Cyrus the Great - Persian Achaemenid Dynasty Founder

Cyrus the Great was the founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty (c. 550-330 BC), the first imperial dynasty of the Persian Empire  and the  worlds largest empire before that of Alexander the Great. Was the Achaemenid truly a family dynasty? It is possible that the third main Achaemenid ruler Darius  invented his relationship to Cyrus, in order to give legitimacy to his rule. But that doesnt diminish the significance of two centuries worth of empire--rulers centered in southwestern Persia and Mesopotamia, whose territory spanned the known world from Greece to the Indus Valley, extending south to Lower Egypt. Cyrus started it all. Fast Facts: Cyrus the Great Known As: Cyrus (Old Persian: KuruÃ… ¡; Hebrew: Kores)Dates: c. 600 - c. 530 BCEParents: Cambyses I and MandaneKey Accomplishments: Founder of the Achaemenid Dynasty (c. 550-330 BC), the first imperial dynasty of the Persian Empire  and the  worlds largest empire before that of Alexander the Great. Cyrus II King of Anshan (Maybe) The Greek father of history Herodotus never says Cyrus II the Great came from a royal Persian family, but rather that he acquired his power through the Medes, to whom he was related by marriage. Although scholars wave caution flags when Herodotus discusses the Persians, and even Herodotus mentions conflicting Cyrus stories, he may be right that Cyrus was of the aristocracy, but not a royal. On the other hand, Cyrus may have been the fourth king of Anshan (modern Malyan), and the second king Cyrus there. His status clarified when he became the ruler of Persia in 559 B.C. Anshan, possibly a Mesopotamian name, was a Persian kingdom in Parsa (modern Fars, in southwestern Iran) in the Marv Dasht plain, between Persepolis and Pasargadae. It had been under the rule of the Assyrians and then may have been under the control of Media*. Young suggests that this kingdom wasnt known as Persia until the start of the empire. Cyrus II King of the Persians Defeats the Medes In about 550, Cyrus defeated the Median king Astyages (or Ishtumegu), took him prisoner, looted his capital at Ecbatana, and then became king of Media. At the same time, Cyrus acquired power over both the Iranian-related tribes of the Persians and Medes and the countries over which the Medes had held power. The extent of the Median lands went as far east as modern Tehran and westward to the Halys River at the border of Lydia; Cappadocia was now Cyruss. This event is the first firm, documented event in Achaemenid history, but the three main accounts of it are different. In the dream of the Babylonian king, the god Marduk leads Cyrus, king of Anshan, to march successfully against Astyages.The Babylonian chronicle 7.11.3-4 states [Astyages] mustered [his army] and marched against Cyrus [II], king of Anshan, for conquest... The army rebelled against Astyages and he was taken prisoner.  Herodotus version differs, but Astyages is still betrayed—this time, by a man to whom Astyages had served his son in a stew. Astyages may or may not have marched against Anshan and lost because he was betrayed by his own men who were sympathetic with the Persians.   Cyrus Acquires Lydia and Croesus Wealth Famous for his own wealth as well as these other famous names: Midas, Solon, Aesop, and Thales, Croesus (595 BC - c. 546 BC) ruled Lydia, which covered Asia Minor west of the Halys River, with its capital at Sardis. He controlled and received tribute from the Greek cities in Ionia. When, in 547, Croesus crossed the Halys and entered Cappadocia, he had encroached on Cyrus territory and war was about to begin. After months spent marching and getting into position, the two kings fought an initial, inconclusive battle, perhaps in November. Then Croesus, assuming the battle season was over, sent his troops into winter quarters. Cyrus didnt. Instead, he advanced to Sardis. Between Croesus depleted numbers and the tricks Cyrus used, the Lydians were to lose the fight. The Lydians retreated to the citadel where Croesus intended to wait out a siege until his allies could come to his assistance. Cyrus was resourceful and so he found an opportunity to breach the citadel. Cyrus then seized the Lydian king and his treasure. This also put Cyrus in power over the Lydian Greek vassal cities. Relations between the Persian king and the Ionian Greeks were strained. Other Conquests In the same year (547) Cyrus conquered Urartu. He also conquered Bactria, according to Herodotus. At some point, he conquered Parthia, Drangiana, Aria, Chorasmia, Bactria, Sogdiana, Gandara, Scythia, Sattagydia, Arachosia and Maka. The next important known year is ​539, when Cyrus conquered Babylon. He credited Marduk (to the Babylonians) and Yahweh (to the Jews whom he would free from exile), depending on the audience, for choosing him as the right leader. Propaganda Campaign and a Battle The claim of divine selection was part of Cyrus propaganda campaign to turn the Babylonians against their aristocracy and king, accused of using the people as corvee labor, and more. King Nabonidus had not been a native Babylonian, but a Chaldean, and worse than that, had failed to perform the religious rituals. He had slighted Babylon, by putting it under the control of the crown prince while he resided at Teima in north Arabia. The confrontation between the forces of Nabonidus and Cyrus took place in one battle, at Opis, in October. By the middle of October, Babylon and its king had been taken. Cyrus empire now included Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine. To make sure the rites were performed correctly, Cyrus installed his son Cambyses as king of Babylon. Probably it was Cyrus who divided the empire into 23 divisions to be known as satrapies. He may have accomplished further organization before he died in 530.   Cyrus died during a conflict with  the nomadic Massegatae (in modern Kazakhstan), famous for their warrior queen Tomyris. Records of Cyrus II and the Propaganda of Darius Important records of Cyrus the Great appear in the Babylonian (Nabonidus) Chronicle (useful for dating), the Cyrus Cylinder, and the Histories of Herodotus. Some scholars believe Darius the Great is responsible for the inscription on Cyrus tomb at Pasargadae. This inscription calls him an Achaemenid. Darius the Great was the second most important ruler of the Achmaenids, and it is his propaganda concerning Cyrus that we know of Cyrus at all.  Darius the Great ousted a certain King Gautama/Smerdis who may have been an impostor or the brother of the late king Cambyses II. It suited Darius purposes not only to state that Gautama was an impostor (because Cambyses had killed his brother, Smerdis, before setting out to Egypt) but also to claim a royal lineage to back up his bid for the throne. While the people had admired Cyrus the great as a fine king and felt put upon by the tyrannical Cambyses, Darius never overcame the question of his lineage and was called the shopkeeper.   See Dariuss Behistun Inscription  in which he claimed his noble parentage.   Sources Depuydt L. 1995. Murder in Memphis: The Story of Cambysess Mortal Wounding of the Apis Bull (Ca. 523 BCE). Journal of Near Eastern Studies 54(2):119-126.Dusinberre ERM. 2013. Empire, Authority, and Autonomy in Achaemenid Anatolia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Lendering J. 1996 [last modified 2015]. Cyrus the Great. Livius.org. [Accessed 02 July 2016]Munson RV. 2009. Who Are Herodotus Persians? The Classical World 102(4):457-470.Young J, T. Cuyler 1988. The early history of the Medes and the Persians and the Achaemenid empire to the death of CambysesThe Cambridge Ancient History. In: Boardman J, Hammond NGL, Lewis DM, and Ostwald M, editors. The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 4: Persia, Greece and the Western Mediterranean, c525 to 479 BC. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Waters M. 2004. Cyrus and the Achaemenids. Iran 42:91-102.

Writing Instructions Definition and Examples

In business writing, technical writing, and other forms of composition,  instructions are written or spoken directions for carrying out a procedure or performing a task. It is also called  instructive writing. Step-by-step instructions typically use the second-person point of view (you, your, yours). Instructions are usually conveyed in the active voice and the imperative mood: Address your audience directly. Instructions are often written in the form of a numbered list so that users can clearly recognize the sequence of the tasks. Effective instructions commonly include visual elements (such as pictures, diagrams, and flowcharts) that illustrate and clarify the text. Instructions intended for an international audience ​may rely entirely on pictures and familiar symbols. (These are called wordless instructions.) Observations and Examples Good instructions are unambiguous, understandable, complete, consistent, and efficient. (John M. Penrose, et al., Business Communication for Managers: An Advanced Approach, 5th ed. Thomson, 2004) The Lighter Side of Instructions:  Handbook for the Recently Deceased Juno:  Okay, have you been studying the manual?Adam:  Well, we tried.Juno:  The intermediate interface chapter on haunting says it all. Get them out yourselves. Its your house. Haunted houses arent easy to come by.Barbara:  Well, we dont quite get it.Juno:  I heard. Tore your faces right off. It obviously doesnt do any good to pull your heads off in front of people if they cant see you.Adam:  We should start more simply then?Juno:  Start simply, do what you know, use your talents, practice. You should have been studying those lessons since day one. (Sylvia Sidney, Alec Baldwin, and Geena Davis in  Beetlejuice, 1988) Basic Features Instructions tend to follow a consistent step-by-step pattern, whether you are describing how to make coffee or how to assemble an automobile engine. Here are the basic features of instructions: Specific and precise  titleIntroduction  with background informationList of parts, tools, and conditions requiredSequentially ordered stepsGraphicsSafety informationConclusion  that signals completion of task Sequentially ordered steps are the centerpiece of a set of instructions, and they typically take up much of the space in the document.(Richard Johnson-Sheehan, Technical Communication Today. Pearson, 2005) Checklist for Writing Instructions Use short sentences and short paragraphs.Arrange your points in logical order.Make your statements specific.Use the imperative mood.Put the most important item in each sentence at the beginning.Say one thing in each sentence.Choose your words carefully, avoiding jargon and technical terms if you can.Give an example or an analogy, if you think a statement may puzzle a reader.Check your completed draft for logic of presentation.Dont omit steps or take shortcuts. (Adapted from Writing With Precision by Jefferson D. Bates. Penguin, 2000) Helpful Hints Instructions can be either freestanding documents or part of another document. In either case, the most common error is to make them too complicated for the audience. Carefully consider the technical level of your readers. Use white space, graphics, and other design elements to make the instructions appealing. Most important, be sure to include Caution, Warning, and Danger references before the steps to which they apply.(William Sanborn Pfeiffer, Pocket Guide to Technical Communication, 4th ed. Pearson, 2007) Testing Instructions To evaluate the accuracy and clarity of a set of instructions, invite one or more individuals to follow your directions. Observe their progress to determine if all steps are completed correctly in a reasonable amount of time. Once the procedure has been completed, ask this test group to report on any problems they may have encountered and to offer recommendations for improving the instructions.

A Review of the Article “Obama Presses BP to Recover More Oil” Free Essays

Containment of oil from the recent spill at the Gulf of Mexico, estimated to be 60,000 barrels a day, has been delayed by the presence of high winds and waves from Hurricane Alex (Broder, para.2). However, according to Broder, there is a period of seven days of predicted calm weather in which President Obama has pressed BP to recover more oil. We will write a custom essay sample on A Review of the Article â€Å"Obama Presses BP to Recover More Oil† or any similar topic only for you Order Now In response, BP will attach an oil recovery ship known as the Helix Producer to the gushing well capturing up to 25,000 barrels a day (Broder, para. 2). This will be done simultaneously with deployment of a new, tighter-fitting cap for the well. The combination will capture up to 50,000 barrels and another 30,000 barrels a day from additional ships before the well is killed by mid-August (Broder, para.12) The author’s bias is depicted via his efforts in bringing out the attempts of BP in managing the oil spill. For instance the article states that work is going on in two separate relief wells that may permanently kill the gushing well (Broder, para.7). Moreover, he cites high winds and waves from Hurricane Alex as an explanation for the delays in capturing the spew and capping the well (Broder, para. 2). The purpose of this article is to inform the public on the status of the crisis and the actions being taken to control the oil spill. For example, the author reports that the delayed control of the oil spill from the gulf is as a result of unfavorable weather conditions (Broder, para.3). He also explains that BP will replace the cap with a new, tight-fitting one in a bid to contain the spill. Additionally, BP will use recovery ships to collect 80,000 barrels a day (Broder, para.13). The target audience of this article is the general public. This is evident as the article reports on the communication that takes place between BP and the Obama administration. For instance, the author notes that the administration sent BP a letter seeking clarification on how it planned to minimize the oil flow during the capping of the well (Broder, para.5). The author gives an insight into the latest developments in the management of the oil spill disaster. The concerned authorities in Latin American countries for example Mexico and Cuba are made aware of the magnitude of the problem. The author states that there is an oil spill of about 60,000 barrels a day into the Gulf waters (Broder, para.13). It implies that the oil spill may reach Latin American shores causing serious damage. This has prompted the Latin American countries to offer assistance in tackling the oil spill. For instance, Mexico has offered two vessels equipped for oil skimming and 2.6 miles of boom. Further south, Brazil has helped in the crisis through technical expertise (Jordan, para.2). The oil spill of this magnitude requires cooperation between the Government and BP. It is important that the crisis is resolved quickly to avert more losses. BP should exploit every positive opportunity such as the duration of the calm weather to complete capping the well. In addition, support offered to the Government by the Latin American countries for example Mexico and Cuba is welcome. This is because they have vested interests in seeing this problem tackled or else they too would be adversely affected if the spill reached their shores. Works Cited Broder, John M. Obama Presses BP to Recover More Oil. July 2010. 28 July 2010 http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEEDD1039F93AA35754C0A9669D8B63ref=john_m_broder. Jordan, Levi J. Oil Spill Diplomacy: The Response from the Americas. 2010. 28 July 2010 http://www.as-coa.org/article.php?id=2479. How to cite A Review of the Article â€Å"Obama Presses BP to Recover More Oil†, Papers

Report On Youth Violence Essay Example For Students

Report On Youth Violence Essay There are many misconceptions about the prevalence of youth violence in our society and it is important to peel back the veneer of hot-tempered discourse that often surrounds the issue. While it is important to carefully review the circumstances surrounding these horrifying incidents so that we may learn from them, we must also be cautious about inappropriately creating a cloud of fear over every student in every classroom across the country. In the case of youth violence, it is important to note that, statistically speaking, schools are among the safest places for children to be. Final Report, Bi Partisan Working Group on Youth Violence 106th Congress, February 2000 Public policy towards children has moved towards treating them more like adults and in ways that increasingly mimic the adult criminal justice system. The most recent version of this movement is so-called zero tolerance in schools, where theories of punishment that were once directed to adult criminals are now applied to first graders.1 Zero tolerance is the phrase that describes Americas response to student misbehavior. Zero tolerance means that a school will automatically and severely punish a student for a variety of infractions. While zero tolerance began as a Congressional response to students with guns, gun cases are the smallest category of school discipline cases. Indeed, zero tolerance covers the gamut of student misbehavior, from including ;threats; in student fiction to giving aspirin to a classmate. Zero tolerance has become a one-size-fits-all solution to all the problems that schools confront. It has redefined students as criminals, with unfortunate consequences. While zero tolerance policies target the serious risk of students bringing guns to school, they also go after other weapons or anything, like a Swiss Army knife, that can be used as a weapon. Zero tolerance responds to student violence (covering a wide range of activities) or threats of violence. Zero tolerance is theoretically directed at students who misbehave intentionally, yet it also applies to those who misbehave as a result of emotional problems, or other disabilities, or who merely forget what is in their pocket after legitimate non-school activities. It treats alike first graders and twelfth graders. Zero tolerance results in expulsion or suspension irrespective of any legitimate explanation. In many instances it also results in having the student arrested. Recent Trends As reported in the April, 2000 American Bar Association Journal: Nationwide, statistics gathered by the Justice Policy Institute and the U.S. Department of Education show that crime of all sorts is down at public schools since 1990, some studies say by as much as 30 percent. Less than 1 percent of all violent incidents involving adolescents occur on school grounds. Indeed, a child is three times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be killed violently at school. Still, fueled by media hype, fear of the unthinkable and perhaps even a bit of guilt, more parents are demanding that school boards implement strict policies to deal with kids who step out of line. So-called zero tolerance policies being implemented across the country are snaring large numbers of regular kids in broad nets designed to fish for troublemakers.2 The nets are indeed broad. In a report issued in the spring of 2000 by the Justice Policy Institute in Washington and the Kentucky-based Childrens Law Center: A seventeen-year-old junior shot a paper clip with a rubber band at a classmate, missed, and broke the skin of a cafeteria worker. The student was expelled from school. A nine-year-old on the way to school found a manicure kit with a 1-inch knife. The student was suspended for one day. The report notes that many of these children are also referred to juvenile court: The power of comedy Essay In Ponchatoula Louisiana, a 12-year-old who had been diagnosed with a hyperactive disorder warned the kids in the lunch line not to eat all the potatoes, or Im going to get you.; The student, turned in by the lunch monitor, was suspended for two days. He was then referred to police by the principal, and the police charged the boy with making ;terroristic threats. ; He was incarcerated for two weeks while awaiting trial. Two 10-year-old boys from Arlington, Virginia were suspended for three days for putting soapy water in a teachers drink. At the .