The Monroe Doctrine And American Exceptionalism - 1186 Words

Several arguments can be made for the expansion of the United States, manifest destiny; the Monroe Doctrine and American Exceptionalism are all directly involved in the movement West. This paper will explore the reasons for Americans settlement in the west and how this ideology has shaped U.S history. There were several attitudes that went along with the expansion, one of which was that religion could be easily spread bringing entire religious regions to the United States. Not only did the church respond to this new land, but farmers as well. Agriculture was sharply growing and farmers could economically help the United States. Another attitude was this new perspective on the United States, the people of the U.S at this time were getting a sense of pride and nationalism to their country. So naturally, any culture associated with the United States that was deemed â€Å"illegal† or â€Å"foreign† was to be kicked out. American culture and racial superiority was a growing ideology that forced many others out of the country, essentially those being of the Native American and Spanish descent. Manifest Destiny was a term coined in 1845 by editor John O’Sullivan, it described the very essence of America s mindset at the time. It clearly described the action of moving west; symbolized by a â€Å"woman moving across the land replacing darkness with light and ignorance with civilization’’ (ushistory.org). In Americas attempt to create a more whole country, the Monroe Doctrine prevented the LatinShow MoreRelatedWhy American Exceptionalism Is A Good Thing For The World906 Words   |  4 Pagesidea of American exceptionalism is an idea that has been dated back towards the time of settlement, and that could be traced into the current twenty-first century. When we trace this idea from beginning to end, one is able to see that American exceptionalism was a good thing for the world as a whole. By analyzing the spreading of the American political ideas into the European nations, and how American acted as the defense against tyranny, one will be able to understan d the reasons why American exceptionalismRead MoreThe Political Affairs Of Latin America925 Words   |  4 Pagespolitical affairs of Latin America. Since the dawn of the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, the U.S. has taken a firm and direct stance when dealing with the continent to ensure that its [United States] interests are always upheld. This being said, the U.S. uses formal and informal manipulation and intervention to ensure that Latin American governments are compatible with U.S. interests. This dates back, as previously said, to the time of the Monroe doctrine, when the United-States wanted to protect its expansionRead MoreEvolution of the Monroe Doctrine Essay2572 Words   |  11 Pages â€Å"†¦American continents†¦are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers†¦In the wars of the European powers, in matters relating to themselves, we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy to do so†¦It is only when our rights are invaded, or seriously menaced, that we resent injuries, or make preparation for our defense†¦ We owe it, therefore, to candor, and to the amicable relations existing between the United States and those [theRead More US-Latin America Essay1400 Words   |  6 Pagesconceded to the United States their right of any intervention in the Western Hemisphere and allowed the United States to do whatever they wanted. The United States took this newly bestowed power and abused it. The United States intervened in many Latin American countries and imposed their policies on to these countries against their will. A perfect example of this aggression is what occurred in the Dominican Republic in 1904. The United States intervened in this sovereign nation and took control of theirRead MoreManifest Destiny Research Paper :1382 Words   |  6 Pagesby anything or anyone. (History.com) However, complex and underlying motives guided Manifest Destiny advocates. Some believ ed that the nation had a divine order, serving as a bastion of Christianity and Democracy in a land of uncivilized Native Americans. Ideas of the Anglo-Saxon race being a superior race permeated as well. Others saw economic or national security concerns dictating expansion as a necessity. As if the varying motivations didn’t complicate the issue enough, Manifest Destiny wasRead MoreThe Pursuit Of Imperialist Expansion1523 Words   |  7 Pagesthe â€Å"American exceptionalism† that our country likened it to, the fact is that economic motives were not the prime motivation behind this foray. Although it was a significant driving force, economics were secondary to the more important factor present; this very factor has been and will be present in the ethos of America, and had driven the westward expansion of decades prior to the early 1900’s. The Spanish-American and Philippine Wars both show that rather than economics, it was American nationalismRead MoreThe Unit ed States : An Age Of Imperialism1875 Words   |  8 Pagesclaims. Americans have always felt the desire to grow and expand the United States, they ultimately proved that with Manifest Destiny, when they settled from the east to the west coast. The idea of expansion overseas was something not new to the United States. The war against Mexico had allowed the United States to be carried into the Pacific and the issuing of the Monroe Doctrine allowed the United States to expand their sphere influence well beyond the Caribbean and into Latin America. American HistorianRead MoreThe War Of 1812 And The American Civil War2593 Words   |  11 Pageswhich the seeds of American disunion were planted before they finally sprouted in the spring of 1861. The Antebellum period of American history between The War of 1812 and The American Civil War was a time of tumultuous change for the United States. Captivated by the American Heroes who had achieved glorious victories over the British during the War of 1812; American settlers began to venture out into the Western Frontier. By the end of the 1830’s, for the first time Americans were able to measureRead MoreJohn Locke And The Locke Of The United States5485 Words   |  22 Pagesthe preamble of the U.S. Constitution, it begins with a revolutionary phrase, â€Å"We the people.†The first three words of the preamble to the Constitution suggest one element unique to the American Revolution. First, its outcome was a government created by the people, and for the service of the people. The new American government was not one existing independently of them or, in some respect, over them. The idea of popular sovereignty in the United States predates the Constitution, appearing in its bestRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesand Paul Buhle, eds., The New Le ft Revisited David M. Scobey, Empire City: The Making and Meaning of the New York City Landscape Gerda Lerner, Fireweed: A Political Autobiography Allida M. Black, ed., Modern American Queer History Eric Sandweiss, St. Louis: The Evolution of an American Urban Landscape Sam Wineburg, Historical Thinking and Other Unnatural Acts: Charting the Future of Teaching the Past Sharon Hartman Strom, Political Woman: Florence Luscomb and the Legacy of Radical Reform

Commercials and Their Effect on Children’s Language Free Essays

Language socialization is the process whereby children are socialized, or taught the norms and expectations of their culture, through the use of language. Language socialization includes both the use of language for socialization and the socialization to use language. Language socialization takes effect through exposure to language use, first from family members and other caretakers and then through further society, such as other children, childcare and media exposure. We will write a custom essay sample on Commercials and Their Effect on Children’s Language or any similar topic only for you Order Now What effect does media exposure, particularly exposure to television commercials, have on language socialization in children? An investigation of literature suggests that television and commercials are likely to have a poor effect on language socialization, leading to inaccurate ideas of the importance of language and the culturally correct use of language. The general effects of television viewing on socialization are well known. According to Coats Feldman (1995) American children spend significant amounts of time watching television – more time, they noted, than talking to adults, playing with siblings or attending school. They examined the effect of television on nonverbal socialization, and found that nonverbal displays of emotion are found at an unnaturally high rate as opposed to the natural environment. This can lead to frequent television viewers expressing a more expressive nonverbal emotional display style, due to incorrect socialization about the appropriateness of nonverbal display. Their study found that elementary school children who frequently watched television had more success at encoding emotions (particularly those frequently displayed on television such as happiness and sadness) than did children who infrequently watched television. They also found that these children used more emotive facial expressions. This is in opposition to cultural norms that require active regulation of facial expression, and may constitute a social disadvantage. DeLoache and Korac (2003) noted that there has been a substantial amount of research indicating that there is a correlation between violent programs and violent behavior. Neuman (1980) performed one of the first studies on the effect of television and listening behavior in children. She noted that the rapid pace of children’s television programming meant that children never had time to integrate the information transmitted by the programs. The changes were so frequent that children did not have the ability to learn to recognize the words presented in other contexts, meaning that language socialization through these television shows and commercials was ineffective and incomplete. Her study focused specifically on the correlation between listening skills and television viewing. She found that children did not routinely suffer a degradation of listening skills at increased levels of television viewing; listening skills, she determined, tend to be linked more to intelligence than to television viewing or artificially shortened attention spans. However, she did note that children who watched a lot of commercials, documentaries and news shows did have a decreased level of listening skills. She posited that this was due to the explicit lack of socialization cues aimed at children within these programs leading to decreased listening skills and attention spans. In short, these programs did not provide enough simulated human interaction to allow for language or cultural socialization, even as a substitute for human interaction. Durkin and Judge (2001) examined the effect of television language socialization on children in the specific context of foreign language speakers. The authors noted that language is a marker of ethnic identity and enculturation; reactions to language could also be a sign of ethnic prejudice. Ethnic minorities are often underrepresented in the media as well as portrayed in an inaccurate manner, perpetuating stereotypes and negative images of the ethnic minority. The authors wanted to investigate this portrayal on the socialization of young children around foreign languages at various ages. They found that three to five year olds routinely learned words from television programs, and that younger children used foreign language as a cue that a program’s content is not aimed at them. The authors performed a study that used videos of a family, speaking both English and an artificial foreign language, in prosocial and antisocial situations in order to gauge the effect of the foreign language on the children’s perception of the situation. The authors did not find that the foreign language routinely affected the children’s perception, although younger viewers did tend to view the foreign language speaking portrayals more negatively (in line with cognitive development theories which indicate that younger children see those who are different from them as a threat). The authors noted that the eight year old group showed a marked bias against the foreign language groups in both the prosocial and antisocial situations; this, too, is accounted for by cognitive development theories, which indicate that a metalinguistic shift occurs around the age of seven or eight. This effect has apparently dissipated by the age of ten. Children of all age groups responded positively to the prosocial groups, and negatively to the antisocial groups, in line with expected socialization. The authors concluded that although foreign language could elicit prejudicial reactions in children, it is not clear that it is the foreign language that causes these reactions. However, this study clearly indicates that television’s negative portrayal of ethnic minorities could impact children’s later attitudes and socialization. Barling and Fullagar (1983) performed a factorial study examining children’s attitudes to commercials, including statements such as â€Å"I learned something new† and â€Å"The advertisement was entertaining.† This study did not show any explicit awareness on the part of the children surveyed of learning or socialization through commercials. Bradbury (2004) stated, â€Å"A great deal of research has been done on this subject and, though varying greatly in its methodology and conclusion, would appear to suggest that it is not until the age of 12 that all children have developed a full understanding of the intention of advertising. In particular it is not until this age that all children fully understand the ‘advocatory’ nature of advertising, that is the way in which advertising communicates only positive messages about a product in order to encourage sales.† This inability to distinguish reality from commercial advertising may further increase the risk of inappropriate socialization through television commercials. Bradbury noted that exposure to commercials at an early age may increase the risk of developing a consumerist mentality that children do not have the capacity to recognize as inappropriate. Are there any potential benefits to children from television viewing? DeLoache and Korac (2003) examined the effectiveness of video learning in very young children.   The design of television programs for children, beginning with programs such as Sesame Street, aimed at preschool aged children, and progressing to programs designed for twelve to twenty four month old or younger children, are predicated on the idea that children can and do learn from video imitation. DeLoache and Korac noted that children do learn from these programs, although not as early as they can learn from direct interaction with other humans. Children as young as fourteen months have been observed to show learning behaviors (perceiving and interpreting the action, forming a memory representation of the action and then retrieving the representation at some later time) from behaviors observed on television. However, this is several months later than children have been observed to perform the same learning behavior in response to interaction with people. From this the conclusion can be drawn that children can display learning and socialization behaviors from television, though not as effectively as from person to person interaction. A review of literature regarding language socialization and television, including television commercials, learning programs and other forms of television aimed at children or viewed by children indicates that language socialization is provided by television, but at a lower quality than that provided by personal interaction with peers and adult caregivers. DeLoache and Korac indicated that television can provide learning opportunities for children, though not at as high a quality as personal interaction; children were seen to learn from television at a later age and a lower rate than from other people. Neuman demonstrated that television, particularly television that is not designed to provide socialization for children, could negatively affect listening behavior. Additionally, some forms of children’s programming, which are rapidly paced and change content quickly, lead to inadequate language socialization as children are left unable to recognize new words outside of their original context. Coats and Feldman examined the effect of television on non-verbal socialization in children. They determined that children with high levels of television viewing had an inaccurate view of the frequency and appropriateness of non-verbal emotional expression, which could lead to a social disadvantage in a culture which values control of emotional expression. Barling and Fullagar found that children had no explicit understanding of the purpose or meaning of television advertising, where Bradbury stated that children continued to lack understanding of the purpose of television advertising as late as age twelve. Durkin and Judge determined that negative portrayal of ethnic minorities on television might affect language socialization. Examination of literature indicates that while television viewing may have some limited positive effect on language socialization and learning behaviors, it is unlikely to be a substitute for personal interaction between peers and adult caregivers. Children were shown to have less understanding of appropriate social cues and behaviors, and did not retain as much language information due to inappropriate presentation and inadequate time to process and retain knowledge. Commercials pose a particular problem because they not only use a limited language set, but also portray and enforce an inappropriate consumerist attitude which children are unable to distinguish as not being the cultural norm. Works Cited Barling, Julian Fullagar, Clive. â€Å"Children’s Attitudes to Television Advertisements: A Factorial Perspective.† The Journal of Psychology. 113 (1983):25-30. Bradbury, Paul. â€Å"Television Advertising to Children – To Regulate or Legislate?† Children Society. 14 (2004):73-75. Coats, Eric Feldman, Robert. â€Å"The Role of Television in the Socialization of Non- Verbal Skills.† Basic and Applied Social Psychology 17.3 (1995): 327-341. DeLoache, Judy Korac, Nada. â€Å"Video-based Learning by Very Young Children.† Developmental Science. 6.3(2003):245-246. Durkin, Kevin Judge, Jasmine. â€Å"Effects of language and social behavior on children’s reactions to foreign people on television.† British Journal of Developmental Psychology. 19 (2001):597-612. Neuman, Susan. â€Å"Listening Behavior and Television Viewing.† Journal of Educational Research. 74.1 (1980):15-18. How to cite Commercials and Their Effect on Children’s Language, Essay examples

How Benjami Franklin Found the Community Library free essay sample

This essay will not complete without knowing who Is Benjamin Franklin really, Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He was the tenth son of soap maker, Josiah Franklin. Benjamin mother was Bah Folder, the second wife of Josiah. In all, Josiah would father 17 children. Josiah intended for Benjamin to enter into the clergy. However, Josiah could only afford to send his son to school for one year and clergymen needed years of schooling. But, as young Benjamin loved to read he had him apprenticed to his brother James, who was a printer.After helping James impose pamphlets and set type which was grueling work, 12-year-old Benjamin would sell their products in the streets. Franklin was elected to the Second Continental Congress and worked on a committee of five that helped to draft the Declaration of Independence. He became President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania. He served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and signed the Constitution. One of his last public acts was writing an anta-slavery treatise In 1789.Franklin died on April 17, 1790 at the age of 84, The library was founded because most Americans in the asses had limited access to books. Books, in early America, were rare and expensive. There were no public libraries. Only the very wealthy and the clergy had access to large numbers of books. Even men of moderate means could not readily afford books. On July 1, 1731, Franklin and a group of members from the Junta, a philosophical association, drew up Articles of Agreement to form a library.The Junta was Interested in a wide range of Ideas, from economics to solving social woes to politics to science. But they could not turn to books to increase their knowledge or settle disputes, as between them they owned ewe tomes. But they recognized that via the Juncos combined purchasing power, books could be made available to all members. So it was that 50 subscribers invested 40 shillings each to start a library. Members also promised to invest 10 shillings more every year to buy additional books and to help maintain the library. They chose as their motto a Latin phrase which roughly translates as To support the common good is divine. Phillip Sync, a silversmith who would one day create the Inkstand with which the Declaration and Constitution were signed, designed the Companys seal. Benjamin Franklins publications reflected his democratic spirit and so were popular in format and content. Poor Richards Almanac consisted of stories about a fictional Poor Richard whose trials and tribulations provided an ideal context in which Franklin could advise readers on politics, philosophy, and how to get ahead In the world.Ben Franklin used political cartoons to illustrate news stories and to heighten reader appeal. The May 9, 1754 issue included Join, or Die, which is widely considered the first American political cartoon. Devised by Franklin, the cartoon reflected concern bout Increasing French pressure along the western frontier of the colonies. Quest for Moral Perfection Benjamin Franklin Is undoubtedly one of the most Influential were made possible by a lot of work on his part. His outlook is best represented by his famous quote, Dost thou love life?Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Franklin did not sway from that philosophy, and spent little time at leisure, as it was not productive. Franklins work ethic, moral outlook, and constant interest in self-improvement throughout his life are his biggest claims to fame. Franklins strict adherence to his thirteen virtues-which he created in his pursuit of moral perfection-is responsible for many of his countless contributions to the colonies. Very important to Franklins life, was the little book he carried on his person at all times.In this book, he charted on a day to day basis, which virtues he had not obeyed, and marked a check for each mistake. Franklin set aside one week per virtue, and ordered his virtues such that whenever perfection in a virtue was attained, it would make achieving the following virtue easier. Franklin found that he had much to improve upon. Another ingredient to Franklins recipe for greatness was his daily schedule. Franklin divided his day up by the hour and knew what he was to be doing at all times. This he found difficult at times, and involving the virtue Order, at one time he almost gave up.In one of Franklins few pessimistic moments, he is quoted as saying, This article (order) therefore cost me so much painful attention, and my faults in it vexed me so much.. . That I was almost ready to give up the attempt and content myself with a faulty character in that respect. An amusing anecdote about a an who concludes that a speckled axe is best follows, and in looking back on his life, Franklin demonstrates his mastery of the thirteenth virtue, Humility. Even before he set his thirteen virtues to writing, Franklin could be seen demonstrating many of them.In one instance involving his friend Collins, Franklin demonstrates Resolution, Justice, and Sincerity. During a voyage, Collins refuses to row, and Franklin resolves to perform what he must. An argument ensued, and Franklin, knowing that Collins was a good swimmer, decided the only course of action would be to throw him overboard. He was in a clear state of mind the whole time, and did absolutely nothing that he would regret later on. Temperance was also a virtue that Franklin had practiced his entire life. He was never a heavy drinker, and always ate in moderation.Franklin prided himself on being an excellent debater, and while creating his virtues, he added Silence as a guide to others explaining one reason he was such an excellent crafter of argument. 2. Silence- Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation. Franklin means for others not to get caught up in petty squabbles, but rather to speak. Like the other advocates of republicanism, Franklin emphasized that the new republic could survive only if the people were virtuous. All his life he explored the role of civic and personal virtue, as expressed in Poor Richards aphorisms.Franklin felt that organized religion was necessary to keep men good to their fellow men, but rarely attended religious services himself. When Franklin met Voltaire in Paris and asked this great apostle of the Enlightenment to bless his grandson, Voltaire said in English, God and Liberty, and added, this is the only appropriate benediction for the grandson of Monsieur Franklin. Franklins parents were both pious Puritans. The family attended the old South Church, the most liberal Puritan congregation in Boston, where Benjamin Franklin was baptized in 1706. Franklins father, a poor chandler, owned a copy of a book, Boniface: Essays often cited as a key influence on his life. Franklins first pen name, Silence Do good, paid homage both to the book and to a famous sermon by Matter. The book preached the importance of forming voluntary associations to benefit society. Franklin learned about forming do-good associations from Cotton Matter, but his organizational skills made him the most influential force in making voluntarism an enduring part of the American ethos.Franklin formulated a presentation of his beliefs and published it in 1728. It did not mention many of the Puritan ideas as regards belief in salvation, the divinity of Jesus, and indeed most religious dogma. He clarified himself as a deist in his 1771 autobiography, although he still considered himself a Christian. He retained a strong faith in a God as the wellspring of morality and goodness in man, and as a providential actor in history responsible for American independence.

Jeffersons Party Essays - Conservatism In The United States

Jefferson's Party The view that many believe while studying our country's political history is the Federalist Party was a dedicated supporter of a strong central government. They believed that the Constitution was a document that needed to be molded and amended in order to meet the needs of the country. The traditional view of the Democratic- Republican party is that they support state's rights and feel that most of the governing of the country should be done on the state level. The Democratic- Republicans, or Jeffersonian Republicans, also believed in reading the Constitution fundamentally and grant the government powers that were addressed in the document. These views are the basic principals that each of parties are based upon. It can be seen in Jefferson's statement to Gideon Granger that it, ?is surely best that the states are independent and to everything within themselves, and united as to everything respecting foreign nations.? Contrary to traditional characterization of both the Federalist and Democratic Republican parties, politicians would break away from the conventional party platforms and support issues that they felt strongly about. For instance, Daniel Webster, a Federalist from New Hampshire spoke out against an overly aggressive government with the issues regarding drafting citizens into the military. The typical Federalist would feel that a draft was necessary in order to defend the country, and although the Constitution did not specifically address the situation, amendments should be made for our national interest. Jefferson himself was a prime example of an idealistic politician who put the good of the country over his Republican values. The Louisiana Purchase was performed in a manner with which many conventional Democratic Republicans would argue against. Jefferson bent and shaped the Constitution into a document that allowed him to double the size of the country. He was willing to compromise with his original values in order to improve and fortify America. Jefferson told Samuel Kercheval, ?Some men look a constitutions with sanctimonious reverence?..to sacred to be touched. But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.? The powerful statements made by Jefferson, Webster and many other politicians prove that it is often necessary to compromise individual ideas for the good of an entire country. This basis of compromise is the true foundation of our government and our history.

Working Class Essays - Industrial Revolution, Textile Machinery

Working Class Essays - Industrial Revolution, Textile Machinery Working Class First of all, the working class evolved in England. This happened mostly because England was the first to use machines for mass production. For instance, with new inventions like the Spinning Jenny machines in England, it caused a revolution to take place in England first. These machines reduced the values of the old tools, the property of the individual craftsmen and replaced the accomplishments and intellectual powers of the workers. As a result, workers hated the machines. The machines were far too expensive to be owned by the common worker, which meant that the workers would have no possession of their own property. Without possession of property, the workers lives ended up depending on the owners of the machines they used. Battles were fought between workers against the use of these machines, but the owners ended up winning since they had more general

U.S. Governments Role in Sterilizing Women of Color

U.S. Governments Role in Sterilizing Women of Color Imagine going to the hospital for a common surgical procedure such as an appendectomy, only to find out afterward that you’d been sterilized. In the 20th century, untold numbers of women of color endured such life-altering experiences in part because of medical racism. Black, Native American, and Puerto Rican women report being sterilized without their consent after undergoing routine medical procedures or after giving birth. Others say they unknowingly signed documentation allowing them to be sterilized or were coerced into doing so. The experiences of these women strained relations between people of color and healthcare personnel. In the 21st century, members of communities of color still widely distrust medical officials. Black Women Sterilized in North Carolina Countless numbers of Americans who were poor, mentally ill, from minority backgrounds or otherwise regarded as â€Å"undesirable† were sterilized as the eugenics movement gained momentum in the United States. Eugenicists believed that measures should be taken to prevent undesirables from reproducing so that problems such as poverty and substance abuse would be eliminated in future generations. By the 1960s, tens of thousands of Americans were sterilized in state run eugenics programs, according to NBC News. North Carolina was one of 31 states to adopt such a program. Between 1929 and 1974 in North Carolina, 7,600 people were sterilized. Eighty-five percent of those sterilized were women and girls, while 40 percent were minorities (most of whom were black). The eugenics program was eliminated in 1977 but legislation permitting involuntary sterilization of residents remained on the books until 2003. Since then, the state has tried to devise a way to compensate those it sterilized. Up to 2,000 victims were believed to be still living in 2011. Elaine Riddick, an African American woman, is one of the survivors. She says she was sterilized after giving birth in 1967 to a child she conceived after a neighbor raped her when she was just 13 years old. â€Å"Got to the hospital and they put me in a room and that’s all I remember,† she told NBC News. â€Å"When I woke up, I woke up with bandages on my stomach.† She didn’t discover that she’d been sterilized until a doctor informed her that she’d been â€Å"butchered† when Riddick  was unable to have children with her husband. The state’s eugenics board ruled that she should be sterilized after she was described in records as â€Å"promiscuous† and â€Å"feebleminded.† Puerto Rican Women Robbed of Reproductive Rights More than a third of women in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico were sterilized from the 1930s to the 1970s as a result of a partnership between the U.S. government, Puerto Rican lawmakers and medical officials. The United States has ruled the island since 1898. In the decades following, Puerto Rico experienced a number of economic problems, including a high unemployment rate. Government officials decided that the island’s economy would experience a boost if the population were reduced. Many of the women targeted for sterilization were reportedly working class, as doctors didn’t think poor women could manage to effectively use contraception. Moreover, many women received sterilizations for free or for very little money as they entered the work force. Before long, Puerto Rico won the dubious distinction of having the world’s highest sterilization rate. So common was the procedure that it was widely known as â€Å"La Operacion† among islanders. Thousands of men in Puerto Rico underwent sterilizations as well. Roughly a third of Puerto Ricans sterilized reportedly did not understand the nature of the procedure, including that it meant they would not be able to bear children in the future. Sterilization was not the only way in which Puerto Rican women’s reproductive rights were violated. U.S. pharmaceutical researchers also experimented on Puerto Rican women for human trials of the birth control pill in the 1950s. Many women experienced severe side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Three even died. The participants had not been told that  the birth control pill was experimental and that they were participating in a clinical trial, only that they were taking medication to prevent pregnancy. The researchers in that study were later accused of exploiting women of color to acquire FDA approval of their drug. The Sterilization of Native American Women Native American women also report enduring government-ordered sterilizations. Jane Lawrence details their experiences in her Summer 2000 piece for American Indian Quarterly- â€Å"The Indian Health Service and the Sterilization of Native American Women.† Lawrence reports how two teenage girls had their tubes tied without their consent after undergoing appendectomies at an Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital in Montana. Also, a young American Indian woman visited a doctor asking for a â€Å"womb transplant,† apparently unaware that no such procedure exists and that the hysterectomy she’d had earlier meant that she and her husband would never have biological children. â€Å"What happened to these three females was a common occurrence during the 1960s and 1970s,† Lawrence states. â€Å"Native Americans accused the Indian Health Service of sterilizing at least 25 percent of Native American women who were between the ages of 15 and 44 during the 1970s.† Lawrence reports that Native American women say INS officials did not give them complete information about sterilization procedures, coerced them to sign paperwork consenting to such procedures and gave them improper consent forms, to name a few. Lawrence says Native American women were targeted for sterilization because they had higher birthrates than white women and that white male doctors used minority women to gain expertise in performing gynecological procedures, among other dubious reasons. Cecil Adams of the Straight Dope website has questioned whether as many Native American women were sterilized as Lawrence cited in her piece. However, he does not deny that women of color were indeed targets of sterilization. Those women who were sterilized reportedly suffered greatly. Many marriages ended in divorce and the development of mental health problems ensued.

Response Paper #3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Response Paper #3 - Essay Example Before delving into the niceties of legal theory, it will serve us to first review the components of the statute that appellant Omeira stands convicted of contravening and, thereafter, applying those same components to the facts of the case. Simply stated, section 901.34(1), Wessex Code, the Native Art Protection Act (or NAPA), forbids export of native works of art produced before 1920 and worth more than 100,000 pounds. The statute is quite specific. It does not address such matters as forgery—indeed a forged work of art (e.g., unlawful export of an ostensible work by the celebrated 15th century Wessex master Harpo that was actually produced in the studio of the less appreciated 17th century Wessex sculptor Groucho) might well satisfy the three desiderata of the Act. The Act, however, does establish three elements that must be present for the Act to be applicable in a specific case. First, the work of art in question must be of Wessex origin. Second, it must have been produced before 1920. And, third, it must be appraised at more than 100,000 pounds. We may apply these specific desiderata to the work in question, Seminole Falls, ostensibly the work of the 18th century Wessex master Decameron, but now known to be a modern forgery—the product of Belgian landscape artist Flammarion, to determine if the Act has been violated. First, Seminole Falls is not of Wessex origin. Evidence, bordering on the conclusive, points to its production in Flammarion’s Antwerp studio. Second, Flammarion did not establish himself as a prominent landscape painter until the mid-1960s. Therefore, Seminole Falls could not have been produced before 1920, a requirement necessary to implicate the Act. Finally, third, the value of the work has been established as less than 100,000 pounds. As our brother, Justice Newson, succinctly described it, â€Å"An expert from the Arts Council inspected the painting and

The Importance of Press in a Democracy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Importance of Press in a Democracy - Essay Example However, we may only have one side of the information if we only look at one news program or if we only depend on local information. The Role of the Media in a Democracy According to the Center for Democracy and Governance (1999) the role of the media in democracy has two roles. The first role is that it gives citizens enough information about a topic to help them make "responsible, informed choices" (p. 5) rather than allowing them to act through misinformation or through ignorance. The second role is that it provides a "checking function" (p. 5) that points to elected officials to make sure that they uphold the oath they took in their particular office and that they carry out the wishes of their constituents. When we as citizens look at the media, we do expect that it will give us the information that we need to make good decisions. As an example, the Obama presidential campaign showed us how the media can inform us of what to do. Obama used Facebook as his major media contact and still uses this outlet today. People were able to ask questions and to follow the campaign from beginning to end. Many people suggest that this is how he eventually won the presidency, and this shows that he understood the power of the media. In a democracy, people are not under the influence of the government like in other countries. As an example, there are some countries that only receive the information that their government wants them to access. In some Muslim countries, as an example, any information that shows women as liberated will be blocked whether it is on television or on the Internet (Deibert, 2011). In this situation, the government did not want people to follow the protests in the Middle East for fear that it would affect them in some way. This again shows the power of the media on the opposite side. That is, the media can be used to manipulate the ideas of a country or it can be used to hinder the thoughts of the individuals living in a country. We hope that in a de mocracy, this does not happen. The Center for Democracy and Governance also states that the media must understand who they are communicating to in order to get the right message to the right people. They suggest that the audience for media attention includes: 1. Consumers 2. Individual producers (reporters, editors, technicians, business managers) 3. Content provider companies (wire services, think tanks, NGOs) 4. Training institutes, universities 5. Independent regulators 6. Media monitors (political polling agencies, policy institutes, advocacy groups, governments, advertisers) 7. Professional organizations (journalism and business associations) 8. New technology gatekeepers (infrastructure developers, software creators, trainers, investors). (p. 7). When thinking about these audiences, it is clear to see that each one would have a different opinion to express on any given topic. The media is therefore important to each of these audiences in order to make sure that they also can c ommunicate effectively to their constituents. Perception of Media Central to the important of media in a democracy is the way that the media and its message are received by the audience. Often, we are told that the media is biased to one side or the other and this can stop people from believing the media ("Perception", 2011). When the public perceives that the media is not telling them the truth or that it is not putting for the effort to bring forth all of the facts, people tend to

Fat Tax brings Fat Benefits Essay Example for Free

Fat Tax brings Fat Benefits Essay Junk food. Do any of us know the meaning of the term? Do the consequences of developing lethal diseases not concern us? Apparently, todays society is well aware of what it is, (food with a low nutrition value and is usually processed or ready-prepared (Junk Food)) and what it can do, yet they prefer not to have truth repeatedly slapped in their face by the media. The way I see it, thats exactly what these individuals are asking for. They say diets are productive, but its based off of self-encouragement which can only take you so far. According to an article composed by William Dietz, Obesity is a matter of personal responsibility. Poor dietary decisions cost individuals the expansion of their waist lines. What many do not realize is that as they continue to visit fast food restaurants for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, they develop an addiction. Sooner or later, they find themselves wrapped around junk foods salty fingers and havent bothered to notice that they no longer can see their toes standing upright. Higher taxes should be imposed on processed goods because it could lower death rates and medical bills that tie into obesity, encourage the consumption of healthy products, and educate Americans about adapting correct eating habits. Americans today are consuming 20% more calories than they did in the early 1980s, (Would Imposing par. 3). Also, during that time period, only one third of Americans populace were identified as obese which is equivalent to 13%. However, over the past 25 years, America has exceeded to about 60% of the population being fat (Oliver par. 8). Due to the continuous establishments of fast food restaurants, Americans have noticed that their waist lines have expanded substantially. Hundreds of years ago, McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Wendys, and Burger King were non-existant. With McDonalds Big Mac meal containing approximately 1,300 calories, its no wonder America has been suffering an obesity epidemic. Its because of these successful  companies that we have to pay for the over flowing stacks of health expenses theyve created for us. Comparing Americans then with Americans now, you could literally see the difference without the need of any statistical information from surveys, documents, and whatnot. One of the many reasons why the government is taking this fat tax into consideration is due to the overwhelming figures of premature deaths and medical bills occuring across the nation. According to studies, officials are hoping that taxation on junk food could avert 2,600 deaths, 9,600 heart attacks, 240,000 new cases of diabetes every year, (Chan par. 2). Thats not the end of it. These numbers are ascending as I we carry on with our normal daily lives. For all I know, 2013s statistics for premature deaths due to obesity could escalate to 3,500! Almost every year, Americas government is burdened by the stunning $117 million in debt they have to pay because of people becoming diagnosed with multiple heart diseases thanks to the consumption of fast food. With that being said, the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) informed the public that too much of todays society relies on the cheap and convenient take outs our restaurants provide us. They encounter at least 400,000 individuals with health problems, charging them almost $100 million a year (Lewis par. 4). For this reason, it is why unhealthy grubs are purchased regularly. If people were to choose between a $2 cheeseburger and a $10 salad wrap, what are the chances of them picking the $10 salad wrap? Thats what I thought. Its disappointing knowing that profits made from fast foods are used to assist our nations debt. Why cant the money derive from potent nourishments? Why do we allow the selling of unsalutary meals, knowing we are feeding them death munchies? In Addition, America has judgement skills that are completely frail and incompetent. Here we are placing exorbitant prices on healthy products when it should be the life-threatening comestibles that should be prohibited. A hand full of officials in the country have required several fast food restaurants to display calorie-count labels to drive individuals taste buds from convenience food. But even that wont prevent obesity (Mozes par. 7). Nevertheless, even a simple a simple label couldnt stop the hungry beasts of America from  gobbling down chunks of blubber. Due to these astonishing numbers, Americans are looking towards taxing junk food similarly to sin taxes. Its a tax on harmful items (such as alcohol, tobacco, etc.) that could reduce its consumption. Officials have been pushing for states to insitute a fat tax and consider it as a sin tax. According to several smokers in New York, they discovered that paying a total of $14.50 for one pack of cigarette wasnt worth their money. Some of them knew that complaining wouldnt get them anywhere, so they eventually ditched the dependency (Sutherland par. 2). With the assistance of this sin tax, smoking rates dropped by 12%, (Would Imposingpar. 3). This specifically proves to opponents that bomming junk food tariffs can depreciate premature death percentages and medical expenses as well. Obviously, pricey items attract less customers nowadays; so the higher the taxes, the lower the consumption. Plus, our government could distribute these taxes to health services and programs that illustrate the essence of corpulence. Also, whether the populace continues to ignore the governments warning through tariffs, either way the tariff generated $30 million in new revenue, tax records show. Basically if fast food customers wish to pursue their daily routine visiting McDonalds, itll still bring the economy extra dough to support the country. Even if our main focus is to sever societys tongue from higher cholestrol levels, we can only succor those who wish for assistance. Moreover, authorizing taxes on fast foods could subsidize the nutritional products that actually supply our physiques with the appropriate energy it naturally pines for. Knowing that the poorest in the country rely on cheap junk food, (Lewis par. 5), automatically discloses that this necessitates more natural resources. However, in America its vise-versa. The more nutrition an item contains, the more you have to pay. With higher taxes on junk food, there would be no need for the federal to tax our fruits and vegetables. Society will eventually quit their whining and chase cheaper alternatives. Representatives throughout the country have calculated that an 18% tax  on junk food would result in a 56-calorie decline in total daily intakealong with significant reductions in the risks of most obesity-related chronic diseases, (Fiore par. 12). Doctors have stressed that the recommended calorie consumed should be in the range of 2,000 calories. By the looks of it, Americans today are exceeding these limits. And they wonder why they are experiencing strokes, heart attacks, and becoming diagnosed with diabetes. Lastly, more health education could influence the populations mindset about the need to eat sugary items. Media has played a huge role in advertising greasy items. Instead, we could use this strategy to discourage our customers from purchasing fast foods, stressing our concerns of obesity. Our targets would be the same audience that was exposed to fattening commercials. Raising awareness within our communities, and then our country is what the U.S. lacks today. It has been said that You are what you eat, but are any of us aware of exactly what we are putting in our mouths? They may display what supplies make that particular meal, but do they show how much butter they use to cook steaks? Apparently, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says hamburgers have been growing from 1 ounce in 1957 to 6 ounces in 1997, (Oliver par. 11). If 1997 was sixteen years ago, just imagine how hefty burgers are today? Notifying our customers about junk food should be our leaders priority. It would be irresponsible not to try everything we can to save livesPeople are dying everyday due to sugary products, (Bloomberg qtd. in Heaton par. 5). I couldnt agree more with Mayor Bloomberg of New York. He is probably the only official that wants to institute a fat tax to give back to the people he represents. Americans are self-centered, and their main focus is money. No one cares if theyre putting ones life in jeoparady by creating harmful grubs. If one was to take a stand against these fast food companies, itll have to start with our leaders. On the other hand, controversies have made society equivocal about the implementation of taxation on packaged foods. As expected, citizens of America claim that the government is becoming too controling, and their freedom of choice is being stripped from them. While our officials  intensions are to perpetuate the corpulence widespread, others feel provoked because they believe the government is trying to dictate their intellect (Lewis par. 3). Our leaders stress that taking care of the well-being of our internal organs should be our priority. However, the public refuses admit to the valuable advice they articulate. Many feel as if they were to say, Who are you to tell me what I can eat and not eat? Its only fair that the people have the last say. After all, this country was established fighting For the people, by the people (Star Spangled Banner). On top of that, as stated in an article by Jen Kalaidis, tax also costs [the] country an estimated 1,300 jobs because employees would no longer be needed in food retail sectors. Although an collection of occupations would be lost, many tend to give in and develop the mindset of a pessimistic. As Alexander Graham Bell, (an eminent scientist, engineer, innovator, etc.), proclaimed, When one door closes, another door opens. The message he speaks of is about preserverence and circulating nothing but positive thought within your mind. Americans who fear losing their jobs should realize that plantation fields and factories will demand more and more employees once the fat tax is instituted. The fields will require more man power for labor work, and for manufacturing purposes as well. You will soon after notice that grocery markets will have job oppertunites. Its actually a ripple effect, and once the economy is back to the way it was before the nation debt came about, the unemployement will be no more. Therefore, it is essential to communicate the outweighing benefits of a fat tax to the public now, before America begins to hit a downfall in the next five years. Junk food should not be outlawed, nor should it be cheap. If Americans want to continue this portliness evolvement, they can expect to see excessive aftermath in death rates. These unhealthy eats are about to rebuild our countrys values soon enough. However, with the assistance of this Twinkie Tax, I believe we could expect a tangible decline in Americas death progression and health expenses, a promotion of organic products, as well as more programs raising awareness of corpulence. Works Cited Chan, Amanda L. â€Å"Raising Junk Food Prices Could Spur People to Consume Less: Study.† The Huffington Post. The Huffington Post.com, 12 Dec. 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Dietz, William. â€Å"Obesity ProCon.org† Obesity ProCon.org. Search Engine Optimization, 19 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Elder, Larry. â€Å"Just How Fat Are We?† WSJ: World Stream. WND Commentary, 1997-2013. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. Fiore, Kristina. â€Å"Junk Food Tax Could Improve Health.† ABC News. ABC News Network, 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 06 May 2013. Heaton, Richard. â€Å"NYC Soda Ban Overturned then Appealed.† Digital Journal (2013): n.pag. Print. â€Å"Junk Food.† Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. n.d. Web.05 May 2013. Kalaidis, Jen. Should the U.S. Adopt a Fat Tax? The Week [New York] 25 Feb. 2013: n.p. Print. Lewis, Catherine. â€Å"The Junk Food Tax: How Much are We Willing to pay to get America Healthy?† Your Health Information Center. Insiders Health, 2011. Web. 5 May 2013. Medical Weight Loss Resources. Top 10 Obesity-Related Diseases. American Heart Association, Centers for Disease Control, National Institutes of Health, 23 Apr. 2013. Web. 16 May 2013. Mozes, Alan. â€Å"The Fat Tax.† A Controversial Tool in War Against Obesity. (23 May 2005): 2-3 Print. Oliver, J. Eric. â€Å"A Big, Fat Problem.† Fat Politics: The Real Story Behind Americas Obesity Epidemic. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. 1-4. Print. Sutherland, Amber. Smokers Huff Puff Over New Cigarette Tax. New York Post. New York. 3 July 2010: 1-2. Print â€Å"Would Imposing a High Tax on Fast Foods and other Unhealthy Foods Help Combat Obesity Issues in U.S.?† Debate.org. Centers for Disease Control Prevention, 22 Nov. 2010. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.

Elements Of Evil In Beowulf Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essays

In times before printed books were common, stories and poems were passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. From such oral traditions come great epics such as England’s heroic epic, Beowulf. In Beowulf, the monster Grendel serves as the evil character acting against the poem’s hero, as shown by his unnatural strength, beast-like qualities, and alienation from society. One of the first responses from a reader of Beowulf is their surprise at Grendel’s unnatural strength, one quality marking him as an evil character. His great strength is shown first in his ability to carry enormous amounts of weight. There occur several instances in the story where Grendel lifts great amounts of weight. In Grendel’s first raid of Herot, a great mead-hall, â€Å"he snatched up thirty men, smashed them . . . and ran out with their bodies to his lair† (ll. 59-62). This amount of weight equals nearly 5,000 pounds; a feat that no normal man (or creature) could accomplish. In addition to his ability to lift huge amounts of weight, Grendel’s unnatural strength appears in his merciless killing of humans. He proficiently tears his victims apart before devouring them. Moments before the monster’s demise, Grendel grabs a sleeping Geat and â€Å"ripped him apart, cut his body to bits with powerful jaws† (ll. 393-394). Only a force of ev il could accomplish an act so gruesome, with such facility. One earmark of an epic evil character is their unnatural strength, and Grendel certainly fits the bill for ...

How to Gain Weight Eating Healthy Food

Goal: How to gain weight eating healthy food? I want to improve my physical wellness by gaining weight while staying healthy. Behavior Strategy: I. Gather data on what type of food is fattening, but in a healthy way. II. Get help from a nutritionist to make sure I eat healthy foods, but that will also make me gain weight. III. Make a schedule / meal plan to make sure I get more than enough calories on a daily basis. IV. I make a goal for myself to gain ten pounds in six months. Journal Articles Article 1: â€Å"What to Eat to Gain weight-The healthy Way†In Glamour magazine, I found this article â€Å"What to Eat to Gain Weight—The Healthy Way†. This article shows how a person can improve her life style eating healthier, but still gaining weight. One of Glamour’s fashion interns, Ashley, tried a new diet with the help of Rachel Beller, a nutritionist. Rachel looked at her daily choices of food, and made a schedule for Rachel to improve her diet to eat healt hier, but still intake enough calories to gain weight. Ashley will change all her daily habits, and adopt a whole new diet rich in proteins and carbohydrates.Rachel Beller said that Ashley has the right approach in order to gain weight, because she eats three meals and two snacks a day, which is exactly what to do in order to gain weight, she says. Besides, Rachel says that Ashley eats the right amount of calories, but her food choices are too high in simple carbohydrates and unhealthy saturated fats. The nutritionist advises to focus instead in foods with high fiber cereals for breakfast, and high calorie, nutrient-dense meals for lunch and dinner. She also insists in eating whole grain carbs, which have the same amount of calories than regular carbs, however with more fibers.Also, Rachel points out that most people thing in volume when they want to gain weight. The key in gaining weight is choosing low-volume high-calorie snacks, such as granola, nuts, and pretzels, among others. This article I found extremely interesting because it completely applies to my health goal. I used to think gaining weight came along when you eat a lot of food. Reading this made me realize that the quality of food is more important than the quantity. This is the key to my problem. I found it very inconvenient to eat a lot of food all day every day, because I’m not a big eater.Knowing that I can eat a normal amount of food and still can weight makes me think that I can finally reach my goal weight. Rachel Beller made a meal plan suggestion that I already started to apply in my daily habits. It is not constraining, and I really start to find a difference in my life. I don’t fell stressed anymore if I don’t eat a lot because I’m running around too much. I know that what I eat is high in calories protein, and fiber, which will help me maintain or gain weight. Plus, I can finally work out without worrying about losing weight if I don’t indulge in a go od amount of food.Article 2: â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight† On the website About. com I found an article called â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight†. This article breaks down the different types of food that are rich in calories. It is said that if you want to gain weight you have to add extra calories in your diet. However, instead of indulging in junk food, instead you should choose foods that are nutrient dense and energy dense. The article shows eight different foods that are fattening but high in good calories.It says, if you want to make good choices while gaining weight you need to focus in nutrient dense calories, which are: Bagels, Pasta, Dried Fruits, Healthy Oils, Avocados, Nuts and Seeds, Granola, and Fruit juice. Most of these foods are extremely healthy, while giving enough nutrients to your body on a daily basis. If you stick with a diet including high fibers, and nutrient, your body mass will increase over time. This article really opened my horizons in what type of food I should eat to reach my goal. I used to have no idea what kinds of foods were rich in calories but healthy.Now I can apply what the article says into my diet. I used to eat a lot of things for breakfast but that were just high in energy without giving me any fat. Now I can eat a bagel with granola and fruit juice, and have a lot more calories for breakfast than I used to. This list of foods has made it so much easier for me to reach my goal without stressing over the amount that I eat and what I eat. Now I have a meal plan for my everyday meals, and it includes all these foods. I just stick with my plan and see how it goes. Right now, I already feel so much better, and I already see a difference in y body. I fill my clothes better than I used to, and to me it’s so motivating to keep up my efforts. Current event articles Article 1: â€Å"Using a weight gain diet to Increase Body Mass Quickly† According to the article, â€Å"Usi ng a weight gain diet to Increase Body Mass Quickly† from the website weight gain diet; it is important to dissociate gaining weight and junk food. The author points out that usually most people think of gaining weight by indulging in sugar and fat. However, even for skinny people it isn’t the right choice to decide to eat about anything in order to gain weight.Underweight people are still at risk if binging on fatty foods, meaning they can get diseases such as cholesterol. That is why it is important to know what to eat in order to gain healthy weight. The foods promoting weight gain are the one rich in protein. However, there are proteins healthier than others. For instance, fish proteins are healthier than red meat proteins. Also, fruits are good to include in a diet, along with vegetables. It is also important to stick with whole grains which are the healthiest. In addition, most people looking to gain weight avoid working out because they think they will burn the c alories needed to gain weight.However, according to the author, this is a myth. Exercising is very important for maintaining a healthy body, and even though someone is trying to gain weight it is important to include exercising in ones diet. In my case, I found this article extremely helpful for my objective. I would usually try to indulge in high protein foods such as beef, chicken and cheese without even knowing that there are unhealthier proteins than others. Also, I would eat regular dairy products without being aware that low fat dairy products weren’t just for losing weight diets.Besides, vegetables can also be a good source of proteins. I thought all vegetables were good for their nutritious factors only, but not for gaining weight. It appears that beans and lentils are extremely good sources of proteins. Another false idea I had before reading this article was, working out isn’t good if you want to gain weight. A year ago, I started to go to the gym five days a week. I realized after few weeks of daily work out that I lost a good amount of weight, so I stopped working out. I wasn’t eating the right type of food, rich in good carbs and proteins.According to the article, it is essential to exercise during a weight gaining diet, because it helps burn the fat that isn’t good for your body. Now that I know what types of food are nutrient dense, I will include a daily workout routine in my weight gaining diet. Article 2: â€Å"Healthy Eating & Diet-Healthy Ways to Gain Weight† Kathleen M. Zelman explains the different ways to gain weight while making good choices. She thinks being a little underweight isn’t a problem health wise; however, it can be an issue if a person doesn’t feel comfortable and would like to look a bit fuller.Doctor Zelman insists on the fact that even skinny people should be cautious of their food choices, and wanting to gain weight â€Å"is not about bellying up to an all-you-can-eat buf fet†. Gaining weight comes when you go for nutrient rich foods. High calories foods are essential, but nutrients are even more. It is important to stay away from sugar, fat and empty calories foods. However, fat is important to gain weight but not all fats are good for you. For instance, fat from nuts are healthier than fat from meat. Also, it is primordial to eat often, like six meals a day, which are three meals and two snacks.Moreover, when exercising, it is imperative to indulge in more calories than usual. If you want to gain weight eating more calories than your body will burn is essential. Also, high protein foods are a good choice, because it helps your muscles recover faster. These foods are fish, lean meats, poultry, legumes, eggs, and whole grains, among others. If a person doesn’t eat enough because of a lack of appetite, eating foods that you like or spicing up bland food can help. This article was very informative. Now, I have all the keys to gain weight. I need to eat often, choose high nutrient foods, and exercise.I used to think three meals a day were enough. However, snacks are considered mini meals. Snacking isn’t only negative. If you make good choices snaking helps with the process of gaining weight. Also, I’m the type of person who won’t feel hungry at all time. According to Doctor Zelman, it is important to lean toward the foods that are in your liking, or using spices to add up some taste on foods that are bland. Very often I feel hungry but I don’t know what I want so I end up not eating. Now, I know what types of food are rich in nutrients, and that I like, so I can stick with these when I don’t feel very hungry.Gaining weight is all about making a new routine for yourself, and knowing what is good for you. Objective Research Most people don’t realize that sometimes it can be much easier to lose weight than to gain weight. Most people that struggle with their weight would want to look healthier and fuller. It is not easy to gain weight and most people that want to lose weight don’t understand it. The majority of people that are overweight don’t understand people who want to gain weight, and think that they are just seeking attention. Yes, it is unhealthy to be overweight, yet, being underweight can be as unhealthy.According to Beth W. Orenstein from the article How to Gain Healthy weight, â€Å"Depending on how underweight you are, it could be just as unhealthy as being overweight†. People usually hear about the health risks of being overweight. However, nobody really hears about the health risks of being underweight. Most people have misconception on the way you are supposed to look, and are driven to lose weight because of the media. Every day, when watching TV, the stick thin figures of models, and other celebrities, are advertised all over. For most people, being thin is how everyone is supposed to look.It became the norm of how soci ety perceives how people should look. However, according to the article, what are the health risks of being underweight? Lillian Downey tells us that being underweight comes with severe health issues. It can cause infertility in women, osteoporosis, and decrease immune function. In the article Lillian says that â€Å"low body weight, intense, prolonged physical activity, low calorie and nutrient restricted diets often cause women to stop ovulating and menstruating†. This affects the functioning of the reproductive system.Moreover, poor nutrient intake, and low body mass affect bones’ health. People that are underweight have more fragile bones. â€Å"Persons who are severely underweight may suffer from loss of muscle mass, which supports bones and joints, and helps prevent bone breaks, dislocations and fractures†. Lastly, the immune system is affect by low body mass. Low consumption of fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals weakens normal immune function, says Ms . Downey. Being underweight has other side effects. It can be dangerous to be underweight depending on how underweight you are.According to the article Dangers of Underweight, the negative effects are: Prone to infection (comprised immune system), Low muscle mass, Hair loss, Irregular hormone regulation, Osteoporosis, Anemia, Pregnancy complications (or inability to get pregnant), Menstrual irregularities. People have misconceptions about skinny people. They think that everyone wants to be thin, so why someone would possibly want to gain weight. People need to realize that skinny isn’t the way to be. It can be very unhealthy, and bring serious health issues.They drive to diet because they want to be â€Å"normal†, which means get to the status of Hollywood, and what the media portrays about what it is to be beautiful. In America, people are really into the whole glamour scene of Hollywood celebrities. They look up to these celebrities and see them as their role model. This means being thin is the way to go, and is how people is supposed to look like. It is important for people to take care of their body, and be more health conscious. Being overweight or underweight can be equally as unhealthy. Eating right is more important than ever. The way you look is subjective to what you eat.So instead of doing drastic changes to gain weight, it is important to eat well. Loading in junk food will bring you the calories that you are supposed to take per day; however, it won’t be good calories. Eating well and nutrient dense foods, will help you can weight in the wanted areas of your body. This will avoid building fat around the belt area. Summary and Conclusion This project successfully broadened my horizon in being food health conscious. All my life I dreamed about having a fuller figure. I wanted to fill my clothes with more curves. I rapidly understood how much of a struggle gaining weight can be.Everyone around me always told me â€Å"why do you want to gain weight while everyone wants to lose weight? † I never really could open up about my issue because no one could understand it. Today, I finally made the decision of changing my lifestyle to the better. All my researches talked about similar ways to gain weight. This includes mainly eating more often, eating nutrient dense foods, and exercising. Since January I have been following this gain weight diet, and surprisingly for the first time in my life it worked. In three month and a half I gained eight pounds. My goal was to gain ten pounds, but I’m really happy about the outcome.I would have never thought I could gain this much in a little time. My daily routine was to eat three nice meals per day, and two snakes. For breakfast, I always eat a whole grain bagel with butter, oatmeal with raisins in it, and two eggs. For lunch and dinner I always eat at least one kind of vegetables with meat of fish, and carbs such as pasta, or rice. I also snack on nuts a lot. I always carry almonds, pistachios or cashew in my bag, if I don’t have much time. If I have time I make myself smoothies with at least three types of fruit with milk, and orange juice, and I also add two scoops of vanilla ice-cream.Also, I make myself peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or I eat Greek yogurts. Even if I’m not hungry I force myself to eat at least a yogurt for a snack or a banana. This project was extremely successful for me. I have a whole new health conscious routine that I will keep forever from now on. I’m today weighing 118 pounds, and would like to be 125 pounds. As soon as I will reach my ideal weight I will keep eating healthy but I won’t stress so much on eating fatty foods. Bibliography * Arrue, Karina. â€Å"What to Eat to Gain Weight-The Healthy Way. † Glamour (2009). * Column, Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, WebMD Expert. Healthy Ways to Gain Weight. † WebMD. WebMD. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. . * â€Å"Using Weight Gain Di et to Increase Body Mass Quickly. † Weight Gain Diet. 2012. Web. * Jegtvig, Shereen. â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight. † About. com Nutrition. 12 Feb. 2012. Web. . * Gidus, Tara. â€Å"Dangers of Underweight. † Medical Information for Healthy Living. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. . * Downey, Lillian. â€Å"What Are the Health Risks of Being How to Gain Weight Eating Healthy Food Goal: How to gain weight eating healthy food? I want to improve my physical wellness by gaining weight while staying healthy. Behavior Strategy: I. Gather data on what type of food is fattening, but in a healthy way. II. Get help from a nutritionist to make sure I eat healthy foods, but that will also make me gain weight. III. Make a schedule / meal plan to make sure I get more than enough calories on a daily basis. IV. I make a goal for myself to gain ten pounds in six months. Journal Articles Article 1: â€Å"What to Eat to Gain weight-The healthy Way†In Glamour magazine, I found this article â€Å"What to Eat to Gain Weight—The Healthy Way†. This article shows how a person can improve her life style eating healthier, but still gaining weight. One of Glamour’s fashion interns, Ashley, tried a new diet with the help of Rachel Beller, a nutritionist. Rachel looked at her daily choices of food, and made a schedule for Rachel to improve her diet to eat healt hier, but still intake enough calories to gain weight. Ashley will change all her daily habits, and adopt a whole new diet rich in proteins and carbohydrates.Rachel Beller said that Ashley has the right approach in order to gain weight, because she eats three meals and two snacks a day, which is exactly what to do in order to gain weight, she says. Besides, Rachel says that Ashley eats the right amount of calories, but her food choices are too high in simple carbohydrates and unhealthy saturated fats. The nutritionist advises to focus instead in foods with high fiber cereals for breakfast, and high calorie, nutrient-dense meals for lunch and dinner. She also insists in eating whole grain carbs, which have the same amount of calories than regular carbs, however with more fibers.Also, Rachel points out that most people thing in volume when they want to gain weight. The key in gaining weight is choosing low-volume high-calorie snacks, such as granola, nuts, and pretzels, among others. This article I found extremely interesting because it completely applies to my health goal. I used to think gaining weight came along when you eat a lot of food. Reading this made me realize that the quality of food is more important than the quantity. This is the key to my problem. I found it very inconvenient to eat a lot of food all day every day, because I’m not a big eater.Knowing that I can eat a normal amount of food and still can weight makes me think that I can finally reach my goal weight. Rachel Beller made a meal plan suggestion that I already started to apply in my daily habits. It is not constraining, and I really start to find a difference in my life. I don’t fell stressed anymore if I don’t eat a lot because I’m running around too much. I know that what I eat is high in calories protein, and fiber, which will help me maintain or gain weight. Plus, I can finally work out without worrying about losing weight if I don’t indulge in a go od amount of food.Article 2: â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight† On the website About. com I found an article called â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight†. This article breaks down the different types of food that are rich in calories. It is said that if you want to gain weight you have to add extra calories in your diet. However, instead of indulging in junk food, instead you should choose foods that are nutrient dense and energy dense. The article shows eight different foods that are fattening but high in good calories.It says, if you want to make good choices while gaining weight you need to focus in nutrient dense calories, which are: Bagels, Pasta, Dried Fruits, Healthy Oils, Avocados, Nuts and Seeds, Granola, and Fruit juice. Most of these foods are extremely healthy, while giving enough nutrients to your body on a daily basis. If you stick with a diet including high fibers, and nutrient, your body mass will increase over time. This article really opened my horizons in what type of food I should eat to reach my goal. I used to have no idea what kinds of foods were rich in calories but healthy.Now I can apply what the article says into my diet. I used to eat a lot of things for breakfast but that were just high in energy without giving me any fat. Now I can eat a bagel with granola and fruit juice, and have a lot more calories for breakfast than I used to. This list of foods has made it so much easier for me to reach my goal without stressing over the amount that I eat and what I eat. Now I have a meal plan for my everyday meals, and it includes all these foods. I just stick with my plan and see how it goes. Right now, I already feel so much better, and I already see a difference in y body. I fill my clothes better than I used to, and to me it’s so motivating to keep up my efforts. Current event articles Article 1: â€Å"Using a weight gain diet to Increase Body Mass Quickly† According to the article, â€Å"Usi ng a weight gain diet to Increase Body Mass Quickly† from the website weight gain diet; it is important to dissociate gaining weight and junk food. The author points out that usually most people think of gaining weight by indulging in sugar and fat. However, even for skinny people it isn’t the right choice to decide to eat about anything in order to gain weight.Underweight people are still at risk if binging on fatty foods, meaning they can get diseases such as cholesterol. That is why it is important to know what to eat in order to gain healthy weight. The foods promoting weight gain are the one rich in protein. However, there are proteins healthier than others. For instance, fish proteins are healthier than red meat proteins. Also, fruits are good to include in a diet, along with vegetables. It is also important to stick with whole grains which are the healthiest. In addition, most people looking to gain weight avoid working out because they think they will burn the c alories needed to gain weight.However, according to the author, this is a myth. Exercising is very important for maintaining a healthy body, and even though someone is trying to gain weight it is important to include exercising in ones diet. In my case, I found this article extremely helpful for my objective. I would usually try to indulge in high protein foods such as beef, chicken and cheese without even knowing that there are unhealthier proteins than others. Also, I would eat regular dairy products without being aware that low fat dairy products weren’t just for losing weight diets.Besides, vegetables can also be a good source of proteins. I thought all vegetables were good for their nutritious factors only, but not for gaining weight. It appears that beans and lentils are extremely good sources of proteins. Another false idea I had before reading this article was, working out isn’t good if you want to gain weight. A year ago, I started to go to the gym five days a week. I realized after few weeks of daily work out that I lost a good amount of weight, so I stopped working out. I wasn’t eating the right type of food, rich in good carbs and proteins.According to the article, it is essential to exercise during a weight gaining diet, because it helps burn the fat that isn’t good for your body. Now that I know what types of food are nutrient dense, I will include a daily workout routine in my weight gaining diet. Article 2: â€Å"Healthy Eating & Diet-Healthy Ways to Gain Weight† Kathleen M. Zelman explains the different ways to gain weight while making good choices. She thinks being a little underweight isn’t a problem health wise; however, it can be an issue if a person doesn’t feel comfortable and would like to look a bit fuller.Doctor Zelman insists on the fact that even skinny people should be cautious of their food choices, and wanting to gain weight â€Å"is not about bellying up to an all-you-can-eat buf fet†. Gaining weight comes when you go for nutrient rich foods. High calories foods are essential, but nutrients are even more. It is important to stay away from sugar, fat and empty calories foods. However, fat is important to gain weight but not all fats are good for you. For instance, fat from nuts are healthier than fat from meat. Also, it is primordial to eat often, like six meals a day, which are three meals and two snacks.Moreover, when exercising, it is imperative to indulge in more calories than usual. If you want to gain weight eating more calories than your body will burn is essential. Also, high protein foods are a good choice, because it helps your muscles recover faster. These foods are fish, lean meats, poultry, legumes, eggs, and whole grains, among others. If a person doesn’t eat enough because of a lack of appetite, eating foods that you like or spicing up bland food can help. This article was very informative. Now, I have all the keys to gain weight. I need to eat often, choose high nutrient foods, and exercise.I used to think three meals a day were enough. However, snacks are considered mini meals. Snacking isn’t only negative. If you make good choices snaking helps with the process of gaining weight. Also, I’m the type of person who won’t feel hungry at all time. According to Doctor Zelman, it is important to lean toward the foods that are in your liking, or using spices to add up some taste on foods that are bland. Very often I feel hungry but I don’t know what I want so I end up not eating. Now, I know what types of food are rich in nutrients, and that I like, so I can stick with these when I don’t feel very hungry.Gaining weight is all about making a new routine for yourself, and knowing what is good for you. Objective Research Most people don’t realize that sometimes it can be much easier to lose weight than to gain weight. Most people that struggle with their weight would want to look healthier and fuller. It is not easy to gain weight and most people that want to lose weight don’t understand it. The majority of people that are overweight don’t understand people who want to gain weight, and think that they are just seeking attention. Yes, it is unhealthy to be overweight, yet, being underweight can be as unhealthy.According to Beth W. Orenstein from the article How to Gain Healthy weight, â€Å"Depending on how underweight you are, it could be just as unhealthy as being overweight†. People usually hear about the health risks of being overweight. However, nobody really hears about the health risks of being underweight. Most people have misconception on the way you are supposed to look, and are driven to lose weight because of the media. Every day, when watching TV, the stick thin figures of models, and other celebrities, are advertised all over. For most people, being thin is how everyone is supposed to look.It became the norm of how soci ety perceives how people should look. However, according to the article, what are the health risks of being underweight? Lillian Downey tells us that being underweight comes with severe health issues. It can cause infertility in women, osteoporosis, and decrease immune function. In the article Lillian says that â€Å"low body weight, intense, prolonged physical activity, low calorie and nutrient restricted diets often cause women to stop ovulating and menstruating†. This affects the functioning of the reproductive system.Moreover, poor nutrient intake, and low body mass affect bones’ health. People that are underweight have more fragile bones. â€Å"Persons who are severely underweight may suffer from loss of muscle mass, which supports bones and joints, and helps prevent bone breaks, dislocations and fractures†. Lastly, the immune system is affect by low body mass. Low consumption of fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals weakens normal immune function, says Ms . Downey. Being underweight has other side effects. It can be dangerous to be underweight depending on how underweight you are.According to the article Dangers of Underweight, the negative effects are: Prone to infection (comprised immune system), Low muscle mass, Hair loss, Irregular hormone regulation, Osteoporosis, Anemia, Pregnancy complications (or inability to get pregnant), Menstrual irregularities. People have misconceptions about skinny people. They think that everyone wants to be thin, so why someone would possibly want to gain weight. People need to realize that skinny isn’t the way to be. It can be very unhealthy, and bring serious health issues.They drive to diet because they want to be â€Å"normal†, which means get to the status of Hollywood, and what the media portrays about what it is to be beautiful. In America, people are really into the whole glamour scene of Hollywood celebrities. They look up to these celebrities and see them as their role model. This means being thin is the way to go, and is how people is supposed to look like. It is important for people to take care of their body, and be more health conscious. Being overweight or underweight can be equally as unhealthy. Eating right is more important than ever. The way you look is subjective to what you eat.So instead of doing drastic changes to gain weight, it is important to eat well. Loading in junk food will bring you the calories that you are supposed to take per day; however, it won’t be good calories. Eating well and nutrient dense foods, will help you can weight in the wanted areas of your body. This will avoid building fat around the belt area. Summary and Conclusion This project successfully broadened my horizon in being food health conscious. All my life I dreamed about having a fuller figure. I wanted to fill my clothes with more curves. I rapidly understood how much of a struggle gaining weight can be.Everyone around me always told me â€Å"why do you want to gain weight while everyone wants to lose weight? † I never really could open up about my issue because no one could understand it. Today, I finally made the decision of changing my lifestyle to the better. All my researches talked about similar ways to gain weight. This includes mainly eating more often, eating nutrient dense foods, and exercising. Since January I have been following this gain weight diet, and surprisingly for the first time in my life it worked. In three month and a half I gained eight pounds. My goal was to gain ten pounds, but I’m really happy about the outcome.I would have never thought I could gain this much in a little time. My daily routine was to eat three nice meals per day, and two snakes. For breakfast, I always eat a whole grain bagel with butter, oatmeal with raisins in it, and two eggs. For lunch and dinner I always eat at least one kind of vegetables with meat of fish, and carbs such as pasta, or rice. I also snack on nuts a lot. I always carry almonds, pistachios or cashew in my bag, if I don’t have much time. If I have time I make myself smoothies with at least three types of fruit with milk, and orange juice, and I also add two scoops of vanilla ice-cream.Also, I make myself peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or I eat Greek yogurts. Even if I’m not hungry I force myself to eat at least a yogurt for a snack or a banana. This project was extremely successful for me. I have a whole new health conscious routine that I will keep forever from now on. I’m today weighing 118 pounds, and would like to be 125 pounds. As soon as I will reach my ideal weight I will keep eating healthy but I won’t stress so much on eating fatty foods. Bibliography * Arrue, Karina. â€Å"What to Eat to Gain Weight-The Healthy Way. † Glamour (2009). * Column, Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, WebMD Expert. Healthy Ways to Gain Weight. † WebMD. WebMD. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. . * â€Å"Using Weight Gain Di et to Increase Body Mass Quickly. † Weight Gain Diet. 2012. Web. * Jegtvig, Shereen. â€Å"Healthy Foods to Help You Gain Weight. † About. com Nutrition. 12 Feb. 2012. Web. . * Gidus, Tara. â€Å"Dangers of Underweight. † Medical Information for Healthy Living. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. . * Downey, Lillian. â€Å"What Are the Health Risks of Being

The Role of Women in History

Andrew Makarian History 105 – 1002 Essay 2 In the history of western civilization were there any significant changes in the roles of women and in how these were defined? Women: cant live with them. Cant live without them. An old adage that pokes fun, yet is telling in its statement about how men view women. This sense of incompatibility curtails the differential roles men and women have played throughout history. The separation of sexes into distinct roles has inherently made them unequal.In today’s modern society, these deviations have been lessoned, but throughout the course of western development the roles of women have be markedly transformed. Looking back, three distinct points in time mark a transitional shift in female roles: the Code of Hammurabi, Spartan society, and the renaissance revival in education. Beginning in the ancient near east, the earliest accounts of women in society come to us from the Code of Hammurabi. Used as a guideline for society, the code candidly depicts daily life in ancient Babylon, defining among many things the roles of men and women.From the very beginning, the code depicts a very imbalanced view on gender roles; nearly every line in the code begins with â€Å"if a man†¦Ã¢â‚¬  making it painfully clear this code was written for men. The laws did not give credence to women unless addressed under a man: â€Å"if a man’s wife has a finger pointed at her on account of another, but has not been caught lying with him, for her husband’s sake she shall plunge into the sacred river (Beatty, 10). † women are cited inferior to men in their importance, but also their opinion has no real value in social determinations.This subservient role promises no power in ancient society, women found identity through the man they where with. If for any reason †she has not been discrete, has gone out, ruined her house, littered her husband, she shall be drowned (Beatty, 10). † There is absolutely no room for individualism. Women in ancient times where deprived of a real separate role in greater society, they are portrayed basically as extension of their male contemporaries. Although this particular near east culture defined women as patriarchal property, women would see increased development in their social roles as humanity as a whole progressed.From Babylon to Sparta, over a millennium of improvements, the roles of women would see several significant changes. In the classical age, the Spartan city-state grew into a powerful warrior based society in the Peloponnesian. The polis was based on hoplite primacy: Spartan men played the role of warrior. The importance of â€Å"manliness† for men ironically proved pivotal in strengthening women’s roles in society. There was a revolutionary shift in perspective: â€Å"Only Spartan women could rule men† and that was because â€Å"only Spartan women gave birth to real men. † These advancements for women tra nslated into increased opportunities.Spartan women could marry whomever they wanted, Spartan women could ascertain an education, and Spartan women could own land. The development roles in this time period were important for laying the foundations for future progress. Being an influential power, Spartan society expanded throughout the Aegean and spread its beliefs to forthcoming cultures. The likes of Athens, Macedon, and even the Roman Empire would come to acknowledge Spartan advancements in female status. At the height of the roman republic, this influence would translate into upper-class Roman women earning an education and practicing the rhetorical traditions.Such extraordinary advancements would unfortunately curtail the decline of society as a whole, as roles began to backslide into obscurity. Beyond Sparta and after the fall of Rome, western civilization sees a decline in many aspects, including the rights of women. During these dark ages, a shadowy cloud looms over feminine d evelopment. It is not until the renaissance that this haze is cleared away and a return to classical humanism opens the door for empowerment. As society during renaissance period began rediscovering classical thinking, liberal education became available to men and women.An important figure in this educational revival is Laura Cereta. Daughter of an upper-middle-class attorney, Cereta received an education in Latin and developed as a writer and humanist thinker. Her work, â€Å"In Defense of Liberal Education for Women†, had been written to counter growing fears against advancements in rights for women. Cereta attacks the notion that â€Å"extraordinary intellect of the sort one would have thought nature would give†¦ [man]†, was not imparted on to women (Beatty, 309). She defends that â€Å"the philosopher sees with her mind; she furnishes paths with a window of reason through which she can ascend to a state of wareness (Beatty, 309). † This powerful stateme nt is indicative of education women are capable of attaining in this time period. This role of thinker, of philosopher, of humanist had been reserved solely for men for much of western civilization. This shift is another step towards the role of modern women. Beyond education, Cereta work also comments on women in the social order by relating to her contemporaries: â€Å"others love to say cute little things, to hide their feelings behind a mask of tranquility, to indulge in dancing, and lead pet dogs around on a leash (Beatty, 311). This last passage sheds more light on some of the other roles women played during the renaissance. The parallelism from that time period to the modern era is shocking. Had this line been written about women today it would be equally as relevant. As a whole, Laura Cereta’s writing allows an intimate look at women in renaissance society, but more importantly, her work demonstrates a new sense of confidence and destiny not shared by previous women. Throughout the development of western civilization, the roles of women have markedly been transformed.The Code of Hammurabi, Spartan society, and the renaissance revival in education, where just three points that showed this growth. From property to free thinking philosophers, women have held many roles. It is important to consider the progress through the ages, as it is a reflection on society as a whole. References Beatty, J. L. , Johnson, O. A. , Reisbord, J. , & Choudhury , M. (2004). Heritage of western civilization: Ancient Civilizations and the Emergence of the West. (Vol. 1). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Prentice Hall.

Free Essays on Mayan History

MAYAN HISTORY The Maya are probably the best-known of the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Belize. Building on the inherited inventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such as the Olmec, the Maya developed astronomy, calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing. The Maya were noted as well for elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial architecture, including temple-pyramids, palaces and observatories, all built without metal tools. They were also skilled farmers, clearing large sections of tropical rain forest and, where groundwater was scarce, building sizeable underground reservoirs for the storage of rainwater. The Maya were equally skilled as weavers and potters, and cleared routes through jungles and swamps to foster extensive trade networks with distant peoples. Many people believe that the ancestors of the Maya crossed the Bering Strait at least 20,000 years ago. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers. Evidence of settled habitation in Mexico is found in the Archaic period 5000-1500 BC - corn cultivation, basic pottery and stone tools. The first true civilization was established with the rise of the Olmecs in the Pre-Classic period 1500 BC -300 AD. The Olmecs settled on the Gulf Coast, and little is known about them. They are regarded as the inventors of many aspects of Meso-American cultures including the first calendar and hieroglyphic writing in the Western hemisphere. Archeologists have not settled the relationship between the Olmecs and the Maya, and it is a mystery whether the Maya were their descendants, trading partners, or had another relationship. It is agreed that the Maya developed a complex calendar and the most elaborate form of hieroglyphics in America, both based on the Olmec's versions. Maya had a complex society (Clas... Free Essays on Mayan History Free Essays on Mayan History MAYAN HISTORY The Maya are probably the best-known of the classical civilizations of Mesoamerica. Originating in the Yucatan around 2600 B.C., they rose to prominence around A.D. 250 in present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala, western Honduras, El Salvador, and northern Belize. Building on the inherited inventions and ideas of earlier civilizations such as the Olmec, the Maya developed astronomy, calendrical systems and hieroglyphic writing. The Maya were noted as well for elaborate and highly decorated ceremonial architecture, including temple-pyramids, palaces and observatories, all built without metal tools. They were also skilled farmers, clearing large sections of tropical rain forest and, where groundwater was scarce, building sizeable underground reservoirs for the storage of rainwater. The Maya were equally skilled as weavers and potters, and cleared routes through jungles and swamps to foster extensive trade networks with distant peoples. Many people believe that the ancestors of the Maya crossed the Bering Strait at least 20,000 years ago. They were nomadic hunter-gatherers. Evidence of settled habitation in Mexico is found in the Archaic period 5000-1500 BC - corn cultivation, basic pottery and stone tools. The first true civilization was established with the rise of the Olmecs in the Pre-Classic period 1500 BC -300 AD. The Olmecs settled on the Gulf Coast, and little is known about them. They are regarded as the inventors of many aspects of Meso-American cultures including the first calendar and hieroglyphic writing in the Western hemisphere. Archeologists have not settled the relationship between the Olmecs and the Maya, and it is a mystery whether the Maya were their descendants, trading partners, or had another relationship. It is agreed that the Maya developed a complex calendar and the most elaborate form of hieroglyphics in America, both based on the Olmec's versions. Maya had a complex society (Clas...