Athens Sparta essays

Athens Sparta essays Greek culture in 400-500 B.C.E. achieved greatness through two city-states, called Sparta and Athens. To better understand the interaction between Sparta and Athens and their desire for Greece to be a strong nation, it is imperative to know the situation of these two city-states in the early 400s B.C.E. Throughout this essay I will briefly describe Athenian and Spartan social structure in the Classical age. In particular, their culture, military, and the role of women within society. Athens had a democratic government and a dynamic society. They were culturally open to trade, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, poetry, and philosophy. Athens had become the second most powerful Greek city-state because of their wealth, trade, navy, large population, and great harmony of art and learning. Athens was made up of three distinct classes, slaves, citizens, and foreigners. Each class had a specific list of duties and responsibilities. Wealthy citizens paid to attend formalized schools in the gymnasium. Citizens could own land and slaves, but not all did because they differed in wealth. Also, citizens had equal formal rights, and participated in the year round religious festivals. Slaves and foreigners, on the other hand, did trade work and housework, but were denied citizenship. Due to the Athenian democratic government, there was a wider range of participation from the citizens. Many of them participated in public election and lotteries. Sparta had a political form of organization known as an Oligarchy, which consisted of five ephors and two kings who served as high priests and leaders in war. Their government was founded on the principle that the life of individuals, from the moment of birth, belonged to the state. Sparta hoped to ensure that only those who were physically fit would survive to become the best soldiers for the city-state. Sparta prided itself not on art and learning, but on the brave ...

US Military Colt M1911 Pistol

US Military Colt M1911 Pistol Colt M1911 Specifications: Cartridge: .45 ACPCapacity: 7 round detachable box magazineMuzzle Velocity: 835 ft./sec.Weight: approx. 2.44 lbs.Length: 8.25 in.Barrel Length: 5.03 in.Action: Short Recoil Operation Colt M911 Design Development In the 1890s, the US Army began searching for an effective semi-automatic pistol to replace the revolvers that were then in service. This culminated in a series of tests in 1899-1900 in which examples from Mauser, Colt, and Steyr Mannlicher were examined. As a result of these tests, the US Army purchased 1,000 Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM) Luger pistols which fired a 7.56 mm cartridge. While the mechanics of these pistols were satisfactory, the US Army (and other users) found that the 7.56 mm cartridge lacked sufficient stopping power in the field. A similar complaint was lodged by US troops battling the Philippine Insurrection. Equipped with M1892 Colt revolvers, they found that its .38 cal. round was insufficient to bring down a charging enemy, especially in the close confines of jungle warfare. To temporarily rectify the situation, older .45 cal. M1873 Colt revolvers were sent to the Philippines. The heavier round quickly proved move effective. This along with the results of the 1904 Thompson-LeGarde tests led planners to conclude that a new pistol should, at minimum, fire a .45 cal. cartridge. Seeking a new .45 cal. design, the Chief of Ordnance, Brigadier General William Crozier, ordered a new series of tests. Colt, Bergmann, Webley, DWM, Savage Arms Company, Knoble, and White-Merril all submitted designs. After preliminary testing, the models from Colt, DWM, and Savage were approved for the next round. While Colt and Savage submitted improved designs, DWM elected to withdraw from the competition. Between 1907 and 1911, extensive field testing took place using both the Savage and Colt designs. Constantly improved as the process moved forward, John Brownings Colt design ultimately won the competition. M1911 Design The action of Brownings M1911 design is recoil operation. As combustion gases drive the bullet down the barrel, they also exert a reverse motion on the slide and barrel pushing them backwards. This motion ultimately leads to an extractor expelling the spent casing before a spring reverses the direction and loads a new round from the magazine. As part of the design process, the US Army directed that the new pistol possess both grip and manual safeties. Operational History Dubbed the Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911 by the US Army, the new pistol entered service in 1911. Assessing the M1911, the US Navy and Marine Corps accepted it for use two years later. The M1911 saw extensive use with American forces during World War I and performed well. As wartime needs exceeded Colts production capabilities, an additional manufacturing line was established at the Springfield Armory. In the wake of the conflict, the US Army began assessing the M1911s performance. This led to several minor modifications and the introduction of the M1911A1 in 1924. Among the changes to Brownings original design were a wider front site, shorter trigger, an extended grip safety spur, and a simplified design on the grips. Production of the M1911 accelerated during the 1930s as tensions around the globe heightened. As a result, the type was the principal sidearm of US forces in World War II. During the conflict, approximately 1.9 million M1911s were produced by several companies including Colt, Remington Rand, and Singer. The US Army obtained so many M1911s that it did not purchase new pistols for several years after the war. A highly successful design, the M1911 remained in use with US forces during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. In the late 1970s, the US military came under increasing pressure from Congress to standardize its pistol designs and find a weapon that could utilize the NATO-standard 9mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. A variety of testing programs moved forward in the early 1980s which resulted in the selection of the Beretta 92S as the M1911s replacement. Despite this change, the M1911 saw use in the 1991 Gulf War with a variety of specialized units. The M1911 has also remained popular with US Special Forces units which have carried variants during the Iraq War and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. As a result of their use of the weapon, the Army Marksman Unit began experimenting with improving the M1911 in 2004. Designated the M1911-A2 project, they produced several variants for Special Forces use. The M1911 has been produced under license in other countries and is currently in use with numerous militaries around the world. The weapon is also popular with sportsmen and competitive shooters. In addition, the M1911 and its derivatives are in use with law enforcement agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigations Hostage Rescue Team, numerous local S.W.A.T. units, and many local police forces. Selected Source Browning: History of the M1911 PistolOlive-Drab: M1911/1911A1 PistolWorld Guns: Colt M1911 Pistol

Does more calculus improve student learning in intermediate micro and Essay

Does more calculus improve student learning in intermediate micro and macroeconomic theory - Essay Example Does learning calculus really improve learning micro and macroeconomics theory The question seems important to improve the student performance in economics theory. This will also help in understanding why the student with poor calculus understanding finds it hard to grasp the concepts in micro and macroeconomic theory. The calculus itself is a very vast topic categorized in to two parts the differential and integral calculus. Which of these two parts share close proximity with economics theory The undergraduate economics prerequisite should be specifically for differential or integral or for both In the following paragraphs I intend to address this question of significance of calculus learning for the intermediate students learning micro and macroeconomic theory by replicating the article, "Does more calculus improve student learning in intermediate micro and macroeconomic theory", Co-authored by J.S. Butler, T. Aldrich Finegan and John J. Siegfried from the department of economics, university of Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN 37235, USA, published in the journal o f applied econometrics , mar/apr 1998; 13,2. The students records of nearly all the Vanderbilt university undergraduates who entered the college of Arts and Science as freshmen during the August 1983 -1986 and studied Microeconomic theory (micro -2) or intermediate Macroeconomic theory (macro -2)or both, constituted the d... The independent variable here is the calculus course taken by the students. Depending on the variety of calculus course available the key independent variables were seven namely Math 170, Math 171A-B, Math 172 A-B, Math 221 A-B and Math 222. The dependent variable is performance in micro-2 and macro -2. A two stage estimation procedure was used to cope with the problem of selection bias. In the first stage ordered probit model was used to predict the highest level of calculus attained by each student prior to taking each intermediate theory course. In the second stage the grades in Micro-2 or Macro-2 (the dependent variable)is regressed on the actual level of the calculus attained (independent variable). This can be written in simple words as the grades earned in the calculus course are used to predict the grade in the economic course. The ability and motivation of the students became the control variables. The ordinary least square estimation is used as there are twelve categories of grades depicting cardinal measure of performance. The ordered probit was appropriate for the purpose of this study as the various calculus courses can be ordered in accordance with the difficulty of the course material covered, whereas the difference in the courses can't be measured cardinallly. Indivi duals are the units of abservation. Table one Calculus courses taken by Vanderbilt undergraduates: descriptions and ranking in the ordered probit Course (credit hours) Description Math 170 (4) Analytic Geometry and calculus: A basic course in rudiments of analytic geometry and differential and integral calculus, with emphasis on application. Designed for students who do not plan to further study the calculus. No background in

Intro to Political Science Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Intro to Political Science - Assignment Example It is rational to argue that the rich and corporations receive a lot from the government while what they contribute to society is minimal because of personal interests at the expense of others. 2. Jean Jacques stated, "Man is free yet everywhere is in chains." According to the professor, what does Rousseau mean by this statement? Why is the professor passionate about personal liberties? Rousseau coined the element of social contract in which he draws the ground for legitimate political order. In this argument, Rousseau argued that man is born free and everywhere he is in chains which implies that man thinks that he is the ruler or master of others but remains in bondage than they are. He argued that the state of nature was a barbaric and primitive condition which lacked morality or law. Human beings left this state for necessity and benefits of cooperation. As society progressed, division of labor and private property needed humanity to adopt institutions of law. In the degenerate st age of society, man is prone to competition with other people in society while at the same time becoming dependent on them. This pressure in life threatened his freedom and survival. That is why Rousseau argued that man is born free but every where he is in chains. 3. How was the government evolved since it was established by the founding fathers? Please describe both similarities and differences in government today versus in its original state. Originally, the U.S had a de jure form of government when it was first founded by people like Abraham Lincoln and Madison. Today, the government has evolved and adopted de facto kind of government where by resources are shared by equity and not by law as compared to earlier government where distribution of resources was by law. Despite these differences, they reveal a common quality where the rights of citizens were respected by the government. Original government was established by republican form of government with the limitations placed o n their servants, in this case, it meant that the people were the government not their servants. It has evolved in that those behind the scenes prepare and place their people in office who usurp power at the expense of the citizens. The similarity in this case is that the government has sovereign power which is exercised by the citizens either directly or indirectly. 4. Why has political efficacy been on the decline? What do you believe is contributing to this malaise Political efficacy is the faith and trust that citizens have in the government and their conviction that they can comprehend and influence political decisions. Political efficacy has been declining due to the fact that people are less involved in politics since the governments have proven to be ineffective since people’s vote do not count at all, people lack civil rights and they are not allowed to express their views or opinions freely. The decline of political efficacy is associated with the rise of money in p olitical affairs. Therefore, there is failure by the government to control arena of campaign finance which allows wealthy people and Corporations to silence voices of individual citizens making the public lose trust and faith in the political system. 5. Which of the amendment(s) in the Bill of Rights deals with liberty?

Color of Water Analysis Essay Example for Free

Color of Water Analysis Essay The book is more like two intertwining books than just a single book. It switches between two points of views, Ruth McBride and her son James McBride. In Ruth’s chapters, she chronicles out her life story beginning with her migrating to the United States when she was two years old. At a young age, Ruth’s life is filled with hardship. Her father did not love her mother, her mother suffered from polio; she was verbally abused at school for being Jewish, and physically abused by her father. As soon as she could, Ruth began to put her past behind her. She moved to New York, converted to Christianity, and married a black man. The other half of the book is the biography of the author James McBride. James was one of twelve children and because of that his childhood was full of chaos. Yet his mother kept the children under control by instilling the importance of church and school into their minds. During his teenage years, James started rebelling against his mother by skipping school and taking drugs and alcohol. But before graduating high school, he decides to turn his life around. After doing that, he attended Oberlin College then Columbia University. As an adult, James worked as a journalist for many magazines and newspapers, but he also started uncovering his mother’s past because she had kept it a secret to all her children. By uncovering his mother’s past, James was able to build an even deeper relationship with her. While reading this book, it was hard to compare it to anything else because of its originality. A story about an old, white lady taking care of twelve black children; there is almost nothing like that! Although the concept of digging into someone’s past and in doing so gaining a deep respect for them comes close to the movie Hugo. Hugo is about an orphan boy who lives in the walls of a Paris railway station. As Hugo repairs clocks and builds machines, he begins uncovering the truth about a grumpy, old toymaker who works at the train station. Hugo discovers that the toymaker was actually a brilliant filmmaker, but after World War II, people lost interest in his movies and to avoid bankruptcy, the toymaker had to burn all his film into chemicals. The toymaker was haunted by his past and put the past behind him and wanted nothing to do with it, just like Ruth McBride. But just as James gets his mother to face her past, and in doing so helps her comes to terms with her past, so does Hugo with the toymaker. By showing the toymaker some of his movies that were not destroyed, and getting him to talk about his past, the toymaker comes to terms with his past and remembers the joy of imagination. James gets a similar result from his mother as he gets her to open up about her past and step into a synagogue for another time. Hugo was then able to see the toymaker in a new light and it helped Hugo build a deep respect for the toymaker. The best part about the book and what kept it so engaging, was that it was able to express some very important and universal themes. One line that stands out is when James says, â€Å"The greatest gift that anyone can give anyone else is life. The greatest sin a person can do to another is to take away that life (McBride 229). † These words emphasize the idea that our life is the most sacred thing we have. James was able to give his mother the gift of life by helping her come to terms with a part of her life that she chose to bury. This teaches us that we must treasure the good and the bad aspects of our life because when we lose our life, we lose the most important thing we have. â€Å"God is the color of water. Water doesn’t have a color (McBride 51). This quote from the book uncovers a central theme and plotline from the book. No matter your race, religion, or gender, God loves all us of and represents every single one us. This is important to know because James is the son of a white lady, but he and his siblings are all black. Because of this James grows up confused about his race and religion, but his mother would always tell him that since God is the color of water, he loves all the people in the world, no matter what color their skin is.

The Concept of Self-Efficacy Essay -- Self Efficacy Essays

The Concept of Self-Efficacy Self-efficacy, for the purpose of this study, may be defined as a person’s optimistic self-belief. This is the belief that a person can develop the skills to perform new or difficult tasks to cope with changes in health and functioning. When a person perceives self-efficacy, it will facilitate goal-setting, effort, investment, persistence, overcoming obstacles and recovery from disappointments and failures. It can be regarded as a positive outlook or proactive way to handle stress factors. It is the ability to successfully cope with health changes, and implies an internal and stable acceptance of changes and ability to successfully adapt to those changes. Perceived self-efficacy is functional in relationship to behavioral change, and health care maintenance or improvement. In health care, the concept of self-efficacy is important in developing effective strategies for health education and interventions. Self-efficacy emerged from theories related to motivation, competence and a feeling of control. Rodgers’ (1993) stated that the â€Å"evolutionary† method of concept analysis is used in clarifying the concept of interest. By following this approach, abstract characteristics of a concept can be identified and grouped for the purpose of developing a clear and useful definition of the concept. Once the concept is defined, a model case can be described to demonstrate the concepts attributes, antecedents, and consequence. A literary search and a grouping of characteristics will be used to process a constant comparative analysis and to refine the data into a clear and concise definition appropriate for our use. The term effectance is used to describe the motivational aspect of competence. The theory of motivation is not solely based on the basic animal instinct of drive. People are motivated to behave in certain ways because they perceive themselves as being able to effect a desired change. As a persons behavior is repeated and actually effects the desired change a person is providing reinforcement of their confidence in their competence at effect the desired change. The person is energized by the concept of self-efficacy and it’s feeling of empowerment. (White, 1959). Empowerment and control are essential to elements to self-efficacy. According to Bandura, early social learning theory of behavioral change... ...s all treatment and continues on the road of self-destruction. These examples show how self-efficacy in the health care field can be a valuable an necessary tool for improving health care, but like most concepts, self-efficacy is only as good as the person willing to practice it. It is not experienced by everyone and is impacted by self-esteem, self-confidence and many other variables. References Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a Unifying Theory of Behavioral Change. Psychological Review, 84, pp191-215. Gecas, V. (1989). The Social Psychology of Self-Efficacy. Annual Review of Sociology. 15, pp. 291-316. Maibach, E. & Murphy, D.A. (1995). Self-efficacy in Health Promotion Research and Practice: Conceptualization and Measurement. Health Education Research, 10 (1), pp. 37-50. O’Leary, A. (1985). Self-efficacy and Health. Behavioral Research & Therapy, 23, 437-451. Rodgers, L. & Knafl, K.A. (1993). Concept Development in Nursing: Foundations, Techniques, and Applications. (pp.73-92). Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders. White, R.W. (1959). Motivation Reconsidered: The Concept of Competence. Psychological Review, 66 (5), pp. 297-331

Grass Fed Based Farms

I'm sure that some still exist on these kinds of farms in many place . In grass fed farms there is a better quality of life for the animals and they get the chain CE to roam unlike the others where they might be consumed in a small little space and w loud have to sit there day after day. Why should a farmer go grass fed ? What are the benefits? When the animals are properly pastured, raising grass fed beef cattle on grass based farms are able to yield you more meat up to 200 pounds more, which could have less fat and c loud be provided at less cost than the commercial grain fed beef.If the persons land p reduces ay or if they are able to keep cattle in the pasture for a good part of the year, they will be able to save money by growing their own feed and raising grass fed beef o n their farm which is a good benefit to not just there self. Think that grass fed farms sound like something I would do if I were trying to decide which farm to do. Pastures and organic parts of grass based fa rms are good things for farmers.In the pastures part of livestock it has benefits for the people who buy the prod cuts and for the ones who eat them, the farmers, and the animals along with the envier moment, I'm o grass based farmers provide their animals with as much pasture as they ca n because it helps everyone out. A long time ago originally all of the livestock were raised on pasture grass bas deed fed farms. But not all grass based farming is the same.A new method I found online was a method known as (managed intensive rotational grazing) (MIR) which is something that offers great benefits over both of the confinement and oldster e animal grass based grazing methods. In MIR, animals are moved from a field to anon there field based on the stage of the grass in the field. This is something that allows the rammer to avoid over growing the grass land, while making it able for livestock to go into the pasture. The cows and other farm animals known as cattle are used and born to ea t grass, so that the grass fed pasture is used for them.The cattle are much heal their than the cattle fed in the industrialized grains that are kept in small fenced in areas inside mostly. There are environmental benefits of grass fed pasture based farming also. T lets the animals do the work and not the machines like in industrialized farms They harvest and feed themselves and fertilize their pastures, overseen by the far err In a closely monitored system that would be developed by the farmer. Overall the re is less fossil fuel consumption, less erosion, less air and water pollution and a much greater soil fertility percentage.When I did some research online, saw that compare d to plowed cropland, pasture can add up to a whole lot more tons of carbon dioxide De in the organic matter of soils. This is an something in the reduction of greenhouse g asses, which means that there would be increased amounts Of land for farmers. There are many different benefits to the farmer. The grass fed pasture based arming can let farmers free from the expensive tractors and machines used t o grow and harvest feed crops, and they don't have the waste disposal and disease is sues that come with confinement feeding.Their farms become safer places for children to be around the animals and help with farm work. Pasture expert Bill Murphy obsess revs, â€Å"When they come to pasture farming, it is such a relief for farmers. They get RI d of all these problems: crop failure, pesticide failure, huge debt. Pasture manage NT is, in some ways, about old knowledge taken to a new level. At Organic farm lands, they want this to continue to grow.

Hawaii Watersports Essay

With the white sandy beaches and crystal clear water Hawaii is the ideal place for ocean water sports. There are a wide range of water sports, from highly aggressive to leisurely sports that all types of people can enjoy. There are even sports which are specific only to the exotic islands encompassing this magnificent state. Taking a look at each individual sport will excite and possible mystify the sports enthusiast. Today we will take a look at sea kayaking, kite boarding, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, and scuba diving. Sea kayaking is an exhilarating and physically challenging sport. One must be sure to have the proper equipment and technique before heading out into the salty blue. It is said that kayakers ‘wear their kayaks’ and selecting a proper sea kayak, one that fits comfortably to your body type, can be a difficult task. First make sure that you fit comfortable in the pit. It should be snug, but not tight. If it is loose it may be difficult to maneuver. Kayaking is relaxing and comfortable sport especially around the islands. There are many ecological kayaking tours offered throughout Hawaii that will take you places and show you some of the amazing creatures and sites of the islands. Kite boarding is a new age surface water sport that is trendy among young people. Kite boarding is very similar to wakeboarding with the exception that the board is controlling their own movements with a kite, fully equipped with handle, instead of being pulled by a boat. Kite boarding is an extreme sport combining balance and coordination with the unique technique of keeping a kite in the air. Kite boarders have an unrivaled experience as they let the wind control their moves and can sometimes reach heights of 30 feet, and if they skilled and adventurous they may be able to do flips and other stunts before smoothly returning to the ocean. It is recommended that the new kite boarder takes a few lessons to learn proper techniques before venturing out on a kite boarding adventure. Surfing is a timeless and classic sport. Surfing like kite boarding is a surface water sport where the participant rides waves while balancing on a surf board. Surfing can actually be broken into many categories including body boarding, windsurfing, and body surfing. Body boarding is best described by using your body to ride a foam board over waves. Windsurfing uses both aspects of surfing and sailing. A windsurf board is a surf board with a sail attached. The windsurfer steers themselves with the sail and rides the wave as a surfer would. Body surfing is actually what the name implies, using one’s body to ride the waves. Body surfers are usually equipped with nothing by swim fins to take on the task of riding the breaking waves. Sailing is a leisurely recreation sport in which a person, or group of people, steer a ship or sail boat using sails. Sail boats move forward because of the inertia caused when the wind is caught in the sail. Sailing is a technical sport and the proper skills must be learned before heading out to sea. Scuba diving is another popular sport among the islands. Scuba requires a certification because of the danger involved. There are many short certification courses for tourists to partake in. These courses cover the essentials and make time for some short open water dives were the scuba can explore the exotic world on ocean water. Hawaii is an exotic place with many things to offer the adventurer or sports enthusiast. It is important to learn the techniques of the sports one wishes to indulge themselves in to ensure a safe and happy stay on the islands.

How to Write a Press Release

How to Write a Press Release How to Write a Press Release If your business has news to share, you can do so via a press release. But what exactly goes into a good press release? And how can you write one? Check out our tips below to find out. 1. Pick an Eye-Catching Headline Press releases are designed to get your business in the news, so treat them like a news story. And one thing that every good news story has is an eye-catching headline. Ideally, this will let the people you contact know exactly what your press release is about and why it is important. Try to keep your headline punchy, too. If you need more space to give extra detail, you can add a subheading after the main one. 2. Think About Your Goals The content of your press release will depend on what you want to achieve. Are you promoting an event? Letting customers or clients know about a change in your business? Think about: How your news affects your business and those involved What you want readers to take away from your press release How you want people to act upon this information If you can focus on these details, your press releases will be more effective. Make sure, too, to mention all the key players involved (e.g., staff, stakeholders, clients, and customers). 3. Make It Quotable Journalists love it when you make their lives easier. So if you want to get coverage from your press release, try to include the following: Soundbites from key players such as the company owner or CEO Statistics related to your news (e.g., number of sales, revenue increases) Any images you want used alongside your news Journalists can then use these when writing up the press release as news. 4. Pick the Perfect Time The timing of your press release is almost as important as its content. But the best time for a press release will depend on what you are writing about: When it is about something that has just happened, release it as soon as possible afterwards. If possible, write a draft version in advance. If it is about an upcoming event, send it 3-5 days before you need coverage. You may also want to include an embargo date for publication. In addition, it is usually best to send press releases first thing in the morning (e.g., 9am) when journalists will be checking their emails. On a similar note, the best days to send press releases are usually Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (never send one on Friday before the weekend). Summary: How to Write a Press Release When writing press releases, keep the following tips in mind: Write an eye-catching headline to grab the reader’s attention Think about your goals and tailor its content accordingly Provide statistics and quotes from key players for journalists to use Think about the best date and time to send out your press release And don’t forget to get your business documents proofread! Click here to see our example press release.

Eleanor, Queen of Castile (1162 - 1214)

Eleanor, Queen of Castile (1162 - 1214) Eleanor Plantagenet, born in 1162,   was the wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile, daughter of Henry II of England and  Eleanor of Aquitaine, sister of kings and a queen; mother of several queens and a king. This Eleanor was the first of a long line of Eleanors of Castile. She was also known as  Eleanor Plantagenet, Eleanor of England, Eleanor of Castile, Leonora of Castile, and Leonor of Castile. She died on October 31st, 1214.   Early Life Eleanor was named for her mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine. As a daughter of Henry II of England, her marriage was arranged for political purposes. She was paired with King Alfonso VIII of Castile, betrothed in 1170 and married sometime before September 17, 1177, when she was fourteen. Her full siblings were William IX, Count of Poitiers; Henry the Young King; Matilda, Duchess of Saxony; Richard I of England; Geoffrey II, Duke of Brittany;  Joan of England, Queen of Sicily; and John of England. Her older half-siblings were  Marie of France  and  Alix of France Eleanor as Queen Eleanor was granted control in her marriage treaty of lands and towns so that her own power was nearly as much as her husbands. The marriage of Eleanor and Alfonso produced a number of children. Several sons who were, in turn, expected heirs of their father died in childhood. Their youngest child, Henry or Enrique, survived to succeed his father. Alfonso claimed Gascony as part of Eleanors dowry, invading the duchy in his wifes name in 1205, and abandoning the claim in 1208.    Eleanor wielded considerable power in her new position.   Ã‚  She was also a patron of many religious sites and institutions,  including Santa Maria la Real at Las Huelgas where many in her family became nuns.   She sponsored troubadours to court.  She helped arrange the marriage of their daughter  Berenguela  (or Berengaria) to Leons king. Another daughter, Urraca, was married to the future king of Portugal, Alfonso II; a third daughter, Blanche or Blanca, was married to the future King Louis VIII of France; a fourth daughter, Leonor, married the king of Aragon (though their marriage was later dissolved by the church). Other daughters included Mafalda who married her sister Berenguelas stepson and Constanza who became an  Abbess. Her husband appointed her as ruler with their son upon his death, and also appointed her executor of his estate.   Death Although Eleanor thus became the regent for her son Enrique on her husbands death, in 1214 when Enrique was only ten, Eleanors grief was so great that her daughter Berenguela had to handle the burial of Alfonso. Eleanor died on October 31st, 1214, less than a month after Alfonsos death, leaving Berenguela as her brothers regent. Enrique died at age 13, killed by a falling roof tile. Eleanor was the mother of eleven children, but only six survived her: Berenguela  (1180 - 1246) - she married Conrad II of Swabia but the marriage contract was annulled. She married Alfonso IX of Leon, but that marriage was dissolved on grounds of consanguinity.   She became regent for her brother Enrique (Henry) I, and became Queen of Castile in her own right when he died in 1217. She abdicated right after that, and her son Ferdinand III of Castile brought together Castile and Leon.Sancho (1181 - 1181) - briefly heir to Castile, died at three monthsSancha (1182 - 1185)Enrique (1184 - 1184?) - heir during his very short life - there is some doubt that this child existed.Urraca - Urraca of Castile, Queen of Portugal (1187 - 1220), married to Afonso II of Portugal.Blanca -  Blanche of Castile, Queen of France (1188 - 1252), married the future Louis VIII of France, crowned Queen in 1223. She served as regent of France after Louis died and before their son was of age.Fernando (1189 - 1211). Died of a fever, heir to the throne at that time.Mafalda (11 91 - 1211). Betrothed to Ferdinand of Leon, stepson of her sister Berenguela. Constanza (1195 or 1202 - 1243), became a nun at Santa Maria la Real at Las Huelgas.Leonor - Eleanor of Castile (1200 or 1202 - 1244): married James I of Aragon but separated 8 years later, with consanguinity as the grounds.Enrique I of Castile (1204 - 1217). He became king in 1214 when his father died; he was only 10. He died three years later, struck by a tile that fell from a roof.

Wine Bottle Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Wine Bottle - Research Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  since the 17the century wine bottles have been closed by the traditional cork closures which are obtained by processing the bark of the cork tree. Portugal is the biggest exporter of the wine cork closures and its economy is highly based on this primary export. Wine bottle closures are highly important to seal the bottle so that the wine is not affected by the damaging property of the oxygen in the atmosphere although a very little amount of oxygen is still required to be trespassed in to the bottle which is helpful for the wine to reach its potential. The corks are not perfect enough to block all of the oxygen which serves the purpose but they are fallible too which can result in crumbling, breaking, leaking and also, forming the corked wine.  This essay stresses that  the cork closure provides the ceremonial tradition of opening the wine bottle with the popping action. Synthetic and screw cap closures are used as alternatives to the cork closures. The synthetic closures are not successful since they too pass the plastic taints to the wine. Screw Cap closures which are made of aluminium alloy casing which forms the outer layer of the closure with an inner lining of expanded polyethylene which air tights the bottle on compression. Screw cap closures are better wine closures than the cork ones and are also, comparatively expensive due to the material used in them but this expense is lower than the loss incurred due to the corked wines by the cork closures.

Hitler's Table Talk Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 2

Hitler's Table Talk - Term Paper Example This essay describes the Hitler’s table talk that are mostly spontaneous conversations, that were held between 1941 and 1944 majorly concentrated on what Adolf Hitler, the governor of Germany commented. There were also individuals, who were given the task of taking notes from the conversation between the Hitler and his visitors. Most of the meetings consisted of Hitler and the Nazi leaders who had common interests on the topics of war and religion. Borman and Henry Picker wrote and recorded notes directly from the meeting conversation between the prominent leaders. They wrote information from the comments the German’s governor said. Some of the topics Hitler commented and discussed by the researcher of this essay were on: the religion he preferred his people to practice, the war on his enemies, and his personal life. Lastly, he commented on English language and how it was inferior to the national German language. It is stated by the researcher that Hitler believed that German language was popular globally compared to English language, which was spreading exceptionally fast. It is later concluded by the researcher of the essay that Adolf Hitler was truly a dictator to both his people and foreigners living in Germany. It is mentioned that he perceived war as a solution to all his problems and worries, therefore, killed many lives that he did not favor. In conclusion, it is stated that Hitler’s table talk has assisted the world to know what kind of mind Hitler had about various aspects in life.