Sociology As A Scientific Discipline Essay - 2959 Words

SOCIOLOGY AS A SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINE Is sociology a scientific discipline? The issue of whether sociology is a science or a scientific discipline is an issue that has raised a lot of controversy for a long time. There are scholars who subscribe sociology is a science while others claim it is not. Even sociologists themselves have been divided on the issue example Emile Durkheim and Auguste Comte are for the view that sociology is a science while German Sociologist Max-Weber does not subscribe to this view. (Mondal, n.d.) To solve this controversy it is essential first to understand clearly what science is and what sociology is. What is science? Science is a complex term to define and it has been given different meaning by various disciplines. In general science can be defined as a body of knowledge that is organized and is acquired systematically through observation and experimentation to describe and explain phenomena. The term science is also used to refer to the systematic act of acquiring knowledge. A scientific method is used in acquiring scientific knowledge through observation, experimentation and generalisation. (Mondal, n.d.) The knowledge collected or facts are linked together in their casual sequence to draw well-founded inferences. (Mondal, n.d.) Characteristics and proponents of science i. Method- in science scientific methods are used. Scientific methods include observation, hypothesis, testing and measurement, verification and re-verification. (Farooq, 2012)Show MoreRelatedLike Any Scientific Discipline, Sociology Has Its Own Object1455 Words   |  6 PagesLike any scientific discipline, sociology has its own object and subject of research. The object is understood as the sphere of reality that is to be studied, and to this the research is directed. Consequently, the object of sociology is society. But society is explored by many disciplines, such as history, philosophy, economics, political science, etc. At the same time, each of the named social sciences distinguishes its specific aspects, the properties of the object, which become the subject ofRead Morefactors that contributed to the rise and development of sociology1511 Words   |  7 Pagescontributed to the rise of sociology and the latter`s development. In simply terms, sociology is the scientific stu dy of the society and human behavior. The emergence of sociology traces back to the eighteenth century up to present day. Johnson (1998) suggests that in summary, the rise and development of sociology is based on political, economic, demographic, social and scientific changes. Ritzer (2008) asserts that the immediate cause for the beginning of sociology were political unrests especiallyRead MoreSociology as a Science Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pages Sociology emerged in the eighteenth century after a period of intense cultural, social and economic changes. As people began to try to understand these changes, there came a period called the Enlightenment. This is also considered by Hamilton (1992) to be a â€Å"time characterised by the development of distinctively modern forms of thought about society and the realm of the social.† The Enlightenment encouraged a new way of thinking marked by application of reason, experienceRead MoreHarriet Martineau, The Founding Mother Of Sociology924 Words   |  4 PagesHarriet Martineau, emerged as the founding mother of sociology. Inspired by Auguste Comte’s perspectives on positivism, Martineau advocated the use of scientific method and logic in sociological findings. She brought her sociological thought and studies to the United States and added a feminist voice to the field; calling for suffrage and education, she used applied sociology to advocate for change (Diniejko, 2010). Before Harriet Martineau, sociology was a field dominated by men, but her education andRead MoreProblems Of The And Boundary Work1392 Words   |  6 Pagesthe history and sociology of science formed the central dividing line of the field until late last century (Shapin 1992). However, a contemporary consensus has emerged in science studies that the demarcation problem is essentially irrelevant to the study of science. The demarcation problem has been called a pseudo-problem by those who argue that philosophically there is no reason to believe that it is possible to define necessary and sufficient conditions to separate the scientific from the non-scientificRead MoreSocial Psychology Definition Paper1122 Words   |  5 Pagesthe way we think, influence people, and relates to others. Social psychology lies at psychology’s boundary with sociology, which sociology is the study of people in groups and societies? Social psychology is all about life – your life: your beliefs, your attitudes, your relationships. Definition of Social Psychology Social psychology is a discipline that uses scientific method â€Å"to understand and explain how the thought, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actualRead MoreThree Disciplines1097 Words   |  5 PagesThe Three Disciplines all appeal to me in some ways, but if I had to choose between anthropology, psychology, and sociology, I would have to choose psychology. The reasoning behind it will be explained in detail but it can be broken down to three main reasons; being the first discipline with verified results and facts rather than unproven theories, having more post-high school opportunities considering that I wish to pursue a career in business, and being the most in-depth discipline. PsychologyRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour1633 Words   |  7 Pagesbehaviour (actions) of individuals and groups within organizations and the interaction between organizations and their external environment. It constitutes a behavioural science field of study that borrows its core concepts from other disciplines, principally psychology, sociology, social psychology, anth ropology and political science (Coffey, Cole and Hunsaker, 1996). The Goals of Organizational Behaviour For organizations to be effective (doing the right things) and efficient (doing things right),Read MoreEssay on Control theory, Anomie theory and Strain theory 1444 Words   |  6 Pagesinternally divided disciplines, with politics driving this division. Weber argued that every scholar has a â€Å"party line†. Though many researchers try to avoid letting this party line show through in their research, politics are quite evident it the development of most sociological and criminological theories and often the resulting theory as well (Lipset, 1994). Sociology and with it criminology has long been very political disciplines Cooper, (Walsh and Ellis, 2010). Sociology throughout its earlyRead MorePublic Sociology And Its Normative Commitment1169 Words   |  5 Pages4.1. Public sociology and its normative commitment Concerning Burawoy’s appeal for sociologists to be involved in social change and improvement, Hanemaayer Schneider (2014) asked how and under what circumstances should or should not sociologists advocate for social change? And how do we know what is best for humanity? Noteworthy of Durkheim’s concerns of public sociology is the caution of the discipline being value-ladden in terms of its normative commitments on social issues (Hanemaayer, 2014)

Essay Influence of Cartoons on Children - 1233 Words

There’s an ancient chinese proverb that states â€Å"A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which everyone who passes by leaves an impression† (Great-Quotes.com.) People blindly believe that children are easily influenced by violent cartoons on television. From generation to generation parents are always warned not to allow their kids to watch too much violent cartoons. What kids watch- and not just how much- matters when it comes to television viewing (Rochman.) But just how true is that? Research on the negative influences of cartoons on children is inconclusive and complex. The American Psychological Association believe television violence affects young children negatively after doing many case studies. They believe children can learn†¦show more content†¦You can’t just take a child and place one in a room with a coloring book and the other to watch Dragonball Z to test if they become violent or not (Kalin.) Professor L. Rowell Huessman, author of over many studies on media violence and aggressive behaviors in children, believes there is evidence that exposure to media violence can lead to aggressive behaviour and ideas in viewers. Meanwhile, Dr. Michael Grose, australian parenting expert and psychiatrist, believes being affected by the cartoons depends on the child. â€Å"It prepares them. It actually personifies the unknown to them.† Dr. Grose believes presenting conflict, drama, and pain that’s impersonal will help them understand and confront it. On the other hand, Professor Jonathan Freedman, Department of Psychology in Toronto University, doesn’t believe violent cartoons produces violent children or desensitizes them to violence. In support his research he states that Japanese cartoons are much more violent than american cartoons and the Japanese are generally polite and non-aggressive. Violence or aggressive acts are treated differently in cartoons. Violent images are more likely to be imitated if they go unpunished, show little pain or no suffering, and involve an attractive perpetrator (Frazier.) For example, Road Runner and Coyote in Looney Tune a child knows these cartoons aren’t real.In Looney Tunes, Bugs Bunny would turn around the gun and shoot Elmer Fudd that it was completely fictional. TheShow MoreRelatedInfluences of Cartoons on Children1458 Words   |  6 Pageswritten by Alia Bibi Roshan Zehra (2012), â€Å"Effects of Cartoons on children’s psychology and behavioural patterns†, said that with the limitlessness of media and extension of channels, it has become easier for children to watch their favourite cartoons on a single click and at the same time it has become more convenient for parents to provide children with this all-time favourite activity of theirs. Time which was previously spent by children in outdoor activities is no w replaced, as now they canRead MoreInfluence of Cartoons on Kindergarteners Essay example556 Words   |  3 PagesInfluence Identify a situation where influence has had or could have significant impact. Describe the situation and explain the impact of influence, showing how it could be both a positive and negative force. Suggest ways in which the positive impact of the influence could be expanded and negative impact diminished. Area of influence Cartoons are a popular form of entertainment for Kindergarteners. Cartoons influence the behavior of children as young as one year old. [1]The influence of cartoonsRead MoreImpact of Cartoons on Children766 Words   |  4 PagesImpact of Cartoons on Children Indraprastha College for Women Bachelor in Mass Media and Mass Communication 4th semester 2nd year 2010-11 Anisha Tandon Introduction â€Å"A child s life is like a piece of paper on which everyone who passes by leaves an impression.† - Chinese Proverb Children are often considered to be the closest reflection of the omnipotent creator of the world. Innocence and purity personified, they are unmarred by the corrupt thoughts and practices. They resembleRead MoreViolence in Cartoons Essay724 Words   |  3 PagesViolence in Cartoons In my opinion, there is an extreme amount of violence portrayed in cartoons. As a result, cartoons have been transformed into a fast expanding epidemic that is damaging to the audience of cartoon viewers throughout the country, and possibly around the world. Not only are cartoons physically violent, they are emotionally, mentally, socially, legally, and culturally attacking at human society of the past, present and future. During my extensive research, things that wereRead MoreEssay about Impact of Cartoons on Childrens Behavior1515 Words   |  7 PagesImpact of Cartoons on Childrens Behavior      Ã‚     Television programs that are targeted towards children, such as cartoons, can affect children in both positive and negative ways. I examined a variety of cartoons on both commercial and public television to observe the content of childrens programming and determine the effects, both positive and negative, that programs have on children. The cartoons contain a wide variety of subject matters that can influence children in many different ways.Read MoreEssay on cartoon violence779 Words   |  4 Pages Animation Violence nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Children from the ages 6-11 spend more time watching television than they do in the classroom. The â€Å"renaissance of TV animation† has undoubtedly led to more violent cartoons then ever before. But to talk about cartoon violence, it must first be defined. Webster’s Dictionary defines violence â€Å"as the act (or threat) of injuring or killing someone.† (Webster) And although the violence is not real, a child does not know the difference. Throughout theRead MoreEssay Catoon Violence1043 Words   |  5 Pages Cartoon Violence nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the cartoon, All Dogs Go to Heaven, the main character, a dog, dies. When he arrives in heaven, he receives a watch that allows him to return to earth. After viewing this scene, Matthew, a five-year old boy, asked his mother when his dog would get her watch. Matthews dog passed away over a year ago, but because Matthew, as well as other children, is unable to separate real life from fiction; he believed that his dog would receive a watch andRead MoreGender Socialization And Gender Roles1452 Words   |  6 Pages As we grow, we learn how to behave and respect from those surrounding us as well as children learn at a young age what it means to be a boy or a girl in our society . there are certain roles placed on boys and girls in accordance with their gender. These gender roles are set on children from birth and are taught until eventually they are accepted as adults. In this socialization gender role process , children are introduced to certain roles that are typically attached to their biological sex. SocializationRead MoreEssay on violence in tv551 Words   |  3 PagesViolence in our Children’s Cartoons How Does Television Violence Affect Children’s Behavior Does television promote violence and crime among children? Although most people look at television as an entertaining and educational way to spend time, some people think there is too much violence in television and that is influencing our young into becoming aggressive in nature and to tolerate violence. Cartoons are the most violent programs on television (Johnson, 1999). Mostly all cartoons have consent fightingRead MoreCartoons and Children693 Words   |  3 PagesAim- To understand the effect of cartoon viewing on children aged 6-11 years old- Introduction – When we are born we have the capacity for motivation, experience, and training and because of this our minds are very impressionable. Therefore our brain’s development is a dynamic mix of nature and nurture, so it is important to choose a healthy environment for all children. Children ranging from the age of six months to about twelve years of age go through various stages of emotional and physical

Role to Play on Modern Society

Question: Discuss about the Role to Play on Modern Society. Answer: Introduction Yes, religion does still have a role to play in the modern society. The religion can include the tradition and the culture in the modern societies. Moreover, there are other aspect that are related to religion such as morality, belief and faith are significant (East, 2013). It is also important to clearly note that religion can give meaning and purpose to all of the human culture. On the other hand, it is also to note that it may be difficult to understand between the different religions. In the modern societies, there are a large number of individuals that have different religions; therefore, it may become to understand all these religions. Further, people may visit to different countries, in those countries there may be new culture, new people, language, religion, and to understand these may be difficult. Relationship that exists between religion and the tradition and culture Tradition is something, which is in practice without any reference to the books of conduct and any other domain of life. Religion entails the intrinsic constitutional characteristics of something. Tradition thus can be understood as a set of practices without many references of the scriptures, where the concept of religion is all about practices that are mentioned on the scriptures (Edles, 2016). On the aspect of culture, religion is part of it. The culture is the shared values of the knowledge, the beliefs, thoughts, customers and other things, which are common between the members of a given society. The modern society as well as the culture are unsightly collectively by the codes of the behaviour, and even by the tacit contracts to reside together in attunement. According to the research that has been done by Malik, it clearly explores on how the religion play in the civil society (Hofstee and van der Kooij, 2013). He further explained that some of the cultures have identified them -selves by their religion, for instance, their religion was typically the Center that kept the cultures collectively. Religion offers transcendental meaning as well as purpose as well as an aim to aspire to while life is complete (Stolz, Purdie, Krggeler, Englberger and Knemann, 2016). Most of the cultures possess bound themselves collectively in a common to ensure that almost all might attain the objective of life in common , by offering those of the social structures that bind religion and man . It frequently provides the code of behavior for the modern society along with the culture, for instance the 10 Commandments (Johnstone, 2015).In all of the religions, they have value and these values are the guides to the behavior, such as doing good or bad. Role of religion on the meaning and purpose Religion has influenced on all the aspect of the human culture both positively and negatively. Religion can be among one among the many channels to help someone in gaining a sense of life meaning. According to research by Victor Frank; the crucial thing for the individuals to survive and strive in life is the development of a personal sense of purpose and a meaning (Misztal, 2013). The purpose and meaning of life lies within the individuals themselves and there are many paths of achieving them. One way to achieve this is helping others to remember on the joy, sorrows, and sacrifice and thus bring on mind the meaningfulness of their lives as they already lived. Further to this a research by (Laura 2016, p.101) highlights that religion greatly contribute on the contemporary society in which people understand. Religion tend to promote hope as well as a positive outlook. Study in psychology suggests that the positive attitude are great for health of people, an example of this is when som eone is optimistic about the chances of recovery from a major disease tend to be better and adhere to the medical treatment plans. Religion has also been found to encourage on charity and altruism (Johnstone, 2015). Many of the religious teachings have explained on the significance of giving up on one time and money to those who are less fortunate in the society. Consequently, this has been seen over the last few hundred years as majority of the charity work was usually coordinated and performed exclusively through the institution of religion. Religions has also brought some misunderstanding in different religions. One of misunderstanding of religion is claim of science. The relationship of spirituality and science continues to be a topic of discussion science the classical antiquity study that was addressed by different theologians, and scientists (MacLean, 2015). On aspect of science it acknowledges on reason, empiricism, and evidence, while on the aspect of culture it incorporate proclamation , faith as well as sacredness while recognizing of the metaphysical rationales in relation to the research of the universe. Both science and religion is a complex social and cultural endeavor, which may vary across cultures and have changed over period. There may also be misunderstanding of religions when an individual visits a new country. In a foreign land there may be various barriers like difficult in communication, especially the language of expression is different. Further, there may be aspect of different experiences. Individuals may have different experiences especially when it comes in doing things (Pollack and Olson, 2012). One may be used to doing things on a given perspective, which may be different to another person in another country. Another concept is that of self-awareness. In religion, individuals have their own awareness or understanding on the various religion. What you are aware may be different from another person. Conclusion The role of religion gives meaning and purpose to the modern society. It has impacted on almost all the aspect of the human culture in both positive and in the negative ways. For many societies, religion can be understood best at every level of spiritual life. Religion is significant for the traditional and culture in the modern society and it essentially control individuals on the way they do things in their life. Nonetheless it is also important to note that religion may be misunderstood especially when an individual goes to another country, there may be issues of language barrier, different religions in that country, and different experiences that are different from those seen in their country. Therefore, it has been clearly noted that religion does play a role in the modern society and it is a significant component in all the human culture. References Ammerman, N.T. ed., 2006. Everyday religion: Observing modern religious lives. Oxford University Press. Cadge, W., 2012. Religion and Modern Society: Citizenship, Secularisation and the State. Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 41(3), pp.371-372. East, M., 2013. Religion beyond its Private Role in Modern Society. Edles, L.D., 2016. Sociology of Religion and Beliefs. The SAGE Handbook of Cultural Sociology, p.357. Hofstee, W. and van der Kooij, A. eds., 2013. Religion beyond its private role in modern society. Brill. Johnstone, R.L., 2015. Religion in society: A sociology of religion. Routledge. Pollack, D. and Olson, D.V. eds., 2012. The role of religion in modern societies. Routledge. MacLean, S., 2015. Book Review: Religion and Modern Society: Citizenship, Secularisation and the State. Studies in Religion/Sciences Religieuses, 44(1), pp.124-126. Misztal, B., 2013. Trust in modern societies: The search for the bases of social order. John Wiley Sons. Stolz, J., Purdie, M.S., Krggeler, M., Englberger, M.T. and Knemann, J., 2016. (Un) Believing in Modern Society: Religion, Spirituality, and Religious-Secular Competition. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.

Segmented Essays free essay sample

Like musical compositions, nonfiction need not to be one uninterrupted melody, one movement, but can also be the arrangement of distinct and discrete miniatures, changes of temp, sonority, melody, separated by silences. Think of a triptych like Hieronymus Bosch’s three-part masterpiece, The Garden of Earthly Delights, with its large central section displaying â€Å"The World before Noah,† one side panel depicting â€Å"The Marriage of Adam and Eve,† the other depicting â€Å"Hell. Like a polyptych painting, nonfiction need not be one self-contained and harmonious picture but can also be an arrangement of separate images, a retable or reredos of scenes and portraits collectively viewed but separated by borders and frames. The spaces in a segmented essay are like the silences between songs on a recording, the use of emptiness in a photographs to highlight or foreground images, the time lapse between two hyperlinks on a website, the time it takes to shift focus fro m one facet of a multifaceted object to another, the breaks between poems in a sonnet sequence. We will write a custom essay sample on Segmented Essays or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page We learn what we learn, we know what we know, we experience what we live in segments and sections, fragments, moments, movements, periods, disjunctions, and juxtapositions. The inventions and manipulations of character and plot that are the hallmark of the novelist’s creativity are the barriers of the nonfictionist’s psychology; the willingness to settle for the fictionist’s â€Å"higher truth through fabrication† negates the nonfictionist’s chances of even visiting the vicinity of the kind of earthbound and actual truth that is nonfiction’s special province. This is what the spaces say: arrange the viewing of the panels so that you see their relationships in the juxtapositions rather than in a unified unbroken whole; linger your thoughts on the melody just ended before you hear the one about to begin; expect to know whatever this essay is about in the same way you know anything else, in fragments of certainty and segments of supposition, surrounded by gaps in your knowledge and borders of uncertainty.

Self-Efficacy Example

Self Self Self-efficacy Introduction Mr. John Stewart is a high school teacher at a local high school. He is a teacher and a head of adepartment in the school. His duties include teaching, setting examinations, marking both books and exam papers and preparing student reports. As a head of a department, he cares for many school resources including books. Additionally, he offers guidance and counselling to his students besides disciplining unruly students. His job is challenging. He must, therefore, possess the appropriate attitude to succeed.Mr. Stewart has a strong self-efficacy. He believes in himself and strives to remain professional. His has ten years of experience and has the professional training. He, therefore, believes that he is a good and experienced teacher. He handles his responsibilities both as a class teacher and as a head of a department effectively a feature that does not only portray his ability but also shows his high self-esteem. The school appreciates his efforts. As such, the school has employed a number of appropriate strategies to motivate him thereby enhancing the growth of his self-efficacy. His promotion to the head of a department was one such strategy. The additional responsibilities proved that the school trusted his abilities. He, therefore, strives to deliver effectively since he believes that he is capable to (Randhawa, 2007).Despite such, the school can employ modern trends in developing greater self-efficacy in Mr. Stewart to improve his productivity. Such trends include sponsoring his subsequent professional training in the form of seminars and workshops, improving his pay and promoting him to administrative positions (Bandura, 1998). Through such, Mr. Stewart would embrace the new responsibilities and enjoy the favors a feature that would encourage him to work harder than he currently does (Karami & Maimunah, 2013).ReferencesBandura, A. (1998).  Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: Freeman.Randhawa, G. (2007).  Ed ucation and human resource management. New Delhi: A P H Pub. Corp.Karami, R., & Maimunah, I. (2013).  Achievement motivation in the leadership role of extension agents. Newcastle : Cambridge Scholars.

The Archaeology and History of Bitumen

The Archaeology and History of Bitumen Bitumen- also known as asphaltum or tar- is a black, oily, viscous form of petroleum, a naturally-occurring organic byproduct of decomposed plants. It is waterproof and flammable, and this remarkable natural substance has been used by humans for a wide variety of tasks and tools for at least the past 40,000 years. There are a number of processed types of bitumen used in the modern world, designed for paving streets and roofing houses, as well as additives to diesel or other gas oils. The pronunciation of bitumen is BICH-eh-men in British English and by-TOO-men in North America. What Bitumen Is Natural bitumen is the thickest form of petroleum there is, made up of 83% carbon, 10% hydrogen and lesser amounts of oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and other elements. It is a natural polymer of low molecular weight with a remarkable ability to change with temperature variations: at lower temperatures, it is rigid and brittle, at room temperature it is flexible, at higher temperatures bitumen flows. Bitumen deposits occur naturally throughout the worldthe best known are Trinidads Pitch Lake and the La Brea Tar Pit in California, but significant deposits are found in the Dead Sea, Venezuela, Switzerland, and northeastern Alberta, Canada. The chemical composition and consistency of these deposits vary significantly. In some places, bitumen extrudes naturally from terrestrial sources, in others it appears in liquid pools which can harden into mounds, and in still others it oozes from underwater seeps, washing up as tarballs along sandy beaches and rocky shorelines. Uses and Processing In ancient times, bitumen was used for a huge number of things: as a sealant or adhesive, as building mortar, as incense, and as decorative pigment and texture on pots, buildings or human skin. The material was also useful in waterproofing canoes and other water transport, and in the mummification process toward the end of the New Kingdom of ancient Egypt. The method of processing bitumen was nearly universal: heat it until the gasses condense and it melts, then add tempering materials to tweak the recipe to the proper consistency. Adding minerals such as ochre makes bitumen thicker; grasses and other vegetable matter add stability; waxy/oily elements such as pine resin or beeswax make it more viscous. Processed bitumen was more expensive as a trade item than unprocessed, because of the cost of the fuel consumption. The earliest known use of bitumen was by Middle Paleolithic Neanderthals some 40,000 years ago. At Neanderthal sites such as Gura Cheii Cave (Romania) and Hummal and Umm El Tlel in Syria, bitumen was found adhering to stone tools, probably to fasten a wooden or ivory haft to the sharp-edged tools. In Mesopotamia, during the late Uruk and Chalcolithic periods at sites such as Hacinebi Tepe in Syria, bitumen was used for the construction of buildings and water-proofing of reed boats, with among other uses. Evidence of Uruk Expansionist Trade Research into bitumen sources has illuminated the history of the expansionist period of Mesopotamian Uruk. An intercontinental trading system was established by Mesopotamia during the Uruk period (3600-3100 BC), with the creation of trading colonies in what is today southeastern Turkey, Syria, and Iran. According to seals and other evidence, the trade network involved textiles from southern Mesopotamia and copper, stone, and timber from Anatolia, but the presence of sourced bitumen has enabled scholars to map out the trade. For example, much of the bitumen in Bronze age Syrian sites has been found to have originated from the Hit seepage on the Euphrates River in southern Iraq. Using historical references and geological survey, scholars have identified several sources of bitumen in Mesopotamia and the Near East. By performing analyses using a number of different spectroscopy, spectrometry, and elemental analytical techniques, these scholars have defined the chemical signatures for many of the seeps and deposits. Chemical analysis of archaeological samples has been somewhat successful in identifying the provenance of the artifacts. Bitumen and Reed Boats Schwartz and colleagues (2016) suggest that the onset of bitumen as a trade good began first because it was used as waterproofing on the reed boats that were used to ferry people and goods across the Euphrates. By the Ubaid period of the early 4th millennium BC, bitumen from northern Mesopotamian sources reached the Persian Gulf. The earliest reed boat discovered to date was coated with bitumen, at the site of H3 at As-Sabiyah in Kuwait, dated about 5000 BC; its bitumen was found to have come from the Ubaid site of Mesopotamia. Asphaltum samples from the slightly later site of Dosariyah in Saudi Arabia, were from bitumen seepages in Iraq, part of the wider Mesopotamian trade networks of Ubaid Period 3. The Bronze Age Mummies of Egypt The use of bitumen in embalming techniques on Egyptian mummies was important beginning at the end of the New Kingdom (after 1100 BC)in fact, the word from which mummy is derived mumiyyah means bitumen in Arabic. Bitumen was a major constituent for Third Intermediate period and Roman period Egyptian embalming techniques, in addition to traditional blends of pine resins, animal fats, and beeswax. Several Roman writers such as Diodorus Siculus (first century BC) and Pliny (first century AD) mention bitumen as being sold to Egyptians for embalming processes. Until advanced chemical analysis was available, black balms used throughout the Egyptian dynasties were assumed to have been treated with bitumen, mixed with fat/oil, beeswax, and resin. However, in a recent study Clark and colleagues (2016) found that none of the balms on mummies created prior to the New Kingdom contained bitumen, but the custom began in the Third Intermediate (ca 1064-525 BC) and Late (ca 525-332 BC) periods and became most prevalent after 332, during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. Bitumen trade in Mesopotamia continued well after the end of the Bronze Age. Russian archaeologists recently discovered a Greek amphora full of bitumen on the Taman peninsula on the northern shore of the Black Sea. Several samples including numerous large jars and other objects were recovered from the Roman-era port of Dibba in the United Arab Emirates, containing or treated with bitumen from the Hit seepage in Iraq or other unidentified Iranian sources. Mesoamerica and Sutton Hoo Recent studies in pre-Classic and post-classic period Mesoamerica have found bitumen was used to stain human remains, perhaps as a ritual pigment. But more likely, say researchers Argez and associates, the staining may have resulted from using heated bitumen applied to stone tools which were used to dismember those bodies. Fragments of shiny black lumps of bitumen were found scattered throughout the 7th-century ship burial at Sutton Hoo, England, in particular within the burial deposits near remains of a helmet. When excavated and first analyzed in 1939, the pieces were interpreted as Stockholm tar, a substance creating by burning pine wood, but recent reanalysis (Burger and colleagues 2016) has identified the shards as bitumen having come from a Dead Sea source: very rare but clear evidence of a continuing trade network between Europe and the Mediterranean during the early Medieval period. Chumash of California In Californias Channel Islands, the prehistoric period Chumash used bitumen as body paint during curing, mourning and burial ceremonies. They also used it to attach shell beads onto objects such as mortars and pestles and steatite pipes, and they used it for hafting projectile points to shafts and fishhooks to cordage. Asphaltum was also used for waterproofing basketry and caulking sea-going canoes. The earliest identified bitumen in the Channel Islands so far is in deposits dated between 10,000-7,000 cal BP at Cave of the Chimneys on San Miguel island. The presence of bitumen increases during the Middle Holocene (7000-3500 cal BP and basketry impressions and clusters of tarred pebbles show up as early as 5,000 years ago. The fluorescence of bitumen may be associated with the invention of the plank canoe (tomol) in the late Holocene (3500-200 cal BP). Native Californians traded asphaltum in liquid form and hand-shaped pads wrapped in grass and rabbit skin to keep it from sticking together. Terrestrial seeps were believed to produce a better quality adhesive and caulking for the tomol canoe, while tarballs were considered inferior. Sources Argez C, Batta E, Mansilla J, Pijoan C, and Bosch P. 2011. The origin of black pigmentation in a sample of Mexican prehispanic human bones. Journal of Archaeological Science 38(11):2979-2988.Brown KM. 2016. Asphaltum (bitumen) production in everyday life on the California Channel Islands. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 41:74-87.Brown KM, Connan J, Poister NW, Vellanoweth RL, Zumberge J, and Engel MH. 2014. Sourcing archaeological asphaltum (bitumen) from the California Channel Islands to submarine seeps. Journal of Archaeological Science 43:66-76.Burger P, Stacey RJ, Bowden SA, Hacke M, and Parnell J. 2016. Identification, Geochemical Characterisation and Significance of Bitumen among the Grave Goods of the 7th Century Mound 1 Ship-Burial at Sutton Hoo (Suffolk, UK). PLoS ONE 11(12):e0166276.Cà ¢rciumaru M, Ion R-M, Nitu E-C, and Stefanescu R. 2012. New evidence of adhesive as hafting material on Middle and Upper Palaeolithic artefacts from Gura Cheii-Rà ¢snov Cave (Romania ). Journal of Archaeological Science 39(7):1942-1950. Clark KA, Ikram S, and Evershed RP. 2016. The significance of petroleum bitumen in ancient Egyptian mummies. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 374(2079).El Diasty WS, Mostafa AR, El Beialy SY, El Adl HA, and Edwards KJ. 2015. Organic geochemical characteristics of the Upper Cretaceous–Early Paleogene source rock and correlation with some Egyptian mummy bitumen and oil from the southern Gulf of Suez, Egypt. 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Current Event Paper Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 18

Current Event Paper - Assignment Example Rousek, 2014, reported high Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) in Czech Republic and Hungary. The PMI is the broad indicator of manufacturing sector health, adding up new orders, inventory sizes, recruitment levels, and supplier deliveries. A PMI reading of figures above 50 is an indicator of expansion in manufacturing. A figure below 50, on contrary, indicates contraction in manufacturing level. Agata, HSBC economist noted in the article that a marginal increase in PMI occurred between the months of September and July, a faint positive sign. He added on that new export orders declined only moderately. Poland recorded a PMI of 49.5, and a figure noted to be slightly below average and standard mark. An increase in manufacturing activities in Czech Republic and Hungary as reported by Rousek, 2014, prompts companies to expand their inventory management. Inventory management entails coordination and supervision of adequate goods to suit current production level in the company. In the article, Rousek, 2014, addresses PMI increase in production in Czech Republic and Hungary. PMI is an indicator of inventory sizes. An increase in inventory sizes among manufacturing companies is a critical indicator of the necessity to enhance efficiency in companies’ inventory departments. Rousek, L. (October 1, 2014). Factory Output Varies in Central Europe with Czech, Hungary Going Strong, Poland Stalling. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2014 from,