Charles Darwin And Herbert Spencer :: Natural Selection, Evolution Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Darwin, a British naturalist, revolutionized biology with his theory of evolution through the process of natural selection. Herbert Spencer was the major philosopher of biological and social evolution. Spencer's work significantly influenced 19th century developments in biology, psychology, sociology and anthropology. While Darwin was influential in the fields of natural history and geology, his theory of evolution created great controversy. He changed the way people thought about the role of humans in the natural world. Although these two men made advancement in the theory of evolution they had contrasting views regarding anthropological study.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who first solidly established the theory of organic evolution, in his work, The Origin of Species. Darwin was born in Shresbury, Shropshire on February 12, 1809. His grandfather, Erasmus Darwin, was a famous English scientist and poet. In 1825 the young Darwin went to Edinburgh University to become a doctor. The same year, however, he transferred to Christ's College in Cambridge in order to become a clergyman. During this time he befriended a man of science, John Steven Henslow. It was Henslow who recommended him for the unpaid position of naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Darwin set sail on December 27, 1831 to study the Pacific coast of South America and the Pacific Islands. His other duty was to set up navigation stations in the area. He also studied the geology and biology of these areas. Upon his return in 1839, Darwin married his cousin, Emma Wedgewood, and was admitted to the Royal Society. He moved to Downe, Kent in 1842, and was plagued by ill health until his death. He apparently transmitted Trypanosomiastis from frequent bug bites in the Pacific. Darwin died on April 19, 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In The Origin of Species, Darwin presented his idea that species evolve from more primitive species through the process of natural selection, which occurs spontaneously in nature. In his theory of how natural selection occurs, known as Darwinism, he pointed out that not all individuals of a species are exactly the same. But, rather that individuals have variations and that some of these variations make their bearers better adapted to particular ecological conditions. He pointed out that most species have more chances of surviving and producing young than do less adapted, and that over the passage of time, are slowly weeded out. The accumulation of adaptations to a particular ecological system leads into the development of separate species, each adapted to its own ecolgoical area.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1837, Darwin began work on the concept that evolution is essentially brought about by three principles. The first being variation which is present

Fresh Direct case analysis Essay

BACKGROUND/HISTORY FreshDirect was launched in July 2001. Cofounder and former chief executive officer Joseph Fedele, Joseph Fedele was able to bring a wealth of experience in New York City’s food industry to FreshDirect. In 1993 Joseph Fedele cofounded Fairway Uptown, a 35,000 foot supermarket located on West 133 Street in Harlem. Only reason Fairway survived in that location was of Fairway’s low prices and quality selection of produce and meats which made the store a big hit with neighborhood residents and many downtown and suburban commuters. FreshDirect primary business is for consumers who want to shop for their produce from the comfort of their own time and need. Being able to shop from work, home, app, pretty much anywhere and have it either delivered to you at work, meet up with them at a specific location or even just pick it up at their very own FreshDirect location is their goal, along with making sure the customer gets what they want and guarantee the freshness of their items. FreshDirect is still in business and their corrent CEO is Jason Ackerman. However as the case listed FreshDirect went through many CEO changes. Which isn’t always a great thing but since FreshDirect was growing so much, so quickly there was in need of changes to happen. â€Å"Cofounder Joseph Fedele had remained CEO until January 2004, when cofounder Jason Ackerman succeeded him in that position. Since then, FreshDirect has experienced multiple CEO changes. Jason Ackerman stayed as CEO of FreshDirect for a little over seven months, until Dean Furbush succeeded him in that position in September 2004. Ackerman remained vice chairman and chief financial officer. The tenure of Dean Furbush lasted a little over two years. Steve Michaelson, president since 2004, replaced Furbush as the CEO of FreshDirect in early 2007.9 In 2008 Michaelson left  for another firm, and FreshDirect’s chairman of the board, Richard Braddock, expanded his role in the firm and took over as CEO.† (Strategic Management 2012) FreshDirect main promise when opening wa s â€Å"Our food is fresh, our customers are spoiled†¦. Order on the web today and get next-day delivery of the best food at the best price, exactly the way you want it, with 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.† Since FreshDirect is still in business and still improving since when they first opened they have not changed their main mission which was to prides itself on sourcing the highest quality food and freshest ingredients available for their customers and being able to deliver them when they want. SWOT ANALYSIS Strengths – †¢ well-known brand †¢ high quality produce †¢ multiple ways to order/deliver †¢ only company that allows you to change rate the freshness †¢ more options on what kind of meat thickness, type, etc to choose from Weaknesses – †¢ weather †¢ large market for many other competitors †¢ many stores around the corner open late Opportunities – †¢ expandable since having their own trucks †¢ longer delivery times advantage of owning own trucks Threats – †¢ many high quality organic produces, lower-price at competitors †¢ Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s moving into a FreshDirect neighborhood †¢ numerous competitors †¢ lower prices for delivery with competitors ANALYSIS VIA PORTER’S FIVE FORCES MODEL STRATEGY USED FreshDirect has been using the same strategy since they had opened in 2001. They have been able to fulfil what the customer wants and how they want it every time a customer is shopping. Being able to rate products and showing them the rate of how fresh the product might be helps every customer out every time. Able to deliver the same day and also next day right to your office or doorstep along with being able to pick up at the store is a strategy that FreshDirect has been using since the opened. Since they own their own delivery trucks they are able to deliver anytime needed for the customer. Low prices, and also having a minimum order to just $30 with a low delivery fee is great for any shopper. THE ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FACING THIS COMPANY Only problems, issues, and challenges that are faced by are the company are very small. Main one would be the fact that not a lot of people like to buy their produce online, since they are not able to pick it themselves, however FreshDirect has been able to show many consumers that they can be trusted, and many consumers are given a choice on what they want and how they want their meats. Another problem faced by FreshDirect was that many people were concerned about the pollution the trucks/vans were giving off by FreshDirect when delivering groceries. Also another issue that was a concern for the company was the volitions for parking that the company got, and blocking traffic in the city when delivering. FreshDirect had to pay for them, along with many boxes that were wasted when boxing everything different for each customer, there was no way for customers to return the boxes to the company for proper recycling. COURSE OF ACTION RECOMMENDED Since the company is already doing well there is only a few things I would change. I would first lower the prices for delivery since many people will find that high, and along with that give discounts on separate bulk orders so it is like a wholesaler such as Sam’s or Costco or even BJ’s. If that is done, and shipping prices are reduced then they would not have to worry  about Amazon and even Walmart effecting their business that are larger markets that could hurt the business. OPINION I feel that in my opinion I really do not like shopping for groceries online, I am one of those people who like to shop in person for things like this, however I’d shop online a lot but for food, I feel like it is more of a hands on process that should be done then just ordering your meats and produce online. Even though the market for online shopping is good, since some people do not have time to physically go shopping, it is not a bad idea. When I was first reading this, I thought to myself, how can they succeed, but then realized in NY there are many people who are busy with their jobs and family, where this would eliminate some time in spending at a store. REFERENCES Dess, G., Lumpkin, G. & Eisner, A. (2012). Strategic Management (6e). Boston: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Fresh Direct, LLC. (2002 – 2014). Retrieved March 19, 2014, from https://www.freshdirect.com/index.jsp Porter’s Five Forces – Problem Solving Techniques from MindTools.com. (1996 – 2014). Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_08.htm

Conan Doyle Essay

In the â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery of a stolen diamond. The criminal in this story is a man named James Ryder. After James Ryder had stolen â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† he stuck it down a goose’s throat. The goose that had the diamond was distributed the Breckenridge Stall, then sold to a goose club at the Alpha Inn. Sherlock Holmes bumps into James Ryder outside the Breckenridge Stall. Sherlock Holmes makes the criminal confess to what he had done. Sherlock Holmes then lets him go free because he thinks that he will not commit any more crimes, because of how fearful he was. It was quite important for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to create a strange atmosphere because it adds to the tension. All three stories have strange and unusual atmospheres, but each story’s atmosphere is different. In â€Å"The Red Headed League†, Conan Doyle describes the area of Saxe-Coburg Square. He shows how unpleasant and muddled the area is. â€Å"It was a pokey, little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in enclosure, where a lawn of weedy grass and a few clumps of faded laurel bushes made a hard fight against a smoke-laden and uncongenial atmosphere. † The words that are used here show the messiness and unpleasantness of the area. The words â€Å"pokey†, â€Å"little†, â€Å"shabby-genteel†, â€Å"dingy† and â€Å"smoke-laden† all give a pretty good idea that the area was quite chaotic. In â€Å"The Speckled Band† Conan Doyle created a thrilling and frightening atmosphere, as if it was a horror story. â€Å"The Speckled Band† was set at â€Å"Stoke Moran† in â€Å"Surrey†, which is where Julia Stoner was killed. At the beginning of the story when Helen Stoner is talking to Sherlock Holmes about her problems she describes how the night was when Julia was killed. â€Å"It was a wild night†, this shows that that night was unlike any ordinary night. â€Å"The wind was howling outside, and the rain was beating and splashing against the windows. † This describes a lot of the atmosphere; it shows that the weather was quite stormy. This also explains why Helen couldn’t sleep. â€Å"Suddenly, amidst all the hubbub of the gale, there burst forth the wild scream of a terrified woman. † Conan Doyle’s intended effect was to thrill the reader; Conan Doyle has achieved this by using the words â€Å"wild†, â€Å"howling† and â€Å"beating†. Here the writer’s effect was to try and scare or thrill the reader. Whereas in â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† the atmosphere was a little different. â€Å"It was a bitter night†. Here, Conan Doyle is trying to show the reader that it is cold outside. He achieves this by describing the night as â€Å"bitter†. The reader will also know that it is cold because Holmes and Watson both put on their â€Å"ulsters† and â€Å"cravats†. â€Å"Outside, the stars were shining coldly in a cloudless sky†, here Conan Doyle is trying to show the reader that the area is very calm and peaceful, unlike in â€Å"The Red Headed League† where the area is busy and unpleasant. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used different ways to show that these stories take place in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Most of the time he mentions â€Å"carriages†, which were used in that time. Nowadays carriages are not used because they have been replaced by cars. In â€Å"The Red Headed League† when Sherlock Holmes is memorising all the shops at Saxe-Coburg Square he comes across a shop that makes carriages. â€Å"McFarlane’s carriage-building depot†. Here the writer intended to show the reader that this was a time where carriages were used as a form of transport. The effect on the reader is that the reader knows this story is set in the 1890’s. Conan Doyle also uses dates and newspapers to show that these stories are set in the 1880’s and 1890’s. In â€Å"The Speckled Band† and â€Å"The Red Headed league† Conan Doyle mentions the date, but he does not mention the date in â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle†. In â€Å"The Speckled Band†, right at the beginning of the story while Dr. Watson is narrating, he says â€Å"It was early in April, in the year ’83†; hear the writer is showing the reader that this story is taking place in the year 1883. In â€Å"The Red Headed League†, the note that Jabez Wilson shows to Sherlock Holmes had a date on it. The note said, â€Å"THE RED-HEADED LEAGUE IS DISSOLVED. October 9, 1890. † Also when Mr. Wilson is showing Sherlock Holmes the advertisement he mentions the date on the newspaper. â€Å"It is The Morning Chronicle of April 27, 1890. Just two months ago. † By saying that the newspaper was from two months ago, Conan Doyle is telling the reader that this story was set in 1890. Conan Doyle did not always use the same techniques, to show that each story was set in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Unlike â€Å"The Speckled Band† and â€Å"The Red Headed League†, in â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† there are no dates to show that the story is set in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Conan Doyle uses different techniques to show that this story is also set in that time. In â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† and â€Å"The Red Headed† Conan Doyle refers to gas-lit lamps, as gas lamps were used in the 1880’s and 1890’s. In â€Å"The Blue Carbuncle† when Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were jus about to leave the Breckenridge stall, Watson narrates â€Å"Turning round we saw a little rat-faced fellow standing in the centre of the circle of yellow light which was thrown by the swinging lamp. † He also says, â€Å"He sprang round, and I could see in the gas-light that every vestige of colour had been driven from his face. † Also in â€Å"The Red Headed League† Watson says, â€Å"We rattled through an endless labyrinth of gas-lit streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. † These references to gas lamps show that the stories were set in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Conan Doyle also referred to matches in â€Å"The Speckled Band†. Even though we use matches nowadays, we do not use them for the same purposes as in the 1880’s and 1890’s. In those times they were used to see in the dark or to light lanterns. When Helen stoner is talking about what happened to her sister Julia she mentions a match. â€Å"In her right hand was found the charred stump of a match, and in her left a match-box. † This shows that when Julia woke up she struck a match to see what was going on. The value of money in the 1880’s and the 1890’s was much different than the value for money now. At that time people were paid around i 4 a week, which was considered quite a lot of money. Whereas, people now are paid much more and with i 4 you cant really buy much. The social differences in those times also show that these stories were based in the 1880’s and 1890’s. If you look at Helen Stoner, she was a rich woman that lived in a big house with servants. In those times rich people were considered superior to poorer people. Nowadays you wouldn’t find servants working for rich people, because weather your rich or poor you have rights. The audience or readers would recognise the places named in the stories, which are all in England. The intended effect of the writer was to make the reader feel as if he or she was in the story itself, which would make it feel more dramatic. Conan Doyle achieves this by using areas in London that most people live in. Places such as â€Å"Holborn† and â€Å"Harrow†. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle used very unusual titles for his stories to intrigue the reader. When a reader sees the title â€Å"The Speckled Band†, he or she wouldn’t think of a venomous Indian snake. The reader wouldn’t know what to think, which make them want to read the story to see what â€Å"The Speckled Band† is. The same with â€Å"The Red Headed League†, which is a very unusual title. The reader wouldn’t think that that â€Å"The Red Headed League† was a club for read headed people who were paid i 4 a week for copying the â€Å"Encyclopaedia Britannica†. Conan Doyle uses these unusual titles to throw the reader off track. In â€Å"The Speckled band† Conan Doyle makes the reader think that the gypsies are the ones that killed Julia Stoner. He makes it look like all the evidence points to them. Helen Stoner says, â€Å"†¦ perhaps to these very gypsies in the plantation. I do not know whether the spotted handkerchiefs which so many of them wear over their heads might have suggested the strange adjective which she used. † The effect on the reader was that he or she would be thrown off track to make the story feel more interesting. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle uses some very interesting openings to grab the reader’s attention. Also, every character that Conan Doyle introduces is different in some way, which makes the story feel more interesting and also to intrigue the reader.

Analysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia

Analysis of Ebay Expanding into Asia Free Online Research Papers In 1995, Pierre Omidyar was experimenting with how equal access to information and opportunities affects the efficiency of marketplaces. After spending Labor Day weekend writing the code for an online auction site, he tested his idea by posting a listing for a broken laser pointer which to his astonishment sold for $14.83. Omidyar contacted the winning bidder to ensure he realized the item was broken. The buyer answered, â€Å"I’m a collector of broken laser pointers.† At that moment, Omidyar knew he was on to something very big and eBay was born. From day one, Omidyar built eBay around what remain the company’s core values; a belief that: People are basically good Everyone has something to contribute An open environment brings out the best in people In June, 1996, eBay hired its first employee after revenues topped $10,000 for the month. Jeff Skoll was soon hired as the first president of the company and Pierre Omidyar quit his day job to work on eBay full time. That same year, eBay launched the feedback forum. In 1997, registered eBay users topped 341,000 and they are hosting more than 200,000 individual auctions per month, compared with 250,000 auctions in all of 1996. In 1998, Meg Whitman joined the company as President and CEO and eBay went public in September. Gross profits exploded from $95 million in 1997 to $740 million. eBay expanded internationally in 1999, with sites in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Australia. The â€Å"Buy it Now† option was introduced to meet the demand for fixed price trading. Between 2000 and 2007, eBay continued its international expansion with marketplaces in Austria, Canada, France and Taiwan, as well as Ireland, Italy Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Switzerland, among others. In 2003, eBay introduced PayPal Buyer Protection services for eBay transactions. By the end of 2007, revenues have topped $52.5 billion, registered eBay users have exceeded 222 million and the number of employees has reached 13,200. The success of eBay underscores the truth of the corporate values outlined earlier, which are at the heart of eBay’s continuing success. In spite of eBay’s success in international markets, the question remains of why eBay can’t get a strong foothold in the Asian market, primarily China and Japan. S.W.O.T. Analysis The following analysis was derived from the case outlined in the text as well as internet research performed in order to analyze eBay and their strategy to be the dominant player in the Asian online auction market. Although eBay has several important strengths and weaknesses, our team chose to identify those we felt were most crucial. Those weaknesses are listed in order of importance. Strengths eBay currently enjoys a large global presence and various globally recognized brands. They have access to an extremely large amount of capital. The parent company has ensured a strong foundation of survivability and diversification by acquiring numerous highly successful companies ( PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com) Currently, eBay possesses the largest market share in online auctions. Weaknesses eBay maintains centralized management home based in the United States through which all decision making goes. Their website’s layout, design and development are weak. They lack an online payment system like PayPal in the Asian market. eBay’s previous strategy of acquiring other e-commerce sites through complete buyout appears too aggressive to the Asian market. eBay has a history of poor customer support. Opportunities People have access to the internet at any time and any place. There is currently endless potential for growth of e-commerce in the Asian market eBay has a feedback forum that other sites do not have. Through the implementation of a global PayPal platform, eBay can allow and provide a means for currency exchange between markets. Currently there is a low percentage of the large Asian market which is online. Threats There are very few barriers to entering the online market Competition in the Asian market is â€Å"homegrown† so they understand the culture and business practices. There are other successful retail websites such as Wal-Mart and Amazon which are already well established which eBay must compete with. Yahoo, eBay’s largest competitor, is currently very successful in the Asian market and they are affiliated with the largest Asian competitor. eBay does not allow direct communication between buyer and seller as do other sites. Alternatives Alternative 1 – Research project, website improvement, and advertisement The Simple Plan With this plan EBay could improve some of the small things to their company. A research project of how eBay could get a foothold in the Asian market could give them valuable information. Some improvements to their website to suit the Asian market could make it more accessible and easier to navigate. Lastly, simple advertisement of the new and improved website through several medias, including magazines, newspapers, and TV commercials, could help narrow the gap between their Asian competitors. Alternative 2 Research project, website improvement, advertisement, and hire a competitor’s executive The Better Plan The inability to expand into the Asian market has put eBay on the outside looking in. If eBay could hire an executive from a competitor in the Asian market, it could give them the edge they need for a complete breakthrough. This executive could show eBay how to gain the advantage they need to penetrate the Asian market. Another benefit of this option would be the â€Å"Piped Piper Effect† which is when one employee leaves, and other employees follow. This is due to social capital which is the relationship between coworkers both in and out of their work environments. Alternative 3 – Start from scratch The Complete Plan Both previous plans would give eBay a chance to expand into the Asian market, but without the complete plan, the future could be short. eBay’s several attempts at acquiring already in place e-businesses have failed. One factor for failure has been that eBay tried to expand into Asia without physically being there. Analysts also believe that eBay’s aggressive method of acquiring other online businesses as being defensive. Implementing the complete plan would be to decentralize and create a headquarters physically in the Asian market. With this plan there are several benefits that could help eBay be more successful. Developing a headquarters in Asia would create job opportunities. A local headquarters could also improve customer service which in turn creates customer loyalty. Conclusions and Recommendations In conclusion, all the alternatives presented will have an impact on eBay’s future. The Simple Plan requires the least amount of change and resources. This alternative will have a small impact on eBay’s bigger picture of gaining a larger share of the Asian market. The Better Plan will help increase eBay’s share in the Asian market, but does not meet the ultimate goal. The Complete Plan meets the goal of a larger expansion into the Asian market. The Complete Plan provides the largest opportunity for eBay to break into the Asian market. The Complete Plan provides for a brand new headquarters located in Asia to gain a better understanding of the local customs and the target market. This plan also provides for an insider look at the success of competitor’s in eBay’s desired market. This new perspective will help eBay to realize its goal. Once the new headquarters for the Asian branch of eBay becomes established, advertising, research and web design will complete the changes needed to succeed. This complex plan should be executed in stages in order to be implemented correctly. First, eBay should start from scratch. By building a local headquarters in Asia, eBay will gain a physical presence in the Asian market. This will also help eBay gain respect in the Asian market. Second, eBay should aggressively recruit experienced personnel to handle the operations in the Asian headquarters. By hiring locals to run the headquarters and decentralizing, eBay will have the knowledge needed to connect with the local market. Ideally, a recruit from eBay’s competitors would have a greater knowledge of the market in Asia and therefore give eBay a greater advantage. Lastly, eBay should implement the advertising, research project, and website improvements discussed in the Simple Plan. The information gained from the research project will help the local executives at the Asian headquarters compete against already established firms. The improvements to the website will allow for a platform that is suitable to the Asian market. An example of this would be to al low the open forum eBay already has established to facilitate communications between the buyer and seller, like the competition has found successful. Advertising of these new features will entice auction seekers to visit eBay’s new Asian website. This case analysis has discussed eBay’s strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats to the company. The Complete Plan has been chosen as the best alternative for eBay’s successful expansion into the Asian market. Research Papers on Analysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaDefinition of Export QuotasPETSTEL analysis of IndiaMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Project Managment Office SystemTwilight of the UAWResearch Process Part OneMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesHip-Hop is ArtPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

Free Essays on Agony In Oedipus

In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus discovers through mental, physical and emotional suffering who he really is, which leads him to accept his indisputable fate Discuss. Many who have passed through the crucible of suffering will acknowledge that they have found themselves infinitely better from the experience - bitter though it may have been. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus discovers through mental, physical and emotional suffering who he really is, which leads him to accept his indisputable fate. As Oedipus grows in terrifying self-knowledge, he changes from a once prideful, heroic King, to a tyrant in denial toward the middle, and finally to a fearful, condemned man, humbled by his tragic fate. Oedipus’ mental anguish over whether or not he is Laius’ murderer, his physical torture (by gauging out his eyes) and, his emotional torment over Jocastas’ death and his children’s fate, cause his suffering but, in the end, leads to his self-realization. Oedipus’s mental distress causes him a great deal of suffering but, in turn, leads to his self-realization. In the beginning, Oedipus is a very confident and valiant hero, with more than a sufficient amount of pride. Oedipus, as the male protagonist, finds himself constrained to rid Thebes of a horrible and deadly plague that will cease only if he finds King Lauis’ murderer, â€Å"Does any man among you know/ who killed Laius son of Labdacus?† (14).Oedipus, in such an unrelenting effort to find the assassin discovers that he himself might be the murderer, â€Å"I say, the murderer of the man/ whose murder you pursue is you† (21).Tiresias corners Oedipus and points to him as Lauis’ murderer. With this, Oedipus is in rage and disbelief. As Oedipus places the burden onto Tiresias, accusing him of being the sinister murderer, he falls into a hollow pit of denial. Further on in the story, Oedipus learns pieces of information about the assassination of La ius. With th... Free Essays on Agony In Oedipus Free Essays on Agony In Oedipus In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus discovers through mental, physical and emotional suffering who he really is, which leads him to accept his indisputable fate Discuss. Many who have passed through the crucible of suffering will acknowledge that they have found themselves infinitely better from the experience - bitter though it may have been. In Sophocles’ Oedipus the King, Oedipus discovers through mental, physical and emotional suffering who he really is, which leads him to accept his indisputable fate. As Oedipus grows in terrifying self-knowledge, he changes from a once prideful, heroic King, to a tyrant in denial toward the middle, and finally to a fearful, condemned man, humbled by his tragic fate. Oedipus’ mental anguish over whether or not he is Laius’ murderer, his physical torture (by gauging out his eyes) and, his emotional torment over Jocastas’ death and his children’s fate, cause his suffering but, in the end, leads to his self-realization. Oedipus’s mental distress causes him a great deal of suffering but, in turn, leads to his self-realization. In the beginning, Oedipus is a very confident and valiant hero, with more than a sufficient amount of pride. Oedipus, as the male protagonist, finds himself constrained to rid Thebes of a horrible and deadly plague that will cease only if he finds King Lauis’ murderer, â€Å"Does any man among you know/ who killed Laius son of Labdacus?† (14).Oedipus, in such an unrelenting effort to find the assassin discovers that he himself might be the murderer, â€Å"I say, the murderer of the man/ whose murder you pursue is you† (21).Tiresias corners Oedipus and points to him as Lauis’ murderer. With this, Oedipus is in rage and disbelief. As Oedipus places the burden onto Tiresias, accusing him of being the sinister murderer, he falls into a hollow pit of denial. Further on in the story, Oedipus learns pieces of information about the assassination of L aius. With th...

Early Explorers of Africa

Early Explorers of Africa Even in the 18th century, much of the interior of Africa was unfamiliar to Europeans. Most of their time in Africa was limited to trade along the coast, first in gold, ivory, spices, and later slaves. In 1788 Joseph Banks, the botanist whod sailed across the Pacific Ocean with Cook, went as far as to found the African Association to promote the exploration of the interior of the continent. Ibn Battuta Ibn Battuta (1304-1377) traveled over 100,000 kilometers from his home in Morocco. According to the book he dictated, he traveled as far as Beijing and the Volga River; scholars say its unlikely he traveled everywhere he claims to have. James Bruce James Bruce (1730-94) was a Scottish explorer who set off from Cairo in 1768 to find the source of the River Nile. He arrived at Lake Tana in 1770, confirming that this lake was the origin of the Blue Nile, one of the tributaries of the Nile. Mungo Park Mungo Park (1771-1806) was hired by the African Association in 1795 to explore the River Niger. When the Scotsman returned to Britain having reached the Niger, he was disappointed by the lack of public recognition of his achievement and that he was not acknowledged as a great explorer. In 1805 he set out to follow the Niger to its source. His canoe was ambushed by tribesmen at the Bussa Falls and he drowned. Renà ©-Auguste Caillià © Renà ©-Auguste Caillià © (1799-1838), a Frenchman, was the first European to visit Timbuktu and survive to tell the tale. Hed disguised himself as an Arab to make the trip. Imagine his disappointment when he discovered that the city wasnt made of gold, as legend said, but of mud. His journey started in West Africa in March 1827, headed towards Timbuktu where he stayed for two weeks. He then crossed the Sahara (the first European to do so) in a caravan of 1,200 animals, then the Atlas Mountains to reach Tangier in 1828, from where he sailed home to France. Heinrich Barth Heinrich Barth (1821-1865) was a German working for the British government. His first expedition (1844-1845)was from Rabat (Morocco) across the coast of North Africa to Alexandria (Egypt). His second expedition (1850-1855) took him from Tripoli (Tunisia) across the Sahara to Lake Chad, the River Benue, and Timbuktu, and back across the Sahara again. Samuel Baker Samuel Baker (1821-1893) was the first European to see the Murchison Falls and Lake Albert, in 1864. He was actually hunting for the source of the Nile. Richard Burton Richard Burton (1821-1890) was not only a great explorer but also a great scholar (he produced the first unabridged translation of The Thousand Nights and a Night). His most famous exploit is probably his dressing as an Arab and visiting the holy city of Mecca (in 1853) which non-Muslims are forbidden to enter. In 1857 he and Speke set off from the east coast of Africa (Tanzania) to find the source of the Nile. At Lake Tanganyika Burton fell seriously ill, leaving Speke to travel on alone. John Hanning Speke John Hanning Speke (1827-1864) spent 10 years with the Indian Army before starting his travels with Burton in Africa. Speke discovered Lake Victoria in August 1858 which he initially believed to be the source of the Nile. Burton didnt believe him and in 1860 Speke set out again, this time with James Grant. In July 1862 he found the source of the Nile, the Ripon Falls north of Lake Victoria. David Livingstone David Livingstone (1813-1873) arrived in Southern Africa as a missionary with the aim of improving the life of Africans through European knowledge and trade. A qualified doctor and minister, he had worked in a cotton mill near Glasgow, Scotland, as a boy. Between 1853 and 1856 he crossed Africa from west to east, from Luanda (in Angola) to Quelimane (in Mozambique), following the Zambezi River to the sea. Between 1858 and 1864 he explored the Shire and Ruvuma river valleys and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). In 1865 he set off to find the source of the River Nile. Henry Morton Stanley Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) was a journalist sent by the New York Herald to find Livingstone who had been presumed dead for four years as no-one in Europe had heard from him. Stanley found him at Uiji on the edge of Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa on 13 November 1871. Stanleys words Dr. Livingstone, I presume? have gone down in the history as one of the greatest understatements ever. Dr. Livingstone is said to have replied, You have brought me new life. Livingstone had missed the Franco-Prussian War, the opening of the Suez Canal, and the inauguration of the transatlantic telegraph. Livingstone refused to return to Europe with Stanley and continued on his journey to find the source of the Nile. He died in May 1873 in the swamps around Lake Bangweulu. His heart and viscera were buried, then his body was carried to Zanzibar, from where it was shipped to Britain. He was buried at Westminster Abbey in London. Unlike Livingstone, Stanley was motivated by fame and fortune. He traveled in large, well-armed expeditions he had 200 porters on his expedition to find Livingstone, who often traveled with only a few bearers. Stanleys second expedition set off from Zanzibar towards Lake Victoria (which he sailed around in his boat, the Lady Alice), then headed into Central Africa towards Nyangwe and the Congo (Zaire) River, which he followed for some 3,220 kilometers from its tributaries to the sea, reaching Boma in August 1877. He then set off back into Central Africa to find Emin Pasha, a German explorer believed to be in danger from warring cannibals. The German explorer, philosopher, and journalist Carl Peters (1856-1918) played a significant role in the creation of Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa) A leading figure in the Scramble for Africa Peters was ultimately vilified for his cruelty to Africans and removed from office. He was, however, considered a hero by the German emperor Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler. Mary Kingsley's Mary Kingsleys (1862-1900) father spent most of his life accompanying noblemen around the world, keeping diaries and notes which he hoped to publish. Educated at home, she learned the rudiments of natural history from him and his library. He employed a tutor to teach his daughter German so she could help him translate scientific papers. His comparative study of sacrificial rites around the world was his major passion and it was Marys desire to complete this which took her to West Africa after her parents deaths in 1892 (within six weeks of each other). Her two journeys werent remarkable for their geological exploration, but were remarkable for being undertaken, alone, by a sheltered, middle-class, Victorian spinster in her thirties without any knowledge of African languages or French, or much money (she arrived in West Africa with only  £300). Kingsley did collect specimens for science, including a new fish which was named after her. She died nursing prisoners of war in Simons Town (Cape Town) during the Anglo-Boer War. The article is a revised and expanded version of that first published on 25 June 2001.

The Kurds A Stateless Nation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Kurds A Stateless Nation - Essay Example Studies indicate that, the political and social-economic changes witnessed by the rural Kurds in the 1950s such as industrialization, rural-urban migration, mechanization of farming and agriculture, and political mobilization destabilized the tribal structure of their tribal structure (Romano 66). For instance, over 35% of the Kurdish population in Turkey lives in Izmir, Ankara, Istanbul, and other parts of Turkish cities. Many of these people left Kurdistan forcibly because of political and state terror or voluntarily because of economic and social purposes. This essay will explore more on the language, religion, and other cultural and economic aspects of Kurdish identity. According to Zulal (146), the Kurds continues to speak many languages of the Kurdish commonly categorized into two groups. The first language group is Kurmanji spoken by over 75% of the Kurds, composed of two branches; North Kurmanji the most widely used language among the Kurds and South Kurmanji. The second lang uage group is the Pahlawani spoken by the 25% of the Kurds population and composed of two branches; Dimili and Gurani. Kurdish language serves as the cementing power of the Kurdish nationalism. For the past decades, conflicts have emerged within different tribes as many attempt to differentiate languages used by the Kurds. For instance, in the early 1920s, Ataturk substituted the alphabet words used in Turkish from the Arabic and Latin alphabet. As a result, the Kurds from turkey were forced to embrace and adapt the Latin alphabet for their language. In 1924, strict measures were imposed in Turkey to suppress the Kurds’ language (Entessar 66). The measures involved banning both written and spoken word of Kurdish language and ensuring that only those who speak and understand Turkish are provided with information and education. During that period, possession and distribution of written materials in Kurdish language became a severe crime liable to be punished by long prison sent ence. However, in the early 1990s, Kurds within Turkey began to use their language. Many Kurds have had the opportunity to express their thoughts in writings and readings. In terms of religion, two thirds of the Kurds’ population are Sunni Muslims who adhere mostly to the Shafi’i legal schools. However, the Arab and Turkish adhere to the Hanafi schools while Persian and Azeri to the Shi’ite schools. The remaining population of Kurds adhere to heterodox and rituals and beliefs that are somehow influenced by Islam, but more influenced by other Iranian religion. The Syncretistic sects include the Ahle-e Haqq also known as people of truth, the Alevis, and Ahl-e Haqq. Still, there a few thousands Christians Kurds and Jewish Kurds living in and outside Kurdistan. In the 18th and 19th century, religion played a significant role in the Kurdish community. It dictates the way people lived and perceived things. For instance, most of the Kurdish rebellions that broke out be tween 1880 and 1940 were initiated by Sheikhs (Gunter 539). At this point, the rebellion was affected by the religious differences of the Kurds. For example, Sunnis divided into two religious diversities; the Naqshbandi and Qadiri that never cooperated with each other effectively. The religion diversities between the two religions instigated rebellious. In regard to education, the ban of the Kurdish language and shortages of teachers and schools in Kurdish community have hindered education development. A study