the silk road Essay -- essays research papers

The Silk Road is the most well-known trading route of ancient Chinese civilization. Trade in silk grew under the Han Dynasty ( 202 BC - AD 220) in the first and second centuries AD   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Origanally, the Chinese trade silk internally, within the empire. Caravans from the empire's interior would carry silk to the western edges of the region. Often small Central Asian tribes would attack these caravans hoping to capture the traders' valuable commodities. As a result, the Han Dynasty extended its military defenses further into Central Asia from 135 to 90 BC in order to protect these caravans.Chan Ch'ien, the first known Chinese traveler to make contact with the Central Asian tribes, later came up with the idea to expand the silk trade to include these lesser tribes and therefore forge alliances with these Central Asian nomads. Because of this idea, the Silk Road was born.The route grew with the rise of the Roman Empire because the Chinese initially gave silk to the Roman-Asian governments as gifts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The 7000 mile route spanned China, Central Asia, Northern India, and the Parthian and Roman Empires. It connected the Yellow River Valley to the Mediterranean Sea and passed through places such as Chinese cities Kansu and Sinkiang and present-day countries Iran, Iraq and Syria.Northwestern Indians who lived near the Ganges River played prominent roles as middlemen in the China-Mediterranean silk trade because as early as the third...

Anthropology or Sociology Essay

In the social sciences of sociology and cultural anthropology, researchers have developed their own unique style or research and investigational techniques. While between these fields some techniques are similar, there are some differences. Some differences occur with the philosophical reasons certain techniques are used. In the field of sociology researchers strive to understand social situations and to discover repeating patterns in society (Tischler, p.4, 2007). Two methods that sociologists use are direct observation and survey research. Direct observation involves first hand observations and obtaining information from knowledgeable informants of the group that is being studied. Survey research involves the collection and analysis of information gathered through interviews and questionnaires. While there are different reasons and circumstances to use different research methods in the data collection process, in the field of sociology survey research does have some benefits. In earlier years the construction and administration of surveys, and statistical methods for tabulating and interpreting their results, were widely regarded as the major sociological research technique (MSN Encarta, 2009). This allows researchers to study populations on a broader scope than using direct observation. It also enables the researcher to gather information on a population in a more efficient manner than some other methods. The results from surveys give a look into a groups perspective as a whole rather than individualized thoughts and opinions that can differ greatly even in small populations. Although sociology is similar to cultural anthropology in that they both study human behavior, researchers of cultural anthropology study such topics as how people make their living, how people interact with each other, what beliefs people hold, and what institutions organize people in a society (MSN Encarta, 2009). They also use a more direct method to gather data. Traditionally, much anthropological research involves long-term, direct observation of and participation in the life of another culture which is known as participant observation (MSN Encarta, 2009). This usually involves the researcher immersing themselves in the culture and living with the  people they are studying. Another method employed by cultural anthropologists is human ecology, which is the study of how cultures interact with their natural environment. Anthropologists may collect large amounts of data about features of a cultures environment, such as types of plants and animals, the chemical and nutritional properties of medicines and foods, and climate patterns (MSN Encarta, 2009). This information can help researcher understand certain characteristics of a peoples culture. While both of these fields of study involve studying people the methods used are different. They have different purposes in the collection of data. Sociologists mainly study social situations and use less of a direct approach in their research. Cultural anthologists study the culture as a whole and any influencing factors. Their use of cultural immersion and the study of the natural environment surrounding a particular culture are different from a sociologists approach. Despite these differences the goals to better understand cultures and societies is still the common thread that is shared between both. References â€Å"Anthropology,† Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2009. Retrieved from May 25, 2009 fromhttp://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. â€Å"Sociology,† Microsoft ® Encarta ® Online Encyclopedia 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2009 fromhttp://encarta.msn.com  © 1997-2009 Microsoft Corporation. Tischler, Henry. 2007. Introduction to Sociology. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

Religion in Public Schools Essay - 602 Words

Religion in Public Schools Are you religious? Do you have children? What kind of environment would you like your child in while he/she is in school? A century ago, most of America’s public schools were religious schools. Over time the state has redesigned schools in order to make schools for all children and not alienate any students. The Supreme Court then accelerated the movement in 1962 when it declared that prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. Then one year later the court removed all bible reading from public school because it is a religious exercise(-------). There is no clear line between what instructors are aloud to teach in school and what they are not aloud to teach, so many laws have been written and changed. In†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Public schools have really become a place of neutral ground,† says senator Tom Daschle(-----------). Daschle also stated that although he learned his values as an alter boy at Sacred Heart School, he believes in separation of churc h and state, because children may take part in something out of the mainstream. â€Å"I don’t think I want my children to say a prayer written by Sun Myang Moon,† Daschle said, referring to the religious leader who was recently convicted of tax evasion and declared himself the messiah. House representative John Thune believes differently, saying every school district should be allowed to decide whether to let students take part in voluntary prayer and other religious activities. Thune objected to Daschle’s statement saying that school districts would never allow prayers by Moon or others outside the mainstream. Among the issues of religion in schools, prayer is the largest debated. Many believe crime and teen pregnancy will drop if prayer and bible reading is put back into the public school system. Saying these are solutions to a range of teen problems and one of the only ways to teach values and ethics(1-------). â€Å"The biggest mistake our country has ever made was on June 25th, 1962 when the Supreme Court forebode 39 million students from praying as their fathers and the fathers of their fathers did before them,† said D.L. Moody at aShow MoreRelatedReligion : Public Schools And Religion2002 Words   |  9 PagesReligion in Public Schools Issues involving public schools and religion have been topics involving intense debate. It is difficult for the government to elucidate the appropriate boundaries of religion in the public schools. It is true that teaching about religion is permitted in the public education systems, but the real question is where the margin should be set between teaching religion and simply teaching about religion. It is almost impossible to teach about the history of the United StatesRead MoreEssay on Religion in Public Schools 1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe subject of religion in public schools is one that has been debated vigorously and passionately. The warriors from the Right and Left fail to appreciate the facts because they are caught up in the rhetoric and have difficulty viewing this emotional topic dispassionately (Haynes, 2011). Both sides are right about one thing: this is an important subject. The debate on religion in the public school is complicated by the fact that there are two clauses dealing with religion in the First AmendmentRead MoreFreedom of Religion in Public Schools1748 Words   |  7 Pagesthe individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. There have been cases brought to court about how religion should be taken out of schools, or if it should be allowedRead MoreThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools762 Words   |  4 PagesThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools The â€Å"establishment† or â€Å"religion† clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution reads: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof† (Education Week, 2003, para. 2). It is from this clause that the idea of separation of church and state comes. It is also the basis for much of the debate regarding the practice of religion in public schools (Education Week, 2003). OneRead MoreReligion and Public school Essay1652 Words   |  7 Pagesestablished religion. To prevent this from happening in America, the Framers of the constitution banished the ability for the state to interfere with religion, and vice versa. Yet over time this mixture of government and religion has been tested, especially in cases involving school and religion. Like any argument, there is a party which agrees and another which disagrees. When looking at schools and practices of religion, there is a side that believ e the mixture of school and religion is just andRead MoreReligion in Public Schools Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesDefinition: Religion in school is the practice of any personal religious beliefs in a place of education. Introduction: In recent years teaching or the individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it shouldRead More Religion In Public Schools Essay1444 Words   |  6 Pages Religion in Public Schools nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof......Ó according to the First Amendment of the Constitution. This idea of freedom of religion has been stated very clearly, but it also raises questions about the meaning of religious freedom . Should religious expression be excluded from all government activities? Has separation of church and state been violated by the U.S. TreasuryRead More Religion in Public Schools Essay2315 Words   |  10 PagesReligious Rights in Public Schools JESUS in the classroom! Are you feeling uncomfortable yet? Religion in the public school systems is among the top of the list of controversial topics in American society, Weve long been advised to avoid this and other religiously politically intertwined subjects in polite conversation. If youre like most Americans, this topic makes you frustrated, high strung, or at least a little queasy. From the day the 1st amendment right appeared in the U.S.Read More No Religion or School Prayer in Public Schools Essay3018 Words   |  13 PagesConstitution was adopted, the separation of church and state issue focused on preventing a government mandated religion (Davis 245). The framers of the Constitution knew first hand the harmful consequences of a government that has complete control over religion. Protecting the religious freedoms of the various religions seeking refuge in America also raised great concern. Each religion s hould be given the same rights when practicing their beliefs . For these reasons, the First Amendment of hteRead More Religion and School Prayer in Public Schools Essays1853 Words   |  8 Pagespractice the same religion, Americas first legislators made certain that government intervention in religious matters was prohibited. Therefore, religious freedom was ensured in the First Amendment to the Constitution, as it states, Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . . (Whitehead, Rights 49). This statement allowed Americans to f reely express and practice or chose not to practice a religion. The two distinct parts