Was Raphael Married

He was a Renaissance celebrity, known not only for his superb artistic talent but for his personal charm. Very publicly engaged to Maria Bibbiena, the niece of a powerful cardinal, scholars believed him to have had a mistress by the name of Margherita Luti, the daughter of a Sienese baker. Marriage to a woman of such a lowly social status would hardly have helped his career; general public knowledge of such a liaison could have damaged his reputation. But recent research conducted by Italian art historian Maurizio Bernardelli Curuz suggests that Raphael Sanzio may have followed his heart and secretly married Margherita Luti. Clues that Point to a Marriage Important clues to the relationship can be found in the recently-restored Fornarina, the portrait of a seductive beauty begun in 1516 and left unfinished by Raphael. Half-clothed and smiling suggestively, the subject wears a ribbon on her left arm bearing Raphaels name. Pinned to her turban is a pearl — and the meaning of Margherita is pearl. X-rays taken during restoration reveal in the background quince and myrtle bushes — symbols of fertility and fidelity. And on her left hand was a ring, the existence of which was painted out, probably by Raphaels students after the masters death. All these symbols would have been extraordinarily meaningful to the average Renaissance viewer. To anyone who understood the symbolism, the portrait practically shouts this is my beautiful wife Margherita and I love her. In addition to the portrait, Curuz has uncovered documentary evidence that Raphael and Margherita were married in a secret ceremony. Curuz also believes Margherita to be the subject of La Donna Velata (the Veiled Lady), which one contemporary noted was the painting of the woman Raphael loved until he died. It had been theorized that Raphael didnt paint the Fornarina at all, and that instead it is the work of one of his pupils. Curuz and his associates now believe that Raphaels pupils deliberately obscured the nuptial symbolism to protect his reputation and continue their own work at the Sala di Constantino in the Vatican, the loss of which would have bankrupted them. To reinforce the pretense, Raphaels students placed a plaque on his tomb in memory of his fiancee, Bibbiena. And Margherita Luti (Sanzio)? Four months after Raphaels death, the widow Margherita is recorded as arriving at the convent of SantApollonia in Rome.

Pastoralism and the Development of Civilization

Pastoralism refers to a stage in the development of civilization between hunting and agriculture and also to a way of life dependent on the herding of livestock, specifically, ungulates. The Steppes and the Near and Middle East are particularly associated with pastoralism, although mountainous regions and areas too cold for farming can also support pastoralism.  In the Steppes near Kiev, where the wild horse roamed, pastoralists used their knowledge of cattle herding to domesticate the horse. Lifestyle Pastoralists focus on raising livestock and tend to the care and use of animals such as camels, goats, cattle, yaks, llamas and sheep.  Animal species vary depending on where pastoralists live in the world; typically they are domesticated herbivores that eat plant foods. The two main lifestyles of pastoralism include nomadism and transhumance. The nomads practice a seasonal migratory pattern that changes annually, while transhumance pastoralists use a pattern to cool highland valleys in summer and warmer ones during the cold wintertime. Nomadism This form of subsistence agriculture, also known as farming to eat, is based on herding domesticated animals. Instead of depending on crops to survive, pastoral nomads primarily depend on animals that provide milk, clothing and tents.   Some key characteristics of pastoral nomads include: Pastoral nomads typically do not slaughter their animals but already dead ones may be used for food.Power and prestige are often symbolized by this cultures herd size.The type and number of animals are chosen in relation to local characteristics, such as climate and vegetation. Transhumance The movement of livestock for water and food encompasses transhumance. The core differentiator in regards to nomadism is that herders who are leading the flock must leave their family behind.  Their lifestyle is in harmony with nature, developing groups of people with the worlds ecosystem, embedding themselves in their environment and biodiversity. The main places you can find transhumance include Mediterranean locations such as Greece, Lebanon, and Turkey. Modern Pastoralism Today, most pastoralists live in Mongolia, parts of Central Asia and East African locations. Pastoral societies include groups of pastoralists who center their daily life around pastoralism through the tending of herds or flocks.  The benefits of pastoralism include flexibility, low costs and freedom of movement. Pastoralism has survived due to additional features including light regulatory environment and their work in regions that are not suited for agriculture. Quick Facts Over 22 million Africans depend on pastoralists for their livelihood today, in communities such as the Bedouins, Berbers, Somali and Turkana.There are over 300,000 cattle herders in Southern Kenya and 150,000 in Tanzania.Pastoralism societies can be drawn back to the time period 8500-6500 BC.Literary work involving shepherds and rustic life is known as pastoral which comes from the term pastor, Latin for a shepherd. SourceAndrew Sherratt Pastoralism The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Brian M. Fagan, ed., Oxford University Press 1996. Oxford University Press.

British Philosophy Free Essays

The European Philosophy that was witnessed in the early to late seventeenth century is generally regarded as the period of enlightenment when the reaction of the empiricists replaced the Rationalists of the early seventeenth century Europe. Introduction The word philosophy has its origins from the Greek language, which means â€Å"love for wisdom†. When first used the word used to integrate all forms of love for education. We will write a custom essay sample on British Philosophy or any similar topic only for you Order Now It is only recently that it started being used to refer to a â€Å"special branch of inquiry† which is distinct from other sciences. (Conway, A. 122) The British philosophy is part of the Western philosophy that was in rise during the seventeenth century Europe that was characterized by a peculiar mode of living called â€Å"bourgeois society†. (John S. 237) The mode of living was also characterized by various forms of thinking that distinctly reflected the existent living lifestyles. The lifestyle and the thinking there-in is what gave rise to what is ailing the whole of humanity today. It gave rise to modern-day capitalism or what was referred to as the ‘bourgeois society. † (Conway, A. 123) Open social environment that existed in the pre-Revolutionary England heralded the beginnings of the British philosophy. During this period the social conditions were greatly influenced by various Empiricists from Britain who included Thomas Hobbes and Francis Bacon and later John Locke who played a significant role during the Restoration Period. The development of Bourgeois thinking in Britain was greatly influenced by the growth of natural science which saw the likes of Isaac Newton the father of modern physics (1642-1727) being one of the most prominent natural scientists from Britain, influenced its growth prior to the nineteenth century before the growth of the industrial revolution. (John S. 235) British Empire is generally credited with the development of a bourgeois revolution and was the first to â€Å"make an industrial revolution. † This being the case the British rather than facing the challenges of working through theory saw the need to â€Å"accumulate material for theory to work upon instead. †(J. H. Muirhead 88) To achieve the revolution, the British realized the only way to challenge the existent of the feudal wisdom that was characteristic amongst the ruling class and achieve political and economic freedom, the only way out was via exploration, science technological advancement, industrial growth and profiteering. (Julian B Jeremy S 69) The British bourgeois is strongly interrelated with the Empiricist philosophy of the seventeenth century and because it is credited with the great changes that were accomplished by the industrial revolution in Europe, it has the tendency to distrust all other theories and instead, depend so much on accumulated observation and experience. (Francois D L 23) Because of this reason the British have not featured prominently amongst the great names in the philosophy history. â€Å"British philosophy has not traditionally taken much of an interest in the lives of its great figures †¦ â€Å"(Julian B Jeremy S 70) The only notable British philosophers are Alan Turing and Bertrand Russell who were Mathematicians others include Adela Pankhurst Juliet Mitchell and Sheila Rowbothan who were British feminists. Conclusion British philosophy therefore did not churn out great philosophers as witnessed in other parts of Europe. Nevertheless, it is credited for the development of modern day capitalism that started of during the period of the Enlightenment paving way to the Industrial revolution. Works Cited Conway, Anne: The Principles of the most ancient and modern philosophy. Loptson. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1982. P122-123 Francois De Larrard: British Philosophy in the 17th and 18th Centuries: Thoemmes Press, 1992 p23-45 J. H. Muirhead: Contemporary British Philosophy: 1953 p 88 John Stuart Brown: British Philosophy in the Age of Enlightenment: Arnold Publishers. 2003 p234-237 Julian Baggini, Jeremy Stangroom: New British Philosophy: The Interviews: Routledge (1 May 2002) p69-70 How to cite British Philosophy, Papers

The War on Drugs Is It Worth the Price free essay sample

The following paper examines the war on drugs in America, questioning whether the loss of lives, stricter laws and costs of the campaign outweigh the benefits. This essay discusses the pros and cons of the War on Drugs in America, paying specific attention to the sales of drugs, legislation issues, the strain on the judicial system, poor communities, increased costs of the campaign and the infringement of individual rights. From the paper: Some critics have pointed to the amount of money the War on Drugs has cost. They claim that the increased costs of the campaign to stop drug flow into the United States have coincided with a decrease of the amount of money spent on education. However, correlation is not the same as cause. The funding of education is an important role for federal, state and local governments. This is why we have federal funding for some educational programs as well as state and local taxes to help pay for public schools. We will write a custom essay sample on The War on Drugs: Is It Worth the Price? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page