T.S. Eliot Biography essays

T.S. Eliot Biography essays Thomas Stearns Eliot was born on September 26, 1888, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was the seventh and last child of Henry Ware Eliot, a brick manufacturer, and Charlotte Eliot, who was a talented poet in his own right. Both parents were descendent from families in England that immigrated to Massachusetts in the seventeenth century. William Greenleaf Eliot, Eliots grandfather, moved to St. Louis after he graduated from Harvard in the 1830s. There he became a Unitarian minister, but the connection to New England was maintained through the familys summer home on the Atlantic coast in Gloucester, Massachusetts. During his childhood Eliot attended Miss Lockes Primary School and Smithy Academy in St. Louis. His first poems appeared in the Smith Academy Record in 1905, the year of his graduation. In the year after that he attended Milton academy and then entered into Harvard University. He frequently published in the Harvard Advocate and took courses with professors such as Paul Elmer More and Irving Babbitt. In 1909 Eliot received his B.A. and stayed in Harvard to earn his masters degree in English literature, which he received the following year. The fall of 1910 is when he spent a year in Paris writing, reading, soaking up the atmosphere and attending classes at the Sorbonne. When he returned to America, he went back to Harvard to continue his studies in philosophy and also serve as a teaching assistant. After being awarded a traveling fellowship for the year of 1914-1915, he had planed to study in Germany, but the start of World War I forced him to leave the country early. Eliot would find himself in England where he would spend the remaining years of his life. In England he met Ezra Pound, on September 22, 1914, who would exert a great amount of influence into his work and his literary career. The next year Eliot would marry Vivien Haigh-Wood on June 26, 1915, after knowing each other for two mon...

Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essays

Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essays Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essay Desertification Climate Change or Human Influences Essay The Sahara is the largest of the deserts on the planet and expands from the west to east coast of northern Africa. Inhabitants have evolved to survive the harsh climate of the desert, however they now have to cope with the sprawl of the Sahara into the Sahel Desertification. There are contrasting opinions on the overall cause of the land degradation; some believe it is due mostly to the influence of humans and others consider changes in the climate to be primarily responsible for the spread of the desert. There are four main human interactions that are said to lead to desertification: overcultivation, overgrazing, deforestation and poor irrigation. These are influenced by population change and changes in social and economic conditions. Alan Grainger, author of Desertification: How people make deserts, how people can stop, and why they dont , is a strong believer in the irresponsibility of mans actions in the spread of the desert. He states Drought triggers off a crisis, but does not itself cause desertification In northern Africa, there is a high population growth (Mali NI=3%). With an escalating population there will be more need to intensify demand on farmland for various crops to be cultivated such as rice and cassava. This leads to several problems that put increased strain on the land. Some of these difficulties include a decline in the fertility of the soil, therefore each time crops are grown they become less successful until they will no longer grow and the land becomes useless, a desert. Also, the topsoil will become crusty by the evaporation of the little rain, which will then increase surface run-off for when it does rain, eroding the soil by gullying. In the 1960s a large-scale development of groundnuts in the Sahel is said to be significantly responsible for the drought of the early 1970s, as thought by Richard Franke and Barbara Chasin (Montclair State College, New Jersey, USA). Constant harvesting of the large areas of groundnuts due to encouragement from developed countries, like France with whom they could exchange this product for staple foodstuffs greatly reduced the amount of fallow land. This meant that nomads who had previously used the land for grazing had to move north where the grazing is then intensified, further increasing the rate of desertification. This political tie exacerbated a fragile situation. Farmers in the Sahel also cause problems when they graze livestock, mainly goats and cattle. Short-term sedentarisation produces overgrazing, especially when concentrated along walkways and water holes. The walkways are required to transport cattle from each settlement since new grassy land has to be found for the livestock when the essential resources end. This nomadic way of life increases the rate of land degradation by placing pressure on the land and the water resources. Overgrazing leads to a number of problems such as a decline in palatable grass species, especially perennials, which are good at holding the soil together and prevents erosion by rain or wind. Overgrazing is indeed a major cause of desertification Irrigation schemes were set up to help stem the problem of desertification. However, these were not managed properly causing further problems. A chain reaction occurs if there is bad irrigation that is summarised in figure 2. Saline soils have good structure and are fairly easily leached but can be reclaimed. Alkaline soils are very compacted and are not good at leaching. This means that the surface becomes difficult for roots of shrubs and trees to penetrate and the land is hard to reclaim. Deforestation is another one of humans influences on environmental change. In the Sahel four million hectares of trees are harvested every year. With deforestation, water evaporates from the soil, is drawn up by capillary rise, leading to a fall in the water table, leaving the topsoil dry and susceptible to wind-erosion. Richard St Barbe Barker, founder of The Men of The Trees Organisation shows concern over the effect of deforestation on desertification and says that When trees go, deserts come. Figure 2. Many authors consider land degradation to be caused by global warming and regional climate change. Tereba Togola, a Malian resident is one of these authors and asserts that climate change has taken place for thousands of years and the recent drought in the Sahel is just another one of the many cycles. Togola describes the climate patterns of 4500 years ago, when there were growing oscillations of aridity where dry periods were becoming more frequent. This brought on a period of desertification throughout the Saharan and Sahelian area. Many of the lakes in the region Lake Bosumtwi became dry as a result of the higher temperatures and diminishing amount of rainfall. Large southward population movements to the wetter granite massifs of the Adrar Des Iforas occurred due to the worsening weather conditions. With them, they brought the desert conditions. The sever weather conditions forced them to overgraze and overcultivate the land until it turned to desert where subsequently they had had to move even further south, continuing to erode the land. Authors McIntosh and Tainter illustrate that droughts can be connected with various natural phenomena. An increase in sea level pressure around the Azores and northern Sahara consequently creates increased anticyclonic activity and augmented winter northeasterly trades, pushing the ITCZ south. If the ITCZ moves south to the warmer southern hemisphere, the subtropical high-pressure area of the Hadley cell dominates the Sahel for much of the year, leading to drier weather and consequently the land degrades. The climate in the Sahel fluctuates greatly from generation to generation causing implications for the people dwelling there. McIntosh and Tainter say the precipitation variance prevents cultivators from having a regular growing pattern and having to move around to find suitable land. Another natural method of desertification is Sahelian fires that smoulder each year around March and April. These use the parched grasslands as a means of transportation to the surrounding area, destroying all vegetation in its path. The fires can actually be used to control the land by clearing it to produce improved land for grazing potential. Scientists at NASA say Benefits outweighed by the negative impacts f fires on soil fertility, leading to long-term declines in productivity. It could be said that researchers have failed to determine the definite cause of the degradation. However, both causes physical and human can lead to desertification. It seems possible that Alan Graingers theory is most convincing and is worth taking into account; climate change does not actually cause desertification but accelerates the degrad ation process by human reaction to it. Changes in climate have occurred for millennia leading to increased aridity and the evaporation of lakes in the desert area. The Spearmans Rank Correlation Coefficient on the appendix sheet shows if there is a relationship between area of the desert and agricultural population, and area of the desert and rainfall anomaly. Table 1 shows that there is not a statistical relationship and human population has no effect on the size of the desert. Table 2 shows a statistical relationship between the amount of rainfall. Although the spearman rank (appendix 1) illustrates that there is a connection, it is doubtful that rainfall deficiency is the individual cause. The climate has a strong influence on human actions and in this case humans have had to react to the climate change to sustain a good standard of living, which subsequently leads desertification. Therefore, climate manipulates the way of life of the people but it is the inhabitants themselves that cause the degradation by their exploitation of the land due to their intense farming methods and constant rhythmical travels in the Sahara. If humans were not to use the land so intensively it may have a chance to replenish before the severe drought approaches.

Hospitality Industry. Marriott International, Inc Assignment

Hospitality Industry. Marriott International, Inc - Assignment Example Liverpool is a city on the growth path. It has seen fastest growth amongst all the key cities in Great Britain between 2002 and 2003, far in excess of regional and national rates. In cultural diversity it is home to many ethnic communities, varying from Irish, Welsh, Scots, English and different religions and countries Jewish, Muslim, Hindu; Chinese, Greek, Italian, Spanish. Even people from the Caribbean, Somalia, Yemen, the Balkans and Middle East have made Liverpool their home. (http://www.liverpool.gov.uk). This diverse conglomerate of communities creates unique opportunities for attracting a wide diaspora to converge in the city during the year 2008. Liverpool has a vibrant culture, it is the original home of pop and music is supplemented by humor, writing and performing arts. It is a port city with principal traffic to the United States. Liverpool is a major regional shopping hub. (http://www.liverpool.gov.uk). A number of international retail giants as Zara and Armani have large outlets. These will be further expanded to cater for the massive influx in 2008 from European and global tourists. Thus it has a unique advantage of being a business and culture hub of Britain. This trend is being encapsulated in the concept of Capital of Culture. The central focus is on, The World in One City. The supporting themes are Create, Participate and Regenerate to be progressed by the vision of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. All this is within the overall culture strategy of the Liverpool City Council. (http://www.liverpool08.com). ... (http://www.liverpool08.com). The underlying themes of recreating history, reflecting the present and projecting the future can also be encapsulated in Marriot's philosophy of exploiting the past to sustain profits for the present and beyond. Liverpool Culture Company has been set up with a Chief Executive and a Board to manage promotion and oversee implementation of the Liverpool Capital of Culture. This will provide government and agency support for the project. The assured support of all agencies will enable its successful implementation. (http://www.liverpool08.com). Liverpool's bid for the project had been endorsed by the entire North Western Region, to include North West Development Agency, North West Arts Board, North West Sports Board, Sport England North West, the North West Tourist Board and the North West Cultural Consortium. (http://www.liverpool08.com). Marriott's culture of associate support and customer excellence will enable it to place itself in the forefront of Liverpool's successful management of the primary event, Capital of Culture in 2008. Since there is total commitment of city authorities including the Liverpool Culture Company and regional organizations, this offers synergy in implementation, which can also be exploited by Marriot affiliating with local authorities to sustain growth. Marriot has properties in Liverpool and Manchester. These can be networked to generate additional revenue during the Year 2008, as availability of hotel accommodation in Liverpool per se is likely to be at a premium. Proposed Strategic Response Marriot is essentially seen as a company focused in the United States with a network of properties in other countries. Europe receives maximum tourists every year.

International Contemporary Slavery Research Paper

International Contemporary Slavery - Research Paper Example This study will examine international contemporary slavery and the facts that differentiate it from early forms of slavery. The study will also look at the factors that led to modern day slavery, forms of contemporary slavery, the politics involved, the international law and policies on slavery between countries, and steps taken to eradicate the problem. Contemporary slavery Many people approach slavery as part of collective history subscribing to the â€Å"rise and fall† of the slavery trajectory. When people speak of slavery, they imagine enslaved Africans toiling in sugar plantations and finally ending through the two legislations. They do not associate current times with slavery. The fact is that an estimated 27 million slaves exist today in the world. This number is more than double the number of slaves obtained from Africa and transported across the Atlantic. According to the international labor organization, 12.3 million people across the world are in one form of forced labor or another. United Nations estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 persons are trafficked internationally every year. Close to half of those involved in slavery are primarily young girls and women sold out for sexual exploitation (Bales 9). While most countries have anti-trafficking laws in place, their enforcement is erratic and in some, the laws are non-existent. The US State Department points out that 62 countries have failed to convict traffickers under the Palermo protocol as declared by UN. Currently, the slavery industry is estimated to be a $32 billion industry placing it at the same level with illegal arms trade and drug trafficking (Bales 50). International contemporary slavery is similar to past slavery in that it is characterized by violence and exploitation (Bales 12). However, today slavery is no longer a legal institution neither is it significant for any country’s economy. Slavery is also not a relationship based on ethnicity or race. Like in the past, slaver y exists in many forms; but modern slavery has two main characteristics, which differentiate it from early slavery. Today’s slaves are cheap and hence disposable (Bales 12). Today, slaves are cheaper than any other period in slave history. A field worker bought for $14,000 in 1850 would today cost only $100. This dramatically changes the economic scale of slavery. Drop in prices for any commodity affects the demand and supply economies. Currently, there are more potential slaves in the market meaning they cost little but generate high returns. Slave owners today can make returns from slaves as high as 800 percent (Bales, 12). Slaves’ inexpensiveness is good for the slaveholder and good for bottom line business but disastrous for the slaves. Buying slaves at a low price means they do not represent large investment that would require special care. This means that a slave is easily replaced. No one pays attention to the maintenance and care of the slaves or make a point o f keeping records on their whereabouts. If slaves get injured, ill or outlive their usefulness, they become a burden to the slaveholder and are in turn dumped or worse, killed (Bales 15). International contemporary slavery is facilitated by three main factors; population growth, poverty and corruption (Bales 15). After the Second World War, the world experienced population explosion. After 1945, the world

Multimedia and the Internet Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Multimedia and the Internet - Research Paper Example The user has the ability to make member accounts on the website that is free currently. The website enables the user to gather the accessories of his or her interest by making an account also enabling the website to inform them of promotional activities and sales through emails. Advantage that the website provides is the function of displaying new items on the shelf at the home page. Apart from that, products that are in fashion are displayed at the home page with a brief insight on them to enable the user to get familiar with the product. A search section is also provided in case a user wants to search for a specific product on the website or look for several related products. The website also provides a function of comparing products on the basis of several factors and ranking them accordingly to provide the user the best brand according to his demands. The website design is perfect and up to the standards of any good website, there are no error links meaning every link does take you to a new page that displays information related to the caption of the link. The website contains all the information that a customer will need regarding the product with the added advantage of a simple window to window moving procedure. The website is quite user friendly and covers all the concepts that any good website does. Overview The second website that's going to be discussed on the same given standards is Computer Shops that is basically a search portal that provides the user list of websites that are selling computer accessories online. The difference between the two websites is a major one but we are not comparing here. Design and Layout This website is quite attractive and interactive but the problem is that the websites outlook is not as attractive as the one we discussed earlier. The options and functionality are obviously limited as this website is a search portal. Functions and Navigation The research portal gives the user access to articles and products related to computer accessories from all over the World Wide Web. The website also enables a user to search for different online shops. The website is easy to read with a simple two colored background and a decent font. The website also contains pictures to help give a clear and broader meaning to the material present on the website plus the user gets a clearer picture of the product and the search results. The website's additional advantage is that it also provides results from local databases as well as international. Error Links The error links that the website provide go up to twenty-five and are displayed on the home page of the website. Source coding = attached to the appendix Overall Feedback The website belongs to second-class category and the error links are the major draw back for the website. Tons of information is provided but moving through it is not as easy as it could have been, a certain amendment in the search method would give the website a better ranking. Overview The third website we will discuss is about Personal Computers and the name of the website is Southern Computers. Design and Layout The website's first impression is of a local low budget website with a very dull colored backgroun

Draftsmans Duty of Care in the Preparation of a Will Essay

Draftsmans Duty of Care in the Preparation of a Will - Essay Example The analysis is focused on identifying the solicitor’s duties and responsibilities in preparing a will for the clients. Various aspects of preparation of a legal document highlight the significant role of the solicitor who has the duty to adequately represent the testator’s intentions and wishes through the legal document. The various types of the draftsman’s duties in preparation of a will are discussed in the changing contextual situations of family businesses, mutual or joint will, and breach of duty such as errors or delays. Identifying grammatical and omission errors, providing legal advice to clients, severing joint tenancy and adequately representing a testator’s wish in preparing a will are some of the broad issues of draftsman’s duties in preparing a will. This discussion is focused on identification of the various types of errors, issues concerning negligence of duty on the part of the solicitor and the possible contextual factors that can lead to these errors or failure to perform the duties. Â  The methodology adopted for this purpose include searching legal journals and law journal databases to locate cases associated with the failure of draftsman’s responsibilities and liabilities of the draftsman. Databases such as LexisNexis, bailli, zetoc and Westlaw were searched with terms as ‘draftsman’ ‘common law’ ‘preparation of will’ ‘solicitor duties’ and several cases were located and have been included in this study.

Intertestamental Period Essay Example for Free

Intertestamental Period Essay INTRODUCTION The overarching goal of the Christian church is to model a Kingdom lifestyle and in so doing facilitate a change in the world towards a lifestyle approved of God. That goal is accomplished by (1) being in the world, but not of the world, (2) being one and (3) using Kingdom methodology to achieve God’s objectives. But achieving the goal using that strategy is made difficult when it must be done in the midst of competing lifestyles. Especially when there is a desire to fit in rather than being ‘peculiar’. During the Intertestamental Period, also called the Second Temple Period by some authors, the Jews experienced cultural and environmental pressures which forced them apart and set the stage for the ministry of Jesus. The following is a brief summary of those pressures. 1. The Jews were bounded on all sides by other cultures and this caused them to compromise their life style to fit in with the world giving up any real distinction between a righteous lifestyle and a worldly lifestyle. Bruce stated that â€Å"the Greek way of life was attractive to many, and slowly but surely it continued to make headway among large sections of the population, including even the great priestly families in Jerusalem. This tendency was inimical to the true calling of Israel, and tended to break down the wall of partition between Jews and Gentiles in the wrong way, by blurring the sharp distinction between Israel’s revealed religion and Greek heathenism.† 2. The Jews moved from ‘being one’ to being ‘standalone competing sects’. It is readily observable that this caused infighting and an inward focus that was detrimental to their inherent mission. This problem was highlighted in later years when Jesus said â€Å"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.† 3. The Use of Political Means to Achieve Kingdom Ends Instead of being in the world, but not of the world, the Jews readily became part of the world by entering into the political system of the culture in an attempt to develop some level of security and ensure their prosperity. The use of political maneuvering was used during the entire 400 year period. For the most part it would be impossible to distinguish the political wrangling of the Jews from that of any other self-interest groups of the day. 4. The combining of church and state in the office of High Priest. The High Priest was supposed to monitor and ensure the spiritual welfare of the Jews. However in during the Intertestamental period, governmental authority was vested in that position by the ruling factions. We can observe the same thing in some churches today. We have Pastors who are not only empowered with the spiritual welfare of the church but are also given carte blanche authority over the governance of the church. And balancing those requirements is difficult at best. We must also consider the varying conquest strategies used by the nations that existed around the Jews. The Semitic nations, which included the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Ammonites, the Moabites and the Esau-ites deported those they conquered to be settled in foreign lands. Additionally, they had a policy of destroying the religion and culture of those they conquered. The Japhetic nations, which included the Medo-Persians, generally sent the conquered back to their homelands and granted some religious and political self-rule. The Hamitic nations, which included the Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Philistines and the Phoenicians, deported those they conquered and destroyed their culture and religion. Several sources were used to conduct this analysis and as can be expected, various divisions and time periods were used. For the purposes of this paper, we will divide the time period into the following divisions and use these associated dates: (1) 722-433 BC Antecedent Events; (2) 559-331 BC Persian and Medo-Persian Rule; (3) 368-323 BC Hellenistic (Greek) Rule; (4) 323-166 BC Ptolemies and Seleucids Rule; (5) 166-63 BC Jewish (Maccabean and Hasmonean) Self-Rule; (6) 63 BC AD 663 Roman (Herod) Rule. It is noted that the Intertestamental or Second Temple Period ended with the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70. ANTECEDENT EVENTS722-433 BC There are events that took place prior to the Intertestamental Period that must be considered in this analysis. In 722 BC, Sargon the king of Assyria captured the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and deported the higher Jewish classes to Babylon. These deportations created spiritual crises for the Jews. But in addition, a lot of the cultural aspects of being a Jew were destroyed. According to Kostenberger, the monarchy was destroyed and the sanctuary which was the central focus for the Jewish faith was lost. The Jews, who apparently had a penchant for fitting in with foreign cultures found themselves in close proximity to Gentiles. This created moral and ceremonial problems for those living outside of Judea. In 587 BC, the exact same situations occurred when Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon captured the Southern Kingdom (Judah), destroying the Temple and Jerusalem. In 583 BC Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian Empire, came to power and sent the captives home but only fifty thousand returned to rebuild the Temple. It is suggested that an equal number simply stayed in place opting not to return to an uncertain situation. With the goal of rebuilding the Temple, the Jews forbid the Samaritans to participate due to their mixed race heritage. Offended by this, the Samaritans became obstructionists delaying the building and eventually built their own temple further increasing the schism between the Jews and the Samaritans So we enter the Intertestamental Period with the Jews dispersed in several locales, experiencing and in some cases embracing foreign cultures to the detriment of their culture and faith and having been ruled and subjugated for generations. PERSIAN AND MEDO-PERSIAN RULE559-331 BC Historical Developments The Jews were delivered from their previous captivity by the Persians and for the most part were left undisturbed by the Persians. But they had new and enthusiastic rivals among the Samaritans who had not only delayed the building of the Jewish Temple, but had initiated their rival temple on Mount Gerizim, overlooking the ancient city of Shechem. Impacts on the Jews The remnant of Jews that returned was idolatrous and had lost any sense of reverence for the Scriptures. During this period, idolatry was purged from the Jews. They gained a new sense of reverence for the Scriptures. The Jews developed a firm grasp for the concept of monotheism and completed the Temple reaffirming it as the center of worship. HELLENISTIC (GREEK) RULE368-323 BC Historical Developments It can be defended that the Hellenistic (Greek) Rule Period actually started with the rule of Philip. Philip had brought the whole of Greece under his rule, and intended to lead the combined forces of his empire against the Persians. Some view this as a Macedonian event, but Philip had already embraced the Greek culture. One of Philip’s first acts was to have his young son, Alexander trained in Greek culture. However before Philip could complete his military efforts, he was assassinated and it was left to Alexander to complete his plans. Alexander the Great conquered Persia, Babylon, Palestine, Syria, Egypt and western India. Alexander’s Empire did not last long. In 323 he died of a fever at Babylon, before he had completed his thirty-third year. But even before his death, his followers carried the Greek language and culture all over the Eastern Mediterranean and Western Asia. Impacts on the Jews Caught between opposing forces the Jews lost all sense of security once again. They were immediately between two warring factions being pulled in both directions. This may have been one of the times when the Jews felt an overwhelming desire to fit in to avoid destruction. Hellenization, or embracing the Greek culture, was so powerful that from a cultural standpoint, the Greeks conquered Philip, Alexander and even the Romans when they showed up. The conquerors assumed the Greek language and eventually brought about the translation of the Old Testament into Greek (the Septuagint). Doing so also caused a rift between the Jews who were more traditional. PTOLEMIES AND SELEUCIDS RULE323-166 BC Historical Developments Pursuant to his death Alexander’s generals quarreled over who would succeed him. Alexander’s Empire was eventually divided into several parts. Of these parts only two are of any real concern as they had a major impact upon the Jews. These are the Macedonian kingdom of Egypt, with its capital at Alexandria ruled by the Ptolemies, and Macedonian kingdom of Syria with its capital at Antioch ruled by the Seleucids. By 300 B.C. we find two Macedonian dynasties firmly established in these capitals. Palestine lay between these two kingdoms. Impacts on the Jews Hayford indicates that the Jewish faith was seriously undermined by being in close proximity to Hellenism. The Jews started to neglect Jewish religious rites and customs. But this is not to say that the Jewish faith is inherently weaker than Greek culture. For the Jews, adherence to Greek culture was easier and it was simply more acceptable. But it did cause a schism between the Jews. Two sects emerged which included the Hellenizing party, which was pro-Syrian and the Hasidim party, which eventually became the Pharisees. Once again, we see a division among the Jews. JEWISH (MACCABEAN AND HASMONEAN) SELF-RULE166-63 BC Historical Developments As they were pulled in both directions by two Macedonian dynasties, a Jewish revolt erupted. A Syrian official pushed for a heathen sacrifice in the Jewish village of Modein. Led by the priest Mattathias and his sons Judas, Jonathan and Simon this revolt eventually led to Jewish independence. The Jews retook Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple and restored worship starting a period of Jewish self-rule. However, this was a period of self-rule with major factions competing against each other. Impacts on the Jews In addition to the conflicts with the Syrians, the position of high priest took on political overtones with the high priest being chosen not by Aaronite lineage but by political strength. It is even suggested that bribes were being paid to secure the office. This caused further schisms among the Jews strengthening both the Pharisees and the Sadducees. ROMAN (HEROD) RULE63 BC to AD 663 Historical Developments The self-rule of the Jews ended in 63 BC when Pompey took Syria and entered Israel. Under Roman rule Antipater the Idumaean was appointed procurator by Julius Caesar and was later succeeded by his son Herod. Herod was a converted Jew and yet was one of the most heinous leaders the world had ever seen. A summary of his reign would include marrying the Asmonaean princess, Marianne to secure the support of the Maccabeans; murdering Marianne and her two sons at the behest of his mother; executing his mother Alexandra; murdering forty-three members of the Sanhedrin; Hellenizing the country by erecting a Greek theatre in Jerusalem; restoring the Temple to increase his popularity with the Jews; murdering his son Antipater; and finally committing the slaughter of the infants at Bethlehem. Impacts on the Jews These atrocities by Herod led to the development of three other sects developed during this time which included the Zealots, the Herodians and the Essenes. So near the end of the Intertestamental Period, we find the Jews more fractured than ever before, under the rule of a foreign power and turning to some very questionable means in an attempt to bring about God’s ends. MAJOR PROBLEMS AND RESPONSE 1. With the collapse of the Persian Empire, which had a very lenient attitude toward self-identity and religious freedom for those they had conquered, the Jews had to deal with a series of Greek kings who had a strong belief in their cultural superiority. The Jews were bounded on all sides by other cultures the principle of which was the Greek culture. Bruce calls this ‘the progressive Hellenization of Palestinian Judaism’.. The Jews started to compromise their life style to fit in with the world. In so doing, they give up any real distinction between a righteous lifestyle and a worldly lifestyle. The Jews made the decision to assume the Greek culture in whole or in part with some of them totally abandoning the faith. Others developed a sort of bi-faith practice where they embraced some of their Jewish faith as well as some of the Greek culture. This alone put them at odds with some of the more hardline practitioners of the faith. 2. The Jews moved from ‘being one’ to being ‘multiple standalone sects’. The rise of the Jewish sects resulted from the clash between Hellenism and the Jewish religion and culture. Taylor states that the Hellenism elements were dangerous to the purity of the Jewish faith and formed the new temptation to unfaithfulness just as idolatry had been to their forefathers. The Sadducees Under Jewish self-rule the Sadducees emerge as the party closely associated with the leading priestly families. It is thought that their name was derived from the priest Zadok, whose descendants are commended as faithful priests in Ezek. 44:15. The Sadducees observed only the Pentateuch and were the major supporters of the Hasmonean dynasty. As the ruling aristocracy in Jerusalem, they had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and with pressure from other sects there was a need to align themselves with the non-Jew ruling powers. They held a majority on the Sanhedrin and were allied with the Pharisees in having Jesus crucified. They held to a literal interpretation of the Law, liberal religious views and feared trouble with Rome. The Pharisees The Pharisees were the largest and most influential Jewish sects. They practiced a form of righteousness that observed a complex system of oral traditions in an effort to flesh out the implications of scriptural commends for everyday life. They were dedicated to teaching both the written and the oral Law attaching great importance to traditions. Consequently they practiced ritual prayer, fasting and tithing. They strictly kept the Sabbath and many other rules for everyday life; devised legal loopholes for their convenience. Their main goals were the restoration of religious freedom and the cessation of the connection between politics and the high priesthood. Their popularity among the people increased steadily. Most of the scribes, or popular teachers of the law, belonged to the Pharisaic party. Politically, the Pharisees were the power brokers between the masses and the aristocracy. They were scrupulous about the Law and viewed themselves as separate from those who were lax about keeping it. The Zealots The Zealots were almost a military arm of the faith and were increasingly interested in political freedom. Their means were very aggressive and won the bulk of Jews to their cause They advocated the violent overthrow of Rome, refused to pay taxes and regarded any loyalty to Caesar or Rome a as sin. Their opposition to Jesus may have come from His discourse â€Å"They say unto him, Caesars. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesars; and unto God the things that are Gods.† The Essenes The Essenes were one of the smaller sects and little is known of their origins. Their solution to the pressure and sects was to completely withdraw from society. They formed a sect that completely lived in seclusion. They turned to a philosophy that said we’re not of the world; neither will we be in the world. The Herodians The Herodians were a sect of influential Jews who were wholly politically minded. They still called themselves Jews but had pretty much left the faith. Even with his long list of atrocities, they completely supported Herod and by implication the Romans. This was their method of surviving when facing the pressures and challenges of the occupation and the various sects around them. 3. The Use of Political Means to Achieve Kingdom Ends The Jews, having lost belief in the ability of their faith to support them in their occupied and factional state turned to the use of secular politics to control their environment. Eventually, they came to pay little attention to the spiritual ideals of Israel. Their chief aim was secular power and aggrandizement. This can only be viewed as completely giving up the idea of being God’s people and in effect just throwing in the towel. 4. The combining of church and state in the office of High Priest. Carroll speaks of the evils involved with combining church and state. First you have religious power and governing power all handed to one individual. This can open to door to the state then having a say in who should receive those powers. Having this much power up for grabs sooner or later will result in the position becoming a matter of barter and sale. CONCLUSION These are major problems facing the Jewish people, but of them all, the greatest has to be the continued fracturing of the people into smaller and smaller self-interest groups. So the greatest threat to the Jewish people during the Intertestamental Period was not the warring factions around them. Not even the heinous actions of a tyrannical leader, but rather their own willingness to cease ‘being one’. There is an African Proverb that states â€Å"when there is no enemy within, the enemy without can do us no harm.† The Jews, in their attempts to meet the challenges around them were doing themselves great harm. But the Intertestamental period is a preface to the coming of Jesus. And it would be difficult to find a better time for the One who would unite all things under Himself. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bruce, F.F. The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 64. Carroll, Benajah Harvey. Between the Testaments, A Class on Biblical History. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas. 1914. Gene Taylor. 2005. Between the Testaments: A Study of the 400 Years of Biblical Silence and the Relevant Empires. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/between.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2013]. Hayford, Jack W. 1995, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. Kostenbergen, Andreas J., L. Scott Kellum and C. L. Quarles. 2009, The Cradle, The Cross and the Crown. Nashville: BH Publishing Group. [ 1 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 12. [ 2 ]. John 17:20-21 [ 3 ]. Benajah Harvey Carroll. Between the Testaments, A Class on Biblical History. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas. 1914, 6-8. [ 4 ]. Andreas J. Kostenberger, L. Scott Kellum and C. L. Quarles, The Cradle, The Cross and the Crown, (BH Publishing Group, 2009), 63. [ 5 ]. Benajah Harvey Carroll. Between the Testaments, A Class on Biblical History. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas. 1914, 6-8. [ 6 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 507. [ 7 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 10. [ 8 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 507-508. [ 9 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 10. [ 10 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 508. [ 11 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 11. [ 12 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 508. [ 13 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 11. [ 14 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 509. [ 15 ]. Ibid, 510. [ 16 ]. Ibid, 510. [ 17 ]. Ibid, 511. [ 18 ]. Benajah Harvey Carroll. Between the Testaments, A Class on Biblical History. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas. 1914, 42-43. [ 19 ]. Jack W. Hayford, Hayford’s Bible Handbook: The Complete Companion for Spirit-Filled Bible Study Nashville: (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 511. [ 20 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 11. [ 21 ]. Gene Taylor. 2005. Between the Testaments: A Study of the 400 Years of Biblical Silence and the Relevant Empires. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/between.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2013], 33. [ 22 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 63. [ 23 ]. Andreas J. Kostenberger, L. Scott Kellum and C. L. Quarles, The Cradle, The Cross and the Crown, (BH Publishing Group, 2009), 72. [ 24 ]. Ibid, 95. [ 25 ]. Gene Taylor. 2005. Between the Testaments: A Study of the 400 Years of Biblical Silence and the Relevant Empires. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/between.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2013], 35. [ 26 ]. Ibid, 34. [ 27 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 64. [ 28 ]. Andreas J. Kostenberger, L. Scott Kellum and C. L. Quarles, The Cradle, The Cross and the Crown, (BH Publishing Group, 2009), 72. [ 29 ]. Gene Taylor. 2005. Between the Testaments: A Study of the 400 Years of Biblical Silence and the Relevant Empires. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/between.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2013], 35. [ 30 ]. Mt 22:21 [ 31 ]. Gene Taylor. 2005. Between the Testaments: A Study of the 400 Years of Biblical Silence and the Relevant Empires. http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/taylor/between.pdf [Accessed July 25, 2013], 35. [ 32 ]. Ibid, 35. [ 33 ]. F.F. Bruce, The Period Between The Testaments: I, Political Development. Department of Biblical History and Literature in the University of Sheffield, 1949, 64. [ 34 ]. Benajah Harvey Carroll. Between the Testaments, A Class on Biblical History. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminar, Fort Worth, Texas. 1914, 11.