Social and Cultural Roots of Ancient Greek Art
Historical Context: Social and Cultural Foundations of Greek Art
Greek art, which extends mainly between the 8th and 2nd centuries BC, had its moment of glory in the 5th century BC, corresponding to the classical period. The geographical setting in which it developed is the rivers and islands of the Aegean and the Mediterranean regions colonized by the Greeks, from Asia Minor to the Iberian Peninsula. It is an indigenous culture, but one that resulted from various contributions, both from pre-Hellenic
Read MorePicasso’s Guernica: A Deep Dive into the Anti-War Masterpiece
Guernica: A Timeless Condemnation of War’s Brutality
Pablo Picasso, 1937, Oil on Canvas
Theme: Denouncing political conflict. After the events of World War II (the Vietnam War, the return of democracy in Spain, the Korean War, and the Cold War), there was a redistribution of Europe’s geopolitics. This shift gave way to the widespread globalization of information and an approximation among all fields, including an exchange of artistic tastes and ideas. Thus, the 20th century saw the rise of the avant-
Read MoreUS Economic Crisis & Global Politics 1929-1991
The US Economic Crisis of 1929
1. The growth of domestic and external demand was insufficient to absorb the growth in production.
2. Due to the constant threat of a crisis of overproduction, Americans reduced investments and increased production. Consequently, agricultural product stocks rose, and prices fell.
3. The buying power of much of the population remained very low due to the poverty of farmers and the high number of unemployed, coupled with the low wages of workers. Credit was increased in
Read MoreAmerican Revolution: Seeds of Independence & Literary Evolution
Seeds of Independence: The Road to Revolution
The East India Company played a crucial role in bringing Indian goods, such as tea, coffee, and spices, to Europe and the Americas. The existence of these companies created a monopoly, forcing customers to buy exclusively from them. After the Boston Massacre, colonial leaders continued to oppose British policies. They decided to take action when ships from India arrived in Boston, leading to the Boston Tea Party. This event provoked a new confrontation
Read MoreAncient Greece: Society, Culture, and Daily Life
Pyramus and Thisbe
Pyramus and Thisbe were two lovers who could not be together because their families did not accept this relationship. A wall separated them, but it had a crack, and they looked through it. One day, tired of being apart, they arranged to meet at a designated place.
Thisbe arrived first.
The Three Classes of Sparta
- Spartans
- Perioeci
- Helots
Rights and Obligations of Each Spartan Class
- Spartans: Full political and civil rights. They dedicated themselves to the army and spent most of their
US Containment Policy and the Vietnam War Origins
Was Containment the Right Policy?
There was no doubt at all in the USA that communism had to be resisted. Some favored the aggressive policy proposed by MacArthur, that containment was not enough. They wanted the USA to take the fight to the communists and push back the frontiers of communism. Dulles set up a network of anti-communist alliances around the world:
- South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), in 1954
- Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), in 1955
The Soviets felt threatened and accused the
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