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The Persian Empire
The Right Government.The
Right Military.The Right Leaders.
The Persian Empire extended from the Persian Gulf to the Aegean
Sea and nearly everything in between; conquering the most dominant
civilizations of this period. At its height in about 500 B.C.E Persia had
control of all of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Lydia, Northern India, Assyria, and
Palestine. They united the most prevailing civilizations of the region.
People of Indo-European origins begin to settle in Iran more than 1,000 years
before the Persian Empire was founded. Civilization started in this region as
life as pastoral nomads on the Iranian plateau. By 900 B.C.E two groups, the
Persians and the Medes, had gained control of most of
Iran (Wallenfels). People gradually came to settle in the Southwest
Iranian plateau bounded by the Tigris River. As society developed a bold
family began to come into power. The Achaemenid family, in different forms,
remained in power throughout the entire duration of the empire. The Median
king, Cyrus, in an effort to create peace with the Persians, gave his daughter
in marriage to the Persian king, Astyages. In about
585 they had a son Cyrus II, who would grow up to become Cyrus the Great; and
in 558 Cyrus II ascends to power. In 550 Cyrus II conquered his grandfather and
seizes Media uniting them as partners in the empire. He soon took control of
all the other Iranian tribes. Cyrus the Great would go on to establish the
massive Persian Empire. The members of the Achaemenid Dynasty that follow would
build an empire the likes of which no one had seen before. The Persian
Empire was so successful because it had a unique type of government, with a
strong military, and bold, audacious rulers leading the empire to achieve
greatness.
Unique governmental organization was one element that
helped the Persian Empire to be so successful. The Persian Empire had a central
government system that led it to conquer a vast territory. The central
government consisted of the king and his advisors as well as a royal court of
aristocrats and their families. The “king of kings” had ultimate power among
the empire (Gabriel). He ruled over satraps, or governors from the
providences he controlled. Like the pharaohs of Egypt his duties included
managing the building of infrastructure and public works. He was also the
general of the “national” army and responsible for protecting the empire from
outside threats and suppressing any revolts. The king himself often traveled
with the army during major battles and uprisings. The king also traveled
between the empires four capital cities: Persepolis, Babylon, Susa
and Ekbatana during different season to avoid harsh
weather conditions. The entire court traveled with him. Civilization among the
empire often felt distant from the king and this creates a threat of revolt.
Through traveling around the empire a leader was able to see a larger portion
of his subjects keeping them mindful of his presence (Moulton 115). The Persian
Empire also collected taxes in a different way. The providences collected taxes
and fees from the citizens and paid the central government what they could. The
king and his court became quite wealthy even though the provinces made the
decision about how much to contribute (Moulton 116). This tax system
worked for Persia. Each city or group could collect the taxes themselves and
pay for what they needed. The government didn’t even have to have that much involvement
in the specific of a city or its tax codes. What was left over would be given
to the government most of the time as a form of tribute. Without having to do a
lot themselves the king and his court had money coming in from the
civilizations they captured. Also, while each province remained diverse in
language and culture the central government had an official language, Aramaic,
spoken by all government officials. It is because of their different ideas of
central government that the Persian Empire was so fruitful.
The Persian military also played an essential role in
Persia’s long lasting success. The Persian Empire had a large and strong
military. The Iranian peoples have a long history of rugged warriors, and the
Persians were no different in this respect (Stokes 1). The original tribal army
of Cyrus developed into the Imperial Army, led by native Persian officers. The
army that conquered the territories of Persia, was called the Immortals by
their opponents because of their masses, when one fell another instantly
replace him in battle. This army, made up of more than 10,000 troops, conquered
nearly all of Mesopotamia and Asia Minor. The king himself had an army of
personal bodyguards consisted of 2,000 foot soldiers and 6,000 horseman
(Gabriel 308). Another reason why the military was so successful at conquering
was because they used advanced weaponry. The combination of size and skill of
the Persian military made many others helpless. Each province had its own
military led by a Persian officer. They protected their nation as if it were
independent from the empire. If there was a serious threat the Imperial Army
would step in and take over. Although each province had a tribal army
that was capable of protecting the civilization the Imperial Army still had a
presence. With posts close to its important cities, the Persian army was never
far away. In the same way that cites remained loyal because they felt the king
was not distant and his threat close, each civilization knew that the Imperial
Army too was near. If a revolt began the army
was soon to supress it often led by the king of kings
himself. With knowledge of this threat a limited number of revolts occurred in
such a vast territory.
In addition to a central government the Persian Empire was
able to maintain such a vast empire because its cities and groups remained
independent states. The territory was becoming too vast to be controlled by one
man. The tribal and cultural diversity of Persia made it very difficult to
govern (Stokes 1). Cyrus the Great instituted a new system in which the empire
would be divided into twenty self-governing provinces. Each province had a
governor, general, and a secretary to state (Gabriel 306). This new government
system worked nearly perfectly with the Persian Empire because each
civilization was able to keep their culture close to the same (Gabriel 305). A
satrap, or governor of the province, was king within his own city. Each nation
lived similarly to how it had independently. A satrap had ultimate power
over his kingdom but was held accountable to the king of kings (Moulton 115).
Officials, called “eyes of the king”, were sent to inspect kingdoms and check
on the satraps. These inspectors had the authority to punish kings and enforce
rules (Gabriel 306). In this way the government was unique from others of it
its time, and in this way Persia was able remain in control of its diverse
empire.
Again a key factor to the achievement of the empire was a
certain combination of unity and diversity. The Persian Empire at its height
consisted of forty-two nations, all with different values. Because of the
political system in place the individual civilizations were able to maintain
the same culture and customs. By not pressing specific religious, language, or
other cultural elements on its subjects, the citizens felt less threaten and
less inclined to revolt. Each nation lived independently with the same way of
life they would have had on its own, however the king of kings did have control
over them. The normal people of these provinces had not seen their life
severely disrupted nor did they feel terrible oppressed. By gaining the
tolerance of its people the empire was able to maintain itself. In contrast
however the features that the empire did share united them as one. An example
of the empire’s unity was the royal roads system. The royal roads connected the
vast empire, encouraging trade, made the military more effective, and increased
the communication between the cities. Messengers with letters, documents, and
mental notes were now able to travel across the entire region in due time. News
from battle could reach the king in time to make effective decisions. The most
famous road was built from Sardis to Susa, the nearly 1500 mile road system
changed communication and trade among the empire (Persian Royal Roads). Without
this road the journey would have taken months. With increased trade came the
need for a monetary system and Darius formed an empire-wide coin system, based
on that of the Lydians (Sacks 1), that made trade
easier and the empire more united. The Persian Empire was able to find a
balance of diversity, freedom, loyalty, and unity.
Bold, powerful, ambitious rulers led the Persian Empire to
victory. The achievements of these early rulers formed the empire and made it
great. Their courage made the Persian Empire strong and feared by their
opponents. The first period of the Persian Empire, called the Achaemenid
Dynasty was filled with expansion and success. Through Cyrus and Darius the
empire was formed and maintained. Cyrus the Great established the largest
empire of his time. Mark Grossman in his article on Cyrus the Great wrote,
“Cyrus was remarkable, aggressive and an energetic conqueror.” He continually
captures neighboring civilizations again and again, expanding the empire to all
of Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Egypt. Cyrus the Great captured so many
powerful nations uniting them as one. In 546 B.C. Cyrus captured Lydia’s
capitol Sardis gaining control of all of Lydia. Shortly after in 539 B.C. he
captures Babylon (Nardo 8). Babylonia was one of the
strongest forces in Mesopotamia but Cyrus took advantage of political
disruption. Babylon had become unstable because of a general dislike of their
current king. Capturing Babylon gave them control over Syria and Palestine
(Grossman 1).Cyrus the Great had taken one city with a strong army and formed a
great empire encompassing the great powers of the era. Cambyses, Cyrus’ son and
successor continues to expand the territory. In 525 B.C. Cambyses captures
Egypt (Nardo 8). Rebellions began to arise in
Cambyses’ career and he suppressed much of them (King 2). One rebel though
gained much support by claiming to be Smerdis, Cambyses’ dead brother. He
claimed he was the true leader of Persia being the eldest son of Cyrus the Great,
and eventually took the thrown from Cambyses. It was just this type of
political trouble that brought the empire down. When revolts and lies fill the
government it weakens its power. Cambyses soon afterwards died under
questionable circumstances. With knowledge that Smerdis was an imposter a small
group of soldiers, led by Darius, came to the capitol and killed Smerdis (King
2). The empire reached its peak under his ruler in about 500 B.C. In an
inscription written by himself he says, “There are the countries which are
subject unto me, and by the grace of Ahuramazda I became king of them: Persia,
Elam, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Eygpt, the
countries by the sea, Lydia, the Greeks, Media, Armenia, Cappondonia,
Pathia, Dranigana, Aria, Chourusmia, Bacteria, Sagita, Gandara, Scythia, Scattagdia, Archosia, and Maka, twenty-three
lands in all.” This alone shows the difficulty of the task he faced. He had to
keep united an empire of totally different backgrounds and culture. In his
short time in power Smerdis had destroyed many cultural elements of Persia.
Under Darius religious temples were rebuilt, public lands, herds, and housing
were restored. In his words Darius says, “Restored that which had been taken
away.” He began his career by reforming which had been lost in this brief
period of destruction. His main concern then moved to revolts. In his career
many cities and groups tried to revolt, he managed to suppress them all. Battle
after battle Darius defeats rebelling groups and king after king he kills. Many
individuals or small groups attempt to rebel against him yet none succeed.
Darius further expanded the empire by capturing Northern India (Wallenfels
173). In 490 Darius attempted to invade Greece but failed. Summarizing his
career Darius in his inscription says, “This is what I have done. By the grace
of Ahuramazda have I always acted. After I became
King, I fought nineteen battles in a single year and by the Grace of Ahuramazda
I overthrew nine kings and made them my captive.” He kept Persia united and suppressed
powerful revolts. Xerxes, Darius’ son continued in his father’s footsteps.
Greece was still a powerful and fierce fighter and key rival to the expansion
of the Persian Empire. In 480 he conquered Northern Greece. Next he invaded
Greece and burned Acropolis in Athens (Wallenfels 173). With such great success
Xerxes then returned to Persia, leaving his army in the hands of his generals,
but they were defeated. Xerxes came so close to conquering Greece, doig this would have made the largest empire the world had
seen, and would have included most of the known world. Xerxes too came to an
end because of political violence. In 465 B.C. he was assassinated (Wallenfels
173). Cyrus established a great empire that would grow to become one of
the most powerful empires of its era; Cambyses shadowed his father but
conquered Egypt adding it to the empire; Darius suppressed nineteen revolts
bringing the Persian Empire united again in a single year; Xerxes continued his
father’s legacy by invading Greece. The Achaemenid Dynasty was the golden age
of the Persian Empire. The government worked not only because of its premise
but because of these bold strong leaders who carried out its ideals.
After the death of Xerxes the empire began to decline. The
weakening rulers failed to reform when civilization was falling apart. This
eventually led to the end of a great empire. Political corruption and revolts
begin to fill the government; an author of “The Persian Empire” The Ancient
Near East describes the situation, “The death of Xerxes marked a turning
point in the history of the Achaemenid Dynasty. The kings that followed Xerxes
–Artxerxes I, Xerxes II, and Darius II –were weak and
struggled to retain control of the empire.” (Wallenfels 173).
There was much struggle for power within Persia that caused so much
destruction. The Egyptians rebelled for five years eventually regaining their
independence. The struggle continued Xerxes II
was assassinated; and moreover Darius II like that man he was named after,
faced many rebellions but was not as successful at suppressing them.
Furthermore Bagoas, a noble tires to become powerful
by putting in a “puppet king” named Ares. When Ares didn’t play along he was
killed by Bagoas. Ares was then replaced by Darius III who killed Bagoas.
Darius III was able to suppress some of the rebellions but the empire was
clearly in decline (Wallenfels 173).
The Greco-Persian Wars continued after Xerxes invaded
Greece in 480 B.C. The conflict continued through the weak rulers that followed
him. The Greeks soon began to have the upper hand and had intentions to invade
and take over the Persian Empire. A bold man from Macedonia came into power,
Alexander the Great. Alexander the Great took advantage of Persia’s weak
political molment and invaded the empire. He
eventually would come to take all of Persia creating the new most expansive
empire the world had ever seen. Richard A. Gabriel explains that it was not
necessarily Greek strength, but Persian weakness that brought the empire to an
end. He says, “The fall of the empire was due far less to the superiority of
the Greeks arms than to the military and political weakness engendered by
Persian social instability. Harem politics, domestic wars, rebellions,
assassinations, and the need to maintain an empire and an army larger than the
world had ever seen.” (Gabriel 309) It was the breakdown of the Persian
government that led to its destruction.
The Persian Empire is a marvel in government. They created a
different type of government that would allow for such a vast territory to be
ruled. The government was organized in such a way that the central government
was small but powerful. The main concern of the king of kings and his court was
to manage the army and expansion of the empire. Satraps ruled over their
provinces and used the taxes for public works accordingly to provide for that
province. This type of government fit the social and political situation
of the empire perfectly. With impressive leaders the empire flourished. Cyrus
established the empire and expanded it to the entirety of Mesopotamia and Asia
Minor. His son, Cambyses expanded it father including Egypt in the mix. Darius,
in one year, reformed the entire empire putting down nineteen revolts and built
up infrastructure. Xerxes invaded Greece and almost conquered his greatest
rival. These strong leaders brought the empire to new heights. They developed
and perfected a government system that changed all society, a government with
the perfect balance of diversity and uniformity. It was not by brute strength,
or luck, but by great leaders in a resilient governmental system, and a strong
military that the Persian Empire dominated the sixth century B.C. .
Bibliography
Works Cited
Darius, I. Letter. The Behistun Inscription. Trans.
L. W. King and R. C. Thompson. London: n.p., 1907. 1-11. Livius. Web. 18 Jan.
2012. <http://www.livius.org/be-bm/behistun/behistun01.html>.
This was a very helpful
source. It was a primary source written by Darius as an autobiography. It gave
me so much information about his life and the empire. I used this at the end to
write detailed information about Darius and Persian cultural values.
Grossman, Mark. “Cyrus the Great.”
World Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary. New York: Facts on
File, 2007. Ancient and Medieval History Online.
Web. 8 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This source gave me good information
on Cyrus the Great and the expansion of the empire. I used this source in the
beginning and it was very helpful.
Grossman, Mark. “Xerxes.” World
Military Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary. New York: Facts on File, 2007.
Ancient and Medieval History Online. Web. 8 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This source really helped me
understand military practices of the time, giving me a better veiw of the big military picture. This was helpful in the
middle of my research.
Llywelyn, Morgan. “’The
Great King.’” Xerxes. New York: Chelsea
House Publishing, 1987. N. pag.
World Leaders Past and Present. Ancient
and Medieval History Online. Web. 9 Jan.
2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This book helped me find
information about Xerxes and his conflicts with Greece. It was helpful at the
end of my research when I was looking at the success and failures of rulers.
Nardo, Don. The
Persian Empire. San Diego: Lucent, 1998. Print. World
History.
This resource was really
helpful in the beginning it had a timeline that helped me summarize the entire
life of the empire.
“Persian Empire.” The Ancient Near
East. Ed. Ronald Wallenfels and Jack M. Sasson. Vol. 3. New York:
Charles Scribner’s Sons, 2000. 171-177. Print. The
Ancient Near East.
This resource was really good
for background information about the Persian Empire. I used this at the
beginning of the research.
“Persian Empire.” Map. Anchient
and Medival History Online. Facts on File, n.d. Web. 7 Jan.
2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This was an independent map I
found online on Facts on File Ancient and Medieval History. It showed the
vastness of the empire and all the cities it included. This was very helpful
because I could visually see how amazing the conquering was. I used this at the
beginning of my research but referred back to it throughout the project.
“The Persian Empire and Alexander the
Great.” A Chronological Encyclopedia from Sumer to the Persian Empire.
Ed. Richard A. Gabriel. Vol. 1.
Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2005. 306-310. Print.
Empires at War.
This was a reference book
which I got from the Library that helped me with specific information toward
the end of my research. This resource was helpful for information on state
administration and the government. It helped me understand the relationship
between the central government and the satraps. It also gave me information
about what their place in society and job was.
“Persian Royal Road.” Map. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts on File, n.d. Web. 7 Jan.
2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This was a map of the Royal
Roads in the empire. It showed how extensive they were and how they united key
cities. I got this source on Facts on File Ancient and Medieval History. It was
a quick visual reference that helped me visualize.
“Persians.” Encyclopedia of
the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East. Ed.
Jamie Stokes. Vol. 2. New York: Facts on File,
2009. Ancient and Medieval History. Ancient
and Medieval History Online. Web. 8 Jan.
2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This was an article from an
encyclopedia that was on line on Facts on File Ancient and Medieval History. It
was helpful for basic information and gave specifically some information about
daily culture which was good background information.
Pettman, Andrew. “Cambyses II.” Encyclopedia
of World History: The Ancient World, Prehistoric Eras to 600 CE. Ed. Marsha E. Ackermann, et al. Vol. 1. New York: Facts on FIle, 2008. Encyclopedia of World
History. Ancient and Medieval History Online.
Web. 9 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This was another resource I
found online on Facts on File from a
encyclopedia. This article specifically gave information on Cambyses II, which
was good because most reference sources seemed to just mention him. This was
helpful at the middle of my research.
Phillips, Charles, and Alan Axelrod. “Persian
Conquest.” Encyclopedia of Wars. Vol. 2. New York: Facts on File, 2005. Ancient
and Medieval History Online. Web. 8 Jan.
2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This resource was
specifically about Persian conquest. This was helpful at the beginning of the
research because it gave background information but it also was very applicable
when I examined the success of the rulers.
Sacks, David. “Darius I.” Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World. Ed. Lisa R. Brody. Rev. ed. New
York: Facts on File, 2005. Anchient and Medival History Online.
Web. 8 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This source was also found
online on Facts on File and was good for its background information on Darius
and the Achaemenid Dynasty. It was especially helpful for the early part of my
research.
Sacks, David. “Persia.” Encyclopedia
of the Ancient Greek World. Ed. Lisa R. Brody.
Rev. ed. New York: Facts on File, 2005. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Web. 8 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This was one of the first
sources I used and it gave helpful basic information on Persia, summarizing the
empire briefly. I got this source from the Facts on File Ancient and Medieval
History database.
Structure and War of the Greek
City-States. Ancient and
Medieval History Online. Films Media Group, n.d.
Web. 9 Jan. 2012. <http://www.fofweb.com/NuHistory/default.asp?ItemID=WE49>.
This source was a video
I found on Facts on File Ancient and Medieval History Online about Greek and
Persian conflicts and Greece’s skills and strengths. I used this in the middle
of my research.
Zeinert, Karen. The
Persian Empire. Tarrytown, New York: Benchmark Books, 1997. Print. Cultures of the Past.
I used this book and
the beginning of my research for information on the beginning of the empire
including Cyrus and Cambyses. It was particular helpful because it was very
straight forward.
Background
Essay
The Persian Empire was
the most powerful civilization of its time. Its vastness alone is amazing. The
Persian Empire extended from the Persian Gulf to the Aegean Sea and nearly
everything in between; conquering the most dominant civilizations of this period.
At its height in about 500 B.C.E Persia had control of all of Mesopotamia,
Egypt, Lydia, Northern India, Assyria, and Palestine. They united the most
prevailing civilizations of the region and united them under one rule.
People of Indo-European
origins begin to settle in Iran more than 1,000 years before the Persian Empire
was founded. Civilization started in this region as life as pastoral nomads on
the Iranian plateau By 900 B.C.E two groups, the Persians and the Medes, had
gained control of most of Iran. (Wallenfels) People gradually came to
settle in the Southwest Iranian plateau bounded by the Tigris River. As
society developed a bold family began to come into power. The Achaemenid
family, in different forms, remained in power throughout the entire duration of
the empire. The Median king, Cyrus, in an effort to create peace with the
Persians, gave his daughter in marriage to the Persian king, Astyages. In ca. 585 they had a son Cyrus II, who would
grow up to become Cyrus the Great; and in in 558 Cyrus II ascends to power.
Cyrus was a remarkable, aggressive and energetic conqueror (Grossman) . In 550 Cyrus II conquered his grandfather and seizes
Media uniting them as partners in an empire. He soon took control of all the
other Iranian tribes. He then broadened his horizons even further conquering
the entirety of Mesopotamia. Kingdoms were amazed by Cyrus’ success and began
to worry for their own safety. Croesus, king of Lydia began to fear his region
would be next; and in 547 B.C.E. Cyrus took Lydia’s capitol, Sardis. Gaining
control of Lydia brought them in contact with the Greeks. In 539 after success
in Asia Minor, Cyrus conquered Babylonia. Babylonia was weak and unstable
because of the general dissatisfaction in the ruler, Nabonidus.
Capturing Babylonia gave Persia control of all of Syria and Palestine.
Cyrus the Great had made a civilization into and empire. He expanded a few
cities into a vast territory with five capitols. Cyrus had two sons, Bardiya and Cambyses. Cambyses was his father’s successor.
The empire continues to prosper under his rule. In 525 B.C.E. Cambyses
successfully invades and seizes Egypt. In 522 an imposter pretends to be Bardiya, who is supposed to be dead, and takes the thrown.
Cambyses dies under suspicious circumstances shortly after. Persian nobles kill
the imposter and put Darius I in power. Under the rule of Cyrus the Great and
his son the empire grows and become the single most powerful empire of the
region.
Persia was powerful
because it was organized in a certain way. They had the right combination of
centralized government and governor with provinces. The Persian Empire was
ruled by a supreme king who was assisted by a royal court and a larger
bureaucracy. The kings traditional title was “king of
kings” because he was supreme and ruled over satraps or governors from each
civilization. The king was advised by a royal court. The royal court was made
up of wealthy landowners, high-ranking military officers, priests, government
officials, and wives and relatives of the king. The king also had a staff od scribes to record and carry out
his orders. For each satrapy or province, there was a satrap or governor
that represents them and was the king of that province. The satraps had a lot
of power and therefore were closely watched by members of the king’s court. But
among their providence they were responsible for keeping order, building
infrastructure, water supply, and the management of surplus like a king or
pharaoh would be.
The military was very
organized and credited for their conquering. T was the military’s job to
conquer and regulate civilizations and protect trade routes. Posts and bases
were set in key locations to keep the empire under control. The military was
originally only Persians but during wartime more soldiers were drafted from
other civilizations within the empire.
The Achaemenid Dynasty
is the period of the Persian Empire in which Darius and his dependence ruled.
It was during this reign of the dynasty that the Persian Empire reached its
largest extent (Wallenfels). Darius I was also a member of a second branch of
the Achaemenid family. Darius conquered sections of northern India and the land
previously under Scythian rule. Darius ventured as far as the Dunube River in Europe. In 490 B.C.E. Darius invaded Greece
but was defeated. Revolts in Egypt lead to his death in 486. Xerxes was Darius’
son and successor. Xerxes was a ruthless ruler. He suppressed the revolts from
Egypt and Babylonia sustaining the empire. Xerxes followed in his father’s
footsteps, with his eye’s on Greece. Xerxes made continual attempts to conquer
Greece. He conquered northern Greece in 480 in the Battle of Thermopylae. Later
in the Battle of Platae Xerxes invaded Athens, and
burned down Acropolis. With some success in Greece Xerxes journeyed home to
maintain control in the empire. He left his troops to continue the fight for
Greece. The Greeks defeated the Persian troops stopping the Persians from
invading Greece any further. Like his father he made a valiant effort to
conquer Greece but was not quite strong enough. He made more headway that his
father and had gained control and even support of some Greek city-states but
was defeated. Xerxes was assassinated in 465 in B.C.E.
“The death of Xerxes
marked a turning point in the history of the Achaemenid Dynasty. The kings that
followed Xerexes –Artaxerxes
I, Xerexes II, and Darius II –were weak and struggled
to retain control of the empire.”(Wallenfels 173).
Rebellions were more frequent. Egypt who had tried to regain their independence
multiple times already, fought for five years until the revolts were
suppressed. Xerxes II was assonated as a result of the revolts and Darius II
faced rebellions his entire career. In 404 B.C.E. Artaxerxes
II succeeded Darius II. “During his 45 year reign Persia fought a thirteen year
war with the Greek city-sate of Sparta” (Wallenfels 173). Eventually they did
come to a solution –Persia gained Anatolia. Egypt again tried to revolt and
this time was successful. Egypt was once again and independent city-sate. In
370 several groups attempted to rebel against him severely weakening the
empire. Artaxerxes was assassinated in 329
B.C.E. Persia was able to regain some of its strength and re-conquer the
civilizations that revolted. After a continued struggle they conquered Egypt.
But just as the empire was repairing itself the government began to get
corrupt. In 338 B.C.E. Artraxerxes III was poisioned by Bagoas an administrator. To gain power for
himself he put in place a Acheamenid
prince named Arses. When Areses
does not obey by Bagoas he was killed and replaced by Darius III. Darius III
killed Bagoas. Darius was able to suppress the Egyptian rebellions. The empire
had taken a turn for the worst. After Xerxes death the empire had consistently
declined, the end of the Persian Empire was near.
While Persia had become weaker Greece had been strengthening. A bold man
had ascended to power, Alexander the Great. In 334 B.C.E. Alexander the Great
invaded Persia with an army of 40,000 troops. After four years of battling
Alexander captured the Persian capitol of Persepolis, and the Persian Empire
came to an end.
Honors Essay
1984 By
George Orwell
“WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVARY
IGNORANCE IS STRNGTH” (145)
The slogan of the party explains how
it is able to maintain control over the party. By being at constant war the
party brings the people of Oceania together, as well as isolating them from the
rest of the world. Because the people of Oceania are oppressed the highest
members of the Inner Party have the freedom. The world is at their hands. The overwhelm of ignorance is where the party gets it
strength. Without knowledge of the past to compare citizens of Oceania can do
nothing but assume that things were far worse. Without the knowledge of the
outside world they cannot understand their own and must assume everything the
party feeds them. It is through these three powerful concepts that the rule of
the Party is held.
War is Peace. The Party uses war as a tool to
keep itself in power. During wartime the population is focused on the enemy not
itself. The people’s eyes are on the issue of war and not the economic problems
and oppression at home. Even if the public has to suffer they believe that it
is necessary for their safety. Continuous warfare justifies the struggles the
people face. Continuous warfare justifies the shortage of goods. This allows
the Party to oppress its citizens more and more without the threat of uprising.
Continuous warfare justifies the hate of everyone outside Oceania and explains
the lack of information about them. Because they at war with Eurasia or Eastasia the population must assume they are evil. The
people have no desire to explore the culture of these other powers. To
understand their country they must compare it to others. It is only through
comparison that they can determine the seriousness of their own
situation. People from each group are likely all very similar but they
never can get to know that. No person from Oceania will ever understand the
customs of someone form Eurasia or Eastasia. No two
groups could ever reach a solution because they do not try. Without a basic
understanding of cultures no agreements would ever be reached. A tool in
genocide is dehumanization. Because no people from the groups have ever met on
kind terms they can only imagine the other as savage. The Party makes its
opponents look the worst they can. With no other source the population takes
this for the truth. A war between the three powers would in theory go on
forever. The reason for war is war. The influences of war are only effective if
the war is continuous. If the war were to stop people might begin to focus
again on the politics of their own country threatening the continuous of the
Party’s position. All three groups are powerful in their own way. They are
equally matched. The goal of these wars which deep within the brains of the
people is not gain in territory, wealth, or even power, but more war. No
territory is ever captured or wealth taken. Border areas change hands
frequently form on group to another. It is as though no side actually wanted to
win. A soldier’s goal is not to win a battle but sustain it. I imagine soldiers
through the process of “Doublethink” really share both mindsets one of logic
and one of insanity. As long as the war endures peace of mind endures in the
mind of the Party. War is people united separately. War is justification for
oppression and struggle. And for the party war is therefore peace.
Slavery is Freedom. It
is through the slavery of its people that the Party is free. The goal of the
Party is to last forever and it uses slavery as a tool to reach that goal.
People of Oceania, like slaves, had minds warped by their masters. Without a
comparison the population assumed it must have been better than the capitalism
of the past. There weren’t a large amount of slave uprisings in the United
States during its horrific Civil-War era. Plantation owners and white farmers
already had the upper hand. The master, maybe only a single man, had power over
all of them because he controlled their minds. The party controls its citizen’s
minds. Twisting and warping the people’s minds to believe the Party is all
powerful and could never be defeated. Eventually we gained equally as was
our goal. The Parties goal is the exact opposite. The Party believes there will
always be three groups of people: thigh, the middle, and the low. The Party and
its inner members want to remain as the high. They aspire for segregation not
equality. Fear is the secondary aspect to slavery. If the oppressed has in
their minds images even unspoken knowledge of the consequences. In Oceania
everyone seems to know the torchers they might endure though they are never
spoken about. If this fear were spoken about; if it were in the conscious brain
people might band together against it. But no one speaks of it. I is so deep
and so powerful but not conscious in the mind. It would not be until they are
plucked out of history and into the Ministry of Love that they understand their
own fear fully but no it is too late. After the tortures they endure they would
never think of standing up against them. Because this system of slavery is in
place the Party is not in danger. The Party is never threatened. The Party is
not limited by anything because its people are oppressed. The Party has no
check, no balances. The Party is free to do as it chooses.
Ignorance is Strength. It
is through the ignorance of the population that the Party is able to remain
strong. With no knowledge of the past, present or future the citizens of
Oceania have nothing to compare to. Incorrect assumptions are made. Without
understanding of other cultures incorrect assumptions are made. Children are
taught in school and everyday these false hoods which become truth. The Party
controls time because it controls all information that is input into people’s
minds. Everything is alterable in Oceania. Winston’s job at the Ministry of
Truth gives us a view into that. The expert physiological tool of “doublethink”
allows this to be possible. Everyone at the Ministry of Truth knows that they
are altering the past but simultaneously believes that they are only
correcting, to improve it. Winston tries to grasp concepts of the Party. He
said, “Consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then once again become
unconscious of of the act of hypnosis you had just
preformed. Even to understand the word ‘doublethinnk’
involved the use of doublethink. “ (604). This concept
is key to the success of the Party. The party has eliminated the relationship
between parents and children, friends, and lovers. Everyone distrust each other
and never compare their memory against that of the Party. If they all still had
such good relationships someone might of asked a friend, “Weren’t we at war with
Eurasia yesterday and now were at war with Eastasia?”. Question of the Party’s truth would stir. Winston
examining insanity as one person believing something is true. If you can find
others that believe it as well than that person isn’t insane, they might be
right, they could be wrong, it’s an opinion. The Party has isolated everyone so
each thought one has doubting the Party is considered insanity because that one
person and him alone thinks it truth. There is no independent thought. There is
no thought. Input is just feed into people, assumed as truth. No person
thinks with a completely conscious mind. If they come anywhere close to reality
they will simply be sent off to the Ministry of Love. Ignorance allows for
trickery. Ignorance lets the Party lie. Ignorance has stopped all independent
thought. Ignorance is the Party’s strength. I believe its most powerful ally
stronger even than war and slavery is ignorance.
It is because of war, slavery,
and ignorance of people that the Party has been allowed to gain such power and
sustain it. We are facing tough times people in which people are doubting
democracy and capitalism. Society is always moving forward. We can always do
better. But we must not let these tools of total control seep into our world.
The communication between us is often less personal. War for the sake of death
has become more common. We have less respect for one another. As times become
tough groups become isolated from each other. We are often ignorant to the
world around us. We cannot keep going down this path. It is our job to make
sure we remain in that endless marches toward the ultimate society where all
people are equal and respected. Our ultimate society will maybe even stand for
the remainder of humanity, not through war, slavery, and ignorance. Our
goal will be reached by maintaining peace, ensuring freedom, and having
everlasting strength.
The Odyssey
The Odyssey By Homer
In
Homer's Odyssey there are many oikos all with different qualities and
characteristics. Throughout Odysseus's journey he learns what makes a good
oikos and what makes a good agathos. His journey is not only a journey of
homecoming but a pursuit of knowledge. As he approaches each new land he asks
himself what is the new land like what are its people like.
He says, "Man of misery, whose land have I lit on now? What are they
here-violent, savage, and lawless? Or friendly to strangers,
god-fearing men?" (293). in each new community he learns what makes
an oikos successful and what does not. As the reader I found that trust and time were the most
influential social concepts that made a good oikos. Trust among the royal
household as well as trust between citizens and agathos were critical
parts of communities. Also the oikos with more time, honor, credit,
wealth seemed to be more successful.
Sparta
is a successful oikos. In Sparta there was lots of time. Menelaus has the most
beautiful and grand hall only second to Zeus. Telemachus is amazed by its
grandness. Homer says, "...then ushered their guests into that magnificent
place. Both struck by the sight, they marveled up and down the house of the
warlord dear to Zeus-radiance strong as the moon or the rising sun came
flooding through the high-roofed halls of illustrious Menelaus." (126).
Menelaus has the grandest most elegant halls which add to the quality of the
oikos. Menelaus has all the glory and renown brought by the Trojan War though
deep within the royal house hold guilt festers. Again his wealth shown when he
himself says, "No man alive could rival Zeus, dear boys, with his
everlasting palace and possessions. But among men, I must say, few if any could
rival me in
riches." (127). It is this wealth and glory that forms positive time for the entire
oikos. There is confidence and trust between the Spartans and their king.
Menelaus has many trusted friends, philos, whom without he couldn't have waged
such a war. But among the royal house hold there is a bit of distrust. There is
a suddle but present distrust of Helen. After Helen
tells her story of Troy Menelaus counters her. He says, "There was a tale,
my lady. So well told..." (132). in sense he is saying well told story but
not reality. Rightfully so Menelaus distrusts his wife but it is this nick in
the finish of Sparta that will hold them back. Sparta is a strong oikos for its
extensive time and confidence in its ruler.
Phaecia
is a nearly perfect oikos. They are a very tight knit community. There
appears to be trust among everyone and confidence in their king, Alcinous. Home
says, “King Alcinous’ prize, for he ruled all the Pheacians, they obeyed him
like a god.” (179). The royal family and royal
household seem to be very strong. The kingdom also seems to have lots of time.
The vegetation and crops seem to be lush. Wealth and elegance seem to be at
rising levels. They seem to possess plenty of wealth. When they set Odysseus
off there give him a large powerful ship filled with presents. Alcinous said to
his hall, “…here’s a command for one and all, you who frequent my palace day
and night and drink the shining wine of kings and enjoy harper’s songs. The
robes and hammered gold and a haul of other gifts you lords of our island
council brought our guest-all lie packed in his polished sea-chest now. Come,
each of us add a sumptuous tripod, add a cauldron!
“(287). Alcinous wants to fill up a ship and send Odysseus on his journey
home. From a literary point of view we can see that this nearly perfect
society is the last stop on Odysseus’ journey home. This society accomplishes
such greatness through its acquired time and trust among
its citizens.
“So
stranger, the name of Ithaca’s reached as far as Troy, and Troy, they say, is a
long hard sail from Greece.” (294). Athena says to Odysseus on his arrival at
Ithaca. Ithaca is not a perfect oikos at this time. Without Odysseus at the
helm Ithaca has gone down in value. With no agathos the citizens have no
central person to whom they can rely on. Without Odysseus the royal house hold
has become a gathering place for suitors who intend to web the queen. Odysseus
himself has a large amount time. On his return the time will be returned
to the community. He will return with many treasures also increasing the
kingdoms time. After Penelope confirms he is the true Odysseus the trust
is returned to their relationship. Those who have stayed loyal can once again
entrust their country in Odysseus’ hands. With Odysseus home again Ithaca will
be a reknown glorified community.
It seems
that trust and time or reputation is important in creating a good oikos. But how
can we apply this today. Is this still true? Yes. Honesty and trust are very
important qualities in a good society today. Likewise reputation and
credibility play a huge part in how global politics are played. We can learn
from lessons learned thousands of years ago. Now when our country and world
faces troubles we need to look back at what we already know. Social problems,
ethics lost, and governments changing we must ask ourselves, “What makes a good
community? What makes a good leader? And one resource for answering these
questions is the Odyssey, a man’s journey to answer these very questions.
Where Did We Wrong?
A Raisin in the Sun By Loraine Hansberry
Mama, confused,
tries to understand her children:
Where did it all wrong? I ask myself now, although it is too late. All that you worked for. Every day
you came home and looked at that rug. You worked so hard to make this family
what it is. Where did it all go wrong? You worked day in and day out for those
children so they could have a home, a life, the best we could. We gave 'em values. Where did it all go wrong?
We brought up them children to live close to the Lord. Now, if only you could
see you'd be turnin' o'er in your grave. Bennie you
should've heard her the other day. Broke my heart. She
doesn't believe in him, Walter. I think she almost has hate for him. She blames
the Lord for her troubles. She tells me that the Lord doesn't
have nothin' to do with this here “real” world;
she asks me why He gets all the credit; can you believe it Walter. She wants
the change the world alright, she wants to be a doctor, and that's just fine if
that's the Lord's intention. But that's not how she sees it. Where did it all
go wrong? Walter's gone astray too. He believes that this blessed world's all about money. That's his
ultimate, not no heaven above but money in his pockets. We know that
none of this artificial manufactured things go with us
on up to heaven. But he don't right listen me, nor his wife none. And now you
know the newest thing he done gone onto, a liquor
store. Of all things a liquor store. He believes in
people, money, and get-rich-quick schemes. We'll I've got news for him, none of
those things last forever, none of them things rule over the entire universe,
none of those things we'll be there as constant forever, and always. Baby, and
without it he's miserable. It's what I've been getting to Walter. He's done
lost your money. Willy Harris done ran off with it. You worked forty years. Laborin' and workin' every
moment, always there fore the kids. You were a family
man. You died before you were even old for this family. And he lost it in a
day! In a day, Walter! He didn't even put away Benneatha's school money neither, just went out and
lost it all. One day! Where did we go wrong?
We done taught these children to be proud. But they don't seem to have
understood. They are proud people but they don't know what to be proud of. We
have come out of slavery, our families, into something more like freedom,
that's something to be proud of. We made ourselves this little home and had a
good family. That's something to be proud of. We are making a livin' none of us killin' us
selves in same factory laborin' that's something to
be proud of. The Lord has blessed us with a new baby. That's something to be
proud of. That's what these children don't understand, Walter. They always want
more. Yes we have far more to go, we are not yet respected equal, we are not
the richest people, we don't have a nice house yet.
But we have come far. We need to be proud of what we have done.
How far we've come already, what we do have. Yes we should aspire
to go further but be proud of where you are. We are always moving forward
towards the ultimate society but never quite there. That's how it'll always be.
We are always improving, and always striving for
more. That's what makes society great. Why can't our children understand that. Life isn't perfect. Where did we go wrong?
I have bought a house in Clyborne Park it just might
help save this family. But now the money is gone. They are willing to buy our
house back “at a finincial gain to us” in order to
keep us colored folk out. That money could help us fix up this place. Help Benneatha finish her schoolin'. I
wants what's best for the family, but I really love
that place. Its kinda what
we always wanted. Its got a
garden, but then we're not really wanted there. It maybe the only thing to save this family from drowning in
itself. What do I do? It thought it was the right thing to do. Where did
I go wrong? I ask you what should I do? What is right?
What is best, Baby? We're a proud family. I know now where we went wrong. We
need to move.
Conflicting Dreams
A Raisin in the Sun
Skills Writing Essay
In A Raisin in the Sun by Loraine Hansberry,
each character holds different meaning to the “American dream”. Walter, Beneatha, and Mama have contrary ambitions that often
conflict. While Mama is satisfied with surviving, Walter and Beneatha aspire for more. The conflicts between the
characters stem from two main ideas : a characters
measurement of satisfaction, and that the struggle financially.
Mama's dreams are very different from those of her children because of their
difference in generation and experiences . She grew up
in the Jim Crow South, where lynchings and killing of
African-Americans were prevalent. In that time one hoped and dreamed to
survive. A key difference in their dreams
is level of satisfaction. Mama battles with the ideas of
satisfaction in a conversation with Walter. She says, “You something new, boy.
In my time we was worried about not being lynched and getting to the North if
we could and how to stay alive and still have a pinch of dignity too...”(74).
While Mama is happy just to carry her family through another day, Walter wants
to make more radical changes. He wants his family to be well of, rich even.
Mama finds it almost disrespectful that Walters wants more. She encourages her
children to be proud and aspire for more but does not mean they are at a terrible
place now. She has tried to teach them to be proud but clearly they aren't sure
what to be proud of. Mama wants them to proud of where they are now,
what they have accomplished, what things are positive in their
lives. This is a clear distinction between Mama and her generation and her childrens' generation in terms of satisfaction. This grind
exists between Mama and Beneatha also. Beneatha wants to change the world. She wants to create
equality. She wants to make everyone better, healthier. Mama though is
satisfied with just improving her own family. She is happy with having a
strong, safe, place for her family. She is fine with just surviving. This
concept of satisfaction creates friction among characters because it differs so
much for each character.
Walter's expectations are different to those of Mama's or even Beneatha's. Walter shows his deepest wants in a
conversation with Travis. He says, “...I'll pull the car up on the
driveway...just a plain black Chrysler, I think, with white walls –no–black
tires. More elegant. Rich people don't have to be
flashy...though I'll have to get something a little sportier for Ruth –maybe a
Cadillac convertible to do her shopping in....” He continues to list the little
things he would want if he were rich. He ends with, “You name it, son… and I
hand you the world!” (109). Walter's dreams are centered on money. He dreams of
fancy homes and luxuries of being rich. He also, however, holds deepest needs
for social status, and thinks he can achieve this through having money. Big
Walter and Mama taught Walter to be proud of him. Walter, though, takes this to
a different meaning at heart. He doesn't know what to be proud of. Money in his
pockets gives him a false pride. This false sense of pride is where he finds
his satisfaction. His job as a chauffeur, carrying rich people around with
little respect in return. This feeds into his dreams. It has a negative effect.
His experiences as a chauffeur only increase his awareness of the social
barrier he needs to overcome. By having this constant reminder it causes
pain with in him. He feels a need for wealth to create status to make him a
better person. He obviously wants to achieve social status because in the time
he's living there is not yet respect toward African-Americans from white people
in Chicago. This social barrier rightfully angers Walter and he wants to
overcome it. Yet he is still not approaching the situation with full respect
himself. This lack of respect is what creates conflict with Mama. Walter
again is approaching the situation with the wrong ideas of pride. Yes, he
should certainly try and overcome this social
injustice but can't let it tear him apart. He doesn't appear to recognize that
racial equality has come a far way. Not to many generations
before his were there slaves in the United States. Even his own father had to
work hard all his life to provide for his family. Walter doesn't realize how
far they have come, he only focuses on how far they
need to go. Asagai explains his philosophies on
progression to Benetha. Asagai
says, “What you said about the circle. It isn't a circle –it is simply a long long –as in geometry, you know one that reached infinity.
And because we cannot see the end –we also cannot see how it changes. And it is
very odd but those who see the changes –who dream, who do not give up –are
called idealists...and those who only see the circle we call them the realists.
”But the ambulance came and they took him to the hospital and fixed the broken
bones and they sewed it all up...and the next time I saw Rufus he just
had a line down the middle of his face...I never got over that.” (133). She
does have strong emotions for being a medical doctor but even more she wants to
change the world. To make it better. Benetha has dreams on a global scale and this is very
different from Mama. While Mama's hopes are centered around
individual survival, Benetha is concerned about the
whole world. Beneatha has expectations for the world, she expects it to be nearly perfect even if she has
to make it that way herself. Mama on the other hand understands where society
is and lives through it, not trying to radically change it. This deference
causes disagreement among Mama and Beneatha. Also Beneatha's education costs money. The family does not have
a lot of extra money, so Beneatha's education and
other expenses cause tension. When Walter loses Beneatha's. school
money on his business expense it creates anger between the two. She also
has a very high level to which she sets her satisfaction. She will not be
pleased until she saves the earth form itself. It is Beneatha's
belief and satisfaction as well as her financial drain on the family cause
conflict.
It is by measure of success and the state of hardship that shape most of the
conflicts between characters. If the family were rich and money was not a
problem. Much of the friction would be released. It is the stress and struggle
related to money that wears on this family and causes them to grind. If this
element were removed their dreams might even be more uniform in nature. But it
is their measure of success that would still remain. Each character though
living under the same roof have had very different
experiences. They difference in generation and
understanding shape their satisfaction. And it is this satisfaction that
causes so much conflict among them.
Book IV
Understanding the Odyssey
Helen is portrayed two different ways in Book IV. She tells her story about
Odysseus' plan to take Troy. She says, “That's how Odysseus infiltrated Troy,
and no one knew him at all ... I alone, I spotted for the man he was” (132). In
this story she is intelligent and kind. She seems to also have this power of
recognition. Not only had she recognized Odysseus many years ago, but
immediately recognized Telemachus for who he was,
though she had never even met him. She claims that her heart was always for Troy . She says, “I yearned to sail
back home again! I grieved too late for the madness Aphrodite sent me, luring
me there, far from my dear land, forsaking my own child, my bridal bed, my
husband too, a man who lacked neither brains nor beauty.” (132). She put so
much effort into making this sound legitimate that it seems false. She is putting
it on so thick it must be false. Though surely she wanted to come home again,
she wasn't as pure as she might think. She also shows some guilt for what had
happened. Manny many people died at war or on their way home and Helen should
feel some responsibility. She says, “...when all you Achean
fought at Troy, launching your headlong battles just for my sake,
shameless whore I was.” (129). She shows such pity for
herself and others. This preaching that she does can be said in many ways. A
reader could picture her saying it with love, compassion, and honesty; but she
could also say it with sarcasm, suggestion, and ironically. These would be two
very different interpretations and both accurate. When read aloud the orator
would portray Helen how they view her, the text itself is left up for or own
interpretations. Like many Shakespearian plays each character can be
portrayed in a different way and create a slightly different story, the same
applies to Helen. On the surface everything she says seems so simple, so sweet,
so innocent, but I believe there is more too her than that.
Menelaus tells a different story portraying her differently. He tells about the
Trojan Horse and how it might have all ended
differently. He says, “When you came, Helen –roused no doubt by a dark power
bent on giving Troy some glory, and dashing Prince Deiphobus
squired your every step. Three times you sauntered round out hollow ambush,
feeling, stroking its flanks, challenging all our fighters, calling each by
name –yours was the voice of all our long-lost wives!” (133).
This shows avery different side of Helen. She
is a woman of mysterious ways. In Menelaus' story she is siding with the
Trojans. She has less innocence. She is more complicated than she first
appears. Menelaus' story suggests that she had a heart of both sides. It is
possible that Helen loved her home country and Menelaus and also have fallen in love with Paris. Questioning of her loyalty
makes her seem less pure. She is more dark. Helen has
goddess-like qualities. She seems to posses some
“powers” that she uses to her advantage. She has the power to recognize people
and remember them really well. As we know she recognized Odysseus as well as
Telemachus. She also, being the most beautiful woman in the world, has powers
of persuasion. Even in her own story she depicts herself as having this dirty
power of persuasion. She says, “Kept questioning him –the crafty one kept
dodging. But after I'd bathed him, rubbed him down with oil, given him clothes
to wear and sworn a binding oath not to reveal him as Odysseus to the Trojans,
not til he was back at his swift ships and shelters,
then at last he revealed to me, step by step, the whole Achean
strategy.” (132). Helen even herself shows this side of her. She is more complex
then she first appears. Helen shows here that she isn't so innocent. Helen also
feels sorry for all the weeping her husband, Menelaus, Telemachus, and king
Nestor's son, Pisistratus and puts a special herb in their wine so they'll
won't weep anymore. This action really defines Helen for me. She cares about
the Achean,
she does feel guilt about what happened. Helen is a beautiful, loving woman.
She is also intelligent and witty. She is goddess-like, and has
some human-powers that make. She has powers of memory and persuasion. Helen has
powerful herbs from strange places. On the surface Helen is the most
beautiful woman in the world but she goes much deeper than that.
The Trojan War
Setting: Troy
Period: Bronze Age
Length: 10 Years
Parties Involved: Greek and Trojan
Outcome: Greek Victory, Destruction of Troy
The Trojan war all began with a little prank. Eris,
the goddess of discord, was not invited to a wedding celebration the gods were
having. Angered by this she thought she would make some fun. She left an apple
at the party labeled, “For the Fairest”, knowing it would cause trouble among
the goddesses. Every goddess claimed the prize but the decision came between
Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite. Zeus, knowing the upset a decision on his part
would be, gave Paris, son of the king of Troy, the responsibility. Each goddess
bribes Paris to influence his choice: Athena promised wisdom and knowledge;
Hera promised wealth and power; and Aphrodite offered the marriage of most beautiful women in Greece. Paris choose Aphrodite and was to be given the most beautiful
women in Greece, Helen. But Helen was a
already the wife of Menelaus, king of Sparta. Menelaus, unknowing of his
guest's intentions, welcomed him into his city. After much feasting and
entertainment, Paris kidnapped Helen and returned to Troy. Menelaus obviously
angered by this decided he would go to Troy retrieve his wife and avenge Paris.
He also called in his brother, Agamemnon, with his army to fight. The Trojan
War had begun. Next proceeded many conflicts with the gods, when a god was not
pleased by a person's actions there was often conscience. When the Greeks went
to leave it was impossible to go by sea with the weather. They found out from
their prophet that this was because Agamemnon had angered the goddess Artemis.
To make fair weather he would have to sacrifice his own daughter. Eventually he
reluctantly did so though it is sad that Artemis replaced Iphigenia with a deer
at the last second, sparing her life. This would cause tension between
Agamemnon and his wife, Clytemnestra that would not be helpful later on. The
weather clear and they proceeded on their journey. When they
arrived in Troy the again faced troubles, with not the Trojans, but the gods.
After capturing Chyseis, the daughter of Chryses, a priest to Apollo, they were cursed by Apollo
through Chyses. This brought disease and death among
the Greeks. But the Greeks too had many successful battles. They had the great
warrior Achilles on their side. Achilles, though, decided to leave after a
dispute with Menelaus over his slaves. Without Achilles the army wasn't feared
as much by the Trojans. Therefore Patroloclus, a good
friend of Achilles, dressed up as him in battle to scare off some of the Trojans.
Some did coware but Hector divided to fight who he
thought was the great Achilles. He eventually killed Patroloclus
revealing the lie. Achilles, though still angry at Menelaus fought for the
revenge of his friend. He hunt down Hector, killed him in a great fight, then
daily dragged his body around Troy behind his chariot. Hector's upset family
paid ransom for the body and they stop to this awful parade. Achilles gave them
the body for proper burial, his task was done. The Greeks were successful in their
battles, their army was usually stronger , but they
couldn't invade the city itself with just strength. Odysseus, smartest of all
the Greeks had an idea. They made a giant wooden horse, hallow in the center,
filled with part of their army. They rest of the army said back appearing to
give up. A captured Greek informed the Trojans (knowing the truth) that the
army had left and that horse was an offering to the greek goddess Athena, and if they took it into the
city walls it would also bring them the goodness of Athena, but if they left it
where it was they'd be cursed by her. The Trojans therefore entered what was
the Greeks camp, confirming that the Greeks had left, leaving behind this giant
wooden horse. Many Trojans thought that this was dangerous. Laocoon,
priest to Poseidon, said, “Trojans, don you not know Odysseus better than this?
Do not trust this horse. I fear the Greeks even when they bear gifts.” But then
suddenly he and his sons where attacked by giant sea serpents, convincing
everyone that they'd better bring in the horse so not to anger the god any
more. While everyone was celebrating the end of the war, the warriors came out
of the horse and opened the gates to the city letting all the Greek army in.
The Greeks showed no mercy, killing old, nobles, and babies, only saving a few
to make salves. They destroyed all buildings, robbed all homes and didn't stop
until the city was completely destroyed. Then they set off from Troy. With
success in Troy, Menalaus returned with his wife to
Sparta. Agamemnon returned only to find his cousin had taken his power and
wife. He was killed by his cousin, Aegisthus, with
help from his wife. Agamemnon's daughter and son managed to flee, and his son
returned to kill his mother and Aegisthus. Did
the Trojan war really take place? There are many
pieces that don't fit, but Troy was destroyed at one point by a war, and those
cities did exist, though many heroes and gods weren't real the war could have
really happened.
RRJ: Are Reading
Response Journals, Here you write about what you read in different ways. You
also teach about the book using many different types of wittings.
RRJ Options:
1.
Were there any
surprises in what you read today? Write about them.
2.
What feelings did
you experience in your reading today?
3.
Did any questions
come to your mind as you read. What are they?
4.
Did you notice
any startling or unusual phrases in your book today? Explain.
5.
Write about the
character with whom you most identify.
6.
Write about what
you think the main character is thinking or feeling at this point in the book.
7.
Write about
whether you agree or disagree with a characters thoughts or behavior.
8.
Do characters or
situations in the book remind you of characters or situations in other TV
shows, Movies, other books?
9.
What aspect of
the main character's personality do you like? Dislike? Explain.
10.
What do you think
the main character's goals and motivations are? What do you think of them? How
does the main character pursue these goals?
11.
From the books
title, what do you think this book will be about? Will you like it? Explain.
12.
What have you
learned about the story's main character so far? Explain your feelings.
13.
At this point,
what do you predict will happen in the long run of the book?
14.
Summarize in own
words what happened in your reading last night.
15.
Write a letter to
a character in a book, giving him/her advice.
16.
What is your
overall reaction to the book? Does it please you? Dis please you?
17.
What questions
would you ask the author if you could meet him/her? How do you think they would
answer?
18.
Free write. What
is going on in your book.
19.
Dialog. Write an
imaginary conversation between you and a character in the book.
·
NFJ:Natalist Field Journals, Poetry about the natural environment
of the land surrounding the ARMS. Using poetry tools as a guide express what
you see.
·
Lit. Circle Job: Literary Circle Job, Ways to Express what you read in a reading group
or "Literary Circle"using seven different
jobs (ways to express what you read):
1.
Discussion Director-Guide the conversation with follow up questions,
personal thoughts, opinions,and things you notice
2.
Literary Luminary-Search for powerful passages in the book record what makes them so
important.
3.
Cool Connector-Make
connections between events & things in the book and occurrence & items
in your own life
4.
Interesting Investigator-Investigate & research a subject left hanging in
the book
5.
Super Summerier-Summarize what happened in the reading. Make inferences and
predictions.
6.
Vocab Master-Make
educated guesses on what new or unfamiliar words might mean, using previous
knowledge, context clues, & root words / spelling.
7. Mental Image Maker-Draw what you imagine in your head, use word
bubbles & thought clouds.
A Conversation Between Robert Frost and Myself
Indigo: English
RRJ Question: #19
English:
Blueberries Pie (Period 4)
“Hello young boy,
what are you doing in these neck of the woods.”Said Robert Frost wit ha
modest smile.
“Well I was riding
my bike and stopped to watch the woods fill up with leaves.”I
said with a laugh.
“A joker” he said
as he laughed quite. “I often do that myself, it is how I get my inspiration,
the small,simple things”
“Yes, you often
take a moment an describe the man details.” , “But you
use just the right words so that, the words are art.” , “And that's a
metaphor.”
“Hey, who are you anyway ?”Frost ask curiously.
I answered “ I'm nobody, who are you?, Are you nobody too?” “And that's
Emily Dickinson” I added. “Oh, I'm so glad to meet you, but I really must go my
house is quite far, you know.”
“And where might
that be?” He asked.
I replied “Over,
the river and though the woods”, as I laugh at my own joke.
“I know a
shortcut!” Frost exclaimed
“And where might
that be,let me guess the
road less traveled on?”
“Well, I must be
going to I have miles to go before I sleep and miles to go before I sleep.”
“We laughed, as we
went our separate ways in the fork in the road.
English:
Blueberry Pie RRJ Entry: #11
The title of this
book (Robert Frost Selected Poems) leads me to believe that the book is a
collection of poems by Robert Frost. Robert Frost was a local poet who lived in
Amherst, so I recognize the name and its history. The picture on the cover
shows a modest man, with a floppy boe tie and loose
hair. and The words “selected poems”tells
me that some poems were selected out of all the poems Frost wrote in his life
time. Frost wrote many poems so this book only choose
their favorites.
I believe I will
enjoy this book because I love nature and Robert Frost wrote many poems about
nature. Living in New England Frost had the “New England Autumn” and the silver
sparkling winter, I enjoy these times of the year and their qualities,
therefore I will probably appreciate theses poems. He
lived locally so I know about him and can use that in understanding his poems.
His poems aren't too long, as to feel run on. “Greece”for
example gives you a view into Roman history but also Frost's thoughts on that history, this kind of imagery enriches the book. His early
poems use basic literacy tools, in these simple poems I can picture everything
Frost's saying. His order in writing or format is interesting and interests me very
much. Some poems use voice and I can almost hear it. The strong poetic skill
makes this book great. I believe I will like this book.
Interesting
Investigator (Literary Circle Job)
Question:
What important
beliefs are shown in the book Three Cups of
Tea? What is your opintion about these
beliefs? Are they important in your life?
Answer:
Helping others
help themselves is an important idea in the world & in the book: Three Cups
of Tea. You can help others by teaching them a trade. A trade can help a person
gain an, income self pride, and a place in the
village. If you give someone education they can learn not only how to read and
write, but how to be safe(who is good and who/ do you
want to avoid) , and how to survive (farming, cooking, hunting). This education con keep you safe, and provide you with
income. People who know wrong from write, and know about the war, bad people,
or dangers will know how to survive through it. Knowing about your surroundings
keeps you safe. By helping others, or giving them
something to be proud of you can inspire more people to help others.
I can not help the whole world at once, but if I help others
with the little things, the little things add up & the world gets better
little by little. You can help people help themselves, once they accomplish
something they feel proud, and also want to help others. This education can
keep you safe, and provide you with income. Again, people who know wrong from
right, and know about the war, bad people, or dangers will know how to survive
through it. Knowing about your surroundings keeps you safe. By helping others, or giving them something to be proud of you can
inspire more people to help others.
Interesting
Investigator (Literary Circle Job)
Marlin
Marlin are well
known for there size, speed, and strength. Marlins'
bodies are elongated with a long spear-like noose, and a dorsal fin. Marlin can
reach a speed of 68 mph. There are different species of marlin who each differ in size. The Atlantic blue marlin, Can be as
long as 19.58ft., and weigh1,800lb. Black marlin are allittle smaller with a length
16ft., and1,500lb in weight.
Marlin fishing is
more of a sport than a career, marlin are often
unhooked and let go after being caught. Some marlin are
severed at high class restaurants but this is not common. Marlin
are not usually sold for their meat.
Naturalist Field Journal
A poetry collection
Table of Contents
Title
Maple Trees
Arboretum (1)
Arboretum (2)
Trail
Lettuce
The Hill
Maple Trees
September 24
Fall is nervously peeking
Its presence,
clear to
me
The maple tree is turning
The green leaves a-burning
Leaving leaves,
A fiery red;
The burnt blackened embers
Falling down to the ground
I think it’s very clear,
Fall is here
Arboretum
September 26
(The Wind, the Wind)
It whips and wanders
Through the tree covered hilltop
It swoops and dives
Over the fields and forgotten hollows
The wind
It shakes the last leaf off the dead branch
The wind
The wind
Arboretum
September 26
A cluster of trees,
A hive full of bees,
The clouds I see,
While lying
On my back in the grass;
I see wild berries,
Remind me of cherries,
As the ripen in the sun,
I eat one;
I hate to admit it,
But when I bit into it,
The bit was quite bitter,
It was
Trail
September 28
A paper birch,
With rounded leaves
Of yellow and green,
Speckled with little brown dots
Blackened gashes,
where
limbs use to be.
The scraggly branches,
small
twigs,
And big old limbs.
A paper birch tree
A paper birch tree
A paper birch tree,
A modest person;
Speckled leaves of
Green and yellow,
A freckled filled face;
Strong old limbs,
A broad shoulder;
Branches,
A hefty arm;
Scraggly branches,
Nimble fingers;
Blackened gashes,
Starring eyes;
Marks,
Battle scars and history
Lettuce
September 29
A rippled leaf of green and yellow,
A lettuce plant;
A small piece of lettuce among the leaves;
A tuft of green and yellow grass,
A weed among the lettuce
The Hill
The crisp cool air
Makes me cold
The winter wind
Whoosh, whispers;
The migrating bird
Sings soft almost silent
melodies;
I came to this hill to sit in the sun
To the best of my
knowledge
There is none
Three ravens circle
And one hovers still,
In the wind on the hill
The Aftermath
A puff of pine needles
Rusted in the sun
A blistered brush of orange
A termite terrorized
chunk of
wood,
an
attacked abandoned city
This test is over and
I am glad
Though I look around
and see
The aftermath
Look for these "Poetry Tools" within the poems(Annotation):
Noun
Adjective
Onomatopoeia
Sensory Details
End Rhyme
Repetition
Verb
Imagery
Simile
Personification
Alliteration
Metaphor
Rhyme Scheme
Consonance
Symbol
Adverb
Assonance
Internal Rhyme
Elementary School Work:
Flying In A Thunder Storm
On Wednesday I went flying in a thunder storm. It was
amazing. Grandfather, my brother, my friends Andrew and Ulysses,and I went to Tuner Falls. I got to fly the plane
for 10 minutes. It was a lot of fun, I wasn't even scared. When we got there,
we went and got ice cream at American Ice Cream. Then we went back to the
airplane. It started to rain. Tyler, Ulysses, and I got in quickly. It rain
harder and harder. You could see water move across the ground. The airplane
shook a lot . The plane was parked. Tyler,Ulysses ,and I were scared.
Andrew called the Orange airport to see when the rain would stop. They told us
we had to go soon before it got worse. WE had two chances now or nine -o'clock
at night. soon the rain stopped so we toke off back home. We went around dark clouds, lightning,
and way in the distance I saw a rain bow. At Orange Airport where we put our
airplane, it was wet outside. We got in Grandpa's car, and it rain all the way
home. The day was sort of scary, but when we got inside the house, I felt
better. Flying is fun.
The End
John R Page
3rd Grade 2005-2006
Pelham Page History
My dad, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather, great great great grandfather, and my great great
great great grandfather all
lived in Pelham. My great great great
great grand father’s
Benjamin Page. He was born in 1829 and died in 1913. My great great great grandfather’s name
was John A Page. He was born in 1861 and died 1940. My great great grandfather’s name was Bertram Page. He was born in
1897 and died in 1970. My great grand father’s name is John A. Page. He was
born in1923 and will be 82 in October. My grand fathers
name is Norman L Page. He was born in 1949 and will be 56. My dad was born in
1972. I John Robert Page was born in 1997 and I’m 8. John R Page and Robert
Page live on Amherst Rd. Norman L Page lives on Hoyden Rd. john a Page lives on
Jones Rd. Bertram lived on Jones Rd. John A Page lived
on the corner of Buffum and North Valley Rd. Benjamin
Page lived on Quarry Rd. That road is an unused dirt road near the North Valley
Cemetery now. Bertram Page and his brother Herman owned the North Valley
Cemetery on North Valley Rd. Bertram, john Norman, and Robert all mowed the
cemetery. When People bought lots they would put their money in the bank. The
bank would pay interest. That paid for the mowing. Bertram and his brother sold
the cemetery to the town of Pelham for $1.00. John A. Page’s wife was the 16th
cousin of the queen Elizabeth of England.
Poems
Spring Flowers
Spring flowers are nicer than spring
flowers are nicer than spring hours
when
the lights fade away but those days
will
bring more days when you put down your
broom
and say what a wonderful day
Dad
Mowing massive fields together
tractor, tractor, dig, dig, dig
throwing and catching hundreds
of
baseballs faster than mom
can
go to the store at the mall
That's my dad
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Last Updated:
2/29/12
By: John Page