Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Discussing the Front Piece of the Leviathan Free Essays

Salah Rushdy POLI 357 Discussing the front piece of the leviathan The Latin quote on the book cover translates into â€Å"There is no power on earth to be compared to him†. According to my own interpretation, in this front piece of Thomas Hobbes leviathan, the sea monster is presented as the absolute sovereign. He rules the people that form his being. We will write a custom essay sample on Discussing the Front Piece of the Leviathan or any similar topic only for you Order Now All the people of that state are looking up to him in the image as to express their submission and acceptance of the social contract to be ruled. In the front piece, the leviathan holds two objects in his hand which are a crosier and a sword. A crosier in Christianity is a symbol of the governing office of the bishop or apostle. Here, one can assume that what Hobbes meant by the leviathan holding a crosier is that the absolute sovereign of the state will be in charge of the spiritual side of the state to prevent any disagreements or religious wars. One has to understand as well that the era by which Thomas Hobbes was living in witnessed a century worth of religious warfare and the book itself was written during the English civil war. So a lot of his philosophy regarding the state of nature and social contract was a solution to the war existed at his era. The sword resembles power by which all has to abide or else will be obligated to face the consequences raised by breaking the social contract which will be perceived as a threat to the stability of the sovereignty as a whole. How to cite Discussing the Front Piece of the Leviathan, Papers

Marketing Strategy for Purpose and Direction- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theMarketing Strategy for Purpose and Direction. Answer: Introduction Strategy is defined as the way or the means with the help of which organizations are able to achieve their desired objectives and goals. Strategies act as a guiding framework for the organizations, which help them in accomplishment of organizational goals. According to Wordsmyth dictionary, strategy is defined as a plan, series or method of actions which are designed with the objective of achieving a goal, objective or effect of the organization. (Foundations of Strategy, 2017). Businesses need strategy with common reasons like to give purpose and direction, effective deployment of resources and coordinating decision- making. Strategy is formulated keeping in mind certain objectives like creating advantage, renewing advantage and sustaining advantage with the objective of producing superior value of business ecosystem. Likewise, the theories of strategy try to explain some underlying forces responsible for producing this advantage or primary factors which can be considered in produci ng advantage. Some of the theories of strategy are classical, evolutionary, systematic and processual theories of strategy (Managing Research Library, 2017). Strategic thrusts are the initiatives which are at high level and they arise out of the strategic vision of the company and also serve as a guideline for the action plans with the objective of attaining some over-arching goals. It helps the company in deriving maximum information from the companys resources for the purpose of gaining competitive advantage (MBA Skool, 2017). The report will talk about a specific business unit of a company and what role does it play in the organization. Before going towards the next section, there is a need to understand the role of Strategic Business Unit (SBU) within the business. A strategic business unit also known as SBU is the functional unit of business having its own directions and vision. SBU acts and operates like separate entity or business unit having a considerable importance within the company. SBU reports its operational status to its headquarters. It acts independently giving its own of performing actions and target market. SBU has its own business functions such as HR, training sessions etc. and holds several benefits of having SBU within a business. (The Economic Times, 2017). Role of SBU within business is that SBUs make a business organized, things can be micro managed, segmentation, targeting and positioning can be done easily, helps in decision- making and also contributes to the profitability of the business (Bhasin, 2016). The company discussed in the report is Myer, founded by Sydney Myer. Myer is the largest department store group of Australia been consistently synonymous with their style and fashion for 100 years. The company is having 67 stores in the most prominent retail locations of Australia with their well-recognized name along with having a huge support from their new online portal enhancing their digital presence. This creates an Omni-channel experience for the customers from which they choose from. The company provides inspiration to the customers, employees, shareholders, suppliers and communities. The merchandise offered by Myer are divided into 11 product categories viz. Menswear, womens wear, Intimate apparel, childrens wear, cosmetics and fragrance and beauty products. It also offers electrical goods, footwear, accessories, handbags, toys and many other types of general merchandize. So the company is the leader in Australias retailing industry and is Australias largest department store group. It is a heritage build on market innovation and involvement of community (Myer, 2017; Myer, 2016). Discussion The Strategic Business unit that we will be taking in this report is the Womens clothing of Myer. It is separate unit of Myer having its own ways to operate the business and standing as a single separate business unit. It operates separately within the name of Myer and reports its operational status to the Myer, which is the parent company. The SBU and the company, focuses on providing fresh and trendy fashion for professional, off-duty and normal wear. The company is committed for hitting fresh arrivals on the wardrobe with these sartorial staples. They provide for work-wear, off duty chic with blue jeans and slouchy tees. The womens wear SBU of Myer provides a range of products such as dresses, coats, jackets, tops, t-shirts, singlets, jumpers, shirts, blouses, pants, leggings, skirts, activewear, jeans, workwear, jumpsuit, shorts, swimwear, petite size and plus size (Myer, 2017). Market Strategy The strategy at business unit level is determined on the basis of three Cs- customer, competition and company. Based on the experience of different companies it is evident that the strategy of the business units can be formulated by placing them on two-by-two matrix including industry maturity and competitive position. Industry maturity or attractiveness can be studied with reference to the industry life-cycle stage. Factors that can be considered in determining industry maturity are growth rate, breadth of product line, perspectives regarding market share, ease of entry, industry potential, and number of competitors, customers purchasing pattern and technological developments. There are four stages in industry maturity viz. Embryonic, growth, and maturity and aging stage. In embryonic stage, there is a narrow product line and changes are done frequently to meet customer needs. In growth stage, there is a rapid proliferation of the product lines. At maturity stage, it is attempted to orient products according to specific segments and in the aging stage, there is shrinkage of product lines. After analyzing the industry on the above mentioned factors, it is found out that the company is experiencing rapid expansion of sales because of the market development. It is seen from the analysis that the shares, technology and customers of the company are better known and it will be difficult for the new market entrants to enter the industry. Therefore, it is clear that the industry is in the growing stage. Competitive position is another matrix for formulating the strategy at business level. Competitive position of the business does not merely depend on its market share but, other factors like capacity utilization, degree of integration, management strength, current profitability and distinctive product advantages. There are four competitive positions viz. dominant, strong, favorable, tenable or weak. From the analysis it is drawn that the SBU can take independent actions without any danger to its long -term position and the SBU manages to maintain its long- term position in light and face of the competitors action. Therefore, it is concluded that the competitive position of SBU is deemed strong. Therefore, in short, it can be said that the industry is in the growing stage and the SBU is deemed strong as the brand name supports the positioning of the SBU and Myer is the largest department store group of Australia and have a competitive advantage as it is the largest among all and also, the industry is in growing phase (Jain, Haley, Voola, Wickham, Osbourne, 2011; Young Burgess, 2015; Marketing Teacher, 2017; Denny, 2017). There are three types of core marketing strategies that a company may use which are operational excellence, customer intimacy and product leadership. The most viable approach for the womens clothing SBU of Myer will be operational excellence. The strategy of operational excellence includes middle off the market product offerings at the best affordable prices along with least inconvenience. This strategy involves least customer proposition it also includes low prices and hassle free services or a combination of both. In order to get better results after final selection of core strategy, supporting strategies should be delineated. This is because a mix of core and supporting strategies will help in coordinating with the needs of the market place, the vagaries of the competition and the skills of the company. The strategy of operational excellence is the most viable for the womens clothing SBU as it includes convenience in services with low affordable prices, which will help the busines s unit in penetrating into the market, with increased sales and profit shares under a reputed and well established brand name. The company can pair its core strategy of operational excellence with supporting strategies like product, distribution and promotion in order to get better results. It is the most viable for the business unit as it provides no-hassle services, sharpen distribution systems. In addition to this, it is profitable for organizational arrangement as it includes strong central authority and finite level of empowerment. The strategy also believes in one size fits all and acts in a predictable manner. The strategy also helps in developing and maintaining standard operating procedures. Because of the above stated reasons, the core strategy of operational excellence will be best suited for the SBU. In addition to this, operational excellence helps in achieving cost leadership. As the customers of the business unit are price sensitive this strategy will be most feasible as the cost leadership acts as a path towards continued growth (MaRS, 2013; Jain, Haley, Voola, Wickham, Osbourne, 2011). Portfolio Analysis The portfolio analysis tool which is applied here is the Product life cycle. Every product goes through certain stages in their life cycle in which each stage is affected by different competitive conditions. At different stages, there is a need to apply different marketing stages with best suited for the product at that particular stage. This is done in order to realize the sales and profit in a more efficient manner. The life cycle of the product is depicted using an S-shaped curve which is divided into four stages- introduction, growth, maturity and decline. The introduction stage is the initial phase of the product life cycle when the product is just introduced in the market and experiencing slow growth. In the growth stage, the survivors of the introduction stage come in and enjoy rapid growth and improved profits. In the maturity phase, the product gets stable and gains maturity including intense rivalry in a mature market. The last one is the decline stage, where the product fa ils to manage its profit and there is a decline in sales leading to the decline of the product in its life cycle. The main products of the SBU which is workwear, off duty and slouchy tees are significantly in demand. The workwear product of the SBU sits at the maturity stage as it is the only product of the SBU which is at the highest peak of its sales, providing low cost per customer, earning higher profits and have majority of customers. The off duty clothes are at the growing stage as they are experiencing rapidly rising sales, providing average cost products as per customer, managing rising profits with growing number of competitors and early adopter customers additionally. The slouchy tees are at the introductory stage as they have been launched recently and have low sales and negative profits, providing products at high cost per customer, have innovative customer segment and a few customers (Jain, Haley, Voola, Wickham, Osbourne, 2011; Ã… ½ic, HadÃ… ¾i?, Ikoni?, 2009; Jblear ning, 2017) (Ã… ½ic, HadÃ… ¾i?, Ikoni?, 2009). Strategic Development Tools In order to formulate strategy, there is a need for systematic procedures which can help an organization in developing strategies. Therefore, there are some selected tools and models which help in strategy development. Model is defined as the instrument which is directed towards helping in searching, screening, analyzing, selecting and implementing a particular course of action. There are eight models which can be applied directly to marketing strategies and they are- the experience curve concept, value based planning, the Delphi technique, Cross impact analysis, the profit impact of marketing strategy model, game theory, trend impact analysis, and scenario building. Two of the above stated strategy development tools are discussed as below- Experience Curve Concept It is proven fact that practice makes perfect and leads to better results. It is commonly known that beginners are slow and clumsy but, with practice, beginners grow and improve to the point where their own permanent level of skill is being reached. Anyone who owns a business will be very known by the fact that the initial times in a business venture does not turns out to be profitable immediately. A successful business person states that learning and experience will lead to improvement. Afterwards it was observed that the experience curve is not only limited to the production units but, it embraces all areas of business. The importance of experience curve is worldwide but it fails when it comes to marketing objectives and pricing decisions. It is said that all the costs will go down with the increase of experience. Thus, in case a company will acquire high market share cost will decline and it will lead to reduced prices. With its effect, lowered prices will still somehow manage to acquire higher market share. In the time of growth, a company continues to make profit but with the objective of growing it, the company needs to reinvest the accumulated profits. Thus, the experience effect has been used in most of industries but this concept is least applicable in marketing. Some of the benefits of this concept are- It provides an accurate description of the relationship between cost and volume. The accumulated experience from the first product can help in providing extra advantage to the company in reducing the prices. Gaining of experience with time will help in setting the business in long run as the situations are best handled with good experience. Experience leads to accelerated business activities and, therefore, tasks can be completed with much greater efficiency. The concept of experience is not limited to production alone instead it is applicable in almost all cost areas of business. (The Economist, 2009; Henderson, 2017) Delphi Technique Delphi technique is a method which involves making forecasts and future decisions on the basis of expert opinion. It helps in forecasting future trends and preference shifts and their significant impact on future strategic environment and needs. The Delphi method was formulated for overcoming the issues and weaknesses of the committee method. The Delphi method is becoming more prominent and increasingly significant in forecasting the future events and it is used by most of the organizations with the objective of long rage forecasting. Some of the benefits of Delphi techniques are- Efficient way to gain information from the experts. Involves less effort at the part of respondents in answering any questionnaire. It includes use of systematic procedure which leads to productive outcomes. It includes more accurate forecasts when compared to traditional statistical techniques. By seeing the responses of such knowledgeable persons, it can turn out to be a motivating factor for group of experts. (Thangaratinam Redman, 2011) Summary The approaches stated above plays a significant role in the strategic planning and implementation process such as it contributes in measuring the strategic performances and achieving strategic planning effectiveness. Strategy tracking and progress evaluation of the established objectives is one of the most important tasks in strategy implementation. The three basic considerations- selecting measure for performance, setting standards for performance and designing reports is put together in performance management system. The selection of performance measure is done with the help of the above adopted strategies. The measures which are relevant to the adopted strategies by SBU is being chosen. Further the performance standards, expected values and targets are established in coordination with the strategies selected and the strategic position of the business unit. Therefore, the above stated strategies help in measuring strategic performances. References Bhasin, H. (2016, December 2). 6 Reasons Strategic business units are important. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Marketing91.com: https://www.marketing91.com/6-reasons-strategic-business-units-important/ Denny. (2017). Stage of Industry Maturity and Relevant Competitive Position. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Yourarticlelibrary.com: https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/industries/stage-of-industry-maturity-and-relevant-competitive-position/43552/ Foundations of Strategy. (2017). The concept of strategy. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Foundationsofstrategy.com: https://www.foundationsofstrategy.com/files/4914/2901/0015/c01.pdf Henderson, B. (2017). The Experience CurveReviewed (Part I). Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Bcgperspectives.com: https://www.bcgperspectives.com/content/Classics/strategy_supply_chain_management_experience_curve_reviewed_the_concept/ Jain, S. C., Haley, . T., Voola, ., Wickham, M., Osbourne, P. (2011). Marketing planning and strategy. Australia: Cengage Learning. Jblearning. (2017). Product development and portfolio analysis. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Jblearning.com: https://www.jblearning.com/samples/0763763276/63275_CH01_Fortenberry.pdf Managing Research Library. (2017). Strategy - Theories. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Managingresearchlibrary.org: https://managingresearchlibrary.org/glossary/strategy-theories Marketing Teacher. (2017). The Arthur D Little (ADL) Strategic Condition Matrix. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Marketingteacher.com: https://www.marketingteacher.com/the-arthur-d-little-adl-strategic-condition-matrix/ MaRS. (2013, December 6). Competitive strategies in operational excellence, customer intimacy and product leadership. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Marsdd.com: https://www.marsdd.com/mars-library/competitive-strategies-in-operational-excellence-customer-intimacy-and-product-leadership/ MBA Skool. (2017). Strategic Thrusts Wiseman. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Mbaskool.com: https://www.mbaskool.com/business-concepts/marketing-and-strategy-terms/2050-sssstrategic-thrusts-wiseman.html Myer. (2016). Annual Report 2016. Myer. Myer. (2017). Myer Today. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Myer.com.au: https://www.myer.com.au/p/about-myer/the-company/about-us/content-myer-today/ Myer. (2017). Women's Clothing. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Myer.com.au: https://www.myer.com.au/shop/mystore/women/clothing Thangaratinam, S., Redman, C. W. (2011). The Delphi technique. The Economic Times. (2017). Definition of 'Strategic Business Unit'. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/strategic-business-unit The Economist. (2009, September). The experience curve. Retrieved may 22, 2017, from Economist.com: https://www.economist.com/node/14298944 Young, L., Burgess, B. (2015). Marketing Tools and Techniques. John Wiley Sons. Ã… ½ic, S., HadÃ… ¾i?, H., Ikoni?, M. (2009). Portfolio Analysis A Useful Management Tool.

Friday, May 1, 2020

The Rise of The Golden Horde Essay Example For Students

The Rise of The Golden Horde Essay May 4, 1997HS123hLibertyBlock 3Thesis:The Mongols rose to power because they were a highly advanced culture as seen through theirmilitary technology, their trade and preservation of elaborate art work, and their fairadministrative policy. The Mongols were one of the most feared groups in history. The very mention of thename Genghis Khan struck terror into every king and every peasant. How did a scatteredcollection of goat herders, led by the fatherless child of a minor chieftain, build the largestempire in history? How were they able to build an empire that would eventually stretch acrossAsia, India, the Mid-East and Eastern Europe? The Mongols were able to rise to power becausethey were a highly advanced culture as seen through their military technology, their trade andpreservation of elaborate art work, and their fair administrative policy. One of the greatest factors in the Mongols favor was their highly advanced militarytechnology. Mongols were so skilled at siege-craft that they rarely lost when besieging a castle. In order to use the latest in military siege craft, the Mongols contracted Chinese and MiddleEastern engineers who could design, build and use siege devices like catapults (Lemonick, 67). On one occasion the Mongols built their own wall outside the citys own walls so they couldshoot missiles from relative safety. When the Mongols besieged a city, they also used manyingenious strategies. One of the most commonly used Mongol tactic was to besiege the city for awhile, then fall back. The army inside the city walls, thinking the Mongols were retreating,would open the gates and come out in pursuit. From there the powerful Mongols would destroythe tired army, which was probably suffering water and food shortages inside the sealed-offwalls. One very clever tactic used by the Mongols was the use of water. On one o ccasion that the caliphs troops ventured forth, the Mongols broke a dikebehind them, trapping them with flood waters. (Edwards, The Great Khans, 25)This quote refers to an incident when the city of Nishapur, capital of Shah Mohammed. TheMongols used almost the same strategy when attacking Xi Xia. The Mongols, unable to take thecity by conventional means, looked to a nearby river and broke its levy. This flood eitherthreatened to or did destroy the citys wall, and forced the city to surrender (Edwards, Lord of theMongols, 37). The Mongols also had good weapons for non-siege warfare. Their greatestbattlefield asset was their horse. The hardy Mongols ponies were treated with such care thatmany people today may think of it as pampering. Because of these ponies, the Mongol cavalryhad the ability to advance on its enemy at astonishing speed. Mongols also made use of stirrups,which allowed them to ride standing up and to shoot arrows in any direction. The Mongols alsohad a well-developed c ommunication system, called orto that involved riders carryingmessages on horseback, similar to the pony express. This system was highly important inlearning about and deterring any potential enemies (Kessier, 52). The Mongols also made a lasting contribution through their preservation and creation ofsuperb art work. A great gift of the Mongols was their preservation of Chinese, Indian, and Mid-Eastern art styles. During the reign of Kublai Khan many Chinese works including porcelain andsilk clothing were brought to his court. Bejeweled and robed in silk, he Kublai Khan ruled from a palace whose wallswere plated with gold and silver and decorated with the figures of dragons, beastsand birds (Time, 26)Kublai obviously had a taste for Chinese luxuries. By bringing artworks to his court, he was ableto preserve them. The Mongols also influenced the works of other countries, as seen here:The discovery of Chinese and Indian inspired imagery on porcelain and sculptureconfirm Mongolias role in the cultural exchange between China and Eurasia.(Lemonick, 66)Much artwork that is today considered to be ancient Chinese was influenced or actually madeby the Mongols. They were able to make such influences due to their control of the silk road,the thousand mile long trade network linking Russia, Mongolia, China and India. On this traderoute the Mongols also traded their own work. Their art, however, was much more practical. Asopposed to making vases and paintings, the Mongols carved elaborate designs on their saddlesand weapons like their bows and arrows. Although the Mongols are often portrayed as ruthless cannibals, their treatment of theirvassals was fair and just. The Mongols did not randomly attack and pillage their subject. It wasonly when the vassals rebelled that the Mongols attacked. One Mongol technique was that theyleft Mongol representatives to make sure the city would not rebel. When the city paid its tribute,they were treated well by the Mongols. It was only when they defied the Mongols that they werepunished. A technique the Mongols used to determine if a country was going to remain loyalwas by leaving diplomats. If they were killed after the Mongols left, the Mongol army w ouldreturn to destroy the disloyal city. On one occasion the Xi Xia empire refused to provide theMongols with troops in a time of need. Several years later, the Mongols returned to Xi Xia andre-invaded the city, destroying the entire Xi Xia kingdom. On another occasion, a caravan underMongol protection was traveling through Utar. Believing the caravan was a cover for spies, thegovernor killed all the people in it. Genghis sent an ambassador to the governors ruler, ShahMohammed, demanding the governor be handed over for punishment. The Shah broughtdisaster upon himself by decapitating the ambassador and sending his head back to Genghis. The Mongols attacked the Shahs empire and completely destroyed it. The governor who killedthe caravan, Inalchug, was killed by having molten metal poured down his throat. Mohammedwas also executed. One of the Mongols greatest qualities was their tolerance of all religions. Once a state was conquered its religion was allowed to remain in tact. When the Mongolsinvaded the kingdom of Kara-Khitai, they were welcomed by the Muslim population, who werenot allowed to worship under the leader Kuchlug. Kuchlug had even executed a Muslimreligious leader. When Genghis and his army took the kingdom, he took the Muslims under hiswing and killed Kuchlug (Edwards, 29). He also allowed the kingdoms government to remain. The Mongols can be viewed as a very cultural and advanced civilization through theirmilitary innovations, their contribution to the art world and their fair treatment of their loyalsubjects. The Mongols are often shown in European artwork as eating human flesh; or not beinghuman, but monsters with no heads. As you can see the Mongols were not any of these things. Although they were ambitious conquerors, one must remember that they were more tolerant ofdifferent races and religions than many nations can say they are today.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Biography of Justinian I, Emperor of Byzantine

Biography of Justinian I, Emperor of Byzantine Justinian, or  Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Justinianus, was arguably the most important ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire. Considered by some scholars to be  the last great Roman emperor and the first great Byzantine emperor, Justinian fought to reclaim Roman territory and left a lasting impact on architecture and law. His relationship with his wife, Empress Theodora, would play an essential role in the course of his reign. Justinians Early Years Justinian, whose given name was Petrus Sabbatius, was born in 483 C.E. to peasants in the Roman province of Illyria. He may have still been in his teens when he came to Constantinople. There, under the sponsorship of his mothers brother, Justin, Petrus acquired a superior education. However, thanks to his Latin background, he always spoke Greek with a notable accent. At this time, Justin was a highly-ranked military commander, and Petrus was his favorite nephew. The younger man climbed the social ladder with a hand up from the older, and he held several important offices. In time, the childless Justin officially adopted Petrus, who took the name Justinianus in his honor. In 518, Justin became Emperor. Three years later, Justinian became a consul. Justinian and Theodora Sometime before the year 523, Justinian met the actress Theodora. If The Secret History by Procopius is to be believed, Theodora was a courtesan as well as an actress, and her public performances bordered on the pornographic. Later authors defended Theodora, claiming that she had undergone a religious awakening and that she found ordinary work as a wool spinner to support herself honestly. No one knows precisely how Justinian met Theodora, but he appears to have fallen hard for her. She was not only beautiful, but she was also shrewd and able to appeal to Justinian on an intellectual level. She was also known for her passionate interest in religion; she had become a Monophysite, and Justinian may have taken a measure of tolerance from her plight. They also shared humble beginnings and were somewhat apart from Byzantine nobility. Justinian made Theodora a patrician, and in 525 - the same year that he received the title of Caesar - he made her his wife. Throughout his life, Justinian would rely on Theodora for support, inspiration, and guidance. Rising to the Purple Justinian owed much to his uncle, but Justin was well-repaid by his nephew. He had made his way to the throne through his skill, and he had governed through his strengths; but through much of his reign, Justin enjoyed the advice and allegiance of Justinian. This was especially true as the emperors reign drew to a close. In April of 527, Justinian was crowned co-emperor. At this time, Theodora was crowned Augusta. The two men would share the title for only four months before Justin passed away in August of that same year. Emperor Justinian Justinian was an idealist and a man of great ambition. He believed he could restore the empire to its former glory, both in terms of the territory it encompassed and the achievements made under its aegis. He wanted to reform the government, which had long suffered from corruption, and clear up the legal system, which was heavy with centuries of legislation and outmoded laws. He had great concern for religious righteousness and wanted persecutions against heretics and orthodox Christians alike to end. Justinian also appears to have had a sincere desire to improve the lot of all citizens of the empire. When his reign as sole emperor began, Justinian had many different issues to deal with, all in the space of a few years. Justinians Early Reign One of the very first things Justinian attended to was a reorganization of Roman, now Byzantine, Law. He appointed a commission to begin the first book of what was to be a remarkably extensive and thorough legal code. It would come to be known as the Codex Justinianus  (the  Code of Justinian).  Although the Codex would contain new laws, it was primarily a compilation and clarification of centuries of existing law, and it would become one of the most influential sources in western legal history.   Justinian then set about instituting governmental reforms. The officials he appointed were at times too enthusiastic in rooting out long-entrenched corruption, and the well-connected targets of their reform did not go easily. Riots began to break out, culminating in the most famous Nika Revolt of 532. But thanks to the efforts of Justinians able general Belisarius, the riot was ultimately put down; and thanks to the support of Empress Theodora, Justinian showed the kind of backbone that helped solidify his reputation as a courageous leader. Though he may not have been loved, he was respected. After the revolt, Justinian took the opportunity to conduct a massive construction project that would add to his prestige and make Constantinople an impressive city for centuries to come. This included the rebuilding of the marvelous cathedral, the Hagia Sophia. The building program was not restricted to the capital city, but extended throughout the empire, and included the construction of aqueducts and bridges, orphanages and hostels, monasteries and churches; and it encompassed the restoration of entire towns destroyed by earthquakes (an unfortunately all-too-frequent occurrence). In 542, the empire was struck by a devastating epidemic that would later be known as Justinians Plague or the Sixth-Century Plague. According to Procopius, the emperor himself succumbed to the disease, but fortunately, he recovered. Justinians Foreign Policy When his reign began, Justinians troops were fighting Persian forces along the Euphrates. Although the considerable success of his generals (Belisarius in particular) would allow the Byzantines to conclude equitable and peaceful agreements, war with the Persians would flare up repeatedly through most of Justinians reign. In 533, the intermittent mistreatment of Catholics by the Arian Vandals in Africa came to a disturbing head when the Catholic king of the Vandals, Hilderic, was thrown into prison by his Arian cousin, who took his throne. This gave Justinian an excuse to attack the Vandal kingdom in North Africa, and once again his general Belisarius served him well. When the Byzantines were through with them, the Vandals no longer posed a serious threat, and North Africa became part of the Byzantine Empire. It was Justinians view that the western empire had been lost through indolence, and he believed it his duty to re-acquire territory in Italy - especially Rome - as well as other lands that had once been part of the Roman Empire. The Italian campaign lasted well over a decade, and thanks to Belisarius and Narses, the peninsula ultimately came under Byzantine control - but at a terrible cost. Most of Italy was devastated by the wars, and a few short years after Justinians death, invading Lombards were able to capture large portions of the Italian peninsula. Justinians forces were far less successful in the Balkans. There, bands of Barbarians continually raided Byzantine territory, and though occasionally repulsed by imperial troops, ultimately, Slavs and Bulgars invaded and settled within the borders of the Eastern Roman Empire. Justinian and the Church Emperors of Eastern Rome usually took a direct interest in ecclesiastical matters and often played a significant role in the direction of the Church. Justinian saw his responsibilities as emperor in this vein. He forbade pagans and heretics from teaching, and he closed the famous Academy for being pagan and not, as was often charged, as an act against classical learning and philosophy.   Though an adherent to Orthodoxy himself, Justinian recognized that much of Egypt and Syria followed the Monophysite form of Christianity, which had been branded a heresy. Theodoras support of the Monophysites undoubtedly influenced him, at least in part, to attempt to strike a compromise. His efforts did not go well. He tried to force western bishops to work with the Monophysites and even held Pope Vigilius in Constantinople for a time. The result was a break with the papacy that lasted until 610 C.E.   Justinians Later Years After the death of Theodora in 548, Justinian showed a marked decline in activity and appeared to withdraw from public matters. He became deeply concerned with theological issues, and at one point even went so far as to take a heretical stand, issuing in 564 an edict declaring that the physical body of Christ was incorruptible and that it only appeared to suffer. This was immediately met with protests and refusals to follow the edict, but the issue was resolved when Justinian died suddenly on the night of November 14/15, 565. His nephew, Justin II succeeded Justinian.   The Legacy of Justinian For nearly 40 years, Justinian guided a burgeoning, dynamic civilization through some of its most turbulent times. Although much of the territory acquired during his reign was lost after his death, the infrastructure he succeeded in creating through his building program would remain. And while both his foreign expansion endeavors and his domestic construction project would leave the empire in financial difficulty, his successor would remedy that without too much trouble. Justinians reorganization of the administrative system would last some time, and his contribution to legal history would be even more far-reaching.   After his death, and after the death of the writer Procopius (a highly respected source for Byzantine history), a scandalous exposà © was published known to us as The Secret History. Detailing an imperial court rife with corruption and depravity, the work - which most scholars believe was indeed written by Procopius, as it was claimed - attacks both Justinian and Theodora as greedy, debauched and unscrupulous. While most scholars acknowledge the authorship of Procopius, the content of The Secret History remains controversial; and over the centuries, while it tarred the reputation of Theodora pretty badly, it has largely failed to reduce the stature of Emperor Justinian. He remains one of the most impressive and important emperors in Byzantine history.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Types of Ancient Greek Medicine

Types of Ancient Greek Medicine What do these three have in common? AsclepiusChironHippocrates Have you heard of a healing god of Greece called Asclepius or Asculapius? He was Apollos son, but his divine parentage didnt keep him alive after he became too good at his craft, depriving the Underworld gods of their denizens. Alongside the mythology about demigods bringing the dead back to life and a centaur who taught generations of heroes how to tend to their future, battle or quest-incurred wounds, were Greek thinkers and observers who furthered the craft of healing to what we would probably consider scientific levels. Ancient Greece is considered the home of rational medicine and the Hippocratic Oath, but that doesnt mean they rejected all forms of religious healing. Alternative and scientific medicine co-existed in the ancient world just as they do today. Lyttkens says that healing cults took an upswing at the time of the birth of secular medicine and doctors sacrificed to the healing god Asclepius. There were, of course, magicians, charlatans, and quacks, as well as midwives. The main divisions, according to G. M. A. Grube, were temple medicine, medicine connected with physical training, and the medicine of the medical schools. Medical Schools The two most important medical schools were those of Cos (Kos) and Cnidos (Knidos). Cos and Cnidos are in Asia Minor where there was contact with Asia and Egypt, as well as Greece. Practitioners from both these schools did not believe illness was connected with the supernatural. Treatment was holistic, involving diet and exercise. Typical physicians were itinerant craftsmen, although some physicians became public doctors (archiatros poleos) or attached to a household. They practiced rational medicine rather than deducing from philosophical theory. Temple Medicine The two main healing sanctuaries were located in Cos (again; remember religious and secular medicine were not mutually exclusive) and the birthplace of Asclepius, Epidauros (dating from the end of the 6th century). Following a sacrifice, treatment included incubation by which was meant the patient went to sleep. Upon awakening he would either be cured or have received divine instruction in a dream that would be interpreted by experienced priests. Gymnasium Gymnastic treatment, based on experience, relied mainly on athletic training and hygiene (mens sana in corpore sano). Henry says that the trainers were like chemists (druggists/pharmacists) to the Aesclepian priests. Gymnasium personnel administered enemas, bled, dressed wounds and ulcers, and treated fractures. The sophist Herodicus is called the father of gymnastic medicine. He may have taught Hippocrates. Sources Greek Medicine and the Greek Genius, G. M. A. Grube, Phoenix, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Winter, 1954), pp. 123-135Health, Economics and Ancient Greek Medicine,Carl Hampus LyttkensJanuary 2011Lectures On The History Of Medicine (Concluded), Alexander Henry, The British Medical Journal, Vol. 1, No. 172 (Apr. 14, 1860), pp. 282-284

Monday, February 17, 2020

Organizational Policies on Sexual Harassment Research Paper

Organizational Policies on Sexual Harassment - Research Paper Example The research paper "Organizational Policies on Sexual Harassment" talks about the sexual harassment, a chief vice that is facing modern organizations. Since sexual harassment can cripple the company’s operation and affluence, it is imperative finding the underlying cause of the quandary, addressing fit to the staff members and making clear and plausible policies, rules and tenets governing the behavior of the workers. Therefore, very adept decisions in a meeting with all staff members ought to be addressed and clear guidelines put forward. Therefore, the following paragraphs espouse the various approaches to tackle the setback of sexual harassment in the specific sections to avoid pitfalls that could possibly result into lame operations and poor performance by the company. The organization should stipulate a policy discouraging and barring sexual harassment and severe penalties failure to compliance. The policies should be clear and fighting malicious accusations and deliberate misconduct on the part of sexual harassment cases. The human resource officials ought to inform the members of staff on the suitable procedures in the pressing of grievances when an individual is harassed sexually. Through an array of awareness and teaching tactics, the organization ought to treat the employees to intensive teaching and training on intelligence concerning the problem at hand and how to react accordingly. Additionally, the department heads to identify any hidden cases should conduct surveys.

Monday, February 3, 2020

Developing Professional Practice Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Developing Professional Practice - Assignment Example The functions of such professionals include working with people towards continuous compliance with legal, ethical, and professional standards (Bowman, Jonathan, and Montgomery 4-6). The Human resource Advisory role includes offering services in transforming, changing, and improving the organization. At Vodafone Qatar, professional standards of human resource practitioners is key to success. The human resource profession assists an organization in the selection, compensation and in offering advice related to human performance within the organization. Human resource professionals assist organizations in the planning, motivating, compensating and in organizing human resources as factors of production. Human resource professionals with an advisory role in the organization need to be conversant with their professional standards. Qatar Vodafone wishes to use innovative research in promoting professional as well as professional development. It is prudent for one to understand those codes of conduct, corporate social responsibilities, and ethics (Jackson 13). These aspects are essential in organizations in ensuring that there is uniformity. Maintenance of such standards ensures a professional outlook to the human resource professional body. Professionalism of such advisors assists organizations cut on cost. Professional human resource practitioners, on the other hand, should understand their ethical, professional obligations. They also need to be creative in motivating members of staff; this may be in the form of incentive provision and in ensuring that workforce work under safe and conducive environment. Human resource professionals need to be sensitive on their code of conduct (Koonmee 20-23). This means that such professionals need to understand their mandate and their positions in such organization. In relation to the code of conduct, a human resource