All About the Ancient Roman Family

All About the Ancient Roman Family The Roman family was called familia, from which the Latin word family is derived. The familia could include the triad with which we are familiar, two parents and children (biological or adopted), as well as slaves and grandparents. The head of the family (referred to as the pater familias) was in charge of even adult males in the familia. See Jane F. Gardners Family and Familia in Roman Law and Life reviewed by Richard Saller in The American Historical Review, Vol. 105, No. 1. (Feb. 2000), pp. 260-261. Purposes of the Roman Family The Roman family was the basic institution of the Roman people. The Roman family transmitted morality and social status across generations. The family educated its own young. The family tended its own hearth, while the hearth goddess, Vesta, was tended by state priestess called Vestal Virgins. The family needed to continue so that dead ancestors could be honored by their descendants and connections made for political purposes. When this failed to be motive enough, Augustus Caesar offered financial incentives to families to breed. Marriage The wife of the pater familias (the mater familias) might have been considered part of her husbands family or part of her natal family, depending on the conventions of the marriage. Marriages in Ancient Rome could be in manu in the hand or sine manu without the hand. In the former case, the wife became part of her husbands family; in the latter, she remained tied to her family of origin. Divorce and Emancipation When we think of divorce, emancipation, and adoption, we usually think in terms of ending relationships between families. Rome was different. Inter-familial alliances were essential for garnering the support needed for political ends. Divorces could be granted so that partners could remarry into other families to establish new connections, but the family connections established via first marriages need not be broken. Emancipated sons were still entitled to shares of paternal estates. Adoption Adoption also brought families together and allowed continuity to families that would otherwise have no one to carry on the family name. In the unusual case of Claudius Pulcher, adoption into a plebeian family, led by a man younger than himself, allowed Claudius (now using the plebeian name Clodius) to run for election as tribune of the plebs. For information on the adoption of freedmen, see The Adoption of Roman Freedmen, by Jane F. Gardner. Phoenix, Vol. 43, No. 3. (Autumn, 1989), pp. 236-257. Familia vs. Domus In legal terms, familia included all those under the power of the pater familias; sometimes it meant only the slaves. The pater familias was usually the oldest male. His heirs were under his power, as were the slaves, but not necessarily his wife. A boy without a mother or children could be a pater familias. In non-legal terms, the mother/wife could be included in the familia, although the term usually used for this unit was domus, which we translate as home. See Familia, Domus, and the Roman Conception of the Family, by Richard P. Saller. Phoenix, Vol. 38, No. 4. (Winter, 1984), pp. 336-355. Household and Family Religion in Antiquity, edited by John Bodel and Saul M. Olyan Meaning of Domus Domus referred to the physical house, the household, including the wife, ancestors, and descendants. The domus referred to the places where the pater familias exerted his authority or acted as dominus. Domus was also used for the dynasty of the Roman emperor. Domus and familia were often interchangeable. Pater Familias vs. Pater or Parent While pater familias is usually understood as head of the family, it had the primary legal meaning of estate owner. The word itself was usually used in legal contexts and required only that the person be able to possess property. The terms usually used to denote parenting were parens parent, pater father, and mater mother. See Pater Familias, Mater Familias, and the Gendered Semantics of the Roman Household, by Richard P. Saller. Classical Philology, Vol. 94, No. 2. (Apr. 1999), pp. 182-197.

Measurement Definition in Science

Measurement Definition in Science In science, a measurement is a collection of quantitative or numerical  data that describes a property of an object or event. A measurement is made by comparing a quantity with a standard unit. Since this comparison cannot be perfect, measurements inherently include error, which is how much a measured value deviates from the true value. The study of measurement is called metrology. There are many measurement systems that have been used throughout history and across the world, but progress has been made since the 18th century in setting an international standard. The modern International System of Units (SI) bases all types of physical measurements on seven base units. Methods of Measurement The length of a piece of string can be measured by comparing the string against a meter stick.The volume of a drop of water may be measured using a graduated cylinder.The mass of a sample may be measured using a scale or balance.The temperature of a fire may be measured using a thermocouple. Comparing Measurements Measuring the volume of a cup of water with an Erlenmeyer flask will give you a better measurement than trying to gauge its volume by putting it into a bucket, even if both measurements are reported using the same unit (e.g., milliliters). Accuracy matters, so there are criteria that scientists use to compare measurements: type, magnitude, unit, and uncertainty. The level or type is the methodology used for taking the measurement. Magnitude is the actual numerical value of a measurement (e.g., 45 or 0.237). Unit is the ratio of the number against the standard for the quantity (e.g., gram, candela, micrometer). Uncertainty reflects the systematic and random errors in the measurement. Uncertainty is a description of confidence in the accuracy and precision of a measurement that is typically expressed as an error. Measurement Systems Measurements are calibrated, which is to say they are compared against a set of standards in a system so that the measuring device can deliver a value that matches what another person would obtain if the measurement were repeated. There are a few common standard systems you may encounter: International System of Units (SI): SI comes from the French name  Systà ¨me International dUnità ©s.  It is the most commonly used metric system.Metric System: SI is a specific metric system, which is a decimal system of measurement. Examples of two common forms of the metric system are the MKS system (meter, kilogram, second as base units) and CGS system (centimeter, gram, and second as base units). There are many units in SI and other forms of the metric system that are built upon combinations of base units. These are called derived units.English System: The British or Imperial system of measurements was common before SI units were adopted internationally. Although Britain has largely adopted the SI system, the United States and some Caribbean countries still use the English system for non-scientific purposes. This system is based on the foot-pound-second units, for units of length, mass, and time.

Analysis of the Film The 11th Hour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Analysis of the Film The 11th Hour - Essay Example The essay "Analysis of the Film The 11th Hour" overviews the film about the irreparable damage caused to the world by the industrial civilization. The speed with which natural resources are depleting is enormous. Habitats of many animal and plant species have been completely destroyed by the global warming, thus causing those species to become extinct. The development is highly unsustainable. If necessary measures are not taken at the 11th hour, the whole world would soon have to regret their unwise and inconsiderate practices. In order to fight against the ever-worsening environmental conditions, it is imperative that we, as responsible citizens, take objective measures on an individual level. We can achieve this by planting seeds, growing trees, and taking care of animals. Solar energy should be used for all kinds of needs instead of fuel and gas. The film projects that these issues are more of political nature than technical. Historically, there have been many political reasons fo r the environment unfriendly practices. The film conveys that the future of Earth lies in the hands of the young generation. What I specifically liked about this movie was the mood in which it conveyed the message. For quite some time, I felt as if I had been watching a great action movie. The action was particularly meaningful because it offered the audience a look into the future. I also like the title of this movie very much. It has been very adequately and purposefully selected and goes excellently with the theme of the movie.

Traffic Gridlock in New York Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Traffic Gridlock in New York - Essay Example This letter will begin with the statement that as the traffic gridlock in New York continues to bring the city to a grinding halt every single day of the week, Mayor Bloomberg has done his best to try to solve the traffic situation. One of his traffic easement programs includes the building of more bicycle lanes in our city. There are currently 255 miles of additional bike lanes around the city. But it is little used because native New Yorkers are not aware of the bike lane program of the city. The researcher tells that he cannot help but feels saddened by the fact that New Yorkers continue to face daily gridlocks that adversely affect the local economy. The author feels even worse when he realizes that no amount of government programs will be able to help ease the situation because the government lacks the advertising and promotional skills to make sure that their bicycle programs get out the most number of New Yorkers. Although 66 percent of New Yorkers believe that the bicycle lan e is a good idea. It appears that not everyone in New York owns a bicycle. That is why the researcher was more than happy to learn about the Paris style Bike sharing network that the city is working towards implementing. Under the bike sharing network, even people who do not own a bicycle can participate by simply â€Å"renting† a bicycle at specific points within the city and then parking it at a similar terminal at their point of destination. With all of New York reeling under the rising costs of gasoline, the bike sharing idea does not sound like a bad thing.

Leadership Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Leadership - Research Paper Example One of the foci of these varied discourses is the concept of leadership and the way it affects the efficacy of any organization. The reason for laying emphasis on this topic is multifold. First, the importance that effective leadership holds in functioning of any sort of activity is self-evident: a football team cannot perform without a coach, a company without its CEO and a family without a head. Secondly, the failure of leadership has evidenced some of the most drastic failures of the history: empires with lazy kings, companies with ineffective heads and teams with incompetent captains have, been the driving force behind the downfalls of their tenure. It is for this reason that this paper focuses on the leadership and skills that make up a good leader. The paper dwells into the effective leadership styles and the skills, which are important in building strong management strategies, which subsequently help in strengthening the structure of any organization or a company. Unlike popul ar beliefs, there is no one formula of a good leader. Every task has a different context to it and leaders, or rather good leaders, differ from one task to another. Thus, a good leadership strategy in one field may not be the optimal plan of action in the other (Koestenbaum, 2002). Therefore, a good leader understands the situation he is surrounded with, and performs in accordance with the situation. For example, the soccer coach of a primary school team and that of a country’s premier league team seem to be alike, but in reality are very different. The coach of the primary school team cannot use the same disciplinary methods or motivational speech as those of the latter coach. His audience is different and so he needs to be more loving and less strict in his attitude than the professional coach of a much bigger team is. Thus, there is no one definition of a good leader. However, there are some primary uncontested skills, which form the base of all sorts of leadership styles and are therefore very much in demand. Some of these skills are explained here: Time-Management Time management is one of the most fundamental skills necessary for effective leadership. A good leader not only manages his time well but also plans effectively for his her team. Here, time management does not only refer to planning schedules and sticking to it but also to the active attitude. A good leader is always on the go and does not slack or lay off work for the next day. Leaders are also very goal-oriented. They envision an end and then set more specific, short-term goals that lead to that bigger aim. Importance of time management best reflects itself in the example of Mughal emperors of India, who, due to their distraction to gambling and women, lost their empire to British reign. Self-Confidence Self- confidence is another very important tool of good leadership. Self-confidence means that the person has faith in his own self and really believes in his ideals and actions. A good leader can only inspire others to work for the goal if he really believes that they all are capable of achieving that goal. On the other hand, an insecure or unconfident leader who is doubtful of his own ideals will not do justice to the responsibility that he bestowed with and will inhibit the goal achievement process of his team (Goleman, 2004). People skills The most important of all the leadership skills is the skill to deal with people. A good leader invests resources in building rapport

The Dreaming Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Dreaming - Essay Example It defines their values, beliefs and relationships. Knowledge of the Dreaming has promoted the development of the land. The aboriginals have many dreaming stories, which describe their own origins and how the landscape was formed. They also serve to teach children about various things, such as the world of nature and spirit, right and wrong behaviour, and social norms. As such, they are not merely stories, but expressions of their belief system that once also involved ritual and totemic associations (Tunbridge, 1988). In fact, they describe the history of the people, which was rich in culture and oral literature. Behavioural lessons include examples for demonstrating the importance of good manners, sharing, honesty, respect for elders, etc. The American ethnographer, Deborah Bird Rose, observed, â€Å"the inherent ethos of the Dreaming regarding human behaviour can be summarised as four basic laws †¦ [which] emphasise balance, response, symmetry and autonomy† (McBride, 20 00: 4). Balance is necessary for a system to be able to enhance the quality of life, and each part shares responsibility for sustaining itself and for balancing the others. Response emphasises the reciprocity of communication, and it reminds of the obligation to learn, understand, pay attention and respond. Symmetry ensures the parts in a balance are equivalent and that no one dominates another. Autonomy stresses, â€Å"authority and dependence are necessary within parts, but not between parts (Rose, 1993: 4-5 in McBride, 2000: 5), so no species, group or country should lead over another. A number of further important aspects of The Dreaming also deserve attention. One of these is that it assumes a considerable knowledge on the part of listeners. In particular, â€Å"there are allusions which can only be understood by those with comprehensive linguistic and cultural knowledge† (Tunbridge, 1988: xxx). Even an outsider who is culturally immersed would find some points difficul t to grasp, and some would only be able to be understood by the initiated. However, this shows the need to study a narrative within the context of its roots. Another aspect is change and ‘death’, which are dynamic qualities. For example, there are some accounts of the substitution of species, some site locations become lost due to changes in the social environment, and the accounts too sometimes change as they do in space. The latter demonstrates the need for adaptation due to both physical and social changes. As far as the characters in The Dreaming are concerned, the spirits (nguthuna) feature a lot besides people (yuras), animals, etc. They can assume a variety of forms including mammals and birds, but they have human powers and more besides. They also appear in various social relationships. Sometimes they appear as first stage initiates (vardnapas), sometimes with adult responsibilities, whereas sometimes they are punished for unacceptable behaviour. The Dreaming al so leaves behind certain ‘signs’ as evidence of the reality of events. These indicate the spiritual ancestors’ presence or passing. Sometimes a character could even leave multiple images behind during an event, which are different manifestations. These include marks such as in the form of rock carvings. All of these provide evidence that a Dreamtime Spirit has passed through the place and that the places â€Å"

Presentation PowerPoint Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

PowerPoint Presentation Example Dependency theory takes this a step ahead and identifies the relationship between the dependency on a particular type of media and the number of needs it fulfills for a person. Higher dependency on the media also results in higher influence and power of that media on that individual. This is in line with the Agenda Setting theory. Combination of these theories results in the Dependency theory preposition: As a persons dependency on media increases to fulfill needs, that media becomes more and more important to that person At a conceptual level this theory gives an integrated outlook of audiences, media and social system. The degree on dependence on media is governed by two factors (Dependency Theory, 2004). First, the number of needs satisfied by a media; more needs satisfied, more you are dependent on that media. Second, social conditions; if there is a situation of social conflict or change then media is depended on to make choices/decisions. However, apart from these factors there are several external factors that can influence a person’s choice of media such as culture, social context etc. These factors that are not under the control of an individual act as constraints on the choice and degree of media usage. Increasing involvement of audience in information processing relayed/published by media can result in a three-fold effect – Cognitive, Affective and Behavioral (Dependency Theory, 2004). Dependency theory is applicable to mass media at micro, meso, and macro levels. Scope of application includes individuals, interpersonal networks, organizations, social systems and societies. One of the critiques for this theory initially argued that information shared by interpersonal networks is not accounted for. This is not a strong critique as even in these networks someone would have picked up the information from media only (Lindsay Ems, 2008). This theory has some features that make it widely