Saturday, August 22, 2020

Haitian Culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Haitian Culture - Assignment Example Also, another little bit incorporate the Hindus just as Muslims who generally by and by occupy Port-au-Prince (Largey, 2012, p.14-15). By and large, most Haitians show a noteworthy connect to the occasion of the 1804 removal of the French, an event that prompted Haiti being the main sovereign Black state just as being second in the Western Hemisphere to accomplish self-rule from majestic Europe. Haitian’s culture portrays the significance of touch in different structures. This is very obvious among the male sexual orientation whereby they show a propensity of clasping hands out in the open. For untouchables, this activity might be a delineation of homosexuality. For Haitians, nonetheless, clasping hands in pubic depicts kinship yet it is incredibly uncommon for them to show friendship openly towards their females for this to them should be in protection. Love towards, relatives might be demonstrated clearly and clasping hands of relatives may not be respected improper (Migraine-George, and Jackson, 2014, p.7-8). Further, on account of experts, for example, medicinal services suppliers, physical contact just comes because of shaking hands whereby activities like kissing see them as wrong. In any case, contact by social insurance suppliers during administration arrangement ordinarily gets appreciation. With respect to individual spatial and separating techniques, most Haitians wouldn't fret such a great amount about close to home space. Subsequently, in many occasions, communication will in general be close, be it with a companion or a relative. For the most part, contrasted with Americans require less close to home spatial in this way much of the time they position themselves more like each other when conveying. Further, during a discussion, for most Haitians, direct eye to eye connection is viewed as suitable particularly when utilized with companions or people of same age bunch just as relatives.

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Psychologist Aaron Beck Biography

Psychologist Aaron Beck Biography History and Biographies Print Psychologist Aaron Beck Biography Founder of Cognitive Therapy By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on June 13, 2019 Leif Skoogfors / Getty Images More in Psychology History and Biographies Psychotherapy Basics Student Resources Theories Phobias Emotions Sleep and Dreaming Aaron Temkin Beck was born on July 18, 1921, in Providence, Rhode Island. He was the youngest of five children. Beck went on to graduate from Brown University in 1942 where he majored in English and Political Science. He then earned his M.D. from Yale University in 1946. In 1950, Beck married Phyllis W. Beck and the couple went on to have four children. His daughter, Judith S. Beck, is also an influential ?cognitive-behavioral therapist who serves as the President of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Best Known For Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)Beck Depression InventoryBeck Hopelessness ScaleBeck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy Career Beck entered Yale intent on studying psychiatry, but became discouraged after taking his first course in psychoanalysis, which he initially viewed as nonsense. Eventually, after completing a psychiatric rotation, he became fascinated with the psychoanalytic approach and what he believed was its ease in answering questions about psychological disorders. “I have come to the conclusion,” Beck wrote in a 1958 letter to a colleague, “that there is one conceptual system that is peculiarly suitable for the needs of the medical student and physician-to-be: Psychoanalysis.” Beck spent much of the early part of his career studying and researching psychoanalysis, particularly in the use of the treatment of depression. After a few years of practicing psychoanalytic therapy, Beck began to find that the approach lacked the scientific rigor, structure, and empirical evidence that he desired. His interests shifted to the cognitive approach, and his research in this area intensified after taking a job in the psychiatry department at the University of Pennsylvania where he established a depression research clinic. Beck discovered that his depressed patients often experienced spontaneous negative thoughts about themselves, the world, and others. Patients who ruminated on these thoughts then began to treat them as valid and accurate. His focus soon shifted to helping patients identify these negative automatic thoughts and replace them with more realistic and accurate thoughts in order to minimize distorted thinking patterns that contribute to depression. Successfully treating any disorder, Beck found, involved making patients aware of these negative thought patterns. This approach to treatment eventually became known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Contributions to Psychology In addition to his widely used assessment scales, Beck has published more than 600 professional papers and 25 books over the course of his career. Beck has also received numerous honors for his work including five honorary degrees, The Lienhard Award from The Institute of Medicine for his development of cognitive therapy, and the Kennedy Community Health Award. Beck is widely recognized as the father of cognitive therapy. American Psychologist named him as one of their five most influential psychologists of all time. He has also been called one of the most influential people in mental health and one of the ten most influential people to shape the course of psychiatry in America. Today, Beck continues to serve as the director of the Aaron T. Beck Psychopathology Research Center as well as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania. His work has influenced numerous psychologists including Martin Seligman and his daughter Judith S. Beck. Select Publications Beck, A.T. (1967). The diagnosis and management of depression. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Beck, A.T. (1972). Depression: Causes and treatment. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Beck, A.T. (1975). Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. Madison, CT: International Universities Press, Inc. Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F., Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Beck, A.T., Freeman, A., Davis, D.D. (2003). Cognitive therapy of personality disorders. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Beck, A.T., Emery, G., Greenberg, R.L. (2005). Anxiety disorders and phobias: A cognitive perspective. New York, NY: Basic Books. Clark, D.A., Beck, A.T. (2010). Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: Science and practice. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

My Views on Teaching Essay examples - 933 Words

Education is a simple word, but analyzing this word is more profound because it can last forever in their lives of the students. There will be different philosophies of education in this paper that will be discuss. Every philosophy perspectives that teachers have chosen for the students it is important because it can depends on their teaching strengths and effectiveness. The goal of any philosophy could be that every student would be able to succeed in their lives. The students are not alike, but most of them have similarities. For a teacher she/he needs to find a philosophy that works for the majority of the class. It is great to have a variety of the philosophies in the classroom since every philosophy could help to every student.†¦show more content†¦The teacher can have activities where they need to view the information visually, where they can hear the information, or even better the teacher can try to combine these two and it will be more beneficial to the students. O r even sometimes the teacher should repeat the assignment process, to make sure that the students knows what to do. This will prevent students to not completing the assignment as the teacher have told them for misunderstanding. The students who has a disability or are learning English as their second language is more difficult for them to understand what do you want them to do. Even worse when they have been in this country for short time. It is important to let the student to ask questions since if they have questions that means whether the students didn’t understand or they want to learn more about it. Link (2008) stated that Perennialism teaches concepts and focuses on knowledge and the meaning of knowledge. A classroom constructed from this format typically espouses a traditional philosophy where a teacher answers questions and inquires from the students in order for them to gain an understanding. The technology has been advancing rapidly and it helps to the students to h ave a better options to create and finish their assignments quickly. The technology also helps to the teachers to search and have better options of their activities. Ornstein, Levine. (2008) saidShow MoreRelatedMy Views On Teaching And Teaching903 Words   |  4 Pagesmore valuable when shared and teaching is significant as it imparts knowledge to others. My teaching experiences in college as a private tutor and in graduate school as a lab instructor have not only helped me to improve my teaching skills, but also have encouraged me to pursue a life-long career in teaching and research. Now that I am equipped with the knowledge of fundamental Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology as well as research experience, I am eager for a teaching opportunity to share what IRead MoreMy Views On Teaching Fourth Grade Teacher1758 Words   |  8 PagesThis past semesters has been an eye opening experience that has changed my views on teacher. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a f ourth grade teacher. However after being placed in a second grade classroom my views have changed. I liked the idea of teaching fourth grade because my fourth grade teacher was my inspiration in life. When I was in Ms. Petro’s class I enjoyed being able to watch the students progress over time. Being able to see the drastic improvements in little childrenRead MoreTaking a Look at Hegemonic Assumptions1237 Words   |  5 Pagesour own best interests but actually work against us in the long run (Brookfield, 1998). A few common examples of this in teaching are the perfect 10 that we should strive for perfect evaluations in everything we do and that a good teacher always gets a perfect evaluation, that teaching is a vocation it is a calling in life and if you do not give all your time over to teaching then you are not a good teacher, that the answer must be out there somewhere that someone somewhere has previously solvedRead MoreKincheloe on Critical Pedagogy1283 Words   |  5 Pagespolitics† (1). Kincheloe’s goal in this reading is to characterize teacher thinking by examining social and historical forces that have shaped teaching, and to understand who benefits and who is punished when it is defined in specific ways. Kincheloe also discussed in the reading that the separation of mind and matter has profound and unfortunate consequences. This view led to a conception of the world as a divided system into two distinct realms: an internal world of sensation and an objective world c omposedRead More My Philosophy of Teaching Essay506 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Teaching When thinking of a philosophy of teaching, four major issues need to be considered. Those issues are one’s views on education, the role of the teacher, teaching and learning, and on the children. This is something that someone entering the teaching profession needs to give serious thought to and realize the importance that this will hold in the future. The following essay will express my philosophy of teaching. One very important factor in every life isRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Reflection On Teaching1270 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of reflection: Reflection on practice has different meanings, in my view it means constructive criticism: being honest with myself, becoming aware of and understanding my own strengths, and being able to review activities and constantly test assumptions related to our work. These have been my approach to critical reflection throughout the year. This is supported by Brookfield, he says that Critically reflective teaching happens when we identify and scrutinise the assumptions that undergirdRead MoreUnderstanding The Current Epistemological Understanding1627 Words   |  7 Pagesin now. b. With what degree of certainty can we describe or explain content within our teaching area? What are the implications of that for teaching? When describing or explaining content within an elementary classroom, I can be confident in what I am teaching my students. I have this confidence because the information I will teach will have been researched and proven to be true. For example, when teaching science or math (or really any subject), I will use methods, formulas, equations, etc. thatRead More Professional Essay example1116 Words   |  5 Pageswhen my sister and I would play school with our friends. It was one of the best experiences that I had. It was this experience that helped me make up my mind about being a teacher. Now as I move through the different stages in the educational program, I have determined that I have developed certain beliefs. By teaching and working with children, people can see my beliefs. My philosophy towards education is progressivism. Progressivism can be found in my views about public schools, my teachingRead MorePersonal Philosophy Of Educational Essay Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pag esKofi Annan, of Ghana said, â€Å"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family† (nobelprize.org). My ambition to become an educator stems from a desire to help children grow into productive and successful adults. I am a mother of six children. As I have guided my individual children through the different stages of their childhood, adventures, adversities, and educational experiences, I have come to realize that all children haveRead MoreEssay about Professional Goals and Philosophy899 Words   |  4 Pagesthat child’s teacher. To influence the student in a positive manner, one must assess one’s personal views and approaches to education. The views associated with personal views include the nature of a student; the nature of knowledge; the purpose of education; the method of teaching; and the curriculum being taught. The way a teacher feels toward these issues may affect the whole of their teaching career and greatly influences the student as well. The nature of students, I believe, is one of

My Views on Teaching Essay examples - 933 Words

Education is a simple word, but analyzing this word is more profound because it can last forever in their lives of the students. There will be different philosophies of education in this paper that will be discuss. Every philosophy perspectives that teachers have chosen for the students it is important because it can depends on their teaching strengths and effectiveness. The goal of any philosophy could be that every student would be able to succeed in their lives. The students are not alike, but most of them have similarities. For a teacher she/he needs to find a philosophy that works for the majority of the class. It is great to have a variety of the philosophies in the classroom since every philosophy could help to every student.†¦show more content†¦The teacher can have activities where they need to view the information visually, where they can hear the information, or even better the teacher can try to combine these two and it will be more beneficial to the students. O r even sometimes the teacher should repeat the assignment process, to make sure that the students knows what to do. This will prevent students to not completing the assignment as the teacher have told them for misunderstanding. The students who has a disability or are learning English as their second language is more difficult for them to understand what do you want them to do. Even worse when they have been in this country for short time. It is important to let the student to ask questions since if they have questions that means whether the students didn’t understand or they want to learn more about it. Link (2008) stated that Perennialism teaches concepts and focuses on knowledge and the meaning of knowledge. A classroom constructed from this format typically espouses a traditional philosophy where a teacher answers questions and inquires from the students in order for them to gain an understanding. The technology has been advancing rapidly and it helps to the students to h ave a better options to create and finish their assignments quickly. The technology also helps to the teachers to search and have better options of their activities. Ornstein, Levine. (2008) saidShow MoreRelatedMy Views On Teaching And Teaching903 Words   |  4 Pagesmore valuable when shared and teaching is significant as it imparts knowledge to others. My teaching experiences in college as a private tutor and in graduate school as a lab instructor have not only helped me to improve my teaching skills, but also have encouraged me to pursue a life-long career in teaching and research. Now that I am equipped with the knowledge of fundamental Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology as well as research experience, I am eager for a teaching opportunity to share what IRead MoreMy Views On Teaching Fourth Grade Teacher1758 Words   |  8 PagesThis past semesters has been an eye opening experience that has changed my views on teacher. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a f ourth grade teacher. However after being placed in a second grade classroom my views have changed. I liked the idea of teaching fourth grade because my fourth grade teacher was my inspiration in life. When I was in Ms. Petro’s class I enjoyed being able to watch the students progress over time. Being able to see the drastic improvements in little childrenRead MoreTaking a Look at Hegemonic Assumptions1237 Words   |  5 Pagesour own best interests but actually work against us in the long run (Brookfield, 1998). A few common examples of this in teaching are the perfect 10 that we should strive for perfect evaluations in everything we do and that a good teacher always gets a perfect evaluation, that teaching is a vocation it is a calling in life and if you do not give all your time over to teaching then you are not a good teacher, that the answer must be out there somewhere that someone somewhere has previously solvedRead MoreKincheloe on Critical Pedagogy1283 Words   |  5 Pagespolitics† (1). Kincheloe’s goal in this reading is to characterize teacher thinking by examining social and historical forces that have shaped teaching, and to understand who benefits and who is punished when it is defined in specific ways. Kincheloe also discussed in the reading that the separation of mind and matter has profound and unfortunate consequences. This view led to a conception of the world as a divided system into two distinct realms: an internal world of sensation and an objective world c omposedRead More My Philosophy of Teaching Essay506 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Teaching When thinking of a philosophy of teaching, four major issues need to be considered. Those issues are one’s views on education, the role of the teacher, teaching and learning, and on the children. This is something that someone entering the teaching profession needs to give serious thought to and realize the importance that this will hold in the future. The following essay will express my philosophy of teaching. One very important factor in every life isRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Reflection On Teaching1270 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of reflection: Reflection on practice has different meanings, in my view it means constructive criticism: being honest with myself, becoming aware of and understanding my own strengths, and being able to review activities and constantly test assumptions related to our work. These have been my approach to critical reflection throughout the year. This is supported by Brookfield, he says that Critically reflective teaching happens when we identify and scrutinise the assumptions that undergirdRead MoreUnderstanding The Current Epistemological Understanding1627 Words   |  7 Pagesin now. b. With what degree of certainty can we describe or explain content within our teaching area? What are the implications of that for teaching? When describing or explaining content within an elementary classroom, I can be confident in what I am teaching my students. I have this confidence because the information I will teach will have been researched and proven to be true. For example, when teaching science or math (or really any subject), I will use methods, formulas, equations, etc. thatRead More Professional Essay example1116 Words   |  5 Pageswhen my sister and I would play school with our friends. It was one of the best experiences that I had. It was this experience that helped me make up my mind about being a teacher. Now as I move through the different stages in the educational program, I have determined that I have developed certain beliefs. By teaching and working with children, people can see my beliefs. My philosophy towards education is progressivism. Progressivism can be found in my views about public schools, my teachingRead MorePersonal Philosophy Of Educational Essay Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pag esKofi Annan, of Ghana said, â€Å"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family† (nobelprize.org). My ambition to become an educator stems from a desire to help children grow into productive and successful adults. I am a mother of six children. As I have guided my individual children through the different stages of their childhood, adventures, adversities, and educational experiences, I have come to realize that all children haveRead MoreEssay about Professional Goals and Philosophy899 Words   |  4 Pagesthat child’s teacher. To influence the student in a positive manner, one must assess one’s personal views and approaches to education. The views associated with personal views include the nature of a student; the nature of knowledge; the purpose of education; the method of teaching; and the curriculum being taught. The way a teacher feels toward these issues may affect the whole of their teaching career and greatly influences the student as well. The nature of students, I believe, is one of

My Views on Teaching Essay examples - 933 Words

Education is a simple word, but analyzing this word is more profound because it can last forever in their lives of the students. There will be different philosophies of education in this paper that will be discuss. Every philosophy perspectives that teachers have chosen for the students it is important because it can depends on their teaching strengths and effectiveness. The goal of any philosophy could be that every student would be able to succeed in their lives. The students are not alike, but most of them have similarities. For a teacher she/he needs to find a philosophy that works for the majority of the class. It is great to have a variety of the philosophies in the classroom since every philosophy could help to every student.†¦show more content†¦The teacher can have activities where they need to view the information visually, where they can hear the information, or even better the teacher can try to combine these two and it will be more beneficial to the students. O r even sometimes the teacher should repeat the assignment process, to make sure that the students knows what to do. This will prevent students to not completing the assignment as the teacher have told them for misunderstanding. The students who has a disability or are learning English as their second language is more difficult for them to understand what do you want them to do. Even worse when they have been in this country for short time. It is important to let the student to ask questions since if they have questions that means whether the students didn’t understand or they want to learn more about it. Link (2008) stated that Perennialism teaches concepts and focuses on knowledge and the meaning of knowledge. A classroom constructed from this format typically espouses a traditional philosophy where a teacher answers questions and inquires from the students in order for them to gain an understanding. The technology has been advancing rapidly and it helps to the students to h ave a better options to create and finish their assignments quickly. The technology also helps to the teachers to search and have better options of their activities. Ornstein, Levine. (2008) saidShow MoreRelatedMy Views On Teaching And Teaching903 Words   |  4 Pagesmore valuable when shared and teaching is significant as it imparts knowledge to others. My teaching experiences in college as a private tutor and in graduate school as a lab instructor have not only helped me to improve my teaching skills, but also have encouraged me to pursue a life-long career in teaching and research. Now that I am equipped with the knowledge of fundamental Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology as well as research experience, I am eager for a teaching opportunity to share what IRead MoreMy Views On Teaching Fourth Grade Teacher1758 Words   |  8 PagesThis past semesters has been an eye opening experience that has changed my views on teacher. Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to be a f ourth grade teacher. However after being placed in a second grade classroom my views have changed. I liked the idea of teaching fourth grade because my fourth grade teacher was my inspiration in life. When I was in Ms. Petro’s class I enjoyed being able to watch the students progress over time. Being able to see the drastic improvements in little childrenRead MoreTaking a Look at Hegemonic Assumptions1237 Words   |  5 Pagesour own best interests but actually work against us in the long run (Brookfield, 1998). A few common examples of this in teaching are the perfect 10 that we should strive for perfect evaluations in everything we do and that a good teacher always gets a perfect evaluation, that teaching is a vocation it is a calling in life and if you do not give all your time over to teaching then you are not a good teacher, that the answer must be out there somewhere that someone somewhere has previously solvedRead MoreKincheloe on Critical Pedagogy1283 Words   |  5 Pagespolitics† (1). Kincheloe’s goal in this reading is to characterize teacher thinking by examining social and historical forces that have shaped teaching, and to understand who benefits and who is punished when it is defined in specific ways. Kincheloe also discussed in the reading that the separation of mind and matter has profound and unfortunate consequences. This view led to a conception of the world as a divided system into two distinct realms: an internal world of sensation and an objective world c omposedRead More My Philosophy of Teaching Essay506 Words   |  3 PagesMy Philosophy of Teaching When thinking of a philosophy of teaching, four major issues need to be considered. Those issues are one’s views on education, the role of the teacher, teaching and learning, and on the children. This is something that someone entering the teaching profession needs to give serious thought to and realize the importance that this will hold in the future. The following essay will express my philosophy of teaching. One very important factor in every life isRead MoreThe Importance Of Critical Reflection On Teaching1270 Words   |  6 PagesImportance of reflection: Reflection on practice has different meanings, in my view it means constructive criticism: being honest with myself, becoming aware of and understanding my own strengths, and being able to review activities and constantly test assumptions related to our work. These have been my approach to critical reflection throughout the year. This is supported by Brookfield, he says that Critically reflective teaching happens when we identify and scrutinise the assumptions that undergirdRead MoreUnderstanding The Current Epistemological Understanding1627 Words   |  7 Pagesin now. b. With what degree of certainty can we describe or explain content within our teaching area? What are the implications of that for teaching? When describing or explaining content within an elementary classroom, I can be confident in what I am teaching my students. I have this confidence because the information I will teach will have been researched and proven to be true. For example, when teaching science or math (or really any subject), I will use methods, formulas, equations, etc. thatRead More Professional Essay example1116 Words   |  5 Pageswhen my sister and I would play school with our friends. It was one of the best experiences that I had. It was this experience that helped me make up my mind about being a teacher. Now as I move through the different stages in the educational program, I have determined that I have developed certain beliefs. By teaching and working with children, people can see my beliefs. My philosophy towards education is progressivism. Progressivism can be found in my views about public schools, my teachingRead MorePersonal Philosophy Of Educational Essay Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pag esKofi Annan, of Ghana said, â€Å"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family† (nobelprize.org). My ambition to become an educator stems from a desire to help children grow into productive and successful adults. I am a mother of six children. As I have guided my individual children through the different stages of their childhood, adventures, adversities, and educational experiences, I have come to realize that all children haveRead MoreEssay about Professional Goals and Philosophy899 Words   |  4 Pagesthat child’s teacher. To influence the student in a positive manner, one must assess one’s personal views and approaches to education. The views associated with personal views include the nature of a student; the nature of knowledge; the purpose of education; the method of teaching; and the curriculum being taught. The way a teacher feels toward these issues may affect the whole of their teaching career and greatly influences the student as well. The nature of students, I believe, is one of

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Influence of Roman Engineering and Architecture Free Essays

The ingeniousness and beauty of Roman architecture has not been lost on us in the 2000 years since it was built. Even today, we still marvel at what incredible builders the Romans were, and at the sheer scale and integrity of many of their projects. It is hard to argue that today’s architecture will maintain the same lasting grandeur as that which the Romans built. We will write a custom essay sample on The Influence of Roman Engineering and Architecture or any similar topic only for you Order Now If we can still respect and admire the grandeur of Rome as it was in it’s day, one can only imagine how much of an influence people of the time felt, due to the incredible innovations that the Romans brought to the new regions of their empire. In fact, it is because of the superior engineering skills and architectural ideas possessed by the Romans, and respected by others, that allowed them to conquer, influence and rule such a vast area of the world, for such an extended period of time. Citizens of regions conquered by Rome were the beneficiaries of Roman innovations such as a (public) fresh water supply, bridges over previously impassable rivers, roads linking all parts of the empire (especially to the capital) and incredible public buildings like the forums and baths. They were more easily persuaded into acceptance once the Romans arrived when they saw or heard of these innovations which they realized could have such a huge and beneficial impact on their lifestyles. The first thing the Romans did upon entering a new region, after winning the war that gained them their new territory, was construct roads and bridges. This was the best way to â€Å"Romanize† the new areas, as it permitted easier communication between the colony and the mother country. The roads all led to the capital, which solidified its position as the centre of power, and also allowed the rulers easier and faster access to the colonies when necessary. It has been said that at the peak of Rome’s power, one could travel from the English Channel all the way to Rome without ever fording a stream, simply because the Romans had built so many bridges to link its colonies. As the Romans were the first to master bridge building on such a large scale, they had a huge influence on the people in even the most remote regions. Places that had been impassible could suddenly be crossed by bridge. The bridges were a commanding presence on the landscape as well, easily conveying the sense of who was in power and influencing the people of the region. The Puente Alcantara in Spain can perhaps best show the expansive influence that the Romans held through their bridges, (Images 1 and 2). Built in AD100 and still standing today, Puente Alcantara reaches 164 feet at its highest point, is 600 feet long and has spans of 92 to 98 feet wide. Such an example of architecture so far from the centre of power is a lasting monument to the influential power once held by the Romans. People were drawn into conformity when they saw the superior skills of the Romans, who also perfected pile driving for the construction of bridges and built each bridge arch as self-supporting to avoid damage to the entire structure if only one portion was damaged. The Roman use of the arch itself, which had never been used to such a great extent before, is itself the main reason they were able to build the huge and influential structures that they were. The use of the arch was of course not limited to bridges; it was common in all Roman architecture of the time. The next major use for it in the new colonies, however, was in the construction of a water supply system—the system of Roman aqueducts. Rome already had an extensive system of aqueducts to supply the city with fresh water, and the Romans used the same system in other regions to civilize the â€Å"barbarian† tribes they had just subdued. Such a system was unheard of in other civilizations. The Romans were a very sanitary and hygienic people to whom fresh water was very important. The new colonies had never been concerned about such sanitation. The Romans, however, were able to bring fresh water to the towns from long distances away by carrying it through tunnels and over valleys with their towering aqueducts. This water was then used for the public baths and toilets, besides the expected drinking water. The fact that this water was for the public, and not reserved for private use, pleased people in the new colonies even more, and made them even more accepting of Roman control. The actual aqueducts themselves, built by the Romans to carry the water, were perhaps even more influential. Aqueducts like Pont du Gard at Nimes (Images 3 and 4), or Segovia in Spain (Image 5), the latter of which still carries water today, were monumental landmarks in the colonies where they were built and still are today. That the Romans would build such magnificent and monumental structures for the sole purpose of supplying water to its colonies was likely overwhelming to those benefiting from it. So the Romans supplied the towns with water, and made travel between towns easier. But what about improving life within the town itself? It is in the public buildings such as the bath, the forum and the amphitheater, which people used and experienced daily, where Rome was able to exert its greatest influence. The fact that these buildings were open to all and not reserved for an elitist group of society only increased their significance. It is arguable that the grandness of the baths has yet to be surpassed in any public building since. These were huge, lavishly ornamented structures where citizens would go not only to bathe, but also for sports, club-life and exhibitions of art. The baths acted as a community centre, uniting citizens in the towns in which they were located. There was also the Roman invention of the forum, today’s equivalent of which would be city hall, the law courts, a marketplace and a church all combined in a single structure. It was a novel idea that one could go to a single building at the centre of town and find everything they needed. People were also allowed open discussion here and were able to publicly voice their opinions and socialize with fellow citizens. However, the forum’s accessibility and openness should not hide the fact that it was used by the Romans as a control centre, where legislative duties for the town were carried out, giving Rome further influence over the citizens. The amphitheaters cannot be forgotten, as they were used by the Romans to please and placate people through the presentation of spectacles. Their architectural grandeur was also influential, however, as they were usually four stories tall, could be covered by a canopy, and were the size of two theatres put together. The Romans didn’t build the public buildings just for their own good, they were used to show â€Å"who’s boss† and keep people appeased. These buildings were superior to anything else that had been or was being built, which helped Rome keep the territory it had conquered. It is still difficult to comprehend that the Romans were able to create an empire as vast and as powerful as they did. Lasting several centuries and covering Europe, Asia Minor and Northern Africa and even overtaking their historical enemies the Greeks, their empire was of a magnitude that has been unsurpassed but often dreamed. When we look back at how they chieved such widespread influence there is no doubt that the principal factor in their achievements was due to their superior skills in architecture and engineering of the day. They brought fresh clean water to the towns and cities they conquered using the aqueducts which are still inspiring and influential monuments today. We can only imagi ne the significance they held 2000 years ago. As Frontius said of the aqueducts, they are â€Å"†¦a signal testimony to the greatness of the Roman Empire. † The water brought by the aqueducts was then distributed to the public and used in even more magnificent structures like the baths. How could people not be influenced by such great inventions as these and the forum and the amphitheater, which were used by the Romans not only to please the people but also to help maintain power? The Romans built bridges and roads to link their new colonies and built them so they were a lasting and powerful presence. These bridges were not just a show of power in their grandeur, but were also used by the Romans as quick access to the colonies they needed to keep under control. People of the world were not nearly as advanced in terms of the engineering ability of the Romans, and were persuaded to accept Roman rule. They respected and admired the Roman’s superior abilities and innovations and were therefore easier to conquer and less likely to revolt, allowing the Romans to expand their empire and maintain their influence for such a long time. The Romans no doubt improved their quality of life upon conquering them, and it is hard not to accept a new ruling class if such improvements are occurring. The greatness of the Roman Empire as it was is a direct result of the fact that they were such superior engineers and architects. How to cite The Influence of Roman Engineering and Architecture, Essay examples