The Influence of Roman Engineering and Architecture

The ingeniousness and beauty of Roman architecture has not been lost on us in the 2000 years since it was built. Even today, we still marvel at what incredible builders the Romans were, and at the sheer scale and integrity of many of their projects. It is hard to argue that today’s architecture will maintain the same lasting grandeur as that which the Romans built. If we can still respect and admire the grandeur of Rome as it was in it’s day, one can only imagine how much of an influence people of the time felt, due to the incredible innovations that the Romans brought to the new regions of their empire.In fact, it is because of the superior engineering skills and architectural ideas possessed by the Romans, and respected by others, that allowed them to conquer, influence and rule such a vast area of the world, for such an extended period of time. Citizens of regions conquered by Rome were the beneficiaries of Roman innovations such as a (public) fresh water supply, bri dges over previously impassable rivers, roads linking all parts of the empire (especially to the capital) and incredible public buildings like the forums and baths.They were more easily persuaded into acceptance once the Romans arrived when they saw or heard of these innovations which they realized could have such a huge and beneficial impact on their lifestyles. The first thing the Romans did upon entering a new region, after winning the war that gained them their new territory, was construct roads and bridges. This was the best way to â€Å"Romanize† the new areas, as it permitted easier communication between the colony and the mother country.The roads all led to the capital, which solidified its position as the centre of power, and also allowed the rulers easier and faster access to the colonies when necessary. It has been said that at the peak of Rome’s power, one could travel from the English Channel all the way to Rome without ever fording a stream, simply becaus e the Romans had built so many bridges to link its colonies. As the Romans were the first to master bridge building on such a large scale, they had a huge influence on the people in even the most remote regions. Places that had been impassible could suddenly be crossed by bridge.The bridges were a commanding presence on the landscape as well, easily conveying the sense of who was in power and influencing the people of the region. The Puente Alcantara in Spain can perhaps best show the expansive influence that the Romans held through their bridges, (Images 1 and 2). Built in AD100 and still standing today, Puente Alcantara reaches 164 feet at its highest point, is 600 feet long and has spans of 92 to 98 feet wide. Such an example of architecture so far from the centre of power is a lasting monument to the influential power once held by the Romans.People were drawn into conformity when they saw the superior skills of the Romans, who also perfected pile driving for the construction of bridges and built each bridge arch as self-supporting to avoid damage to the entire structure if only one portion was damaged. The Roman use of the arch itself, which had never been used to such a great extent before, is itself the main reason they were able to build the huge and influential structures that they were. The use of the arch was of course not limited to bridges; it was common in all Roman architecture of the time.The next major use for it in the new colonies, however, was in the construction of a water supply system—the system of Roman aqueducts. Rome already had an extensive system of aqueducts to supply the city with fresh water, and the Romans used the same system in other regions to civilize the â€Å"barbarian† tribes they had just subdued. Such a system was unheard of in other civilizations. The Romans were a very sanitary and hygienic people to whom fresh water was very important. The new colonies had never been concerned about such sanitation.The R omans, however, were able to bring fresh water to the towns from long distances away by carrying it through tunnels and over valleys with their towering aqueducts. This water was then used for the public baths and toilets, besides the expected drinking water. The fact that this water was for the public, and not reserved for private use, pleased people in the new colonies even more, and made them even more accepting of Roman control. The actual aqueducts themselves, built by the Romans to carry the water, were perhaps even more influential.Aqueducts like Pont du Gard at Nimes (Images 3 and 4), or Segovia in Spain (Image 5), the latter of which still carries water today, were monumental landmarks in the colonies where they were built and still are today. That the Romans would build such magnificent and monumental structures for the sole purpose of supplying water to its colonies was likely overwhelming to those benefiting from it. So the Romans supplied the towns with water, and made travel between towns easier. But what about improving life within the town itself?It is in the public buildings such as the bath, the forum and the amphitheater, which people used and experienced daily, where Rome was able to exert its greatest influence. The fact that these buildings were open to all and not reserved for an elitist group of society only increased their significance. It is arguable that the grandness of the baths has yet to be surpassed in any public building since. These were huge, lavishly ornamented structures where citizens would go not only to bathe, but also for sports, club-life and exhibitions of art.The baths acted as a community centre, uniting citizens in the towns in which they were located. There was also the Roman invention of the forum, today’s equivalent of which would be city hall, the law courts, a marketplace and a church all combined in a single structure. It was a novel idea that one could go to a single building at the centre of town and find everything they needed. People were also allowed open discussion here and were able to publicly voice their opinions and socialize with fellow citizens.However, the forum’s accessibility and openness should not hide the fact that it was used by the Romans as a control centre, where legislative duties for the town were carried out, giving Rome further influence over the citizens. The amphitheaters cannot be forgotten, as they were used by the Romans to please and placate people through the presentation of spectacles. Their architectural grandeur was also influential, however, as they were usually four stories tall, could be covered by a canopy, and were the size of two theatres put together.The Romans didn’t build the public buildings just for their own good, they were used to show â€Å"who’s boss† and keep people appeased. These buildings were superior to anything else that had been or was being built, which helped Rome keep the territory it had co nquered. It is still difficult to comprehend that the Romans were able to create an empire as vast and as powerful as they did. Lasting several centuries and covering Europe, Asia Minor and Northern Africa and even overtaking their historical enemies the Greeks, their empire was of a magnitude that has been unsurpassed but often dreamed. When we look back at how they chieved such widespread influence there is no doubt that the principal factor in their achievements was due to their superior skills in architecture and engineering of the day. They brought fresh clean water to the towns and cities they conquered using the aqueducts which are still inspiring and influential monuments today. We can only imagine the significance they held 2000 years ago. As Frontius said of the aqueducts, they are â€Å"†¦a signal testimony to the greatness of the Roman Empire. † The water brought by the aqueducts was then distributed to the public and used in even more magnificent structures like the baths.How could people not be influenced by such great inventions as these and the forum and the amphitheater, which were used by the Romans not only to please the people but also to help maintain power? The Romans built bridges and roads to link their new colonies and built them so they were a lasting and powerful presence. These bridges were not just a show of power in their grandeur, but were also used by the Romans as quick access to the colonies they needed to keep under control. People of the world were not nearly as advanced in terms of the engineering ability of the Romans, and were persuaded to accept Roman rule.They respected and admired the Roman’s superior abilities and innovations and were therefore easier to conquer and less likely to revolt, allowing the Romans to expand their empire and maintain their influence for such a long time. The Romans no doubt improved their quality of life upon conquering them, and it is hard not to accept a new ruling class if such improvements are occurring. The greatness of the Roman Empire as it was is a direct result of the fact that they were such superior engineers and architects.

Observations of marketing aspects at a retail store Essay

Observations of marketing aspects at a retail store - Essay Example Following are the major marketing aspects of Walmart: 1. Placement of products – As the customers want easy access to the products, there is proper assortment of each product category. Even there is a wide selection range which allows me to make purchasing decisions effectively. 2. Posters of the latest deals – Any new deal is displayed in the form of posters at the entrance. With the help of these advertisements, I am informed about the price saving options available for me in the store. 3. Distinctive shelves for promotion of new items in market – The latest products are displayed in the form of shelves in the respective category area so that the customers are informed about the latest addition. Most of the time I try out new things on the basis of these advertisements. 4. Friendly customer support staff – It has an excellent staff who is always willing to help the customers. The personnel make sure that any queries are addressed and as a customer I have had a marvelous shopping experience in the

Property law Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Property law - Case Study Example This means that with Barney as the surviving owner, the actual owner of the piece of land was Barney and not Opie. In effect, Opie did not have the right to use the property as collateral, and the lender did not have legal possession in the property for foreclosure to take effect. Generally, foreclosure is applicable because foreclosure applies as a legal right given to a mortgage holder, who in this case was the lender to take total possession of the property or sell the property out so as to use the proceeds to pay an outstanding debt (Alfredo, 2012). The lender therefore had no covering for this as he had used a property that was not the legal ownership of the borrower. Hitherto, the only form of plea that can be available for Andy’s son is for him to seek repayment negotiations with the lender with more favorable terms of payment. As Barney’s lawyer also, a direct claim shall be made on the property forthwith. Abandoning of property for 20 years According to Article 1 to 40 of North Carolina Adverse Possession Law, The person in possession thereof, or defendant in the action, or those under whom he claims, has possessed the property under known and visible lines and boundaries adversely to all other person for 20 years. What this means that as the lawyer of Barnie, the best form of legal redress that can be sought to incriminate Ernest of his actions and thus get Barney back as the legal owner of the piece of land is by investigating into the time that Ernest had actually started any work on the land. This is especially important as construction of a cabin has already started taking place on the land. Even though Kubasek (2012) explains that adverse possession entitles a person to acquire ownership of property, with neither protest nor permission for the real owner, the North Carolina adverse possession law seems to supersede this in interpretation by giving a definite time frame when adverse possession can take effect. As investigations go on to claim the land back, law suits will also be made against the approach used by Ernest, which could be said to be a threat on the life of Barney. Eviction from residence due to eminent domain The eviction that Barney faces from his Carolina Beach residence is not just an ordinary eviction from a property but one that is explained in legal terms as eminent domain. In simple terms, this is a situation whereby the government is given the right to takeover a private property, once payment has been done for a purpose that benefits the general welfare (Kubasek, 2012). Since government has showed evidence that the property that was to be taken was going to be used for a resort, which will clearly generate jobs and income for the area, it is strongly posited that Barney would have no legal justification to litigate the claim of the property. As the lawyer however, what will be done is to ensure that the government through the town attorney is taken on its words to ensure that Barney gets the full compensation that is due him. In the bargain for compensation, it will not only be the market value of the property that will be looked at but also the personal interest that Barney will loss in having to relocate to a totally new

Factors that contributed to the creation of the power-sharing regime Essay

Factors that contributed to the creation of the power-sharing regime of the KMT and the CCP in twentieth century China - Essay Example The development of political systems worldwide is related to a series of factors. Normally, the economic and social conditions of a country are set the criteria on which the country’s political framework has to be based At this point, it has been proved that the level of influence of the above conditions on local politics can be differentiated; China is such case. Due to its strong culture and traditions – which have managed to keep their power despite the pressures from Western ethics – the country managed to remain autonomous in the international community; this target was mostly achieved through the establishment of a political system which emphasizes on the independency of the country, not just in terms of culture but also of the production (industrial and agriculture). It seems that the power-sharing regime of KMT and the CCP parties has contributed to the above result. The factors that led to the development of the above regime are examined in this paper. E mphasis is given on the political conflicts and agreements that characterize the specific regime and the initiatives developed each time for the political stabilization of the country. 2. Factors that contributed to the creation of the power-sharing regime of the KMT and the CCP in twentieth century China. The fall of communism in Eastern Europe had left the impression that all countries with similar political systems were likely to follow the same route; however, there was an exception; reference is made to China, a country the political framework of which is based on the principles of communism ... In the context of the imperial power, the emperor had the power to govern with no limitations or restrictions, keeping his power to delegate certain tasks to ‘other individuals and organizations’ (Zheng, 2010, p.62). Also, it was under the influence of the imperial power that China’s political system had accepted the views of Rousseau on political governance – and not that of Locke (Zheng 2010, p.62). In other words, the power-sharing regime, which currently characterizes the political system of China, can be considered as differentiated from the country’s traditional political thought. However, this difference is not as high as expected, a view, which can be developed after examining the political practices of CCP and KMT parties – which participate in the political group that currently governs China. More specifically, a closer review of the political decisions and initiatives of China’s Party can lead to the assumption that the power -sharing regime has two different dimensions: at a first level, the CCP is able ‘to decentralize its powers to other actors according to its needs’ (Zheng 2010, p.62); however, CCP can also ‘recentralize its powers with no notice, if this is necessary’ (Zheng, 2010, p.62), a fact that proves the limited borders of the power-sharing regime in China. The reasons that led CCP to accept a power-regime framework with non-communist parties are analytically explained in the study of Zheng (1997); in accordance with the above study, the first of these reasons was relate with the political power of KMT. The followers of the party were many. The leaders of CCP understood that even many of the supporters of Chiang Kai-Shek decided to follow him in Taiwan, still many

Gene Silencing at the Nuclear Periphery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gene Silencing at the Nuclear Periphery - Essay Example Some epigenetic abnormalities have been identified in human tumors, offering tremendous scope for epigenetic modulation as part of cancer chemotherapy. (TY Kim, YJ Bang, KD Robertson, 2006) Histones are small, basic proteins which bind to DNA, to form nucleoproteins - this helps the DNA to be packed tightly into coiled coils. Histones are rich in the amino acids arginine and lysine. Unlike most proteins, histones are water soluble. The functions of histones include packing nucleoproteins for compaction, and chromatin regulation. Histones undergo modifications; this set of modifications which are interdependent and responsible for controlling gene activity is called the "Histone code". The histone code theory of gene regulation was articulated by David Allis and colleagues. According to this theory, expression of certain regions of DNA is turned on and off by histone code. Histone proteins are one of the most highly conserved proteins in eukaryotes, emphasizing their importance in cell biology. Heterochromatin is the condensed, dense form of chromatin, which is transcriptionally inactive; hence it is peripherally located. It is abundantly seen in resting or reserve cells. It stains deeply during interphase (resting stage). The heterochromatin part of a chromosome either lacks genes or has repressed genes. Heterochromatin is seen in both pro and eukaryotes. Euchromatin is delicate, thread-like, active form of chromatin. It is abundant in active, transcribing cells. The importance of euchromatin is because the portion of the DNA coil intended for transcription must uncoil, to permit reading of the code. It stains lightly and its gene concentration is high. It is usually under active transcription and hence it is partially or fully uncoiled. Prokaryotes have only euchromatin. NUCLEAR LOCALISATION - ROLE IN GENE EXPRESSION The vital facts about gene silencing are: (Shaklai et al, 2007) 1. Chromosomes rich in genes are centrally located in the nucleus. Conversely, gene poor ones are located in the periphery. 2. Inactive genes are silenced and translocated to the periphery. 3. If chromatin is moved to the periphery, it is silenced and rendered inactive. Gene silencing plays an important role in determining the fate of different cell lines during development and defining their temporal order. (Fischer, Merkenschlager 2002) cDNA MICROARRAY TECHNIQUE cDNA microarray (c -complimentary) is a tool which helps us analyze and measure the activity of genes. This is done using the process of molecular hybridization. Adenine and thymine are complimentary; Guanine and cytosine are complimentary. While studying two pieces of DNA, if they hybridize (bind to one another), then we can conclude they are complimentary strands - opposite strands of a single gene. Conversely, if they do not hybridize, then they are unrelated. Microarray expression technique has many applications - Gene expression profiling (comparing gene expressions in normal and abnormal cells), study of multigenic diseases like Parkinson's disease,detection of

Case6 Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Case6 - Article Example For this reason, the state has encouraged several new fund-raising suggestions, including the one advanced by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He has tried to find new firefighting funds with an insurance surcharge on all home and business owners that would likely raise $130 million extra yearly. Some of the cash will be used to cover the cost the state’s fire department called Cal-Fire This is a general alternative that the state would have to finance state services in California because since Cal-Fire’s budget comes widely from the state’s general fund incurred by all California’s taxpayers. According to San Diego senator, Christine Kehoe, the citizens are not paying enough for fire protection and argue that frenzied buildings in rural areas increase the burden of state of firefighters. In this regard, the senator has introduced a bill in the state legislature similar to what the LAO is proposing an annual fee paid by resident who live in rural areas to help offset the cost of firefighting. CalFire’s mission has changed as well. The service is mandated with protecting 31 million acres of wild land which includes the states timber stands, watershed and huge agriculture lands. CalFire protects lands that benefit the public in general. I agree with the sentiment that fire fighting could be financed by tax. The local government of respective states should introduce tax on people so that whenever fires break out, it can be easily contained because of the availability of fire fighting resources. It is rational to argue that if there was a taxpayer staying in the place with no or little risk of a fire or wildfire, they should be able to pay for services if a fire or wildfire was close their home. If this could be the case, I think that Tennessee could get ways to utilize those funds to enhance firefighting in where they lack the resources. I concur with the argument that If a charge for service was introduced, it would have to be conducted

Fashion Channel Essay Example for Free

Fashion Channel Essay Analysis Following Rosewood through this case study we have seen the company come to a crossroads. The company had to redefine itself to stay relevant in an evolving space. Rosewood had a reputation for managing uniquely distinctive properties without widespread corporate brand name awareness. Each individual property enjoyed vast success in particular from repeat guests who mostly stayed at only one of their distinctive properties in their growing portfolio. Now the company is looking to the future and specifically evaluating whether or not to incorporate the Rosewood brand into the name of each hotel. Rosewood’s senior management is engaging several tools to make their decision. Implementing this new strategy could lead to a bright future or spell disaster. Pros and cons of Rosewood moving to a corporate brand What is branding? According to Entrepreneur magazine â€Å"The marketing practice of creating a name, symbol or design that identifies and differentiates a product from other products.† Creating a corporate brand can come with positive and negatives. Rosewood’s objective will be to leave an imprint that no one else can leave and to create magic moments that their guests will never forget. Such as when the guest goes down memory lane years later after their stay, they will recall the positively outrageous service, the amenities, the food and the atmosphere created by Rosewood. No other hotel will duplicate what they experienced at their properties. Another positive to branding, Rosewood will create standards to measure the overall performance of all their properties. Such as curb appeal, beautiful landscaping, manicured green grass, flowers in season, to beautiful shrubs and trees. Additionally, as the guest arrives the people become part of the standard set, from the doorman, to the desk clerk, to the bellman, to housekeeping, to the engineering team that keeps the building and room temperature comfortable. This is where Rosewood can benefit from differentiation and drive performance. For that reason Jack Welch states in a World Press article, â€Å"Companies win when their managers make a clear and meaningful distinction between top- and bottom-performing businesses and people, when they cultivate the strong and cull the weak†. Some of Rosewood’s property managers, as mentioned in Harvard Business Review:  Rosewood Hotels and Resorts: Branding to increase customer profitability and lifetime value, many had â€Å"mixed feelings† about moving to a corporate brand. When you are measured against other hotels there is only so much room at the top. Naturally, there will some managers that will be asked to â€Å"ship up or ship out†. Thus, the upside is each hotel pushes each other to be the best they can be. Finally, the guest could anticipate what experience they will have at each Rosewood if they moved to a uniform brand. On the other hand, the down side or cons of moving to a uniform brand for Rosewood could be that data gathered from properties could be skewed or demographic information could not apply to all hotels across the brand. According to Phillip Kotler in A Framework for Marketing and Management â€Å"The data collection phase of marketing research is generally the most expensive and the most prone to error† (p.39). Also, some management after differentiation is established and measured could be dismissed if their hotel is at the bottom. Finally, another con could be that some management and employees are not good team players and are not able to uphold the standards charted by management. Customer Lifetime Value Calculator Using a tool like the Customer Lifetime value calculator can be helpful to Rosewood management as they crunch the numbers. This tool helps management take quantitative information and funnel it down to several outcomes. However, garbage in garbage out must be considered here. The CLTV is only as good as the information provided. If one Rosewood hotel provides flawed information or has not collected the data properly, the assumptions arrived to by the CLTV are not accurate. Perhaps as JWMI 518 W2, L2 states â€Å"The best approach is often to make use of both qualitative and quantitative research†. This approach considers the ever changing market conditions, tangibles and intangibles contained within qualitative and quantitative research. They are both valuable and have their place. Finally, within all the data and assumptions gained from the CLTV, there is one factor not considered. The relationship factor. In order to carry out the legendary service brand Rosewood wants to create, the most critical factor the team should be focused on is building relationships. The data, the CLTV, the amenities and a uniform brand all revolves around the staff building meaningful relationships with the guests. The standardized expectation of  how the guests are served is the most important ingredient and the CLTV does not factor this into the equation. According to INC Magazine, â€Å"The truth is that entrepreneurs too often get caught up in the details of the kinds of products or services they are selling to notice how critical it is to build relationships not just with your customers, but also with your vendors, employees and–gasp–even your competitors. Without strong relationships, it is impossible to have success as a business owner, Recommendation My recommendation is that Rosewood should move to branding their hotels using the Rosewood brand immediately. Without setting standard foundations the guest will not know what to anticipate. Rosewood could use standardized data to help anticipate the needs of the guest before they even asked. Also, creating a uniform brand will help everyone come together as one team. When you are a consummate team player you elevate the performance of everyone around them and then there is no limit to what you can do as a team. When Rosewood has everyone on the same page going in the same direction they can create a wow factor the guest will be telling the world about. To most of the world, getting good service is common versus giving positively outrageous service is uncommon. Having a satisfied customer is common versus taking that satisfied customer exceeding his or her expectations and then taking the service one percent beyond that now Rosewood can create a raving fan that is uncommon. References Entrepreneur Magazine, (2013) http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/branding Harvard Business Publishing, (2007), Rosewood Hotels and Resorts: Branding to increase customer profitability and lifetime value, P. 5 INC. (2013) http://www.inc.com/guides/201101/how-to-build-better-business-relationships.html Kotler, Chapter 3: Collecting Information and Forecasting Demand, P.39 World Press, (2012) http://frrl.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/jack-welch-on-differentiation-or-making-winners-out-of-everyone/