Early Explorers of Africa

Early Explorers of Africa Even in the 18th century, much of the interior of Africa was unfamiliar to Europeans. Most of their time in Africa was limited to trade along the coast, first in gold, ivory, spices, and later slaves. In 1788 Joseph Banks, the botanist whod sailed across the Pacific Ocean with Cook, went as far as to found the African Association to promote the exploration of the interior of the continent. Ibn Battuta Ibn Battuta (1304-1377) traveled over 100,000 kilometers from his home in Morocco. According to the book he dictated, he traveled as far as Beijing and the Volga River; scholars say its unlikely he traveled everywhere he claims to have. James Bruce James Bruce (1730-94) was a Scottish explorer who set off from Cairo in 1768 to find the source of the River Nile. He arrived at Lake Tana in 1770, confirming that this lake was the origin of the Blue Nile, one of the tributaries of the Nile. Mungo Park Mungo Park (1771-1806) was hired by the African Association in 1795 to explore the River Niger. When the Scotsman returned to Britain having reached the Niger, he was disappointed by the lack of public recognition of his achievement and that he was not acknowledged as a great explorer. In 1805 he set out to follow the Niger to its source. His canoe was ambushed by tribesmen at the Bussa Falls and he drowned. Renà ©-Auguste Caillià © Renà ©-Auguste Caillià © (1799-1838), a Frenchman, was the first European to visit Timbuktu and survive to tell the tale. Hed disguised himself as an Arab to make the trip. Imagine his disappointment when he discovered that the city wasnt made of gold, as legend said, but of mud. His journey started in West Africa in March 1827, headed towards Timbuktu where he stayed for two weeks. He then crossed the Sahara (the first European to do so) in a caravan of 1,200 animals, then the Atlas Mountains to reach Tangier in 1828, from where he sailed home to France. Heinrich Barth Heinrich Barth (1821-1865) was a German working for the British government. His first expedition (1844-1845)was from Rabat (Morocco) across the coast of North Africa to Alexandria (Egypt). His second expedition (1850-1855) took him from Tripoli (Tunisia) across the Sahara to Lake Chad, the River Benue, and Timbuktu, and back across the Sahara again. Samuel Baker Samuel Baker (1821-1893) was the first European to see the Murchison Falls and Lake Albert, in 1864. He was actually hunting for the source of the Nile. Richard Burton Richard Burton (1821-1890) was not only a great explorer but also a great scholar (he produced the first unabridged translation of The Thousand Nights and a Night). His most famous exploit is probably his dressing as an Arab and visiting the holy city of Mecca (in 1853) which non-Muslims are forbidden to enter. In 1857 he and Speke set off from the east coast of Africa (Tanzania) to find the source of the Nile. At Lake Tanganyika Burton fell seriously ill, leaving Speke to travel on alone. John Hanning Speke John Hanning Speke (1827-1864) spent 10 years with the Indian Army before starting his travels with Burton in Africa. Speke discovered Lake Victoria in August 1858 which he initially believed to be the source of the Nile. Burton didnt believe him and in 1860 Speke set out again, this time with James Grant. In July 1862 he found the source of the Nile, the Ripon Falls north of Lake Victoria. David Livingstone David Livingstone (1813-1873) arrived in Southern Africa as a missionary with the aim of improving the life of Africans through European knowledge and trade. A qualified doctor and minister, he had worked in a cotton mill near Glasgow, Scotland, as a boy. Between 1853 and 1856 he crossed Africa from west to east, from Luanda (in Angola) to Quelimane (in Mozambique), following the Zambezi River to the sea. Between 1858 and 1864 he explored the Shire and Ruvuma river valleys and Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi). In 1865 he set off to find the source of the River Nile. Henry Morton Stanley Henry Morton Stanley (1841-1904) was a journalist sent by the New York Herald to find Livingstone who had been presumed dead for four years as no-one in Europe had heard from him. Stanley found him at Uiji on the edge of Lake Tanganyika in Central Africa on 13 November 1871. Stanleys words Dr. Livingstone, I presume? have gone down in the history as one of the greatest understatements ever. Dr. Livingstone is said to have replied, You have brought me new life. Livingstone had missed the Franco-Prussian War, the opening of the Suez Canal, and the inauguration of the transatlantic telegraph. Livingstone refused to return to Europe with Stanley and continued on his journey to find the source of the Nile. He died in May 1873 in the swamps around Lake Bangweulu. His heart and viscera were buried, then his body was carried to Zanzibar, from where it was shipped to Britain. He was buried at Westminster Abbey in London. Unlike Livingstone, Stanley was motivated by fame and fortune. He traveled in large, well-armed expeditions he had 200 porters on his expedition to find Livingstone, who often traveled with only a few bearers. Stanleys second expedition set off from Zanzibar towards Lake Victoria (which he sailed around in his boat, the Lady Alice), then headed into Central Africa towards Nyangwe and the Congo (Zaire) River, which he followed for some 3,220 kilometers from its tributaries to the sea, reaching Boma in August 1877. He then set off back into Central Africa to find Emin Pasha, a German explorer believed to be in danger from warring cannibals. The German explorer, philosopher, and journalist Carl Peters (1856-1918) played a significant role in the creation of Deutsch-Ostafrika (German East Africa) A leading figure in the Scramble for Africa Peters was ultimately vilified for his cruelty to Africans and removed from office. He was, however, considered a hero by the German emperor Wilhelm II and Adolf Hitler. Mary Kingsley's Mary Kingsleys (1862-1900) father spent most of his life accompanying noblemen around the world, keeping diaries and notes which he hoped to publish. Educated at home, she learned the rudiments of natural history from him and his library. He employed a tutor to teach his daughter German so she could help him translate scientific papers. His comparative study of sacrificial rites around the world was his major passion and it was Marys desire to complete this which took her to West Africa after her parents deaths in 1892 (within six weeks of each other). Her two journeys werent remarkable for their geological exploration, but were remarkable for being undertaken, alone, by a sheltered, middle-class, Victorian spinster in her thirties without any knowledge of African languages or French, or much money (she arrived in West Africa with only  £300). Kingsley did collect specimens for science, including a new fish which was named after her. She died nursing prisoners of war in Simons Town (Cape Town) during the Anglo-Boer War. The article is a revised and expanded version of that first published on 25 June 2001.

Multinational Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Multinational Management - Essay Example is a market system, which greatly affects the operation of multinational companies, as they have to devolve more resources to the grass root level to satisfy the local consumption (Sage Publications, 2011). Market economic system on the other hand gets characterized by completion as each person does the best to suit the customers. Cumulative change in decisions by individuals seriously affects the operation of multinational companies as this affects the supply and demand of different commodities. In addition, the market economic system is influenced by tastes as preferences of customers, which vary with changing factors. This greatly affects operations of multinational companies. Various religious ethics affects the environment. To start with is the dominion of religions a factor, which guides where to sell a good and what type of good to sell. For instance, the Christian believers use the bible as their references book, which teaches them to be having dominance over the earth. According to western religions, the natural world exists for the benefit of human (Fernando, 2010). This calls for the existence of intrinsic values that affects the business environment. Apart from dominion stewardship, also exist as a dominant business philosophy. Religious people are regulated by their trust which item to buy and where to use it this greatly affect the business environment. The effects of education on multinational strategies are very diverse. To start with is the increased economic cost in implementation of extra education activities. An organization for instance can engage in education systems to create awareness among the employees on the use of computers. This will increase efficiency however the cost of education in such a scenario will be expensive thereby affecting international businesses. In addition, technological business advancements has been a leading factor that is affected greatly many business organizations. For instance, the introduction of e- commerce

US Economy with Mexican Immigrants Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

US Economy with Mexican Immigrants - Essay Example It is estimated that the country’s nominal GDP was nearly $14.7 trillion in 2010 and this figure constitutes almost a quarter of global nominal GDP. A high level of output per capita is another prominent feature of the US economy. The US economy normally maintains a stable GDP growth rate and a low unemployment rate. Approximately 30% of the world’s millionaire population resides in the United States. Over the last decade, Mexican immigration to the United States has increased considerably. In contrast, as compared to non-Mexicans, Mexican immigrants get citizenship and employment in the United States at a slower rate. Many hold the view that Mexican migration to the United States has adversely affected the working conditions of lower-skilled workers who had already resided in the country. Immigration history Borjas reflects that the number of legal immigrants permitted in the United States increased notably from 2.5 million in 1950s to 9.1 million in the 1990s during the past few decades; and at the same time, there was also a considerable increase in the volume of illegal immigrant population in the United States (2). The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) 1986 was a milestone in the US immigration history as it granted amnesty to roughly three million illegal immigrants present i n the nation. According to Borjas, the size of illegal immigrant population in the United States rose to 5 million by 1996 and eventually to 10.3 million by 2004 despite higher levels of border enforcement (2). The marked increase in the size of immigrant population over the past few decades can be directly attributed to the US immigration policy changes. Mexican population also played a crucial role in raising the size of the immigrant population in the United States. Studies show that there was an average of 30,000 legal Mexican immigrants migrated to US each year during 1950s and this figure represented 12 percent of the immigration flow. In the beginning of 1990s, the average number of legal Mexicans immigrants to the United States increased to 225,000; this population size constituted 25 percent of US immigration flow. The illegal Mexican immigrants in the United States also largely increased during this period. In 2004, the population of Mexican-born persons illegally residing in the United States constituted 57 percent of the total illegal population in US that time. In addition, data indicated that around 400,000 Mexican immigrants (both legal and illegal) entered the United States each year during the 1990s (Borjas, 2007,). Policy changes According to Borjas, Mexican immigrant workers dominated agriculture and many nonagricultural sectors in the United States. Approximately, immigrant workers from Mexico constituted 3.5 percent of US labor force. A study conducted by the National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS) reflects that 77 percent of the US farmworkers were Mexican-born during the period 1997-1998 (Borjas, 269). This situation affected the United States since the increased immigration from Mexico threatened the livelihood of US native workers. Hence, in order to prevent the increased immigration flow from Mexico, the US government brought certain immigration policy changes. Mainly, US government passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) in order to regulate the growing size of illegal immigrants to the country especially from Mexico. As per the provisions of the Act, the government would legalize the illegal immigration before 1st January 1982 and offer

Face-to-Face Versus Online Education Essay Example for Free

Face-to-Face Versus Online Education Essay Education is essential to the future of our society. Many adults, including scholars and teachers, are constantly searching for the best way to educate students today. Face-to-face education, being the genuine form, seems to be the first choice of many students. However, online education is becoming more popular and is being used more often at universities. Online courses are convenient for some who have busy schedules which obstruct them from attending face-to-face courses. Online education may be the most convenient form of education, but is it an effective form? Several valid arguments have been made by scholars and other individuals claiming it meets both of these standards. The main question students and scholars would like to know is whether or not one form is better than the other. There are several differences between online and face-to-face education. Lecture classrooms are common in universities. They are an easy way to teach a large number of students at once, however, many students dislike lectures because it places them in the majority. In a lecture classroom setting, students may not have the chance to communicate with the professor or even their peers. Students may feel shy and intimidated by the amount of people around them. The online discussions, chat rooms, and e-mail features in web-based classes makes it virtually impossible to avoid communication with fellow students or teachers. The social barriers which exist in face-to-face communication often seem to be non-existent in online communication and students feel a lot less pressured to speak up, or should I say type up. Online communication, however, does not allow for nonverbal cues and this tends to limit the quality of certain discussions and lecture notes. Some  students may feel they need to be face-to-face with the person teaching them in order to better understand and comprehend the material being presented. Being able to hear what the professor has to say can draw the attention of some and distract the attention of others, sometimes depending on the excellence of the professor. Students are encouraged to try web classes if they have trouble learning from what they hear and find it easier to comprehend what they read. The convenience of online learning is possibly its most brilliant quality. Students find it practical that they can attend a class while sitting in the comfort of their own home. Soldiers, pregnant women, and others with tight schedules are all able to complete their course work in a timely manner through web-based courses. A man who works full time as an assistant at law firm and wants to continue working, while attending classes so he can become a lawyer himself, may want to take online courses instead of face-to-face in order to accomplish both goals. I think situations like this one makes online learning brilliant since it opens doors of opportunity to certain people. By posting information in discussion forums up to several times a day, professors can keep students working, but the students can respond when they have the chance. Online courses allow convenience for time and patience also. Think about the amount of time you spend driving to school and walking to classes, or the frustration of trying to get to a class on time while searching for a parking space in which you wont be towed or ticketed. I spend up to twenty minutes of some school days driving in my car, congested with my vulgarity and frustration, searching for a parking space. Even with the beauty of all its aspects, some say convenience should not be an alternative to higher education. Even though convenience is a positive attribute about the online classroom, it may not be enough to provide for the social and educational needs of students. (Barakat) Students have claimed that they like the idea of not having to attend class but disliked the process of communicating in a delayed, impersonal manner.(Barakat) Through my online education experience, I have found that there are benefits  and disadvantages communicating on the web. Since times and meeting places are not specified in online group work, members of the group cannot make excuses on why they cannot attend. The assignments can be worked on by each group member on their own time. The group members can then cooperate with one another through postings or e-mail to equally combine their contributions. We dont have to worry about the group members who did not participate receiving credit (as commonly happens in in-class group work) because we submit only the names of those who participated in the assignment. Having experienced both online and face-to-face education, I have come to the popular opinion: Online education has its positive aspects in relation to convenience and quantity of communication, however, I believe that face-to-face education produces better quality of communication which, in the end, is more essential to the learning process. Online education is convenient and can grant students opportunity to communicate more often with their professors and peers through postings and mail forums. Face-to-face education allows students to learn in a more personal nature which may make the learning process easier and more enjoyable. Neither form of education has been declared the right, or best form. Different individuals have varied beliefs and opinions on which type of education is the best. In order to form an opinion as to which form of education is best for you develop a hypothesis and then experiment by experiencing both forms. Finally, ask yourself, Is online education as effective as traditional face-to-face education? References Barakat., Dr. Samer A. On-line Education Versus Classroom Face To Face Education. www.sharjah.ac.ae/academic/engineering/e-forum/Abstracts-htm/a2-4.htm#. Kindred, Jeannette. Thinking About the Online Classroom: Evaluating the Ideal Versus the Real. www.acjournal.org/holdings/vol3/Iss3/rogue4/kindred.html. Chamberlin, Sean W. Face-to-Face vs. Cyberspace: Finding the Middle Ground. Syllabus Magazine. Thu., Mar. 4, 2004. J. R. Bourne, A. J. Brodersen, J. O., A Model for On-Line Learning Networks in Engineering Education, Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 85, No 3

I am the Decadent Writer :: Personal Narrative Writing

I am the Decadent Writer I am the epitome of everything that makes the decadent writer its own category. There are many types of writers. The symbolic poetry writer thinks that the only true form of writing is poetry so obscure as to be understood only by the writer himself. The personal writer writes articles or poems so personal as to make the reader uncomfortable to just be reading the words, regardless if he knows the author or not. Then the decadent writer, a group I lead as we stare at blank sheets of paper with a pencil in hand, only to decide to go get a cookie and read some more of James Joyce’s Ulysses. I am the writer who has a dozen and a half ideas of books and papers he wants to write. But the ideas always stay in the decadent writer's head, never to see the light of paper. Like most decadent writers I have a notebook of stuff that I’ve thought up, just like Leonardo in Basketball Diaries. Some of these ideas are more complete than others. Some have an outline, a beginning, an ending, and the major idea I want to get across. Others, however, are mere references to stories in my head. Such as the line in my tattered blue notebook, â€Å"write the one about the ducks and the rabbit.† Only I know who the ducks are and why in heavens name a story would involve a duck and a rabbit, unless it’s a Disney story then it would make sense. I am the writer who every break or large chunk of days that he has no overriding commitments to attend to, is determined to get down at least a healthy beginning to his stories. The decadent writer is determined that the ideas and words will flow like water out of a person’s ear who has just been swimming. But being the decadent writer I am, nothing is ever spilled out words come gushing and rushing forth more like glue from a bottle. I am the decadent writer who puts off writing so he can read the top 50 greatest books ever, as a sort of training program for that great novel I’ll write. Because you have to babble before you talk, and you have to read before you write, right?

Bilingual Education Essay

Now, it seems to be universally accepted that increased education is a good thing. Thousands of colleges and millions of students spend vast amounts of time and money chasing pieces of paper. But what is the value of these qualifications? This essay will discuss whether education has been devalued. Supporters of education (usually teachers or educators, or those who have an interest in stopping people thinking for themselves) say that increased levels of education will open doors for students. Certificates, diplomas, and degrees are held up as a status symbol, a passport to a private club of money and power. However, the truly powerful are not those who have taken degrees, but people who have stood back and looked at what is really important in life. They have seen opportunity and followed dreams. These people are found in every part of society. Like many brilliant people, Einstein was a weak student at math. Like many successful businessmen, Bill Gates never completed college. Like many inventive and creative people, Edison never went to school. The greatest religious teachers do not have letters after their name, but have looked into their hearts for meaning. Similarly, the world’s political leaders do not have master’s degrees or doctorates. These are the people who shaped our century, and they are too busy with real life to spend time in the paper chase. Students in college are being sold an illusion. They are made to believe that self-understanding and society approval will come with the acquisition of a piece of paper. Instead of thinking for themselves, and finding their own personality and strengths, they are fitted like square pegs into round holes. The role of education is to prepare masses of people to operate at low levels of ability in a very limited and restricted range of activities. Some of these activities are more challenging than perhaps the assembly lines of the past, but still the ultimate purpose is equally uninteresting. More worryingly, despite the increased level of education, people are still not genuinely expected to think for themselves. In fact, the longer years of schooling make the job of brainwashing even easier. There is still a role for study, research, and education. However, we need to examine our emphasis on education for the sake of a piece of paper, and to learn the real meaning and revolutionary challenge of knowledge. mean by education from the outset. That might make it easier for you to sharpen your arguments against it. You need to better deal with the opposing arguments. It is true of course that some people become millionaires by dropping out of school to become entrepreneurs. But, if one looks at the average income of dropouts compared to the average income of people who graduate high school, and then compare those rates to the average income of people who graduate from university, we see quite clearly that better education leads, on average, to greater career success (you could even do research and cite sources, using empirical evidence to back up your points! ) Also, education, especially liberal arts (or even liberal science) tends to improve people, giving them a capacity for critical thought that makes them more interesting and worth listening to. You even seem to acknowledge, in your conclusion, that people who do well without formal education may yet be considered self-educated. So, perhaps you should define what you mean by education from the outset. That might make it easier for you to sharpen your arguments against it. I am not sure that I am following your argument here. Education is devalued because it is akin to brainwashing and drains people of the ability to think for themselves. Truly powerful people have never been to college. The role of education is to transform people into automatons performing a limited range of activities. As an argumentative essay, you’ll need to back up those opinions. Your examples can help, but Einstein did attend university and had a doctorate degree from the school of mathematics and natural sciences at Zurich University. I don’t think you can make the claim that Einstein had difficulty with math he was studying calculus at the age of twelve but he did have trouble with speech. Edison did not attend university, but at that time a mere 1% of the population attended college so the example loses impact. Bill Gates attended Harvard. He didn’t graduate, but he still considers his Harvard experience valuable (it is where he learned that there are people smarter than he is and met business partner Steve Ballmer). Besides, Harvard gave Gates an Honorary Degree in 2007. Gates also blows the theory that brilliant people struggle with math he scored near perfect on the SAT. Steve Jobs quite college after a semester (I know that you didn’t use him as an example, but I thought it was interesting Michael Dell is another computer guru who never finished college). Who are the world’s religious teachers and political leaders that you are referring to?. Here’s an article that I found interesting: http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/29445201/ It talks about different things than your essay, but I can see where everyone getting a college degree would devalue those degrees . . . forty is the new thirty and a college degree is the new high diploma, blah, blah, blah. With 68% of high school graduates in the US enrolling in collage (2008), do we have a future with an over-educated, under-employed workforce? I could also see the argument that not everyone is suited for college life and we, as a society, need auto mechanics, plumbers, and grocery store clerks.

What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 604 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category Medicine Essay Level High school Topics: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Essay Did you like this example? Obsessive-compulsive disorder most commonly known as OCD effects more than 200,000 people per year. But, what is OCD? What causes it? What are some of the symptoms? Is it treatable? Throughout these paragraphs, it will be shown how hard it is to live with OCD, and the way people with OCD see the world.What is OCD? To answer your question OCD is a mental disorder in which people have unwanted and repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas and behaviors that drive them to do something over and over. People with OCD may have compulsions, a tic disorder, or obsessions. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?" essay for you Create order Compulsions is when you repeat the same action over and over, a tic disorder is then someone repeatedly jerks their head, clears throat, shrugs shoulders, or facial grimacing. Obsessions is the inability to control thoughts or pictures of distress. To get rid of these obsessions or compulsions one must complete the task that was bothering them. This gives the person short term relief but if the person doesnt do these things then it can cause anxiety and distress. Then again the symptoms can vary throughout life so some of these things might not happen. Also, OCD can affect all ages primarily ages 6-60. According to the National Library of Medicine, the basic routine of OCD is when a person has an obsessive thought and they get anxiety over it. Then, the compulsive behavior kicks in along with the temporary relief. What cause OCD? Well, as North Point recovery says, When it comes to what exactly causes this disorder, the science is still out. Simply put, theres a lot more research that still needs to be done. It could be because of genetics, brain structure, the environment you live in, or your past. For example, if your parents or grandparents had OCD you have a very high chance of getting it. The most common form of OCD are, the people who are constantly clean things. The ones who repeatedly check over things. Finally the people who think that if they do something wrong or if something is out of place they will be punished. But, many people with OCD have a hard time completing tasks because of it. This is exactly why OCD is a struggle to live with. Now, OCD cant be self-diagnosed. You have to be diagnosed by a doctor who will then find a treatment for you. This could be therapies, medicines or both.Is OCD treatable? OCD can be life long, there are many treatments but they only help relieve an xiety. Some of the treatmen ts include medicines or therapy. Psychotherapy is the treatment of a mental disorder which can be with a group or one on one. A clinical psychologist treats mental disorders primarily with talk therapy. But, a psychiatrist treats mental disorders with medicines such as anxiolytics or antidepressants. With the help of NorthPoint Recovery I have been provided with examples of medicines; clomipramine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, and risperidone. These all can help lessen the effects of OCD. Some people may have agoraphobia or the fear of people and go outside. This can be cured by gradual exposure to the object this is called self-exposure therapy.So, there we have it. Ive answered all the common questions about OCD that were googled. If you dont have OCD be thankful, you know know what it is like to have OCD. Your life is way easier than the 200,000 people that are diagnosed per year in the U.S alone. This is an Important topic to talk about so people with OCD can understand more about it and where they can go to get help.