead MoreThe Heroes Of A Hero2033 Words   |  9 PagesTo have a set of skills and qualities to become hero, bravery is genuinely one of the biggest traits one must have to be a hero. Heroic tales usually contains violence in the story. In most heroic novels, books, and poems that feature a main character with a hero’s complex, the source of their power is derived from their heroism undermines their ability to reason. In the books examined there is always a hero or heroine that is tasked with self-discovery, destroying evil, seeking vengeance on evilRead MoreThe Tragedy Hecuba Which Was Written By Euripides Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagestimes in Athens’ annual City Dionysia, which, as we know, was a dramatic fest ival held in honour of Dionysus. This means that the majority of his audience would have been Athenians, like himself. So, just a quick introduction to the play. The key characters are HECUBA who was the Queen of Troy and wife of the Trojan King Priam, THE GHOST OF POLYDORUS who was the son of Hecuba and Priam, POLYXENA who was their daughter, POLYMESTOR who was the King of the Thrace and was also married to Priam’s eldest

Corruption in the Indian Judiciary Free Essays

Judiciary is in some way at a higher pedestal amongst these three organs because it is the only mechanism to keep the executive and legislature within their jurisdictions by confining them not to abuse or misuse their powers. It controls, corrects or quashes the executive, however high it is, and even sets aside acts of the legislature if it acts contra-constitutionally. Judiciary is the guardian and final interpreter of the Constitution. We will write a custom essay sample on Corruption in the Indian Judiciary or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is a place of utmost trust as it is last resort for the people. It is not negated that corruption is non-existent in certain judicial systems rather it would be fair to say that in some countries corruption is nominal, infrequent and the result of individual, unethical behaviour. It is also evident from the words of the former Chief Justice of India S. P. Bharucha, when he grieved over the rampant corruption in the higher judiciary and brought to notice that around 20 percent judges of the higher judiciary are corrupt. Now the question remains; can the judicial accountability be trusted upon any more?Does the judiciary hold the same value, as it had earlier? Is the judiciary abusing its freedom? Can judges be permitted to do anything in the guise of ‘independence’? These are the questions which still remained unanswered. Judicial Corruption Corruption is the misuse of entrusted power for personal gain. In the context of judicial corruption, it relates to acts or omissions that constitute the use (or it is better to say ‘misuse’) of public authority for the private benefit of court personnel, and results in the improper and unfair delivery of judicial decisions.In corrupt judiciaries, citizens are not afforded their democratic right of equal access to the courts, nor do the courts treat them equally. The m erits of the case and applicable law are not paramount in corrupt judiciaries, but rather the status of the parties and the benefit judges and court personnel derive from their decisions. In corrupt judiciaries, rich and well-connected citizens triumph over ordinary citizens, and governmental entities and business enterprises prevail over citizens. No civilised society can command the people’s confidence if the judicature’s verdict is privately purchased at a competitive price.Corruption and Indian judiciary A judicial scandal has always been regarded as far more deplorable than a scandal involving either the executive or a member of the legislature. The slightest hint of irregularity or impropriety in the court is a cause for great anxiety and alarm. In last one decade, there are a number of instances where a judge is found to be involved in corrupt practices. This demands a close look in these scandals because if judiciary itself gets corrupted who will judge others. Before taking these scandals we should know the current legal position on corruption as applicable on judges laid down in Veeraswami case. Veeraswami Case This case is important in many ways. This was the first case where corruption charges were alleged against a judge of higher judiciary. This case dealt with many issues viz. whether judge of a high court or Supreme Court is a ‘public servant’ or not; who is the sanctioning authority for prosecuting a judge of a high court or Supreme Court under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947; whether Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 (hereinafter referred as Act) is applicable on judges or not etc. Before taking these issues in detail, let us know background of the case.The appellant had committed offence under section 5(2) read with clauses (b), (d) and (e) of section 5 (1) of the Act. On perusal of the charge sheet the special judge issued process for appearance of the appellant. The appellant thereupon filed a petition under section 482 of Cr. P. C. before the Madras High Court for quashing the prosecution. The Full Bench of the high court by a majority view has dismissed his case. However, in the view that the constitutional question involved in the case the high court granted certificate for appeal to the Supreme Court.A five judge Bench of the Supreme Court heard the matter and four judgments were delivered. Shetty J. authored the leading judgment, with Venkatachaliah J. , signing with him. B. C. Ray J. wrote a separate but concurring judgment. L. M. Sharma agreed to dismiss the appeal but differ on some issues. Verma J. dissented. RECENT EPISODES In the last one decade, a number of instances unveiled by media and other active organizations where judges were involved in corrupt practices, which show that how corruption has crippled Indian judiciary. Some of them are discussed hereafter;Justice Soumitra Sen’s Issue In an unprecedented move by the CJI, wrote a letter to the prime minister, recommending that the proceedings contemplated by article 217(1) read with article 124(4) of the Constitution be initiated for removal of Justice Soumitra Sen, Judge, Calcutta High Court. 25 This recommendation was made on the basis of suggestions made by an In-House Committee, in a report submitted to the CJI that Justice Sen be removed from the office. The Committee has in its report accused Justice Sen of breach of trust and misappropriation of Reciever’s funds for personal gain.The in-house committee found that Soumitra Sen did not have honest intention, since he mixed the money received as Receiver and his personal money and converted the Receiver’s money to his own use. The motion for his removal is not yet initiated. It is expected that the history will not be repeated. If it is repeated it would be a dishonor upon the Indian judiciary and its accountability. Cash-for-Judge Scam CJI Balakrishnan is the first Chief Justice of India who has granted permission to an investigating agency to register of a criminal case against judges of Punjab Haryana High Court. This is for the first time that power conferred by Veeraswami case is exercised by any CJI. He allowed the CBI to interrogate two judges of the Punjab Haryana High Court, Nirmaljit Kaur and Nirmal Yadav, in connection with the cash for- judge scam. A law officer sent Rs. 15 lakh to Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s official residence and later claimed that it was meant for Justice Nirmal Yadav and had been delivered to Justice Kaur by mistake. Apart from these episodes there are few more instances where judiciary got shammed.Like, Justice Jagdish Bhalla, Chief Justice Himanchal Pradesh High Court was also traced in dealing with such mal-practices when he got a plot on nominal price by a land mafia, who was one of the parties to a case before him. In all above stated instances the judges, being a public servant, were alleged to be involved in corrupt practices even though the recourse of the Act was not taken. There is no justification as to why judiciary did not take recourse of the Act and went for process of removal under article 124, which is next to impossible. *** RTI solution has not been edited in keeping with the view of other legal essays. How to cite Corruption in the Indian Judiciary, Papers

Fortescure metal group ltd free essay sample

The research group has undertaken an analysis of Fortescue Metal Group Limited (‘FMG’). The analysis consists of two parts. Part 1 includes a macro economic analysis which reviews FMG’s economic environment and how this impacted on its performance during the years ended 30 June 2008 to 30 June 2012. During this period FMG’s performance was primarily driven by an overall increase in the price of iron ore, underpinned by higher levels of demand for this product from China. It is considered that continued demand for iron ore by Chinese steel producers and continued growth in China’s gross domestic product (‘GDP’) is likely to support the forecast iron ore price of USD120 per metric tonne (‘mt’) and result in future increased revenues for FMG. The recent depreciation of the Australian dollar (‘AUD’) against the United States dollar (‘USD’) will increase the USD profits of FMG as measured in AUD. Part 1 also includes an industry analysis which applies the ‘Porter five forces’ model and concludes that competition is ‘moderate’ meaning there is an opportunity for FMG to earn above average profits. We will write a custom essay sample on Fortescure metal group ltd or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Part 2 is a business strategy analysis which identifies the competitive strategy adopted by FMG. It is considered that FMG has adopted a strategy of ‘cost leadership’ which is consistent with the needs of its customers who purchase iron ore based on price. Part 2 also identifies the key success factors associated with this strategy and the associated risks. It is considered that the business strategies of FMG (expanding production and cost reduction initiatives) are consistent with its chosen competitive strategy and as FMG is successfully implanting these strategies it is maintaining its competitive advantage. A concern regarding FMG’s high interest and financing costs is noted; however an analysis of the company’s cashflow and debt structure allays this concern. For the purpose of the analysis the research group has relied on the information presented in the financial report for the year ended 30 June 2012 (the 2013 report was only recently published on 22 August 2013). Information contained in FMG’s June 2013 quarterly update to the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) was also used to ensure up-to-date information was considered. 1 Part 1. Macro economic factors and Industry Analysis 1. 1. Economic environment – Macroeconomic factors that impact on FMG’s performance. 1. 1. 1 FMG business activities FMG commenced construction of its initial mine, port and rail assets in 2006 and began shipping iron ore in 2008. 1 FMG’s principal activities are ‘the mining of iron ore from its Cloudbreak and Christmas Creek mine sites, the operation of an integrated mine, rail and port supply chain and the expansion of iron ore operations’. 2 FMG’s segment information for the year ended 30 June 2012 details that 96. 9% of external revenues for the sale of iron ore were received from customers located in China.

Case Study for The Demand And Supply Of Television Sets In Venezuela

Questions: The table and graph shown below illustrate the demand and supply schedules for television sets in Venezuela, a "small" nation that is unable to affect world prices. In addition to the answer for each item below, describe in a few sentences how you solved each part of the problem. (This will allow the instructor to assign partial credit in case an answer is incorrect.)1. Suppose Venezuela imports TV sets at a price of $150 each. Under free trade, how many sets does Venezuela produce, consume, and import?2. Assume that Venezuela imposes a quota that limits imports to 300 TV sets. Determine the quota induced price increase and the resulting decrease in consumer surplus.3. Calculate the quota's redistributive effect, consumption effect, protective effect, and revenue effect.4. Assuming that Venezuelan import companies organize as buyers and bargain favorably with competitive foreign exporters, what is the overall welfare loss to Venezuela as a result of the quota?5. Suppose that foreign exporters organize as a monopoly seller. What is the overall welfare loss to Venezuela as a result of the quota? Answers: The demand and supply of television sets in Venezuela is given below: From the diagram we can figure out that the demand for television set and the supply of television equates at 450 and the corresponding price of the television set is $325 in Venezuela. So the equilibrium price is $325 and equilibrium quantity it as 450 (McTaggart, Findlay and Parkin, 2012). 1. Now trade opens up and Venezuela imports television sets. The following diagram gives the free trade condition of Venezuela: From the above diagram we infer that the world price of the television set is $150 which is also the free trade price. Here the domestic demand is 800 and the domestic supply is 100. A situation of excess demand of television set by the residents of Venezuela arises, which the domestic suppliers cannot satisfy. An excess demand of 700 (800-100) is covered up by importing 700 quantities of television set by Venezuela (McTaggart, Findlay and Parkin, 2012). Thus the import of television set is of 700 quantities at the world price of $150. Venezuela produces 100 quantities of television sets, consumes 800 quantities and imports 700 quantities of television sets. 2. Now suppose import quota of 300 TV sets is imposed. Then, there is a restriction of import which drives up the price but since Venezuela is a small country, there will be no impact on the world price and it will remain at $150. The free trade equilibrium price is at $150. At this price, the domestic demand is 800 and the domestic supply is 100. The import is given by the difference between the domestic demand and the domestic supply (Pindyck and Rubinfeld, 2013). In this case: Domestic demand Domestic Supply = 700 (800-100) Now Venezuela imposed a tariff of 300 TV sets which restricts trade from 700 to 300. The price goes up to $250. This implies that as quota is imposed consumers now have to purchase from the domestic producer, hence the domestic production increased to 300 TV sets and the domestic demand reduced to 600 TV sets. And so the new price is at $250 (Perloff, 2012). Now the loss in consumer surplus is marked by the area (A+B+C+D) which is due to rise in price because of import quota (McTaggart, Findlay and Parkin, 2012). 3. Now as import quota is imposed there are several effects that arise which are redistributive effect, consumption effect, protective effect and the revenue effect (Krugman and Wells, 2013). All these effects are depicted in the following diagram: Assuming the diagram we conclude that: Redistributive effect= (100*300)-(0.5*100*200) = (30000-10000) = 20000 Consumption effect= (800-600) = 200 Protective effect= (300-100) = 200 Revenue effect= (300*100) = 30000 4. If the import companies of Venezuela organize as buyers and bargain favourably with the competitive foreign exporters then there will be overall welfare loss to Venezuela as a result of the quota (Hubbard and O'Brien, 2013). The loss of surplus is shown by the blue lines in the diagram. 5. If the foreign exporters organize as monopoly seller then the price of the TV sets will be increased and thus the quota will lead to welfare loss to the country. Total welfare loss will be the area B+C+D in the diagram (Hoag, 2013). References Hoag, J. (2013).Intermediate microeconomics. Singapore: World Scientific. Hubbard, R., O'Brien, A. (2013).Microeconomics. Boston: Pearson. Krugman, P., Wells, R. (2013).Microeconomics. New York, NY: Worth Publishers. McTaggart, D., Findlay, C., Parkin, M. (2012).Microeconomics. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson. Perloff, J. (2012).Microeconomics. Boston: Pearson Addison Wesley. Pindyck, R., Rubinfeld, D. (2013).Microeconomics. Boston: Pearson.

Video Game Argumentative Essay Topics

Video Game Argumentative Essay TopicsThe two best argumentative essay topics are the topic of sports and the topic of video games. However, if you choose to have a sports argumentative essay, there is more of a challenge ahead. It becomes an interesting way to prove that you are right about a certain point.In some ways, there is an attraction to sports argumentative essay topics because many people find it inherently interesting. Sports will always be popular because the appeal is in the entertainment. People enjoy watching sports even when they aren't cheering for a certain team or individual.But that does not mean it is right for the general population. Even those who like sports can take a break from all the watching of games to help decide a matter. It is especially important in college when there are so many courses to take that the student is faced with having to choose one particular class over another.Another reason why people like sports argumentative essay topics is that vi deo games and many other games have become so popular that the game manufacturers have created some of the most incredible games. If a person has a strong opinion about this subject, then the argumentative essay should show that there is at least some merit to that opinion. It may even inspire some people to give their own personal opinion.Of course, there are two great things about this type of argumentative essay topics. First of all, there is the fact that it is so entertaining. While some argueative essays become monotonous after a while, a good sports argumentative essay allows the student to have fun and read the whole thing while staying interested.The second great thing about these topics is that it is very interactive with the reader's attention. As with all argumentative essays, the person providing the facts has to be very careful and precise. A game can be played out on the basketball court, at the board of trade, on a horse track, in a lab, or on a football field.It is up to the reader to decide whether a good sports argumentative essay is for them. The best advice is to look for a topic that is interesting to you and that you have a passion for.

Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College Essay Example

Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College Essay The image of college athletes has become heavily stereotyped. And more often than not, these stereotypes are presented through jokes especially in movies. We see college athletes (more commonly known as â€Å"jocks†) exhibits exceptional physical capabilities but below average intelligence. Even though these kind of jokes exist, people very rarely question why sports and college are so interconnected. College and sports appear to be inseparable twin brothers inside the psyche of the public. This paper recognizes the lack of skepticism in the relationship of college and sports. Sports should be eliminated in college and academic institutions should focus more on academics nonetheless. Setting up this argument is indeed a difficult task. Since the time of ancient learning, academics and sports find their way to intersect each other. If we would review history, Greek intellectuals and Greek sports (like in the early olympics) was just as popular as each other. However, the balance was somehow became lopsided over the centuries. Championships in college sports became the object of glory of universities. In the colleges of today, a high-scoring baller would have an exponentially larger admirers than a scholar who propose a new theory of the origin of the universe. This lopsidedness also adds to the reasons why the existence of sports in the academic community should be challenged. We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Why College Sports should be Eliminated in College specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer But of course, college sports is not all negative aspects. Actually, there are many strong positive points to college sports that made it indispensable in the academe: Good health and an active lifestyle is of course on the side of maintaining college, Winning championships of course will give pride to the students and the school gets a positive reputation, The virtues attributed to sports like sportsmanship, perseverance, determination, etc are of course good for building one’s character, Exceptional ballers gets the coveted chance to play on the professional level, The list go on and on. But what most people do not see in these items is that these things are not all positive. Moreover, it should be noted that these items are not and should not be the priority of a learning institution. College Sports as a Distraction to the Academics It is common in universities that they require their college athletes to maintain a certain grade point average. Failing to meet these requirements would often result to the prohibition for the college athlete to join the athletics team. That is with the thinking that the failing college athlete would focus more on his or her studies. This is what the public knows about the system. This arrange is like one big open secret in the world of college sports. Of course there are exceptional athletes but hopeless in their studies. Would coaches let their best players off the team just because of a failing grade point average? That is very unlikely and uncharacteristic of coaches. People would not think its impossible if â€Å"under the table† arrangements are practiced among coaches and teachers. However it may sound offensive, it is just not that convincing that every college athlete maintains the required grade point average, especially the top scorers for the time. One often overlooked issue is the time that college athletics require. And the large amount of time that college sports demand does not only apply to the student, but also to the other constituents of the school like the cheerleaders, student audiences, even the teachers when their team is about to play a game. College athletes would have to practice a lot, or else their coaches would tell them that they would be unable to win a game. This kind of thinking would undeniably take away a considerable amount of time from the student athlete. And as we know of student life, the time spent in practicing could have been the very precious time spent reviewing a lesson. One of the most distracting cons of college sports would be injuries. If a player got physically injured in a game, his or her physical condition would not be a hundred percent in the classroom (that is if an injured player manages to walk to his or her classroom). A discussion on college athletics would perhaps give us a deeper look in the issue. The speakers were Bill Thierfelder and Murray Sperber. Both of the speakers were college athletes, coaches, and currently educators themselves. Thierfelder had come up with a helpful description of college athletics as a distraction to academics. He described college athletics as an â€Å"artificial environment† (Schalin 2008). He added that within this â€Å"artificial environment† either good or bad could be inculcated in the minds of the college athletes, depending on the the character of who is directing that particular environment. The directors of the said environment would be of course the coaches, the athletic department, administrators, and even teachers. The issue that was surfaced in Thierfelder’s view is that most of the time, the directors of the said environment are fixated on the thought of winning. These directors are like to go by all means to achieve victory, reg ardless of its ethical repercussions or the well-being of the college students. Thierfelder added that the directors should be held accountable for the consequences of their methods just as they are savoring the glory of winning with those who actually participate in sports, the student players. On the other hand, in line with Thierfelder, Sperber argued that college sports has detached from its former purity and integrity. He argued that college sports is becoming more and more corrupted and commercialized in the present era. To support his point, he used the first intercollegiate contest to be ever held. The said contest was a rowing contest between Harvard and Yale during the 1830’s. Sperber pointed out that the early intercollegiate sports were not designed to advertise branded shoes. The interesting part is when he shared that corruption in college athletic was ever present since it was originated.   Sperber said that there were â€Å"ringers† in both teams. The term â€Å"ringer† simply means a good athlete who has no direct connection to the schools. The ringers were not students but rather some good player they asked to play for them. In much simpler terms Sperber just wanted to say that cheating was already present ever since the first interco llegiate games was played. Ethical Issues Ethical issues were already touched by the previous segment, but this particular part of the paper will throw the harder punches. As stated earlier commercialization had became a blemish in the image of college sports. Dishonesty is also becoming more and more prevalent. The main problem is that these issues are rarely addressed. Cheating is also becoming more and more inseparable with the mention of college sports. There have been many instances wherein point-shaving of college players were committed. â€Å"Point-shaving† is a term used in the sports community to pertain to the act when players consciously underperform to make the opponent win the game. These kinds of games are known to sport enthusiasts â€Å"fixed-games.† The NABC or National Association of Basketball Coaches admits that game fixing is becoming prevalent in college basketball games. The NABC points the blame to the gambling market that the popularity of college basketball creates (NABC). The number of students who bet on games is ever considerable and still growing. The number of student â€Å"bookies† is also gaining numbers. â€Å"Bookies† are the ones who collects the bets from the gamblers who are usually the constituents of those concerned with the games, who else but the constituents of the universities themselves. Being a bookie is an ethically alarming job, especially for the students. Students should realize that their minds and character are being reared in the university. If gambling would become more and more of a problem, then immediate action is deemed necessary. Another issue that should be taken into consideration is the violence during college games. Both the college players and the fans had become entangled in the reports of violence in college sports. Even the coaches are sometimes initiator of the riots. In Myriam Miedzian’s book â€Å"Boys Will Be Boys: Breaking the Link between Masculinity and Violence†, she tackled this issue of college sports violence. She attributed the violent actions of college players to the thinking that was embedded in their heads (Miedzian 77). College players are taught (mostly by being shouted at) to think that winning is everything and losing is never an option. When college players accept this thinking as the only way to view reality, when they lose a game, they also seem to lose their temper. Moreover , some sports would always require physical contact. Sometimes a player gets hurt, but that’s normal. The problem that arises is when the hurt player takes it as a personal offense or when the players are intentionally hurting each other. The violent behavior is at times not done by the players but by the fans on the stands. And there are times when college sports violence escalate to a more alarming rate. Just this January, a UCLA basketball player named Kevin Love of Oregon received death threats through his cell phone. The death threat indicated killing the basketball player along with his family. But the violence did not stop there. Love did not attend the game because of the threats to him, instead his family watched the game. Dissapointed, Love’s own fans threw thrash at the player’s parents and sister. (sportsillustrated.com) Controversies NCAA players are not being paid and does not recieve any sort of payment has always been a circulating argument in college basketball. The NCAA argues that scholarship is enough compensation (ncaa.org). The problem with this is that the NCAA and the university profit from the college players through advertising. Murray Sperber also revealed that at a state university a certain basketball coach recieved two-hundred gran as a reward for recruiting a freshmen who was creating a buzz in high-school basketball. Conclusion College and sports are two very different entities, therefore should be separated. Both means well for the students. But purpose should always be kept in mind. Universities exist to mold the minds of future leaders. If these futures leaders would busy themselves excelling in sports, or gambling in sports, we could just imagine the future this might bring. The main source of the problem could just be over-prioritizing. Learning institutions should set clear lines to contain the issue. As for the problems with college sports laid out in this paper, we are already aware of these things. The problem is that these issues are rarely addressed. College sports is entering an era wherein glory is achieved in ill methods. Those concerned should learn how to act upon these issues as quick as possible.

Bronze Age Mobile Pastoralists of Central Asia

Bronze Age Mobile Pastoralists of Central Asia Steppe societies is a collective name for the Bronze Age (ca. 3500-1200 BC) nomadic and semi-nomadic people of the central Eurasian steppes. Mobile pastoralist groups have lived and herded in western and central Asia for at least 5,000 years, raising horses, cattle, sheep, goats, and yaks. Their borderless lands intersect the modern countries of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Xinjiang, and Russia, affecting and being affected by complex social systems from China to the Black Sea, the Indus Valley and Mesopotamia. Ecologically, the steppe can be characterized as part prairie, part desert, and part semi-desert, and it extends in Asia from Hungary to the Altai (or Altay) Mountains and the forests in Manchuria. In the northern parts of the steppe range, rich grasslands covered in snow for about a third of the year provide some of the best pasturelands on earth: but in the south are dangerous arid deserts dotted with oases. All of these areas are part of the mobile pastoralists homelands. Ancient History Ancient historical texts from the settled parts of Europe and Asia describe their interactions with steppe people. Most of that admittedly propagandist literature characterizes the Eurasian nomads as fierce, warlike barbarians or noble savages on horseback: for example, the Persians described their battles between the nomads as the war between good and evil. But archaeological studies of the cities and sites of the steppe societies have revealed a far more nuanced definition of the nomad life: and what is revealed is a wide diversity of cultures, languages, and methods of life. The people of the steppes were the builders and maintainers of the vast Silk Road, not to mention the traders who moved countless caravans across the pastoralist and desert landscapes. They domesticated the horse, invented war chariots and also probably the first bowed instruments. Butwhere did they come from? Traditionally, steppe societies are believed to have been arisen from agricultural societies around the Black Sea, becoming increasingly reliant on domestic cattle, sheep, and horses, and then expanding eastward in response to environmental change and the need for increased pastureages. By the Late Bronze Age (ca 1900-1300 BC), so the story goes, the entire steppe was populated by mobile pastoralists, called by archaeologists Andronovo culture. Spread of Agriculture According to research by Spengler et al. (2014), the mobile Steppe Society herders at Tasbas and Begash were also directly involved in the transmission of information concerning domestic plants and animals from their points of origin into Inner Asia during the early third millennium BC. Evidence for the use of domesticated barley, wheat, and broomcorn millet has been found at these sites, in ritual contexts; Spengler and colleagues argue that these nomadic herders were one of the ways in which these crops moved outside of their domestications: broomcorn from the east; and wheat and barley from the west. Languages of the Steppes First: a reminder: language and linguistic history do not match one-to-one with specific cultural groups. Not all English speakers are English, nor Spanish speakers Spanish: that was true as much in the past as the present. However, there are two linguistic histories that have been used to try to understand the possible origins of the steppe societies: Indo-European and Altaic. According to linguistic research, at its beginnings ca 4500-4000 BC, the Indo-European language was largely confined to the Black Sea region. About 3000 BC, Indo-European language forms spread outside of the Black Sea region into central, southern and western Asia and the northern Mediterranean. Part of that movement must be tied to the migration of people; part of that would have been transmitted by contact and trade. Indo-European is the root language for the Indic speakers of South Asia (Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi), the Iranian languages (Persian, Pashtun, Tajik), and the majority of European languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese). Altaic was originally located in Southern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and Manchuria. Its descendants include Turkic languages (Turkish, Uzbeck, Kazakh, Uighur), and Mongolian languages, and possibly (although there is some debate) Korean and Japanese. Both of these linguistic pathways seem to have traced the movement of nomads throughout and across central Asia and back again. However, a recent article by Michael Frachetti argues that this interpretation is too simplistic to match the archaeological evidence of the spread of people and domestication practices. Three Steppe Societies? Frachettis argument lies in his assertion that the domestication of the horse cannot have driven the rise of a single steppe society. Instead, he suggests scholars should look at three separate areas where mobile pastoralism arose, in the western, central and eastern regions of central Asia, and that by the fourth and early third millennia BC, these societies were specialized. Western Steppe: east banks of the Dneiper River to the Ural Mountains and north from the Black Sea (modern countries include parts of Ukraine, Russia; cultures include Cucuteni, Tripolye, Sredny Stog, Khvalynsk, Yamnaya; sites include Moliukhor Bugor, Derievka, Kyzl-khak, Kurpezhe-molla, Kara Khuduk I, Mikhailovka II, Maikop)Central Steppe: east of the Urals to the Altai edge (countries: parts of Kazakstan, Russia, Mongolia; cultures: Botai, Atbasar; sites: Botai)Eastern Steppe: east of the Irysh River to the Yenesei (countries: Russian Siberia, cultures: Afanas’ev (sometimes spelled Afanasievo); sites: Balyktyul, Kara-Tenesh) The sparsity of the archaeological record continues to be an issue: there simply hasnt been a great deal of work focused on the steppes. It is a very large place, and much more work needs to be accomplished. Archaeological Sites Turkmenistan: Altin-Depe, MervRussia: Sintashta, Kyzl-khak, Kara Khuduk, Kurpezhe-molla, Maikop, Ashgabat, GornyUzbekistan: Bukhara, Tashkent, SamarkandChina: TurfanKazakhstan: Botai, Krasnyi Yar, Mukri, Begash, TasbasUkraine: Moliukhor Bugor, Dereivka, Sredny Stog, Mikhailovka Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Human History, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. See page two for a list of resources. Sources This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to Human History, and the Dictionary of Archaeology. Frachetti MD. 2012. Multiregional emergence of mobile pastoralism and nonuniform institutional complexity across Eurasia. Current Anthropology 53(1):2. Frachetti MD. 2011. Migration Concepts in Central Eurasian Archaeology. Annual Review of Anthropology 40(1):195-212. Frachetti MD, Spengler RN, Fritz GJ, and Maryashev AN. 2010. Earliest direct evidence for broomcorn millet and wheat in the central Eurasian steppe region. Antiquity 84(326):993–1010. Golden, PB. 2011. Central Asia in World History. Oxford University Press: Oxford. Hanks B. 2010. Archaeology of the Eurasian Steppes and Mongolia. Annual Review of Anthropology 39(1):469-486. Spengler III RN, Cerasetti B, Tengberg M, Cattani M, and Rouse LM. 2014. Agriculturalists and pastoralists: Bronze Age economy of the Murghab alluvial fan, southern Central Asia. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany: in press. doi: 10.1007/s00334-014-0448-0 Spengler III RN, Frachetti M, Doumani P, Rouse L, Cerasetti B, Bullion E, and Maryashev A. 2014. Early agriculture and crop transmission among Bronze Age mobile pastoralists of Central Eurasia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 281(1783). 10.1098/rspb.2013.3382