Marijuana Has Always Been A Concern In How It Should Be

Marijuana has always been a concern in how it should be dealt with, whether it be legal or illegal, if it harmful or not, and even if it is for the privileged or minorities. Marijuana brings different controversies and currently legalized in some states and not in others, but a major issue is the arrest/incarceration rates based on the ethnicity of those who use and are caught with marijuana. This leads to the question how does ethnicity play a role in arrest/incarceration rates when taking into account marijuana usage? Looking at the prohibition of marijuana, how some states have legalized it and others still have it as an illicit drug and how ethnicity plays a role. The rates of usage based on ethnicity and how it affects the youth in†¦show more content†¦Neighborhood’s that tend to have issues with usage is due to structure and social process. Structure is the demographic characteristics, for example race and poverty rate, while social process is the social organiz ation, where redlining takes effect. Idealistically, being in a safe reliable community, and feel supported by adults have lower tendencies to use marijuana. Disadvantaged neighborhoods are often the opposite, with adults using, and society pushing the advertisement using of other substances that are legal and with those vices it could lead a path to the use of marijuana. Marijuana being illegal gives a chance for organized crime to occur in disadvantaged neighborhoods and the social process of being a minority and poverty contributes to the use of marijuana among the youth. For individuals there are certain explanations as to why they used marijuana, anxiety, school attachment violent victimization, childhood ADHD. Within families, if parents used substance youth’s probability of usage increases, and less strict vigilance of parents link to marijuana use, similar to overprotective parents leads to use. Similar to parents influence, peer influence is also a major factor to u sage, and all these are specific to youth. Referring back to the social process, society oppresses those in poverty and contributes to two working parents (possibly one with two or more jobs) trying to liveShow MoreRelatedThe Regulation And Taxation Of Marijuana Act1618 Words   |  7 PagesQuestion four on the ballot was known as the â€Å"The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act.† The numbers came in and beginning December 15, 2016 in Massachusetts, individuals above the age of twenty-one will now be able to legally purchase, possess, cultivate, and use marijuana, with limitations on quantity, for recreational and medicinal use under the statutes of the state laws. While the prohibition of marijuana in Massachusetts has ended, many new movements must now begin to maintain, regulate, and pursueRead MoreMarijuana Is Safer Than Alcohol1183 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes to anyone over 21 years of age. Jason Anderson COM/156 MARCH 2, 2011 Colleen Vosicky Marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes to anyone over 21 years of age. Marijuana has been proven to be safer than alcohol, yet marijuana is against the law. Alcohol is known to contribute to acts of violence and crime, while in most cases cannabis can reduce aggression in its users. â€Å"In last year’s cases of reported violent crime threeRead MoreMedical Marijuana Should Be Legal1053 Words   |  5 PagesMedical marijuana, also called cannabis, is used in some places as a medication to treat diseases and symptoms. Many people consider it helpful and harmless making it the most used illicit drug in North America. With legalizing medical marijuana people can alleviate some health problems and help ease physical pain, but it also can bring many concerns, questions, and responsibility. Legalizing cannabis can help many people with their health conditions. There are some advantages to taking medicalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be The Gateway For Medical Breakthroughs? Essay991 Words   |  4 PagesNaturally Perfected Movements Usually when society has a discussion about Tetrahydrocannabinol (formally known as marijuana or cannabis) in general, the conversation about the mostly illegal molecule or plant is usually associated with getting high, gang banging, and drug deals gone wrong. However, Naturally Perfected Movements will enlighten readers that this is not always the case. Many politicians, scientists, doctors, and everyday people seem to believe that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a deadlyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1583 Words   |  7 Pagescigar at a wedding. I have made it a point to stay away from illegal drugs like meth, cocaine, ecstasy, heroine, and etcetera. As for marijuana, I tried it in Colorado recently with my boyfriend. Afterwards, and during, I thought about why it isn’t legalized for recreational use in more areas. There are many points to think about regarding the topic of legalized marijuana. Is it safe? Is it worth the cost? Will legalizing it increase the use amon g children? Can it creates jobs and help the economy? WillRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization1061 Words   |  5 PagesLegalization of Cannabis in Ohio Marijuana is a controversial topic all across the United States. Recently marijuana has been voted on, legalized, and denied legalization in multiple states. There are still more states trying to fight the green fight for marijuana. The fight for legalization hasn’t been an easy one for cannabis supporters; they have been fighting tooth and nail to make it happen. One of the main concerns in the marijuana debates are whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug, one of theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1342 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana has earned itself a terrible name over the years. This plant has a long history with humans, from early medical uses to spiritual and even recreational use. In recent years, many states have seen the legalization of marijuana for medical uses. Most large scale experiments have been hindered because of the difficulty of getting experiments involving marijuana approved. Despite this roadblock for the research of marijuana, surveys and ob servations of the medical use of marijuana show thatRead MoreFamily / Living Situation By Raymond Scott1713 Words   |  7 Pagesdoes not have any children. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Scott lived with his girlfriend, Makiela Mayes. However, just before his arrest in this matter, Mr. Scott experienced homelessness for approximately eight months. Mr. Scott’s entire life has been spent in Milwaukee. He is the product of the non-marital relationship between Randolph Scott and Delores Prescott. Both his parents are deceased. Mr. Scott’s primary caregiver throughout his developing years was his maternal grandmother, Lula PrescottRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Should Be Legalized1432 Words   |  6 Pages The legalization of marijuana is a controversial subject; however, there are many positive arguments to support the idea. It has been scientifically proven that marijuana is not a health risk and that it is less toxic than alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and aspirin. It has helped many people with health problems, such as, Aids, Cancer, Epilepsy, and many more. It would also bring in a large amount of tax revenue; further proving that marijuana should be legalized throughout the United States. ThereRead More Medical Marijuana: A Safe and Effective Alternative Medication1723 Words   |  7 Pagesmedicinal marijuana can help. Many people have long used marijuana for both medicinal and other purposes for many years. However, its modern use is a very controversial issue having both strong supporters as well as firm opponents. With all the clinical studies that have been done on marijuana it has been proven effective enough when compared to conventional treatments to overcome the fact that it is an illegal substance therefore, it should be legalized for medical purposes. Marijuana has been

Perfect Society in George Orwells Animal Farm - 1790 Words

Since the beginning of civilization, humans have domesticated animals and exploited their labor for personal gain. In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, however the animals take control of Manor Farm from their human overlords and rename it Animal Farm. They decree that on Animal Farm all animals are equal, and instill seven commandments to ensure that the animals stay equal. Throughout the novel Orwell shows the destruction of the egalitarian utopia that the animals have created. He suggests that the flaws of human nature are too much to overcome, and that this â€Å"perfect† and equal society is impossible. In the novel Animal Farm, George Orwell demonstrates that the human tendency to manipulate and be manipulated is what prevents us from being perfect. The pigs rise to power because of their manipulation of language. Old Major gives a riveting speech about a dream he wishes to pass on to the other animals. This dream inspires the animals towards revolution and gives them hope that they can overcome the oppression that they have been facing for their entire lives. Since Old Major inspires the revolution, it is not surprising that after his death, his fellow pigs take a leading role during the formative years of Animal Farm. They help to create the seven commandments as well as the core principal of Animalism. To embody the essential beliefs of Animalism, Snowball the pig creates the slogan, â€Å"‘four legs good, two legs bad’† (34). This slogan causes uproar among the birds, becauseShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of George Orwell s The Great Gatsby 1285 Words   |  6 PagesMack Allen Mr.Booth Period 6 English 12/3/14 Author Study of George Orwell George Orwell was a literary tactician who won two major awards because of hia advanced and intriguing use of propaganda. At first glance, his books appear to be stories about animals, however, they contain much deeper and influential meanings. Orwell is most recognized for his portrayal of dystopian societies and how they parallel present society. Through intense allegories, Orwell unintentionally crafted novels that areRead MoreThe Works of George Orwell1347 Words   |  5 PagesGeorge Orwell How did George Orwell, an author who died over 50 years ago, suddenly rocket to the top of the best sellers list? George Orwell was able to show peoples all over the world about dangers that not only pertained to people of his time period but to multitudes of future generations. He used his literary knowledge to write books that were incredible influential in both their literary skill and the message they portrayed. George Orwell greatly influenced British society through his literaryRead MoreThe Impossible Utopia Essay828 Words   |  4 Pagesand then, when they have done their job, enslaved over again by new masters† (Brander). Animal Farm, a farm with animals that are treated cruelly and dream for a better life in which animals are all equal and independent of depraved humans, is an allegory of the development of communism, even totalitarianism. After successfully driving away Mr. Jones, the cruel, tyrannous, drunken owner of the farm, the animals, with the pigs acting as l eaders for their superior intelligence, believe they are goingRead MoreThe Key Themes In Animal Farm By George Orwell952 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm, an allegorical novel by George Orwell, depicts a very clear picture of the events leading up to the 1917 Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union. The techniques Orwell has used when writing this piece allows his robust view points and prominent reoccurring themes to become clear. A couple of themes that stood out the most to me was the use of education and intelligence, as well as corruption of power and leadership to fuel oppression. Orwell uses the imagery of aRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1395 Words   |  6 PagesGeorge Orwell’s Animal Farm: The Power of Corruption In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, Orwell illustrates how power corrupts absolutely and how Napoleon degrades the structure and stability of Animal Farm because of the decisions that he makes. I will also expand on the idea of how Old Major’s ideas for an organized society get completely destroyed by Napoleon’s revolutionary actions. It was ironic and satirical that Napoleon’s own power annihilates Animal Farm. The satire in George Orwell’s AnimalRead MoreEssay about Equality in George Orwell ´s Animal Farm827 Words   |  4 Pagesothers to give dictating commands. It sounds wonderful doesn’t it? George Orwell’s haunting book Animal Farm shows however, the near impossibility it is to make that idea a reality. In this fairy tale, a group of oppressed farm animals revolt against the tyrannical bonds of their evil master Farmer Jones, chases him off the farm, and attempt to make a society based on the idea listed above. But instead of having this incredible society, the pigs decide to make one instead where they are the ultimateRead More Critique of Communism in Animal Farm by George Orwell Essay1282 Words   |  6 PagesKarl Marx’s perfect society described in his Communist Manifesto is in direct conflict with the implementation of Soviet Communism, which was scathingly criticized by George Orwell’s book Animal Farm. Karl Marx believed that in order to f orm a just and equal society, the working class, called the proletariat, would have to overthrow those who owned the means of production, who were known as the bourgeoisie. This was to be known as the Proletariat Revolution where the oppressed laborers in capitalistRead MorePolitical Allegory In Animal Farm, By George Orwell834 Words   |  4 PagesAnimal Farm is another book where the world is changed for the better yet life becomes either no different or worse. In George Orwells novel, â€Å" all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others†. Animal farm in a short summary is a small farm where the animals plot a rebellion against the humans, which they believe are corrupt. Two pigs, Snowball and Napolean, find themselves becoming the leaders of the animal rebellion. Throughout the story the animals create a communist likeRead MoreAnimal Farm Character Analysis713 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS† (Orwell 134). In George Orwell’s allegorical fable, Animal Farm, a group of animals lived with their master, Jones. Jones was an unfair man who didn’t care too much about the animals. One day Jones forgot to feed the animals, so they revolted. The animals wanted a perfect place without the corruption of man. The currently animal controlled land of Animal Farm, the smartest of all animals, the pigs take control. To prevent a human-likeRead MoreA Brave New World And Animal Farm Analysis751 Words   |  4 Pagesof explicit principles governing conduct within a particular activity† Sometimes these rules need to be bent for growth to occur. A Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley, and Animal Farm ,by George Orwell, provide a clear explanation of when it is benefitting to take a stand against the rules. In the novel Animal Farm, the animals revolt against Mr. Jones, the farmer, and then end up under the rule of a tyrant pig named Napoleon. In A Brave New World, A revolutionary process allows for the creation of

Henry Ford A Life In Brief Essay Example For Students

Henry Ford: A Life In Brief Essay Henry Ford grew up on a small farm near Dearborn, Michigan. As Henrygrew up, he spent most of his free time tinkering, and finding out exactlyhow things work. A pastime that developed thinking and logic abilities. But being a farmers boy, he had little spare time, for there were alwayschores to be done. By twelve years of age, Henry was doing a mans work onthe farm and had begun repairing machinery for neighbouring farmers. Hisfather pleased when Henry would repair a harness, reset a tool handle, ormake some hinges for furniture but he was not pleased however, when his sonrepaired things for neighbours, as he often did, without charging them acent. It was one day when Henry saw a steam engine powering a farmingmachine that he dreamed that one day he would build a smaller engine thatwould power a vehicle and do the job that horses once did. Shortly after Henry turned thirteen, his mother died. Henry becamevery discontent with living on the farm but he stayed for another threeyears. When he was sixteen he finished his studies at the district school. Against his fathers will, Henry moved to Detroit, ten miles away. In Detroit, Henry worked eleven hours a day at James Flower Brothers Machine Shop for only $2.50 a week. As this was not enough topay for board and room, Henry got an evening job at Magills Jewelry Shopfor $2 each week, at first only cleaning and winding the shops large stockof clocks. Soon though, he was repairing them also. After three years in Detroit, and ceaseless persuasion from hisfather, Henry moved back to the farm at the age of nineteen. Farm work wasno more appealing than before. Henry did enjoy the birds and the wildlifein the country, and he liked operating and repairing a steam threshingmachine so he stayed. At a dance on New Years Eve in 1885, Henry met adark-haired young woman, Clara Bryant, who lived only a few miles away. In1888 Henry and Clara were married. As a gift, Mr. Ford gave Henry and hisbride forty acres of wooded land. Henry built a small cottage and theylived off the land. Henrys father thought Henry was content and hadsettled down for life, but this was not to be so. All of Henrys sparetime was still spent on engines. Three years after their marriage, Henrysaw an internal-combustion gas engine in Detroit. He decided that this isthe engine that he would have to use on his car. He had to move back toDetroit. For two years Henry worked nights as a steam engineer for the EdisonIlluminating Company. He worked every night from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. andearned $45 a month. After working hours he experimented on his gas engine. His wages barely paid for living expenses and for tools and materials forhis tinkering. But his wife was cooperative and did not complain butrather, encouraged him. In November, 1983, a son was born to Henry and Clara, they named himEdsel. A few weeks later, just before Christmas, Henry had completed hisengine. A successful testing of the engine excited Henry and he decided tobuild one with two cylinders. Slightly over two and a half years later,Henry had built his first horseless carriage with four bicycle wheels andseat. His contraption would not fit out of the workshop so he simplyknocked out a portion of the wall. The car tested successfully, but wasvery impractical as someone on a bicycle had to ride ahead to warn thepeople with horses as the car startled them. .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .postImageUrl , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:hover , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:visited , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:active { border:0!important; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:active , .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966 .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .udd13b75caa3eb1ecee1f36a595580966:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A new type of museum EssayHenry quit his very promising job at the Edison Illuminating Companyon August 15, 1989. He was to head the new Detroit Automobile Company. Instead of producing any cars though, Henry spent the money on improvinghis design. The experimental models that he produced cost a great deal ofmoney and a little more than a year later, the Detroit Automobile Companyhad failed. To gain supporters, Henry built a racing car. If he could wina race, he could get backers and form his own company. Henry didsuccessfully win a race in October, 1901 and acquiring backers became nolonger a problem. On November, 1901, the Henry Ford Company was formed. This companyfared no better than the previous. Ford still wanted to build a low-pricedcar that ordinary people could afford to buy and drive. Ford would notsacrifice his standards for the profit. (Much unlike his portrayal in BraveNew World). Finally in June, 1903, a third company, the Ford MotorCompany, was incorporated. Ford continued working on his cheap design. It was ready shortlyafter the new companys formation and orders came in faster than they couldbe filled. Ford, Charles Sorensen and a small group of dedicated engineersbegan working on a universal car. By October, 1908, the Model-T had beenconstructed. Again orders began coming in faster than they could befilled. This presented Ford with his next challenge, to increase theproduction rate of the automobiles. Sorensen and Ford finally came up withthe assembly line idea. Rather than having the men go to the work, thework would come to the man, brought along on pulleys and chains overhead. One problem bothered Ford increasingly, however. Assembly- line workwas monotonous and uninteresting. The Ford factory had a great turnover ofemployees, and too much time was wasted in training new men. The men werecurrently only being paid the minimum wage of $2 a day. Ford decided (muchto his colleagues displeasure and protest) that the men would be paid $5and that the work day would be shortened to that of an eight-hour day. Some people praised him as a great humanitarian. Others denounced Ford asa madman, a crackpot, and a villain. One may have considered Ford unjustin making his men work on the assembly line, this is not so. Ford had morethan doubled the wages of his men, shortened their work day, and therebytried to give the employees a share of the profits. Ford eventually resigned as president of his company and gave controlto Edsel. Conflicts rose between Edsel and Henry. All his life, Ford hadbeen in charge, calling the shots. Now, even though Edsel was President inname, none of the decisions went without Henrys approval. Edsel hadwanted to produce a new model for several years, and finally Henryconsented. In December, 1927, the Model A was unveiled to the public. Sales soared. This was last real success that Henry Ford saw in hiscompany. The great depression was coming, sales dropped, and labour unionsformed. Originally Ford had factory police to monitor the men and keepaway people related to union, but on June 18, 1941, the men went on strikeand Henry was handed a union contract. It spelled out the terms on whichhis men would work, and even set the speed of the assembly line. Fordrefused to sign. Only after his wife threatened to leave him, did Henrysign. He did not just sign, he gave them better terms. Henry felt a needto dictate. He had always been in control, and this was time was noexception. War broke out in December, 1941. Fords factories wereconverted to plants that constructed war machines. Even in this time, Fordkept his love for nature and the old times. Henry constructed a museum. .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .postImageUrl , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:hover , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:visited , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:active { border:0!important; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:active , .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542 .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2e288e4c34d82ef3427eb0265316b542:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Serial Killer Mind EssayHe even had his fathers old farmhouse rebuilt.It was in 1942 that hisson Edsel died of cancer. The shock nearly killed old Henry, but ratherthan give up his hold on the Ford Motor Company, he made himself Presidentonce more. He was old now, and in 1945 he relinquished all responsibilityto Edsels son, Harry II. The Ford Company took on new life under youngHenry, but Ford was not around to see it. In 1947 Henry Ford fell ill andtook to his bed. On April 27, alone with his wife and one servant, Henrydied at age eighty-four. After his death, a foundation was formed to administer his vastfortune. The foundation gave substantial support to various projects inthe arts, in medicine and in other important areas of American life. Fordwas a great man who revolutionized our world. Ford put the world on wheels,and in so doing, he made it a smaller world. BibliographyMontgomery, E. Henry Ford: Automotive Pioneer. Illinois: GarrardPublishing Company, 1979Paradis, A. Henry Ford. New York: Putnams Sons, 1968

The Abbasid Revolution Essay Example Essay Example

The Abbasid Revolution Essay Example Paper The Abbasid Revolution Essay Introduction The Abbasid Dynasty, known to its supporters as the ‘blessed dynasty’, which imposed its authority on the Islamic empire in 132/750, claimed to inaugurate a new era of justice, piety and happiness. The dynasty ruled the Islamic Caliphate from 750 to 1258 AD, making it one of the longest and most influential Islamic dynasties. For most of its early history, it was the largest empire in the world, and this meant that it had contact with distant neighbors such as the Chinese and Indians in the East, and the Byzantines in the West, allowing it to adopt and synthesize ideas from these cultures.The replacement of the Umayyads by the Abbasids in the leadership of the Islamic community was more than a mere change of dynasty. It was a revolution in the history of Islam, as important a turning point as the French and Russian Revolutions in the history of the west. The Umayyad administration (661-750) of the Islamic Empire created serious grievances among various political, religio us, social and ethnic groups. Their monopoly of power denied other people important administrative positions and the accompanying privileges and benefits.The Umayyads favored Syrian Arabs over other Muslims and treated mawali, newly converted Muslims, as second class citizens. The most numerous group of mawali were the Persians, who lived side by side with Arabs in the east who were angry at the favor shown to Syrian Arabs. Together, they were ripe for rebellion. Other Muslims were angry with the Umayyads for turning the caliphate into a hereditary dynasty, for their over-dependence upon the bureaucracy of the preceding Byzantine Empire, for levying taxes forbidden by the Qur’an, and for their ethnocentric policies.Some believed that a single family should not hold power, while Shiites believed that true authority belonged to the family of the Prophet Muhammad through his son-in-law Ali, and the Umayyads were not part of Muhammad’s family. The Umayyads were accused by several religious groups of having a weak commitment to Islam. It will be remember that the Abbasid originally came to power by utilizing the discontent of the different segments of the empire such as the shi’is, the kharijites, the religiously orthodox, the Persian and other malcontents.All these various groups who were angry with the Umayyads united under the Abbasids, who began a rebellion against the Umayyads in Persia. The Abbasids built a coalition of Persian mawali, Eastern Arabs, and Shiites. The Abbasids were able to gain Shiite support because they claimed descent from Muhammad through Muhammad’s uncle Abbas. Their descent from Muhammad was not through Ali, as Shiites would have preferred, but Shiites still considered the Abbasids better than the Umayyads. A Persian general, Abu Muslim, who supported Abbasid claims to power, led the Abbasid armies.His victories allowed the Abbasid leader Abul `Abbas al-Saffah to enter the Shiite-dominated city of Kufa in 748 and declare himself caliph. In 750, the army of Abu Muslim and al-Saffah faced the Umayyad Caliph Marwan II at the Battle of the Zab near the Tigris River. Marwan II was defeated, fled, and was killed. As-Saffah captured Damascus and slaughtered the remaining members of the Umayyad family (except for one, Abd al-Rahman, who escaped to Spain and continued the Umayyad Dynasty there). The Abbasids were the new rulers of the caliphate.The ‘Abbasid revolution marked the end of the Arab empire and beginning of an integrated Islamic society in which the underprivileged mawali- (non-Arab clients) played a crucial role in the evolution of a common culture based on Islam and the Arabic language. In 1902 Wellhausen wrote: â€Å"The ‘Abbasids called their government the dawlah, i. e. , the new era. The revolution affected at this time was indeed prodigious. † The Abbasids had led a revolution against the unpopular policies of the Umayyads, but those who expected major change were disappointed. Under the second Abbasid Caliph, al-Mansur (r. 54–775), it became clear that much of the Umayyad past would be continued. The Abbasids maintained the hereditary control of the caliphate, forming a new dynasty. The alliance with the Shiites was short lived, and the Abbasids became champions of Sunni orthodoxy, upholding the authority of their family over that of Ali, and continuing the subjugation of the Shiites. Even Abu Muslim, the popular leader who more than any other single individual was the architect of the Abbasid victory, was put to death by the second Abbasid Caliph, Al- Mansur. However, the Abbasids did prove loyal to their Persian mawali allies. In act, Abbasid culture would come to be dominated by the legacy of Persian civilization. The Abbasid court was heavily influenced by Persian customs, and members of the powerful Persian Barmakid family acted as the advisers of the caliphs and rivaled them in wealth and power. One of the earliest and most important changes the Abbasids made was to move the capital of the Islamic empire from the old Umayyad power base of Damascus to a new city—Baghdad. Baghdad was founded in 762 by al-Mansur on the banks of the Tigris River. The city was round in shape, and designed from the beginning to be a great capital and the center of the Islamic world.Baghdad grew quickly with encouragement from the Abbasid state, and it was soon the largest city in the world. At Baghdad, the Persian culture that the Umayyads had attempted to suppress was now allowed to thrive. Art, poetry, and science flourished. The Abbasids learned from the Chinese (allegedly from Chinese soldiers captured in battle) the art of making paper. Cheap and durable, paper became an important material for spreading literature and knowledge. Abbasid administration was a development of that of the late Umayyads, and Mansur openly admitted his great debt to the Umayyad Caliph Hisham in the organization of the state.It no longe r based on racial administration and exclusiveness. A new position that of the vizier (wazir) was also established to delegate central authority, he was next to the Caliph. This office was an Abbasid innovation, possibly of Persian origin. Eventually, this meant that many Abbasid caliphs were relegated to a more ceremonial role than under the Umayyads, as the viziers began to exert greater influence, and the role of the old Arab aristocracy was slowly replaced by a Persian bureaucracy.A dictum of the Abbasids said that he who obeys the vazir has obeyed the caliph and he who obeys the caliph has obeyed God! One of the most important departments of the administration was the Department of Taxation. A significant feature of the Abbasid government was the postal department, of which was called Sahib al-barid. Interestingly enough, one of the functions of the post Office was intelligence service. Perhaps the only difference was that the Abbasid chief of the intelligence used a large numb er of old women in his service. Other departments of administration were audit, chancery and police.One of the functionaries of the Police Department was the muhtasib, who was in charge of public morals and religious observance. In the Army, the Arab militia was no longer important and the pensions paid to the Arabs were gradually discontinued except for regular serving soldiers, the all-Arab forces which had directly established the authority of the conquering people were replaced by a professional army and by the militia of the Persian dihqans supporting the dynasty who gradually supplanted the Arab tribal levies, thereafter recruited only for major campaigns.The rise of the Abbasids also greatly enriched Islamic literature as well as the natural sciences. Mathematics, astronomy and chemistry all advanced greatly during that period, mostly due to efforts by Muslim Persians in those respective fields. The openness of the Abbasid community allowed for new ideas and new methods of pr oduction to overcome their Arab counterparts and would reshape the present industries into something more efficient and eventually produce more wealth. The fifth caliph of the Abbasid dynasty, Harun al-Rashid (r. 86–809), is remembered as one of history’s greatest patrons of the arts and sciences. Under his rule, Baghdad became the world’s most important center for science, philosophy, medicine, and education. The massive size of the caliphate meant that it had contact and shared borders with many distant empires, so scholars at Baghdad could collect, translate, and expand upon the knowledge of other civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Persians, Indians, Chinese, Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines.The successors of Harun al-Rashid, especially his son al-Ma’mun (r. 813–833), continued his policies of supporting artists, scientists, and scholars. Al-Ma’mun founded the Bayt al-Hikma, the House of Wisdom, in Baghdad. A library, an institute for tr anslators, and in many ways an early form of university, the House of Wisdom hosted Muslim and non-Muslim scholars who sought to translate and gather the cumulative knowledge of human history in one place, and in one language—Arabic. At the House of Wisdom, important ideas from around the world came together.The introduction of Indian numerals, which have become standard in the Islamic and Western worlds, greatly aided in mathematics and scientific discovery. Scholars such as Al-Kindi revolutionized mathematics and synthesized Greek philosophy with Islamic thought. Al-Biruni and Abu Nasr Mansur—among many other scholars—made important contributions to geometry and astronomy. Al-Khwarizmi, expanding upon Greek mathematical concepts, developed Algebra (the word â€Å"algorithm† is a corruption of his name).Ibn al-Haytham made important contributions to the field of optics, and is generally held to have developed the concept of the scientific method. A numbe r of very practical innovations took place, especially in the field of agriculture. Improved methods of irrigation allowed more land to be cultivated, and new types of mills and turbines were used to reduce the need for labor (though slavery was still very common in both the countryside and cities).The Revolution gave the peasants greater possession rights and a more equitable system of tax assessment, based on a percentage of the crop, instead of a fixed rate, as previously. Crops and farming techniques were adopted from far-flung neighboring cultures. Hence, under the Abbasids, the Arab Empire was quickly metamorphosed into an international Muslim Empire, and the caliph became an omnipotent despot surrounded by imperial pomp and circumstance alien to the native Arab ideas-no doubt shared by the Prophet himself-of equality and simplicity.Soon enough absolute power and unlimited luxury corrupted the moral fiber of the dynasty, and the later Abbasid caliphs progressively became mere figureheads manipulated at will by non- Arab ruling provincial vassals, who were to all intents and purposes autonomous sovereigns over their own fiefs. The dynasty finally ceased when the Mongols stormed Baghdad in the year I258 and put the last Abbasid caliph al-Musta’sim to death. The Abbasid Revolution Essay Thank you for reading this Sample!