It is interesting to me to see that no matter how well you think you have taught your children, or how good of an example you have been, that you never really know how your children will turn out. In our readings there were several examples of great leaders who left their children in charge only to have many of the good things they have instituted undone. Specifially i noted Vespian and Marcus Aurelius. These men had been overall a positive influence in Rome, yet their children were nearly as destructive as they were constructive.
It does get me thinking about how my own children (i have 5) are going to turn out. I know my wife and I are doing our best, and I guess we just have to believe they will do alright.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
accidents do happen
Its interesting to me as we look at history how often some of the greatest events in time have happened seemingly by accident. The punic wars, which initially were just two different sides rushing into the same area to help a friend started a whole chain of events that lead to the utter ruin of the republic of Rome and lead to the more renowned imperialist Rome. Of course once the ball was rolling there were plenty of men to keep up the momentum from Tiberius, to Marius, to Julias Cesaer, and many in between. It it also interesting to note that nearly all of these men who changed Rome did so with the intention of preserving their beloved home and people.
It seemed so many times that these men could have done even greater things for the people of Rome, Italy, and her provinces had it not been for the ineptitude and intervention of a lousy Senate. Yet the Senate alway seems to blame 'the guy in charge.'
It seemed so many times that these men could have done even greater things for the people of Rome, Italy, and her provinces had it not been for the ineptitude and intervention of a lousy Senate. Yet the Senate alway seems to blame 'the guy in charge.'
Sunday, September 14, 2008
wikipedia ugh
I looked up the Battle of Marathon on Wikipedia and got more than I bargained for. The article was lengthy to the point of being inhibiting. It is broken up into different sections, each detailing some aspect of the battle. Being a historical reference piece it basically described the events preceding, during, and after this famous battle between Persia and the Greeks involved.
The article is roughly 5,500 words long. That is a lot of words. The problem is that I felt our own reading was more consise, informative, and understandable than was this article. The article was created on the 14th of December, 2001, and there have been seeming 500+ changes to it, the most recent being this very day that I write this review. On the page discussion you will find that this article was once listed as a historical Good Article, but has since been delisted. There are seventy two references listed, but only 3 external links. The pictures were nice, but not redeeming.
For those interested in this material I would honestly steer them wide of this page. The section about the numbers of people involved in the battle was so muddled and contradictory that I ended up just skipping over it. The end of the article talks about the “legend of the marathon run.” This is the only part of the article I actually found useful and interesting, and even this part didn't seem to want to be clear on the subject. There are far better resources found online than this Wikipedia article.
The article is roughly 5,500 words long. That is a lot of words. The problem is that I felt our own reading was more consise, informative, and understandable than was this article. The article was created on the 14th of December, 2001, and there have been seeming 500+ changes to it, the most recent being this very day that I write this review. On the page discussion you will find that this article was once listed as a historical Good Article, but has since been delisted. There are seventy two references listed, but only 3 external links. The pictures were nice, but not redeeming.
For those interested in this material I would honestly steer them wide of this page. The section about the numbers of people involved in the battle was so muddled and contradictory that I ended up just skipping over it. The end of the article talks about the “legend of the marathon run.” This is the only part of the article I actually found useful and interesting, and even this part didn't seem to want to be clear on the subject. There are far better resources found online than this Wikipedia article.
Kirk Douglas
I ... AM ... SPARTACUS! It has been a very long time since I have watched this movie. Long enough, in fact, that my only memory i really have is Kirk Douglas in armor, and the more recent movie Gladiator keeps getting in the way. Now i am going to have to see if my parents still have this movie on VHS.
To the point of the blog, however, it is interesting to note that a great mind such as Aristotle felt that slavery was right and natural, and that the superior person had an obligation to rule over the inferior and the inferior person an obligation to serve. While i disagree with the direct ownership of human beings, i do see his point of there being a 'superior' and 'inferior'. Though most people will balk at the use of this word, we have all made ourselves slaves in one way or another. It is self imposed slavery, to be sure, but slavery nonetheless. We always are in a position of power over someone or something and thus superior, and conversly we are in the inferior postition in as many different ways.
To the point of the blog, however, it is interesting to note that a great mind such as Aristotle felt that slavery was right and natural, and that the superior person had an obligation to rule over the inferior and the inferior person an obligation to serve. While i disagree with the direct ownership of human beings, i do see his point of there being a 'superior' and 'inferior'. Though most people will balk at the use of this word, we have all made ourselves slaves in one way or another. It is self imposed slavery, to be sure, but slavery nonetheless. We always are in a position of power over someone or something and thus superior, and conversly we are in the inferior postition in as many different ways.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Alexander
Fun reading this week! I think I enjoyed reading about Alexander the Great most, as i followed his movements, battles, and feats. It is amazing how well his army performed in light of being in strange lands or against overwhelming odds. I was trying to imagine what it would have been like to see a war-elephant charging at me for the first time, not even really understanding what manner of creature it was that rushed down upon me. Really you have to wonder how much farther Alexander could have gone had he lived even another 5 or 10 years. Clearly he would have discovered that there was a much larger world out there than he had probaby thought. The reading suggested that he probably thought that India was end of that side of the world.
I now understand also why Greek culture has so impacted the world so much as opposed to other cultures and countries that have come and gone under the heel of great men and nations. Had Alexander not spread greek culture as far as he did, we probably would not have even heard of many of its philosophers, or had much reason to care.
I now understand also why Greek culture has so impacted the world so much as opposed to other cultures and countries that have come and gone under the heel of great men and nations. Had Alexander not spread greek culture as far as he did, we probably would not have even heard of many of its philosophers, or had much reason to care.
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