...aware of how the continent of Africa has arrived at this present time in history. From the beginning chapters about geography and historical context all the way to the final chapter on the trends and prospects for Africa, there are a few conclusions that students can soundly arrive at. As far back as scholars have researched, a range of different cultures have come into contact with Africa including European and Islamic cultures. A lot of the interaction has been forced upon the continent, and has been accompanied by violence, physical and otherwise. However, it is clear that the different cultures of people who have passed through and continue to reside on the continent has had effects, both positive and negative, on various aspects of the continent. Ali Mazrui is a Kenyan academic and political writer whose book The Africans: A Triple Heritage, which is actually a reader supplement to a PBS telecourse, covers this topic. Ali Mazrui’s argument that “modern” African politics, culture, and societies are a product of an Islamic, European, and indigenous African triple heritage is an accurate portrayal of the continent which African people should derive strength from, focusing on the positive aspects of each, in order to reach the transcontinental stability Africa envisions for herself. Chapter four “African Politics” of Understanding Contemporary Africa written by Donald L. Gordon is a valuable source that speaks to the politics of contemporary Africa and how they have...
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...Europe in Turmoil: Foreign Influences on Tenth Century Europe The Viking and Hungarian invasions across the European continent during the Ninth and Tenth centuries left a dramatic impact upon the continent. These two separate cultures would rampage across large swaths of Europe, bringing with them a wave of terror and fear. Their actions are now things of legend, but their military triumphs exist within the historical sphere as well. The purpose of this paper is three-fold: first, we will examine why these invasions were so damaging to Europe, second we will determine which one was ultimately more destructive, and third we will discuss how these invasions effected Christianity and spiritualism across the European continent. The Vikings hailed from the modern day Scandinavian countries of northern Europe, and their tireless efforts to pursue land and wealth by sea and land would take them on journeys from the Newfoundland coast to almost every major area of the European continent. Although the Viking presence in the British Isles is well documented, perhaps their ferocity and influence can best be seen with their encounters with the Franks. The Franks, who inhabit modern day France, would defend against almost constant Viking attacks by sea and land through most of the ninth century. An example of Viking influence in France still remains today. The Viking leader Rollo was made an offer by the Frankish King in 896; if he converted to Christianity and protected the Franks...
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...beliefs. Religion is the biggest factor that will cause division and it is already proven between Christianity and Islam. From the ancient times until this very day religion and our beliefs is the cause of war, because we fight for what we believe. Rise of civilization against the other started in the ancient times. And until today, the conflict continues. It will never be solved because we have differences and those differences are what make us unique as a person and as a nation. You may hate someone because of the type of civilization, and you may also like someone because of it. Civilization is the identity of a nation. The Next Pattern of Conflict The source of conflict is not merely ideological or economical, cultural tradition is the greatest reason for division in our world. The western countries had conflicts between princes, their armies, even constitutional is because of their economic stand and the land that they ruled. During the ancient times, the Americans fought for their land because of the British Empire that wants to colonize their land. The Founding Fathers stood against them and later on made a move to make a constitution for their protection. The western civil war is not because of their religion but because of the borders that they can conquer, they want to own more territories for power. The conflict was set because of the difference in our culture, style, and way of living....
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...religious beliefs and embraces the interests, needs, and welfare of humans. Petrarch adopted this humanistic viewpoint during his climb of Mont Ventoux. At the top of this mountain he declares, “…angry with myself that I should still be admiring earthly things who might long ago have learned from even the pagan philosophers that nothing is wonderful but the soul…” (Kallendorf, The Historical Petrarch). This event, coupled with his survival of the historical Bubonic Plague and the sudden, tragic death of Laura (his un-met lover), inspired him to write The Canzoniere, which is a collection of over 300 poems. The central theme of The Canzoniere is Petrarch’s love for Laura, a woman he allegedly met in the Church of Saint Claire. Not only did his interaction with this woman result in the production of more than 300 sonnets, but his love for this woman coined the term “Petrarchan Love,” which means an unattainable love. Although Petrarch was unaware of it at the time, the Sonnets he created in memory of Laura...
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...Everybody has heard and knows from the earliest human history that the people who populated this earth five-thousand years ago happened during the Bantu migration; now moving forward to more current times of African people displaced by political oppressions, famine, economic factors, and conflicts. The slave trade encompassed four continents: Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. When slaves were forced to North America had not only brought people but different cultures within North America, too. Aside from African’s forced to North America, to understand cultural syncretism, one must take into account Asia and the Indian Ocean that took place a couple of hundred years earlier. The coerced labor from 1500 (Asia and the Indian Ocean) was an earlier account of cultural syncretism but Europeans found it more difficult to mingle two different beliefs into one. Over-time the different cultures in North America would not be so much forced syncretism, but would rather create a melting pot of beliefs (Lindenfield, 2008). Cultural Mergence Looking at the two different worlds that were oceans apart in some aspects may have been only miles apart. Thinking of what causes two different cultures to merge is usually simply religion. When settlers found the New World, had settled it in the image of Christianity. Everybody who lived on the New World’s land was expected to take in the ideology of Christianity, just like the Pilgrims did to the Native Americans (Lindenfield, 2008). Fast-forwarding...
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...Unit 7 The Spread of Religions Section 1 Unit Materials Questions To Consider Question 1. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the world, and why are they practiced so far from their origins? Question 2. How did these three major world religions change and adapt to diverse cultural circumstances? Question 3. Why did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam emerge when and where they did? Question 4. How did Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam interact with, provide justification for, and conflict with various states and empires in Afro-Eurasia? The Big Picture How is this topic related to Increasing Integration? As Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across the borders and frontiers of Afro-Eurasia, they integrated diverse peoples by means of a common religion. How is this topic related to Proliferating Difference? The spread of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam introduced new beliefs and practices to a wide variety of peoples. These beliefs and practices were often quite different from indigenous religions. In addition, indigenous beliefs and practices often changed the new religions as they adapted to local conditions. These changes frequently resulted in the development of different sects within the new religions. Unit Purpose ß Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam spread across borders and frontiers as a result of missionaries, pilgrims, and trade. Each of these three major world religions changed over time, and all served as elements of change in the societies...
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...contents Introduction…………………………………………………..3 African Traditional Religion……………………………….5 Christianity, Islam…………………………………………..6 Influences of Religion on African Culture……………….6 Conclusion……………………………………………………13 References…………………………………………………...14 Introduction Africa is a continent of diversity. In this diversity there are hundreds of tribes and communities each practicing its own culture and religion. It would be very difficult to define Africa’s traditional religion as it would be difficult to define its culture. More so, it is extremely difficult to establish the dividing line between African Culture and African Religion. However, as much as there were many African Traditional Religions, their similarities were more dominant than their differences. We take up these similarities and encompass them as one African Traditional Religion. In this report, we explore the important aspects of Africa’s Traditional Religions and cultures that cut across the entire continent. This essay is based on various researches done by prominent scholars, historical background of Africa, news and books relevant to African studies. This report attempts to define religion, culture, and explores the major religions, African Traditional Religion (ATR), Christianity and Islam and their influence and impact on African culture. Africa is one of the World’s six continents. It is the second largest and second most populous continent...
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...Migration of Cultures Tracey Percifield, Penny Rogers, Cheryl Halford, Nate Conley and Amber Wirth American Intercontinental University Abstract In knowing how people of the past decades lived we must examine the past and study many things they left behind. By understanding how they lived and what impact they had as they migrated to the New World, it is then we understand how they lived and understand what the environment was like. Looking at the impact that immigrants had and brought to the New World we see what cultures and food dishes they brought to our civilization. The Migration of Cultures By 1830 the United States consisted of 2.3 million out of 12.8 million were of African descent and upon them settling after being brought here from Africa they brought many traditions and impacted the culture today. When they came to the United States they brought scientific and technological systems from the West and Central Africa as well as many food dishes such as; gumbo and rice, millet, sorghum, watermelon and black-eyed peas. They also brought tradition with them regarding funerals, celebration festivals, arts, music, dugout canoes, the banjo and language which also had an effect on the European culture as well and this is known as Africanism (Nps.gov, n.d.). Africanism is directly related to African American and Creolization which asks the question when you stop and give to the American or European culture. They point out that the African culture has direct...
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...waterway on which to traffic their goods.Greek culture and civilization, which came to Rome from Greek colonies to the south, provided the early Romans with way to build their own culture. From the Greeks they borrowed literacy and religion as well as the fundamentals of architecture. The Etruscans, to the north, provided a place for trade. Etruria was also well set for trade and the early Romans learned the skills of trade from by the Etruscans who were in the area around Rome. Early on, the Romans showed a talent for borrowing and improving upon the skills and concepts of other cultures. The Kingdom of Rome grew rapidly from a trading town to a prosperous city between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. The ruling class in Rome called themselves Optimates or “the best men” while the lower classes, were known as the Populares or “the people”. In general, the Optimates held with traditional political and social values which favored the power of the Senate of Rome and the superiority of the ruling class. The Populares, favored reform and democratic side of the Roman Republic. Early forms of the Roman religion believed that spirits were in everything around them, even people included. The first citizens of Rome also believed they were watched over by the spirits of their ancestors before them. Because of the Greek colonies, the Romans adopted many of the Greek gods as their own. Religion and myth merged and became one. Under Greek influence, the Roman gods became more human, with characteristics...
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...CHHI-301-D10 LUO FALL2013 PAPER 2 The Rise of the Papacy INTRO In the void left by the collapse of the Roman Empire, the bishop of Rome grew even more in both power and prestige beginning in the sixth century and continuing to the reformation in the ninth century. It is the aim of this paper to explain how and why the papacy in Rome became the center of power of the medieval world, the factors contributing to this dominance over Western Europe, and the positive and negative ramifications of the position becoming so powerful. Through this paper you will discover how papacy was able to fill the vacuum of power left by the fall of an empire. THE HOW AND WHY When the Roman Empire fell services that it previously provided were left untended. Additionally the political structures and authority of the government were left in ruins. This created a massive void in the culture of the empire. While the government collapsed, the Church survived and even thrived, remaining strong throughout the known world, but especially in Rome. Services previously provided by the government were now being delivered at the hands of the Church under the direction of the Bishop of Rome, which would become the position of Pope. Society turned to the Church for education, monasteries took in war-orphans, and peace and mercy were encouraged in matters involving the former empire and its conquerors. While the Roman Empire was falling, the Church was rising and society churned on both...
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...BA (Hons) History, in the Department of History and Economic History, Manchester Metropolitan University”, 29 March 2014 Cultural Changes and the Growth of Christianity in Medieval and Early Modern England By Janine Scambler I certify that, apart from the guidance provided by my supervisor and the references cited in the text and bibliography, this dissertation is the sole work of Janine Scambler and has not been previously submitted as part of the assessment requirements for any academic reward. Signed: Contents Abstract 3 Introduction 4 Chapter 1: Visual Culture 8 Chapter 2: Ancient Practices 21 Chapter 3: Beliefs and Superstition 30 Conclusion 41 Bibliography 43 Appendix 56 Abstract This dissertation will demonstrate cultural changes in England through the period c.700-1660. The changes studied will focus on visual sources, or visual culture; ancient practices, or festivals and the cult of saints; and superstition and belief. It will show how changes occurred around political and religious change, and that different areas were affected by different factors. Introduction This dissertation will assess the extent to which ancient beliefs and practices survived the introduction of Christianity and their subsequent development in England. This will be achieved through the study of visual culture; the survival of ancient practices; and an investigation into superstition and the changing acceptance of witchcraft. Visual Culture will be...
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...Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity Many countries form ideas and rules based on religion that is practiced as a whole by the society of that country. In addition religion continues to affect rules and ideas that is promoted by various cultures. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity are some of the most popular religions that are used throughout the world. Arabs has made Islamists powerful in Countries like Tunisia, Egypt and Morocco. Religious institutions are a public significance more so now than before. “In the Muslim political imaginary, the khulafa’ al-rashidun represent an idealized moment in history, that of the first four caliphs, the rightly-guided, who came after the prophet Muhammad: Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, Umar Ibn al-Khattab, Uthman Ibn Affan, and Ali Ibn Abi Talib. The period from the death of the prophet in 632 to that of Ali in 661 marks a golden era after which political history is conceived as having degenerated. However, Umar Ibn Abd al-Aziz (717-720) from the Umayyad dynasty is often seen as part of the rightly-guided Caliphs and defines what is often dubbed the “5th caliphate”. He exemplifies the possibility of being a pious and just ruler in times of corruption.” (Zeghal, 2012) The above reference was used by Jebali and was taken out of Islamic past to state about political renewal within an Islamic saying. Representatives of al-Nahda insisted that the reference was symbolic, and did not question al-Nahdha’s commitment to...
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...Contrast Between Catholic and Baptist Religion - Ask most people today if they have heard of Baptist and Catholic religion and most would say yes. In many ways the two are very similar. For instance, both are based on the Christian faith, belief in the trinity, and that God is the one true God. The two religions agree that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to atone for our sins. They share a 27 book New Testament and insist that salvation comes from Christ alone. On the other hand, while the Baptist and Catholic religions do have similarities, they also have differences, such as their services, communion, and views regarding salvation. The Catholic Religion - The world has more than one billion Catholics and with the ever growing population, it will only get larger in number. To be a Catholic means to have complete faith in God and his divine grace. Having God's divine grace means to obey it and keep it holy as it was created by God and given to his people. The religion itself is based on this and the people take it very seriously. Catholics believe that all people are of good nature but when one commits a sin it not only hurts that one person but the people and the Church.... [tags: Catholicism, What Catholics Believe, informative] 1922 words (5.5 pages) $14.95 [preview] Catholic religion - CATHOLIC RELIGION To belong to the church one must accept as factually true the gospel of Jesus as handed down in tradition and as interpreted by the bishops in union with the pope...
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...John Newton An additional key figure of the Great European and American Awakening was John Newton, who will forever be remembered for his memorable hymn “Amazing Grace.” “Amazing Grace” is beloved well into the 21st century by Christians and non-Christians alike, and could be considered to be one of the most widely-known and widely-sung hymns of all time. Newton was a slave-trader during this time more than one hundred years before the Civil War and the eventual emancipation of slaves in the United States. John Newton was heavily influence by evangelist Josiah Smith, who preached the Gospel in the southern United States of America. John Newton visited Charleston, South Carolina where he met Smith and described meeting “a dissenting minister,...
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...Help spread the religion Christianity is one of the world’s largest and oldest religions. It has a very diverse history and has gone through many stages to get to where it is today. As of 2010, a comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries found that there are approximately 2.18 billion followers of the Christian faith, of all ages around the world, representing nearly a third of the estimated 2010 global population of 6.9 billion. That is vast. So, how did the religion survive pressure, from both Judaism and Islam, and go on to become the leading religion in the world? Christianity’s history is immense to say the least. This Abrahamic religion originates from the life, teachings, and death of Jesus of Nazareth, also known as the Christ, in the 1st century AD. His stories and history can be found in the Holy Bible and more specifically the gospel via the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Christianity as a whole acknowledges that humanity is flawed and needs a savior. According to Christians, Jesus Christ is that savior. It is written in the Holy Bible, in the book of John, Chapter 3, verses 16–18: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This belief in Jesus’ divinity helps followers to embrace the doctrine of original sin and directs its followers on how to repent for committed sins. Initially, the Christianity cause was an underground one. The religion was...
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