Ibn Battuta in China Essay Example for Free

Ibn Battuta in China Essay At a time when most men cover distance astride a traveling animal, 75,000 miles of travel in a span of 30 years is an amazing achievement. When asked to name this historical individual who covered such great distance during the medieval period, most will likely point a credit to Marco Polo who is the well-known traveler of his time in Hakooki. com. But somehow, another person who has traveled longer and earlier than Marco Polo has actually covered this distance and visited 44 countries throughout the world. Ibn Battuta’s travels have almost been delegated into the oblivion if the world continued seeing history through the western view. Marco Polo, being European is far known than Ibn Battuta. Even his visit to China is virtually unknown in comparison to similar books of travel written by Marco Polo despite the fact that even to this day there remains lingering, unresolved questions as to whether or not Marco Polo truly visited China. However, if the myth sounds interesting enough, it will eventually be reported as fact. In the case of Marco Polo, the man has become a mythical folk hero and when a person ascends to such lofty heights in the public’s eye, criticism, scrutiny and a healthy dose of reality will usually fall by the wayside. Marco Polo’s travels will still remain famous regardless of the controversy that surrounds his journeys and the equally lengthy debate among scholars. It will be the goal of this essay to shift scholarly and historical directions and seek to shed light on the subject by comparing Ibn Battuta to Marco Polo’s travel in China. It is not uncommon for influential people from history to be seemingly erased from the documented chronology. In the United States, history is chronicled from a western perspective with Western Europe being presented as the epicenter of the world. As such, individuals from other cultures and parts of the world are often viewed in a peripheral manner and not provided with the same depth of historical coverage. Marco Polo was a hero whose birth origins are in the Western World. Because of this, his feats are given great credibility of honor in text. In the case of Battuta, a Moroccan by descent, his achievements will not be glossed over despite spending 17 years in China in comparison to Marco Polo’s travel which could have distinguished itself in many areas such as extent of land and historicity. In order to understand the work of Ibn Battuta, one must examine his early biographical years to as to put his life’s work into a certain context. Muhammed ibn Abdullah ibn Battuta or Ibn Battuta was born in Tangier, Morocco in a Muslim family in 1304 and started his travels when he was 20 years old and lasted almost 30 years of his life according to Dunn (2004, 14). Battuta according to Francis in consequence belongs to the religious upper class of the Mohammedan community and received usual religious and scholastic education from theologians (1997:2). His travels started in 1325 when Ibn went on a pilgrimage to Mecca that continued on until he had covered 75,000 miles in Kegan (1929:1). He had stopped on most Muslim cities along his route and paid homage to holy sites in Damascus, Syria, Hebron, Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the face of many obstacles he met along the way as related in Monteil (1930:30).

Economy and Society in Europe During 1848 Essay -- European History Ec

Economy and Society in Europe During 1848 The revolutionary year of 1848 was an extraordinary period in which popular disturbances brought down the government of many countries. The revolts were very widespread, seriously affecting about fifty countries in Europe.1 It ranged from an enormous area, ranging from the Atlantic to the Ukraine, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean. Factors that contributed to these revolts included: the potato crop had been destroyed, food riots broke out, and financial crises sprung about due to the high rate of unemployment.2 The development of major cities, such as Prague, Berlin, Liepzig, etc. contributed to the creation of the revolution. Also, anger arose over political issues because the middle class was taking control, and the peasants were starving due to this. Another point that caused rage was tax collection. People threatened to beat tax collectors and burn down revenue offices. Europe, at this time, was fighting a battle that would last many years and change many different aspects of European countries. For the most part, the revolts were due to the bourgeoisie (upper class citizens) and how they controlled everything, including factories, machines, and people. The proletariat (working class that consisted of the factory laborers) were dominated by the bourgeoisie and began to look for a social change.3 The different changes in Europe in 1848 resulted in economic revolts, the Industrial Revolution, and how Karl Marx had an impact on society. The economic revolts took place right before 1848. This economic crisis resulted from the agricultural failures, which set off a serious industrial and commercial crisis, as high food prices would not let people buy anything else. Due to thes... ...ompany Inc, 1970), 198-206. 6. Breunig, 226. 7. Jones, 24. 8. Hugh McLeod, Secularisation in Western Europe, 1848-1914 (London: MacMillian Press Ltd., 2000), 31. 9. Jones, 15. 10. Priscilla Robertson, Revolutions of 1848: A Social History (New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1952), 6. Bibliography Breunig, Charles. The Age of Revolution and Reaction, 1789-1850. New York: Norton and Company Inc., 1970. Goldstein, Robert Justin. "The European Revolutoin of 1848 and 1989." 24 February 1999. http://cscwww.ohiou.edu/~Chastain/dh/eurorev.htm (22 October 2001). Jones, Peter. The 1848 Revolutions. New York: Longman Inc., 1991. McLeod, Hugh. Secularisation In Western Europe, 1848-1914. London: MacMillian Press Ltd., 2000. Robertson, Priscilla. Revolutions of 1848: A Social History. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1952.

Concerts Across Time

Music Is the heart of culture and has affected people In more ways than the average person can have on someone. It can take you on a journey or help bring closure to a(n) ending journey. Music has always done this through the changes in time and the persona behind the music. Music will always grasp the changing culture's heart based on the time period. Baroque music is different from what today's culture would call popular music. The role of music concerts is also something to be studied further in the paper as well.People who attended Baroque concerts may very well differ from the people who attend today's rock concerts. Then we cannot forget the impact that technology has had on music of the past and the present. Baroque music can be classified as a dramatic style of music per Webster Dictionary. The concert I chose to listen to was Monteverdi Amour Sacra, Amour Profane. This piece was very beautiful and touching. I enjoyed It much more than I thought I would have considering I Eve never really listened to his music, though I have listened to various other classical composers of the Baroque period.The reason that I enjoyed this concert was because of the ensemble for one. The vocals were very beautiful and relaxing and made me feel at peace with the world around me. Parts of the music made me want to dance in a ballroom wearing a big fancy gown. Other parts of the concert made me think of life as it were back then and wonder what it would've been like to be there in person and watch the actual performance. On another note popular music deals with music that Is popular to today's society. For this concert, I chose a concert performed by Evanescence which was posted on Youth.This concert was definitely not a favorite. Though I am familiar with some of their earlier works, this concert was not exactly something to put the mind at ease, It was more of pumping up the crowd and a little dark. The vocals could not be heard as clearly as the previous concert and the tone was definitely a bit darker. So overall I did not enjoy this concert as much as I did the performers of the Baroque music. There are various similarities and differences amongst the two genres of music. The role of concerts from both the Baroque period and now are similar in that they re for entertainment.Back in the Baroque time period music was performed at churches or for the King and Queens or for anyone who could afford such an event. Almost like concerts today that are held for anyone that will be willing to pay versus just the rich and noble. The people that attend today's rock concerts however are generally classified as memo, Goth, skaters, snowboarders, rock and roll fans and the list could go on. If we look at popular music as a whole however, everyone who Is anyone will attend a concert. The basis for this Is that It depends on what type of USIA a person likes.Someone who attends a rock concert might not attend a Jazz concert, it all just depends whereas in the Baro que period concerts were held to a The instruments from both of these concerts were complete opposite of each other much like the difference between Baroque music and popular music. Though they have many parts that are necessary to the sound of the music, they are very different in the instruments selected. In the Baroque period instruments such as the cello, harpsichord, violin and many others were a major part of the ensemble.In today's music instruments can vary from one essential piece such as the keyboard to a whole band such as in the Baroque period. It very well depends on the style but in the essence of rock music there are only four major players needed such as the bass guitar, electric guitar, the drums and a vocalist. The people that attend these concerts also create a different setting and mood in itself. Other differences include the sound of the music. Baroque music overall offers a sense of peace or excitement. In some cases it makes one want to dance with a partner i n a ballroom setting.Popular music on the other hand can make one want to dance alone or with someone. It can be at home or at a club. The feelings created can range from anger to peacefulness. It cannot be categorized into one overall concept or idea. In general both Baroque and popular music speak to the crowd attending the concert. They can both draw in a crowd and be performed on stage. The locations however may vary. One may be performed in a church setting where another will be performed live at a theater or other venue. Overall one could say that people attend concerts to feel good, to see their favorite artist or to Just go with the in crowd.People attend concerts for many different reasons and each person has a personal reason for attending a concert. With the advance in technology music will always be constantly changing. People today can make music from their homes on their computers and then post it to the web and become an instant hit or a slow moving one. The change in technology has allowed us as a society to count the next big artist from home, to create new sounds with the touch of a button. It has created the ability to download software and share USIA with our friends and family.Technology allows us to be at concerts and share videos of the concerts with anyone we know. Technology will continually have an impact on music because more people are tuning in. More people want music on demand and at the touch of a few buttons can watch concerts live from the consorts of their home. Technology is changing everything and everyone is trying to keep up as music making applications are brought to our mobile phones. Technology has made it possible for music to be everywhere at one time with each person enjoying hat they value most about music.

Human Dignity in A Lesson Before Dying Essay - 1353 Words

Human Dignity in A Lesson Before Dying Grant and Jefferson are on a journey. Though they have vastly different educational backgrounds, their commonality of being black men who have lost hope brings them together in the search for the meaning of their lives. In the 1940’s small Cajun town of Bayonne, Louisiana, blacks may have legally been emancipated, but they were still enslaved by the antebellum myth of the place of black people in society. Customs established during the years of slavery negated the laws meant to give black people equal rights and the chains of tradition prevailed leaving both Grant and Jefferson trapped in mental slavery in their communities. The struggles of Grant and Jefferson share a common theme, man’s†¦show more content†¦Even his college education has not elevated his position in the eyes of the white society. When he was talking with white people, he was expected to act stupid and hide his education and assume the subservient role of a black. As in Grant’s visit to Mr. Guidry the first time. ‘She doesn’t, huh?’ Sam Guidry asked me. He emphasized doesn’t. I was supposed to have said don’t. I was being too smart (48). Of law, education and religion, one had to empower Jefferson and Grant. The law was clearly outside their realm of influence. However, education opened the door for Jefferson and Grant to share dialogue and to explore who they were and how they could be empowered. It was religion, their search for a greater meaning and a higher power, which allowed them to begin to think not of what white men thought of them, but rather what God and what they thought of themselves. With this new way of thinking, they forged a bond and both began to understand the simple heroic act of resistance in defying the expectation of white society that they were members of a lesser race ‘Do you know what a myth is, Jefferson?’ I asked him. ‘A myth is an old lie that people believe in. White people believe that they are better than anyone else on earth—and that’s a myth. The last thing they ever want is to see a black man stand, and think and show that common humanity that is i n us all. It would destroy their myth’ (192). Grant encouraged Jefferson to live beyond the stereotypeShow MoreRelatedA Lesson Before Dying - Lessons Learnt Before Jeffersons Demise1095 Words   |  5 PagesFormal Essay: A Lesson before Dying Exactly what lessons are learnt, and by whom, before Jefferson is executed? There are, in fact, numerous lessons learnt throughout the novel A Lesson Before Dying and they are learnt by a multitude of different characters. A significant number of characters throughout the book gradually evolve whilst story unfolds with this gradient of change emphasised in Jefferson, Grant Wiggins and the deputy, Paul. The lessons substantiate themselves in the words andRead MoreSummary Of A Lesson Before Dying 1688 Words   |  7 PagesSeptember, 2015 A Lesson Before Dying Year: 1993 Title: A Lesson Before Dying The title of this novel â€Å"A Lesson Before Dying† is what the book’s plot revolves around. Dying refers to Jefferson’s death, while the lesson refers to the lessons learnt by Jefferson, the white community, and Grant. Lesson 1: The article ‘a’ means that there is one, single lesson that is being taught before someone’s death, which is what the title really refers to in the shallowest sense. This lesson talks about GrantRead MoreA Lack Of Dignity By Ernest J. Gaines1173 Words   |  5 Pages A lack of dignity was shown throughout A Lesson Before Dying in the characters of Grant, Jefferson, Miss Emma, Tante Lou, and Vivian. All of these characters in the novel struggled with their lack of human morals which reflected on their impertinent actions towards themselves and among others. 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He does thisRead MoreA Lesson Before Dying, by Ernest J. Gaines Essay1011 Words   |  5 Pages and elaborate registration systems, but it only started there. The novel A Lesson Before Dying is about a young, college-educated man and a convict, Grant Wiggins and Jefferson. Grant is asked to make a man out of Jefferson who is convicted of killing a white man during a robbery in which he got dragged along to. Grant is asked by Emma Lou to make a man out of Jefferson, so if anything, Jefferson can die with dignity. Something that he was striped of when he was tried and his attorney used theRead MoreEssay about Euthanasia as Mercy or Murder1311 Words   |  6 Pageseuthanasia, a physician or family member takes the life of a patient by means of lethal injection, before he or she dies of a terminal illness or injury. Currently, passive euthanasia is prohibited in most states, but not all. Whereas, active euthanasia is illegal in every state. Although many people believe that euthanasia is a way for people to die with dignity, it is the deliberate taking of a human life and should be banned because it is a clear form of murder. Of course, supporters of euthanasiaRead More Lesson Before Dying Essay1032 Words   |  5 Pages The ending of A Lesson Before Dying gives the reader a sense of despair and then portrays a sense of optimism. Gaines’ writing is unique because the reader feels this hope for the future and optimism without Gaines having to say it. Instead, he wrote about the execution and the hope was picked up from the â€Å"little things.† At the reader feels disappointed because Jefferson has died. The optimism comes into play through Grant and the fact that he has learned his lesson(s) from Jefferson. It is alsoRead MorePros And Cons Of Assisted Suicide1743 Words   |  7 Pagesevery state? All human beings have the right to decide how and when to end life in the event of a terminal disease to end suffering. 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