An Indepth Look at Warfare in Medieval Japan in Joseph...

Joseph Conlans â€Å"State of War; The Violent Order of Fourteenth Century Japan† is an depth look at Japans emerging warrior class during a time period of constant warfare in Medieval Japan. His work however doesn’t revolve around the re-fabrication and in-depth analysis of battles sieged like many contemporary examinations of wars and battles won and lost. Instead the author vies to navigate the reader on journey into the warrior class’s lives and how they evolved through a statistical analysis of records. This illustrates how warfare changed and transformed with the constant evolving of the Samurai, but it also includes how their actions affected their Political environment as well as the society in which they dwelled from the bottom up.†¦show more content†¦In the introduction, Conlan states; â€Å"War represents a process that encompasses all. Rather than merely hastening change on a static state and society, war creates its own particular and p eculiar order.† Nothing could be truer when looking at fourteenth century Japan. War for the Political figures represented an opportunity to further their control and power over society and the archepelego. For those in political office, such as the Taisho and Shugo it was an opportunity to increase or further their political and social economic benefits from their appointed positions. For the middle class such as the Tozama (and their followers the Miuchi), Gokenin, Myoshu and Hyakusho, who often had priority’s not only of Monetary gain but more in the ability to have the rights to their current land holdings confirmed and the opportunity to possibly expand their wealth through the acquisition of property from those of defeated enemies. Under whos command these warriors would fight to acquire such means was often of little significance to them, so as long as they were granted their lands as promised. Those leaders unwilling or unable to honor such agreements often found their forces diminishing, as family and clan overseer would often strike a new deal with the opposing forces leaders. Loyalty or â€Å"Chusetsu† as it was called was a hard thing to find when everyone was trying to survive or get ahead. In fact desertion for another’s army was so common that the word treason

Exploring Their Rights And Encountering Change Women Of...

Exploring Their Rights and Encountering Change: Women of the 1920s Today, women have the same rights as men, but it wasn’t always that way. Women had very little rights in the 1920s. In this paper, we will look into the struggles of women, how their jobs changed from when they gained their rights, and finally we will go over some famous activists. The campaign for women’s suffrage began in the earnest in the decades before the Civil War. During the 19th century, as male suffrage was slowly extended in many countries, women became increasingly active in the search for their own suffrage. In 1848, a group of abolitionists activists- mostly women, but some men- gathered in Seneca Falls, New York to discuss the problem of women’s rights. With†¦show more content†¦Some historians believe that the war was a key element in the granting of the franchise to women over the age of 30 years who held property in 1918. However, gratitude for women s war work cannot explain why only women over the age of 30 got the vote while it was the younger women who had done the work. Early 1919, the House of Representatives passed the 19th amendment by a vote of 304 to 90, and the Senate approved it 56 to 25. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, enfranchising all American women and declaring f or the first time that they deserve all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Anti- suffrage legislators fled the state to avoid a quorum and their associations held massive anti-suffrage rallies and attempted to convince pro-suffrage legislators to oppose it. For example, Maryland did not ratify the amendment until 1941 and transmit the ratification on the document to the State Department until 1958. Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan were the first states to ratify it. In 1919, one year before women gained the right to vote with the adoption of the 19th amendment, the NAWSA reorganized into the League of Women Voters. Starting in 1920, some states in the West began to extend the vote to women for the first time in almost 20 years. It was not until 1928

Antigone’s Purpose Free Essays

Brooks Fridey Antigone’s Purpose In the story of Antigone, originally written by Sophocles, explains the story, of a woman who stands up for her own beliefs against the king. At the time of Sophocles, women had little power and authority. They were expected to listen to their husband, king, or any man that speaks to or asks a woman of something. We will write a custom essay sample on Antigone’s Purpose or any similar topic only for you Order Now The story starts up where the story of Oedipus ends, in his death. Trouble and war are about to begin in Thebes, so Antigone travels there to try and stop what may become of her family and country.From my observations, this story can be analyzed in multiple ways, whether it is about the struggles of women, defying the higher power, or responding to the will of the gods. It is said that the royal family of Thebes is cursed to endure suffering, pain, death and loss. Antigone is aware of her family’s fate, but is ready to change her possible destiny for herself and her family. In Thebes, the members of the royal family are either killing themselves or are being murdered. Antigone is torn by this and decides she must go to Thebes to fix this.She got word that her brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles, were going to fight each other until one was dead. She tried to be there before any fight happened, but was too late, and found out from her sister, that bother brothers were killed during the fight. The king ordered that Eteocles deserved a proper burial, but Polyneices was to not be touched and would not get a burial underground. Antigone asked her sister, Ismene, to help her bury their brother properly, but she refused. It was ordered that anyone who touches the body will be arrested and shall be punished by death.Ismene told Antigone that she cannot bring herself to do it. She feels that her family’s consistently terrible luck and the fact that she’s a woman are quite inhibiting. Antigone was ready to stand up for the women who would not defy men’s authority. She was fine with doing what she needed to herself. Ismene, who is trapped under the influence and power of man, tries to beg Antigone she will be making a mistake and will suffer great consequences. Stating, â€Å"It is a losing battle, fighting Man† (Sophocles). It is obvious throughout the story, that nothing will prevent or slow Antigone from what she is going to do.Not man, nor power, or laws is enough to change her mind. Creon’s reasoning as to why Eteocles gets a burial service and Polyneices is to be left out for the birds, is to him, justified that Eteocles died honorably defending the city, while Polyneices was just a dishonorable exile. This was no real justification to Antigone, and she was going to take matters into her own hands, defying the king. It was soon discovered that Polyneices’ body had been ritually prepared for a burial, so the messenger relayed the news to the king. He ordered that the messenger find who is responsible for this or he will die if he fails.As what seemed, intended the sentry soon found Antigone trying to bury her brother. She was arrested, and taken to Creon. Antigone does not deny her crime, she tells Creon her actions were for justice and obedience to the gods. With all of Antigone’s stubbornness, she continues to still disrespect the king even after she has been caught. She will not give in to the king, disagreeing with any justification he promotes. Creon attempts to shame her for her actions, but this has no real effect on her due to a large amount of pride dignity she has left for herself.Creon feels it is particularly important not to be beaten by a person of the female persuasion. The battle of opposite effect continues with Antigone and Ismene, as she is brought into question as well from a hunch the king has that Ismene is also involved in this crime. She immediately pleads guilty to the accusations, saying she aided in the burial of Polyneices. Antigone is enraged that she would plead guilty to something she had not done, but Ismene confronts the fact she will not be able to go on without Antigone alive.It is expressed throughout the story, the importance of obeying the gods. To Antigone, it is not necessary that someone should obey their leader at all times. She believes what Creon declared to happen to her brothers was unfair and that the gods were telling her she needed to bury her brother. Antigone was unapproved to the treatment of women in these times, and that the king must be obeyed in all causes. She believed the gods were the true powers, and bad things would come upon you if you did not cooperate with their requests.When Haemon comes into the story, acknowledged as Antigone’s fiancee, who is the son of Creon, makes it clear why Antigone was even still alive. Although Creon was cruel and often harsh, there was still something or someone holding him back from simply killing her. Haemon told his father it would be wrong to kill Antigone and would bring great mourning to the people of Thebes following her death. He wants Creon to be open to others views, but Creon responds by calling Haemon a woman’s slave for backing up a woman and not his own father. A blind prophet advises Creon that he should properly bury Polyneices and release Antigone. He says if he does not he will greatly anger the gods, and might create his own misfortune for his disobedience. Possibly leading to his own death. As Creon ponders his possibilities and future, he finally decides to release Antigone and bury Polyneices. As he thought he was then making the right decision, he would soon find out what his choice will cause. Antigone knew she didn’t want to keep living in this world of mistreatment and cruelty, and was willing to end her life.Creon did not think she would actually go through anything like suicide, but upon her release, she quickly hung herself and gave herself to the gods. Haemon found out what happened, and enraged, attacked his father, and missed leading to Haemon striking himself with the sword and killing himself. As if the story for Creon could be any more devastating, instantly regretting his choice, is told by a messenger that his wife enrages by Creon’s actions, as well, and killed herself. Creon is left with nothing and no one close to him in his life, and wonders what to do now.This is a story that depicts the power of anyone, especially women. With enough determination and manipulation, anything is possible. Antigone was dealt with an accumulation of anger towards her genders rights, the abuse of power, and being righteous enough to still follow her gods. She is seen as one of the first feminists in this time, and although may have gone to an extreme to defend her honor, clearly made a point to Creon, leaving him with nothing, what neglect of someone’s abilities are and abusing one’s power can do. How to cite Antigone’s Purpose, Papers