...The Last Emperor: Truth and Misleading In 1987, a film came into theaters across the globe about China’s last emperor. The Last Emperor, directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, shows the life of Pu-Yi from when he enters the Forbidden City at age three to become emperor of China, to his final days as a reformed man. The film, although it showed how China was during the Qing Dynasty in a fairly honest light, also had its downfalls. Many problems plagues the last years of the Qing Dynasty, such as the Republic Revolutions, opium, warlords, and the confusing relationship with Japan and it’s government during this time. These issues were either not touched on or barely noticeable during the almost three hour long film. The story of Pu Yi, China’s last emperor, starts with him being taken to the Forbidden City at the age of three. The Dowager Empress “arranged once more for a boy emperor.” (Morton, 174) Pu Yi would not stay emperor long, as he would lose that title in 1912 because of the Republican Revolution. Formed by Sun Yat-Sen, it was a revolution against imperial rule. This revolution was also largely a military revolt and the beginnings of a fast changing government. In the film this Revolution seemed to hardly happen. Although the young emperor was being protected from the outside world, it would have made the film more historically clear if this event was explained more in depth. As an important event during that was part of Pu Yi’s loss of power, the Republic Revolution should...
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...town square and was crying. She had been taken from her mother and watched two men nail her mother to a cross and watched her mother burn to death. This terrifying story is an example of one thing that happened in an era in Roman history. During this time there were four different emperors who ruled, and all of them were cruel and insane. The first emperor was Tiberius, an emperor that had benefits to his rein and was probably the most sane one out of the four. The second emperor was Caligula, a man that did not have any sanity at all. The third emperor was Claudius, a weak and timid emperor who was easily influenced by others. The last emperor was Nero, a man who was vicious...
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...written in Feb 11, 1889 in Japan by Ito Hirobumi, who was appointed by the Emperor of Japan as the prime minister after being designated by the Diet, with a group of other government leaders and several western scholars. European democratic politics were prevailing at that present, in which citizens, instead of Emperor, have the authority to vote or judge. However, found that a constitution should most fit national conditions and the country’s specific culture, they regarded conservative traditions of Prussia most suitable for Japan. Meiji Constitution and Prussia’s conservative traditions are more like monarchical autocracy and Emperor has absolute dictatorship. Therefore, the sovereignty of Emperor and imperial institutions coexist in this constitution. As a public and fundamental law of state bestowed on all Japanese people by Emperor Meiji, it established Japan a constitutional monarchy with a parliament called Diet, assuring the Emperor infinite power with assistance of the imperial Diet. It also defined rights and duties of the subjects, and duties of the imperial Diet as well as the Council. Besides, potency of the judicature and the finance are also established in the constitution which made Japan more modern and civilized. Now let’s probe into detailed information about Meiji Constitution. The first chapter is about absolute authority of the Emperor. From abstract we can see that the Emperor is in charge of the sanction and promulgation of laws as well as convening...
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...Jeff Woodard HS150D: World Civilizations Assignment 6_06 September 11th 2014 The Sui Dynasty, started from 581 and ended in 618, the Sui Dynasty lasted for only 38 years and had only three emperors. With a tyrannical second emperor - Emperor Yang, this dynasty was often compared to the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). However, the whole nation was reunified and certain economic and political advances were achieved in the period. At the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386 - 589), the whole nation had undergone a long period of division. People who had endured sufferings of war were longing for the unification but neither the Northern Dynasties nor Southern Dynasties realized this goal. In Northern Zhou (557 - 581), Yang Jian, who was born to the noble class and was the Chengxiang (Prime Minister) of the last emperor, monopolized the political and military power and suppressed the separatist forces as well as some other royal forces. In 581, Yang Jian replaced Northern Zhou with Sui and proclaimed himself Emperor Wen. Thus Sui was founded, with Chang'an (currently Xian) the capital and Luoyang the auxiliary capital. In 589, the Sui Court defeated the last of the Southern Dynasties, Chen, and unified the whole nation. At reunification the society become more economically stable and thus societal functions became a more nature everyday thing. Ship building was incorporated in the skills industry and several other farming techniques were also...
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...Criminals that were already supposed to die usually exclaimed, “Ave, imperator, morituri te salutant!” The professional gladiators didn’t say this, however. The phrase meant “Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you!” When a gladiator dropped, you could hear cries of “Habet, Hoc habet,” or, “Mitte,” and, “Iugala!” Usually the wounded gladiator would sit down his shield and raise his left index finger, this meant he was pleading for mercy. The audience would then tilt their thumbs, telling the people whether they wanted the gladiator to die. The emperor himself made the final decision. Sometimes, the audience would even hope that the lives of both gladiators were saved, if they thought both of them were good fighters. When the emperor was not there, the producer of the games would decide the fate of the gladiator. Winners were awarded with a crown and/or a palm branch, and the prize money as well as the money awarded by the audience. If the gladiator lived long enough to retire, they were awarded with a symbolic wooden sword as well. Losers were taken out through Porta Libitnesis to the spoliarium, where their armor and weapons were taken away and returned to the...
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...Roman land, is_____________________. 4. Rome’s incredible success in bringing peace and prosperity under Augustus’ reign led to his boast the Rome would give the world 1,000 years of peace called the ___________________. 5. The paranoid and even mentally unstable dynasty of emperors who first ruled in Rome as descendants from the bloodline of Julius Caesar were called the ________________julian claudian 6. The last straw for the Senate and the populace of Rome with this line of emperors was the one who “fiddled while Rome burned” named ____nero 7. The second dynasty established by Vespacian, who was crowned emperor because of his military victory against the Goths in Dacia (today’s Hungary) are the Flavian 8. The second of those emperors, who successfully stamped out a rebellion in Palestine and punished the Jewish people by destroying the temple and dispersing them throughout Europe is Titus 9. The next group of emperors, who were all capable men with proven leadership capabilities because they were all elected by the Senate, and who gave Rome 150 years of peace and prosperity, are called the the five good emperors 10. The most important of these emperors was the one who first toured the Empire and made the important decision to stop trying to expand its borders but to...
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...Our Lady of Guadalupe World History 3rd year Name: A. Read the sentences carefully. Write C if the statement is correct. W if it is wrong. ………1. Julius Cesar became famous because of the reforms he implemented for the welfare of the people. ………2. Octavian was a member of the first Triumvirate. ………3. The expansion of the territory and the power of the Rome resulted to political, economic and social problems. ………4. Julius Caesar united the domains of Rome in 45 BCE. ………5. Octavian won over Mark Anthony in the battle of the Rubicon River. ………6. Tiberius wanted to limit the Latifundia and to awards to the farmers. ………7. Julius Caesar defeated Sulta in a civil war. ………8. The reign of Octavian as emperor in 27 BCE was the end of the Roman Republic. ……….9. Julius Caesar failed to conquer Gaul. ………10. The owners of the land claimed the fields left by the soldiers and this expanded their control over the lands called latifundia. B. Identify what is being described in the following items. Choose your answer in the box. Write the letter of the correct answer in the blank. Aqeuduct Pax Romana Colloseum Circus Maximus Danube River Rome Gladiator Latin Augustus Caesar Nero Trajan Latin Livy Cicero Virgil Pliny 1. ………….Period of peace and prosperity in...
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...The Emperor Penguin and its Endangered Enviroment The emperor penguin is one of the most interesting species of penguin. This flightless animal lives on the Antarctic ice and in the frigid surrounding waters. This bird has a life span of 15-20 years and lives in colonies. Its diet is mainly that of a carnivore. The majority comes from fish. With all the beauty and intriguing life style of this penguin, not all is good. This penguin is in danger. What is causing this danger? It is not any predator in its wild habitat, it’s the effect of human ignorance. Climate change is slowly destroying the ice the penguin lives on. The emperor is on a downward spiral in which extinction is possible at the end of this century. With climate change at a dangerous level, warming may melt sea ice at rates which will decrease its habitat to nothing. With all these dangers there is still more, over fishing by humans is depleting the food source. In this paper I will outline and describe the problems these penguins face. I will also give a brief background on this flightless bird. Emperor is the largest of all penguins—an average bird stands some 45 inches (115 centimeters) tall. Penguins withstand physiological adaptations and cooperative behaviors in order to deal with an incredibly harsh environment, where wind chills can reach -76°F (-60°C)(Van Woert, Michael). They huddle together to escape the wind and reserve the warmth. Individuals take turns moving to the group's protected and relatively...
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...Rome started out as a great civilization that lasted for years and years. Nothing lasts indefinitely, however, and it was inevitable that Rome would fall eventually. After an era of power and greatness, Rome was taken down by a combination of political corruption, economic issues, deathly diseases, and fierce, foreign invaders. One of the political reasons for the downfall of Rome was unfit emperors. Some emperors were greedy, cruel men with absolutely no idea how to rule an empire. The roman emperorship was passed down through the male line, so some of the emperors had no idea how to rule. A fair amount of the emperors were assassinated, leaving their inexperienced sons to rule alone, or if they had no sons, the position would be fought over,...
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...The period of the dynasty that unified China, the Sui Dynasty began the year 580 C.E. and lasted until 618 C.E. I was founded by an officer of the Northern Zhou, Yang Chien (Emperor Wen Ti), and his son and successor, Emperor Yang Ti. As an emperor, Wen Ti in his early actions restored the Buddhists rights, their clergy, and ended suppression of Daoism. Emperor Wen Ti achieved the unification of China during the Sui era, also the central government was reformed, institute the conscription of community servants from all ethnic and social classes; and established a uniform legal code that regulated land, taxes, rewards and reprimand, with the exception of the military all arms were ban. Northern and Southern China reunited, forced labor of men and women was used to build the Grand Canal, which "extended north from Hangzhou across the Yangzi to Yangzhou and then northwest to the region of Louyang"( ZenZuu – TAHITITI, n.d.). The Great Wall of China was fortified by the northern borders two capitals were restructuring, and another capital was built-in Yangchow. Confucianism began to reclaim recognition; and the noble classes increase their participation in society. After Wen Ti collapse, his son and successor, Emperor Yang Ti assumes the throne, with the support of his mother, the gentry and the military. Yang Ti was the opposite of his father, and was considering like taking over the imperial supremacy, and his reign was of extravagant spending, threatening and forcing his subedits...
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...days. For the first time in nearly a millennium, the city of Rome was in the hands of someone other than the Romans. This was the first time that the city of Rome was sacked, but by no means the last. Constantine and the Beginning of Christianity One of the many factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire was the rise of a new religion, Christianity. The Christian religion, which was monotheistic (to believe in one god), ran counter to the traditional Roman religion, which was polytheistic (many gods). At different times, the Romans persecuted the Christians because of their beliefs, which were popular with the poor. This 16th-century medal depicts Attila the Hun, one of the most vicious and aggressive invaders of all time. In 313 C.E., Roman emperor Constantine the Great ended all persecution and declared toleration for Christianity. Later that century, Christianity became the official religion of the Empire. This extreme change in policy spread this rather new religion to every corner of the Empire. By approving Christianity, the Roman state directly forgot its religious traditions. Finally, by this time, Romans considered their emperor a god. But the Christian belief in one god — who was not the emperor. This weakened the authority and credibility of the emperor. Constantine the Great formed another change that helped speed up the fall of the Roman Empire. In 330 C.E., he split the empire into two parts: the western half...
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...Becker 1 Basil II was one of the greatest Byzantine rulers, who worked to establish more land and destroy the Empire’s enemies. (976-1025) One of his greatest endeavors was the conquest of Bulgaria. This was the last land grab of significance that the Empire saw. Soon after his rule the Empire collapsed. He was known for many things, but most importantly for his conquest of Bulgaria. Basil II inherited the throne in 963 at the age of three. The empire was run by a court eunuch named Basil the Chamberlain until Basil II was old enough to rule. After a while the eunuch began making decrees and ruling the area as if he had become the emperor. Before Basil II could take the throne the Chamberlain attempted to have the young, soon to be emperor tried for treason. However, before turning eighteen, with the support of the army, Basil II was able to take the throne and have Basil the Chamberlain stripped of their land and exiled. Upon taking the throne Basil II was faced with a serious issue, the Bulgars. This problem arose when Khan Krum, nicknamed the Horrible, brought the tribes of Bulgaria together to unite under one flag. After uniting the Bulgarians then conquered a large area of land around the Balkans while fighting and winning against three Byzantine rulers.1 The Bulgarians had become a huge problem for the empire that needed to be dealt with. When Basil II took the throne, the leadership of Bulgaria shifted to Khan Samuel. The Bulgarians were slowly growing in power and would...
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...It’s Good to be the King, Better to be the Emperor At the end of the year 1918, Europe witnessed incredible change to its political and social institutions across the board. Alliances between the countries of Europe plunged the continent into a world war that caused these massive changes to the European status quo of government. Over one thousand years earlier, the continent of Europe’s political and social institutions similarly endured a dramatic change due to an alliance. On Christmas Day 800 CE, King Charles the Great of the Franks (Charlemagne) and the pope of Rome, Pope Leo III, formed this monumental alliance when Pope Leo crowned Charlemagne Imperator Romanorum (emperor of the Romans). However, unlike the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance of the 1900s, the union of Pope Leo and Charlemagne was no formal treaty designed for the means of bailing the other out in some war to come, but simply two men seizing an opportunity to stand by each other for their own ambitions and for a chance at peace. Starting with the accomplishments of their predecessors and ending with the Christmas Day coronation, Charlemagne and Pope Leo created an alliance that brought some disadvantages to the two main protagonists involved, but still yielded more significant political profit for both men, and though Pope Leo stood more to gain from this pact, both men emerged as winners. To have a proper hold on the significance of Charlemagne’s coronation, one must understand the background...
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...Brief History of China Prehistory Mythical Era Ancient Era Imperial Era Modern Era Introduction Chinese civilization originated in various city-states along the Yellow River Valley in the Neolithic era A history of 4700 years since Yellow Emperor during the period of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; the written history of China begins with Shang Dynasty 3600 years ago when turtle shells with ancient Chinese writing were carbon dated in 1500BC Prehistory Peking Man Paleolithic – – – – China was inhabited by Homo erectus more than 1 million years ago The archaeological site of Xihoudu site in Shanxi Province is the earliest recorded of use of fire by Homo erectus 1.27 million years ago The excavations at Yuanmou and later Lantian show early habitation The most specimen of Homo erectus found in China is the so-called Peking Man discovered in 1965 Prehistory (cont.) Neolithic – – – – – – Stone Tools The Neolithic age traced back to 10,000 BC Early evidence for proto-Chinese millet agriculture is carbon-dated to about 7,000 BC Population was increased due to agriculture, the ability to store and redistribute crops and to support specialist craftsmen and administrators In late Neolithic times, the Yellow River valley began to establish itself as a culture center, and the first villages were founded Early history of China is complicated by the lack of a written language during this period At Damaidi site in Ningxia, 3172 cliff carvings dating to...
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...Antoninus Pius was know as one of the Five Good Emperors in Ancient Rome. The other four emperors were known as Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. These dictators were all partially responsible for the Pax Romana, or the Roman peace that was present between the different nationalities within the Roman Empire. Antoninus Pius had quite a significant role during the time in which he was emperor. Some factors include his characterization, early life, and ruling period. Pius had left a mark on the Roman Empire that would change Roman history forever. Antoninus Pius became emperor when the previous emperor, Hadrian, died on July 10, 138 AD. Antoninus Pius was said to be the adopted son of Hadrian and jumped to the throne when his foster father perished. In addition, the emperor's last name, Pius, signifies the word dutiful. He was a popular, respected man whom...
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