John Green Essay

Not only is he an author but he spends his time making an effort in what can be done to focus on the greater good in the world such as contributing to donations around the world to help others. His novels all convey an important message that should all be taken under consideration. Five efficient themes can involve the following: ignoring risks for adventure, loss of innocence, assuaging guilt after loss and blaming ones self, relationships in relation to teen romance and coming of age. He is also known for making videos on the internet while letting his voice be heard and teaching society history in his website known as â€Å"Crash Course†. The author, John Green, has made an impact on his readers by expressing life changing themes in his works along with how his life impacted his work and lasting contributions. John Green, an awe-inspiring author born on August 24th, 1977. He was primarily raised in walking distance of Disney World in Orlando, Florida. After high school, John resided in Ohio and graduated from Kenyon College in 2000 with a double major in English and Religious Studies. For a few consecutive years, he exerted himself for the book review journal Booklist as both a publishing assistant along with production editor. While committed to the job, he was also writing his first book Looking for Alaska. Not only did he have those jobs, he also critiqued books for The New York Times Book Review and helped out Chicago’s public radio station. Green then moved and lived with his wife in New York City for two years while she was attending graduate school. While being both an author and a critic, John also became a famous YouTuber alongside his brother, Hank Green. In 2007, the Vlogbrothers were formed along with a Brotherhood 2. 0 project that took all 365 days of continuous videos being sent back and forth between both brothers as their only source of communication. All of these videos went viral, and the videos still are being created to this day. The first novel, Looking for Alaska, published in 2005, won the 2006 Michael L. Printz Award in the United States and the Silver Inky Award in Australia. At first, he never truly envisioned himself as someone who could go from telling stories to actually writing them in print. It grows to be a difficult task for anyone who wants to be an author but luckily after reaching his college years is where John really obtained the ability to write stories to the point where they made sense and were destined to be published. That is where Looking for Alaska comes into play. His intentions for the outcome of this book were to make all of his previous ex-girlfriends jealous which could presumably work in most cases. Also, Green truly gained the inspiration while attending a boarding school to begin writing his first novel. As he proclaims, â€Å"I like writing for teenagers because big questions–about love and religion and compassion and grief–matter to teens in a very visceral way. And it’s fun to write teenage characters. They’re funny and clever and feel so much so intensely† (Q&A with Author John Green). In 2006, John released his second novel known as An Abundance of Katherines. This novel received recognition such as becoming a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize while also coinciding as being named a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. His third novel published in 2008, was placed number five on the New York Times bestseller list and even granted John to win yet another award such as the Edgar Allen Poe award for best mystery novel. One year later, Paper Towns was placed among number one in the ALA (American Library Association) Teens’ Top Ten by over 11,000 readers. (Bloomsbury). Throughout the time of his novels gaining fame, his fame throughout the internet has begun spreading rapidly. At this rate his channel that he currently shares with his brother, aka Vlogbrothers has received over 20,573,626 views. This continues to grow more and more everyday due to a ommunity that the Green brothers have associated as Nerdfighters. Vlogbrothers also currently have over 607,000 subscribers while being in charge of a gigantic YouTube event known as VidCon that is an event held over summer. Green is an extreme professional in relation to multi-tasking and is constantly involved in numerous projects. He runs a blog, k nown as fishingboatproceeds. tumblr. com, along with a website for DFTBA records, an enthralling YouTube that is specifically used for his teachings of World History, while lastly being a full time father to his son Hank at home. Not only has he written his own novels but he has co-written a few as well. For example, Will Grayson, Will Grayson along with Let It Snow are two novels that are partially written by him. Everything is still revolved around the lives of Young Adults which is a certain theme that went on sale January 10th. This novel is such an extreme success, due to the fact that it has remained number one on New York Times Bestseller list for a few consecutive weeks. The popularity for the preorder is what even got the date to be pushed forward for release. Green initially promised to sign the entire first printing for the preorder which caused a rapid pace in it being essential to own a copy instantaneously. The novel was originally set to release in May 2012, but due to high order of demand it was able to be viewed by the public by January 10th. This was a relief to most sincere there are numerous positive reviews reflecting upon the entire book. Green is extremely involved with his fan base, and has the ability to interact with everyone throughout his Social Networking sites and most wholeheartedly, through his novels as well. As he remarks, â€Å"I’m ultimately much more passionate about writing and books, but I really love YouTube and the community that’s built up around our videos,† Green says. One example, â€Å"We’re one of the largest groups that donate to Kiva, a microfinance website that makes loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries. We’ve loaned more than $100,000 in the last six months. Books are great, but you can’t have a visceral connection to changing the world, and doing stuff that makes you feel better about being a person. It’s a different kind of work. † (A Signature Move Pays Off For John Green). He is not afraid to interact with others, and continues to strive to improve all of his diverse works one step at a time. Even if he may be perceived as a beginner for someone who has only been writing for a few years, John definitely has a way with words and is more ahead than most. As for how his life has affected his work, his most recent book, The Fault In Our Stars is a perfect example of what one person can do. A girl named Esther, who was a close friend of John’s, passed away with cancer and pushed John to persevere and actually have the ability to put his thoughts to paper in what will be his most successful book overall. His personal life experiences have been able to mold him into what he is able to define within different worlds along with his characters and let his mind wander. Paper Towns is reflected on the area he was raised in, while An Abundance of Katherines correlates with the amount of times John had been dumped in his lifetime. Even Looking for Alaska takes place in the same environment and same school system. All inspiration for Green’s book is derived from certain past experiences, regardless of how subtle the hints are. John Green, a rather creative man who writes books with themes that appear to be correlate with each other. The first theme that can easily be identified in his six books that have been written are all about the stereotypical teenager and the desire for fun. Ignoring risks for adventure is definitely one that teens are able to admit that it is definitely not a fable, but rather a truth. In the following three books, Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, and Looking for Alaska, there is evidence to be provided as to why all of the following five themes are accurate, including this one. Ignoring risks for adventure can be a theme that is explained in his first novel. Looking for Alaska would be a rather brilliant example when realizing that all of the teenagers in this young adult novel are attending a private school which means boundaries. This causes more rebellion with the following, characters, Alaska, Miles, and all of the numerous teenagers that get pulled into the storyline. It is most likely that Alaska is the one who influenced this upon everyone else in the first place, considering the following, â€Å"I have guts, just not where it counts† (Looking for Alaska 95). Alaska is fully aware of all of her capabilities to be able to get away with drinking on campus or pranking other students near the area, but then again, it is definitely not something to be proud of in the first place. If any students are caught while attending this private school they are immediately on trial for expulsion, and everyone has heard fully well of how much of a big deal that is. So they are willing to take all of the risks for that need of some sort of euphoria, or some case to know that they actually are somewhat alive. A private school with so many boundaries can be so limited at times, which can only mean that teenagers are conformed to get through that somehow. The main character, Miles changes dramatically throughout the novel, especially considering that the book is split up into two parts–before and after. Miles shows such a fond attraction to Alaska in the before section, while also showing some extreme respect for her as well. In another discussion between Alaska and Miles, Alaska states, â€Å"†¦ I’m not going to be one of those people who sits around talking about what they’re gonna do. I’m just going to do it† (54). It appears that Alaska enjoys being in the moment of things, rather than have to ponder on everything she is about to do and go through the pros and cons of things. This theme can relate to the majority of all teenagers, especially for one of the main themes that are used throughout John’s books. He has a tendency to find some fascination in teenagers, and he is aware of their situation in all struggles they are forced to confront. A risk for the teenagers in this novel would have to be when they all are fully aware of the consequences that will appear after being caught. Although, the adventure is what makes it such a worthy advocate and even makes getting caught worth it. Unfortunately, Alaska passes in the â€Å"after† section of the novel, which changes any other characters in the show and makes everyone suddenly be aware of their consequences and instantly regret it. A way these characters are explained for ignoring risks for adventure as a theme is by saying, â€Å"While following in the foot steps of Salinger and Knowles, Green ventures beyond identifying the absurd ironies of life and provides a philosophical, religious, and spiritual subtext for his characters and his readers† (Blasingame Jr. . The author is able to provide valuable reasons as to why he is contributing other contexts to the novel as well that can very well correlate with the theme. The Fault in Our Stars is a book involving the means of dealing with young adults who are faced with cancer or even any serious death causing diseases of the sorts. This book could po ssibly have more risks, in terms of staying alive for one–along with being so limited of being able to do, well, anything really. A way this theme is explained mentions the following, â€Å"He’s in remission from the osteosarcoma that took one of his legs. She’s fighting the brown fluid in her lungs caused by tumors. Both know that their time is limited† (The Fault In Our Stars). Throughout the novel there are two main characters with the names of Hazel and Augustus. They never had an easy start with living a healthy life like everyone else, yet they are able to find each other and fall in love. This is such a brilliant opportunity for them, considering they could die at any moment but they are aware that they also only live once. Hazel is extremely fascinated by an author in Sweden, and thanks to Augustus, his wish makes it possible for them to be able to visit the area for a couple of days. The only problem is all of the troubles they have to face with not being able to breathe or walk or function as well as they did back home. It is just an extreme risk to be considering, but that never bothered the two of them. They have already lived a lifestyle that was extremely risky, and they would do anything to get out of that mindset even if it cost them their life, they would at least know what it was like to live. A second theme can actually explain into more depth of the previous theme. This would be rather the consequence of what is to come after ignoring risks for adventure. It is possible, and it is what all people have to go through sometime in their life. Loss, whether it be of family, innocence, or love; it is an extremely hazardous struggle to even consider of being able to get over. John Green is able to portray his characters as going through an extremely life changing event. It can only mean that while all teenagers may feel invincible and omniscient throughout that particular era, all of that happiness and enjoyment must all come to an end in certain cycles. In Paper Towns, Quentin spent a lifetime loving a girl named Margo from afar, however, when she runs away and goes missing for a lengthened amount of time; he goes through an extreme loss and encounters all of the three stages of loss. Margo has been his neighbor all of his life, so losing someone that has been in your life since the very beginning was tragic for him, along with the fact that a good guy who would never take risks was suddenly willing to throw it all on the line to be able to find Margo. This is the main theme for this book, due to the fact that throughout the entire story, Quentin is chasing after Margo in hopes of actually finding her. The way this is all able to connect together mentions, â€Å"Although the plot and characters are significantly different and in many ways more engaging, there is a significant thematic similarity here to Green’s Looking for Alaska (BCCB 2/05), as an ordinary guy seeks to understand a complex, fascinating, yet elusive and troubled girl† (Paper Towns). This summarizes the majority of the novel and what it stands for. It truly explains why it is so important in the first place and why all of John’s novels are related in some way. Quentin goes through this loss and is left to chase after Margo in the end. Compared to Paper Towns, the other two books tend to go through two extreme losses that even readers cannot cope with having to read–a death of a character. It is quite tragic to have to see what themes will occur next after John pulls out a loss of life in the majority of his novels, but he always seems to be creative about it. In Looking for Alaska, Miles loses Alaska in the after section of the book and there is still another half of the book of him being able to cope through his loss. It is an extremely depressing situation, especially since he wanted what he never had, and would never again get the chance to. This leads to the consideration that the teenager would most likely feel like they have failed the particular character who passed away, and it will result in regret. As John puts it into perspective of how Miles feels, he says, â€Å"I know so many last words. But I will never know hers† (Looking for Alaska 142). Miles felt as though this cause of death was all of his fault, but throughout this theme, there are numerous changes in Miles of how he is able to cope through everything. As for The Fault in Our Stars, that is more likely to be a tearjerker, considering Augustus, the one whom Hazel is in love with, passes away towards the end of the novel. It seems rather incredibly difficult to face, but somehow, Hazel was already aware of the consequences. Hazel mentions the rating of her loss of pain as this, â€Å"I was saving my ten. And here it was, the great and terrible ten, slamming me again† (The Fault In Our Stars 263). She was mentioning how badly she was affected by the loss of Augustus and that her own pain that she suffered physically from cancer was practically nothing compared to this. She knew that they had a countdown by means of how long their lifetime would last and luckily he was able to provide her with an infinite amount of infinities that she never considered possible. A way that loss can be described is, â€Å"But he delivers more than a collectible with this exquisitely sad novel about Hazel and Augustus, two teens struggling to keep their terminal-cancer diagnoses from defining who they are† (Corbett). All of the characters that go through a certain loss are able to go through a sudden change, and they only became stronger by means of the plot. There are numerous things that can be noticed when involving likely themes within the works of John Green. He is known to repeat himself throughout numerous occurrences in the following novels: Looking for Alaska, Paper Towns and The Fault in Our Stars. In this theme, a lot of guilt is left to follow through after the conflicts commence. This feeling is most likely to be experienced after a devastating moment occurs that leaves readers more emotionally attached to the book itself. John holds moments where he can captivate the readers with this theme and really cause people to think outside of the box and consider the following; guilt walks among us when the worst has yet to come. The guilt is certainly perceiving in each novel in regards to the significant other that is described throughout the novel. For example, The Fault in Our Stars involves the death of Augustus Waters due to death of cancer. This occurs near the end of the novel but it is most likely for Hazel to feel horrible for what has occurred. Not only does she have to deal with the same troubles herself, but if she had not been so focused on her severities, she feels as though she could have done something different to save him. As Hazel responds, â€Å"It’s hard to explain, but talking to them felt like stabbing and being stabbed† (The Fault in Our Stars 269). It can be interpreted that Hazel can not bring herself to the discouragement that is left of the pain that is still among the parents of Augustus. That unsettling emptiness will always be there to remain and she is not prepared for that herself. On a trip to the hospital earlier in the book, Augustus was there at the same time but he had managed to make it appear as though he was just visiting her. The real dilemma is that he was there for himself because his cancer was worsening. Somehow Augustus managed to hide this from Hazel all along so they could at least for once know what it was like to feel normal. This guilt overtook Hazel leaving her to say the following, â€Å"The only person I really wanted to talk to about Augustus Waters’s death was Augustus Waters† (262). Regardless of the unsettlement, John had a way with describing the feelings of Hazel in all that she is left to deal with. As for Paper Towns, guilt is expressed through the characters Quentin and Margo. Margo runs away early on in the book, leaving Quentin to question whether he should give it all he has to chase after her or not. He even tends to feel as though it is his fault or as though it could have been prevented due to the fact that they are neighbors. The guilt first started settling in when Quentin describes, â€Å"Margo left often enough that there weren’t any Find Margo rallies at school or anything, but we all felt her absence† (Paper Towns 94). Guilt was never anything to be shy of, because the longer Margo surprisingly stays absent and leaves no signs or intentions of ever returning, is when the alarms go off in Quentin’s head that something is truly wrong. This guilt allows Quentin to go on adventures and test his feelings for Margo to go out of his way to connect all of the dots to finally be able to find Margo. The guilt is finally enough to push the good boy Quentin to be adventurous and even miss graduation to be able to feel relief of confronting Margo. In the novel that is saved for last due to the most guilt consuming details, Looking for Alaska leaves Miles in depression. If anything, his choices could have been different if only he had prevented the death of Alaska. Alaska was his everything at the school he was currently attending, and it was all he even truly cared for. She changed his views on so many aspects and she left a mark to remain in his life. Unfortunately, halfway through the book Alaska passes away and leaves Miles behind. Although, the night before is the night that could have changed everything. He finally had his chance with Alaska and they could have been officially together and there were so many questions that had to go unanswered. He even had allowed Alaska to run off campus in the middle of the night while intoxicated to who knows where. That moment will forever be etched in his mind and cause things to replay on repeat. What could have been done differently? It is a guilt that is forever permanent and it will scar him for what could have been. He is even left to feel like a terrible friend for not looking out for her or even intervening between whatever pain Alaska was going through. Of course, silly him for thinking Alaska was stronger than that and could get through basically anything. His first reaction went along the lines of, â€Å"I thought: It’s all my fault. I thought: I don’t feel very good. I thought: I’m going to throw up† (Looking for Alaska 139). Even that first millisecond of within being earshot of hearing the news left negative side effects. His guilt inspired him to not give up in looking for alaska, hence the name of the title is that he assumes she has not really passed on. Assuming that there was a more underlying meaning than that, unfortunately it really was not the case. But this guilt rubs off on Miles and changes the person that is entirely. This theme can reflect how much can be changed when guilt takes place. All of John’s dynamic characters had to go through some sudden change without ever asking for it, but through the consumption of guilt transitions were made. This is how he was able to let his characters grow and develop even more and leave them with the impression that things always can get better in the end. Something can also be added to what creates guilt is what is brought up when involving, â€Å"After Margo disappears, the book turns into a detective story with some riveting moments but a much slower pace to accommodate a few false leads and to develop clues and insights through Q’s interesting exploration and growing comprehension of Leaves and Grass† (Corwin). Relationships are certain short lived experiences throughout the time of being a teenager. As an author, John is able to portray this so called â€Å"teen romance† in the midst of his novels. Not only is it teen romance with simply the thought of it being romantic, but it is familial as well. There are numerous relationships that are known to develop throughout the journey of each novel. Some may grow hindered and falter, while others tend to strengthen and prosper. There are certainly different types of ways family can be expressed of how they are always there for one another, especially to grow. Or in similar cases where such a strong friendship can be as familiar as family and transition into a familial relationship. Then of course there is the romantic relationship where it will either make or break the significant others permanently or become a cherished memory in which they can learn from it. In Looking for Alaska, Miles has parents that are always looking out for him and are willing to provide him with the most self sufficient education. He never had true friends at his previous school, and thanks to this brand new environment he has been placed in he is able to gain friends that will certainly stick with him for the time being. Miles does meet a significant other named Alaska but unfortunately with no proper closure due to her dramatic death in the middle of the novel. As Miles come into conclusion with this sudden thought, â€Å"We need never be hopeless, because we can never be irreparably broken†(Looking for Alaska 220). All of these relationships in the end do strengthen Miles into becoming the person he has wanted to be all along, which is how this theme is able to create character development. As for Paper Towns, Quentin’s parents were always there to lend a helping hand in case of a situation when he would ever need it. When having to deal with the sudden absence of Margo his parents were able to feel empathy and want to comfort him throughout that entire struggle. There is also a relationship that is formed through a prolonged amount of time between the two main characters Quentin and Margo. Since they have been neighbors as children there was a lot of time for feelings to grow within the rest of the novel. Their relationship strengthens with the following words, I stand in this parking lot, realizing that I’ve never been this far from home, and here is this girl I love and cannot follow. I hope this is the hero’s errand, because not following her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done† (Paper Towns 305). The Fault in Our Stars displays the best relationships simply because they are so strong and steady. Hazel’s main friends are practically her parents and they are her everything. They are always there if she ever needs someone to talk to and since she is supplied with cancer hey are constantly making sure she is okay. This proves how sufficient it is when phrasing the state â€Å"blood is thicker than water†. Hazel needs her parents to survive and she is so grateful to be able to have such a strong bond because of this which is something a typical teenager does not obtain the opportunity of achieving. Most relationships with family are hindered thr oughout this time, but there are ways in which it is different for any teenager Green writes about. The relationship Hazel and Augustus have also correlates with that they are well aware of what the other person is going through. Since both of them are affected with cancer and are constantly reminded of the fact that they can die at any given moment, within that given amount of time they had left they were able to find each other. That was really all they needed and John could not have expressed any of these relationships any more perfectly than he had already done. John is able to portray all certain types of relationships as sincere and genuine. He is able to express all types of relationships and how much of an impact they can make on the lives of teenagers. It is normal for a teen to be able to experience all of the consequences and benefits that correlate with this as well. A critic discussing the love between Augustus and Hazel mentions, â€Å"The Fault in Our Stars doesn’t just dispense with fake sentiment; it offers us a powerful shot of the real stuff in its place. The love between Hazel and Gus–the courage and humor with which they manage their grief for each other and for themselves–is as real and intense as any I’ve seen in recent fiction, young adult or otherwise† (Grossman). Their relationship that is created is as real as ever when being depicted upon words. There are struggles and hardships but there is affection and strength alongside these two teens. It is what makes up the rest of the novel due to being two dynamic characters. Another thing that exemplifies their love states, â€Å"He shows us true love — two teenagers helping and accepting each other through the most humiliating physical and emotional ordeals — and it is far more romantic than any sunset on the beach† (Standiford). They are far more romantic than most typical couples and John makes the two stand for something in their own unique way. Both critics are able to comprehend why their love is so important and why it was able to leave an impact on all readers. Coming of age is definitely something that is rather challenging to overcome, especially when regarding the terms of a rebellious and stubborn teenager. It is what all young adults must face at some point in their lives and John uses this theme throughout the endings of his novels to express the self growth of an individual and for self-actualization to occur vividly. In most cases, teens feel as though they are all knowing omniscient individuals who make themselves feel as though they are invincible and adventurous. In Paper Towns, John depicts Margo as an extremely independent and self sufficient teen. He is able to describe the struggles of Margo refusing to confront her troubles with growing up and graduating high school. As for the other character Quentin, John is able to have the readers visualize the changes he goes through and comes into terms with his true potential by the end of Paper Towns. Quentin describes his feelings as such, â€Å"I hope this is the hero’s errand, because not following her is the hardest thing I’ve ever done† (Paper Towns 304). Due to Quentin realizing he no longer needs to chase Margo like he had been doing so in such a careless, silly manner he can now focus on his future and actually grow up for good. Examples of growing up with Looking for Alaska are all surrounded by the ongoing thought processes occurring within the mind of Miles. He had never known what it was like to actually fall in love or even have real friends that were willing to be there for him and hang out with him which had already transitioned the way Miles perceived things as it is. This theme is able to develop more towards the novel by John being able to express the feelings of the protagonist and how Miles was able to learn all of his lessons and overcome them by growing up. For the majority of the novel he had blamed the death of his love Alaska but luckily, his coming of age made him mature and overcome all of his negative situations and placing them into a much more positive perspective. The Fault in Our Stars puts the theme into a whole different perspective. Hazel unfortunately has to live a different lifestyle from everyone else due to the fact that she is more aware of her chances of survival among a crowd of others and that nothing can ever be placed as permanent. When dealing with coming of age, Hazel realizes what she is able to do by stating, â€Å"You of all people know it is possible to live with pain† (The Fault In Our Stars 300). Green is able to consider how different the lives of cancer patients are stricken with. Hazel’s terms of coming to age really meant of how her overall experiences with Augustus changed her as a person in the end. She grew so much more from it and knew what it was like to love someone within her own perspective of infinity. The topic of cancer and coming of age through it is speculated as, â€Å"The subject of cancer, especially in children, is surrounded by a huge–one could almost say tumorous–mass of sentimental rhetoric, and as Gus and Hazel circle each other, they work self-consciously against it, irradiating it with their merciless scorn† (Grossman). Hazel was also able to meet her idol in Sweden which also provided her with insight on how different people can appear to be behind closed doors. A way the whole theme can be justified until the very end of the novel is when the following states, â€Å"As Hazel and Gus often remind each other, the world is not a wish-granting factory. Nevertheless, †a forever within the numbered days† can be found, and as Hazel shows us, maybe that’s all we can ask for† (Standiford). Coming of age just proves how insight can be gained to create wisdom within the individual teenager that John is able to create inside of the world of his characters. Despite the fact that John is currently on the market of being viewed as a new author, he still has so much successful work to make up for his lack of being around for long. All lasting contributions are because of the fact that he is such a new author with a high peak of success that only destines him to be around for so much longer. He is also rather well known on the internet all because of the influence of YouTube which is yet another occupation he is responsible for. YouTubers view his videos consistently and John is one to be willing to contribute to something in the world. His name cannot simply be forgotten, considering the fact that he is already such a fresh footprint marked in the soil among other world famous authors. All of his videos on the internet and novels that he has written so far all tend to convey important messages that we can all hold onto dearly. Whether it be an opportunity of gaining new insight of anything Green feels the need of expressing his opinion for in his videos or even teaching us something new. There is always something that is being contributed to others. That being said, his novels mark the greatest impact of all, reaching out to his fellow eaders. He comforts everyone and lets everyone all know that we are never alone no matter what struggles we are forced to face. There are so many circumstances in which his novels can apply to numerous experiences the novels have been through as well. All of these messages imply that we can relate to something that John has contributed to and whether is it a video or a book, his work is always there to welcome all viewers home. Works Cited Boarders, Rich. â€Å"An Interview: with John Green, Author of Looking for Alaska. † Books. Cart, Michael. â€Å"The Value of Young Adult Literature. Young Adult Library Association. Corbett, Sue. â€Å"Double Identity. † Publishers Weekly 257. 7 (2010): 28-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. Green, John. Looking for Alaska. New York: Dutton, 2005. Print. —. Paper Towns. New York: Dutton, 2008. Print. —. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Dutton, 2012. Print. Grossman, Lev. â€Å"The Topic Of Cancer. † Time 179. 5 (2012): 54. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. Standiford, Natalie. â€Å"The Tenacity Of Hope. † New York Times Book Review (2012): 16. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. â€Å"A Signature Move Pays off for John Green BookPage. BookPage Discover Your Next Great Book! Web. 10 Feb. 2012. â€Å"Author, Author. † Kirkus Reviews 78. 7 (2010): 1 4. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. â€Å"Bloomsbury Publishing Author Biography: John Green John Green. † Bloomsbury. Bloomsbury Publishing Author Biography. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. â€Å"John Green’s Biography. † John Green–Author of Paper Towns, Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. â€Å"Personal John Green. † Biography. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. â€Å"The Fault In Our Stars. † Kirkus Reviews 80. 2 (2012): 182. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. The Fault In Our Stars. † Publishers Weekly 259. 3 (2012): 57. Academic Search Premier. Web. 9 Mar. 2012. â€Å"Quite in the Grasp. † Quiet in the Grasp of Dusk, and Summer, and Stars. Web. 10 Feb. 2012. John Green: Literary Catalog WorksPublication Year Books: Looking for Alaska2005 An Abundance of Katherines2006 Paper Towns2008 Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances2008 Will Grayson, Will Grayson2010 The Fault in Our Stars2012 Short stories: The A pproximate Cost of Loving Coraline2006 The Great American Morp2007 Freak the Geek2009 Reasons2011 Other: Thisisnottom2009 Zombicorns2010

Describe How to Minimize the Risk of Infection to Self and Others Essay

Working Together sets out how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. Part 1 of the document is issued as statutory guidance. Practitioners and agencies will have different responsibilities under different areas of the guidance and should consult the preface for a fuller explanation of their statutory duties. CHANGE TO STATUTORY GUIDANCE: On 10 June, Tim Loughton MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families announced a change to the statutory guidance set out in Chapter 8 of this document relating to Serious Case Reviews (SCRs). Local Safeguarding Boards should publish overview reports of all new SCRs initiated on or after 10 June 2010, together with the executive summary; neither document should contain identifying details. A letter to local authorities and their Board partners on Local Safeguarding Children Boards has been issued and provides guidance under section 16(2) of the Children Act 2004. This letter should be read in conjunction with Chapter 8. Working Together is addressed to practitioners and front line managers who have particular responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and to senior and operational managers. Part 2 of the document is issued as non-statutory practice guidance. Includes: * Introduction: working together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and families * Roles and responsibilities * Local Safeguarding Children Boards * Training, development and supervision for inter-agency working * Managing individual cases where there are concerns about a child’s safety and welfare * Supplementary guidance on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children * Child death review processes * Serious case reviews * Lessons from research

Born to write

â€Å"I was born to dance. It is said that I didn’t fall out of my mother’s womb; I danced out, my tiny body wriggling and flailing like a wild woman.† These lines come from the first page of a book that isn’t a New York Times best-seller or a selection from Oprah’s Book Club. In fact, fewer than 50 copies of this book exist worldwide, and perhaps even fewer people than that have read these lines. But that doesn’t matter because these thirty words are mine; they begin my novel, Deaf Girls Don’t Dance.Unlike my realistic but still fictional narrator, Margaret, I was not born to dance. I was born to write. Ever since my chubby five-year-old fingers first pressed pencil to paper, I’ve been hooked. My career as an author began in first grade when I wrote and illustrated a â€Å"book† about sherbs, fictional sherbet-loving creatures. Although my first authorial endeavor did not have immediate success, I didn’t give up. Throughout elementary school and junior high I spent the free time I wasn’t using for reading to write skits, screenplays, and short stories. By the time sophomore year rolled around, I had laid plans for my greatest masterpiece yet: a full-length, edited, self-published novel.The assignment, given the first week of school: with a mentor’s guidance, conduct research and then create an original work to be presented at the Gifted Expo in May. I knew my project the moment its title popped into my head: Deaf Girls Don’t Dance. After asking my seventh grade English teacher to mentor, I began poring over library books on deafness and developing a plot outline.I had to spend a minimum of an hour a day on my project, but a writer is slave to no clock. Inspiration comes in short bursts for me, so I spent many a night staring blankly at the computer screen, hoping beyond hope that something would come to my mind so I could meet my daily goal. When an idea came, my fingers typed frantically, rushing to get my words out before I lost them. If my clock read 4:30 a.m. by the time I was finished, so be it. The temporary discomfort from sleep deprivation is nothing compared to the lasting pride in finishing a chapter, and eventually, a book.The deep sense of accomplishment I feel from writing and publishing my book are nothing compared to my expectations for the future. Now that I have one novel under my belt, I am confident that I will be successful as an author in the future. After writing a novel considered almost autobiographical in many ways, I am compelled to expand my horizons and write more creative fiction while continuing to use my life experiences as inspiration. As I continue reading, I develop new ideas for writing. Deaf Girls Don’t Dance tells a unique story, but after reading books by well-known authors like Fitzgerald and Wharton, I want to do more than tell stories. I want to study English to perfect my craft and write books infused with beautiful imagery, riveting symbolism and subtle but strong themes, books future high school English teachers will use in their classes.I know my goal sounds impossible, but I want to go down in history as a great author of the twenty-first century. If publishing my first book at 16 isn’t enough to make history remember me, I will have to improve my skill as my career progresses. Writing only leads to more writing, and my strength comes from the confidence I gained through writing my first novel.

Literary Response 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Literary Response 2 - Essay Example Hence, Twain becomes nostalgic when he visits the river after ages. For the young boys who lived along the Mississippi River during the early 1800’s, the steam boatman was regarded as the ultimate hero. All the young boys had secret desires to be a strong steam boatman who wades across the river in the boat, battling the rough waves of the Mississippi. Twain recalls how, the steam boatman generated a considerable amount of envy from young boys with his talks. The way they described the streets of 'St. Looy' in a casual manner, so that even the boys who had been to St. Louis once felt that their days of glory were over. The conversations would be loaded with the technical jargons of the steam boat and would create awe among Twain and his friends. The way the steam boatman carried the rusty bolt to scrub the boat so that the young boys could 'see him, envy him and loathe him' (Twain, 1917, page no. 35). As much as they hated the sight of the steam boatman being popular, they all nursed the secret ambition of being someone like him so that they also could be the object of envy.

Sleep Paralysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sleep Paralysis - Essay Example Gregory Stores (2001, P. 21) argues that â€Å"the episode of paralysis may be accompanied by hallucinatory experiences or dreamlike experiences which can be very dramatic and alarming, sometimes including the appearance of people or creatures taking on a threatening aspect.† It was often believed until modern rationality took over the realm of thought in people that occurrences of such disorders were due to the influence of demonic and spiritual effect in vulnerable humans. David J. Hufford (1982), in his book2 exhaustively discusses this belief referring it to the â€Å"old hag† tradition that he learnt particularly form Newfoundland. Scientific theories, and approaches, on the other hand, have been devised with not one with solid hold on its understanding. In this paper, we shall make an attempt in understanding the phenomenon of sleep paralysis with various angles, particularly scientific and dogmatic. We shall try and find out its symptoms or the experience while it occurs and subsequently try to unveil its causes, scientific or otherwise. We shall then study its effects in human psychology or thought. A few direct experiences of people shall be quoted and a possibility of its cure or precaution shall also be analyzed before concluding. The occurrence of sleep paralysis is indeed intimidating and troublesome. It seems, to many, a trance-like situation where our body with its inability to perform movement or even to cry out for help remains still, as though spell-bound by some strange demonic or spiritual cause until we are relieved suddenly from a grip what was rigid and ominous indeed. It occurs just before we fall asleep or as we are awakening. Dr. Rose Windale (2008) in her website of health and wellness tips describes the experience as thus: â€Å"A person may struggle to breathe while experiencing sleep paralysis.

Visual Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Visual Arts - Essay Example In this visual report, I would be comparing and contrasting 2 ancient vases to learn about them and get a better understanding of the same. The first piece of art is a ceramic amphora dating back to c. 540 BCE. This amphora was of Greek origin and had the painting of Dionysos with a pair of Maenads that was created by Amasis Painter. I chose to visualize and describe this particular vase because of its captivating contrast of colors of rich cream contrasted with black. The vase itself had a smooth fluidity in relation to its height and size which compelled me to use it as my visual art piece. The second piece of art that I had chosen to compare and contrast is a Korean Maebyeong Bottle that was decorated with a spray of bamboo in addition to a Plum tree in blossom. The reason for choosing this vase was because I liked the delicate painting which was done in a dull olive green which was so pretty and soothing to my eyes. The Greek amphora had a height of 13† (33.3cms) and was fr om the Bibliotheque National, Paris. The contour of the vase’s body was gorgeously decorated with the figures of the Greek God of Wine, Dionysos featured on the left sporting a beard and holding a wine glass in his hand, while the two Maenads, were to the right, and clad in 2 dark garments which were intricately detailed in presentation. One of the Maenads was seen holding a hare, while the other held a deer. On a closer look I also saw that each of them held a sprig of ivy between their fingers. The technique used here was contrasting dark figures against a light background. The pale green vase was created during the late 12th and early 13th century and belonged to the Goryeo dynasty. This art piece which I found quite attractive was basically an inlaid celadon ware which had a light background of grayish stoneware, that had an inlaid decoration of black and white slips, hidden under the celadon glaze. The technique which was formerly invented by the Chinese was used for thi s vase. This technique became a Korean specialty that enhanced the beauty of the vase to a great extent. This beautiful art piece had a height of 13† and a quarter (33.7cms) and is housed in the Tokyo National Museum in Tokyo, Japan. (The Arts of Korea, pg. 369) My analysis of the first vase which was a vessel used by the Greeks, was based on the decorative style which was bold as it was contrasting. I really liked the way the artist contrasted dark figures with a soft background. The spiral designs were aesthetically arranged so as to frame the composition and enable the viewer to focus on the figures in the center. I was also quite attracted to the border patterns of grape leaves both at the bottom and top of the vase which served to bring a uniqueness to this art piece, by making it all the more attractive. 3 My analysis of the second vase with the bamboo decoration was that it had the influence of Chinese ceramics because of its appearance. On closer scrutiny I found that the vase was embellished with inlaid decoration of both bamboo and plum blossoms which contrasted against each other thus making the design to stand out and be noticed. The contrasting came from an under-glaze design from slips of black and white that was made from clay which was ground finely. This seemed to be a special technique used by the potters which is what made this art piece so unique in its design. In the Greek vase, the element that kept recurring was the use of dark figures that was framed with circular designs and borders to offset the composition. In the Korean amphora, the recurring element that was made use of was the inlaying of dark and white strips that were glazed to give it a unique appearance. In comparison to each other, each of the vases had its own unique style of art

Psychology human development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Psychology human development - Essay Example The playground has swings and other recreational equipment such as see-saw, slide, monkey bars and overhead ladder for children. The children found in the playground are usually between the ages of 3 to 11 years old. The subject visits the playground with her mother who usually sits on the benches with mothers of other children. The subject of this naturalistic observation is a girl between the age of four and six years old. She is the eldest child with a younger brother who is between three to five years in age. During the observation, the subject showed a variation in behavior and opened up gradually. The observation was for about half an hour during which the mother was present at the location and was looking over the subject. However, she was in close proximity throughout the observation. The observation initiated when the subject was brought to the playground early evening accompanied by her mother. For some time, she stayed alongside her mother and observed the children who were playing on the swings and other activities. Finding comfort with her mother in a place where everyone else was unknown to her displayed her reliability over her mother. According to the development theory of Erik Erickson, this shows that the subject has overcome the stage of Trust Vs Mistrust. The subject was not reluctant to go play in the ground, but since she did not know any of the children she stayed with her mother and observed. As the subject began to interact with the children, she started the conversation about the game that they were playing. She had been observing them and went to the group where she thought she would best fit. This decision was made by her own judgment and could prove that she was demonstrating Ericksons development theory stage of Initiative vs. Guilt. As the girls she approached were swinging, she found a common interest. She said to them that she could do it to and said "you know I can swing faster than that." The

Paper 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper 3 - Essay Example Who among them was right, is it the City management or is it Uriah? Arguments raised by the two parties will help in determining the case. On his part, Uriah felt that his actions were justified while the City felt that they were justified in their decision to fire the employee. In the arguments that I shall hereby raise, I will look at both sides of the arguments and why they felt they were justified in their actions. Moreover, I will also explore the possibilities in both cases. Discussions to the case As opposed to crimes which are public, torts are private wrongs committed by people or businesses. Unintentional torts, also known as negligence are defined as the situation whereby a person has either failed to do something or has done something that a reasonable person in his or her own right mind would not do and the another person has suffered harm as a result of the foreseeable action or inaction (Cooke, 2007). The action that has either been committed or omitted is what is refe rred to as negligence. In the case of Uriah versus the City, Uriah acted in due negligence and breached his duty of care. This was against the ethics of business which requires that an employee should at all times portray a behavior or character that in no way will dent the image of the company, whether on duty or off duty. Failure by any employee to observe the code of ethics could attract severe consequences, even dismissal. According to Miller (2012), many businesses take their codes of ethics with increased levels of seriousness as they value how their customers judge them in accordance to the image of the employees. With the high levels of competition due to globalization, no business is ready to let anything to chance in maintaining their public image and stay ahead of their competition. In essence, the dismissal of Uriah was backed by ethics of the business. In particular, Uriah would cost the business its image as few customers would like being served by a night club dancer. Clubs are associated with all mannerisms of immorality and bad behavior. Contrary to this, the modern business environment is concerned about image, ethics and morals. Employees such as Uriah thus find themselves on the wrong due to their actions. Miller & Jentz, (2010) observe that businesses have increasingly shunned away unethical behavior such as alcoholism, drug abuse among other socially unaccepted behavior. Some even restrict the areas in which their employees need to reside in, the type of social places that they can hang out in and the dress codes. All this is supposed to show their customers that they understand what it means to be ethically responsible. As part of the corporate social responsibility, businesses are required to be on the front line in promoting moral behaviorisms in the society. They can only survive this through keeping employees who are ethically responsible. It is due to these reasons that the City decided to fire Uriah for being a night club dancer. O n his part, Uriah was justified in a number of ways to take part in the night club dance as a part time job. However, his argument would be tricky as he had to put into consideration the damages his actions would have caused the company. Although he had acted in violation of the codes of ethics, business morals require that an

Book review over Auschwitz A History by Sybille Steinbacher Essay

Book review over Auschwitz A History by Sybille Steinbacher - Essay Example Toxic gas, forced labor and starvation were a major cause of many deaths to those who opposed the Nazis rule or regime leading to the biggest graveyard in human history. This work seeks to review and assess SteinBacher’s historic on the origin of the concentration camps in the Germany. According to Steinbacher (7), he argues that Auschwitz was not a single camp but added up to 39 camps. This being a few weeks after the Nazis started ruling, the local civilian and the police created several camps all over Germany to detain those who opposed the ruling. There were numerous camps including Oranienburg, Esterwegen in Harmburg, Dachau in the northwest of Munich and Lichtenburg. These camps operated as an extermination center and industries which used slave forced labor with the Jews being inflicted with all forms of atrocities. It had never occurred before in a European nation such inhuman atrocities of entire people. Hitler the Nazi leader ordered the extermination of all Jews wit hout any favor even to the newborns. Estimates of 1.1 million people were believed to have suffered and died before the closure of the camps. The first concentration camp was constructed to confine Polish prisoners who started arriving in Germany from May 1940 with the first extermination taking place in September 1941. The camps were staffed by 6,500 – 7,000 Germans in the course of war and about 15% of them were later convicted of war crimes. On 27th January, 1944 the prisoners remaining in the camps were liberated (Steinbacher 32); it is believed and agreed by most historians that Auschwitz was as a result of the worst murderers legislative known to the history of Europe. According to Nuremberg Laws of 1935, the Jews were turned into biological vermin to be eradicated from the state of Aryan. Steinbacher (54) makes it clear that Stalinist Russia never had equivalent wretched servile and in his self explanatory memoir of Kommandant Hoss in Auschwitz remembers disturbing eve nts that evolved in the Auschwitz gas chambers. He continues to elaborate that the fact became so refined under Hoss that the condemned remained cheated until they were shut behind the doors of the fake shower rooms. According to Steinbacher, once people were dictated upon and deprived of their humanity it would become easy to kill them, a fact that modern dictators have known. The Jews who were enclosed in cattle trucks were very worn out by their journey that they were not considered as humans but as slaughter animals. Auschwitz personnel feigned their innocence about the moral consequences of their work by confining to their competence in their jobs of maintaining accurate arrivals records and train departure. Rees (Para. 5) believes that this is a powerful historical coverage by finding Steinbacher information relevant to what happened in Auschwitz. Steinbacher continues to win applause from most historians who agree that Auschwitz was as a result of most murderous legislative d ocument recorded in the history of Europe. This makes it clear that Steinbacher work is proved beyond reasonable doubt to be true. In conclusion, Steinbacher gives the chronological origin of concentration camps in Germany with the majority of those suffering the atrocities being Jews. He shows how the concentration camps came into being, how people suffered and those concentration camp's staff personnel pretending not to recognize the pain they were causing to

Personal Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Statement - Essay Example Immediately, I went back to China to try and help him and on arriving, the doctor told me that the hepatic cancer was already in the late stages, hence there was no much hope. In fact, the doctor told me that my grandfather had no more than six months left to live. Due to work related issues, my parents had to leave me with my grandparents at a very young age, which made me get strongly attached to my grandparents. I couldn’t believe that my grandfather would leave me in a few months time and so I tried my very best to save him. Everyone in my family was searching everywhere for possible treatments for hepatic cancer. One day, my friend advised me to look for an acupuncturist, and told me that he had successfully saved a patient who had a very similar condition as my grandfather. My grandmother was very enlightened with hope after he heard this. I still remember the first time when I met the acupuncturist, who introduced himself as Dr. Li. He was in his sixties at that time, a nd looked very kind and patient. He carefully applied about one hour of acupuncture therapy to my grandfather. During the entire therapy, I starred at Dr. Li’s fingers and the long and thin needles he was using. I kept imagining the magic of these needles and thinking how could these little needles save my grandfather’s life. ... We still take my grandfather to see Dr. Li every three months. Although my grandfather’s cancer did not go away completely, it has been well controlled by Dr. Li and this has kept my grandfather’s life much longer than we expected. With the years long experience with Dr. Li, I started to consider becoming an acupuncturist, who is able to reduce patients’ pain and save people’s lives. I now clearly understand that patience and care are the two of the most important characteristics for doctors; therefore, I’m trying my best to develop my skills and build up my personality. I worked as a kindergarten teacher at the Bright Seeds Academy, which helped me reduce my temper and boosted my willpower. For the two years I spend teaching children, I became more and more patient with children, and learned how to deal with them amicably. I will complete my AA degree with communication major by this summer. I believe effective communication skills and critical thi nking are also essential skills for acupuncturist. I’m sure this background can help me reach my goal, of becoming an easy going and a persuasive acupuncturist. Last year, I injured my arm accidently and went to see an Acupuncturist- Dr. Zhu. After expressing my background experiences and my goal to become an acupuncturist, Dr. Zhu offered me an opportunity to become a volunteer in his acupuncture and herbal clinic. This was my very first time to have a close distance to my goal. From this opportunity, I learned how an acupuncture clinic runs, and the essential skills and personalities that an acupuncturist must have. One day, an old Chinese woman came into the Clinic, and she couldn’t speak English or Mandarin (Both Dr. Zhu and I only speak these two languages). She could only speak Cantonese and we

Indigenous Tribes of Latin America Essay Example for Free

Indigenous Tribes of Latin America Essay Throughout the world, when new lands were conquered, old customs would be lost. However, in Latin America, a great deal of their indigenous tribes not only survived being conquered, they are still around today. Different regions of Latin America are home to different peoples and many tribes are part of ancient full-fledged kingdoms. Some of these kingdoms are among the most well-known in the world. The Meso-American native peoples make Latin America famous. These peoples include the Aztecs and Mayans. The Aztecs are most famous for their mathematical prowess and their calendars are exceptionally accurate. Meanwhile, the Mayans are known for creating a fully-written language and making amazing advancements in the fields or mathematics, astronomy, art and architecture. Their calendar is also well-known. The development of the Aztec language, or Nahuatl played an important role in their civilization. Pictographs were used to represent their written language. The language, both written and spoken, was important in completing business arrangements and in keeping track of family and cultural histories. The Aztec language was also used to create beautiful poetry used in rituals and ceremonies. Many Aztec customs relied on the use of their language, as did the passing down of their legends and beliefs from one generation to the next. Maya culture developed in three regions in Mesoamerica. By far the most important and most complete urban development occurred in the lowlands in the central region of southern Guatemala. The southernmost Mayan city was Copan in northern Honduras. The other major region of Mayan development was the Yucatan peninsula making up the southern and eastern portions of modern-day Mexico. The principal food of the Mayas was maize and maize production was the central economic activity. The people indigenous to the Caribbean include a few groups. These groups include the Taino people, who live in what is now known as Puerto Rico. The Taino were seafaring people whose largest towns contained around 3,000 people each which were considered immense in those times. The Arawak people of South America began migrating northward along the many scattered islands located between South and North America, an area we now refer to as the Caribbean. For a thousand years their population grew and the people lived in harmony. The people covered all the islands of the Caribbean, the major ones as they are now known: Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola as well as all the smaller ones: the Bahamas, Bimini, Jamaica etc. Certain groups of island people identified themselves as Lokono, Lucayan, Carib, Ciboney, Arawak, but most islands were primarily inhabited by people who called themselves Taino, which stood for the good people in their language. The different groups intermarried extensively to strengthen ties amongst themselves. They were aware of a Divine presence that they called Yocahu, and to worship and give thanks was a major part of their lives. They had a social order that provided the leaders and guidelines by which they all lived. They hunted, fished, cultivated crops and ate the abundant fruits provided by nature. They were clever and ingenious and had everything they needed to survive. They had beautiful ceremonies that were held at various times birth, death, marriage, harvest, naming and coming of age, to name a few. They had special reverence for the Earth Mother and had respect for all living things knowing that all living things are connected. There was little need for clothing due to the tropic heat, but upon reaching puberty both males and females would wear a small woven loincloth. Puberty was also the time at which they were considered old enough to be married. The population estimates for the Taino people at the height of their culture are as high as 8,000,000. That was in 1492. The Indigenous people of the Andes include many different ethnic groups and were among the first groups discovered by Christopher Columbus who called them â€Å"indios. † However, the most famous tribe in the Andes is the Incan tribe. Their language, Quechua is still in use today. The Incas of Cusco originally represented one of these small and relatively minor ethnic groups, the Quechuas. Gradually, as early as the thirteenth century, they began to expand and incorporate their neighbors. Inca expansion was slow until about the middle of the fifteenth century. The Inca were warriors with a strong and powerful army. Because of the fierceness of their army and their hierarchical organization, they became the largest Native American society. Quechua is the most widely spoken language and was the language of the Inca Empire. Tropical rainforests have long been home to indigenous peoples who have shaped civilizations and cultures based on the environment in which they live. Great civilizations like the Mayas, Incas, and Aztecs developed complex societies and made great contributions to science. Living from nature and lacking the technology to dominate their environment, native peoples have learned to watch their surroundings and understand the intricacies of the rainforest. Over generations these people have learned the importance of living within their environment and have come to rely on the countless renewable benefits that forests can provide. In Peru, it is estimated that there are at least 15 uncontacted tribes living in remote areas of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest. These include the Tagaeri, Taromenane, uncontacted Matses, Cabellos Largos, Cashibo-Cacataibo, Isconahua, Murunahua, Mashco-Piro, Kugapakori, Nahua, Matsigenka, Mastanahua, Nanti and Yora tribes. Of an estimated 100 uncontacted tribes worldwide, about half of these people living in isolation from the rest of the world are thought to live in Peru and neighboring Brazil. After Brazil, Peru has the largest number of uncontacted tribes and people living in isolation in the world. There are nine principal areas in Peru where indigenous people are thought to be living in isolation. Most of these uncontacted indigenous Amazonians are believed to live in the remote border region of Peru with Brazil. Recently, the Brazilian government released photographic evidence that uncontacted Amazonian natives still exist in the area of the Peruvian border with Brazil. These natives with long hair are called the Cabellos Largos. The Matses tribe has many hunting camps scattered in and around their lands in Peru and Brazil in the Javari River Valley. These hunting camps are only occupied for several months out of the year and usually have huts and cultivated gardens with indigenous crops such as plantains and cassava. Recently, the Matses have reported several encounters of long-haired uncontacted natives who have been harvesting some of the Matses gardens at these isolated hunting camps in the southernmost range of their territory in Peru. None of the males of previously contacted tribes in the Javari Valley sport long hair. In fact, tribes such as the Matses, Matis, Korubos and Marubos are renowned for having very short hair. Hence, the Matses referring to this uncontacted tribe as the Cabellos Largos, or the â€Å"Long-Haired People. † Uncontacted natives, related to the Cashibo-Cacataibo tribe, are thought to live in the area north of Tingo Maria in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. The Cashibo-Cacataibos speak a language in the Pano linguistic family and the word Cashibo means bat. A group of the Cashibo-Cacataibos has chosen to live apart from the outside world by voluntarily isolating themselves. They live in the headwaters of the Aguaytia, Pisqui and San Alejandro Rivers in and around the Cordillera Azul National Park. These indigenous Amazonians are sometimes referred to as the Cacataibos in isolation or the Camanos. Cashibo-Cacataibo natives in isolation know about the outside world and have chosen to live apart from it voluntarily. Many indigenous tribes in South America have survived to this day, and most of their cultures are still intact. Their languages are still spoken and their customs are still practiced and passed down to their children and it’s even easy to find people from these tribes living very close to modern cities. They live without most modern conveniences and annoying hassles like criminal background checks and embrace their roots. ? References: The Aztecs – Introduction to the Aztec Civilization and Cultures. Retrieved on October 3, 2010 from http://www. aztec-indians. com/ The Taino Indians – Native Americans of the Caribbean. Retrieved on October 2, 2010 from http://www. healing-arts. org/spider/tainoindians. htm Baniwa-Curripaco-Wakuenai – History and Cultural Relations. Retrieved on October 3, 2010 from http://www. everyculture. com/South-America/Baniwa-Curripaco-Wakuenai-History-and-Cultural-Relations. html Central and Southern Andes. Retrieved on October 1, 2010 from http://www. metmuseum. org/toah/ht/?period=08 ®ion=sanc#/Overview Minnesota State University. Inca. Retrieved on October 3, 2010 from http://www. mnsu. edu/emuseum/prehistory/latinamerica/south/cultures/inca. html Pantone, Dan James. Welcome to Amazon-Indians. Retrieved on October 4, 2010 from http://www. amazon-indians. org Mariqueo, Reynaldo Calbucura, Jorge. The Mapuche Nation. Retrieved October 2, 2010 http://www. mapuche-nation. org/english/main/feature/m_nation. htm USA People Search. Native Peoples of Latin America. Retrieved October 4, 2010 http://www. usa-people-search. com/content-native-peoples-of-latin-america. aspx.

The Cardiovascular System Essay Example for Free

The Cardiovascular System Essay The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart, blood vessels and blood. The heart is a myogenic muscle, meaning that it can contract without any nervous supply. It is composed of cardiac muscle which is built up of cells that are connected by cytoplasmic bridges, allowing electrical impulses to cross. The four major functions of the cardiovascular system are: 1. To transport nutrients, gases and waste products around the body 2. To protect the body from infection and blood loss 3. To help the body maintain a constant body temperature (‘thermoregulation’) 4. To help maintain fluid balance within the body Delivery of Oxygen and Nutrients Removal of Waste Products: The cardiovascular system works as a transport network, linking all of the body parts via a system of Major routes (arteries and veins), Main routes (arterioles and venules) and Minor routes (capillaries). This network allows a non-stop transportation system, the blood, to add or remove different nutrients, gases, waste products and messages to different parts of the body. Important nutrients such as glucose are added from the digestive system to the major muscles and organs that require them for energy in order to execute their functions. Hormones, chemical messengers, are transported by the cardiovascular system to their target organs, and the many waste products of the body are transported to the lungs or urinary tract to be removed from the body. The cardiovascular system works in partnership with the respiratory system to deliver the oxygen needed to the tissues of the body and remove unnecessary and harmful carbon dioxide. To be able to do this efficiently and effectively, the cardiovascular system is comprised of two circuits. These circuits are known as the pulmonary circuit and the systemic circuit. The pulmonary circuit consists of the heart, lungs, pulmonary veins and pulmonary arteries. This circuit is responsible for pumping deoxygenated (blue) blood from the heart to the lungs in order for it to be able to be oxygenated (red) and return to the heart. The Pulmonary  circuit works out of the right side of the heart and feeds blood back into the left side. The systemic circuit consists of the heart and all the other arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins in the body that aren’t part of the pulmonary circuit. This circuit is responsible for pumping oxygenated (red) blood from the left side of the heart to all the tissues, muscles and organs in the body, to be able to provide them with the nutrients and gases they need to be able to execute their specific functions. After it has delivered the oxygen needed, the systemic circuit is then responsible for picking up the waste carbon dioxide and returning this in the now deoxygenated (blue) blood, back to the lungs, where it will enter the pulmonary circuit to become oxygenated again. Maintenance of constant body temperature (thermoregulation): The average core body temperature range for a healthy adult is expected to be between 36.1 °C and 37.8 °C, with 37 °C being known as ‘normal’ body temperature. If the body’s temperature drops anywhere below this essential range it is known as hypothermia and if it rises above this essential range it is known as hyperthermia. As the body’s temperature moves further into hypo or hyperthermia they will become life threatening. Because of this, the body works continuously, with the help of the cardiovascular system, to maintain its core temperature within the normal healthy range. This process of temperature regulation is known as thermoregulation and the cardiovascular system plays an important and essential part. Temperature changes that may occur within the body are detected immediately by sensory receptors called thermoreceptors, which in turn communicate information about these changes to the hypothalamus in the brain. When a substantial change in temperature is recorded, the hypothalamus reacts by initiating certain specific mechanisms in order to return the core temperature back to a safe temperature range. There are four place in the body where these adjustments in temperature can occur, they are: 1. Sweat glands: These glands are instructed to release sweat onto the surface of the skin when either the blood or skin temperature is detected to be well above a normal safe temperature. This allows heat to be lost through evaporation and cools down the skin so that blood that has been sent to the skin can be cooled down. b. Smooth muscle around arterioles: Large increases in temperature will result in the smooth muscle in the walls of arterioles being triggered to relax, causing vasodilation. This then causes an increase in the volume of blood flow to the skin, allowing cooling to occur. If however the thermoreceptors detect a cooling of the blood or skin then the hypothalamus reacts by sending a message to the smooth muscle of the arteriole walls causing the arterioles to vasoconstrict, this means reducing the blood flow to the skin and therefore helping to maintain the core body temperature. c. Skeletal muscle: When a drop in blood temperature is recorded the hypothalamus will also react by causing the skeletal muscles to start shivering. Shivering is caused by lots of very fast, small muscular contractions which then produce heat to help warm the blood d. Endocrine glands: The hypothalamus may trigger the release of hormones such as thyroxin, adrenalin and noradrenalin in response to the drops in blood temperature. These hormones all help to increase the body’s metabolic rate, which increases the production of heat. 2. Protection from infection and blood loss Blood contains three types of cells, these are listed below and shown in the images. 1. Red blood cells 2. White blood cells 3. Platelets Red blood cells: are solely responsible for transporting oxygen around the body to the important tissues and organs that require it. As oxygen enters the blood stream through the alveoli of the lungs, it binds to a necessary protein in the red blood cells called haemoglobin. white blood cells: A white blood cells job in the body is to detect foreign bodies or infections and envelop and kill them. When they detect and kill an infection they create antibodies for that particular infection which allows the immune system to act more quickly and efficiently against foreign bodies or infections it has come into contact with previously. Platelets: are cells which are responsible for clotting the blood, they stick to foreign particles or objects such as the edges of a cut. Platelets become connected with the help of fibrinogen, causing a clump to form which acts like a plug, blocking the hole in the broken blood vessel. On an external wound this would become a scab. If the body has a low level of platelets then blood clotting may not occur and bleeding can continue for long periods of time. Excessive blood loss can be fatal – this is why people with a condition known as haemophilia need medication else even minor cuts can become fatal as the bleeding will continue without a scab being formed. Alternatively, if platelet levels are excessively high then clotting within blood vessels can occur, leading to a stroke and/or heart attack. This is why many people with a history of cardiac problems are often prescribed medication to keep their blood thin to minimise the risk of clotting within their blood vessels. This medication will be blood thinners such as warfarin. 4. Maintaining fluid balance within the body The cardiovascular system works in connection with other body systems (nervous and endocrine) to maintain the balance of the body’s fluid levels. Fluid balance is essential in order to make sure that there is sufficient and efficient movement of electrolytes, nutrients and gases through the body’s cells. When the fluid levels in the body do not balance a state of dehydration or hyperhydration can occur, both of which effect normal body function and if left unchecked can become dangerous or even fatal. Dehydration is the excessive loss of body fluid, usually accompanied by an excessive loss of electrolytes. The symptoms of dehydration include; headaches, cramps, dizziness, fainting and raised blood pressure, the blood becomes thicker as its volume decreases requiring more force to pump it around the body. Hyperhydration on the other hand results from an excessive intake of water which pushes the normal balance of electrolytes outside of their safe limits. This can occur through long bouts of intensive exercise where  electrolytes are not replenished and excessive amounts of water are consumed. This can lead to internal drowning. This can also result in the recently consumed fluid rushing into the body’s cells, causing tissues to swell. If this swelling occurs in the brain it can put excessive pressure on the brain stem that may result in seizures, brain damage, coma or even death. Dehydration or a substantial loss of body fluid results in an increase in the concentration of substances within the blood (blood tonicity) and a decrease in blood volume. Where as hyperhydration or a gain in body fluid (intake of water) usually results in a reduction of blood tonicity and an increase in blood volume. Any change in blood tonicity and volume is detected by the kidneys and osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus. Osmoreceptors are specialist receptors that detect changes in the dilution of the blood. Basically they detect if we are hydrated (diluted blood) or dehydrated (less diluted blood). In response they release hormones which are transported by the cardiovascular system, through the blood, to act on main tissues such as the kidneys to increase or decrease urine production. Another way the cardiovascular system maintains fluid balance is by either dilating or constricting the blood vessels to increase or decrease the amount of fluid that can be lost through sweat. Blood Vessels: Arteries: Arteries are the main blood vessel in the body for carrying oxygenated blood. These vessels have thick walls to be able to withstand the high pressures of the oxygenated blood that they carry. Veins: Veins are the main vessel for carrying deoxygenated blood. These vessels have a large lumen and thinner walls as the blood they carry is not as high pressure. Veins can be categorized into four main types: pulmonary, systemic, superficial, and deep veins. Arterioles: A small branch of an artery that leads to a capillary. The oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin) makes the blood in arterioles (and arteries) look bright red. Arterioles are smaller in diameter to arteries and are located further away from the heart where blood pressure is lower. Venules: Smaller branches of veins that lead to a capillary. These transport deoxygenated blood like veins but are smaller in size. Capillaries: Capillaries are extremely small vessels located within  the tissues of the body that transport blood from the arteries to the veins. Fluid exchange between capillaries and body tissues takes place at capillary beds. . The Respiratory System Respiratory System: Oxygen Delivery System The main function of the respiratory system is to supply the blood with oxygen so that the blood can deliver oxygen to all parts of the body. The respiratory system does this through breathing. When we breathe, we inhale oxygen (O2) and exhale carbon dioxide (CO2). This exchange of gases is the respiratory systems way of transporting oxygen to the blood. Respiration is achieved through the mouth, nose, trachea, lungs, and diaphragm. Oxygen enters the system through the mouth and the nose and then passes through the larynx and the trachea, which is a tube that enters the chest. In the chest, the trachea splits into two slightly smaller tubes called the bronchi. Each bronchus is then divided again, forming the bronchioles.The end of the bronchioles are tiny sacs called alveoli. The average adult will have about 600 million of these spongy, air-filled sacs in their lungs. These sacs are surrounded by capillaries for efficient gas exchange. This oxygen that has been inhaled passes into the alveoli and then diffuses through the cell walls of the alveoli into the capillaries and thus into the arterial blood. At the same time, the waste-rich blood from the veins releases carbon dioxide into the alveoli. The carbon dioxide follows the same path out of the lungs when you exhale. The diaphragms job is to help pump the carbon dioxide out of the lungs and pull the oxygen into the lungs. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscles that lies across the bottom of the chest cavity. As the diaphragm contracts and relaxes, breathing takes place. When the diaphragm contracts, oxygen is pulled into the lungs. When the diaphragm relaxes, carbon dioxide is pumped out of the lungs. The respiratory system is divided into two main components: Upper respiratory tract: Composed of the nose, the pharynx, and the larynx, the organs of the upper respiratory tract are located outside the chest  cavity. Nasal cavity: Inside the nose, the sticky mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity traps dust particles, and tiny hairs called cilia help move them to the nose to be sneezed or blown out. Sinuses: These air-filled spaces along side the nose help make the skull lighter. Pharynx: Both food and air pass through the pharynx before reaching their appropriate destinations. The pharynx also plays a role in speech. Larynx: The larynx is essential to human speech. Lower respiratory tract: Composed of the trachea, the lungs, and all segments of the bronchial tree (including the alveoli), the organs of the lower respiratory tract are located inside the chest cavity. Trachea: Located just below the larynx, the trachea is the main airway to the lungs. Lungs: Together the lungs form one of the body’s largest organs. They’re responsible for providing oxygen to capillaries and exhaling carbon dioxide. Bronchi: The bronchi branch from the trachea into each lung and create the network of intricate passages that supply the lungs with air. Diaphragm: The diaphragm is the main respiratory muscle that contracts and relaxes to allow air into the lungs. Gas Exchange Gas exchange is the diffusion of Oxygen from the alveoli into the blood flow and the waste Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that is situated in the blood flow passing back into the alveoli to be breathed out. Each tiny alveoli is covered in a network of capillaries which make this process easier. †¢We breathe in air, containing 21% Oxygen †¢The air reaches the alveoli. Here the Oxygen passes through the alveoli walls and into the surrounding capillaries †¢The oxygen then enters the red blood cells where it combines with haemoglobin to form oxyhaemoglobin †¢It will now travel around the body to where it is needed, such as our important organs and muscles †¢At the same time, Carbon Dioxide, a waste product, is collected from the muscles and organs, into the blood stream †¢When back at the lungs the CO2 diffuses out of the blood, into the alveoli to be breathed out †¢The cycle continues as more Oxygen is received into the blood flow. The body uses Oxygen and creates waste Carbon Dioxide because of the volumes  of both gases in the air we breath in and out: Air breathed in Air breathed out Oxygen 21% 17% Carbon Dioxide 0.04% 4% This table shows that we use some of the Oxygen we breathe in, as less is breathed out. This is because some oxygen is retained in the lungs as residual volume so that it can be used as an emergency store. It also shows that we produce CO2 as there is more in the air we breathe out. Breathing Breathing in is known as inspiration Breathing out is known as expiration The intercostal muscles are positioned inbetween our ribs The Diaphragm is a sheet of muscle which sits under the ribs and lungs Inspiration To be able to draw air into our lungs, the volume of the chest, or thoracic cavity must increase. This happens because the Intercostal muscles and the diaphragm contract. The rib cage moves up and out and the diaphragm flattens to increase the space in the thoratic cavity. This decreases the air pressure within our lungs, causing air to rush in from outside. Expiration At the end of a breath, the intercostal muscles and diaphragm will relax, returning to their starting position, which will decrease the size of the thoracic cavity. The decreased space and increased air pressure in the lungs forces air out Lung Capacity Human lungs will hold varying amount of air, depending on how deeply and quickly we breathe. They are also never empty, even if you breathe out as far as you can. Different terms describe the different volumes of the lungs: Tidal volume The amount of air you breathe in or out with each breath Inspiratory capacity The maximum amount you can breathe in (after a normal breath out) Expiratory reserve volume After breathing our normally, this is the extra amount you can breathe out Vital capacity The maximum amount of air you could possibly breathe in or out in one breath Residual volume The amount of air left in your lungs after you have breathed out as much as possible The more exercise that we undergo, the more our need for Oxygen increases. This means that the amount we breathe in and pump around our bodies in the blood must change to keep up. To do this, we breathe faster and our heart pumps faster. This increased oxygen uptake, is measure by your VO2, or the amount of oxygen your body uses in a minute. This can be used as a prediction of your fitness level. The maximum VO2 is called VO2 Max and the fitter you are the higher this is because your body is more effective at taking in and using oxygen. Control of Breathing (Neural and Chemical): There are two ways in which the body controls the ability to breath, Neural and chemical control. These are explained below: Neural Breathing Neural breathing control contains two ways of controlling the breathing; voluntary breathing along with automatic breathing also. Mechanoreceptors send messages to the brain when they sense a different movement of joints they access movement and metabolic status. Chemical Breathing Chemical mechanisms are those of which detect how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is within the body, if there is too much gases the chemical reactions control this is order for our brain to tell us to breathe faster and quicker. If there is too much carbon dioxide and a shortage of oxygen then this is suited in order for our respiration to speed up. The Heart: ATRIUM- There are two atria in the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the vena cava and pumps it through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood  from the pulmonary vein and pumps it through the bicuspid valve into the left ventricle. VENTRICLES- There are two ventricles in the heart. The right ventricle receives deoxygenated blood from the right atrium and pumps it through the pulmonary valve into the pulmonary artery and off to the lungs to be oxygenated. The left ventricle receives oxygenated blood from the left atria and pumps it through the aortic valve into the aorta and off to the body. The left ventricle is slightly thicker walled that the right ventricle as it is required to pump the blood further. AORTA- The aorta is the main artery of the body which feeds the major organs and muscles of the body with oxygenated blood from the left side of the heart. PULMONARY ARTERY- Another main artery of the body, th e pulmonary artery transports deoxygenated blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs for it to be oxygenated. This is the only artery in the body to carry deoxygenated blood. SUPERIOR INFERIOR VENA CAVA- The superior and inferior vena cava are the two main veins of the body which bring deoxygenated blood from around the body back into the right side of the heart. PULMONARY VEIN- Another main vein of the body, the pulmonary vein transports oxygenated blood from the lungs back into the left side of the heart. This is the only vein in the body to carry oxygenated blood. CHORDAE TENDINAE- The chordae tendinae keep blood from flowing back into the atria after passing into the ventricles. SEPTUM- The septum separates the left and the right sides of the heart and contains the important SA node, used to make the heart beat. BICUSPID VALVE- The bicuspid valve, also known as the atrio-ventricular valve is situated in the left side of the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve opens when prompted to allow blood to be pumped from the atrium into the ventricle and closes after this process to stop the blood from flowing back on itself. TRICUSPID VALVE- The Tricuspid valve, also known as the atrio-ventricular valve is situated in the right side of the heart between the right atrium and right ventricle. This valve opens when prompted to allow blood to be pumped from the atrium into the ventricle and closes after this process to stop the blood from flowing back on itself. PULMONARY VALVE- Also known as the semi-lunar valve. Situated between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery this valve allows blood to be pumped into the artery whilst stopping it from flowing back on itself back into the right ventricle. AORTIC VALVE- Also known as the semi-lunar valve.  Situated between the left ventricle and the aorta this valve allows blood to be pumped into the artery whilst stopping it from flowing back on itself back into the left ventricle. The Lungs: LARYNX- The larynx (voice box) is part of the respiratory system that holds the vocal cords. It is responsible for producing voice, helping us swallow and breathe. TRACHEA- The trachea (or windpipe) is a wide, hollow tube that connects the larynx (or voice box) to the bronchi of the lungs. It is an integral part of the body’s airway and has the vital function of providing air flow to and from the lungs for respiration. CARTILAGE RINGS- The function of the cartilaginous rings of the trachea is to stabilize the trachea and keep it rigid while allowing the trachea to expand and lengthen when the person breathes. If the trachea was not supported in this way, it would simply collapse because of the pressure of the chest. There are between 16 and 20 cartilaginous rings in an average trachea. The first and last tracheal rings are broader and deeper than the others. The first ring is just beneath the larynx and the thyroid gland. The last one is just above where the trachea branches off into the bronchi, the two tubes that lead to the lungs. MAIN STEM BRONCHUS- either of the two main branches of the trachea, which contain cartilage within their walls BRINCHI- Smaller branches of the mainstem bronchi which lead to and carry air to the bronchioles. BRONCHIOLES- Smaller branches of the bronchi which lead air to the alveoli for diffusion. LOBES- Lobes are the flaps of tissue that make up each lung. Ach lung is made up of 3 lobes. PLEURA- A thin serous membrane that envelops each lung and folds back to make a lining for the chest cavity. PLEURAL FLUID- The pleura produces a fluid that acts as a lubricant that helps you to breathe easily, allowing the lungs to move in and out smoothly. This is called pleural fluid. ALVEOLI- The alveoli are tiny air sacs within the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place. DIAPHRAGM- The diaphragm is the dome-shaped sheet of muscle and tendon that serves as the main muscle of respiration and plays a vital role in the breathing process. PLEURAL MEMBRANE- The pleural membranes enclose a fluid-filled space surrounding the lungs.

Muslim Response to the Crusades

Muslim Response to the Crusades Why did it take so long to develop a  concerted Muslim response to the Crusades? TABLE OF CONTENTS (JUMP TO) Introduction Islamic Expansion and Rule Growing Discontent in the West The Crusades Conclusion Bibliography Introduction In terms of history, the actual start and reasons for the Crusades varies slightly based upon the sources being accessed as well as the point of view from which this recalling of history is based. In understanding the Crusades it is necessary to be aware that the term is broad in that it encompasses pagan Slavs, Mongols, political enemies of the Pope, Cathars, Hussites, and other groups in addition to Muslims (Riley-Smith, 1999, pp. 231-232). For the purpose of the subject of this study, which asks the question as to â€Å"Why did it take so long to develop a concerted Muslim response to the Crusades†, the Muslims will of course represent the focus. In order to set as well as understand the context, the Muslim presence in the Holy Land started with the conquest of Palestine by the Arabs during the seventh century (Boas, 2001. p. 41). For clarity, the Holy Land is referred to as a region in Palestine where the most significant Biblical events took place, with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ being the most noteworthy (Dubois and Brandt, 1956, p. 35). The Crusades are commonly thought of as a call to rescue Palestine from Moslem hands (Dubois and Brandt, 1956, p. 35), however this study will bring forth information that reveals that while the foregoing is true, it is not entirely accurate. The first effort by the West to accomplish the preceding did not occur until 1095, when Pope Urban 11 assembled a meeting of churchmen in Clemont, France as a response to messages from Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus for help (Somerville and Kuttner, 1996, p. 156) ¡. The preceding indicates that three centuries passed before the Western worl d began the marshalling of a response to the Arab conquest of Palestine. The obvious question, and one that is the purpose of this study, is what transpired during three centuries that did not prompt a Crusade response? This study shall seek to look at the events before that occupation to have a grasp of the situation in the region that preceded the Arab conquest, along with the political events for that time period as well as after. The foregoing shall be looked at to ascertain what transpired that could cause such a delay in responding to the Muslims. In understanding the religious significance of Palestine one needs to be cognizant that it was the birth place of many important prophets, such as Abraham, Lot, Solomon, Moses, and Jesus Christ (Huntington, 1911, pp. 15 – 17). The first known, or recorded inhabitants of Palestine were known as Canaanites, who were believed to have occupied the region around 300 BC (Paton, 1901, p. 98). Egypt and its Pharaohs next controlled the area through conquest for the next millennium, which successively changed to being controlled by the Hebrews from Mesopotamia, and then the Philistines, who called the country Philistia, from where it obtained its modern name (Paton, 1901, p. 189). The Philistines controlled the Canaanite town named Jerusalem and vast areas, but not the entire country, a feat they finally accomplished around 1050 BC when they defeated the Israelites (Paton, 1901, p. 201). The quest for control of the Holy Land was far from over as the Prophet Dawood, who was Israel†™s King, managed to defeat the Philistines in 995 BC, with the three different groups, the Canaanites, the Philistines, and the Israelites who all eventually assimilated over decades of living among each other (Morgan, 1958, p. 344). The foregoing unity that was established by the Hebrew tribes that called themselves the Israelites enabled them to unify the land, and establish a capital at Jerusalem (Morgan, 1958, p. 356). The religious significance â€Å"†¦for the Jews, the Christians and the Moslems †¦Ã¢â‚¬  marks the violent history of Palestine, which all these groups claimed as their Holy Land, thus setting the context for the Crusades (Popper, 1938, p. 7). Palestine continued to suffer a secession of conquests, first by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, then by the Romans who entered Jerusalem in 4 BC (Gabriel, 2003, pp. 24-36). The Roman emperor Constantine reversed the long standing persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire and legalized the religion in 313 AD thus making the Holy Land the center of pilgrimages (Pohlsander, 2004, pp. 27-35). The Byzantine rule has harsh on Jews, who could not enter Jerusalem as well as persecuting Christians that did not follow their chosen sect (Vasiliev and Ragozin, 1928, p. 271). Menashi (2004) tells us that when the Muslims conquered Palestine in the seventh century, with that event ending centuries of colonial rule by the Romans as well as religious persecution and instability. Muslim rule brought a period of safety, peace and security to a population that had suffered through many different persecutions (Menashi, 2004). Kedourie (1992, p. 12) in confirming the preceding states â€Å"Arab Muslim rulers . . . transformed an unsophisticated tribal polity into one of the most sophisticated and durable kinds of rule, that of oriental despotism, the methods and traditions of which have survived in the Muslim world to the present day†. The Muslim conquest of Palestine started a 1300-year reign that continues to this day, with the exception of the period of the Crusades. The preceding historical journey concerning the history of Palestine was conducted to provide an over view of the country and its series of conquests as well as the multi cultural religious connotations attached to Jerusalem to aid in the understanding of the region. Islamic Expansion and Rule To understand the Crusades, one must be aware of the history of Islamic rule and conquest that led to the occupation of Jerusalem. Islamic expansion started with the Prophet Mohammad that was viewed in the West as aggression, but in Islam the spread of the religion by means of war represented eliminating â€Å"†¦injustice and oppression of humanity† (understanding-islam.com, 2008). Kelsay and Johnson (1991, p. 37) tell us â€Å"The Islamic conception of legitimate war (Jihad) once it is systematically developed, is specifically tied to the idea of the unity of the Islamic state against all other non-Islamic states and the legitimacy of the caliph or imam as the single ruler of this Islamic state†. A Jihad represents an Islamic â€Å"†¦ holy war or spiritual struggle against infidels† (answers.com, 2009) with infidels defined as â€Å"†¦ an unbeliever with respect to a particular religion† (Merriam-Webster Online, 2009). The unifying efforts of Islam represented its expansion to reclaim lands occupied by infidels, which the West saw as expansionism when in fact the Muslims were taking back territory lost to Greek and Roman conquests. The Islamic culture under and after the Prophet Mohammad quickly spread from what is now known as Saudi Arabia, which in 618 BC included the Jews as allies in taking back the Middle East Region from the Byzantine Empire (Diehl and Ives, 1925, p. 121). When the Arabs captured Jerusalem, the Holy Land, they slaughtered the Christians and allowed the Jews back in (Diehl and Ives, 1925, p. 123). However, this was an Islamic city, and although the Jews were allowed to live there, which was forbidden ender Byzantine rule; they were still discriminated against severely as well as being highly regulated in property ownership, and worship (Diehl and Ives, 1925, p. 123). Christians under Muslim rule were treated as second-class citizens, and were required to worship in specific lo cations, and limited in areas they could travel (Diehl and Ives, 1925, p. 1293). The Islamic Jihad, and the successes of the Muslim armies in winning back land came at the expense of the Eastern Orthodox Byzantine Empire. The foregoing irked the West, but it was the destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 1009 by Fatimid Caliph al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah that set events in motion for the beginning formation of the Crusades (Pohlsander, 2004, p. 54). The preceding was a slow building event as the church as rebuilt by his successor, for which he was paid huge sums to enable this to be done. After the church was finished in 1043, pilgrimages were again allowed into the Holy Land, thus easing tensions, but with this came events whereby those coming to visit the new church were sometimes captured, along with members of the clergy at times being killed (Pohlsander, 2004, p. 65). Economics resulted in sanity as the Muslims came to understand that a good percentage of the wealth pouring into Jerusalem came primarily from Christians making pilgrimages, thus prompting them to stop persecutions, however this proved to be too little too late as the reputation had spread (Pohlsander, 2004, p. 65). The Arab conquests in reclaiming land lost to the West continued throughout this period, causing the Byzantine Empire to shrink under the waves of attacks from Muslims (Baynes, 1926, pp. 33.34). The Seljuk Turks inflicted most of the damage, and they had been recruited by the Arabs as mercenaries to strengthen the weakened power of the Caliph (Yale, 1958, p. 10). Their tactics closely resembled those as used by the Huns, however their methods were intensified as a result of their zeal for the Islamic religion (Yale, 1958, p. 10). The Seljuk Turks quickly become the masters of both Eastern as well as Central Asia Minor â€Å"†¦where they organized a Moslem Turkish st ate which marked the beginning of the extension of Islamic culture to the northern part of the Near East† (Yale, 1958, p. 12). â€Å"Threatened by the expansion of Turkish Moslem power to the west, the Byzantine Emperor †¦ appealed to Pope Urban II in 1094 for military aid from the West against the †¦ Turks† (Yale, 1958, p. 12). Growing Discontent in the West The weaknesses in the Byzantine Empire, and among the Islamic Caliphs, saw the Seljuk Turks increase in strength as well as control and power, with their brutal tactics causing concern throughout the region (Yale, 1958, p. 12). During this time, conditions in Europe changed as bankers and merchants sought to expand their economic horizons to Asia Minor (Yale, 1958, p. 12). The preceding view was brought forth by the lessening monetary opportunities in Europe where the economic foundations remained as basically a feudal system (Yale, 1958, p. 12). The foundation of power and wealth meant that the agriculture production was very limited, falling short of what was needed to supply the increasingly larger cities and towns, whose industry as well as commerce were not developed to any degree (Yale, 1958, p. 12). The economics of the times fed political unrest, along with social discontent â€Å"†¦among the nobles, the peasants, and the townsmen† (Yale, 1958, p. 12). The combina tion of economic limitations and the growing political climate forged an atmosphere whereby the â€Å"†¦psychological forces, aroused by the rivalry between Mohammedanism and Christianity, supplied the emotional and ideological drive for the Crusades† (Yale, 1958, p. 12). The message of Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus to Pope Urban 11 in 1095 asking for help for his crumbling empire in 1095 resulted in the start of the Crusades (Somerville and Kuttner, 1996, p. 156). The message of appeal was answered resoundingly, thus marking the beginning of the Crusades which was not a call to arms to regain the Holy Land from the Arabs, who had held it for three centuries with no armed response from the West, but rather as a defensive war to halt the incursions of the Arabs that were crumbling the remains of the Byzantine Empire (Madden, 2002). The foundation for the preceding rested in the Arab mission (Jihad) to reclaim their lands, with the inner workings of their empire being peaceful, successful, and enlightened (Madden, 2002) The brutal start of their Jihad softened internally, thus rule inside the recaptured territories was peaceful. But, as Madden (2002) advises, â€Å"While Muslims can be peaceful, Islam was born in war and grew the same way†, with the Islamic expansion fueled by the sword. There is an interesting as well as important understanding concerning Islam that explains the foregoing seeming contrasts. â€Å"Muslim thought divides the world into two spheres, the Abode of Islam and the Abode of War† (Madden, 2002). Thus, Jews and Christians â€Å"†¦can be tolerated within a Muslim state under Muslim rule†, however under traditional Islam â€Å"Christian and Jewish states must be destroyed and their lands conquered† (Madden, 2002). Thus, the regaining of the Holy Land was not enough, and this fueled the response from to Pope Urban 11 in 1095. The Crusades The success of the Islamic conquests, as opposed to their capturing the Holy Lands, looms as the reason for Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus’ plea to Pope Urban 11. While the response to the call to arms was tremendous, the mounting of any actual response represented another matter. Conducting a crusade was not an inexpensive manner. It called for armor, swords, provisions, men, horses and leaders, commodities that could not be marshaled overnight. The idea of standing armies, which is a modern day concept, did not exist then. The feudal system that was in place at the time consisted of the King, who owned all of the land and parceled out segments to his supporters who pledged their loyalty to him (Lamonte, 1949, p. 119). This left the nobles, barons as well as bishops who in return for their holdings provided the king with a determined number of knights and money, advice and locations to stay while traveling (Lamonte, 1949, p. 119). A further division in this system provide d for the lords who in return for the king’s favour provided a knight to the king, and were supplied manors to oversee their parcels of land that were divided among villeins who worked the land for the lord, as well as serfs who had no possessions and simply worked to survive (Lamonte, 1949, p. 119). The preceding provides the basic structure of the feudal system that in essence rested on the villeins and serfs to derive wealth from the land to support the lord, and noblemen, who all in turn contributed to the king (Lamonte, 1949, p. 119). In order to raise an army, the nobles and lords had to marshal their own resources, along with the king, and contribute their own personal wealth to the venture, a sizeable undertaking. The Crusades were not a campaign whereby the Kings and nobles would receive wealth from participating, although there was wealth to be had, it represented a war to stem the tide of Islamic advance, with the Holy Lands as the eventual prize. Historically, the preceding holds up under scrutiny, as few kings and or nobles profited from the Crusades (Strayer, 1955, p. 160). Thus, after the decision come to the aid of Byzantine Emperor Alexius Comnenus, the first Crusade began in 1095 (Chazan, 1996, p. 107). This first Crusade was ill fated as the Western army was no t prepared and employed a poorly equipped, organised and led rabble of men that was headed by Peter the Hermit and Walter the Penniless (Chazan, 1996, pp. 18-21). The second army was organised and successfully captured Jerusalem in 1999, with different armies departing from different locales, owing to the manner in which the indicated feudal system works, and the difficulties in massing a concerned army and staging points as is the case in modern warfare (Chazan, 1996, p. 67-69). Conclusion This study has set out to examine the various factors involved with the Crusades, delving deeper than traditional historical accounts to uncover the factors involved. In equating as to why the response to the Muslim takeover of the Holy Lands took so long, there are two parts to that query. One is represented by the three centuries from the Muslim conquest of the Holy Land in the 7th century, to Pope Urban II plea from the Byzantine Emperor, with the other represented by the time it took to marshal forces under the feudal system to mount campaigns. The traditional view that most individuals have of the Crusades differs from the historical account shown herein, with the noteworthy fact that the Holy land represented and still does represent an important religious site for Arabs, Jews and Christians. The fact that the conquest of the Byzantine hold on the Holy Lands by the Muslims still permitted, although it was limited, pilgrimages by Jews and Christians, the West did not engage in retaking the land. This is important as the trumpeted call to recapture the Holy Lands in 1095 was in fact in response to a crumbling empire, as opposed to retaking the city itself, which however was held out as the torch to marshal the masses. The second aspect of the Crusades, in terms of massing a response, had to do with the feudal system in place in Europe, and the complexities in organizing troops. The event was piecemeal at first, taking three years to bring together an effective force that eventually conquered the Holy land in 1099, fully five years after the Byzantine plea. Evidence of the futility of efforts is presented by the following account of the siege at Damascus in 1148 where Forey (1984) counters the claim that there was a payment made to end the siege, thus resulting in its failure. He states that military failure represented the cause (Forey, 1984). The importance of the preceding is that the siege at Damascus represented a significant event in that the massive collection of men, estimated as 50,000, that participated in a four day siege in 1148 concluded in a decisive defeat that effectively ended the Second Crusade (Gabrieli, 1989, p. 56-59). Hillenbrand (1999, p. xlviii) tells us that the popular ver sions of the Crusades indicated Muslim victories occurred as a result of superior armies pitted against much smaller Crusader forces that had been further weakened by disease, or some other woe. He adds that almost all Muslim accomplishments are dismissed, demeaned, and or suppressed (Hillenbrand, 1999, p. xlviii). In providing evidence for his analysis, Hillenbrand (1999, p. xlviii) tells us about the 1260 Muslim victory at Ain Jalut 1999, p. xlviii), ‘On 19 February 1258: the Mongols sacked Baghdad and killed the Abbasid Caliph, and on 3 September 1260, at the Battle of Ayn Jalut, the Mamluks defeated a depleted Mongol army.’ The point being raised is that in many instances, if not most, our vision and understanding of the Crusades have been distorted by what we have been taught as well as romantic accounts as brought forth in movies and other media. The Arabs were a formidable foe, whose religion provided a basis for expanding their territory, and the recapture of land taken by the Greeks, and then the Romans. The limited wealth that the Holy Land generated did not make it a priority for Medieval Europe as it was for the Greeks and Romans, thus the Arab conquest in the seventh century was not viewed as a cause for a response. When the Byzantine Empire was under danger of collapse that represented a rallying point under religious reasons for the Crusades, which cannot be viewed as or called a triumph. The West’s response was slow due to their economic system and diversity under the rule of Kings, whereas the Arab world was united under their religion. In hindsight, the later proved to be the more valuable foundation. Bibliography answers.com (2009) jihad. Retrieved on 12 January 2009 from http://www.answers.com/topic/jihad Baynes, N. (1925) The Byzantine Empire. Henry Holt Publishers. New York, New York, United States Boas, A. 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