What extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC Essay Example

What extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC Essay The key component of monarchy as a political system is generally considered to be the rule, usually in this period absolute, of one person over a state for the duration of their lifetime. It also contains an inherently hereditary nature, with the holder of the office not being elected or appointed through a political process, but named by their predecessor as heir. Rome of the first century BC, however, boasted a strong tradition of proud Republicanism; a tradition with which the concept of monarchy seemed wholly incompatible. Despite the virtual collapse of the Roman Republic in the foregoing years of military demagogues and civil war, and the systematic murder of vehement Republicans such as Cicero under the Triumvirate, the concept of hereditary rule was still widely regarded with hostility following the Battle of Actium. Memories of Julius Caesars adoption of quasi-monarchical powers in Rome loomed large, and the civil war had left the concept of monarchy indelibly associated with the eastern despotism and excess of the reviled Cleopatra. Such different systems of government are seemingly irreconcilable, being as they are inherently antagonistic. Yet Augustus Caesar, one of the most consummate politicians of the ancient world, somehow managed to achieve what had eluded all his predecessors; the establishment and maintenance of sustainable political dominance in Rome. We will write a custom essay sample on What extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on What extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on What extent did Augustus establish a monarchy between 31BC and 19BC specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Throughout his long period of rule, Augustus was careful to cloak the reality of his power in Republican phraseology and custom, yet, in bequeathing the Roman world a legacy of hereditary rule in many ways akin to monarchy, he simultaneously destroyed the very fabric and ideals of the Republican tradition. Following his victory over Antony at Actium, Caesars young heir, was, by his own admission, in complete control of affairs1 in Rome. At this point, Octavian enjoyed power similar to that of his adoptive father. Yet, although the true foundations of his pre-eminence his imperium over a vast army, granted in 43BC,2 his triumphant emergence from the civil war, and his command of unparalleled financial resources- had been established, Octavian was in no sense a monarch at this point. His regime lacked stability, especially since his position may have had little constitutional validity. His official term as triumvir had ended in either 33 or 32BC, and there is little solid evidence that he was ever granted additional extraordinary powers, although this possibility cannot be discounted. The Res Gestae inevitably points to the rather ambiguous universal consent,3 as the foundation of this dominance, which, given that Octavian had defeated the unpopular Antony and that all hopes of the peace Rome desperately craved now lay with the young man, may actually contain a grain of truth. Whether universal consent was the sole basis of his power or not, support was likely to have a finite duration, given that Octavians dominance was redolent of the political systems most despised, monarchy and dictatorship. The precedent of his adoptive father, however, loomed large, and Octavian, a consummate politician, was all too aware of the probable peril of riding roughshod over Republican sentiment; assassination. He recognised that, for his power to be sustainable, it would have to develop a basis acceptable to the Roman conscience. This is not necessarily proof that Octavian held any genuine desire to fully revive the Republic; whilst Suetonius asserts that twice Augustus seriously thought of restoring the Republican ystem,4 the princeps actions reveal any such intention, if it did ever exist, quickly evaporated. Octavian, despite his propagandist assertions to the contrary in the Res Gestae, was in all probability interested in maintaining and sustaining his power; in translating Caesars dream of permanent, stable family dominance into the realm of the possible and achievable. To do this, he had to create a monarchy veiled in Republican terminology and tradition, and establish himself as a mo narchical figure acceptable to the Romans. Dio leaves us in little doubt as to Octavians motives, claiming that he was eager to establish the monarchy in very truth. 5 In terms of establishing a stable political system in which his own power was accepted, Octavian used two main tactics. Firstly, he had to secure a constitutional legitimacy for his continued dominance, and, as Suetonius claimed, take great trouble to prevent his political system from causing any individual distress,6 particularly to the conservative political classes. Octavian, as quoted by Suetonius, was eager to build firm and lasting foundations for the Government of the State. 7 Secondly, and just as importantly, he had to secure his personal popularity amongst the Roman people, and cultivate a new, acceptable image of monarchy far removed from popular images of tyranny and despotism. In terms of achieving a new constitution, Octavian realised that he would have to tread exceptionally carefully, given that resistance to overt displays of power was strongest amongst the conservatives of the Senate. Ever the shrewd politician, Octavian quickly realised that, paradoxically, the best way to obtain sustainable personal power was to appease the elite by posing as the defender, rather than the destroyer, of the Republican tradition. Octavian, once known for his ruthless ambition, suddenly and seamlessly metamorphosed into the saviour of Roman liberty, an image which he would cultivate until his death. The settlement of 27BC was the striking culmination of this tactic; Octavian appeared before the senate and resigned all of his extraordinary powers. The Res Gestae alludes to the event only briefly, but, given its propagandist purpose, understandably implies that Augustus was acting benevolently as he transferred the republic from my power to the dominion of the senate and people of Rome. 8 The ambiguity of this statement conceals the true nature of the settlement, which Dio more accurately paints as a clever trick to have his supremacy ratified by the Senate9 and the Res Gestae fails to mention the vast provincia that Octavian, now rewarded with the cognomen Augustus, received in return. Suetonius, who also addresses the settlement only peripherally, informs us that Augustus kept for himself all the more vigorous provinces;10 these were Gaul, Spain (excluding Baetica), Syria and Cyprus, over which he gained proconsular authority for a ten year period, in addition to Egypt, which he administered as virtually his own private kingdom. Suetonius and the Res Gestae, however, both neglect to mention that Augustus retained control of all the legions (although Dio to an extent implies this in saying that Augustus took the more powerful11). In addition, Augustus continued to stand for, and was elected to, the consulship. This was an unprecedented move, as no previous public figure had held both consular and proconsular authority concurrently. Undoubtedly, the settlement was not a service12 to Rome as Augustus implied, but an enormously clever manipulation of the Senate that simultaneously gave Augustus vast powers within the Republican system, legitimised his position, and won him mass acclaim. The claims in the Res Gestae that after this time I possessed no more official power than others who were my colleagues in several magistracies13 are strictly true, but what is omitted is the fact that Augustus had an unparalleled accumulation of magistracies. Dio even dates the foundation of the monarchy to the settlement of 27BC, claiming In this way the power of both people and senate passed entirely into the hands of Augustus, and from this time there was, strictly speaking, a monarch14 Arguably, this statement needs to be qualified on two grounds. Firstly, Augustus did not have absolute legal power; he still ultimately accountable to the law. Additionally, many facets of the Republic were restored, albeit in a modified form the Senate regained control over the more peaceful provinces, and all magistrates performed their traditional functions. Secondly, the settlement did not instantaneously establish a monarchy; it merely provided the constitutional basis for, and therefore enhanced the legitimacy of, Augustus dominance within the Republic. Further enhancements were made to the political settlement in 23BC, when Augustus renounced the perpetual consulship and gained instead all the components of tribunician power, in addition to imperium maius over the other consuls that was valid even with the boundary of the pomerium. This settlement is alluded to neither in the Res Gestae (Augustus simply mentions that he was awarded tribunician power15) or in Suetonius, whose coverage of constitutional matters is sketchy. Dio mentions that Augustus was granted tribunician power, but only vaguely implies a political purpose in saying Augustus resigned the consulship n order that as many as possible might become consuls16 The reason for these changes is unclear; one interpretation is that Augustus wanted to make his power even less overt, perhaps as a result of a conspiracy against his life in 24BC (although Dio dates the conspiracy to 22BC, the year after the settlement,17 which may suggest that it occurred as a response to the settl ement), another is that referred to above by Dio, namely, that he realised his monopoly of the consulship was infuriating other politicians as it limited their possibilities of advancement to the position. Although the second settlement ostensibly reduced Augustus power, depriving him of his consular imperium, and probably, therefore, his imperium within Rome itself, it transpired that the period of 24BC-19BC was key in the establishment of the principate. To what extent Augustus anticipated the constructive effects of the settlement is difficult to gauge, but given his immense political acumen, it cannot be discounted that the settlement was a highly calculated move. To the politically unsophisticated masses, this settlement indicated Augustus resignation from Roman politics. Fortuitously for Augustus, this resignation coincided with damaging floods and food shortages, which the superstitious interpreted as negative omens. In consequence, there were demands for Augustus to accept the dictatorship or the perpetual consulship,18 a clear validation of his continued dominance. Augustus refused, claiming that I would not accept any office inconsistent with the custom of our ancestors. 19 He thus managed to simultaneously emerge with an enhanced reputation, and with popular support that could potentially be used as leverage to force the senators into acquiescence. Any loss of power, too, seems to have been temporary, for Dio indicates that in 19BC Augustus gained [authority of] consul for life,20 although he did not formally hold the post. This is not mentioned in the Res Gestae, but, given that the constitutional basis of Augustus dominance is largely ignored, this is unsurprising. Between 31BC and 19BC, Augustus established the legal foundation of his predominance extremely successfully. His tactic of acting inside the Roman constitution had allowed him to amass considerable power whilst avoiding offence to Republican sentiment. He had, indeed established the legal foundations of a new position that, although strictly a composite of constitutional positions, allowed him to gradually assume monarchical authority. Augustus choice to omit mention of his legal powers, or potestas in the Res Gestae means that it is easy to underestimate their importance, but by 19BC his legal rights were indeed great; not only did he have proconsular authority over half the empire and control of most of the legions, but his imperium maius enabled him to intervene even in senatorial provinces, whilst the consular imperium he may have received in 19BC gave him legal pre-eminence in Rome itself. Although tribunician power was primarily symbolic, giving Augustus an image as defender of the people, it did allow him to propose legislation and veto the laws of the Senate. Despite these successes in establishing increasing dominance, there were still key differences between the constitutional powers of Augustus and the powers usually associated with monarchy. Augustus ultimately did not enjoy absolute power, as he was accountable to the constitution and the law. Indeed, many of his special rights, namely his proconsular authority over his provincia, were officially only granted for periods of five or ten years, although they would never be revoked. What is paramount, however, is that although Augustus recognised the importance of having his position ratified in constitutional terms, largely in order to secure the acquiescence of the governing class, he did not intend to have his authority continuously scrutinised in terms of legal minutiae. Augustus potestas, or legal powers, clarified his role and legitimised his pre-existing dominance, but Augustus never intended for them to provide an exhaustive description of his role or to limit his powers. Instead, Augustus hoped that, with success and popularity, he would evolve into a monarchical figure acceptable to the Romans, and would be able to issue commands without people inquiring by virtue of what statute he was acting. This unofficial influence, or auctoritas, was a key component of Augustus power. Augustus auctoritas was largely derived from his unparalleled achievements, and, fortuitously for the princeps, these continued to occur after 31BC. Augustus exploited the true foundations of his power, namely his military success and enormous wealth, plus his considerable political skill, to gain triumphs for the Empire. Between 31BC and 19BC he achieved more success in the provinces, pacifying Gaul and Spain and annexing Galatia and Lyconia. In 25BC the Temple of Janus was closed, which, as is mentioned in the Res Gestae, symbolised that victories had secured peace through land and sea throughout the whole empire of the Roman people. 21 Military success was combined with striking munificence; in the Res Gestae Augustus highlights that between 31BC and 19BC he gave 700 sesterces to each of the Roman plebs, that after the war he gave 1000 sesterces to each of his soldiers, and that in 23BC he bought grain to help ease the food shortages. 22 This was in addition to his lauded building programme; by 19BC his immense spending on public works had begun. The inevitable result of such achievements was popularity amongst both the masses and, increasingly, the Senate, and as more people concurred with Augustus dominance his auctoritas further increased. Interestingly, Augustus chose to highlight his auctoritas rather than his potestas in the Res Gestae, which contains the implicit assumption throughout that great successes merited great rewards and influence. Indeed, whilst barely mentioning his imperium and omitting his provincia totally, Augustus confidently asserts that he excelled all in influence. 23 His choice to emphasise his unofficial power rather than his potestas was again politically expedient, reinforcing the image that Augustus was not the destroyer of the Republican tradition, but a great man who had been rewarded for service to his country. The latter image was far more acceptable to the conservative nobility, who, as a result of the peace and success that Augustus had heralded, and also due to the memories of the functi oning Republic becoming more distant, were increasingly prepared to collaborate with Augustus and accept his diluted version of monarchy. Allied to his pursuit of personal popularity, Augustus also attempted to reduce the instinctive Roman hostility towards one man having overt control through creating an image of hereditary rule far removed from previous notions of tyranny and poor government. A skilled propagandist, Augustus presented himself simultaneously as a benevolent patriarch, a skilled general who actively championed the liberty of the Republic24and added to its glory, and a great statesman. He also manipulated his position as the divi filius of the deified Caesar, and encouraged, particularly in the provinces, the development of an imperial cult. To propagate these images, Augustus employed subtle yet pervasive propaganda. Coins were minted and statues built in praise of Augustus achievements, and poets such as Horace and Virgil were encouraged to write in praise of the princeps and the Empire. Commonly ascribed to him were the virtues of, as he writes in the Res Gestae, courage, clemency, justice and piety,25 and even the cognomen Augustus was suggestive, meaning revered one. Although the amassing of auctoritas continued until his death, by 19BC Augustus had certainly started to evolve into a monarchical figure who boasted the support of the Roman people and had largely overcome resistance to his rule. Whilst Augustus longevity and continued success would allow his power to further increase, by 19BC he had, as Suetonius claimed was his aim, built firm and lasting foundations for the Government of the State. 26 His next concern was to ensure that these foundations which I have established for the State will abide secure. 27 This appears to be a veiled reference to his wish to appoint a successor, which is perhaps the best proof that Augustus aim was always to develop hereditary monarchy in Rome. Even before 19BC, Augustus was preoccupied with the issue of the succession, particularly during his serious illness of 23BC. Although Dio asserts that Augustus did not, to be sure, appoint a successor,28 he, perhaps surprisingly, states that all were expecting that Marcellus would be preferred for the position29 (Augustus seemed to instead prefer Agrippa). The latter quotes suggests that even as early as 23BC, there was a growing acceptance of hereditary rule, one of the most important precepts of monarchical government. By 19BC, the precepts of monarchy, only recently anathema to proud senators and politicians, were beginning to become the undeniable realities of a Roman political system increasingly dominated by one individual, Augustus Caesar, who had carefully yet systematically undermined the values of the Republican system he had purported to protect. Whilst Augustus did not officially possess monarchical power and was ultimately subject to the law and constitution, his skill in amassing numerous offices, powers and honours, combined with his popularity and unparalleled auctoritas, meant that his authority was increasingly unchecked. Even after only 15 years of rule, Caesars heir had skilfully laid the foundations for a monarchy distinctly Roman, a monarchy cloaked in Republican phraseology and custom, yet which would consign the Republic itself forever to history.

Accounting For Managers Example

Accounting For Managers Example Accounting For Managers – Coursework Example Outsourcing/Offshoring and Re-Verticalization 5th April Outsourcing Offshoring and Reverticalization Emergently, U.S. companies are shifting their focus from outsourcing and offshoring of their operations and subsequently relocating them to the United States. According to Noreen, Brewer, and Garrison (2014), the reversal of the offshoring and outsourcing practice has gained prominence as the leading companies opt to re-strategize their operations by relocating foreign subsidiaries back into the country. This essay is aimed at discussing the advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing and offshoring versus the re-establishment of companies back into the United States. Outsourcing/ OffshoringAdvantages Outsourcing and offshoring practices have been characterized by key advantages that have led to their widespread adoption. Outsourcing enables companies to transfer production tasks to specialized vendors with the expertise and resources in a particular field. The model therefore leads to high quality products and saving on time. In addition, offshoring facilitates steady growth with limited overhead costs (Noreen et al. 2014). Through offshoring, firms are exposed to low-cost labor and readily available raw materials. On the other hand, outsourcing enhances risk sharing as companies shift selected responsibilities to other vendors. In relation to corporate tax, foreign subsidiaries have provisions to defer paying corporate tax until the earnings are transferred back into the United States. Subsequently, the demerits of outsourcing and offshoring practices have been the focus of public debate in light of the recent economic recession.Reverticalization of Outsourcing and Offshoring Offshoring majorly leads to the transfer of employment opportunities to the emergent market. This is in contrast to the emergent trend of re-verticalization that is rooting for the relocation of key companies into the US. Re-verticalization positively contributes to the creation of job o pportunities in the country and revitalization of the economy through the 35 % corporate tax (R. Hira & A. Hira, 2008). The relocation of firms in the US further underlines effective management of confidential data by eliminating third parties as opposed to offshoring that majorly avails recruitment and payroll information to offshoring vendors. Re-verticalization further eludes risks associated with hidden costs resulting from international transactions and contracts that add up to the overhead costs. Consequently, re-verticalization of the key operations of companies also advances the company’s focus on customers. With offshoring, vendors engaged with numerous organizations thereby failing to meet client-specific needs of an organization (R. Hira & A. Hira, 2008). In contrast, re-verticalization concentrates on the core operations of an institution based on corporate and business strategy of the company. ReferencesHira, R., & Hira, A. (2008). Outsourcing America: The true c ost of shipping jobs overseas and what can be done about it. New York: Amacom.Noreen, E. W., Brewer, P. C., & Garrison, R. H. (2014). Managerial accounting for managers. S.l.: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Accounting For Managers Example Accounting For Managers – Coursework Example Relevance of a Budget to an Organization s 14th April Relevance of a Budget to an Organization According to Reimers (2007), financial planning in an organization is underpinned with effective budgeting tools and in this regard he defined a budget as an organization’s quantitative expression of financial plans for a future period that could range between months or years. This essay is aimed at examining the relevance of preparing and utilizing a budget in an organization. Preparation of a budget is requisite in the determination of the capital structure of an organization. Through the application of budgetary tools, management is able to realign effectively financing of assets through the perfect matrix of equity, debt and securities (Garrison et al., 2015). As a result of capital budgeting, the management will be better placed to formulate strategic goals, accurately estimate and forecast cash flows, control and monitor organization’s expenditures. The budget is also i nstrumental in the formulation and amendment of financial policies. According to Reimers (2007), the budget constitutes an integral part in the decision-making framework within an organization. As a decision making tool, the budget explicitly depicts the financial plans of an organization thereby providing a framework for the development of appropriate policies and strategies on future undertakings. Garrison et al., (2015) noted that the importance of a budget is further underlined with its role in organization performance monitoring. Organizations should prepare a budget to facilitate comparability of the actual performance of a firm against the previously forecasted performance. Vis a vis, the budget provides the management with the baseline for the evaluation of the performance of the organization within a specific period. Similarly, based on the organization’s performance, the management is able to evaluate the emergent market trends and strategize on the future performa nce of the firm (Garrison et al., 2015). In addition, organizations should prepare budget in order to reduce uncertainties associated with market trends through effective planning for the limited resources, balancing of inflow and outflow of funds and strategic investment of organization’s income. ReferencesGarrison, R. Noreen, E. and Brewer, P. (2015). Managerial Accounting (15th Edition). New York, U.S: McGraw-Hill/Irwin.Reimers, J. (2007). Financial accounting. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

Critique for a Quantitative Research Article Paper

Critique for a Quantitative Article - Research Paper Example Because each instrument has both merits and demerits, a researcher has to choose only appropriate tool to apply in his/her study. This paper reviews an article that describes evaluation study of an Advance Care Plan (ACP) in the Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF). The evaluation follows implementation of various strategies to improve outcomes of ACP. In-depth Review of the Article Introduction Section Purpose of the â€Å"Advanced Care Planning: How does current practice compare with best practice† study is clearly explained. The author of the article, Elizabeth van der Spek, explains that the study is a post-implementation audit to determine whether ACP outcomes have actually improved. In the abstract section, the author says that after the Getting Research Into Practice (GRIP) phase of the project, it was necessary to evaluate effectiveness of strategies implemented. Main problem of the study was, thus, determining whether GRIP really had an effect in the RACF. The author exhaustively gives details of what she is doing. As a proof, the author, in the background section, introduces her subject by comprehensively discussing importance of planning for end of an individual’s life. ... However, after the GRIP phase, there is need to check whether the shortcomings have been eliminated. In page two, the author include an audit question to reveal what the study attempts to answer. Through the question, the author generates her study variables. Three types of variables are used; specific GRIP strategy, specific post-implementation ACP outcome, and standard ACP outcomes. Based on findings of the study and using similar variables, the study can effectively be used to solve any clinical problem. Literature review, Theoretical Framework, Study Hypotheses In literature review, the author carefully introduces the concept of planning for end of a person’s life. As basis of the study, the author uncovers significance of â€Å"End-life wishes.† Spek, thus, did a wide research about her study topic. However, the author does not clearly relate her study with previous studies. In fact, the study does not quote a similar research that had studied ACP. Consequently, th e author does not describe literature gaps. That is, the study is geared towards improving services of RACF and not filling any literature gap. Theoretically, no plain study rationale is stated. Based on this fact, the entire project can be nullified. Ambiguity of the study is also evident in forming hypotheses. The study is a comparative research but no postulate is made about possible outcome of ACP in the facility. Because of vagueness of hypotheses, the study does not allow easy testing procedures. Methodology Even though three classes of variables are used in the study, they are, nevertheless, not easily measurable. The strategies are considered as independent variables, which after implementations, lead to a change in the

School Uniforms in US Public Schools in Michigan Research Proposal

School Uniforms in US Public Schools in Michigan - Research Proposal Example Moreover, a broad discussion relating to the correlation between student behavior and school uniform has also been discussed. Besides, valuable suggestions for improving the effectiveness of school uniform policies in MI school district and mitigating the problems have also been discussed. Discussion School uniforms are often used in every part of the world as a part which helps in maintaining a proper coordination amid the pupils or the learners by a greater level. The introduction as well as the execution of school uniforms can be duly considered to be a global method of upholding law and order within an educational setting. It can be apparently observed that the educational institutions implementing the policy of school uniforms are less involved in arising disputes amid their pupils (The Michigan Legislature, 1999). The topic of introducing school uniforms in the state of Michigan has been in discussion from many years. It has been stated that the state shares no concern in maint aining discipline in public schools resulting in poor academic performance and incident of violence within their respective campus. It can be affirmed from a broader outlook that school uniform associated policies are often designed to foster the performance of the students in an effectual manner. But in certain cases, it can also be viewed that the implementation of the policy did not proved to be quite effective. While certain critics consider adaptation of the school uniform policy to be a fundamental change in the educational environment, it is also criticized concerning its execution affecting right to freedom by a certain degree. Therefore, it is quite vital especially for the school officials to make effective decisions considering both the positive as well as the negative effects that may arise from employing such policies. It has been viewed that in the year 2000, around 21% of the schools encircling the region of the United States have adopted the policy of effectively usi ng school uniforms amid their pupils. In relation to recognize the problems concerning school uniforms, it can be stated that the main reason behind the increase in adoption of school uniforms in the institutions around the country

Greenhouse Business Challenge and Carbon Footprint in Australia Assignment

Greenhouse Business Challenge and Carbon Footprint in Australia - Assignment Example The processes, policies, and procedures to be taken up by companies in regards to carbon footprint operations would be based on standards and incentives. In the first case, standards need to be fixed by companies to measure and thereby manage the level of emissions and thereby to take resort to other non-conventional energy sources like wind and solar energy. Secondly, the focus to reduce the carbon emissions can be linked to financial incentives where it helps in reduction of operational cost (Bannon, DeBell and Krosnick, 2007, p.2). Coca-Cola since 2004 is observed to expend around $40 million in regards to the placement of sustainable refrigerators in its different stores. The refrigerators would work on alternatives for hydro-fluoro-carbons (Cogan, Good, Kantor and McAteer, 2008, p.39). The Best Practices involved in regards to management of Carbon Footprint by organizations are as follows. Firstly the management body of the concern needs to select a particular year calendar or financial in regards to gaining considerable data. Secondly, the management focuses to reduce the level of emissions from direct and indirect operations. Thirdly the management is to decide on the level of control based on direct ownership or through stakeholder approach to reducing the level of greenhouse gases (New Zealand Government, 2008). Wal-Mart focuses on designing a prototype of a store that would help in reducing emission levels of greenhouse gases by around 30 percent. It also targets in reducing emission level in the international stores by around 20 percent to the close of 2012 and in doubling the efficiency level of transportation by 2015 (Walmart, 2010). Tesco is closely working with its supply chain systems to help reduce the level of carbon emissions through a reduction in the number of transportation vehicles and also using bio-energy Tesco also rightly labels the carbon footprint in the different products (FBP 1094, p.3-7)

Ancient Egypt’s Comparison with Mesopotamia

Ancient Egypt’s Comparison with Mesopotamia Ancient Egypt’s farming system compared with Mesopotamia Ancient Egyptians had an easier life compared to the other ancient civilizations because of their reliable agriculture system. Geography played a big role, especially in farming. Due to geography, Mesopotamia and Egypt had different farming methods, weathers, environment, and flooding seasons. In fact, Egypt’s great farming system led them to have better conditions to farm than Mesopotamia because of flooding, the rivers and irrigation and the farming tools that they used. Economy, crops, flooding, and the weather varied between Mesopotamia and Egypt. Geography, flooding seasons, different farming tools, and methods led Egypt to have a better agriculture system than Egypt. The difference between geographies, which includes the environment, was the main factor that the farming was different in Mesopotamians and Egyptians. Flooding influenced farming in Mesopotamia and Egypt. However, flooding helped Egypt but it influenced badly in Mesopotamia. Egypt is settled on the world’s longest river, the Nile, which flows from south to north because of the geography of land. Unlike Mesopotamia, Egypt had a predictable flooding seasons. Farmers, knowing when to expect floods, were able to schedule growing seasons around when crops needed water. Not only did flooding help with good timing with farming, but it also provided rich soil from the flooding. The Nile River floods between June and October (Louis, and Jennifer). After floods, there would be a fertile land along the river which Egyptians used to plant and grow things such as fruits and vegetables (Gill, 29). Flood played a big role in farming and growing crops in Egypt. On the contrary, growing crops were more difficult for Mesopotamians because of the difference in geography. Mesopotamia had limited natural resources because of the unpredictable floods (David, 117). Farmers had no prediction when it was going to flood, which gave the farmers hard times finding the right season to farm. Unlike Egyptians, Mesopotamians lived in the city-states which were based on farming and trade. The city-states were a group of small cities which needed unity with one the other. Also, they were isolated from one another geographically and so the independence of each city-state became important. Farming played a big role in city-states. However, Egypt did not have a good environment, especially the flood was the main problem. Floods destroyed villages and took many lives (David, 121). The floods sometimes caused rivers to change courses and due to this farmers had a lot of trouble with crops. Sudden floods forced Mesopotamians to create an organized agricultural sys tem to help them with farming and growing crops. Mesopotamia was very dry, hot and had little rainfall. Farmers had hard time finding water for their crops. Farming was hard for Mesopotamians due to the hot weather and bad environment conditions (David, 122). Flood was not the only cause of having different farming system, but also due to using different tools and farming methods. Using different tools in farming and farming in different environment such as soil and weathers led Mesopotamia and Egypt to harvest different crops. Egyptian grew a lot of crops due to good weather and soil. Egyptian farmers grew crops such as wheat, barley, vegetables, figs, melons, pomegranates and vines (Barrow). Also, they grew flax which was made into linen (Barrow). Out of all the crops that the Egyptian farmers harvested, the most important crop was grain because ancient Egyptians used grain to make bread, porridge and beer (Barrow). Moreover, grain was the first crop that they grew after inundation. Once the grain was harvested, they grew vegetables, such as onions, leeks, cabbages beans and lettuce (Barrow). Crops differed between Mesopotamia and Egypt because of the environment, but also due to the different tools that they used to farm. Ancient Egypt ian had simple farming tools such as winnowing scoops, hoes, rakes, flint-bladed sickles and ploughs (Barrow). Farming methods, and tools also took a big role in Egypt to have a reliable farming system. Moreover, Egypt was geography isolated by deserts, mountains and seas which allowed their crops to grow well. Mesopotamia had only few crops to grow due to the geography and flooding which influenced the Economy. Due to unpredictable floods, Mesopotamians did not know when to farm. For some farmers, when it was time to harvest, flooded unexpectedly and swept away all the crops. However, the farmers raised few crops which were grains, fruit, vegetables, and barn yard animals. One of the methods that the farmers used was by filling the containers with seeds. Cows would pull plow seed and the seeds would go into the ground (Louis, and Jennifer). Mesopotamian people invented the seeder plow, which enabled farmers to carry out the tasks of seeding and plowing at the same time. The plow created a long, narrow trench made in the ground as seed was dropped into a funnel (Gabriel). The Mesopotamians further enhanced the technology of the plow by learning how to use ox to power it (Gabriel). There were few farming methods, however, Mesopotamia did not have enough methods than Egypt (Louis, and Jennife r). Due to the lack of farming methods, the Mesopotamian farmers hand harvested most crops. Because of the unpredictable flood, and lack of farming tools and methods, Egypt had a better profit in crops and had developed farming system. Along with the farming methods and tools, Mesopotamian and Egyptians were both influenced by geography (McIntosh, 56). Egypt, irrigation led to an increased food supply and helped water dry lands with streams, canals, or pipes. Due to irrigation, farmers could plan for the seasonal flooding. Nile River played a big role in farming because the river provided silt whenever there was a flood, so Egypt was ready for flood and they did not have to worry about the right time for farming. Also, after floods, there would be a fertile strip along the Nile River that was about 12 miles wide (Louis, and Jennifer). Moreover, this benefited the soil, due to this they had rich fertile soil which was good for farming. Not only good fertile soil land, but also the economy boosted. Farmers had a lot of profit due to growing crops. Crops were able to boost the economy because of irrigation. This increased food supply, fertile lands, canals, pipes, and farmers suffered less. Due to Egypt’s geogr aphy, economy boosted because of crops. On the other land, Mesopotamia had hard time with their economy because of their geography. Mesopotamia depended on Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, however, they sometimes brought unpredictable floods (Wallenfels, 28-29). Unlike Egypt, Mesopotamia was overwhelmed with a large amount of silt. This silt was a constant cause of problems in the manmade irrigation systems (Grigg, 22). Not only the silt was the problem, but also the salt was the problem. Right below the surface of where Mesopotamia was, there was a large cluster of salt deposits. This high saline content of the soil made farming in Mesopotamia much more complex and difficult than it was in Egypt. Also, any time the irrigation waterways were not able to be maintained, a lack of the large food would result. Due to the salt deposit and overload of silt caused a decline in economy and crops in Mesopotamia (Grigg, 21). Above all, Egypt had better and suitable environment to grow crops which developed their farming skills as well as their economy. Also, there were many farming methods and tools which led them to grow more crops, and no longer had to do hand harvested crops. Egypt’s distinguished geography, farming methods, and farming tools helped to set them up to be more advanced and outstanding society than Mesopotamian civilization. Works Cited Bertman, Stephen. Handbook to Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. New York: Oxford UP, 2005.  Print. Cline, Eric H., and Jill Rubalcaba. The Ancient Egyptian World. New York: Oxford UP, 2005.  Print. David, A. Rosalie. Geography of Ancient Egypt. Handbook to Life in Ancient Egypt. New  York: Facts On File, 2003. 117-22. Print. Louis, and Jennifer. Farming and Agriculture of Egypt and Mesopotamia. Farming and  Agriculture of Egypt and Mesopotamia. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014. Roaf, Michael. Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. Arlington, VA: Stonehenge, 1992.  Print. Wallenfels, Ronald. World Eras, Volume 8: Ancient Mesopotamia, 3300-331 BCE. Detroit: Gale,  2004. Print. Gill, Vernon Dale, Tom (1974). Topsoil and Civilization, University of Oklahoma Press. Grigg, D.B, (1974). Agricultural Systems of the World. Cambridge University Press. Jacobsent, Thorkild (1982). Salinity and Irrigation Agriculture in Antiquity, UndenaPublications. Leonard, Jonathan Norton, (1973). The First Farmers, Time Life Books. Louis, and Jennifer. Farming and Agriculture of Egypt and Mesopotamia.Farming and Agriculture of Egypt and Mesopotamia. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

Human Resource Management in Business Essay -- essays research papers

Human Resource Management in Business Abstract Human Resource Management (HRM) is no longer a personnel office that is simply a record-keeping and maintenance function. Huselid (1995) points out that there is a positive correlation that has developed between HRM as a strategic ally and company performance. HRM research has grown from an atheoretical origin to view organizational activities from an interdisciplinary perspective (Jennings, 1994) that is concerned with a movement toward methodological and theoretical development (Ferris & Judge, 1991). This review will look at the different ways HRM plays into the overall scheme of providing an organization with a more sustainable competitive edge. Table of Contents Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..4 Background†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.†¦4 Strategic Human Resource Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.6 Multicultural Knowledge Transfer†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..8 HRM in the Public Sector†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦9 Conclusion†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.11 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..13 Human Resource Management in Business The fast paced area of HRM as seen many new developments in the science and practice of the field over its roughly 80-year history (Ferris et al., 1999). One of the earlier developments in HRM research that still has significance today was, at the time, a theoretical foundation that challenged researchers to design measures to assess the relationship between â€Å"individual personalities† and â€Å"company personalities† (Gilmer, 1960). This field of inquiry led to the research that has come to be known as strategic human resource management (SHRM), a field that attempts to align HRM functions and activities with the strategic goals of the organization (Butler, Ferris, & Napier, 1991). Another aspect of this review takes a look at HRM from an international perspective. This viewpoint acknowledges the importance of the global economy, as well as emphasizes the value of the Human Resource (HR) activities that address cross-cultural concerns (Napier, Tibau, Janssens, & Pilenzo, 1995). Lastly, the political perspective of HRM presents an opportunity to address those features of public sector HRM practices that have become outdated by contemporary organizational standards (Soni, 2004). Background Human Resource Management is a diverse ent... ...the international human resources manager. In G. R. Ferris, S. D. Rosen & D. T. Barnum. (Eds.), Handbook of human resource management: 217-242. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers. Pfeffer, J. (1998). The human equation: Building profits by putting people first. Harvard Business Press: Boston. Romano, E. (1995). Opportunity in diversity. Journal of Property Management, 60, 2, 30 (6). Retrieved November 12, 2004, from InfoTrac database. Soni, V. (2004). From crisis to opportunity: Human resource challenges for the public sector in the twenty-first century. The Review of Policy Research, 21, 2, 157-178. Retrieved November 8, 2004 from H.W. Wilson database. Sundstrom, E., DeMeuse, K. P., & Futrell, D. (1990). Work teams: applications and effectiveness. American Psychologist, 45, 2, 120-133. Walker, D. M. (2000). (Statement from David Walker) Managing human capital in the 21st century. Report no. GAO/T-GGD-00-77. Washington, DC: General Accounting Office. Webber, S.S. & Donahue, L.M. (2001). Impact of highly and less-related diversity on work group cohesion and performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Management, 27, 2, 141. Retrieved November 12, 2004, from InfoTrac database.

Barclay Card

The use of Credit cards started during the first half of the 20th century. The cards were initially used to make the process of identification less complex and for confirmation of costumers when authorization was required by tellers for account purchases in retail stores. The process developed, and in the 1940’s, some banks in the united states allowed customers to buy goods and services, and have these charged to against their monthly bank charge account, rather than to a store account Development of competition Early contenders to Barclaycard emerged from their closest competitors.In 1966, prompted by the success of the bank americard network, members of the competing franchises formed the interbank card association (ICA), which was later to become known as MasterCard international. The ICA differed from bank americard in being an organization controlled by member banks which took responsibility for promoting the MasterCard brand and for setting standards for security, autho rization, clearing and settlement systems between members. ICA went international in 1968 with an association with banamex.Barclaycards strategy in the market has been associated with three continuing elements. The fist was the continued growth of the credit card market shown in exhibit 4. over the period 1989-9 the volume of credit card transaction grew at 7. 5 per cent, while debit cards grew at 40 percent. The number of credit cards in use increased by 5 percent by annum and the value of a transaction by 5. 5 percent p. a. The second factor was the relative success of visa, whose UK franchise was exclusively, enjoyed Barclaycard in the early years.Over the years, visa secured a position as the world’s most wildly used card, by 1998 accounting for $ 1. 4 trillion dollars of purchase or 55 percent of the global market. Although the competition between visa and MasterCard was less clear cut in the UK Barclaycard’s visa had international acceptability with 16million mer chants worldwide. Exhibit 5 suggests that although Barclaycard lost market share somewhat faster than the other major banks, the strength of visa’s international position to some extent offset Barclay’s premium pricing.Profitability of Barclaycard Even though Barclaycard was the first and for a considerable amount of time, the only issuer of credit cards in the UK, Barclaycard made some losses during the first decade of its operations, as the company built up its card and merchant volumes. In 1995, Barclaycard acquired 90,000 gold customers, and that launch increased Barclaycard’s market share of newly issued credit cards to more than 30 percent. Processing of Barclaycard transactions Transaction from paper to electronics introduced large economies of scale in processing.This innovation however was characterized by relatively high level, one off investments. Alternative strategic directions open to Barclaycard in its future development Barclaycard should team up more with other companies. For example, the co-operation with Sainsbury, gasoline marketer BP, and department store chain Debenhams in launching new loyalty programs. With every Barclaycard purchase, shoppers should be able to collect points that can be exchanged for gifts like restaurant meals, consumer goods, grocery shopping, flights, and cinema tickets.Barclaycard should also capitalize on the company’s strong customer base by relationship marketing alliances, with leading organizations in other service industries like celnet, BT and Marks and Spencer. Evaluation of alternatives Suitability: On the basis of suitability, the best alternatives available to Barclaycard are to ensure the continued ATM usage of Barclaycard, and to ensure automation through a fully computerized transaction system. This is because cash withdrawal through ATMs is a major customer use of credit cards.The company should also endeavor to eliminate most of the paper work in order speed up the author ization process, and provide narrative statements for card holders. Acceptability: Barclaycard’s ability to monitor and measure credit risk is very crucial to its acceptability. In 2000, the volume of Barclaycard transactions rose by 12 percent, while charges for doubtful and bad debts increased by 34 percent. Financial performance thus suggested that the company’s managers have the responsibility to find customers who were in need of rollover credit, and who were less likely to default on payments.Feasibility: Barclaycard once proposed to charge non-customers heavily for using its machines, a proposal that had to be withdrawn at that time due to heavy persecution from the press. This is not a very good strategy, and should be avoided. Recommended alternatives Barclaycard strategy in the credit card industry has been associated with the continuous growth of the credit card market, its ability to avoid price competition by branding, and also, the relative success of Vis a.Barclaycard should strive to avoid price competition by branding and by using technological developments within the card networks. This is because the intensity of the competition in the credit card business tends to lead to the best credit worthy customers gaining access to credit far more cheaply. Thus it is quite difficult for credit card transaction volumes to increase quickly without inflicting bad and doubtful debts to credit card users.

Free Essays on Gods Fidelity Through Jesus

â€Å"Faith is believing what you do not see; the reward of faith is to see what you believe.† -St. Augustine Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith – the very foundation of the church. Despite persecution, turbulent times, and schisms in the church, it has survived to this day based on the life of Jesus Christ. The church remains strong to this day because it focuses on God’s gift to mankind, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s fidelity to mankind was expressed in historical implications, apocalyptic possibilities, and divine creativity. The historical aspects of Jesus of Nazareth’s life played a role in his crucifixion and resurrection. He was born into turmoil. Until taken by Babylonians in 587 b.c.e., Israel was ruled by kings. For hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Israel was invaded, captured, built, and destroyed many times. Many supposed â€Å"messiahs† had surfaced to lead rebellions against the government and aristocracy in hopes that God would finish the war and restore a lost monarchy. Romans, who ruled Israel at Jesus’ time, saw any Jewish leader or revolutionary as a threat. The high priests, who were the figureheads of the social hierarchy, had much to protect in their way of life. Both Romans and the priesthood had power, money, and their way of life staked on defeating any potential rebellions. Since Jesus proclaimed the â€Å"Kingdom of God,† â€Å"Reign of God,† and other such sayings, it was taken by the leaders of Israel as a threat to restore the monarchy. In Genesis 6, God wiped the earth clean of all He created. With the exception of Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark, God destroyed his handiwork. The possibility existed once again when Jesus was nailed to the cross. Jesus Christ is considered by Christians to be the savior of mankind; the world would not exist without his sacrifice. If Jesus lost his faith and did not love man,... Free Essays on God's Fidelity Through Jesus Free Essays on God's Fidelity Through Jesus â€Å"Faith is believing what you do not see; the reward of faith is to see what you believe.† -St. Augustine Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith – the very foundation of the church. Despite persecution, turbulent times, and schisms in the church, it has survived to this day based on the life of Jesus Christ. The church remains strong to this day because it focuses on God’s gift to mankind, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s fidelity to mankind was expressed in historical implications, apocalyptic possibilities, and divine creativity. The historical aspects of Jesus of Nazareth’s life played a role in his crucifixion and resurrection. He was born into turmoil. Until taken by Babylonians in 587 b.c.e., Israel was ruled by kings. For hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Israel was invaded, captured, built, and destroyed many times. Many supposed â€Å"messiahs† had surfaced to lead rebellions against the government and aristocracy in hopes that God would finish the war and restore a lost monarchy. Romans, who ruled Israel at Jesus’ time, saw any Jewish leader or revolutionary as a threat. The high priests, who were the figureheads of the social hierarchy, had much to protect in their way of life. Both Romans and the priesthood had power, money, and their way of life staked on defeating any potential rebellions. Since Jesus proclaimed the â€Å"Kingdom of God,† â€Å"Reign of God,† and other such sayings, it was taken by the leaders of Israel as a threat to restore the monarchy. In Genesis 6, God wiped the earth clean of all He created. With the exception of Noah, his family, and the animals aboard the ark, God destroyed his handiwork. The possibility existed once again when Jesus was nailed to the cross. Jesus Christ is considered by Christians to be the savior of mankind; the world would not exist without his sacrifice. If Jesus lost his faith and did not love man,...

50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables

50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables 50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables 50 Idioms About Fruits and Vegetables By Mark Nichol Food, one of the necessities of life, figures often in traditional expressions. Fruits and vegetables, specifically, account for some of the most familiar idioms, including the following. Fruit 1. To compare â€Å"apples and oranges† is to uselessly compare unlike things. 2. The â€Å"apple of (one’s) eye† is a favorite or well-like person. 3. To say that â€Å"the apple never falls far from the tree† is to suggest that a person’s personality traits are close to those of the person’s parents. 4. â€Å"As American as apple pie† means that something is quintessentially representative of American culture or values. 5. â€Å"(As) sure as God made little green apples† suggests certainty. 6–12. To be a â€Å"bad apple† or a â€Å"rotten apple† is to be a bad person. Meanwhile, to say that â€Å"one bad (or rotten) apple spoils the whole bunch (or barrel)† implies that one flawed element or person can undermine an effort or a group, and to be â€Å"rotten to the core† is to be thoroughly bad or worthless. 13–14. â€Å"How do you like them apples?† (or â€Å"How about them apples?†) is a neutral or taunting comment, depending on the context, that refers to an undesirable state or situation. 15–16. To â€Å"polish (one’s) apple† is to flatter someone; a flatterer is an â€Å"apple polisher.† 17. To â€Å"upset the apple cart† is to ruin plans. 18. A â€Å"banana republic† is a weak or corrupt country. 19–20. A â€Å"second banana† is a subordinate, and the â€Å"top banana† is the leader. 21–22. To â€Å"go bananas† is to become excited or crazed, and â€Å"to drive (someone) bananas† is to annoy or irritate someone. 23. Something in â€Å"cherry condition† is excellently maintained or restored. 24. To â€Å"cherry-pick† is to select carefully. 25. â€Å"Life is a bowl of cherries† means that life is easy. 26. To â€Å"not give a fig† is to be unconcerned. 27. A â€Å"lemon† is a flawed or worthless item; the idiom often refers to a vehicle. 28. â€Å"Melon† is sometimes used as slang for head or, vulgarly, for large breasts. 29. To say that someone or something is a â€Å"peach† means that they are beautiful, excellent, or sweet. 30. When everything is â€Å"peaches and cream,† life is going well. 31. A â€Å"plum† assignment or job is a highly coveted one. 32. One is said to have â€Å"sour grapes† when one belittles something one covets but cannot obtain. Vegetables 33–36. To be â€Å"full of beans† is to talk nonsense, and to â€Å"not know beans† is to be ignorant or uninformed. To be â€Å"not worth a hill of beans† is to be worthless, and to â€Å"spill the beans† is to tell a secret. 37–38. To â€Å"dangle a carrot† before someone is to encourage them with an incentive, and the carrot in â€Å"carrot and stick† is an incentive or reward. (The stick is the punishment.) 39. A â€Å"carrot top† is a red-haired person. 40. Someone â€Å"as cool as a cucumber† is very self-possessed under pressure. 41. To â€Å"pass an olive branch† is to make peaceful or reconciliatory overtures. 42. A â€Å"pea-brained† person is stupid. 43. Fog or something else very dense can be described as being â€Å"as thick as pea soup.† 44. To be â€Å"like two peas in a pod† is to be very close with or similar to someone. 45. To be â€Å"in a pickle† is to experience complication. 46. A â€Å"couch potato† is someone who spends an excessive amount of time seated watching television or playing video games. 47–48. A â€Å"hot potato† is a controversial or difficult issue, but to â€Å"drop (someone or something) like a hot potato† is to abandon the person or thing. 49. Something that is â€Å"small potatoes† is insignificant. 50. â€Å"Salad days† refers to the youthful period of one’s life. Fruits and vegetables figure occasionally in figurative references to color, such as â€Å"beet red† (the color of embarrassment), or descriptions of specific hues, like â€Å"cherry red,† as well as other comparisons, including â€Å"pear shaped.† The words fruit and vegetable themselves appear occasionally in idiomatic phrases, including the following: To â€Å"bear fruit† is to produce results. â€Å"Forbidden fruit† is something attractive but not allowed. The â€Å"fruits of one’s labors† are the results of the person’s efforts. To â€Å"become a vegetable† is to be rendered physically disabled or to virtually cease physical activity. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Rhetorical Devices for Rational WritingWriting the Century10 Functions of the Comma

Creole linguistics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Creole linguistics - Essay Example Further studies shows that they have some aspects of their source grammar, however. Caribbean writer Kamau Brathwaite introduced the term creolisation and since then, both Caribbean and non Caribbean researchers have begun a quest for further studies. Rex Nettleford, Sidney Mintz and Sally Price are some of the persons who have made contributions. Creole has become field of study in linguistics and in the region as well. The definition of creole varies. Its meaning can range from language type to cultural and racial identification. To arrive at a basic definition one has to examine the historical nature. Many writers have theorized the origin of the term creole. Some claim that it is connected to Spanish and or Portuguese language while others trace it back to Africa. There exists a common pattern, however, in creolisation. Creole has also a racial and cultural connotation. In the nineteenth century creole could mean a white person born outside of Europe in the colonies. It could also refer to a Jamaican, or also a person of mixed race. There were also negative attitudes towards creoles. Some whites born in Europe believed the creoles to be inferior. On the other hand the creole blacks thought themselves superior to the newly arrived Africans. The creole population was soon to be identified by new culture and attitudes. Creoles were also identified by their adaptation to the new environment outside of Africa. Eventually creole became synonymous with nationalism. Theorists disagree on the definition of creole culture. Some theorists point to Voodoo and Rastafarian religions as elements of creolisation while others parallel the afro Caribbean culture on a whole with creolisation. In order to arrive at a compromise one has to examine certain principles. One of the main principles involves moving away from the search for origin and focusing instead on the available

Hiring Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hiring Process - Essay Example This can be simplified by use of mobile phones or via email so that finally they will have gotten the right information and have a good list of potential candidates from which to chose from. The major advantage is that interviewees are able to know in a better way the job they wait for and the salary that awaits them .To the manager, it an easier way to evaluate the candidate’s communication skills by listening to how well they establish rapport (Erling, 2010).This is later effected by physical face to face so as to make a better assessment based on grooming , character and evaluation of documents to see if there is additional thing they can do other than just the work they qualify for .For instance are they talented in other fields like sports .This may act as an additional benefit to the employing firm in terms of social services (Erling, 2010). It is therefore important to make an all-round assessment to ensure that no element of bias is left and that the firm gets the best employee from among many so that it can leap the benefits of a good hiring