Research Brief Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Research Brief - Essay Example The types of HRD interventions are classified into individual based, group based and inter group based interventions. The individual based interventions involve counseling, coaching, motivation and mentoring etc. the group based interventions involve group facilitation, virtual teams, conflict management and many others while the inter group based interventions involve third party peacemaking interventions as well as organization mirroring. The main focus is implied on the techno structural intervention. This deals with the restructuring of the entire organization. This restructuring is done with the area of the workload of the total organization by dividing it into several subunits in order for the effectual completion of the tasks. This restructuring can be done on certain major factors which include organization size, technology, worldwide operation, and environment and organization strategy (Sandhu.G et al, 2012). One of the most vital parts of the techno structural intervention is considered to the employee involvement which can be defined as the foundation of skills, power, information, knowledge and finally reward. One of the concluding modules of HRD interventions includes the work design. The work design involves not only the scientific management but also the motivational approach. The involvement of the employees in the process of organizational development is of core importance (Gamerdinger.1997). Without the part played by the employees in the interventions, success is never guaranteed. The impact of the employee involvement on the types of interventions can be made effective by providing them with several learning styles and processes which makes it able to enhance the positive outcome from the employees. Alongside the advantages that the implication of HRD interventions holds, there are certain challenges impacting the professional practice of HRD. These challenges not only affect the HRD

A Brief Discussion of Genetic Diseases Essay -- Biology Genetic Disease

Since the discovery in 1928 via the Griffith experiment (an experiment dealing with bacterial transformation) that DNA carried genetic information, many important discoveries have been made regarding the human genome and its extent in the determination of phenotypic traits. Not least of these is the discovery and study of genetic disorders, or diseases caused by abnormalities within the genes. Disorders of this nature can be caused by a variety of factors. Some diseases such as Huntington's disease must be inherited, while others, such as some cancers, can be the result of environmental factors slowly mutating the genome over time. Still others can result from random errors in normal DNA replication. Typically, genetic disorders tend to be rare due to the ability of DNA to repair itself and also because of the tendency for damaged cells to undergo programmed cell death to preserve the overall health of the organism. However, when genetic disorders do appear, they represent a considerable problem for the afflicted, because although some are treatable and possibly manageable, very few, if any, are ever curable. DNA of a living individual cannot be altered by any existing technology. Nevertheless, research is continually improving our ability to treat these diseases, particularly with diseases such as cancer, trisomy, and Huntington's disease. Of particular interest in modern medicine is the study of the various forms of cancer and the genes involved in causing it. Cancer is a disease in which cells of the body mutate to the point where they lose the ability to regulate their division and DNA replication, causing uncontrollable growth to the extent of interfering with the function of normal, healthy cells... ...gton's Research. 26 August 2007. 1 December 2010 . National Cancer Institute. Common Cancer Types. 15 July 2010. 1 December 2010 . Reiness, Gary. Cancer Part II-Mutations and Cancer. 13 April 2000. 30 November 2010 . Starr, Barry. DNA Mutations Cause Cancer. 8 February 2008. 30 November 2010 . Woollams, Chris. Using Viruses To Treat Cancer. 2010. 1 December 2010 link.aspx?n=1106&Title=Using%20Viruses%20To%20Treat%20Cancer>. WordIQ.com. Experimental Cancer Treatment - Definition. 2010. 1 December 2010 .

Natl – the Cane Farmers

Case: â€Å"Nghe An Tate & Lyle Sugar Company (Viet Nam)† Question : Are farmers likely to convert to sugar cane ? The farmers who lived within 50 kilometers of the sugar mill are likely to convert to sugar cane in term of economic return and other benefits. – Economic return: Net returns to farmers per Hectare from growing Sugar cane is high. From Exhibit 9 with norminal cash flow of a crop life cycle ( 4 years), the total rerurn of one hectare is 6,900 (000’VND) and net present value is 3,841 (000’VND) with nominal discount rate 13. 3%/year.Compare to coffee and rubber, sugar cane need only one year to revenue. Compare with other crops ( pineapple, coffee, rubber †¦), Sugar cane can get highest economics from exhibit 10 as below: Unit: Dong per hecta | Sugar |Pineapple |Coffee |Rubber |Peanuts |Peanuts |Peanuts | |   |  cane | | | |and Maize |& peanuts |and Rices | |Number of years |420 |420 |420 |420 |420 |420 |420 | |Planting years |105 |140 | 168 |120 |0 |0 |0 | |Typical years |315 |280 |252 |300 |420 |420 |420 | |Revenue |2,835,000 |3,955,000 |4,536,000 |3,000,000 |2,856,000 |4,032,000 |4,080,300 | |Total Costs |2,110,500 |3,255,000 |5. 21,100 |3,097,500 |3,696,000 |3,864,000 |3,906,000 | |Total net return |724,500 |700,000 |-485,100 |-97,500 |-840,000 |168,000 |174,300 | |Return per year |1,725 |1,667 |-1,155 |-232 |-2,000 |400 |415 | | Note: 420 is lowest common multiple of crop life cycle (4,3,10,28) and assume that time value of money is ignored (no discount to present value). From exhibit 11, Net return from Cane also get highest net present value for period from 1998 to 2015 with nominal discount rate 13,3% per annum and opportunity cost of labor is $1. 0/day: NPV Cane +82,894; NPV pineapple +19,617; NPV coffee +2,438; NPV rubber -13,557, NPV combo A -34,515; NPV combo B +6,902, NPV combo C -2,158 (US$ in thousand). – Other benefits: One of three parts of NATL’s development plan is an outreach progra m to help local farmers to convert to cane production which means that their sugar cane will have more added value because cane production can sell with higher price and the farmers can use their products. The company expected to employ 725 people, provided n-house traning so many members of the farmer family can be come workers, educated ones can also become staffs. This will creat many good affects to the local farmers. The project would need roughly 300 lorries during the harvest season so some farmers can borrow money from local banks to buy new hauliers to transport cane to the factory. With many benefits as above, before converting to sugar cane the local farmers need to understand/know the risks of converting. The first risk is to avoid converting too much from the beginning of the project. The factory will reach full capacity by the 2002/2003 harvesting season, so for the period from 1998 to 2002, the numbers of hactares convert to cane need to increase arcordingly. – Second risk is related to the NATL’s complex payment system, with the first installment, approximately 75% of the total, would be made within 14 days of delivery and the rest would be made at the end of the season with adjustment for sugar content and market price.The local farmers seem to familiar with simple full payment upon delivery even though with lower price, many poor farmers can have enough cash for their daily life and no effected by adjustment with the old payment method. With these analysises, the famers will have much more benefits, some related risks can be considered and controlled so I believe that they will convert to sugar cane.

Single Parenting Is A Single Parent Household - 1756 Words

In today’s society, there are more and more families that are being raised by a single parent, whether it’s a mother or father. In the world of political correctness we live in today, it’s frowned upon to say there’s anything wrong with a single parent household. Society views single fathers and mothers as strong willed people, and while they may be so, it’s be proven that a child growing up in a single parent household often times has negative outcomes. While in some situations single parenting cannot be avoided, a child growing up in a single parent household is affected in many different ways. It seems to be widely known that single parenting isn’t ideal. Most people have often heard the phrase â€Å"a child needs a mother and a father† or some variation of that phrase. Despite this, a lot of families either are composed of one parent and the children or else the child is shepherded back and forth between both parents. Despite the f act that this doesn’t seem to be â€Å"ideal† it’s happening more and more often. Perhaps one reason for this is that not everyone knows exactly how bad some of the ramifications of single parenting can be. For instance, a child that is the product of single parenting is twice as likely to drop out of high school, two and a half times as likely to be a teen mother, and 1.4 times as likely to be out of school or work as a child that grows up with both parents. Just those statistics are staggering enough that people should look for more ways around singleShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Single Parenting On Children1494 Words   |  6 Pages This paper explains the impact of single parenting on children in the Unites States .Over the years the â€Å"normal family† form has changed due to the increase in the numbers of children born outside of marriages and the increase in divorce rates. Now many children live in households other than the two-parent household. Single-parenting is the lifestyle chosen by many parents, though the majority of single-parent households are regulated by the mother. Research shows there are many different effectsRead MoreAdvantages and Disadvantages of Single Parent Homes1394 Words   |  6 Pagesof single parent homes. As compared to over forty to fifty years ago, single-parent families are common in today’s world. A single parent is a parent with one or more children, who is not living with any of the children’s other parents. The percentage of children who live with two parents has been declining among all racial and ethnic groups throughout the years. It has been found that children in single-parent homes generally fare worse than those in homes with two parents. In today’s single parentRead MoreShould A Child Be Raised Together Or Alone?1256 Words   |  6 PagesTogether or Alone? Britny Valdez â€Æ' Should a Child Be Raised Together or Alone? â€Å"Single-parent families now constitute 30 percent of all families with minor children and are the most rapidly growing families in America† (as cited in Dowd, 1997). When people hear the term ‘single-parent’ they automatically think it means a person who is the legal guardian of a child or children. It is typical for a single-parent to be a woman, because the statistics on the proportion of the children who live withRead MoreSocial Media and Single Parenting Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesParenting is hard! Being responsible for the development, protection, growth, health, and care for a child is all consuming and at times overwhelming. From sun up until well past sun down, day after day, year after year, the raising of a child is the full time job that never offers a break. Rewarding, of course, difficult, hell yes it is. Single parents face all of the challenges and difficulties of any parent but have to face them without the benefit of partner, a co-pare nt to help carry some ofRead MoreTraditional Families Vs Single Parent Families1615 Words   |  7 Pagesversus single parent families. A traditional family household is a household with two parents, mother and father. A single parent family household is a one parent household a mother, or father. This household is usually occurs when a parent dies, parents divorce, or the parents was never married and separated after having a child together. The question at hand is would a child be more successful and mentally stable in life growing up in a traditional family household, or single parenting householdRead MoreNegative Effects Of Single Parenting1033 Words   |  5 Pages Throughout history a one-parent household has been viewed as a nontraditional family, but in today’s society, it seems one-parent homes are shockingly common. Although the reasons and causes vary in every family, each year the number of children raised by a single parent increases. A countless number of people fail to realize the importance of children being raised by two parents, majority feels it is insignificant and has no direct effect on the children. This logic that todays society has adoptedRead MoreChildren Should Not Be Raised On Single Parent Households1286 Words   |  6 Pagesthe United States live in a single-parent household as of 2012? ( )Every year this number is on the rise and it is causing children everywhere to suffer. When children are raised in an environment with only one parent they can have less opportunities and less supervision than a child with two parents. Children should not be raised in single-parent households because it can lead to abuse from parents, violence in children and poverty. First and foremost, abuse from a parent is an issue that can oftenRead MoreLong Term Effects Of Single Parenting Adolescents And Young Adults1431 Words   |  6 PagesLong term effects of single parenting in adolescents and young adults In today’s world, single-parent families become the opposite of the so-called â€Å"nuclear family†, which consists of a mom, a dad, and children. Single-parent households increased in the last 20 years and today, finding a family headed by: mothers, fathers, and grandparents only appears normal. This new pattern creates difficulties on children because single-parents tend to devote more time to work in order to achieve financial stabilityRead MoreSingle Parenting1619 Words   |  7 PagesSingle parenting ALGhaliya AL-dowaiki English Composition 2 Mr.James Philip Date :1/4/2014 Single parenting Introduction Single parenting is one of the most important issues in world. People were not except the idea of single parenting, that one of the parents has the responsibility to take care of the child. They believe that one hand cannot clap. They see that the child should live with his parents not one of them. Nowadays, single parenting become the phenomenon of the time , which meanRead MoreSingle Parenting Stigma1700 Words   |  7 PagesSingle-Parenting Families: Attached Stigmas The social deviance that interests me is single parenting, one who chose to have a child out of wed-lock. The stigma attached to being a single parent is rising anew. Many media commentators blame Americas uptrend in violence and other social problems on family breakdown - on single parents. This stigma is based on myths and stereotypes that have been promoted by half-truths and, often, by prejudiced viewpoints. Many in our society still regard single

Personal Narrative My School Day - 1703 Words

After an eight hour school day whizzed by, filled with laughter and joy spent with my friends, I walked towards my bus. Looking around, I could see everything from birds gliding in the wind, their feathers glistening in the sunlight, to spiders in the bushes, working tirelessly to spin their magnificently intricate masterpiece webs. The trees were starting to change from a vibrant green, to a light yellow, to a deep orange, and finally, to a bloody red. The contrast of all the awe-inspiring colors will always be surreal in my eyes. Every year, I always think to myself the same question, â€Å"Why, when such beauty exists, must it go away as quickly as it came?† I soon arrived at my bus, the chipped paint giving it a marvelous antique look as†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"There’s probably a universe where heads are shaped like rocks too!† Thomas proclaimed, a little smile on the corner of his mouth. I turned to Beth, obviously knowing that she was tired of hearing about infinite universes, almost as much as she was tired about hearing what color a bus is, and said, â€Å"There are even rocks shaped like Beth’s head too!† At that comment she glared at me, not with anger, but mostly with a sense of annoyance. There was a hint of humor in there too, and I knew I did not take it too far, this time, but there is bound to be other moments of my idiocy that will become a little irritating. As I came up to my bus stop, I could not help but notice how elegantly the branches from nearby trees had settled down to create an arch of shade for us as we left the bus. It did not stay like that for long, but that was fine, it was a very inviting temperature outside, with a slight breeze that made sure you are comfortable. My bus stop was about half a mile to my home, but I was not complaining about that because there were countless amazingly colored trees along the way, incredible combinations of all different colors. I can never help myself but to just be brimming with awe as I take my, almost, daily trek to my house. As I travel along the side of my average, light grey, cracked,Show MoreRelatedPersonal Narrative : My School Day1594 Words   |  7 Pagesfront of my shuttered bedroom mirror, as the blood slowly trickles its way down my fingers and onto my freshly cleaned, white carpet. Tears begin to roll down from my emerald green eyes down and rest upon my rosy cheeks but it wasn’t from the intense sharp pain I was experiencing in my hand. I lowered my head as my strawberry blonde hair falls over my face, blocking my view from the mirror. It’s another school day and just like the last, I was dreading the very thought of it. I feel my phone vibrateRead MorePersonal Narrative : My First Day At School989 Words   |  4 PagesBEEP! My digital clock struck 7:00, my light turned on, and I got ready. â€Å"Oh, it’s my first day of second grade,† I remembered while putting on my hat. The sun was shining through my bedroom window, lighting up the corners of the room. This is 2011 in September and I was ready for my first day of second grade. I walked out of my room, seeing my entire family arisen from their peaceful slumber. I sat down at the table, pouring in a bowl of Kix and scarfing them down like I haven’t eaten in days. OnceRead MorePersonal Narrative : My First Day At School732 Words   |  3 Pages â€Å"Come on Jason, get in the car!† Mom yelled. I raced upstairs to get my backpack and darted out the door. Being late on my first day at a new school was not something I wanted to happen. Mom started driving right as I closed the door because she didn’t want me to be late either. As we approached Fairfield Jr. High School I got the butterflies in my stomach from seeing all these new faces. Someone dressed in black dress pants, black shoes, a white button up, and a black tie was greeting everyRead More Personal Narrative: My First Day at School Essay1722 Words   |  7 PagesMy first day at school My first day at school was a new adventure for me. I had to wear a school uniform: a blue dress and handmade leather sandals. Having run around all but naked for the first eight years of my life, it was very exciting. At school we learnt about Australian culture and its social classes as well as social classes worldwide. Throughout my studies I learnt that Australia wasnt a classless society. The class to which a person belonged determined how they were treated and weRead MoreImportance Of Personal Writing915 Words   |  4 Pagesinterest in music and poetry, sparking my interest to learn to write like musicians and poets. Up until that point, I had always been writing papers for school, often to write research papers or to write forced narratives. I never wrote anything for myself until about junior year in high school. I did always enjoy reading intriguing narratives that others didn’t enjoy though, so that’s exactly what I wrote. Even senior year, I was assigned to write a narrative story based around Arthurian legends;Read MoreMy Family And Education Is Important For Your Future1221 Words   |  5 Pagesthemes in my family’s narrative. The first theme in society that con tradicts the values of my family is homosexuality. As mentioned above, religion is a large part of my family, therefore, homosexuality is not part of the catholic religion. With that being said my family has a strong opinion and belief about same sex relationships. The second theme compliments my family’s values and that is getting and education. In broader culture getting and education is important for your future and in my familyRead MorePersonality Can Be A Hard Concept To Pinpoint, Considering1315 Words   |  6 Pagesextravert. For me I believe my personal narrative has had a large impact on my personality and so I am going to start there. I believe that an individuals personal narrative can be one of the most telling signs of one’s true personality, or at least what got them to how they are today. Most of the theories and the personality tests are used to apply to the masses and they are then able to portion off smaller groups to certain personalities. With a personal narrative however, this really dives deepRead MoreThe Narrative Theory / Paradigm1477 Words   |  6 PagesThe narrative theory/paradigm states that everything we do can be laid out as a story (Fisher, 1984). The main points of the theory/paradigm are the following: humans are essentially storytellers; decisions that humans make are based off of good reasons rather than proof; what we do and how we think is swayed by accounts of history, biography, culture and character; our rationality is determined by our sense of probability (the coherency of the narrative) and narrative fidelity (whether the storyRead MoreMy Personal Perspective Of Counselin g1121 Words   |  5 PagesTypically children in schools are referred to counseling for externalizing behavior, these behaviors can be easily measured and tracked. Counseling is considered effective when the behavior of referral has decreased. All expenditures in a school have to be justified, demonstrating a change in externalizing behaviors is one way to do this. From my personal perspective, counseling is effective when a child has increased awareness of why they engage in a behavior. Counseling in schools often focuses onRead MoreA Short Story1483 Words   |  6 Pageslong day of school work. My body sagged with fatigue, arms unable to rise above my waist, and my head drooped in eagerness to meet my bed. Of course I was eager in turn to meet my head’s throbbing expectations, leaping into bed to a night long and full of eventful dreams. Then I heard those fatal words, courtesy of my darling mother ,† Did you have good day? Did you get everything done that you needed to?† â€Å"Mrghm†¦ In-a-bit†¦Ã¢â‚¬ , came my mumbled, muffled, reply. As much as I anticipated giving my body

My Family And Beloved Friends - 2256 Words

Every year me and my dearest family and beloved friends would embark on a journey to my long deceased Uncle’s manor.My uncle died in the year 1867 at the age of eighty, the doctors never quite understood how he died but when he was found the maid said that he was holding a picture of tree which stood in the house gardens.However this picture was never seen after the maid put it on the mantelpiece after his death, nor the tree. As I woke up I could already smell the sweet scent of freshly baked bread coming from the bakers across the road.I could also hear a faint pattering on my downstairs door.As I tentatively stepped down each step the pattering began to embark on a crescendo, louder and louder it got until it became a banging.I†¦show more content†¦Slowly the horse took me on an hour journey to the boat port just a few miles up from where i live.When we got there i saw a steam boat waiting for the passengers ,as well as my dear party.The driver got my bags and opened the door for me however as he opened the door he hid his eyes and face and only nodded as an informal good day,but even stranger i saw that when he was walking to get my baggage that he was trying to hide an injury to his leg.I got only a glimpse of the cut but it was deep and it had a peculiarity about it,it wasn’t like being scratched by a dog or cat more like something that someone had done to him.Despite this event i tri ed to stop thinking about it and instead tried to embrace the spirit of the group.As i walked up the stairs i turned around to see if the driver was still their but as i turned around i saw that he was lying on the ground and looked as if he was having an apoplectic shock, i tried to rush down the stairs again to see if he was ok but i was blocked by tourists.Eventually i gave up and walked to join my party but again i turned around to see if he was being taken care of but he wasn’t there neither was his cart only his horse.And as i stepped through the portico of the ship, a picture of a garden flew past me.All i could see was that it had been cut and orShow MoreRelatedMy Beloved Family And Friends2062 Words   |  9 PagesTo my beloved family and friends: Although at 37 years old I do not consider myself to be old yet, I have lived long enough to have learned and experienced a vast amount of valuable lessons and knowledge that I would like to pass on to you. While I have faced many challenges and adversities in the past, I have come to realize that even with its ups and downs, my life thus far has been an incredible journey. With that statement, I want to share with you some of my most precious experiences, valuesRead MoreEssay on Love in Toni Morrisons Beloved646 Words   |  3 Pagesit. It can come in the form of partners, friends, or just simply family. To some, love is something of a necessity in life, where some would rather turn a cold shoulder to it. Love can be the mixture of passion, need, lust, loyalty, and blood. Love can be extraordinary and breathtaking. Love being held so high can also be dangerous. Love can drive people to numerous mad things with it dangerously so full of craze and passion. In Toni Morrisons Beloved, there were many different love filled andRead MoreAnalysis Of Toni Morrison s Beloved 1524 Words   |  7 PagesShai-Dae Alford Dr. DuBose ENG 490-02 10 April 2016 Slave Narrative: Beloved Toni Morrison conveys her strong feelings in her novel about slavery depicting the emotional impact slavery has had on individual mainly the centered character Sethe. The protagonist of the novel is unable to fully prosper in life due to resentment and the ability to move on from her past experiences. In Morrison’s story, since 1873 slavery was abolished for ten years in Cincinnati, Ohio. By the author choosing this settingRead MoreIsolation in Dr. Frankenstein1463 Words   |  6 PagesIsolation is one the roots of the problems and calamities endured by many characters depicted in the beloved and Dr Frankenstein. We see individuals like Sethe forced into slavery, she was abandoned by her mother, who was killed after a failed attempt to run away. She experienced hard times before being sold to sweet home at a tender age. Fast forward down years later, she started her own family with Halle. We see Sethe turn out to be someone who is obsessed with taking care of her children, weRead MoreToni Morrison s Beloved : Cycle Of Claim1007 Words   |  5 PagesCycle of Claim in Toni Morrison’s Beloved Toni Morrison’s Beloved centers around the repercussions of slavery. The novel reveals that the memories of enslavement, particularly the denial of them, effect life even after slavery is abolished. The black community is unwilling to accept their past, causing them to lack self identities. Even after escaping a life of bondage, the characters are forever trapped in the external world of slavery. As Sethe says on page 95, â€Å"Freeing yourself was one thing;Read MoreThe Lovely Bones and Beloved Essay1739 Words   |  7 PagesA comparison of the ways that the dead affect the living in the novels Beloved by Toni Morrison and The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. In the novels that I have chosen to study, several themes are prominent in both. Both novels deal with a brutal murder of a young female, and the impact surrounding her death. They also deal with the idea of the dead, directly or indirectly communicating with the living. The novels address the theory that ‘ghosts’ cannot move onto the next life until they have resolvedRead MoreThe Beauty of Shakespeares Sonnets1350 Words   |  6 Pagesin this poem, and in the eyes who read it. This sonnet truly expresses the real meaning of friendship because he is telling his friends that he wants to keep their memory alive forever. According to Ox quarry books Ltd, â€Å"Sonnet 55 shares a theme with that of many others, which oppose the power to verse death and Times cruel knife, and promise immortality to the beloved.† For example, in the two last stanzas of sonnet 55, Shakespeare states, â€Å"So till the judgment that yourselfRead MoreFeminism in Beloved1502 Words   |  7 PagesA Feminist Outlook on Maternal vs. Paternal Instincts in Beloved Since the beginning of time, the mother and child relationship has differed greatly from the father and child relationship. Though both parents love their child greatly, both parents dare not cross certain boundaries. The limitations of protection for a mother are far different from paternal limitations. In her novel, Beloved, Morrison introduces the subject of infanticide, and explores the differences in justification between menRead MoreThe Beloved Country By Alan Paton931 Words   |  4 PagesFamily in Cry, the Beloved Country One cannot run from hardships, for they occur every day, appear suddenly, and can quickly consume hope. Instead one must face these difficulties and overcome them. However, to rise above obstacles alone would only cause further misery and despair. The struggler’s family should rally behind him to comfort and assist him in his time of need. In Cry, the Beloved Country, a 1948 contemporary novel, Alan Paton uses parallelism to emphasize the importance of familyRead MoreMore Than Just Autism : The Serious Impairment Of Reciprocal Communication Essay761 Words   |  4 Pagesautistic children. In my life, I have met different couples that had been damaged or destroyed by the power of the sickness of one child. I have seen siblings emotionally killed because of the current situation of their beloved autistic sibling. As a teacher, I know I will never be able to work with this type of children, but I need to find the way to emotionally and spiritually help the siblings and paren ts that have children with this kind of disability. How? I am still clueless. My perception of autism

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