Civilization

How did the rulers of early medieval Europe like Charlemagne, Otto of Saxony, Alfred the Great, and William the Conqueror set certain precedents for their emerging nations? Well for starters, Charlemagne did bring a whole lot to the table. The only significant thing I got out of him was the fact that he split his empire into “countries”, with a total of 300 counts watching those territories. Otto brought his German self, and conquered all of the “Holy Roman Empire”. He starts the election process.

Otto gets recognized by the Byzantines and Constantine, and then finally the pope recognizes him as well. That in and of its self shows that Otto was a legit ruler! Alfred has to survive in bog-like territory for a while. He was bookish, literate, big reader, fairly religious, and an effective warrior using guerilla warfare tactics. He finally takes back his kingdom and is recognized as the first official King of England. It shows that he was able to tough it out, and was a strong ruler when he took back his kingdom.

Edward was eccentric, and obsessed with death. He also did not sire any sons or daughters. He builds the first cathedral, which is located in Westminster. Got to love dudes that are eccentric! He actually reminds me of Dumbledore from Harry Potter. ? William was tall, over 6 feet. William got stuff done, and didn’t take no nonsense from no one. That is where he got his boring yet ruthless reputation. William ends up battling for England, and wins which is no surprise. William ends up creating a good system of which the government ran.

DBQ-early valley civilizations essay Throughout history, civilizations have contributed to the cultural and intellectual life of humanity. These civilizations had developed about 5000 years ago. These civilizations had been defined as based on agriculture and urban settlements. At that period had been developed many cultural and intellectual achievements, but also stable government and a strong economy. The ancient River Valley civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia all made key contributions to future societies.

For thousands of years, people all over the world have developed, progressed, and eventually formed civilizations. The area between the Tigris and Euphrates River was called Fertile Crescent because its rich soil and crescent shape (document 1). This region was where Mesopotamia one of the first civilization on earth grew. Sumer was an ancient civilization in Mesopotamia they created cuneiforms. Cuneiforms were the world’s first written language; Sumerians invented this writing system to keep track of business dealing (document 2).

Mesopotamia developed between the Euphrates and Tigris River. Geographically, Mesopotamia occurred near major rivers since water was easily available and agriculture flourished. The most important invention that was created in the ancient times by Sumer in Mesopotamia was the wheel . it had a major impact in the world because it makes it easier for people to get to places faster and without the wheel the world would not have been the same. Egypt civilization was located in northeast Africa near on the border of the Nile River.

Hieroglyphics was a system of writing that was based on pictures; it was created by the Egyptians to keep the records (document 6). pharaoh was the name of the king or god king of Egypt. Pharaoh built pyramids to serve as houses or tombs and specialized skill such as mathematics, geometry, engineering and architecture were need to built the pyramids (document 5). Life in ancient Egypt was centered largely on agriculture. The majority of the people were involved in farming. Wheat, fruits and vegetables were the principal crops.

The Nile River helped irrigate the crops and made the soil fertile for good farming; people depended on the Nile for food and water (document 4). Egypt contributed many things in the world, such as their efforts in astronomy, medicine, writing, mathematics and architecture. In conclusion, the ancient River Valley civilizations Egypt and Mesopotamia did have many key contributions that helped expand future societies. Egypt and Mesopotamia were two civilizations that contributed to the expansion of trade, civilization, government, and political and social status.

Ancient Civilizations Essay: Understanding Geography and History Amanda Honors World History Period 2 Mrs. Ocasio October 15th, 2012 People. Mountains. People. Culture. People. Water. Ever wonder why history and geography very often studied together? Well it is because geography has a lot of influence on the worlds’ overall history and how it all connects together. Learning geography is also important in understanding history because people need to know where and how were the locations are and why the civilizations formed there.

To continue, all civilizations are connected in some way, from trading to religious beliefs or wars to traditions; some of the civilizations that are going to compared are very similar. That is why the understanding of geography is crucial to the understanding of history because it impacted the development of city-states, caused isolation, and allowed cultural diffusion between the civilizations. To begin, geography impacted the development of many city-states. India and the Nile River Valley had been majorly impacted by the Earths geography in early civilizations.

Many rivers flowed through India, which included the Indus and the Ganges Rivers. Most Indian city- states were close to these rivers because the people wanted to be near water making it easier to get excess to it. It was also important for Indians to be near the Ganges River because that river was sacred to them and “…one Indian name for “river”: lok-mata, or “mother of the people. ” (World History Book, page 52). Now the Nile River Valley was very fertile, which made “…farmers take advantage of the fertile land of the Nile Valley to grow wheat and flax, a plant whose fivers were used for clothing. and have excess to water in the dry Egyptian heat. The “Black Land” was the rich and irrigated area of the Nile Valley and “no more than 10 miles wide, lay the ‘Red Land,’ a sun-baked desert that stretches across North Africa. ” (24). All these physical features impacted where the Indian and Egyptian city-states were set up and governed. Following that, most geographical features caused isolation. China and Egypt had a lot of isolation because of the mountain ranges and deserts that surrounded and bordered them. China had the “…high mountain ranges- the Tien

Shan and the Himalayas-and brutal deserts blocked the easy movement of people…southeast, thick jungles divided China from Southeast Asia…the north lay the forbidding desert, the Gobi…to the east, the fast Pacific Ocean. ” (59). Because China was so isolated by many physical features caused by the geographical movement they believe that they were the center of the Earth and the sole source of civilization. But Egypt was isolated from other civilizations by a vast stretch of desert and large bodies of water, making it a peninsula. This desert is the Sahara Desert, the largest desert in the world.

The Sahara is difficult to get through making it harder to reach Egypt, thus making it isolated from migrating people and trade. Although the bodies of water created some isolation, it however helped with Egypt’s trade and excess to many ports. This shows that geographical knowledge is also important to understand history because if one did not know what type of physical features were available thou would now know what to expect. Lastly, geography allowed cultural diffusion between civilizations. Greece and China had a lot of cultural diffusion because both civilizations depended on trade to grow and prosper.

The Greeks had “…hundreds of bays, the Greek coastline provided safe harbors for ships. ” (105). This shows that the Greek economic system highly depended on trading overseas; Greeks became skilled sailors, who carried cargoes of olive oil, wine, and marble around the Mediterranean area. Because the Greeks were traveling so much to other areas to trade they went back home with new ideas and different traditions, some making their lives easier. For example, “Greeks expanded the Phoenician alphabet. The resulting Greek alphabet became the basis for all western alphabets. (105). All of the trading and traveling overseas made Greece become more populated and prosperous forcing man Greeks to leave their own overcrowded valleys and vineyards and when they left they brought the Greek culture and ideas with them. Now moving eastward toward China to the Silk Road to the West, which was very important link to China and the rest of the world. “During the Han period, new foods such as grapes, figs, cucumbers, and walnuts flowed to China from western Asia. ” (95) Making this region grow even more culturally more than ever.

Although China is very isolated, it still traded as much as Greece would have; the Silk Road eventually stretched for 4,000 miles linking China to the Fertile Crescent. “China also traded tons of silk westward to fill a growing demand for the prized fabric” (95) and in return China would return with furs from Central Asia, muslin from India, or glass from Rome. The Silk Road was not only an important trade route it was also had many controllers making it more likable; “at the western end, trade was controlled by various people, including the Persians. ” (95).

This makes geography even more important to understand history. In conclusion, the study of geography is very important to the understanding of history. People. Mountains. People. Culture. People. Water. Everything is connected. The development of city-states, suspended isolation, and cultural diffusion all has to do with ancient civilizations history and geography. It also has effect on today’s environment. In the end it is important to know both subjects even though that knowledge may not be applied to lives in any way, shape, or form it is still something useful to know.

Identify and analyze the criteria necessary for a community of people to be characterized as a civilization by comparing and contrasting how well the societies of the Indus River Valley and the Huanghe (Shang Dynasty) River Valley meet the criteria. Use the Persian charts to guide your comparative analysis of these similarities and differences. The term civilization refers to a complex human society, in which people live in groups of settled dwellings.

Growth and decline of civilizations depended on several traits such as complex government, religion, and religious rituals, presence of writing and record keeping, advanced science and technology, advanced artistic and intellectual skills, city planning and monumental buildings, division of social classes, and specialization of labor. The Huanghe River Valley (China) could be characterized as a civilization. This early civilization had one monarch (Shang) that regulated irrigation.

They praised the god like kings of early civilizations starting with P’anku. Haunghe River Valley formed an alphabet based on ideographic symbols. The use of writing allowed them to record part fact and part fiction knowledge of early kings. Artistically, the Chinese emphasized delicate designs. Shang ruled and constructed some impressive tombs and palaces. The Indus River Valley shared many characteristics of a civilization.

This civilization had political ideas and religious views combined with Indo-European migrants. The Indus River Valley developed their own alphabet (Harappan), which was never deciphered. Indians pride became an important part of their main identity. Overall, the Huanghe and Indus River Valley had qualities that could characterize them as civilizations. Even though there were differences, it was still considered a complex human society in which people lived in groups of settled dwellings.

Addressing Cultural Diversity within Organizations

Teg does non hold a diverseness direction plan or policy in topographic point. Cultural diverseness within organisations has been known to heighten productiveness and good inter-relationship between the employees. Examples of cultural diverseness are multicultural dialogue, communicating, direction every bit good as in other concern patterns such as enlisting. This sort of diverseness has gained significance in the current planetary economic system. However the cultural differences constructs and their effects on making concern and communication are complex and have several viing footings in usage. This paper seeks to set up the footings for cultural differences every bit good as analyze their impacts on an industry such as Target Engineering Group ( TEG ) . The paper besides seeks to set up the cultural diverseness plans that can be developed at TEG.
The footings inter-cultural and multi-cultural are chiefly used when mentioning to the integrating of different civilizations from different states. In every bit much as this may be true, cultural diverseness besides embraces several local facets such as the ratio of adult females to work forces in a workplace. In Helen Sharp ‘s ( 1995 ) work “Challenging Students to React to Multicultural Issues” , there are two instances that query the possibility of an American working in a foreign land. Besides, the footings in cultural diverseness are non merely synonymous to international integrating, but besides to gender, race, generational or socio-cultural issues. Understanding the significance of diverseness is the initial measure towards turn toing the issues related to diverseness.

The universe in which we live demonstrates a perfect illustration of diverseness. There is a diverse universe of the Moon, Sun, stars, planes and other organic structures with each holding its ain bound way every bit good as its intent fro being. Since the people who live in this universe are of diverse gender, race, cultural and geographical entities the industries and companies such as TEG must absorb and acculturate these constructs. The employees in a company are diverse in category, gender, faith every bit good as diverse states and backgrounds. For successful operation of TEG, it must follow civilization variegation to suit each of the above listed diversenesss.

Cultural diverseness may be defined as the assortment of civilizations or human societies in a peculiar part – in our instance the TEG. Cultural diverseness besides refers to the cultural differences that exist between persons such as linguistic communication, frock and traditions, art and interests, moral and spiritual every bit good as the disparities in the manner societies organize themselves. Cultural diverseness is nevertheless hard to quantify but on the other manus it is easy identifiable. There are certain facets of cultural diverseness that deficiency at TEG on top of the deficiency of a diverseness direction plan. TEG does non hold a diverse group of the black employees every bit good as adult females on their staff. This is evidenced by the low per centum of black employees in this company. TEG has besides non taken the advantages that come with the acceptance of cultural diverseness despite being really successful in supplying professional technology services in the tri-county parts of West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade. Besides the Human Resource at TEG does non concentrate its attempts on seeking the services of the minorities particularly when advertisement for a occupation place. The occupation advertizements are placed on the web sites or the newspaper ( Keyton, 2005 ) .

The companies that have developed cultural diverseness are making really good despite being in the same concern as TEG. The PBS & A ; J is one of those companies that extremely values diverseness. Another illustration of a company that upholds diverseness is the Associated Engineering. This company has a enlisting scheme in topographic point that embraces diverseness by the periodic enlisting thrusts. These thrusts are geared towards capturing the services of immigrants from foreign part such as South Africa, Asia or Australia. In order to turn to these cultural lacks at TEG, the intercessions made must clearly place the demand, prosecute clear aims, make full a legal nothingness, every bit good as supply the appropriate accomplishable solutions by puting assorted norms and criterions. It is hence prerequisite to guarantee that each of the above demands is met for our instance in point-TEG.

There are several facets that have led to the cultural diverseness lack at TEG. One of these facets is the deficiency off comprehensive vision on the effects of globalisation on cultural diverseness. In every bit much as TEG may be successful in the proviso of technology consultancy services, the company does non continue the diverseness of cultural look with respect to the mounting globalisation of the economic system. The attack taken by TEG does non encompass cultural diverseness and may be termed as disconnected. This relates to human rights, linguistic communication rights, heritage protection, international cultural cooperation, cultural policies, cultural pluralism every bit good as rational belongings rights. TEG requires understanding on all these demands as it strives to make diverseness within the staff ranks. The company should concentrate on enrolling the minority groups more so the immigrants. These persons have diverse cognition that would be used to the advantage of TEG. The article by Replicon Inc. merely wholly supports this position in “Employers Embrace Diversity: Immigrants go basis of company growth” . Due to the deficit of engineers and technology professionals TEG is bound to concentrate on the foreign chances for enrolling staff. The system has been adopted by Associated Engineering and it is really working to their advantage ( Hellriegel and Slocum, 2009 ) .

Another challenge that could be confronting TEG and could besides be a possible cause of the cultural diverseness lacks realized is the trouble in turn toing the civilization issue caput on. The company seems to be more focussed on the commercial facet as opposed to the cultural diverseness facet. In order to accomplish a reconciliation between the commercial and cultural facets there is demand to openly show the cultural positions. Teg might be enduring from fright of the liberalisation of trade in the universe being hampered by developing cultural diverseness saving policies. However, cultural diverseness look will be critical in the capableness of the company following the alterations that come with globalisation. Therefore the company should subject the commercial issues to civilization jussive moods and therefore prevent commercial facet from ruling the concern. It is merely by cultural diverseness that the company can be able to recognize the commercial facets efficaciously.

Teg can be able to advance cultural diverseness guided by the rules discussed below. The company must acknowledge the being of cultural diverseness as an of import tool for accomplishing the commercial aims of the company. Therefore, the company should confirm and acknowledge cultural diverseness at the local, regional and international degrees every bit good as reflecting on the policies brought by this diverseness towards recognizing the ends of the company. The company must besides advance participatory democracy. This means the publicity of heritage representation while including the active input of all the stakeholders. This would be achieved by the usage of dialogue, audience every bit good as engagement. Heritage representation particularly of the employees will actuate them to unwrap their diverse civilizations towards doing the company more successful.

TEG must besides concentrate on coordination and cooperation. This means that the company should portion undertakings and promote cultural exchanges in a position of cooperation and coordination. This will guarantee that the company is maximising resources and the available expertness both at a planetary and regional degree. For TEG to accomplish cultural diverseness it must ship on community edifice and peace devising. TEG is bound to acknowledge and appreciate the sense of individuality and topographic point of the diverse persons it may enroll. By appreciating their diverse heritages and furthering a shared position, the spirit of rapprochement and assurance on the multi-cultural employees is built. This will climax in effectual occupation productions and broadening of the concern.

Cultural diverseness is besides realized through capacity edifice. The company should be directed to transform and alter as per the multicultural societies that exist about. Finally the company should guarantee the resourcefulness of the diverse cultures it may hold in the signifier of staff. This will guarantee that the company can maximise on the variegation of the resources available to turn to the concerns of cultural economic sciences every bit good as cultural equity. The civilization of an organisation guides the members on how “work” of the organisation should be conducted. The civilization besides entails the grounds foe being and the aims of the company. Finally cultures in organisation order how persons should associate to each other at the workplace every bit good as to those outside the topographic point of work.

As Cox ( 1991 ) illustrates, bias is the look of negative personal attitudes towards persons affiliated to a peculiar cultural group. Discrimination on the other manus involves the discernible inauspicious behaviour directed to members of a peculiar cultural group. Therefore, TEG must guarantee that it protects its resource of diverse cultured employees from these actions. This will take to peaceable and confident working countries. There are several dimensions to cultural diverseness non needfully established at TEG. These are: ethnicity, age, household position, income, Gender, military experience, educational background, sexual orientation, race, Work experience every bit good as societal category. All these dimensions must be considered in the event that TEG might desire to incorporate cultural diverseness by using staff from different civilizations. This is because of the fact that a heterogenous group of persons can merely work together and efficaciously through cooperation and consensus.

The company must besides non bury about enrolling the local persons who are qualified for the occupation. This will guarantee the care of civilization within the part where the company operates. Two persons do non needfully have the same sentiment by virtuousness of being in the same cultural group. Therefore in every bit much as variegation should be encouraged integrating with more of the local cultural groups will besides turn out successful. In order to deduce maximal end product from the rich cultural backgrounds, TEG must set up degree playing Fieldss for the different cultural groups. Two qualified persons form the Black community and the White community should hold similar wage bundles as per their makings and occupation experiences. Besides the adult females employed in the company holding similar makings as the work forces should besides be given equal wage bundles. This will advance civilization equality that will heighten occupation production since no cultural group will experience inferior to the other.

In any company, the first stage of deducing maximal benefits from diverseness is the development of a conjunct attempt towards what signifiers of cultural diverseness issues within an organisation. The recognition of the being of assorted persons and groups of persons with different cultural backgrounds is an of import measure in this initial stage. The assorted cultural dimensions that exist in PBS & A ; J every bit good as Associated Engineering will be discussed in order to turn to the cultural diverseness issue amicably. PBS & A ; J Corporation has been in the front line in encompassing cultural diverseness within its environments. The inclusion of a web page known as diverseness in their web site will decidedly work good for the advantage of the company. The web page consists of information on diverseness preparation, diverseness consciousness, and affinity groups every bit good as the CDAC-supported professional organisations web pages. This has enabled the company to offer best solutions to their patronages and at the same clip increasing their productiveness. The company besides offers diversity developing plan that include a one-day workshop.

It is a known fact that the acceptance of cultural diverseness has its ain portion of disadvantages. There will be struggles, nerve-racking state of affairss and sick feelings originating from the acceptance of sub-cultures in these companies. Therefore it is necessary for all the persons to pass on about their cultural differences. However, it is hard to discourse cultural differences without fall backing to stereotypes. In ideal nature, stereotypes do non be. This is because no person is absolutely similar to another and no member of a cultural group can be a ringer of another. Besides, as cultural diverseness develops, the challenge of communicating besides arises. This leads to the necessity for greater attempts that will harbour improved and effectual communicating accomplishments. Therefore, PBS & A ; J Corporation should follow effectual communicating schemes to be use by their multi-cultural employees. This will guarantee that there are no cultural struggles or favoritisms on the footing of civilization.

Discussion and consciousness nowadayss a clearer image of cultural diverseness, understanding and appreciating cultural diverseness does non needfully bespeak digesting differences amongst the individuals in a group but it besides involves fostering and back uping them. By back uping and fostering diverseness within the cultural groups, the company will heighten its other aims through sharing of information, thoughts, issues every bit good as civilizations. It has been established that fostering diverseness creates chances for development of character through learning regard and tolerance for persons and advancing the concern for equity. For the company in inquiry to perpetuate and boom, it must back up a culturally-diverse squad that values and esteem all persons from different backgrounds. The acceptance of the position quo of cultural diverseness may confront some challenges but it does non function as alibi for avoiding passage ( Nestor, 1991 ) .

The traditional thaw theory has two positions on immigrants who have settled in America. The scheme of immigrant has been adopted by Associated Engineering Corporation and it is working good. There is a high possibility that the immigrants will reside the characters and ways of their old states and intermingle absolutely with the new environment. However there are two false beliefs that are presented by this theory. The first one assumes that the colored Americans will endeavor to be like the white Americans. The 2nd 1 is that the colored people will non happen any importance in following the civilization of the new universe. Those false beliefs nevertheless have been marred by rejection and a batch of contentions. This is because of the impairment of the individual monoculture in today ‘s universe. Many organisations are following a pluralistic work force that continues to germinate through cultural influence and integrating. The Associated Engineering Corporation should guarantee that the immigrants hired from different civilizations blend good with the dominant Whites civilization in the company.

Another facet that was seen as a cultural diverseness lack in TEG is the issue of gender penchant. The company has adult females employees as compared to the work forces population. Therefore, TEG should increase the qualified female employees in their staff. There are other factors that impact the bounds to which diverse civilizations integrate with the bing 1s. The ground for in-migration of the recruited employees influences a batch. The vicinity or background of the immigrants must besides be established. Some immigrants come from cultural or non-ethnic vicinity that might act upon the attitudes of these persons towards cultural diverseness. The socioeconomic position, instruction and the upward growing of these persons should be evaluated so as to set up how good they adapt to the different civilizations they may confront. TEG ‘s mission is built to react to the client ‘s demands by supplying quality services through better direction of the personal resources. Therefore, to guarantee that this mission is realized, the company should ship on publicity of diverse civilizations.

Mentions

Cox, T. ( 1991 ) . The Multicultural Organization: Academy of Management Executive, vol.5, no.2, pp.34-47.

Helen, S. ( 1995 ) . Challenging Students to React to Multicultural Issues: Journal article by Janice Tovey, vol.60, pp.10-11.

Hellriegel, D. & A ; Slocum, J.W. ( 2009 ) . Organizational Behavior. Mason, Ohio: South-Western.

Nestor, L.G. ( 1991 ) . Pull offing Cultural Diversity in Volunteer Organizations: Voluntary Action Leadership. New York: Springer.

Keyton, J. ( 2005 ) . Communication and Organizational Culture: A Key to Understanding Work Experiences. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.

Lecture Lesson IV IV. Race, Nationalism, Independence, Dependence and Regionalism. The genesis of colonialism in the Caribbean and how it has taken root in the political, social and economic institutions. Race and Class and how they both cohere to shape the social, political and economic landscape of the Caribbean.

Explain and understand how these forces work to determine the mosaic of Caribbean society, for example, how they resonate and reinforce rigid institutional hierarchies in education, politics and religion and they have been the major determinants of stratification and social identity in the region since colonization. Can we divorce race and class from nationalism? Students are then asked to provide an answer to this. What is plantation society and why is still so important to Caribbean society.

How race, class and nationalism are bound up in the legacy of the plantation society created by the colonizers. For example features of Plantation Society are: ¦ – keeping colonial peoples technologically deficient ¦ maintaining colonial peoples as producers of primary raw materials ¦ keeping colonial peoples bound to the mother country through the policy of trade exclusivism ¦ limited horizontal linkages between the colonies except through the British government ¦ The legacy of colonialism has shaped contemporary politics in the region.

It has led to among other things the establishment of a colour hierarchy white over brown over black. And, it has been institutionalised by the political systems in the region. ¦ The Comprador Bourgeoisie: In the English-speaking Caribbean, the landowning class owed loyalty ultimately to the metropolis, even though it might have disagreed on particular policies implemented in the colonies or on the correct system of government to be pursued. ‘ More than economic interests, the plantocracy by the end of the nineteenth century was united in defence of its whiteness. The nation states of the region are still struggling to establish sovereignty. This is partly because key roles in decision-making are still assigned to the metropolitan state, to international organizations or to elites allied to external markets, who view the masses of the region not as fellow citizens but as groups to be excluded from society and the polity. In these circumstances, nation-building is incomplete. Examine the rise of the nationalist class with strong family connections and class cleavages and how they usurped the role of the working class and their access to power.

As such even though the nationalists led us towards ‘independence’ political parties are still controlled by the middle class, who are often financed by private capital and only using as voting support the mass of the people who are still basically apathetic and alienated from government. One finds that much of government time is still taken up with politicking the community. Examine the role of the nationalists in relation to independence as these contested groups are in conflict as they seek to exclude others from membership.

Examine the contradictions within this group as they serve to reinforce dependent relations manifested through coordinated groupings such as the comprador bourgeoisie. ‘Independence’ did not usually result in radical changes in the lives of the majority. Hierarchies were reproduced, just deracialised in the Caribbean. In many cases, the change was mostly a matter of American born whites replacing the British born whites or West Indian intelligentsia, replacing the British colonials. Democratic constitutions were facades. Political and economic power still remained concentrated in the hands of a few linked by class, ethnicity and religion.

Examine whether independence is genuine or not. Look at the notion of neo-colonialist tendencies that exist for example: • The economies are still controlled from outside and therefore important decisions on the use of resources the distributions of wealth and foreign policy is largely also controlled from outside. • Constitutional reality does not always coincide with political reality. The territories of the West Indies still exhibit characteristics of rigidly stratified societies with gross inequalities of wealth and status and an alarming and growing state of unemployment overall poverty and economic dependence. These countries’ independence did not usually result in radical changes in the lives of the majority. Rather, hierarchies were reproduced, just deracialised in the Caribbean. The change was mostly a matter of American born whites replacing the British born whites. Democratic constitutions were facades. Political and economic power still remained concentrated in the hands of a few linked by class, ethnicity and religion. In light, of the above examine if independence is a facade. -Can there be a true West Indian identity since the Caribbean is constructed on faulty premises? What is it within our psyche that has impeded so natural and so necessary a development in the West Indies? -Look at how race and class and nationalism interweave and how they have helped to undermine more genuine attempts at forging a Caribbean identity. Examine why a West Indian identity is critical to the realization of any integration movement. Outline the negative reasons of what could happen if we do not forge a Caribbean region that draws on our collective strength through unity and for a common brotherhood and enlightened nationalism.

How can we best improve our society such as government’s role in involving the people of the region through not only informing them but also fully involving them in the processes of decision-making on the forms of political unity. • For example: That the forms of regional unity do not merely institutionalize social inequality and economic justice but improve our capability to redress them and provide machinery that will make an obligation to do so effectively. • We must have a commitment to the ideal of nationhood and a capability n the part of that leadership to generate that commitment throughout our communities. • We must be ready to act in pursuit of that commitment of a regional identity along with those within the region who share that commitment and resolution. But in so acting we must make clear that we proceed on no basis of divisiveness or of exclusion. • While it is the responsibility of government to initiate action it is essential that the people of the region shall not merely be fully informed but fully involved in the processes of decision-making.

That the forms of unity do not merely institutionalize social inequality and economic justice but improve our capability to redress them and provide machinery that will make an obligation to do so effectively. • Education becomes important, but not just any type of education: • Scientific reclamation and revitalisation: • We must be able to see ourselves not only as a people with rhythm but also with reason, and intellect. We have to instill in our curriculum scientific technology for a new age. Examine the notion that one of the hallmarks of colonialism was to give to the colonies whatever was obsolete in Europe.

And we still find developed countries shipping their discards to the world they helped underdeveloped and we must therefore study the latest technologies and teach them in our schools. The lecture provided other examples which students may wish to research. Drawing on the history of race and class and nationalism and independence and regional integration, it seems clear that any West Indian identity that does not stand on a regional base of social equality and economic justice does not rest on sure foundations and will not survive the stress of internal social upheaval and the shifting sands of uneven regional development. References Beckford, G. (1972) Persistent Poverty, New York: Oxford University Press. ¦ Hall, K. (2001) ‘The Caribbean Community: Beyond Survival,’ Kingston: IRP. ¦ James, CLR, (1962) ‘The Middle Classes,’ in Lowenthal, D. and Comitas L. (1973) Consequences of Class and Colour: West Indian Perspectives, New York: Anchor Books. ¦ Levitt, K. and Witter, M. (1996) The Critical Tradition of Caribbean Political Economy, Jamaica: IRP. ¦ Manley, M. (1982) Struggle in the Periphery, London: Heineman ¦ Munroe, T. (1985) Introduction to Politics, Jamaica: UWI. ¦ Nkruhmah, K. (1965) Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism, London: Nelson. Payne, A. and Sutton, P. (1984) Dependency under Challenge: The Political Economy of the Commonwealth Caribbean, Manchester. ¦ Ryan, S. (1972) Race and Nationalism in Trinidad and Tobago, Toronto: University of Toronto Press. ¦ Stone, C. (1971) Decolonisation and Political Change in Jamaica and Trinidad, USA: Sage Publications. ¦ Sunshine, C. (1996) The Caribbean, Survival, Struggle and Sovereignty, Washington: Epicon. ¦ Watson, H. ed. (1994) The Caribbean in the Global Political Economy, Jamaica: IRP. ¦ Williams, E. (1970) From Columbus to Castro, New York: Harper and Row.

The Celts

The Celts are normally associated with Ireland ; nevertheless they did non arise from the island state, nor were they confined to that individual country. The first people to hold the same cultural traits originated in Northern Italy around 400 BC. These people finally created an imperium that pned across Europe. Harmonizing to archeologists, the Celts originally migrated from Asia Minor into Western Europe, sometime during the Bronze Age, and so began to distribute across the continent. Most people lived in small towns which were all linked together by a larger cardinal town which acted as a topographic point for meeting and to carry oning concern. Along the normally traveled roads, there were both shrines and bastioned metropoliss erected for travellers.

The Celts were a non-literate society that passed-on their civilization and history through unwritten tradition. The lone written record of the Celts can be found on coins or written records from ancient writers ; nevertheless these records are frequently inaccurate due to the fact that they were frequently written when the Celts came into cultural competition with the Greeks and Romans, where they were frequently branded as savages. The world is that the Celts physical characteristics, frock, and civilised manner of life were frequently admired. Women by and large stood taller that most Roman citizens, and upon making the proper age, immature adult females would get down have oning their hair in intricate plaits and would have on intricately embroidered frocks, frequently plaid in form. This plaid form was found in both adult females and work forces ‘s vesture along with gold and Ag watchbands and rings which were worn by the wealthy. The Gaelic work forces would frequently spike their hair and turn out their face funguss ; in some folks so would even tattoo their weaponries and even their face with bluish ink.

The Celtic society was a hierarchy based system which was divided into three groups: The Warrior Aristocracy, the Intellectual Class made up of poets, legal experts and the Druids, and so everyone else ; nevertheless these three groups were farther divided into sub-groups. The society was based on affinity and what tribe the individual belonged to. One ‘s ethnicity was chiefly derived from a larger group called a Tuath, but finally one ‘s kin or Cenedl. Much like the packs of today, disputes between persons would ensue in a difference between the kins that the persons belonged to. It was the occupation of the legal expert, known as Brithem, to intercede these differences between kins. Within Celtic society adult females held a high function. Often adult females would really take part in conflict as warriors and some even held places of power within the kins.

Even though most constructs of the Gaelic people are that of ferocious warriors, batting with painted faces, half bare, and ready to take on any enemy that crossed their way, this was non needfully the instance. The Celts were a really superstitious and spiritual society, which is frequently incorporated with the images of Druids. This image of Merlin projecting charming enchantments and turning his friends into cunning animate beings is the “ Disney ” version of Gaelic civilization. This image ignores the true bloodiness of the Celtic civilization which included human forfeit by fire or boiling the victim alive. Until Rome became a Christian imperium, the Celtic imperium in Gaul practiced the tradition of nailing the caputs of their conquered enemies to their doors.

There are two theories on the beginning of the Celtic faith ( known as Druidism ) . One theory is that the faith spread as the Celts migrated west across Europe, conveying their faith with them. The other theory is that the faith really began in the British Isles, where Druids were trained in their faith and so be sent back into Europe to distribute Druidism. This faith was nature based, which is known today as “ Earth Spirituality ” .

It is thought that there were three different categories of Druids ; the differences believe to be that of their degree of preparation and different maps. There of class was the Druid, so the Bard and so the Ovate. These Druids did non merely map as spiritual leaders, but they besides held places as Judgess, and it is besides believed that there are ArchDruids who had control over huge countries, really similar to Christianity ‘s Archbishops.

Another of import portion of Celtic life was the festivals held throughout their 13 month lunar calendar. Because of the uneven figure of months, they would frequently add yearss as the terminal of the twelvemonth as “ clip between times ” . During their twelvemonth they had a sum of four festivals tied to their agricultural rhythms. The first of their festivals took topographic point on what is now October 31st to November 1st. This festival known as Samhain and celebrates the terminal of the crop, the beginning of a new Gaelic twelvemonth and a jubilation of the dead. During this vacation it was believed that the infinite between the human universe and the spirit word thinned ; so work forces would run with torches around their houses to guard off evil liquors. The following festival was held on February 1st to the 2nd, which is now the modern twenty-four hours Groundhog Day. This festival is known as Imbolc. It is simple and merely celebrates the beginning of spring for the Celts. The 3rd jubilation of the twelvemonth was held from April 30th to May 1st and was known as Beltane. This festival celebrates birthrate and is now known as May Day. The celebrations normally included kids running about a pole with ruddy and white thread and picking flowers. Finally, a elephantine balefire is lit to observe the return of the Sun to the land. The concluding jubilation of the Gaelic twelvemonth was known as Lughnasadh and took topographic point July 31st to August 1st and celebrated the beginning of the crop.

Besides the festivals that dealt with the agricultural twelvemonth, the Celts besides had four jubilations for the equinoxes and the solstices.

The first jubilation was known as Alban Arthuan, which translates to Light of Arthur, and was the festival of the winter solstice. This festival, much like other winter solstice jubilations everyplace, celebrated the return of the Sun after the shortest twenty-four hours of the twelvemonth. The following jubilation was known as Alban Eiler, which translates to Light of the Earth, and celebrated the youthful equinox. Not merely did the Celts observe the balance of twenty-four hours and dark but they besides believed that it was the balance between their universe and the spirit universe, therefore believing that this twenty-four hours had the most possible for thaumaturgy. The 3rd jubilation was known as Alban Heruin and was the jubilation of summer solstice. The Celts observed this vacation by playing games and holding field daies. The concluding jubilation is known as Alban Elued, translated to Light of the Water, is the jubilation of the Autumn Equinox, and like the youthful equinox, it was believed to be a clip where thaumaturgy was possible.

One can evidently state that farming played a big function in the lives of the Gaelic people. The Celts of the Iron Age Britain chiefly farmed in settled communities, where the people would be given to their farms and farm animal. Archaeological grounds shows that there were besides pastoral husbandmans, but non about every bit many as settled farms. In both Southern and Eastern Britain, big subdivisions of land were used for farming. Here they grew harvests such as maize, herbs, roots and wheat. The Celts grew different types of wheat such as oats, rye, barley and millet ( Evidence of their dependance on grain can be found on ancient Gaelic British coins with the word picture of antediluvian grain on them ) and like the grain silos of today ; famers in Celtic Britain used belowground cavities to hive away grain and other excess harvests. These cavities were normally lined with wood and recent archeological digs have revealed that it was common for husbandmans to go forth offerings to the Gods at the underside of these cavities, assumedly to guarantee a successful crop.

The Celts of Britain besides had a system of forming land for farming which could be traced back to the Bronze Age. This organisation is seen chiefly in the layout of fencings on a big graduated table. Gaelic Britain was one of the larger agricultural communities and is where the first regular rectangular farm Fieldss were introduced. Later in the Iron Age ( about 100 B.C. ) woods and woodland countries began to be cleared to be used as farming area. Not merely were the Celts one of the first civilizations to clear forest for agriculture, but they were one of the first civilizations to successfully use the Fe plough.

Crop cultivation was non the lone signifier of subsistence know in Celtic Britain ; Pastoral agriculture was the other common agricultural system of the Celts ( besides the most of import ) , normally practiced in portion with harvest cultivation. In Gaelic civilization the more cowss a adult male owned, the wealthier he was. The nonextant Celtic Shorthorn was the cowss of pick for the Celts, utilizing them both for their milk and butchering some for their beef, which was the chief meat eaten of the clip. This system in which cowss represented wealth, a alone act came into pattern known as Cattle foraies, which is the act of stealing another adult male ‘s cowss. Often these foraies would move as turn outing evidences for immature Celtic warriors looking to turn out themselves. The Celts besides raised sheep ; non for meat but to maintain alive to utilize their wool, and one time the sheep had become old they would be butchered for mouton. Another animate being the ancient Celts of Britain domesticated was the hog. It was smaller than a modern twenty-four hours domesticated hog and was a cross between a wild Sus scrofa and a Tamworth hog. They raised these animate beings purely for the intent of supplying jambon, sausage and bacon.

In the Gaelic civilization there were three chief groups that all shared the same civilization ; The Celts of Britain, the Celts of Ireland and the Celts of Gaul. Even though they were 100s of stat mis apart they all shared the same cultural traits. Even though Romans looked at the Celts as savages, they truly had a simple society rooted faith.

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