Sunday, December 29, 2019

The Anglo-German Naval Race

A naval arms race between Britain and Germany is often cited as a contributing factor in the start of World War I. There may be other factors that caused the war, which began in central and eastern Europe. However, there must also be something that led Britain to get involved. Given this, its easy to see why an arms race between two later warring powers would be seen as a cause. The jingoism of the press and people and the normalization of the idea of fighting each other is as important as the presence of the actual ships. Britain ‘Rules the Waves’ By 1914, Britain had long viewed their navy as the key to their status as the leading world power. While their army was small, the navy protected Britain’s colonies and trade routes. There was huge pride in the navy and Britain invested a great deal of money and effort to hold to the ‘two-power’ standard, which held that Britain would maintain a navy as large as the next two greatest naval powers combined. Until 1904, those powers were France and Russia. In the early twentieth century, Britain engaged in a large program of reform: better training and better ships were the result. Germany Targets the Royal Navy Everyone assumed naval power equaled domination, and that a war would see large set piece naval battles. Around 1904, Britain came to a worrying conclusion: Germany intended to create a fleet to match the Royal Navy. Although the Kaiser denied this was his empire’s aim, Germany hungered for colonies and a greater martial reputation and ordered large shipbuilding initiatives, such as those found in the 1898 and 1900 acts. Germany didn’t necessarily want war, but to browbeat Britain into giving colonial concessions, as well as boosting their industry and uniting some parts of the German nation — who were alienated by the elitist army — behind a new military project everyone could feel part of. Britain decided this couldn’t be allowed, and replaced Russia with Germany in the two-power calculations. An arms race began. The Naval Race In 1906, Britain launched a ship which changed the naval paradigm (at least to contemporaries). Called HMS Dreadnought, it was so large and heavily gunned it effectively made all other battleships obsolete and gave its name to a new class of ship. All the great naval powers now had to supplement their navy with Dreadnoughts, all starting from zero. Jingoism or patriotic sentiment stirred up both Britain and Germany, with slogans like â€Å"we want eight and we won’t wait† used to try and spur the rival building projects, with the numbers produced rising as each tried to outdo each other. It’s important to stress that although some advocated a strategy designed to destroy the other country’s naval power, much of the rivalry was friendly, like competing brothers. Britain’s part in the naval race is perhaps understandable — it was an island with a global empire – but Germany’s is more confusing, as it was a largely landlocked nation with little that needed defending by sea. Either way, both sides spent huge sums of money. Who Won? When the war started in 1914, Britain was held to have won the race by people looking just at the number and size of the ships, which was what most people did. Britain had started with more than Germany and ended with more. But Germany had focused on areas that Britain had glossed over, like naval gunnery, meaning her ships would be more effective in an actual battle. Britain had created ships with longer range guns than Germany, but German ships had better armor. Training was arguably better in the German ships, and British sailors had the initiative trained out of them. In addition, the larger British navy had to be spread over a larger area than the Germans had to defend. Ultimately, there was only one major naval battle of World War I, the Battle of Jutland, and it is still debated who really won. How much of the First World War, in terms of starting and willingness to fight, was down to the naval race? It is arguable that a notable amount can be attributed to the naval race.

Friday, December 20, 2019

People can easily be influenced by one another. Many...

People can easily be influenced by one another. Many people can affect the thoughts and actions of others either deliberately or unintentionally. In the novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde it is evident that various characters influence one another’s actions and thoughts. The novel demonstrates various occasions of impact by others. Such as Dorian’s influence on Basil Hallward, as well as Lord Henry Wotton’s multiply influence on Dorian Gray, and additionally Dorian Gray’s influence towards Sibyl Vane. Relationships can have the dominance to not only have a control on one another but also to derive a lesson or bring out personality traits of the characters. Throughout the novel, there are many relationships that cause a great†¦show more content†¦Lord Henry tells Dorian that he should take advantage of his youth and beauty now, or else he will lose all that maters, youth. Dorian is easily impressionable by Lord Henry because he believ es that their conversation fabricated a change in him in ways that Basil and his friendship hasn’t. Lord Henry’s influence on Dorian merely acknowledged that there were thoughts that were already inside him. Additionally, not only does Lord Henry influence both Dorian but he also influences the Duchess of Harley in chapter three. For instance, the Duchess of Harley remarks that she would like to go to her youth. In reply, Lord Henry replied that all she needs to do is commit the mistakes of her youth again. Also, in chapter three Lord Henry influences, yet again Dorian Gray. Although Basil has warned Lord Henry to not influence Dorian, and lead him to his own destruction, Lord Henry makes it’s a goal to have a great influence over Dorian. Lord Henry’s influence on Basil is demonstrated when Lord Henry was leaving and Dorian asks to come with him, although he had already had plans with Basil. 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Thursday, December 12, 2019

Shintoism and Buddhism Essay Example For Students

Shintoism and Buddhism Essay The Japanese religions, including Shintosim and Buddhism, are rich and complex, and it contains many condradictory trends which may puzzle a Westerner. In the center of the tradition is Shinto, the â€Å"natural† religion of Japan. Also in the center is Buddhism, the Indian religion that was brought to Japan in the sixth century from Korea and China. Throughout the history of Japan, it has been these two religions that have contributed most to the Japanese understanding of themselves and their surroundings, and also to many important events. Shinto, meaning â€Å"the way of the gods†, is the indigenous faith of the Japanese people. It began around 2,500-3,000 years ago. It has thirteen sects, each with a different founder. It has many scriptures, including Kokiji (The Record of Ancient Things), Nikong (Chronicles of Japan), Yengishiki (Institutes of the Yengi Period), and the Collections of 10,000 Leaves. It has about 30 million adherents, but most are also Buddhists. B ut, none of the scriptures are sacred, as are the Sutras or the Bible. The kami are the objects of worship in Shinto. They are sacred spirits, and they can take various forms such as natural elements like the sun, mountains, trees, rocks, and the wind, or abstract things like fertility, but also anscestors, national heroes, and protectors of family clans.The Japanese adherence to Shinto is not surprising, because various physical forces are often at work on the archipelago. This shows the people’s early connection to nature. There are many typhoons, tsunami, volcanoes, and earthquakes that the Japanese worship as the unseen forces of nature that rule their lives. Originally, Shintoists would only worship the Kami in nature, but, now the Kami are worshipped in shrines. Shintoists got the idea to use the shrines from the Buddhists. These shrines are usually simple buildings surrounded by trees. Here is an example of one:Before they would arrive at the shrines, the Shintoists wo uld â€Å"purify† themselves by washing their hands and rinsing their mouth. They will bow twice deeply, clap their hands twice, bow once more and then, they would offer gifts, such as food, to the Kami. Then, they say a short prayer. The prayer usually urges the Kami to withhold bad weather. The people did not want bad weather, because it would destroy their crop. Shintoists also pray for good fortune and to avoid evil spirits, especially before a special event, such as the opening of a business, a test or exam in school, or something else that is important. They will then offer the Kami a choice offering if the crop is spared. But the Japanese do not fear the Kami. The Buddhist rituals are performed by Shinto priests, private people who can marry and have children. There are even female priests. The priests are supported by the Miko, young ladies in white kimonos. They must be unmarried, and are often the preist’s daughters. Also, in contrast to the Western religions , there are no absolutes, although there is a goddess, Amaterasu Omikami, the Sun goddess. An absolute is an object of worship that is always present, such as a God. But, a certain kind of weather is not an absolute, because the weather can change at any moment. Shinto is a very optimistic faith. It is thought by it’s followers that all humans are fundamentally good, and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. The purpose of the rituals is to avoid evil spirits by purification, offerings and prayers. However, death is considered evil in Shinto, and most tasks concerning it such as funerals, are done using Buddhist rituals. Shintoism had a major effect on the national affairs of Japan also. After the Meiji restoration in 1868, the Meijing rulers made Shinto their state religion and used the myths of Japan’s creation to show a direct link between Shinto’s beliefs and the Sun goddess and the Emperor family. This justified the emperor’s absolute power. Shint o priests became state officials and shrines were funded by the government. After WWII, Shinto became completely seperated from the state, and became classified as a â€Å"normal† religion. Today, most shrines belong to the Association of Shinto Shrines. 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