Two Lives of Charlemagne and our understanding of medieval kingship Essay Example

Two Lives of Charlemagne and our understanding of medieval kingship Essay Charlemagne, translated into English as Charles the Great, was the King of the Franks, who expanded his empire to as further south as Italy. We learn from the two biographies that Charlemagne was instrumental in the spread of culture and arts to all corners of his kingdom. By closely associating himself with the Papacy, he helped spread the Christian message to much of Europe. As a result of his contributions in various fields, his reign was properly called the Carolingian Renaissance. The reader will be able to get a summation of his lifetime achievements as well as a sense of plebeian life in medieval Europe by reading through the two biographies in discussion. The book Two Lives of Charlemagne contains two different biographies of Charlemagne, who ruled a large swathe of western Europe during the 8th and 9th century AD. The first version is titled ‘Life of Charles’ (original name Vita Caroli) and is written by Einhard. The second version is titled ‘Of Charlemagne’ (original name De Carolo Magno) and is thought to be authored by Notker the Stammerer, who is referred to in related publications as Monk of Saint Gall. Both these works were written in Latin and were translated to English and other European languages only in recent centuries. While these two biographies of Charlemagne are classics of medieval literature, they differ in their points of view and focus. In the case of Einhard, he was a prominent member of the Royal court and hence was privy to the personal and official lives of the King. Indeed, his closeness to the King was such that he was able to recollect the entire account of the King’s life du ring his twilight years, when he retired from his duties and was staying in a monastery. By the time he undertook this project, the King had already passed away, which goes on to show how well the author’s memory and observation had served him during the writing process. The main focus of Einhard’s work was the official life of Charlemagne, which entailed the wars he participated in, the key political decision that he took, the civil society projects he implemented, etc. The coverage of King’s family and personal life is kept to a minimum, as is the convention of the time. As for the literary qualities of the work, Einhard’s style is reminiscent of Suetonius who wrote during the peak of the Roman Empire. We will write a custom essay sample on Two Lives of Charlemagne and our understanding of medieval kingship specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Two Lives of Charlemagne and our understanding of medieval kingship specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Two Lives of Charlemagne and our understanding of medieval kingship specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The alternate biography written by Notker the Stammerer (or Monk of Saint Gall) comes across as less academic and more light-hearted. Here, the author takes several literary liberties and seems to sacrifice historical accuracy in order to achieve aesthetic effect. The language is florid and the picture painted of the King larger than life. Of the two biographies, this is certainly the more hyperbolic (if not also sycophantic). Notker the Stammerer’s book is certainly the more humorous. In a display of self-depreciating humour, the author refers to himself as the stammering, toothless old man as a way of distinguishing from other Notkers in the King’s court. Notker also focuses on the personality attributes of the King, such as his generosity, acuity of mind, etc. The King’s prudent decision making, the set of principles he follows, etc were also touched upon. He also brings out the darker sides of the King, such as his tendency to be spiteful, his intolerance for dissent, and the brutality of some of his punishments. Indeed, reading through ‘Of Charlemagne’ one can’t escape being in the world of magic realism. If novelists such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Salman Rushdie were said to pioneer this new genre in literary fiction, then it is fair to say that Notker’s work is one of its earliest expressions in the non-fiction form (irrespective of factual inaccuracies and exaggerations in the book). Notker’s work is directed to the plebeian lot, as can be learned from the style of prose employed, the areas in which emphasis is laid, etc. In contrast, one gets the impression that Einhard’s work was directed to an elite audience such as fellow historians, courtiers and other intellectuals of the age. For example, as translator Lewis Thorpe notes in his introduction to the book, â€Å"in his introduction Einhard states his aims: they are to write the public history of Charlemagne and to describe the Emperor’s life and his day-to-day habits, omitting nothing which is relevant and yet remaining as succinct as possible†¦.Einhard himself says: ‘I am very conscious of the fact that no one can describe these events more accurately than I, for I was present when they took place and, as they say, I saw them with my own eyes. What is more, I cannot be absolutely sure that these happenings will in fact ever be described by anyone else’.† We should keep in mind though that despite this authorial declaration, there are obvious biases and inaccuracies. Einhard’s summing up of his work as one â€Å"which perpetuates the memory of the greatest and most distinguished of men† does give away the lack of objectivity and balance in what is to follow. In the case of Notker, there is not even a pretense of bringing veracity to the work, as the author himself claims to have never visited the King or his Kingdom. Hence, most of the content is conjured from hearsay accounts and the author’s own imagination. But despite these constraints, the fertility of Notker’s imagination comes through in passages like this: â€Å"I saw the King of the Franks, in full regalia, in the monastery of Saint Gall, Two gold-petalled flowers stuck out from his thighs. The first of these rose up so high that it was as tall as the King himself; the second, growing gradually upwards, adorned the top of his trunk with great glor y and protected him as he walked.† The anecdotal approach to biography that was adopted by Notker gives the reader a comprehensive view of the lifestyles and social customs of medieval Europe. From Notker’s work we understand several things about 8th century life. These include the centrality of the Church to everyday affairs, the congregation and singing that took place in its premises, the flaws in the bureaucratic structure of the court, the stigma associated with red-haired people, the fact that people lived on houses built on stilts, etc. Notker’s anecdotes endeavor to show the king in good light. Here we see how the wise king manages to catch conspiring bishops, how he rounds up unbelievers such as pagans, etc. But since Notker is seldom critical of the king’s actions throughout the work, it is difficult to place such anecdotes in historical and political context. We also understand from these biographies, that Charlemagne, despite being illiterate, was a patron of the written arts. Indeed, prior to his reign, there is virtually no body of Germanic Literature to speak of. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Charlemagne kick-started the tradition of written literature as we understand it today. Prior to that the mode of dissemination of information was primarily oral and dependent on human memory. He also encouraged the development of Western culture by promoting music, dance and theater (however rudimentary this art form might have been during medieval times). The two biographies cover different facets of the King’s life and hence compliment each other. It would be futile to debate which of the two books is superior, for they are of different kinds and not given to easy comparison. But they both remain vital texts in understanding one of the most influential Kings during the early medieval Europe. Even discounting for the authors’ hyperbole, it is a fact that Charlemagne played an important role in shaping historical currents of the time; and these two biographies give us a glimpse of the social, religious and political atmosphere under which Charlemagne’s ruled his domain. Work Cited: Two Lives of Charlemagne by Einhard and Notker the Stammerer, translated by Lewis Thorpe, published in 1969 by Penguin Classics.

Major Rivers That Flow North

Major Rivers That Flow North A common misconception about rivers is that they all flow south. Perhaps some people think that all rivers flow toward the equator (in the Northern Hemisphere) or that rivers like to flow down toward the bottom of north-oriented maps. Whatever the source of this misunderstanding, the truth is that rivers, like all other objects on earth, flow downhill due to gravity. No matter where a river is located, it will take the path of least resistance and flow downhill as rapidly as possible. Sometimes that path is south, but it is just as likely to be north, east, west, or some other direction in between. Rivers That Flow North There are countless examples of rivers flowing northward. Some of the most famous are the worlds longest river, the Nile; Russias Ob, Lena, and Yenisey Rivers; the Red River in the United States and Canada; and Floridas St. Johns River. In fact, rivers that flow north can be found all around the world: Athabasca River, Canada, 765 milesRiver Bann, Northern Ireland, 80 milesBighorn River, United States, 185 milesCauca River, Colombia, 600 milesDeschutes River, United States, 252 milesEssequibo River, Guyana, 630 milesFox River, United States, 202 milesGenesee River, United States, 157 milesLena River, Russia, 2735 milesMagdalena River, Colombia, 949 milesMojave River, United States, 110 milesNile, Northeastern Africa, 4258 milesOb River, Russia, 2268 milesRed River, United States and Canada, 318 milesRichelieu River, Canada, 77 milesSt. Johns River, United States, 310 milesWillamette River, United States, 187 milesYenisey River, Russia, 2136 miles The Nile Image Source/Getty Images   The most famous river that flows north is also the longest river in the world: the Nile, which passes through 11 different countries in northeastern Africa. The rivers principal tributaries are the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The former is the stretch of river that begins at Lake No in South Sudan, while the latter is the stretch of river that begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. These two tributaries meet in Sudan, near the capital city of Khartoum, and then flow north through Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea. Since ancient times, the Nile has provided sustenance and support to the people who live along its banks. Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, referred to Egypt as a gift of the [Nile], and there is no doubt that the great civilization would not have been able to prosper without it. The river not only provided fertile farmland, but also facilitated trade and migration, allowing people to travel more easily through an otherwise harsh environment. Lena River Of Russias mighty rivers- including the Ob, the Lena, and the Amur- the Lena is one of the longest, covering over 2,700 miles from the Baikal Mountains to the Arctic Sea. The river stretches through Siberia, a sparsely populated region known for its harsh climate. During the Soviet era, millions of people- including many political dissidents- were sent to prisons and labor camps in Siberia. Even before Soviet rule, the region was a place of exile. Some historians believe the revolutionary Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, after being exiled to Siberia, took the name Lenin after the Lena River. The rivers floodplain is known for its snow forests and tundra, habitats that are home to numerous birds, including swans, geese, and sandpipers. Meanwhile, the freshwater of the river itself is home to species of fish such as salmon and sturgeon. St. Johns River The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida, running up the eastern coast of the state from St. Johns Marsh to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way, the river drops only 30 feet in elevation, which is why it flows so slowly and tranquilly. The river feeds into Lake George, the second largest lake in Florida. The earliest people to live along the river were likely the hunter-gatherers known as Paleo-Indians, who inhabited the Florida Peninsula over 10,000 years ago. Later, the area was home to Native tribes including the Timucua and the Seminole. French and Spanish settlers arrived in the 16th century, and it was Spanish missionaries who later established a mission at the mouth of the river. The mission was named San Juan del Puerto (St. John of the Harbor), giving the river its name.

How to Calculate Gross Tonnage of a Ship

How to Calculate Gross Tonnage of a Ship The term gross tonnage refers to the internal volume of a water-going vessel, and is normally used as a means for categorizing commercial vessels, especially those used for shipping. This volume measured includes all areas of the ship, from keel to funnel and from bow to stern. In modern usage, the measurement deducts the crew spaces and other parts of the ship that cannot hold cargo. Since 1969, gross tonnage has been the principal means by which a  commercial ship is defined. The gross tonnage measurement has a number of legal and administrative uses. It is used to determine regulations, safety rules, registration fees, and port charges for the vessel.   Calculating Gross Tonnage Calculating the gross tonnage of a ship is a somewhat complicated procedure, due to the fact that most ships have an asymmetrical shape that makes calculating volume difficult. There are many ways to make this calculation, depending on the level of precision required and the agency requiring the measurement. Different formulas are used depending on the shape of the vessel, and even the types of waters on which the ship sails. A simplified set of gross tonnage formulas is set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Center, which are based on three measurements: Length (L), breadth (D), and depth (D). Under this system, the means of estimating gross tonnage is as follows:   For a boat with a simple sailing hull, gross tonnage (GT) (.5 * L * B * D) / 100For a sailing boat with keel, GT   (.375 * L * B * D) / 100For freighters with angled or cylindrical hulls, GT   (.67 * L * B * D) / 100For ships with square barge-shaped hulls, GT   (.84 * L * B * D) / 100 The  International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships  sets forth another, more precise formula for calculating gross tonnage of a vessel, which says GT   K  *  V. Here, K .2 .02 * log10(V), and V interior volume of a vessel in cubic meters (m3). History of Gross Tonnage as a Measurement Standard Since most commercial ships were originally involved with the transport of goods, otherwise known as cartage,  ships at first were rated and valued on the maximum amount of cargo that could be stuffed into every nook inside a ship. On long sailing voyages, after selling their loads of cookware, tools, machinery and other products, private traders often bought bundles of lumber, spices, cloth, and decorative goods to sell upon return to home port. Every space was stuffed full to maximize profit on both legs of the voyage, and thus each boats value depended on just how much open space was available in the vessel. One of the few exempt spaces in these early calculations of a ships volume was the bilge area, where ballast was held. In early shops, no cargo could be stored here without damage since in these wooden ships the bilges were wet. Ballast stones were used on sailing ships that were leaving with a light load and returning with a heavy cargo. This might be the case when transporting a finished metal such as copper to a port where raw copper ore was loaded for the trip back to England for refining. As the lighter load was unloaded and the heavier load brought aboard, the bilge stones were removed to compensate for the extra weight. Today, piles of these foreign stones, roughly the size of bowling balls, can be found underwater near historic ports all over the world. Eventually, with the availability of mechanical pumps,  water as ballast  became the norm,  since it was much more efficient to simply pump water in and out of the bilge to adjust the ships weight rather than use stones or other forms of weight.   Ã‚   The term  tonnage originally  came into usage as a means for referring to the physical space occupied by 100 cubic feet of ballast  water, an amount of water that was the equivalent of about 2.8 tons. This can be confusing since a ton is usually thought of as a measurement of weight, not volume. In the context of maritime shipping, however, the term tonnage refers to the volume of space available to hold cargo.

El Derecho Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

El Derecho - Essay Example The meaning gets twisted depending on the usage. The same is true for El Derecho. In Spanish, as an adverb, the term when translated to English means straight, upright, or directly. Or if used in a sentence, derechos could mean a straight path, as in â€Å"The children walked straightly to the room† But as a noun, the term is no longer used to describe a direction, but rather it refers to the â€Å"right† of a person. Erichsen, Gerald, a Spanish Language Guide (n.d.), explains that the word, when used as a noun would mean another thing and not specific to direction, but more on the rights of a person such as morals, customs, principles, or according to law. The word can also come in a plural form such as â€Å"derechos†, or derechas. So if one would refer to human rights, it is correct to call it â€Å"derechos humanos† for human rights’. When â€Å"derecha† is used, Erichsen said it connotes political affinity, such as opposite of the â€Å"left† political party, or ‘right wing’. Vernor Munoz Villalobos, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education (2010) used the term â€Å"derecho humano† on her paper to describe a human right to have an education.(UN General Assembly, New York, 2010) . The word has a clearer meaning when used as an adjective because it is specific such as right, opposite of left, straight or upward or in brief, it gives a specific direction, like â€Å"linea derecha†, that means straight line. But further to vocabulary usage the term becomes important in storm predictions and a criterion for severe wind gusts. It is a word coined by the NOAA-NWS-N CEP Storm Prediction Center that describes â€Å"derecho† as a long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. This could be related to my above description of the word because of the straight damage directed in one direction. Thus the Storm Prediction Center calls it a ‘a

Comparison of the constraining factors of local employment Essay

Comparison of the constraining factors of local employment law(national law) between USA and UK - Essay Example UK, like the other economies in the world, has also suffered an economic decline because of the economic crisis, much more due to its exposure in the financial sector. (CIA world Factbook). Because of this, the country was pressed into a recession in the middle of 2008. Labor has been affected because unemployment rate stepped up to 7.9% in 2010 as against 7.6 %in 2009. As shown in table below, the year 2011 has the highest unemployment rate in UK since 2003. Fig. 1. Unemployment rate in UK Source: CIA World Factbook, cited in Index Mundi Political environment Workers in UK are protected by the employment law. UK implements a national minimum wage amount of ?6.08 per hour to workers above 21, while ?4.98 is paid to workers with ages 18-20. Wage rate is much lower to 16-17 that is ?3.68S and for apprentice rate is ?2.60.how below are the entitlement of workers under this law. Working hours in UK should not exceed 48 hours, but there are instances that exempt certain class of workers f rom this. Doctors, domestic servants, police and army personnel and those engaged in emergency work are exempted in48 hours rule. All workers are entitled to holiday pay of 5.6 weeks paid annual leave, sick leave, of 5.5 times, rest breaks and overtime pay. These privileges are stipulated in an employment contract that has a term expiry. Sunday is a work day in UK (direct.gov.) Immigration rules. All foreign workers eager to work in UK must obtain a working permit. To qualify, applicant must qualify in the points based system for immigration for work based categories. Investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented person, called as high-value migrants should pass the point system, and they are welcome to UK without the need for job offers. Other qualifications to work in UK are being a skilled worker, temporary worker, domestic worker, or representative of an overseas firm, broadcasting firm or a newspaper organization (UK Border Agency) Demographics Population of UK as of 2011 is 62,678,362. Age structure of working group is divided into 15-64 age bracket with male having 20,979,000 and female 20,500,000. With a labor force of 31.45 million part of this belong to women labor (CIA World Factbook, 2011). The constraint for employment is found to be the gender gap of pay that becomes barriers to women working in occupations traditionally done by men. According to Facts Fawcett society, the gender pay gap is estimated at 15.5% that could be worth L15 to L23 billion. The study of this society showed that 64% of lowest paid workers are women, and many of them are doing part-time work which is paid lower than the hourly rate work. 2. United States Economy The United States has a market oriented economy wherein businesses, organizations and individuals are allowed to make their own decisions while the federal government buys goods and services in the marketplace. US enjoy flexibility in management as compared to other countries and they can expand capital plant, develop new products and lay off surplus workers. Economic The economic crisis is one of the major constraints in local employment in the US labor market because as shown in the chart below, the unemployment rate has continued to rise up to 9.7% in 2010. Source: Bureau of Labor & Statistics.

Look at the opening of Nicolas Hytner Essay Example for Free

Look at the opening of Nicolas Hytner Essay The music gets faster as he finds his way through the trees and bushes, Then he comes close to the area where the girls are though he does not it is them the music changes to a drum beat with Parris footsteps being able to be heard. The camera changes back to the girls with Abigail walking up to Tituba and then Abigail whispers in Abigails ear and Tituba looks scared and shocked as she say no. Abigail then turns around to the pot runs to it and picks up the chicken by its feet and hits its head of a rock breaking its neck the Abigail drinks the blood of the chicken. Then Abigail takes her clothes off, all the girls are screaming then one of the girls sees Parris coming towards them so they all run away except Betty who says that she cannot move. The camera angles through all of this were very fast and furious. Then everything starts to slow down with a picture of Parris on his own looking at the cauldron he lifts up the large spoon inside the pot and drops as if he was scared of it, when he see the chicken as well he gets annoyed though he is a bit scared. The next scene shows Betty in her bed, with a suspicion of witchcraft floating about the place. Only Tituba and Abigail are in the room with Betty there have about eight minutes of filming yet we hear no words spoken. There is obvious tension between Tituba and Abigail over what has happened. More tension is shown when Parris questions Abigail about the incident in the forest. Now music is played again with Abigail saying that they danced but Parris suspects witch craft though Abigail is saying that no spirits have been conjured. The next scene is of Elizabeth and John Proctor who are showing a lot of tension. This tension is raised because John Proctor had an affair with there former servant, and guess who that servant was Abigail Williams. The scene starts of quite pleasant really with John Proctor and his sons working, the music is quite cheerful, the camera angles are quite far of. John Proctor and his go inside with his sons going to bed and him going to have his dinner. Elizabeth gives it to him without speaking but when they do speak it is about how there marriage is falling apart. Then the final scene of tension is in Church with the whole village there when a song is sung the girls go over to Bettys room then Abigail speaks to Betty saying she has told her father everything that happened in the woods. Then like lightning Betty wakes up with her saying I bet you never told him that you drank a charm Abby, a charm to kill Goody Proctor. Then the music gets very loud this is emphasising how important this scene really is. The others girls get quite scared and start to walk away so Abigail threatens them that she would kill anyone who tells on her doings. The camera is only on Abigail, but then Betty jumps up shouting she wants her mom and tries to fly to her out of the window but the girls hold her back and everyone in the church rubs out to them. This causes a lot of tension between all the girls and makes witch craft a better conclusion to what has been happening. In conclusion to Nicolas Hytners film of the play The Crucible was directed extremely well making them beginning of the film already better to the book the film sets the scene better and I believe that it also creates more tension. Also with the plot being so old it was sometimes easier to understand the words better with them being said correctly and with also being able to see what is going on. Nicolas Hytner has used cinematic features to the best they could be in this film there fore making the filming better for all viewers. Matthew Brooke English Coursework 20th Century Drama Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our  GCSE Arthur Miller  section.

Third World Technology Use Essay -- Mexico Internet Web Mexican Essays

Third World Technology Use In recent years, information has been a hot topic. What is information and what purpose does it serve? Is information a commodity or a necessity? The insurrection of this interest is partly, if not entirely, a product of the increasing popularity of the Internet , the information superhighway and of Information technology. Deedee Halleck points out in her article, "Zapatistas On-Line" , how in the past two years, the indigenous people of the Mexican state of Chiapas have clearly answered many of these questions. It is ironic that the Internet has been used at a very powerful potential by people whom we would never even picture in the same room as a computer. The Zapatistas have used information as a high-tech weapon, proving that words are the best weapon. Their discussion and dissemination of information on the net has helped to publicize the Zapatistas' issues in alternative media outlets, and to mobilize caravans which have brought medical and food aid to Chiapas(Cleaver 1995). Mo st amazing is the pressure that these powerless peasants have been able to put on the Mexican government. Perhaps some background on the Zapatistas may be helpful here. On New Years Day, 1994, peasant rebels took over six towns, including San Cristobal de las Casas, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas and declared war. Chiapas is one of the poorest states in Mexico, suffering from job declines in coffee and oil production, and with a large ethnic population of Mayan Indians. The rebels call themselves the Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (EZLN). The Zapatistas are a group of rebels which includes both men and women whose purpose is to fight for their rights, particularly for work, land, housing, food, h... ...lity Debate" Chiapas95. Online. U of Texas. Internet. 21 March 1995. Cleaver, Harry M. "The Chiapas Uprising and the Future of Class Struggle in the New World Order" U of Texas at Austin. Internet. 22 March 1995. hmcleave@mundo.eco.utexas.edu Cleaver, Harry M. "Propaganda: White Washing the Mexican Crisis" Chiapas-1. Online. U of Texas at AUstin. Internet. 18 September 1995 Halleck, Deedee. "Zapatistas On-Line" Report on Culture, NACLA Report on the Americas. Sept/ Oct 1994. Watson, R. et al. "Rebels use Internet" Newsweek. Feb 27, 1995 Wood, Darin. "Netwars. Chiapas: The Revolution will not be Televised (but it will be on-line)" Online. Internet. June 1995. Available WWW: http://www.oneworld.org/index _ oc/wood.html Young, Elliot. "Netwars? or Cyberspace and Ungovernability" Chiapas-1. Online. Colegio de la Frontera. Internet. 20 March 1995.