Analysis of Ancient Roman Architecture

Analysis of Ancient Roman Architecture Ancient Rome is well recognised for its potential to produce large, dense and complex network of infrastructure ranging from roads, aqueducts, bridges, baths, and temples. The Romans were impressive builders and some of the structures built by the Romans that still stand up to this day exhibit this. Large infrastructure was one of the fundamental aspects that allowed the Roman Empire to maintain its expansive territory; roads allowing the free movement of goods, information and troops, the sewers and freshwater systems enabling the growth of large populations. Thus, with these benefits, the Roman empire began to flourish and sparked a golden age of technological advancement and architectural development. Under the Roman empire, city development followed the grid plan based framework adopted from late Greek cities of the Hellenistic period. Roman cities had two major roads, the Cardo Maximus, the main street running through the north-south and the Decumanus, running east-west, serving as a secondary street, emphasised in the ancient Roman city of Timgad (figure 1), which was a common aspect of Roman cities. In essence, the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus played an integral part of city planning, but also served as a central hub for economic life and business. Figure 1: The city of Timgad in Algeria (Marten Kuilman 2010) Furthermore, the Roman grid-based city plan transitioned towards an urban plan by the first century B.C.E. However, it was not planned entirely in advance during the development of Rome. On the other hand, by superseding grid-based plan, an urban plan was a more flexible solution resulting in a more elaborate and organic plan that allowed Rome to expand, improve and grow in splendour (Evans, 2017, p.24-5). Thus theatres, public buildings, basilicas, temples, libraries, and amphitheatres were sprinkled all across the urban fabric of the city so that every building was surrounded by a public structure (Kostof, 1991, p.214). Albeit, Rome did suffer from urban issues, most of which was the gap between the wealthy and poor. The vast majority of Roman citizens were poor and lived in multi-storey flats or apartments known as Insulae (figure 2), which were simplistic buildings that only provided at best a maximum of 2 rooms with no indoor plumbing; therefore, the poor had to commute to public baths to get a supply of water. Figure 2: Remains of a insula in the Capitol hill, in Rome (II century a. C.) (Peter Collony and Hazel dodge 1998) On the other hand, the rich lived in single storey private houses called Domus, consisting of multiple rooms, lavishly laid out walls, gardens and courtyards surrounding the atrium (figure 3) which was the large central hall of the Domus.  ­Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ­ Figure 3: A Pompeian Interior oil on panel Dahesh Museum of Art (Luigi Bazzani 1882) The Roman forum was an oblong space adapted from the Greek agora, located near the intersection of the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus whereas the theatre and amphitheatre were located at the perimeter of the city, wrapped around by fortified city walls. The forum was mainly composed of public buildings such as baths, temples of worship, civic centres and administrative buildings, enclosed by colonnades and either a town hall or a basilica. This was because of the Roman propensity to enclose public buildings, for example, the classical Greek theatres evolution that initially began as an open structure (figure 4), however, it was improved upon by the Romans into an enclosed theatre (figure 5) through the combination of the auditorium and stage (Wheeler, 1964, pp.111-2). Figure 4: Greek theatre (Twinningblog 2008) Figure 5: Greek theatre (Twinningblog 2008) Public buildings were adorned with sculptures, paintings, and fountains that were used as a source of civic pride for the Roman public. As a result, the forum became the focal point of business, social existence and the centre of political debate amongst the people of the empire and politicians. Roman temples such as the Maison Carrà ©e, Nimes (16 B.C.E.) (figure 6) were considered the home of the gods as Roman religion played an important part of Roman society. People went to temples to worship and pray to a multitude of deities such as Jupiter, Juno, Venus and Mars amongst many other main gods. Figure 6: The Maison Carà ©e, the Arenas and the Magne Tower in Nimes (Hubert Robert 1787) The Roman theatre, amphitheatre and Hippodrome provided Roman society with an abundance of entertainment. Amphitheatres such as the Coliseum (figure 7) was the home of violence presented in many forms. Entertainment ranged from gladiatorial fights, executions, wild animal fights and the occasional naval battles that required the Coliseum to be flooded, in front of 50,000 spectators from different social classes arranged on stands that the Coliseum was able to house. Therefore, the Coliseum became a public spectacle to a society that loved blood and could decide the fate of the loser but also reflected the social stratification of Roman society. Figure 7: Colosseum: Cross-section (Granger 2014) Whereas the Circus Maximus offered a different kind of entertainment that was chariot racing in front of a maximum capacity 250,000 people that were as famous as the events held at the Coliseum. Even though society loved watching fights and races, however, some members of the public were opposed to the idea of watching fighters die for entertainment at the Coliseum. Thus, the theatre was the ideal alternative to the Coliseum and the Circus Maximus, where plays were held. Roman baths were considered as an essential requirement for day-to-day life in Rome. The Roman practice of Bathing was initially a Greek tradition; that gained popularity amongst Roman society during the second century B.C.E. Moreover, due to the popularity that baths gained, it highlighted the requirement for a centrally based bath complex within the urban structure of every Roman city as more Roman cities began to emerge, epitomised by the city of Bath that gained its name for its Roman bath complex. By the early third century C.E., Eleven main aqueducts supplied the city of Rome on average 190,000 cubic meters of water daily to homes, public and private baths, which had to be provided and distributed via a system of pipes made from either clay or lead. The aqueduct in Segovia, Spain, built in the second Century CE is still being used today. Whereas the Pont du Gard that is part of the aqueduct de Nimes (figure 8) is probably regarded by many architects and engineers as the most impressive aqueduct built by the Romans, standing at a total height of 48.77 metres, shows the skill and complexity that Roman engineers were able to attain. Figure 8: Pont du Gard (Emanuele 2007) Despite water being supplied to Roman baths and houses via a system of pipes, fees were charged in accordance to the pipes size, the larger the pipe, the higher the tax. Therefore, for personal hygiene, Roman citizens went to local baths such as the baths of Caracalla (figure 9), known for its complex functionality, sophistication and immense size. Romans were able to bathe for a small fee; however, Roman baths also became areas of social interchange where gatherings gossiped and conversed about current events or to discuss business matters while getting clean at the same time. Figure 9: The Baths Of Caracalla (Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema 1899) Some Roman structures have survived the test of time and still reside within the urban fabric today, many of these have been changed, repurposed and modernised into urban forms within the city and have contributed to the formation of cities. The Roman amphitheatre turned into a public circular square in Lucca, Diocletian palace that became the centre of Split in Croatia, which was a palace with walls that became the downtown of the city since the collapse of the roman empire. Furthermore, piazza Navona was built on the site of the stadium of Domitian, the amphitheatre and basilica having significant influence on Western architecture. To conclude the Romans were a sociable society that transformed the legacy of Greek architecture into their vision, a vision turned into an art form and embodied in many cities today. Despite Roman architecture being around for millennia, it is one of the most influential architectural styles that became a source of inspiration for many architects throughout time. Bibliography: Kuilman, M. (2010). QA596 The city of Timgad in Algeria. [image] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/quadralectics/4361584827/in/photostream/ [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Collony, P. and Dodge, H. (1998). Remains of a insula in the Capitol hill, in Rome (II century a. C.). Photography from CONNOLLY, Peter y DODGE, Hazel: La Ciudad Antigua. La vida en la Atenas y Roma clà ¡sicas, Madrid, 1998.. [image] Available at: http://www.catedu.es/aragonromano/images/insulac2.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Bazzani, L. (1882). : A Pompeian Interior oil on panel Dahesh Museum of Art. [image] Available at: http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2008/pompeii/images/atrium_int_large.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Twinningblog, (2008). Greek Theatre. [image] Available at: https://twinningblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/t-greco.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Twinningblog, (2008). Roman theatre. [image] Available at: https://twinningblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/roman-theatre1.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Robert, H. (1787). The Maison Carà ©e, the Arenas and the Magne Tower in Nimes. [image] Available at: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Hubert_Robert_-_The_Maison_Car%C3%A9e%2C_the_Arenas_and_the_Magne_Tower_in_Nimes_-_WGA19601.jpg/612px-Hubert_Robert_-_The_Maison_Car%C3%A9e%2C_the_Arenas_and_the_Magne_Tower_in_Nimes_-_WGA19601.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Granger, (2014). Colosseum: Cross-section. [image] Available at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHLmHgJuog_J157fVIRJsbI-ccSP-2wHSHvHReopWWbo0fpIZrJIXtJeyHydR2sSSul_WxVbrzb3MlsbgwZ42KMLMLHwalgY8B9Gdxr8X2NceNlZ7iI8wmLlFYgddIsWsu4qeFqaaqEYh/s400/colosseum-cross-section.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Emanuele, (2007). Pont du Gard. [image] Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/[emailprotected]/1566294527 [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Alma-Tadema, L. (1899). The Baths Of Caracalla. [image] Available at: https://uploads1.wikiart.org/images/alma-tadema-lawrence/the-baths-of-caracalla-1899.jpg!Large.jpg [Accessed 8 Jan. 2017]. Dudley, D. (1991). Roman society. Harmondsworth: Penguin. Evans, G. (2017). Cultural planning : an urban renaissance. London: Routledge. Gates, C. (2004). The archaeology of urban life in the ancient Near East and Egypt, Greece, and Rome. London: Routledge. Hodge, A. (2002). Roman aqueducts water supply. London: Duckworth. Kostof, S. and Richard, T. (1991). The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings Through History. London: Thames and Hudson. Macaulay, D. (1975). City : A Story of Roman Planning and Construction. London: Collins. Perez de Arce, R. (2017). Urban Transformations and the Architecture of Additions. [ebook] London: Routledge, p.xvi-ii. Available at: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=CX09BAAAQBAJprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false [Accessed 3 Jan. 2017]. Rykwert, J. (1976). The idea of a town. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. Vitruvius Pollio., Schofield, R. and Tavernor, R. (2009). On architecture. London: Penguin Books. Watkin, D. (2009). The Roman Forum. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. Wheeler, M. (1964). Roman art and architecture. London: Thames and Hudson. Yourcenar, M. (2000). Memoirs of Hadrian. London: Penguin.

Comparison between Thutmose III and Napoleon I

James Henry Breasted, an American archaeologist and historian, described Thutmose III as â€Å"the Napoleon of Egypt†. [1] Today this association of the Egyptian Pharaoh to Napoleon I, ‘Emperor of the French’, persists among modern archaeologists and historians. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate this comparison, and to conclude to what extent it is accurate. Thutmose III was an Egyptian Pharaoh and the sixth ruler of the Eighteenth Dynasty, whose reign lasted for fifty-four years between 1479 to 1425 BCE. Following his father’s death in 1479 BCE, however, at ten years old Thutmose III was considered too young to succeed to the throne. As a result, his father’s widow, Queen Hatshepsut acted as his co-regent. For the next twenty-two years, though, she effectively ruled Egypt individually, even assuming the formal titulary of kingship. It was only after Queen Hatshepsut’s death in 1457 BCE that Thutmose III was able to rule as Pharaoh. By this time Thutmose III was already an experienced military commander. He had been trained as a soldier since he was a teenager and had apparently flourished in the role, appointed to lead Hatshepsut’s army in the six years previous to her death. During this time Thutmose III fought a major campaign in Nubia, and perhaps another, for which there is only tentative evidence, in addition to liberating Gaza from the rebels. As a result, he developed strong ties to the Egyptian army whilst acquiring experience in military organisation, strategy, tactics and logistics, as well as generalship. These qualities were demonstrated in Thutmose III’s first major campaign as pharaoh, in which the Canaanites, led by Durusha, the king of Kadesh, had decided to revolt in an attempt to free themselves of Egyptian influence after the death of Queen Hatshepsut. The battle commenced near Megiddo, which is now in Israel, as Thutmose III led an army of about ten-thousand men on a rapid march. Executing tactics and strategy which, while dangerous, were superior, he forced the Canaanites to scatter and flee into to the city. The Egyptians then besieged the city, which fell after another seven months. This absolute victory at the Battle of Megiddo is also the first known battle with precisely detailed events, as a part of the Annals, a listing of the seventeen campaigns led by Thutmose III as recorded on the walls of the temple to Amun at Karnak. If we examine and analyse the full text, two-hundred and twenty-three lines long (making it the longest, and possibly the most important, archaeological source in Egyptian history [2]) with an allowance for egotism it is largely reliable, and therefore useful. It illustrates that this first major campaign only marked the beginning of a long period of Egyptian expansion under a determined and relentless Thutmose III, who was obviously a successful military general. In subsequent campaigns he advanced north, steadily up the coast of Lebanon, capturing secure harbours, as well as safe transport and supply routes for Egypt’s army through the sea. By his sixth campaign, Thutmose III had also captured most of the inland cities, including Kadesh. 3] It was not until his eighth campaign, however, that Thutmose III asserted true dominance in the region, as he crossed the Euphrates River and defeated the Mitanni forces in Naharin, who posed a serious threat. Thutmose III’s subsequent campaigns were merely showings of force to ensure the continued loyalty and payment of tribute of almost three-hundred and fifty cities. With his gradual advance along a strategically well-planned route, and his careful, methodical preparation over a numbe r of years, Thutmose III had conquered much of the Near East, from the Euphrates River to Nubia. As a result, he had also created the New Kingdom Egyptian Empire, and established himself as the nation’s greatest warrior Pharaoh. The empire itself, also perhaps the first great empire in the ancient world, [4] then, consisted of cities and states held in positions of tributary allegiance, such as Nubia, but it also included those within its wider influence. This is demonstrated by the tremendous wealth that flowed into Egypt, not only from defeated enemies but also from those who feared Thutmose III’s power even though they had not come into conflict with it, including the Hittites, Cypriots and Babylonians, and even the Minoans of Crete. This ill-defined and loosely knit empire survived intact through the reigns of the next three Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaohs, its existence owed exclusively to Thutmose III. [5] It is due to his remarkable military activity record, filled with more battles over a longer period and more victories than any other general in the ancient world, [6] in addition to his short stature, that archaeologists refer to Thutmose III as â€Å"the Napoleon of Egypt†. However, although Grafton Smith, an Australian anatomist, had stated the height of Thutmose III’s mummy to be 1. 65 metres in his examination of the mummy following its iscovery in 1881, [7] he did not account for its missing feet when taking the measurements. A more recent examination revealed Thutmose III’s height to be 1. 71 metres, which was taller than the average Egyptian of his day and all of the pharaohs of the Eighteenth Dynasty except Amenhotep I. [8] Interestingly, such confusion also exists in Napoleon Bonap arte’s depiction as someone much smaller than average height, due to a miscalculation. According to his French doctor, Francesco Antommarchi, who performed the autopsy, Napoleon Bonaparte was 5 feet and 2 inches tall. However, the French pouce, whilst the equivalent to the British inch, are equal to 2. 71 and 2. 54 cm respectively, which means he was, in fact, 5 feet and 6 inches tall. This miscalculation has seen historians now describe Napoleon Bonaparte as someone of average height of the period, and as a result, he cannot compare to Thutmose III, who is now recognised as someone taller than the average height of his time, in addition to a genius in the operational art of war, and a great military commander. 9] Napoleon I was a military and political leader of France and later Emperor of the French, between 1804 and 1814 CE, and again during the Hundred Days period in 1815 CE. During the Napoleonic Wars, which involved every major European power, he led the French Empire to a streak of victories. As a result, its power rose quickly, and Napoleon I conquered most of Europe. This sphere of influence was maintained through the formation of extensive alliances and the appointment of friends and fam ily members to rule other European countries as French client states. At its most extensive, the French Empire had forty-four million inhabitants, and its subject states thirty-eight million, [10] and not since Charlemagne had a politically united Europe seemed as close as it did under Napoleon I. [11] However, it would prove to be Napoleon I’s attempt to unite the continent by armed might that would lead to his fall. Unlike Thutmose III, who appears to have been a compassionate man despite his military ferocity, with no records of massacres or atrocities among his seventeen listed campaigns in the Annals, Napoleon I is considered by many historians, including Pieter Geyl and David G. Chandler, to be a tyrant. His authorisation of the use of sulphur gas against the rebel slaves in the Haitian Revolution, as well as his decision to reinstate slavery in France’s overseas territories eight years after its abolition in 1794 CE, during the French Revolution, always controversial to his reputation, [12] certainly support the suggestion that when faced with the prospect of war, and therefore, the death of thousands, Napoleon I was not significantly troubled by the idea. (In fact, historians have estimated the death toll from the Napoleonic Wars as a figure between three and seven million. This view was certainly shared between his opponents, who continually formed Coalitions in opposition to the French Empire. The administrative and legal reforms of the Revolution which Napoleon I had carried to the rest of Europe could not be separated from the ideas of Nationalism and Liberalism that had given those reforms substance, [13] and as a result, nations within the Fre nch Empire adopted these ideas, as well as many of the military and administrative reforms that had made France so powerful. This eventually led to the formation of the Seventh Coalition, which defeated Napoleon I after his temporary revival of the French Empire in 1815 CE, which had fallen with his abdication a year earlier. Consequently France, in which the Bourbon monarchy was restored, no longer held the role of the dominant power in Europe, as it had since the times of Louis XIV. In addition, unlike Napoleon I, Thutmose III did not inherit a strong nation or experienced army, but a defeated and insular society. 14] Whilst the ‘Emperor of the French’ received massed forces, weaponry and mobility (which would later be defined as the characteristics of Napoleonic warfare) due to the innovations of the French Revolution, including mass conscription, the Egyptian Pharaoh was forced to completely reform his army. He would establish a conscript base, create a professional officer corps and equip it with modern weapons, as well as integrate chariots into new tactual doctrines. Additionally, he would also create the first combat navy in the ancient world. Perhaps it is fitting, then, that the description of Thutmose III as â€Å"the Napoleon of Egypt† should be reconsidered. Whilst Napoleon I’s First French Empire would a last combined ten years and result in an immediate loss of status France, Thutmose III’s New Kingdom Egyptian Empire was a great nation of imperial dimensions that ruled the entire world that an Egyptian would have considered knowing for more than five hundred years. 15] In addition, Thutmose III managed to architect and establish such an Empire without inheriting the calibre of resources that Napoleon I had access to. Therefore, it is obvious that Thutmose III’s military achievements were, to use the words of English military historian B. H. Liddell Hart, â€Å"greater than Napoleon†. [16] Similarly, in the opinion of another military historian in the Canadian Richard A. Gabriel, Thutmose III was not â⠂¬Å"the Napoleon of Egypt† but â€Å"Egypt’s Alexander the Great†, [17] arguably the most successful military commander in history. Furthermore, whilst both Thutmose III and Napoleon I were believed to be men of short stature by James Henry Breasted, which inclined him to make the comparison as opposed to one with another esteemed military commander, historians have now recognised that these assumptions are incorrect. The Egyptian Pharaoh, after a more recent examination, is now recognised as someone taller than the average height of his time, while the ‘Emperor of the French’ is now described as someone of average height of the period, following the discovery of a miscalculation which had deprived him of four inches. In addition, it seems that to alike the two men in character, let alone build, would be incorrect, due to their apparent differences in temperament. As a result, whilst there is a persisting description of Thutmose III as â€Å"the Napoleon of Egypt† among archaeologists, when he is compared to the ‘Emperor of the French’ it is obvious that such an image should be abandoned. Although a determination to pursue to imperialist ambitions is synonymous, the extent to which each was successful in their attempt to establish and maintain their empires differ. Thutmose III’s remarkable record of military activity, in fact, overshadows that of Napoleon I, whose empire wound only last a combined ten years and result in an immediate loss of status France, as opposed to the New Kingdom Egyptian Empire, which would last five hundred years.

Reagent Definition and Examples

A reagent is a compound or mixture added to a system to cause a chemical reaction or test if a reaction occurs. A reagent may be used to find out whether or not a specific chemical substance is present by causing a reaction to occur with it. Reagent Examples Reagents may be compounds or mixtures. In organic chemistry, most are small organic molecules or inorganic compounds. Examples of reagents include Grignard reagent, Tollens reagent, Fehlings reagent, Collins reagent, and Fentons reagent. However, a substance may be used as a reagent without having the word reagent in its name. Reagent Versus Reactant The term reagent is often used in place of reactant, however, a reagent may not necessarily be consumed in a reaction as a reactant would be. For example, a catalyst is a reagent  but is not consumed in the reaction. A solvent often is involved in a chemical reaction but its considered a reagent, not a reactant. What Reagent-Grade Means When purchasing chemicals, you may see them identified as reagent-grade. What this means is that the substance is sufficiently pure to be used for physical testing, chemical analysis, or for chemical reactions that require pure chemicals. The standards required for a chemical to meet reagent-grade quality are determined by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and ASTM International, among others.

The San Antonio Museum Of Art - 1457 Words

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He was vastly interested from a very early age in hummingbirds and their effect on natural selection and the ir environment (St. Rosemary Educational Institution). His aspirations from Charles Darwin led him to the tropics where he painted several humming bird and orchid paintings as his subject matter, including Passion Flower with Three Hummingbirds. This set of genre paintings of tropical subjects depicted his interest in mood and light instead of topographically accurate views (Martin Johnson Heade Biography†). Heade had a fascination with how light interacted with the environment (St. Rosemary EducationalShow MoreRelatedThe San Antonio Art Museum1135 Words   |  5 PagesThe exhibition that I viewed at the San Antonio Art Museum was called â€Å"28 Chinese†. This exhibit was based on the artwork of 28 contemporary Chinese artists. Throughout the exhibit, it was discussing the fall of communism, poverty, the essence of time, resistance, rebellion and the conservation of history. 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Brazil Under Lula Off the Yellow Bric Road Essay examples

Question 1: 1. Situation Analysis Brazil is being considered as a growing economy. In fact the country, one of the BRIC nations is seen by analyst of Goldman Sachs as one of the five nations that will be at the top of all nations with regard to a country`s GDP (The Goldman Sachs Group Inc., 2007). To understand Brazil`s current situation and how the country may be able to grow out of this position as a global player in the near future aiming a better globalization of the country by the year 2050, one has to see Brazil within a bigger frame. Within this frame, actions taken have to be integrated into the five obstacles Brazil currently faces. 1.1. The five obstacles Brazil has to overcome (Brazil Cost) There are five obstacles†¦show more content†¦The key for an even higher growth rate is to challenge the country`s way of operation. Thus Brazil can be seen as a country of the future. Even though the country has to find its place within the BRIC nations. By comparison with the other nations, it can be seen that Brazil is considered to be the weakest nation. Given the fact that globalization can be seen as the future for every country (Naim, 2009), also Brazil will be able to take a stance of defining the nation`s globalization strategy with a thorough plan of actions. BRIC nations are defined as becoming the largest economic bloc in the world by 2050. The foundation therefore among other aspects lies in the population of these countries. Brazil has a population of 186 million (in 2006) people. Further can be seen that the human development index (in 2003) can be found at 0.792, which is following Russia the highest index. In addition should be noted that the latest government practices a democracy steered towards globalization. This democracy as well allowed more privatization. Another way of seeing the ‘global’ Brazil, is by acknowledging Brazil`s major industries regarding its exports. Seeing these factors as a foundation for Brazil to become an economic leader in the future, the nation still has to work its way there. Hence are there a few issues Brazil has to get a hand on. So is for example the

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque Free Essays

All Quiet on the Western Front In the book â€Å"All Quiet on the Western Front† by Erich Remarque, the author uses nature, and comradeship, to describe what the characters are going through. Erich uses nature in several ways, such as describing how the soldiers are facing terrible hardships, also it reflects on their sadness, and provides a contrast to the unnatural world of war. The author also uses the theme Comradeship through all the horrifying pictures of death and inhumanity, he talks about when Paul and his friends pick on Himmelstoss and beat him. We will write a custom essay sample on All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque or any similar topic only for you Order Now We think it’s funny because Himmelstoss deserves it for being rude to them, and Paul and his friends are just giving him what he deserves. As we start going farther into the book, we start to realize that beating on someone isn’t funny anymore. We read the how the soldiers feel after assaulting and killing other people, it gives us a disturbing thought about war. Erich shows the theme Nature in many parts of the book. In chapter 2, when Kemmerich dies Paul takes his identification tags and walks outside. He then says â€Å"I breathe as deep as I can, and feel the breeze in my face, warm and soft as never before. † (Remarque 33) This is one of many times, when nature has helped the men go through bad experiences, and help them move on. Nature also reflects the terrible sadness of the lost generation. In Chapter 4, Paul’s company sustains heavy losses and a recruit is wounded so badly Paul and Kat consider killing him to end his suffering. The Lorries and medics arrive too quickly, and they are forced to rethink their decision. Paul watches the rain fall and says: â€Å"It falls on our heads and on the heads of the dead, up in the line, on the body of the little recruit with the wound that is so much too big for his hip; it falls on Kemmerich grave; it falls in our hearts. † (Remarque The cleansing rain falls upon the hopelessness of Paul’s life and the lives of those around him. Throughout Remarque’s book, we also see a strong affinity between nature and lost dreams and memories. When Paul is on sentry duty in Chapter 6, he remembers his childhood and thinks about the poplar avenue where such a long time ago they sat beneath the trees and put their feet in the stream. Back then the water was fragrant, the wind melodious; these memories of nature cause a powerful calmness and awaken a remembrance of what was but sadly, will never be again. Finally, butterflies play gracefully and settle on the teeth of a skull; birds fly through the air in a carefree pattern. This is nature in the midst of death and destruction. While men kill each other and wonder why, the butterflies, birds, and breeze flutter though the killing fields and carry on as if mankind were quite insignificant. Even at the end when Paul knows there is so little time until the armistice, he reflects on the beauty of life and hopes that he can stay alive until the laws of nature once again prevail and the actions of men bring peace. He describes the red poppies, meadows, beetles, grass, trees at twilight, and the stars. How can such beauty go on in the midst of such heartache? Remarque says that this novel â€Å"will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war. If words can touch what men hold to be dear in their hearts and so cause them to change the world, this book with its words of a lost generation, lost values, and lost humanity is surely one that should be required reading for all generations. . When Paul and his friends waylay Himmelstoss and beat on him, we laugh because he deserves it and they are only giving him his due. As time goes by, however, the pictures of camaraderie relieve the terrible descriptions of front line assaults and death, and they provide a bright light in a place of such terrible darkness. A young recruit becomes gun-shy in his first battle when a rocket fires and explosions begin. He creeps over to Paul and buries his head in Paul’s chest and arms, and Paul kindly, gently, tells him that he will get used to it (Chapter 4). Perhaps the two most amazing scenes of humanity and caring can be found in the story of the goose roasting and the battle where his comrades’ voices cause Paul to regain his nerve. In Chapter 5, Paul and Kat have captured a goose and are roasting it late at night. Paul says, â€Å"We don’t talk much, but I believe we have a more complete communion with one another than even lovers have. We are two men, two minute sparks of life; outside is the night and the circle of death. † As he watches Kat roasting the goose and hears his voice, it brings Paul peace and reassurance. Over and over again, in scenes of battle and scenes of rest, we see the comradeship of this tiny group of men. Even though Paul counts their losses at various points, he always considers their close relationship and attempts to keep them together to help each other. In Chapter 9, when Paul is alone in the trench, he loses his nerve and his direction and is afraid he will die. Instead, he hears the voices of his friends: â€Å"I belong to them and they to me; we all share the same fear and the same life; we are nearer than lovers, in a simpler, a harder way; I could bury my face in them in these voices, these words that have saved me and will stand by me. † There is a grace here, in the face of all sorrow and hopelessness, a grace that occurs when men realize their humanity and their reliance on others. Through thick and thin, battle and rest, horror and hopelessness, these men hold each other up. Finally, Paul has only Kat and he loses even this friend and father-figure in Chapter 11. Kat’s death is so overwhelming and so final that we do not hear Paul’s reaction; we only see him break down in the face of it. There is such final irony in the medic’s question about whether they are related. This man, this hero, this father, this life — has been closer to Paul than his own blood relatives and yet Paul must say, â€Å"No, we are not related. † It is the final stunning blow before Paul must go on alone. How to cite All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Remarque, Essay examples

Personnel Management and Changing Innovation

Question: Discuss about the Personnel Management and Changing Innovation. Answer: Introduction Flextronics International Limited is a multinational supply chains management solutions company of American origin in electronics manufacturing and original design manufacturing company. The company offers design, manufacturing and after-sale services to original equipment manufacturers. The company is the second largest multinational electronics manufacturing company, with manufacturing operations established and running in over 40 countries with as many as 200,000 employees worldwide, and over 5,000 in Singapore. The company established in Singapore in 1990 after shifting base from Silicon Valley where it was founded in 1980. The companys dominance in the electronics industry in Singapore is not in question. The company was ranked third by IndustryWeek under 100 Best Managed Companies. the company prides itself as a leading sketch-t-o-scale solutions company that designs and builds intelligent products for a connected world. The company is looking to hire a Quality Technician in the manufacturing department. The candidate is required to qualifications, responsibilities and duties of the Quality Technician are outlined in the succeeding chapters. Job Analysis The job analysis, or human resource edit, details the performance elements that constitute employee role, limits within which they are performed and the job requirements in terms of aptitudes, attitudes, knowledge, skills and physical abilities of the candidate employee (Wilson, 2007). The purpose of the job analysis is to provide information enable the organization and the candidate employees to understand the important duties of the job, how they are to be undertaken and the necessary human abilities and skills necessary for the role. Job Description Job Brief Level: Senior Executive Reports to: Production Superintendent Salary: $5000-8000(SGD) Flextronics Limited is looking for a thorough Quality Technician to be charged with the responsibility of maintaining the product and services quality at a consistently satisfactory standard by establishing and overseeing checking procedures. As a quality technician, you will be attached to both quality control and quality assurance and other positions relating to these roles are in the engineering and manufacturing departments. The goal is to maintain the products in the best possible quality as per customer requirements. Quality Technician Job Responsibilities Visual inspection of products in-production and after-production. Compilation of inspection and technical reports, and report abnormalities to engineers. Report non-conformance of products in line with customer specifications Identification of opportunities for future expansion. Enforcement of quality standards in the manufacturing department. Quality Technician Requirements Proven practical experience as quality technician in an electronics manufacturing company. Basic understanding of electrical and electronics engineering Knowledge of general quality control and assurance processes and practices Working knowledge of tools, common electronics and electrical appliances Manual skillfulness and problem-solving skills. Good physical stamina and strength with willingness to work overtime. Quality Technician Skills and Qualifications Process Improvement, Data Processing and Interpretation, Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Teamwork and Leadership Skills, Quality Engineering, Excellent Attention to Detail, Mental and Physical Toughness. Job description, however, does not solely provide explicit guidance to both the organization and candidate employees on how to conduct the whole recruitment and selection process. Another data set is necessary to create fit between position, qualifications, and talent, evaluate performance and estimate training requirements for this position (Todaycut). Job Specification Experience A minimum of two years of experience is required in quality assurance or quality control with a renowned electronics company. Experience in QA/QC processes Experience in Performance Testing is an added advantage. Education Qualifications Candidate MUST have a Bachelors degree in Quality Assurance/Testing and Control. Knowledge in ISO 9001 requirements The candidate must have a regular MBA from a reputable institution Skills and Knowledge Knowledge in Failure Analysis and Reporting Knowledge in Quality tools such as SPC, FMEA, GDT other related tools. Knowledge in Java programming will be an added advantage. (JobStreet International). It also of prime importance to explicitly define the responsibilities of the Quality Technician. This is to ensure that candidate employees are well aware of whats expected of them in their capacity as Quality Technician. Job Design Job design is also an essential factor in the recruitment process. A job design details the responsibilities and duties of a position in line with they key roles outlined in the job description. Consider the following illustration: Edgar had just completed college where hed studied hotel management and catering. His first job was working at a popular tourist resort. He was excited to earn his first paycheck. His excitement was however short-lived as he was fired two weeks later. The reason? Edgar thought his only duties were serving drinks and meals to revelers and clearing the tables afterwards. He never understood that he also had to present the bill to the customers, cleaning and arranging furniture after his shift and restocking supplies (Nemetz, 2003). Edgars misfortunes resulted because the human resource department didnt provide him with a job design. A job design specifies the responsibilities and qualifications required for a position. A job description also helps with recruitment short-listing because candidate employees will be able to shape their expectations from the position. A suitable approach for creating the job design section is the job enlargement by rotation (or cross-training for short). Here, the Quality Technician is rotated through various sections or stations of the manufacturing department at different times (Job Design: Definition and Purpose). He, for instance, may be tasked with raw material specification and mixing during the first quarter of the year, then be in the in-production section during the second quarter. He could then proceed to the end-product quality assurance, control during the third quarter, and finish off at the product quality compliance testing section in the fourth quarter. The job design, then, is structured to prompt applications from candidates who have had previous experience in raw materials specification, electronics manufacture as well as testing. This approach is very effective in ensuring the candidate is not only aware of his responsibilities, but it saves future conflict on employee duties. Another approach that could be adopted is the job enrichment. In this approach, performance is calibrated vertically with the Quality Technician given a clear career path from entry-level to senior level with clear milestones for promotion and recognition. This approach however has the disadvantage of creating single-mindedness and narrowness in scope at the workplace as the Quality Technician is focused on getting better at his specific roles and moving upwards in the career ladder. A blend of these two approaches however creates an approach that creates an excellent job design for objective recruitment. This is because it borrows from Hackman and Oldhams job characteristics model with a promise of improved general performance and boosted employee moral (Hackman Oldham, 2010). The following responsibilities set, derived using the two approaches, is included as job design. Participate in pre-production quality planning Technical and administrative support as and when required Preparation of bill of quantities and technical report Development of control strategies and polishing existing ones Implement strategies for lean management Analysis and reporting of external and internal quality status. Recommend quality improvement measures Co-ordination of audit by external parties, organizational preparation for said audits, and oversees all quality control/management matters. Instigation of quality non-conformity prevention measures for production process as well as products. Liaison with Safety Engineer to ensure quality standards and safety standards are complimentary. (Editor, 2015). The combination of job description, job design and job description are important aspects of a position advertisement in that they attract the best qualified persons for the position of Quality Engineer. Further, the candidates are fully aware of the job duties should they be shortlisted. After a clear and concise job analysis has attracted the right candidates, then comes the process of selection and recruitment. What are the best selection and recruitment strategies to ensure the best-fit candidate (or candidates) is selected for the position? Selection and Recruitment Strategies Selection and recruitment criteria are the ultimate determinants for the correctness in choice for filling the position of Quality Technician. Depending on the target qualities and constraints like time, number of applicants, the hiring manager needs develop an objective Recruitment Plan that would enable them to hire the right candidates. Recruitment activities could be technical and vocational events, mass media advertisements, as well as organizational internal affairs (for instance employee referral or internal advertisement) (Sulich, 2016). As this is a middle-level position, employee referral and internal recruitment will be best for filling this position. Further, the documented Recruitment Plan shall have all the necessary elements like adequate posting period, placement goals, additional advertising sources, diversity agents and rsum banks. Adequate posting period for candidates to view the advertisement and prepare applications while placement goals included in the recruitment plan helps to narrow the selection. Additional advertising sources help with message broadcast to ensure the recruitment meets the diversity UCR values in its workforce (Nick, 2012). Conclusion This paper has also argued for the importance of a job design in recruitment. In our illustration, Edgar wouldnt have applied for the position if he didnt expect to clean up, re-arrange furniture, and restock supplies after his shift. Even better, he would have understood these responsibilities as part of his overall job description. Evidently, this approach helps save future problems in job performance or need to re-hire had the job design not been presented during recruitment. Further, a well-designed, unambiguous job design decreases workplace dissatisfaction and turnover in the organization because the Quality Technician is fully aware of his/her responsibilities upfront. Job rotation implies a U-shaped production machinery orientation where the Quality Technician is able to experience and work in various section within manufacturing department. This not only creates a multi-skilled worker but also helps eliminate boredom and complacency that may result due to repetitive tasks. Further, it boosts the employees morale and overall performance. On selection, the Recruitment Plan has all the values to ensure diversity in selection while at the same time going for the best fit. The use of rsum banks to select qualified candidates, as well as internal advertisement will guide the organization towards selecting a candidate that is familiar with Flexitronics Limited, thus lowering the training costs. References Editor (July 15, 2015) What is an employee referral program? www.businessdictionary.com Accessed August 31, 2016. Erble, R. F. (1989). Personnel Management and Changing Innovation in Recruitment. Journal of Contemporary Education 39(6). p.277-281. Lombardo, J. Job Design: Definition and Purpose www.study.com/academy/lesson/job-design-definition-and-purpose.html Retrieved August 30, 2016. Hackman, J. R., Oldham, G. R. (2010) Not What It Was And Not What It Will Be: The Future of Job Design Research. Journal of Organizational Behavior 31, p. 463-471. Nemetz, P. N. (2003). Basic Concepts of Sustainable Development for Business Students. pp. 1-4. Journal of International Business Education. Nick, D. (2012) Hays Quarterly Report. Sharing Our Recruiting Know-How. People Fitting Positions.pdf Retrieved August 30, 2016. QA Engineer Job Molex Singapore Pte Ltd - 5422900 www.jobstreet.com.sg/en/job/qa-engineer-5422900?fr=Jsrc=2 Sulich, A. (2016) Mathematical Models and Non-mathematical Methods in Recruitment and Selection Processes. Reviewed Papers from the 17th international Conference. Mekon 2016. Wilson, M. (2007). A History of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.