Wednesday, October 2, 2019
A Study of Narcissism :: Psychology Essays
A Study of Narcissism Missing works cited Spanning back to the era of ancient Greek mythology, narcissism is currently recognized as an ââ¬Å"infatuation and obsession with oneââ¬â¢s self to the exclusion of all othersâ⬠, and as the egocentric pursuit of oneââ¬â¢s gratification, dominance and ambitionâ⬠(Vaknin 1). This egocentric disorder is named after the ancient Greek myth of Narcissus- a man so enchanted by his own reflection that he pined away before it. The origin of narcissism as an acknowledged psychosis is deeply rooted in the mythological source of its very namesake. Narcissusââ¬â¢ obsession with image shows his self-idolization, but also hints toward an insecurity regarding identity and self worth (Alford 3). According to Ovidââ¬â¢s classic account, Narcissus is quoted saying: ââ¬Å"Am I the lover or beloved? Then why make love? Since I am what I long for, then my riches are So great they make me poor.â⬠(Ovid 464) Parallel in character to Narcissus, those diagnosed with his disorder are consumed by an exaggerated drive for supremacy and control. Characteristic also is a predilection toward entitlement. Narcissists tend to the notion that one is worthy of great admiration and esteem, regardless of his or her accomplishments (Vaknin 5). Present psychology diagnoses this sort of self-fascination as a distinctive mental health illness - Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD as documented in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistics Manuel (1994). Common characteristics of an individual afflicted by the disorder include: feelings of grandiosity, desiring a state of unequalled brilliance, the need for constant affirmation, and the ââ¬Å"interpersonal exploitationâ⬠(DSM 1994) of others for self- achievement. Narcissism is usually seen as an infatuation with self so acute that the welfare of others is ignored. This is due to the narcissistic opinion that people exterior to the ââ¬Ëselfââ¬â¢ simply serve to mirror oneââ¬â¢s own importance. As analyzed by Freud, the story of Narcissus and its resulting condition can be divided into two categories: ââ¬Å"regressiveâ⬠versus ââ¬Å"progressiveâ⬠(Alford 35). Freud interprets narcissistic behavior as neither sick nor healthy, but indicative of the normal human condition.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
Jack Welch and the GE Way Essay -- Managing Case study business Essays
Jack Welch and the GE Way à à à à à When Jack Welch was named CEO of General Electric, Welch saw a company in trouble even though the business world saw GE as an intrinsically healthy corporation, secure in its position as a world industrial leader. Welch knew that the company was too large to fail yet GE was too unwieldy to adapt for further growth. The changes he instituted restructured and revolutionized GE and made Welch the most respected CEO in business today. After reading the book there were three parts that really stood out for me. à à à à à Chapter 3: Cultivate managers who share your vision was the most important chapter to me. It talks about putting the right managers in the right positions. Welch says, ââ¬Å"What we are looking forâ⬠¦are leadersâ⬠¦ who can energize, excite, and control rather than enervate, depress, and controlâ⬠(p. 35). Managers in a company should bursting with energy and are able to develop and implement a vision and not just talk about those visions. They must also know how to spread enthusiasm throughout the entire company. One of the keys to being a great business leader is getting employees excited about their work. One of the ways to get employees excited about their work is to allow employees more freedom and responsibility then they have now. In order to make this happen, middle managers have to be team members and coaches. They need to facilitate more than control. Managers should be energizers and not enervators. Welch suggests that the only way to last at GE is to get on board, to become a team player, and to adapt oneself to the companyââ¬â¢s values and culture when describing the different types of managers that will or will not succeed. The first type of manager delivers on commitments and shares the companyââ¬â¢s values. The second type does not meet commitments and does not share the companyââ¬â¢s values. The third type misses commitments but does share the companyââ¬â¢s values. Welch himself cares more that a manager sticks to the companyââ¬â¢s values than meets the numbers. The fourth type delivers on the commitments but does not subscribe to the companyââ¬â¢s values. Welch broke these managers into three categories, type A, type B, and type C managers. Type A managers were defined as team players that subscribe to the companyââ¬â¢s values. People trust them; they make impacts on decisions, and are leaders who seek to develop high value in other... ...h targetsâ⬠(p. 170). Welch emphasizes that one should not settle for second best when you are able to achieve more. When you reach for the stars, you may fail but stretching yourself and stretching your business you are going to bring better performance results to your business. He also says to be creative, more imaginative, and more thoughtful about your business. The more you think about how to get more out of your business, the higher your stretch targets and the better off your are going to be. I think that all employers and manager should encourage their employees to reach for the stars. This will help employees realize what they are capable of doing. Managers need to help employees realize and make goals along with making sure that they meet their goals. I believe that Jack Welch and the GE Way is a great tool for any manager. He Welch helped turn a great company into an even greater company. Many of his ideas can be used in the workplace and in everyday life. His ideas are not complex or complicated to understand. It will just take time to incorporate them into your life or business. When you do, you will realize that even you life or business can be better.à à à à Ã
Suggestion of an Ideal Business Environment Appraisal Tool for Consensus Caring Homes Group
Introduction One of the characteristics of the present day organisational environment is its proneness to change. It is therefore advisable for organisations to ensure that they employ ideal analysis tools in evaluation their internal and external business environments (Teece, 2010). By so doing, they will be able to formulate and implement strategies that will enable them to successfully wade through these changes and maintain their relevance to the people or clients that they target. There are different environmental appraisal tools that can be used in evaluating the internal and external environments of an organisation (Gazzola et al., 2011). Selection of these techniques is based on several factors, one of these being the aspects that the organisation is interested in knowing (Cadle et al., 2010). This paper suggests and justifies the most ideal environmental appraisal technique that can be used by Consensus Caring Homes Group, a charitable organisation that provides specialist services for a dults with learning disabilities in Scotland, Wales and England. Proposed Environmental Analysis Technique The ideal analysis tool that can be used by Consensus Caring Homes Group is SWOT analysis. This technique evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats that characterise a business (Cadle et al., 2010). Strengths and weaknesses are internal aspects of the organisation, while opportunities and threats are elements of the external environment and out of the organisationââ¬â¢s control. Aspects that are considered when establishing strengths and weaknesses of an organisation include its financial capabilities, its physical resources, the effectiveness of its workforce, quality of goods or services it offers to its clients and its organisational structure, among others (Helms, 2010). On the other hand, factors of the external market that can be analysed by this framework include the clientsââ¬â¢ trends, economic conditions, demographics of the target markets, legislation and the rivalry in the industry, among others (Lussier, 2011). The reasons why this technique has been selected over the other available analysis tools are discussed below. Justification of the selection of SWOT Approach According to Cadle et al. (2010), this analysis is ideal for the strategic planning process of an organisation, which Consensus Caring Homes Group intends to carry out. On carrying out an effective and comprehensive SWOT analysis, companies are able to evaluate the new ventures in which they can involve themselves and their capabilities to do so. They are also able to identify the changes to be made in order to reduce or eliminate the weaknesses and evade the potential threats that they might face (Helms, 2010). This therefore enables organisationsââ¬â¢ management teams to communicate the strategic adjustments that need to be made. As opposed to many other frameworks, the SWOT analysis approach as earlier discussed analyses both the internal and external business environments. The PESTEL analysis framework, for instance, only provides an overview of the external environmental factors ââ¬â political, economic, social, technological and legal ââ¬â affecting a certain organisation or industry (Cadle et al., 2010). It must therefore be combined with an internal analysis technique for an organisation to make an ideal decision on the strategic direction that can be taken. This is also the case with techniques that only provide an internal environmental analysis like the VRIN framework which evaluates whether a certain resource of an organisation can provide it with a sustainable competitive advantage (Warner, 2010). This convenience that is provided by the SWOT analysis gives it an edge because it guides how internal capabilities can be used in utilising opportunities and evading threats in the external busi ness environment. The simplicity of the SWOT analysis approach also makes it ideal for analysis, especially if a quick strategic decision in the organisations has to be made. According to Cadle et al. (2010), anyone with a good understanding or knowledge of the business can carry out a SWOT analysis. The fact that it does not need a high degree of specialisation to be used also makes it a cost-effective approach because rather than hiring external specialists to carry out an environmental analysis, a staff member with vast knowledge of the organisation can be asked to carry it out (Helms, 2010). Even with the mentioned advantages of SWOT analysis over the other frameworks, several researchers have questioned its effectiveness. One of these disadvantages is that it does not weigh the elements listed as strengths, opportunities, weaknesses or threats according to their levels of significance (Helms, 2010). This makes it challenging for the impacts of these factors to be determined. The analysis has also faced criticism for being subject to bias, depending on the parties involved in carrying out the analysis (Cadle et al., 2010). Applicability of the SWOT analysis approach on Consensus Caring Homes Group This section bases on the SWOT analysis framework to highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the Consensus Caring Homes Group. As the organisation intends to make strategic plans to improve its service delivery and position in the industry, this analysis will be effective in guiding its decision making process. Strengths The organisation serves the elderly with a wide range of learning disabilities. These include mild, moderate and severe learning disabilities, Downââ¬â¢s syndrome and autism spectrum conditions (Consensus, 2014a). This provides the elderly with such conditions with an all-inclusive care plan for learning disabilities, eliminating the need for referrals. Staff members and volunteers are also highly dedicated towards providing the much needed services for the elderly with learning disabilities. The superiority of their service quality earned the organisation recognition as the ââ¬ËSpecialist Care Provider of the Yearââ¬â¢ in 2011ââ¬â¢s Health Investor Awards (Carehome.co.uk, 2014). This has created a good reputation for the organisation, which enables it to attract more investors. The fact that Consensus Caring Homes Group has offices throughout Scotland, Wales and England makes it accessible to a wide range of people in need of its services (Consensus, 2014b). To the target groups, it shows its dedication towards serving them. Its premises are also located in areas that are accessible to transportation, making accessibility easy for caregivers and patients moving to and from the homes. The strategic partnerships that the organisation has formed with other primary care units and local authorities within the United Kingdom also assures it of the support it needs in accessing funds or alternative healthcare solutions for its patients (Carehome.co.uk, 2014). Weaknesses One of the weaknesses or Consensus Caring Homes Group is that it has been in existence for only about 10 years since its inception in 2004 (Consensus, 2014a). Whereas it is endeavouring to strengthen its position, it lacks the experience that other organisations that have been in the industry for longer possess. The high dependence on the local government for funding is also a weakness for the organisation because in many cases, the funding is conditional. If it fails to meet the standards set by the local government, the funding may be cut. The organisation experiences occasional insufficiency of funds, which makes it challenging for it to compensate its workers and motivate them to deliver high quality services. This also contributes to a high turnover rate for employees. Some of the organisations premises have not been designed to sufficiently carter for people with other physical disabilities. This makes it challenging for them to move around or use some facilities when visiting these homes. Opportunities Improvement in service delivery by the organisation provides it with the opportunity of attracting more investors (Ordanini et al., 2011). This will reduce the funding challenges that it is currently facing. In addition to only dealing with learning disability issues for the elderly, the organisation can expand to also incorporate other health issues that affect the elderly rather than referring them to other facilities. This will enable them to effectively monitor the progress of their patients. The technological advancements and research breakthroughs that are being experienced in the field of mental healthcare provide the organisation with the opportunity of offering better diagnosis and remedies for the patients that it targets (Rosenberg et al., 2012). Threats As aforementioned, the organisation heavily relies on funding from the local government. In case of a regime change, the changes that might take place in budgetary allocations may bring about a threat of reduction or termination of funding (Teece, 2010). A diminishing quality of service, especially during periods of insufficient funding, threatens the good reputation of the organisation (Ordanini et al., 2011). This not only repels patients from seeking its services, but also increases scepticism among investors and well wishers who fund its operations. Employees may also resign citing poor remuneration, exposing the organisation to competition from other enterprises offering the same services. Conclusion A periodic appraisal or evaluation of internal and external business environments of an organisation is ideal for strategic planning. One of the widely used frameworks of analysis whish has been addressed in this paper is the SWOT analysis technique, which highlights the internal strengths and weaknesses, and the external opportunities and threats. Whereas it has several advantages over other analysis techniques, it also has a few shortcomings, which have been addressed. An example SWOT analysis that has been carried out on Consensus Caring Homes Group in this paper has listed most of the factors that it needs to consider before making a strategic decision regarding its performance. References Cadle, J., Paul, D. & Turner. P. ?(2010). Business Analysis Techniques: 72 Essential Tools for Success. Chippenham: BCS, The Chartered Institute. Carehome.co.uk. (2014). Care Homes Owned by Consensus: Info & Members. [Online] Available at: http://www.carehome.co.uk/care_search_results.cfm/searchgroup/36151030CARB [Accessed 21 November 2014]. Consensus. (2014)a. Consensus Support Website: What Support do we offer[Online] Available at: http://www.consensussupport.com/ [Accessed 21 November 2014]. Consensus (2014)b. The Consensus Support website: Where are we located[Online] Available at: http://www.consensussupport.com/ [Accessed 21 November 2014]. Gazzola, P. et al. (2011). Enhancing environmental appraisal effectiveness: Towards an understanding of internal context conditions in organisational learning. Planning Theory & Practice, 12(2):183-204. Helms, M.M. &. Nixon, J. (2010). Exploring SWOT analysisââ¬âwhere are we now?: A review of academic research from the last decade. Journal of Strategy and Management, 3(3): 215-51. Lussier, R. (2011). Management Fundamentals: Concepts, Applications, Skill Development. Mason: Cengage Learning. Ordanini, A., Miceli, L., Pizzetti, M. & Parasuraman, A. (2011). Crowd-funding: transforming customers into investors through innovative service platforms. Journal of Service Management, 22(4):443-70. Rosenberg, L., Kottorp, A. & Nygard, L. (2012). Readiness for Technology Use With People With Dementia The Perspectives of Significant Others. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 31(4):510-30. Teece, D.J. (2010). Business Models, Business Strategy and Innovation. Long Range Planning, 43(2):172-94. Warner, A.G. (2010). Strategic Analysis and Choice: A Structured Approach. California: Business Expert Press.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Dematerializtion of Architecture
The history of discourses has been developed for centuries, and architecture have entered a phase of re-evaluation. Because of the prevalent technology and media of creation in the virtual world, contemporary architecture is dematerialized to be images and abstract ideas. The definition of architecture has become even more subjective, obscure, ambiguous and limited. We took advantages from photography and the technology of visualization.But the excessive trust on the visual sensation has somehow blinded our eyes and becomes he obstacle for understanding space and architecture. Photographers and designers selectively frame an object to depict a most exaggerated angle or to capture a most exciting moment. Audiences lost their autonomy in discovering the truth, because there is no other materials available except the illusions. The resulted biased understanding to architecture contradicts to Juhani Pallasmaa's theory. He reaffirmed Merleau-Pontys philosophy, the human body is the centre of experiential world, in his book: The Eyes of The Skin.He argues that multi-sensory experience allows the human body perceiving the qualities of space, matter and scale in a more profound manner. However, the multi-sensory experience does not apply to those intangible architecture. The obsession of rendering has enervated the importance of materiality. Materiality means mapping or tiling texture' over the flat surface in the simulation program, disregarding physical properties, thickness, stiffness, elasticity, and density, of each specific material. We recklessly over simplify materiality.In renderings, stainless steel eans highly reflective and shiny; wood means brown and static; brick means pixelated facade. Material has been degraded to be a piece of veneer or wallpaper, fragile and dispensable. This encourages substituting one material with another material. It is not rare to use hollow metal with shiny coating to imitate stainless steel in the construction practice. The ide ntity of material is fading away. Last but not least, the inflation of the project scale has disrupted the relationship between an individual and the built habitat.The immense scale of the new evelopments confuse us because everything is out of human proportion. Windows grow too big to become curtain wall. Doors are automatized, because they are too heavy to open. Towers are too high that takes hours to walk up. We cannot use the traditional quantitative mechanism to interpret matters. We could Just live within a building and hardly get to see the whole picture of it. The tangible structure is dissolved to be purely impression. Here we go back to photography in seeking a solid answer to the understanding of contemporary architecture.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Writers of literature, especially those in the genre of stories, used different types of themes and symbolisms to represent an idea and concept that is not directly mentioned by the writer. Most themes especially about life, human nature and society are implied rather than explicitly stated. Itââ¬â¢s the writerââ¬â¢s choice if he or she would want to use figures, objects or characters to illustrate an abstract idea to create various realizations on the part of the readers. The aesthetics of literature depends on how the writer seamlessly and creatively associates symbolisms to the themes of the story. In the story Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, he used the title as a symbol itself, the characters, and the Biblical allusions as a point of comparison to the consequences of sins happened in the story. The Scarlet letter is used as a significant symbolism of shame that often identify the main protagonist, Hester. The ââ¬Å"letterâ⬠word in the story functions as the reminder of her sin. Hesterââ¬â¢s adultery receives harsh judgment and retaliation from the self righteous Puritan community. Her sin excludes her in the society or in a pattern known as unity versus exclusion in literature. Hester single mistake in the past made her an outcast who automatically separated her from ordinary social interaction. In the beginning of the story in the episode of the marketplace, the ââ¬Å"scarlet letterâ⬠ââ¬Å"was so fantastically embroidered and illuminated upon her bosom. It had the effect of the spell, taking her out in the ordinary relations with humanity, and enclosing her in a sphere by herselfâ⬠(Robinson 104). Here, Hawthorne already revealed how the scarlet letter symbolizes Hesterââ¬â¢s authenticity as a character and fate. The letter becomes ââ¬Å"the object of severe and universal observationâ⬠in the Puritan community (Robinson 114). Moreover, Hesterââ¬â¢s presence in the ââ¬Å"crowd had been of such deep social interestâ⬠not because of her as a character but because of what the scarlet letter says about her past (Robinson 138). The Scarlet Letter symbolizes the communityââ¬â¢s system of judgment and punishment that greatly used symbols and externals to question oneââ¬â¢s morality. The scarlet letter in the story is a figurative thing intended to represent sin and a mark of shame. This figurative object went to her after the adultery she committed with Dimmesdale. The setting of the story belonged to a Puritan community who strictly follows the standard of morality. Hesterââ¬â¢s adultery from this kind of society received harsh judgment and retaliation from the Puritan community. Despite the painful judgment, Hester chose to stay in the community because running away would be an acknowledgment of society's power over her. Scarlet Letter embodies Hesterââ¬â¢s identity that was determined to create her own individuality rather than allowing others to determine it for her. She chose not to conform to the societyââ¬â¢s rules and standard. She knows deep inside that she is more than her sins. Her sins were all part of her but the journey of life still continues. Scarlet Letter illustrates Hesterââ¬â¢s acceptance of her sins. She admitted though that the letter is a mark of shame but removing the letter or running away would be an acknowledgment of society's power over her. Hester was a symbol for hope, restoration and transformation. The judgmental community unconsciously transformed and challenged her character to be compassionate and capable woman. Her pains made humble. Her innate good nature was fully expressed from her challenging yet sorrowful faith. The scarlet letter as a symbolism is all in connection to the twists and turns of the story as well as to the character. Pearl, Hesterââ¬â¢s daughter also noticed that, her mother wear a scarlet letter among all the grown up women in the community. ââ¬Å"Motherâ⬠, said the little Pearl, ââ¬Å"the sunshine does not love you. It runs away and hides itself, because it is afraid of something on your bosomâ⬠¦ It will not flee from me, for I wear nothing on my bosom yet! ââ¬Å"Nor ever will my child, I hopeâ⬠, said Hester. ââ¬Å"And why not mother? â⬠asked Pearl, stopping shortâ⬠¦ ââ¬Å"Will it not come of its accord, when I am a grown woman? â⬠(Robinson). In this conversation, it highlights the reality that the scarlet letter is intended to represent sin and Pearl as a child doesnââ¬â¢t fully comprehend her motherââ¬â¢s peculiar situation. Pearlââ¬â¢s innocent and pointed questions create suspense since it makes the characters feel uncomfortable. Moreover her character illustrates perception and honesty that separates her from the corrupt minds of the adulthood. Pearlââ¬â¢s innocent questions motivated those people around her to think and to reflect on the truths that are often overlooked. Pearl herself is the embodiment of the scarlet letter and Hester accordingly clothes her in a ââ¬Å"beautiful dress of scarlet, embroidered with gold thread, just like the scarlet letter upon Hester's bosomâ⬠(Robinson). Pearl illegitimacy in the story and as a product of sin mysteriously takes the consequences of her parentsââ¬â¢ guilt. The story of the ââ¬Å"The Scarlet Letterâ⬠can be compared to some of the stories mentioned in the Old Testament. The plot depicting the extreme portrayal of Puritanism can be compared to the way old people from the Bible regard shame, rules and order. Just like Adam and Eve, Hester and Dimmesdaleââ¬â¢s sins particularly adultery separated them from the divine and community (the way Puritan community perceives it). Sins excluded and alienated them in the society. Dimmesdale and Hesterââ¬â¢s state of sinfulness led them to personal growth, sympathy and speculation about human nature and larger moral questions. At the end, the inner wisdom that Hester accumulated from the judgmental community greatly benefited her character and sense of individuality. The scarlet letter for Hester according to Nathaniel Hawthorne in one of his interviews after the creation of this wonderful story ââ¬Å"was her passport into regions where other women dared not to tread. Shame, Despair, Solitude! These had been her teachersââ¬âstern and wild onesââ¬âand they had made her strong, but taught her much amissâ⬠. Though the setting happened during Puritan community but the themes are timeless- judgmental society, personal responsibility and unconformity.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Sibling rivalry Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Sibling rivalry - Essay Example Such actions bring out feelings of mercy and pity on the part of Cinderella and hatred on the part of her stepsisters. Such opposite feelings can only come out effectively through a relationship that shows sibling rivalry between the children. Sibling rivalry usually takes the form of competition in terms of affections, character, and other issues that affect the daily lives of the children. In many occasions, sibling rivalry occurs in ways that make one side of the rivalry to portray good characters while the other side of the character displays negative characters. The side that portrays the negative characters is usually powerful and makes every effort to intimidate, frustrate, and punish the other part that shows good characters. However, the side the portrays good character eventually wins favor and succeeds in life while the other parties are punished by nature and they begin to live desperate lives. Cinderellaââ¬â¢s story contains some aspects of sibling rivalry, which make s her stepsisters to regret their own actions as Cinderella succeeds in life. Cinderella must have stepsisters in the story in order to make her situation more traumatizing. The fact of somebody suffering in the hands of her sisters evokes feelings of hopelessness because it means that that the suffering will continue for quite a long time. Oppression that appears at home is usually more severe and disturbing than the kind of oppression that occurs due to strangers. Naturally, sisters are supposed to show kindness to fellow sisters or stepsisters. Therefore, Cinderellaââ¬â¢s situation becomes very difficult since she has nowhere to turn after experiencing severe oppression at home. Using stepsisters as the agents of oppression creates a desperate feeling in the sense that the stepsisters had the support of their mother whereas Cinderella did not have a mother. In this manner, it becomes important to consider the fact that some of the issues that relate to the subject of sibling r ivalry must eventually relate to the matter of oppression. The role of the stepsisters in the story is to create the hostile atmosphere that makes the life of the main character unbearable. All the suffering that Cinderella experiences are connected to the actions of the stepsisters. Their lives are very different in the sense that the stepsisters live a happy and joyful life while Cinderella lives in pain, torture, and misery. Therefore, the stepsisters are used in this story to show the difference in the lives of the main characters and the origin of Cinderellaââ¬â¢s difficult conditions. The result of this relationship is the manifestation of a range of difficulties that manifest themselves through matters of conscience and the difficulties in the relationship between the oppressors and the oppressed girl. Stepsisters are usually used in order to bring out the kind of malice and rivalry between the competing characters. Under usual circumstances, stepsisters may want to compet e with one another in a variety of ways. It is natural for stepfamilies to show such kind of rivalry and malicious intentions towards each other. However, such malice and conflict can acquire extreme dimensions when they are not carefully monitored and controlled. In the case of Cinderella, the level of malice and hatred exceeds normal
Friday, September 27, 2019
The Romans Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words
The Romans - Term Paper Example This paper examines the influence of roman civilization on the contemporary society, with focus on engineering, science, mathematics, science and politics. The Roman Empire is the hallmark of Roman civilization and it spread across three continents. The continents included parts of the current Europe, Africa and Asia. The vastness of the empire and its longevity facilitated its widespread influence across the globe. According to Kagan et al (2003), the Western Roman Empire lasted for 1101 years, from 625BC to AD 476. The eastern Roman Empire lasted up to AD 1432. In total, the entire Roman Empire lasted a remarkable 2078 years (Kagan et al, 2003). Comparing it with United States and the significant influence that the country has had in the modern society for a period of less than 250 years, it is apparent Roman Empire had tremendous impact in the world. Before investigating the contribution of the empire to the modern society, it important to examine its salient features. Roman Empir e had a strong military organization that played a critical role in acquisition of larger territories and maintaining absolute loyalty to the emperor. In a period where armies were armed with rudimentary weapons such as spears, swords and shields, the Roman military displayed high level of organization and spirit that ensured success in virtually all battles they were engaged in. According to Rogers (2010), Hellenistic philosophy and roman stoicism played a critical role in maintaining military discipline especially in challenging battles. As their territories expanded, the Romans exerted their influence, bringing with them their culture and language. Latin was the official language of the Romans and after acquisition of larger territories; it was adapted in the entire empire. However, the language later developed and differentiated into two namely vulgar and classical Latin (Kagan, et al, 2003). Classical Latin became the official language for use in academics while Vulgar Latin la ter evolved due to its fluidity to give raise to various languages. Some of the languages that originated from Vulgar Latin include Spanish, Portuguese, French, Romanian and Italian among others (Rogers, 2010). Although Latin was the official language in the empire, the eastern part remained under heavy influence of the Greek language. Kagan et al (2003) attributed the widespread use of Greek in the empire to strong historical ties between Rome and Greece. Greece remained an influential part of Roman Empire in the entire period of the civilization. Kagan et al (2003) argues that while Greeks were popular thinkers, the Roman were doers and practical individuals. The relationship between Greece and the Romans played a crucial role in the stimulating development of science, engineering, mathematics and other technologies in the Roman Empire. The natural character of the Romans is another unique trait that determined the progress of the empire. According to Rogers (2010), Romans were co mpetent at adapting, preserving, applying and disseminating information and technology. This trait enabled them to adapt technology from Greek, who had a rich history of philosophy, science, medicine, and art among other important traditions. Hence, Romans were practical people who applied the technology and information from their Greek counterparts to develop their empire, while Greeks were the innovators. For this reason, Rogers (2010) argues that Romans did not develop
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