Pyramids and Ziggurats

Pyramids and ziggurats both provide archeologists with a great deal of information about the ancient cultures that constructed them. When comparing The Great Pyramids of Egypt with The Ziggurats of Mesopotamia and the Mesoamerican Pyramids, the differences between them are more apparent than the similarities that they share. The structures only appear to be similar. Both have the general form of a pyramid. Some other similarities shared by these structures can be interpreted from a religious context of those who had them erected and what role they served for the society.Among the differences are their usage, how they were decorated, their designs, and the materials used in their construction. The Egyptian pyramids were built as the final resting place for the pharaoh. It was also where the Pharaohs possessions were kept for him to enjoy in the afterlife. What has been found inside of these tremendous pyramids are precise layouts. For example, page 51 in our first book shows a diagram of the pyramid and inside each of them is a narrow shaft that extends from the deepest chamber to the outside. Coincidentally it is aligned with the North Star.The Great Pyramids are quite interesting. The stones are so tight that you cannot even put a knife in between the stones. It makes you think how could this be possible? It makes you think how did these pyramids get built? Some might say that they were moved on wooden sleds, but it is quite hard to imagine how they constructed something on this scale. While it is true that the forced labor of war prisoners was a common practice at the time, most people agree that the humongous labor force used in building the pyramids consisted of workers from throughout Egypt as it states in our book.Another interesting fact is that they are also perfectly square and they are aligned almost precisely with a compass. So really the main purposes of these pyramids were to have a resting place for their Pharaohs as they entered the afterlife. Th e pyramids of Mesoamerica also had their dead buried inside just as the Maya had done as mentioned in Book III on page 105. Unlike the Ancient Egyptian pyramids, these pyramids are better known for serving as altars or bearers of sacrificial offerings. Like the ancientEgyptians, the early civilizations of Mesoamerica were involved in agriculture and their lives depended on how successful the harvest is. Because of this, both the Mayans and the Aztecs preformed human sacrifice as part of agricultural renewal. The temples had a long stair-stepped design that shows their purpose. The stepped design isn’t the only difference from the pyramids of ancient Egypt, but it was also the function they served in the society. These were temples to gods, and each one had a staircase topped with a temple.The Mesoamerican pyramids were the heart and center of the city and community. Its main focus was to serve as religious ceremonies and civic ceremonies unlike the Egyptians which had their p yramids away from the villages. The Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan was designed to represent certain astronomical events providing a link between the culture and the universe. If you look at the Pyramid of the Sun compared to the pyramids in Egypt, it is exactly the same size in terms of base as the great pyramid, but its height is roughly half the size of the great pyramids.It is actually more similar to the Mesopotamian Ziggurats than the Ancient Egyptians Pyramids. Ziggurats are a lot like the Mesoamerican pyramids, with their stair-stepped shape and temple tops. But ziggurats were not places of worship to the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians that built them, they were the gods’ actual homes. In fact, only the priests could enter. And while South American pyramids have long staircases, ziggurats have ramps and steps. Many ziggurats also had seven tiers, representing the seven known planets or the seven heavens.For the most part, the ziggurats that still exist can b e found mainly in Iran and Iraq. Ziggurats and pyramids do greatly differ with function and purpose. As I had stated, Pyramids were thought to be the final resting places of the pharaohs. Ziggurats, however, were built to house the gods. Because of this, only special priests were allowed to go inside the ziggurats. Ziggurats also function as a retreat spot for the priest in case of a flood at the ground level. It also is a complete temple with dwelling places, storages, and courtyards.Zigguratss have steps and ramps with its sides receding. They pyramids have a long stretch of staircases as the Mesoamerican pyramids demonstrated and smoother sides, as the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids showed. The Ziggurats do lack internal chambers unlike the Egyptian Pyramids. The Ziggurats have seven layers that represent the seven planets of heaven. Studying these ancient structures gives us a chance to take a look at the past. It is amazing how these feats of engineering survived this long.Because o f this, we are able to look at the civilizations that built them and how they incorporated these structures into their society. For Ancient Egyptians, it was for the deceased pharaohs as they made their journey to the afterlife. For the Mesoamericans, it was for religious purposes and agricultural renewal. And last for the Mesopotamians, it served as a house where the gods lived. These structures were a representation of the whole universe to these people. It is hard to compare with anything that we have now.

Meichenbaum’s Self-instructional training

Problem: Feeling insecure about not being intelligent enough compared to my classmates. Phase 1: Self-observation I have been an average student all my life, and I am aware that at times I feel insecure and doubt my own abilities to be able to complete the required tasks and assignments in my classes to be able to finish this program. When an instructor gives out assignments or projects I always ask myself whether I could do it or not, most of the time I feel I can’t. Then when during class discussions or debates I listen to my classmates and I wonder how eloquently they are able to share their thoughts and argue their opinions.I often listen to myself and my internal dialogue had been how unsure I am of my answers, how I fear talking in front of my classmates because I might not be able to give the correct answer. I want to be able to change this behavior and negative self-perception; I want to be more confident and smart in class. Phase 2: Starting a new internal dialogue Ac cording to Meichenbaum, the second stage in the behavioral change process is to start a new internal dialogue that is not in accordance with the old negative internal dialogue.The client can work with this new internal dialogue with the therapist, but I guess I could do it without the help of the therapist. I could basically throw rebuttals to my negative internal dialogues. If for example, I say I am not smart, then my new internal dialogue would be that I always had good grades, I never failed a course and that is being smart. I could also say to myself that there will always be people who are better than me and that I am better than others too. Phase 3: Learning a new skillIn this phase, the client learns new behaviors to cope with the negative internal dialogues and to be able to learn skills that would bring about behavior change. For me, I could probably learn how to be able to speak more confidently and I could do that by observing how my classmates put their thoughts togethe r and how they deliver it in class. I could buy a book about public speaking or better communication skills and learn it. I could also ask my classmates their strategies for studying and maybe learn those strategies to be able to study better and have higher grades.

Tolerance and World Peace

Tolerance and World Peace What is the meaning of tolerance or world peace? Tolerance is the ability to the fundamental of other cultures without using individuals or own culture to compare others. World peace is the freedom, peace, and happiness between all nations and people. The two articles, â€Å"Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism† by Martha Nussbaum and â€Å"Don’t Forget the Little Plattons† by Michael McConnel, explains the tolerance and cultures. In my own understanding from the 2 articles, I think patriotism is opposite from the tolerance.However, the more patriotic the citizen is towards their own country, they will become less tolerant of other cultures. Nussbaum argues that all citizens should act cosmopolitanism to be sure there are truth, peace and justice in the world. Everyone should be able to â€Å"come together as a single body†1 (Nussbaum 1996, 10) to unite with other fellow human beings and not categorize each other into groups. This will lead to an increase of world peace. There is a quote when Nussbaum agree with this, â€Å"It is this community that is, fundamentally, the source of our moral obligations.With respect to the most basic moral values, such as justice, ‘We should regard all human beings as our fellow citizens and neighbors’. We should regard our deliberations as, first and foremost, deliberations about human problems of people in particular concrete situations, not problems growing out of a national identity that is altogether unlike that of others. â€Å" 2 (Nussbaum 1996, 7) This quote is referring to when the human that are living in the world today should observe being as a citizen for their country and neighbours within their community.When the citizen is devoting himself to the nation, it is most likely for the person to be more ignorant of the values and rights to be followed around the world. This is why there is no world peace because citizen would rather to focus on his or her own values and rights. There are other options for students as an advantage to be learning about other cultures and beliefs. â€Å"As students here grow up, is it sufficient for them to learn that they are above all citizens of the United States but that they ought to respect the basic human rights of citizens of India, Bolivia, Nigeria and Norway†¦Ã¢â‚¬  3 (Nussbaum 1996, 6)To bring changes to the tolerance level of nationalities is the students to be taught that they are the citizens of the world, not the citizen of their country. If the teachers in school taught the students more about other cultures from different countries this will build more tolerance education in the students. They would have better understanding of their beliefs and cultures and also others too. This will benefit a difference within the nationalities about tolerance.There are three arguments for the second concept of education from the Stoics that Nussbaum explain about tolerance and a bit of world p eace. Firstly, â€Å"they hold that they study of humanity as it is realized in the whole world is valuable for self-knowledge: we see ourselves more clearly when we see our ways in relation to those of other reasonable people. †4 (Nussbaum 1996, 8) I agree with him because we are here in this world for a reason, we are here to learn about the world as one society, world peace.World peace will make it easier for people to relate to others to expand more self-knowledge like self-actualization. Secondly, â€Å"†¦that we will be better table to solve our problems if we face them in this way. †5 (Nussbaum 1996, 8) This is true because looking in the past of the history from different politics has been cause from assassinations and wars. The best example is Hilter and his Nazi army when they try to take over Europe by killing people that are different such as being black, disable, Jews and more. We try to avoid these dangers by decreasing large groups in the world comm unity.Finally, they talk about that â€Å"†¦stance of the kosmou polites is intrinsically valuable, for it recognizes in people what is especially fundamental about them, most worthy of respect and acknowledgement†¦Ã¢â‚¬  6 (Nussbaum 1996, 8) If the world is seen as one society or entity, citizen will be tolerance about their cultural difference. They will focus more on what they would have in common. â€Å"These qualities may be less colourful than local or national traditions and identities†¦Ã¢â‚¬  7 (Nussbaum 1996, 8) We as individual still keep our culture, traditions, religion, and ethnicity even though the world is going to unite as one society.Even though the world comes together as world peace, it does not represent that we will not be able to undefined ourselves of whom we are. The point of this is to not separate each citizen from our community we are part of. But, we should hold the humanity that is part of it. This is how we should visualize ourselves as, â€Å"Our task as citizens of the world will be to draw the circles somehow toward the center. Making all human beings more like our fellow city-dwellers, and so on. We need to give up our special affections and identifications, whether ethnic or gender-based or religious.We need not think of them as superficial, and we may think for our identity as constituted partly by them. † 8 (Nussbaum 1996, 9) When I read Nussbaum’s article, I thought ‘ Isn’t Nussbaum being to self-centered? ’ But when I over read it again I understood her arguments and points she was pointing out relating to tolerance. On the other hand, McConnell’s article had also suitable points he wanted to argue about. With McConnell’s point, I agree to what he is explaining about tolerance that it does not come from the educational wise but it comes from home whereas family and older generation explain their own culture.Most of my point of view of different culture or belief did come from teaching in school when I took a World Religion course in grade 10. I learn a lot more about other beliefs and cultures more than usual. It was interesting because most culture have their own traditions that are practically the same traditions than other cultures. I also learn the ideas from my family and realtives. I do believe that the students should learn and understand the cultural teachings in school, so that they have a strong influence that could possibly change their perceptions. They key to moral education is to fuse the sentiments (especially love) to teaching of the good. We begin to do good because we love our preceptors (especially our parents); we want to please them and we want to be like them. We continue to do good because that is the kind of person we have grown up to be. † 9 (McConnel1996, 79) McConnell is trying to say in this quote is that tolerance start at home and than become more involving with the community. He also said that one could be part of the local community even though cosmopolitanism states that.But, it cannot be forgotten that the main purpose is to look at the world as a one society, world peace. Things will have to be accepted in some days where as it is possible that the communities maybe forgotten. To the conclusion, the 2 articles â€Å"Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism† by Martha Nussbaum and â€Å"Don’t Forget the Little Plattons† by Michael McConnel, had made excellent point of view of their own opinion about tolerance and cultures. I agree more of Nussbaum side because he stated that the world would be a better place if we all became more tolerant of other beliefs.This will help the world to have peace and as one culture. A way to change this is to change the teaching in school, whereas students can learn more about other cultures. However, the students’ opinions will change with the influence when the parent or relative tell the stories about their own culture. Another argument is the Stoics when the world was to get ride of smaller political groups that the war of dangers would be reduced. Both sides of these two arguments had made perfect sense points about the author’s opinion about tolerance and world peace.It is hard to select which to select as the best points, but in my opinion I liked Nassbaum points because she explained the benefits. On the other hand, McConnell explained the potentials. Nassbaum leaves me with better agreement on his article. Notes 1. Martha Nussbaum et al. , â€Å"Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism,† in For Love of Country: Debating the limits of patriotism, ed. Joshua Cohen (Boston: Beacon Press, 1996), 10. 2. Nussbaum, 7. 3. Nussbaum, 6. 4. Nussbaum, 8. 5. Nussbaum, 8. 6. Nussbaum, 8. 7. Nussbaum, 8. 8. Nussbaum, 9. 9.Micheal McConnell et al. , â€Å"Don’t Forget the Little Platoons,† in For Love of Country: Debating the limits of patriotism, ed. Joshua Cohen (Boston: Beacon Press, 199 6), 79. Works Cited McConnell, Michael. et al. â€Å"Don’t Forget the Little Platoons. † In For Love of Country: Debating the limits of patriotism, edited by Joshua Cohen, 78-84. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996. Nussbaum, Martha, et al. â€Å"Patriotism and Cosmopolitanism. † In For Love of Country: Debating the limits of patriotism, edited by Joshua Cohen, 2-17. Boston: Beacon Press, 1996.

Customer Survey Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Customer Survey Assignment - Essay Example They are not limited to the questionnaires, and can freely talk about related matters that could support their answers. Focus group discussions (FGD) usually allow participants to talk about issues that may not usually arise from individual interviews. For example, there may be issues that the individual interviewee may forget during the course of the interview, which other participants in an FGD might bring up. Email survey questionnaires, meantime, may not be able to paint the real pictures since respondents would only be those who have email addresses, and not everyone has one. 3. Respondents may hesitate giving accurate answers depending on who or what group is administering the survey. They may feel more comfortable, or withheld information depending on their level of comfort with the one conducting the survey. For example, if the respondents have had previous unpleasant experience with the surveyor, the tendency is not to provide honest and accurate answers, or maybe even avoiding the survey altogether. On the other hand, if respondent has already established trust towards the person or the group conducting the survey, they would tend to be more engaging or pleasant in their answers. Survey instrument design on the other hand may stem from the manner by which a survey is conducted. For example, absence of an email address for every potential respondent may result to inaccurate results. If the surveyor wants to measure the service quality of a supermarket and only sends the questionnaires to registered email addresses of frequent customers, there would be biased answers. Same goes if the survey is featured in a certain website only. Of course, only those who have accessed the website can participate in the survey. There will be no chance for people who are not internet savvy to share their experiences even if they are actually frequent

BU3019c Enterprise Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

BU3019c Enterprise Finance - Essay Example No matter the size of the business, big or small, banks can be the solution to financing. A bank can also finance a project based on the business needs. For instance, if a large successful business needed a new warehouse, a bank might advance cash. Big business generally have banks issue stocks or bonds on the market to raise money for their loans. This can generate money, but if the bank or stock fails, the results are disaster. For example, Northern Rocks Share price crashed after credit freezes in the interbank money market. Walayat (2007) explains: Northern Rocks Share price crashed by 30% today as the mortgage bank sought emergency funds from the Bank of England due to the credit freeze in the interbank money market which Northern Rock heavily relies upon. Panic gripped savers forming long lines outside Northern Rock Branches throughout the UK to withdraw funds. Investors dumping the stock on the market open where even unsubstantiated rumors of takeovers and white knights failed to halt the crash in the banks share price. The tick chart for the Northern Rock bank decline is shown below: The drawbacks for bank loans are two fold. First, most banks require collateral. If a party defaults on a bank loan, the bank will foreclose. Secondly, a business must have good credit. Without almost perfect credit, banks will not even consider giving a business a loan. The upside is most banks have lower interest rates than other means of investment. For example, (Simple Pound, 2007) reports that The Bank of England has a 5.5% interest rate. This is quite low considering credit cards charge up to three times that figure. The chart below shows the highs and lows in interest rate at The Bank of England over the years. Investments can be used in various ways to finance a business (Loeb, 2007, 10). An international corporation, such as Microsoft, can sell stocks to generate financing for their