300 Weapons and Strategies Essay Example for Free

300 Weapons and Strategies Essay The movie 300 is an action movie that takes place in 480 B. C near Greece. It is about the famous Battle of Thermopylae that mainly involved both the Persians and the Spartans. The Persian army, led by a king named Xerxes, is in the process of taking over several Hellenic states in Greece. When Xerxes arrives at Sparta to strike a deal with King Leonidas (Spartan Army Leader) that he will have power over all of Greece if he will bow down to King Xerxes, Leonidas responds with retaliation against the Persians. King Leonidas assembles 300 of his toughest Spartan soldiers to take on the Persian army at the passage way of Thermopylae. Although severely outnumbered against Persia’s hundreds of thousands of men, King Leonidas and the Spartans hold off thousands of Persians from entering the passage for a few days. â€Å" Persian King Xerxes lead a Army of well over 100,000†. (IMBD) With Leonidas in battle, back at Sparta, Queen Gorgo( Queen of Sparta)desperately tries to persuade council to send more back up to Thermopylae to help King Leonidas. Unfortunately, the Spartans were betrayed by a recently rejected Spartan tryout named Ephialtes, who decides to pay back King Leonidas for his rejection. Ephialtes ultimately destroyed any chances of Sparta defeating Persia by informing Xerxes about an unknown secret Goat Passage that would lead Persia to the backs of the Spartan soldiers. Xerxes and the Persian army soon defeat Sparta but all in good name. Due to the motivation and courage of the 300 soldiers, they inspired all of Greece to go against Persia and fight. Part 2 After watching the movie, it is clear that most of the war tactics and strategies are very accurate to the actual real life battle that we knew. According to 300 Spartans, â€Å" This unit was produced of 300 Spartiati Warriors who were held in their highest esteem by their fellow citizens in Sparta†. (300 Spartans) So due to Sparta’s vastly outnumbered army size, military order was a major factor when battling. Not only was the order and position of their army an effective strategy, but it also helped favor Sparta and gave a competitive advantage when battling enemies who didn’t have such order. This was a major contribution to why King Leonidas wanted to battle at Thermopylae, also known as â€Å" Hot Gates†. This was a tiny area that made it favorable for smaller forces. â€Å" The pass of Thermopylae consisted of three ‘gates’ where the land narrowed in a favorable position foe a smaller army. The East and West Gates were extremely narrow, however, the Middle Gate while a little wider than the other gates is where the Greek warriors set up their defensive positions. (Spartan Warriors) King Leonidas spent a great deal of time focusing specifically on the training of his soldiers so they could be properly ready for battle. As shown in the movie, his formations for battle highly impacted what the outcome of the war would be. A repetitive battle formation used with Sparta was called the Phalanx. The Phalanx is a formation that lined up a small group of men pushing on the backs of the man in front with their shields giving no room for an enemy to slip by and eventually overcome them. â€Å" Now in actual fighting, it was a big shoving match with the front lines pushing against the enemy and each subsequent line pushing against the back of the men in front. (Military History) This was done by working his way into fighting in a narrow closed off area in hopes of entangling enemies and causing unexpected chaos. This would ensure the full potential of his warriors against Persia. Since Leonidas’ army was so well trained, they had no problem defeating Persian soldiers head to head. So to enhance battling conditions for Sparta, going between mountains, leaving only a small pathway for minimal enemies to get through at a time was standard and a critical way to fight for the best outcome. Now in the movie there is a small scene that shows Spartan soldiers dispersed and fighting one on one with several enemies. This was not an actual occurrence with Spartans because separating would have engulfed themselves with the multitudes of enemies that surrounded them. In the movie it is not entirely depicted correctly as even mentioned by, allexperts. com, â€Å" In actual combat, if the fighting broke down into man on man melee like shown in the movie, the Spartans would be easily overcome. †(Military History/Spartan Battle Tactics) Another important strategy for Sparta during battle was incorporating suitable terrain for their benefit. â€Å"The rugged terrain isolated groups and made the use of chariots and cavalry very difficult†. (Spartan Military) In reality this only seems to make sense but even in the movie there is a scene where Spartan soldiers are pushing enemy troops off a seaside cliff, thus incorporating the use of a rough terrain to their advantage. The movie 300 was very accurate in displaying these strategies several times exactly how they are described to be used in real life by the Spartans. King Leonidas stands his troops in the center of two mountains with a strong line of soldiers close together for support. With the soldiers in perfect Phalanx order, they could simply replace one another in an instant if a soldier ahead died. Perhaps a crucial reason for the use of the Phalanx order in Spartans history and even in the movie, is because back in these ages war was usually fought almost chaotic. Never before has an army seen this kind of developed order on the battlefield which took them by surprise and gave Sparta a huge advantage. Although the Phalanx and the rough terrain were similar in comparison to the movie and actual Sparta history, that can not be necessarily said the same about the weapons used. In ancient history, the Spartans weapons have consisted of a large unwieldy spear called a Dory. This was typically aimed out over their large eight-foot hoplite shield, called an Aspis. This was followed by a chest plate and a solid helmet. Even though the Aspis and the spear were displayed correctly within the movie, a major difference distinguished with the wielded sword. Within the movie is a surplus of swords either called the Spatha or the Kopis. These were typically larger and had a more dangerous appearance to them than the original Lakonian sword. This sword that was actually used in real Spartan history fighting looked almost like a dagger. † The reason the Spartans shortened their sword was just that. It was easier to use in tight confines of the Phalanx and the press of men†. (Spartan Military) But this makes sense due to the fighting strategies used by them. Not only was the weapons slightly off in the movie, but also the use of them is depicted false. When the small Lakonian sword was used, it would have only been used to stab when an enemy went for a slash. In 300, there are several scenes showing Spartans slashing and hacking Persians which is incorrect. All in all, the movie 300 is a somewhat spot on movie with how actual Spartan military forces used weapons and battle strategies. Even with a couple obvious differences, one could argue their similarities.

Haig V. Agee: Power To Revoke Passports :: essays research papers

Haig v. Agee: Power to Revoke Passports Whether a passport can be revoked or not has been a major question since the mid- 1800's. Haig v. Agee is a landmark Supreme Court case charging that the Secretary of State can not revoke a passport on the grounds that the power has never been granted by the Congress to the Secretary, and that revoking a passport violates the first and fifth amendments of the Constitution of the United States. Not only does the Secretary of State have implied powers, but revoking Agee's passport did not violate any laws or rights. In Haig v. Agee, the defendant claims that the Passport Act of 1926 does not grant the Secretary of State the right to revoke passports. However, the Passport Act does state that the Secretary of State is the only person who can grant and withhold passport applications. And based upon later provisions, the Secretary can withhold applications if the party is involved with illegal activities. If the Secretary of State can grant and withhold passports, was it implied by the Congress that the Secretary has the powers to revoke passports? "The Secretary of State may grant and issue passports, and cause passports to be granted, issued, and verified in foreign countries by diplomatic representatives of the United States . . . under such rules as the President shall designated and prescribe for and on behalf of the United States, and no other person shall grant, issue, or verify such passports." 22 U.S.C. 211a (1976 ed., Supp. IV). Since the Congress did not specify who has the powers to revoke passports, it should be assumed that because the Secretary is the only person who can grant passports, they are the only ones who can revoke passports on grounds of illegal activities, such as treason. If you consider that Agee's passport was revoked because he was uncovering secret CIA agents, he was undoubtedly committing treason. Though treason is usually considered to be evident during times of war, treason can also be defined as placing national security in jeopardy, such as the case of Agee. Agee's passport should not only have been taken, he should have been extradited and tried by a jury for the crime of treason. Agee also claims that since the power to revoke passports was not directly given to the Secretary of State or the President, then in order to show they have the power, they must have revoked many passports in the past and have the Congress' approval. However, the need to revoke passports on the grounds of

Growing up: A Journey of One’s Identity

It is inevitable that people age. Every human being, and every being for that matter, grows old. Age is a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided. Part of growing up is discovering one’s identity. As people age, they constantly undergo a process where they mold themselves into unique individuals. Every experience that a person goes through influences his personality, his character, and his identity. It is through such experiences that people get to see who they really are. Triumphs and failures in life are vital for they help strengthen the character of the person. In a way, when an individual goes through an experience, he is shaping his character regardless of the outcome of his endeavor. From childhood to adulthood, every experience brings forth a certain lesson that is inculcated in the individual’s being. These lessons are what define the individual for they directly affect the person that they are. The development of the person and the journey of self-discovery as a person grows up are discussed not merely in the various fields of science. Literature too has its share of works of art that provide an input of how growing up involves the molding and shaping of the person’s identity. Although not directly discussed, literature highlights how the journey of aging is in parallel with an individual’s journey towards defining an identity of his own. In Mary E. Wilkins’ short story, â€Å"Mistaken Charity,† the journey of two women through age and time is told. Moreover, it shows how their aging coincides with their realization of who they really are. Harriet and Charlotte are two sisters who never marry. Their life is built on their work and on their struggle to survive. However, as age catches up with them, and their aged bodies can no longer stand their own lines of work, they begin to realize that they are not all about their work. When given a chance to move out of their tattered house and into a better life, they discover that it is their experiences living in that house that defines who they are. They are not used to the life in the â€Å"Home† for it does not feel like home to them. This is what drove Charlotte to say, â€Å"O Lord, Harrià ©t†¦ let us go home. I can't stay here no ways in this world. I don't like their vittles, an' I don't like to wear a cap; I want to go home and do different. The currants will be ripe, Harrià ©t. O Lord, thar was almost a chink, thinking about 'em. I want some of 'em; an' the Porter apples will be gittin' ripe, an' we could have some apple-pie. This here ain't good.† (Wilkins, 148) This shows how no matter how much better another life seems to be, people will always go back to their old way of life for the life they have gotten used to defines who they really are. Another story that show how growing up means defining who you really are is told in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† The story tells of how one experiences that Goodman Brown went through in his young days completely changed his outlook on life. His journey through the forest wherein he met the mysterious figure which many associate with the devil may indeed be a dream. However, that experience opened his eyes to the reality that people may not be what they perceive him to be. The good Christians that he thought they were may actually simply be a cover-up of their real selves. Although it could be a dream, the experience was enlightening for Goodman Brown. More importantly, it was very influential in molding the personality of Brown and his outlook on life. After the experience, Goodman Brown ended up becoming a cynic. He was always wondering whether the people around him were who they really were. In fact, Goodman Brown even began to doubt the sincerity of his wife, whom he used to love and trust dearly. After the said event,   Ã‚  he turned into a cynic, wary and pessimistic of his wife and his faithfulness and fidelity. The last paragraph of the story explains the effect that the experience in the forest had on him. In the said paragraph it was stated: â€Å"A stern, a sad, a darkly meditative, a distrustful, if not a desperate man did he become from the night of that fearful dream. On the Sabbath day, when the congregation were singing a holy psalm, he could not listen because an anthem of sin rushed loudly upon his ear and drowned all the blessed strain. When the minister spoke from the pulpit with power and fervid eloquence, and, with his hand on the open Bible, of the sacred truths of our religion, and of saint-like lives and triumphant deaths, and of future bliss or misery unutterable, then did Goodman Brown turn pale, dreading lest the roof should thunder down upon the gray blasphemer and his hearers†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hawthorne, 127) The stories provide evidence of how experiences mold and shape the identity and personality of the individual. Both Goodman Brown and the sisters demonstrated how they are made by their experiences. Thus, it can be said that growing up and aging is a process of defining one’s self. It is a process of discovery brought about by life experiences where lessons are learned and imbedded in one’s way of life. Works Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown.† Literature and society: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction. 4th ed. Eds. Pamela Annas, Robert Rossen. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2007, pp 117-127. Wilkins, Mary. â€Å"Mistaken Charity.† Literature and society: An introduction to fiction, poetry, drama, nonfiction. 4th ed.   Eds. Pamela Annas, Robert Rossen. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2007, pp 140-150.

Why Is the Carbon Cycle Important

The carbon cycle describes the way the element carbon moves between the Earths biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. It is important for a few reasons: Carbon is an essential element for all life, so understanding how it moves helps us to understand biological processes and factors that influence them.One form carbon takes is the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, CO2. Increased levels of carbon dioxide insulate the Earth, causing temperatures to rise.  Understanding how carbon dioxide is absorbed and released helps us understand the climate and predict global warming.Carbon is not in balance, so its important to learn where it is being stored and released. The rate at which carbon is deposited into living organisms is not the same as the rate it is returned to the Earth. There is about 100x more carbon in living matter than in the Earth. Burning fossil fuels releases massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and to the Earth.The carbon cycle is tied to the availability of other elements and compounds. For example, the carbon cycle is tied to the availability of oxygen in the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, plants take carbon d ioxide from the air and used it to make glucose (stored carbon), while releasing oxygen. Sources Archer, David (2010). The Global Carbon Cycle. Princeton: Princeton University Press. ISBN 9781400837076.Falkowski, P.; Scholes, R. J.; Boyle, E.; Canadell, J.; Canfield, D.; Elser, J.; Gruber, N.; Hibbard, K.; Hà ¶gberg, P.; Linder, S.; MacKenzie, F. T.; Moore b, 3.; Pedersen, T.; Rosenthal, Y.; Seitzinger, S.; Smetacek, V.; Steffen, W. (2000). The Global Carbon Cycle: A Test of Our Knowledge of Earth as a System. Science. 290 (5490): 291–296. doi:10.1126/science.290.5490.291