There are a multitude of Opinions in the World ...but only One Truth.
The most intimateRelationship ...one can ever have is with the Self.
The invisible Light of the Eternal ...is composed of a myriad of colors.
Truth that is grasped through Intuition ...is far more Real than what can be observed.
Wounds that are not visible to Sight ...are often the most difficult to heal.
The Essence of the Human is his immortal soul ...and not his perishable body.
There is an all pervasive force in the UNIVERSE ...and it manifests itself in an infinite number of ways.
The fact that mathematics is inscribed in  NATURE ...shows the hand of the Divine at work.
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In America

The real life story of a young boy who fled his native country of Iran for freedom, only to become entrapped by the inner cities of american society.

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Videos

A selection of Videos that illustrate the challenges of humanity in the modern world, composed through the integration of art and music.

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Poetry

A collection of philosophically inspired poems that examine the purpose of mankind and his ultimate role in a larger world.

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The Rise of the Roman Republic

Monday, 20 December 2010 03:03 Written by Administrator

Democracy first originated in the ancient city-state of Athens during the year 500 B.C. The word “democracy” derives from Greek describing a government in which the people (demos) hold power (kratos). In ancient Athens, basically "all" citizens participated in the practice of government. All who were citizens participated directly in making Athenian laws and protecting state policy by acting as jurors in court. This form of government was known as a "direct" democracy.

The small size of Athens contributed to the success of its direct form of democracy. From the 40,000 Athenian citizens, groups of 5,000 took turns to attend an Assembly that met four times a month to create laws, while other citizens resided on juries in order to interpret and protect them. Throughout the year, citizens would eventually exchange their roles so that in time all 40,000 citizens participated in all aspects of Athenian government. 

In time, later civilizations such as ancient Rome and the United States would adopt Athenian democracy. However, due to much larger populations, they would create a Representative form of democratic government. In this new form, representatives were chosen by the populace to represent and uphold the ideals of the government.

The Rise of the Roman Republic:

The Italian peninsula was first composed of an early farming people known as “Latins”, who migrated into Italy and colonized the region. They eventually established the city of Rome. Shortly after, a second group called the “Etruscans” migrated into the region and conquered the Romans. The Etruscans had previously traded with Greek colonies, and introduced the Roman people to Greek ideas and customs. This included Greek philosophy, art, religion, and language. For example, Etruscan writing, which was based on the Greek alphabet, eventually became the model for Roman language. During Etruscan occupation, Rome was governed by an Etruscan monarchy.

In time, the Romans eventually rebelled against the Etruscans and their unjust monarch, overthrowing them. In reaction to a previously cruel monarchy, the Romans re-established a new form of government called the Roman Republic. The word Republic derives from the words describing a government, which is Of (Res) The People (Publica). To govern the new Republic, Roman citizens elected representatives as their leaders, who made all government decisions including making and interpreting laws. The Romans called their elected council of Representatives the Senate.

Rome’s population was made from 2 distinct and separate classes: The Patricians, the descendants of Rome's original founding agricultural population, a small rich and powerful class of landowners, and the Plebeians, a much larger populous class of farmers, workers, merchants, and craft workers, whose families migrated to Rome much later for economic and social opportunity. For some time, only the wealthy Patricians, the descendants of Rome's founding population could be elected into the Senate. Once elected, Patricians became life members of the Roman Senate. They controlled the law making process, which inevitably favored the interests of the richer and smaller upper class. Although the plebeians held some local positions and authority, this lower class of citizens ultimately had no voice in the Senate.

Nevertheless, eventually Plebeians used their service to Rome as leverage to gain political influence in the Senate. Using their advantage as soldiers in the Roman military and important role in the economy, they eventually gained increasing political influence in Roman society. Without political reforms, they threatened to leave Rome and establish their own city. The patricians realizing Rome's economy would suffer without its working class, eventually agreed to let plebeians to attend meetings of the Senate and veto any laws initiated by the patricians. Through their persistence Plebeians were eventually won the freedom to intermarry with the Patricians, the right to hold executive office, and finally acquire the privilege of making laws.

Rome: From Republic to Empire

Wednesday, 23 June 2010 15:08 Written by Administrator


By the year 250 BC, the city-state of Rome had already extended its powers far beyond the Italian peninsula. Influential Senators from the Republic looked to extend Rome’s powers by sending prominent generals to conquer the lands beyond Rome. The greatest victory of early Rome was the conquest of the most powerful naval civilization of the ancient world called Carthage. During the Punic wars, which lasted one hundred fifty years, Rome was able to defeat the mighty Carthaginians and their formidable general Hannibal, gained all the lands of this Northern African power. By doing so, Rome acquired the lands of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and Spain. More importantly, they claimed naval dominance and commercial trade in all of the western Mediterranean.

With it's control of the Mediterranean Sea, and a new expansionist policy, Rome seized every opportunity for conquest. By 100 BC, the Roman Empire included most of North Africa, Greece, Macedonia, Egypt, and Southwest Asia. These far-flung territories became Roman provinces, self-governing lands that were controlled by appointed provincial governors. Provincial governors were appointed by the Senate from the highest ranks of the military, who were assigned to distant provinces to maintain control for empire. Throughout this period of expansion, Rome itself remained the control center of all conquered lands, and demanded taxes from all it's provinces.

The Collapse of the Republic:

By its ability and authority to collect and handle all taxes, the Roman Senate became increasingly powerful. Precious metals, booty, and slaves from foreign conquests were returned from conquered lands back to Rome, which brought enormous wealth to patricians who had sent army generals out on military campaigns. Captives of war were shipped back to Rome and sold to the highest bidders, usually patrician landowners, whose farms soon became large scale plantations worked by slaves. The increased productivity of these plantations gave great advantage to their rich owners, who now easily undersold smaller farms, driving them out of business. By the first century, a growing unemployment amongst roman citizens, brought about by the disappearance of small farms started the decline of the Republic. Corruption in the Senate created a time of instability and civil unrest in Rome, as Rome’s rich citizens became richer, and the common citizen became poorer.

Rome's conquest of overseas provinces also brought wealth and power to the Roman military and its commanding generals. During the 1st century BC, a period of instability in Rome, some military generals became more even powerful than the rich senators who sent them on military campaigns. Rome suddenly fell victim to the ambitions of army generals, who now had enough military power and prestige to envision themselves as dictators of Rome. By 50 BC, Rome's fate was challenged by an age of military generals, whose pursuit for dictatorship rule soon replaced the compromised decision making power of the Senate and the democratic Republic. During this period of civil unrest, many of these powerful generals competed for absolute power in the name of Rome.

The greatest of these generals was Julius Caesar. An extraordinary military strategist, commander and politician, Julius Caesar showed his genius through a 9 year campaign in the Gallic wars, where his victory over the Celtics and conquest over the land of Gaul won him great favor and prestige in the eyes of the Roman people. After his historical victory, he sought the role of dictator, even doing the unimaginable, marching his armies from Gaul into the sacred city of Rome against the voice and will of the Roman senate. Although Caesar only reigned as dictator for six months he made rapid changes by creating laws to help the poor, controlling taxes, reducing debt, creating public work projects, and allowing more non-Italians to become citizens. He eventually became so beloved in the eyes of the Roman people, that they wanted him to remain in power as the first Roman Emperor.

Recognizing Caesar was a threat to the Roman Senate and their personal power, senators assassinated him in 44 BC. His nephew, Augustus Caesar would eventually become the 1st Roman Emperor, bringing a 200 years period of peace and prosperity to the empire called the Pax Romana.

The Conversion of Matter into Energy

Monday, 20 December 2010 03:03 Written by Administrator


Nuclear Fusion is a process where the Sun continually converts its matter into radiant energy. The Sun is essentially gas, composed of Hydrogen atoms which are moving at extreme velocities due to the Sun's massive gravitational force. As result of this force, every so often 2 Hydrogen atoms violently collide, so that their 'nuclei' literally 'fuse' together, creating 1 larger Helium atom in the process.

Due to the tremendous force of the collision, some of the matter from the 2 original Hydrogen atoms is lost and “converted” into energy. This new energy then radiates towards the earth in the form of heat and light. The process of nuclear fusion shows how stars such as our Sun are in a perpetual sacrifice, converting their matter into energy, and thus sustaining life on the planet earth.

H ===>> He <<=== H

Scientists predict that the Sun is like a furnace that will one day burn itself out by using all of its fuel. This will occur when almost all of its Matter has converted into radiating Energy due to the continual collisions of its atoms, leaving behind larger but less radiant particles.

Albert Einstein formulated a simple equation that shows the conversion of Matter into Energy. The equation illustrates how "a small amount of mass" can be converted into "a tremendous amount of energy" due to atomic collisions in the sun.

The equation E = mc 2 describes the conversion of matter into energy during Nuclear Fusion. Any mass multiplied by the speed of light (c) will give the amount of Energycreated.

E = mc 2

Energy created = mass x (Speed of Light) (Speed of Light)

Energy = mass (186,000)(186,000)

Energy = 1 x (186,000)(186,000)

Energy = 34,596,000,000 Joules

Note: [1 kilogram of Matter can be converted into 34,596,000,000 Joules of Energy]

Universe in Motion; Matter and Energy

Monday, 20 December 2010 03:03 Written by Administrator

Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space. Matter is material substance. 

Energy is the ability to do work and bring about change. Energy is immaterial substance. 

Although Matter and Energy are separate, they are interdependent entities that interact in the physical Universe. Matter is mass that is essentially motionless, and requires Energy for it to be set into motion. Energy is a force perpetually in motion, that requires Matter as a 'vehicle' to bring about it's change.

Energy brings about change in the Universe when it 'circulates' through the physical world, as it is released from one object of Matter moving to another. 

During a process called nuclear fusion, Matter particles from the Sun collide in a violent fashion, releasing enormous levels of Energy as Light. The Light Energy released from the Sun radiates towards earth, and is eventually absorbed by all plant life. Plants absorb this Energy, and through the process of photosynthesis store it as potential energy in Glucose molecules for later use. When Glucose molecules are consumed by humans, and broken down within the body, the energy released sets the body into motion and helps carry out all of life’s activities.

Thus, energy 'circulates' through the objects of the physical world, moving from one material object to another, and therefore setting the entire universe into motion!

Conservation of Matter and Energy

Monday, 20 December 2010 03:03 Written by Administrator

Photosynthesis is a biological process where plants take in carbon dioxide, water, and light energy from the atmosphere, and convert these substances into Glucose for food, while releasing oxygen as waste back into the atmosphere. This process is necessary for the existence of all plant life. A Plant ultimately breaks down the Glucose it creates, releasing it’s energy, using it to carry out its life functions.

The process of Photosynthesis is an example of one of the most fundamental Laws of Nature- The 1st Law of Thermodynamics, also known as The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy. This law states that Matter and Energy are neither created or destroyed, but are converted from one form into another. The total amount of Matter and Energy in the Universe is always the same.

 

Photosynthesis

6CO2 +   6H2O +  Light Energy =====> C6H12O6 +   6O2

                 carbon dioxide      water        ‘quanta’ of energy               Glucose           oxygen

Conservation of Matter:

The Matter on the 'left side' of the equation equals the Matter on the 'right side' of the equation. The carbon dioxide and water on the left side contain exactly a total of 6 carbon, 18 oxygen and 12 hydrogen atoms. The Glucose and oxygen on the right side also contain exactly a total of 6 carbon, 18 oxygen and 12 hydrogen atoms. [The molecules from left side have been simply "rearranged" to create the new molecules on the right side]

Conservation of Energy:

The Energy on the 'left side' of the equation equals the Energy on the 'right side' of the equation. [The Light Energy from the Sun on the left side has been stored as Chemical Energy in Glucose on the right side] 

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