Sociological perspectives of Gender Inequality

Native American Historical and Political Development Essays

Native American Historical and Political Development Essays Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Native American Historical and Political Development Essay Essay Topic: Historical Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Native American Historical and Political Development Native American pottery is a form of art that has existed for at least 700 centuries within the Americas. Pottery can be defined as any objects that are made of fired clay ceramics. Ceramics are commonly used as practical cooking vessels, serving and preservation vessels, burial urns, sculptures, musical instruments, ceremonial items, censers, and countless other art forms. Since they are resilient, ceramic items have been a vital source of information in learning more about Pre-Columbian indigenous cultures. The earliest ceramics discovered in the Americas were discovered in the lower Amazon Basin around the Caverna de Pedra Pintada areas that were dated back to about 5,000 years (Ferguson et al 13). Some of the shards at this location were tempered using mollusk shells that allowed the ceramics to be carbon dated. From the engravings, it was evident that the first ceramic-making cultures were shellfish-gatherers and fishers. Ceramics next surfaced across northern South America and then later in the western part of South America. As of this period (4530BCE), the primary purpose of ceramic objects was to store food (Ferguson et al 23). Historical background of pottery and ceramics The communities of Mesoamerica and South America were generally modern with the European Christian period. Both tribes were quickly eliminated by the Spanish invasion following on the journeys of discovery done by Columbus. The vanquishers instantly found themselves in disagreements with the native inhabitants. The clergy sought to convert people to Christianity, and they used less aggressive techniques entrenched in religion in order to destroy a whole culture gradually. The two principal empires, the Aztecs of Mesoamerica and the Incas of Peru exhibited agricultural activities and promoted architecture and art. The monuments discovered later were extremely extraordinary even though they were developed by highly primitive societies (Ferguson et al 21). Early Pre-Columbian Civilizations Several pre-Columbian societies existed over several periods, and they served to transmit the skill of pottery and that of making ceramics to the next generation, up to what it is today. Analyzing the lineage and progress of these communities from the past to the present will give more insight on their unique skills, artwork and cultural practices. The Chavin tribe that existed around 1400 to 300 BC was perhaps the most ancient tribe to exist in America (Schurr et al 177). Evidence of pottery and other crafts existed, but these were mostly limited to the temple galleries indicating that they held a religious significance. By 2000 BCE, pottery and ceramic making was popular in Central America, although modern techniques and machinery such as the potter’s wheel and glazing were not used. The two main methods of fashioning pots were to use bare hands or made inside molds and finished using fine polychrome (Ferguson et al 15). The Moche tribe that came up from 100-700 AD was more aggressive in their ceramics and pottery skills. Their pottery was immensely influential in illustrating different societal figures such as priests, lords and even warriors. Through these discovered pottery, most archeologists have been able to study the level of complexity of the Moche society. These artists engaged in documenting pre-Columbian accomplishments through realism and pictorials. There were even instances of erotic pottery. The Nazca tribe came up from 200to 800 AD to introduce aspects of color and complex designs to pottery in a fashion that contrasted the restrained styles typical of Moche ceramics (Schurr et al 178). The last regime to propagate the pottery tradition significantly was the Huari-Tiahuanaco hegemony that created pottery characterized by audacious designs, richer colors and solid constructions. This pottery style ultimately overshadowed the other earlier forms of pottery making to become the most domi nant type that spread throughout most of America. Many pre-Columbian civilizations set up permanent urban communities where they practiced agriculture and developed intricate societal hierarchies. The oldest mound complex in the Americas, the Watson Brake and other archaic sites were constructed by pre-ceramic societies. Throughout the various studies among different cultures and different periods, it is notable that each society had some pottery or ceramics that they created, especially in cases where the society was involved in agriculture. The Native Americans developed their own techniques of pottery and ceramics in a manner similar to that of other societies throughout the world. Many of the Native American communities used ceramics and pottery even before the Europeans first inhabited the Americas. While some hunter-gatherer tribes did not delve so much into this unique pottery, the communities that engaged in farming had various uses for the Native American ceramics (Ferguson et al 67). As the Native Americans were relocated across the continent by Europeans, they were able to transport their Native American ceramics on the journey. Many of the communities ultimately appeared to have lost their indigenous pottery as they were pressed further away from their initial native regions. The southwestern Indians were the most advantageous group in that they were able to salvage most of their artwork including pottery and other ceramics. Some of their striking ceramic works comprised of wedding vases with double spouts and other colorful ceramics that had distinctive designs. Various communities had their own techniques and patterns of creating the Native American ceramics (Fash Luja?n 18). Some of the methods including kiln firing the pottery but almost each community had its own unique pattern and method of finishing the ceramics (Ferguson et al 34). The common aspect among all the communities was that their ceramics were all hand made. Even presently, the few existing Native Americans still hold the ability to create ceramics using their skillful hands. Most of these artists have become very famous, as their works on Native American culture have been displayed in famous galleries and shows. Therefore, while most indigenous Indians lost their land during the relocation process, they were still able to preserve much of their traditions and skills including Native American pottery (Kampen-O’Riley 37). The decorative ceramic ornaments and other pottery items carried with them a vast amount of knowledge on the social and religious values within the pre-Columbian societies. These people had transcended from the essential subsistence life into complex and creative groups within the harsh life of the wildness. These pre-Columbian societies held some of the initial sources of early inventiveness, imagination, and functionality. Apart from religious and social significance, the ceramics and pottery were very important in running the economy through trading activities and negotiation sessions among communities (Ferguson et al 345). Colonization of the New World and loss of Pre-Columbian Culture Pottery and other works of art largely disappeared after the entry of Europeans into Native America. The loss of a larger part of the Western hemisphere led to several administrative, physical and cultural changes for the Native Americans who inhabited the land. The religious and cultural arrogance exhibited by the Europeans was largely to blame for the great disappearance of most elements of pre-Columbian cultures (Kampen-O’Riley 22). Settlers who inhabited the Americas failed to see anything of value in pre-Columbian America and instead sought to impose their own traditions, cultures and norms onto the natives. This was a major cause of the loss of cultural practices such as pottery. Concerning the loss of cultural elements among the Native Americans, Europeans played a major role in ensuring they were eliminated from any historical records. Through their own cultural arrogance, Europeans were able to dismiss the historical existence of Native Americans as being recreated and falsified. To that extent, they considered these natives as having lived in an unhistorical state. Disease outbreaks were another major cause of cultural loss (Bulmer-Thomas et al 18). While Europeans were used to keeping their livestock in close quarters, the Native Americans quickly contracted and died from epidemics and this thinned out the number of artists that could pass on the tradition of making ceramics and other similar products (Ferguson et al 11). Significance of Ceramics and Pottery Religious importance When evaluating non-western art, it is imperative to bear in mind that the objects being viewed were created for exceptionally precise functions. While art professionals normally discuss these works of art in terms of strictly aesthetics, at a stage, it becomes necessary to comprehend the significance of the works of art to the communities who created them (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 16). Almost without exemption, Pre-Columbian art has a heavy religious significance naturally. The ceramics and pottery that have been conserved were mostly temple architecture and items, burial art, and artifacts from sports events that were ultimately religious. Ordinarily, placing ethnographic objects in an inert museum environment makes people forget their original utilities. The Maya sculptor who cautiously molded away on a lump of clay to create a figure did not expect it to be locked away in an art gallery. When people assess these artifacts, detached from their intended place and time, they conclude that they lacked religious significance. Ancient religious occurrences can only be inferred from archaeological materials (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 15). Several clay sculptures discovered in graves may offer little or no proof that they were relevant in religious occasions during the Pre-Classic periods of Ticoman and Zacatenco. It is likely, though, that baked earth figures of females were supposed to symbolize an agricultural idol, a deity of the crops. Two-headed clay figurines unearthed at Tlatilco had a high likelihood of depicting a paranormal being. The same conclusion can be said of the clay idols of a fire god shaped as an old man. The pyramid of Cuicuilco near Mexico is one of the most fascinating monuments that may also have religious meaning. The monument illustrated the main aspects of the Mexican pyramids and this made it seem likely to be a religious shrine, signified by a temple erected on the platform and enclosed by tombs (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 11). Such architecture would have obviously been supervised and organized by several priests. An example is the preoccupation with the afterlife and death itself. Therefore, the ceramics developed by the societies included skulls and devil figurines signified religious activities using these ceramics. The religious significance of pre-Columbian ceramics, that is presently accepted, was initially misinterpreted. In fact, their secular value was the main criteria used when assessing them and this made most of them fail the value test. For many years, Mexican cultivators had been discovering antique ceramic pots and other physical artifacts while cultivating their farms. In the past, collectors considered them useless and even amusing. Because of the low monetary value, they were usually destroyed and discarded. Ordinary household uses Among Pre-Columbian tribes, the vessels used by most households were mainly made of earthenware. These vessels were created in various traditional forms, including globular, ovoid, and cylindrical and double-chambered forms with diverse handles and spouts. These artifacts were used as household utensils, funerary objects, cooking pots, and ritual objects and water jugs. Their form, purpose, and embellishment differentiated the vessels amongst pre-Columbian communities. Zoomorphic and anthropomorphic vessels naturally suggested ritual and funerary use were decorated by more unique and complicated adornments than household earthenware. Although many cultures borrow different elements from each other, each culture developed their vessels having their own particulars and iconography. While most artifacts can be easily categorized as having religious or household significance, some are more difficult to place. Stirrup spout vessels were the main ceramics used that consisted of a handle, and a spout. The immense numbers of existing stirrup spout vessels were suspected to be necessary for funerary purposes. However, the evidence of the wear and tear pointed towards utilitarian purposes within the household (Young-Sa?nchez Denise 24). Conclusion The Pre-Columbian era was marked with a significant contribution by several tribes to the archeological pool that mainly concentrated on ceramics and pottery. The lack of proper writing systems among Pre-Columbian cultures prompted the development of pottery and ceramics as a channel through which history could be recorded. Through these artifacts, the tribes could express and transfer their knowledge to the rest of the world surrounding astronomy, philosophy, cosmology and even religion. The political influences that interfered with the development of these civilizations may have been inconsiderate and unfair but their actions were crucial in dispersing these cultures to different parts of the world where they would have otherwise not reached. Work Cited Bulmer-Thomas, V, John H. Coatsworth, and Conde R. Corte?s. The Cambridge Economic History of Latin America. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Print. Fash, William L, Luja?n L. Lo?pez. The Art of Urbanism: How Mesoamerican Kingdoms Represented Themselves in Architecture and Imagery. Washington, D.C: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, 2009. Print. Ferguson, Jeffrey R.; Siegel, Peter E.; Descantes, Christophe; Glascock, Michael D. Pre-Columbian Pottery in the West Indies: Compositional Change in Context. Journal of Caribbean Archeology. 2008. Kampen-O’Riley, Michael. Art Beyond the West: The Arts of Africa, India and Southeast Asia, China, Japan and Korea, the Pacific, and the Americas. New York: H.N. Abrams, 2002. Print. Schurr, Theodore G. Coastal Waves and Island Hopping: A Genetic View of Caribbean Prehistory and New World Colonization. Island Shores, Distant Pasts: Archaeological and Biological Approaches to the Pre-Columbian Settlement of the Caribbean. 2010: 177-197. Print Young-Sa?nchez, Margaret, Denise P. Schaan. Marajo?: Ancient Ceramics from the Mouth of the Amazon. Denver, CO: Mayer Center for Pre-Columbian Spanish Colonial Art at the Denver Art Museum, 2011. Print.

How Economic events occur around us every day, and aims to provide Assignment

How Economic events occur around us every day, and aims to provide association between what you learn from economic models and concepts in class with real-life events happening around you - Assignment Example unfortunate that politicians and Ideologues on both sides of the spectrum are majorly interested in quick fixes rather that the actual ground work of fixing the nation’s economy. During the past few years, the economy of the United States of America has faced major challenges. As the nation’s economy continue to spatter, research and studies have identified multiples areas that is really deteriorating the American Economy. The sum total of the federal government taxes currently stands at 18 percent of the GDP. The local and state taxes have however increased substantially over this period. The total taxes from all the sources are a round 34 percent which is higher that 26 percent in the mid-50s, but slightly lower than 36 percent reached over the past 15 years. Over year the years most developed countries have lowered their corporate taxes leaving the United State of America to be among the developed countries that still has high rate of corporate taxation (Michael, 2012). This measure discourages investment in the country, which in turn reduces wages and holds production. America business faces serious challenges in taxes. Most market in the American Economy fall between demand and supply extremes and the incidence of taxation is shared by both the consumer and producer in proportional that varies. Most American population, who are majority of consumers pay more tax than producers thus resulting into a general high taxation. The e area paid by paid by the consumer corresponds to the general change in equilibrium price. The remainder of the price which is the difference between cost of production and the new price of that commodity, is paid by the producer. The internal revenue service estimated that in 2002 the United States of America Tax gap was 345 billion. The tax gap is the difference between the amount actually collected and the amount of tax legally owed by the government. In 2006 the tax gap was estimated to be about $450 billion. Two years later it

Measuring Employee Performance Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Measuring Employee Performance - Assignment Example ht close-up with the company (3) form an inter-departmental team that does the corporate imaging task of the company together (4) be part of an revenue generation force that increases company revenue by 7.5% in the next 2 years, (5) train employees who will take over the role of corporate branding after the employee has left. From the above goals, it can be said that each of them is achievable and relevant to the overall success of the company. For example, the need to identify new target segments means that the manager will be seeking to enlarge the company’s market size since he will not be utilizing what already exists. The second goal will ensure that the goal is both timely and specific. This is because with the strategic plan, the management will know exactly what is expected to be done in order to achieve growth (Aguinis, 2013). The third goal will be a way of promoting efficiency because if the task of corporate branding is limited to the Brands Manager alone, it will be difficult to get the kind of mileage expected. What is more, the fourth goal comes with specificity and time-bound as it tells the exact overall performance outcome expected in quantitative terms. The last goal seeks to promote continuity, which is a major component of effective performance attainment (Cravens, Goad & Stew art,

Chapter Six Reading Response Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chapter Six Reading Response - Assignment Example For instance, the bronze figure of Siva figure represented the Hindu god in a dance pose as a symbol of ritualistic devotion of the Hindu. It is quite fascinating to learn how people had diverse ways of religious devotion. Secondly, the Amber Necklaces of Eastern Asia were a symbol of good luck, happiness and as a charm against evil. The good associated with it is quite fascinating. The two works of art that I responded to most negatively were The Bayeux Tapestry and the Stc-Foy Reliquary. Though they are useful representations of the religious transformation and influence of the 10th century in Europe, they period was marked by several Christian-Muslim wars. The one monument I would want to know more about is the statues of Moai Ancestors figures found in Polynesia Island. I equate their significance to the pyramids of Egypt which has images of their early rulers. I would imagine how the rulers must have looked like. The monumentality of the statues exhibits some respect and

A new car, a new choice

A new car, a new choice A New Car, a New Choice For most teenagers, only one thing is on their mind when they turn 16: being able to drive. I remember ever since I received my learners permit, I couldnt wait to drive on my own. I looked forward to driving as fast as I wanted and blasting music with the windows rolled down; I of course couldnt do this with one of my parents in the passengers seat. When I turned 16, I not only obtained my drivers license, but I was also lucky enough to receive a new car. Now I know what youre thinking, and I assure you that I am not just a spoiled rich kid who gets everything handed to him from his parents. My family only owned two cars at the time and being the oldest of four children, I would only be one of the many future drivers; owning only two cars just wasnt enough. One of the fun parts about acquiring the new car was that I had some input in the selection process. My parents narrowed the choices down to a Toyota 4Runner and a Jeep Grand Cherokee and allowed me to help them with the final dec ision. After comparing and contrasting both vehicles, we decided to go with the Toyota 4Runner. Despite the Jeep Grand Cherokee having better performance and many similarities with the 4Runner, my parents and I chose the 4Runner because of its safety, price, and our loyalty to Toyota. The first thing I did when I was comparing the two cars was look at the performance of each vehicle. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has 210 horsepower which is extremely high for an SUV, especially compared to the 4Runners measly 157 horsepower. I really liked the fact that the Grand Cherokee has a lot of power and was able to go pretty fast. The Grand Cherokee packs quite a wallop compared to the 4Runner with respect to torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly. Torque equals pickup, and the Grand Cherokee will have picked up and left by the time the 4Runner finally gets moving. Horsepower and torque was not high on my parents priority list though, they actually thought the Grand Cherokee had too much power. They also explained that bigger engines use more gasoline than smaller ones, meaning that the 4Runner gets better gas mileage. I looked up the statistics to see if they were right and sure enough I found out the 4Runner has an 18/23 city to highway miles per gallon wh ile the Grand Cherokee only has a 16/21 city to highway miles per gallon. Another important aspect of the performance is the handling of the vehicle. With their comparable turning radii, the Grand Cherokee and the 4Runner handle about the same. The Grand Cherokee may edge out the 4Runner in power, but the 4Runner has the advantage with gas mileage, a factor that my parents really care about since they pay for gas. Despite my preference with the Grand Cherokee in the performance category, my parents had the final decision and gave the advantage to the 4Runner. Another category my parents and I looked at when deciding between the two cars was safety. After looking up safety statistics, we found out that the 4Runner has one of the highest safety-crash ratings for an SUV. The Grand Cherokee on the other hand, received average ratings. My parents claimed that safety was one of their top priorities especially since I was just beginning to drive. They told me that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 7,000 people aged 15 to 20 are involved in fatal crashes a year. My parents did their research and wanted to make sure I was as safe as possible out on the road. The Grand Cherokee is a reliable vehicle and received decent safety reviews, but with the 4Runner, they could feel more comfortable knowing I was in a safer vehicle. When referring to size, neither the 4Runner nor the Grand Cherokee has a marked advantage as far as seating capacity. While the front cabin in the Grand Cherokee offers a bit more head room than the 4Runner, there honestly isnt much of a difference. The Grand Cherokee provides more head and leg room to passengers than the 4Runner does, but the difference wasnt big enough to affect our decision. Both cars have the same seating capacity, being able to seat 5 passengers. The 4Runner though is likely a better choice than the Grand Cherokee when it comes to transporting cargo but the Grand Cherokee out tows the 4Runner by a massive margin. My parents and I didnt take these factors into consideration because I wouldnt be using the car to transport cargo or tow objects, so we didnt really look into size or utility that much due to the similarities. The last categories my parents and I looked at were the price and the manufacturer. The introductory price for the 4Runner is $27,500, while the price for the Grand Cherokee is $30,710, making the 4Runner $3,210 cheaper. On top of the 4Runner being cheaper, the Grand Cherokee requires more trips to the pump, meaning more money would be spent on gas with the Grand Cherokee. The prices state that they also do not include destination charges. After doing more research, we found out that the destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs almost the same to get the Grand Cherokee to the dealership as the 4Runner so we didnt take that much into consideration. What we did take into heavy consideration though was the manufacturer. My family has always bought Toyota vehicles. We currently own a Toyota Sequoia and a Toyota Camry and even before those two cars, both my parents had always owned a Toyota vehicle. My parents cl aim that they like the reliability and they are very reluctant to change so until one of the cars break down or cause them trouble, we will probably continue to buy from Toyota. Seeing how the 4Runner is manufactures by Toyota, it pretty much sealed the deal. After considering both vehicles and all their pros and cons, my parents and I agreed on the 4Runner. Despite the performance of the 4Runner not being up to par with the Grand Cherokee, the rest of the factors made me favor the 4Runner and to this day Im glad we went with the 4Runner. My parents loved every aspect of the 4Runner and believe it was a perfect fit for me and the rest of my siblings down the road. It still drives great and I love all the features of the vehicle. I dont know how different it would be if we had decided on the Grand Cherokee, but comparing and contrasting the two vehicles really helped us pick the car that best suited our family. With the combination of good gas mileage, safety, price, and the Toyota brand name the 4Runner seemed like a perfect fit.

Application for Finance Position Essay -- Entry Level Finance Cover Le

Tell us about your F&C experiences: At Citigroup, I had to develop a new model to forecast revenues from partnerships, using return on investment ratio as proxy for profitability of the partnership and at Nestlà ©, when setting price and communication strategies, I had to be fully aware and have an understanding about management accounting and the implications of the strategies for the income statement. I feel very comfortable with numbers and I enjoy the challenges associated with financial analysis, which are two of the reasons I am specializing in Corporate Finance. I am convinced that I have achieved the level of financial knowledge required for this position and, as my transcripts will show, my grades - not only, but especially in finance-related courses - are on the top of the class. During my master’s degree, I have: - Conducted several financial analysis using value creation models, NPV and profitability ratios such as ROI, ROE, ROCE and income statement ratios, which also included risk profiling through beta measurements, operational risk and financial risk; - Build financial business models, including accounting statements (Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows and Income Statement) and forecasts; - Valuated companies using DCF, transaction multiples and peer groups methods. Additionally, I have an excellent command of the Microsoft Excel program, including notions of VBA, which you might find valuable for this position. Please indicate your salary expectations (Total package yearly) My research shows me that an adequate salary for this position in Switzerland would be somewhere between CHF70,000 and CHF90,000. However, there are many things to consider: my salary would depend on the responsibilities and d... ...mance, and broadened my understanding of the food-industry sector. Commitment: I have a true desire to improve myself and to transform my ambition, determination and commitment into high performance standards and excellence to every assignment. I have worked for Nestlà © before and I am convinced that it is the perfect employer for me. What is your role will you have to get in 5 years? Most importantly, I want to contribute as much as I can to Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s operations around the world. I want to learn the necessary skills to assume more management responsibilities and new challenges, and to increase the impact I can deliver to Nestlà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s customers and projects. I am not looking for a specific future position, but I believe that this position will develop me personally, professionally and technically, allowing me to engage in strategy development and implementation.