His Life and Legacy — More Myth than Reality? Augustus was instrumental in creating the Rome we know today and despite Tacitus’ feelings otherwise, the time has come to regard Augustus for what he was: the great savior of Rome. Despite his arrogance and early displays of bloodlust, Augustus was far from a power-hungry killer…
Blog
U.S. Influence in Post-World War II Latin America
The Monroe Doctrine was Alive and Well The United States and Latin America have had tumultuous relationships since each won independence in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Following World War II, the world’s economy entered into a period of significant growth. The Marshall Plan saw massive U.S. investment in war-torn Western Europe, which…
The Evolution of American Cold War Containment Strategy
If strategy is a calculated relationship between ends, ways, and means, then during the Cold War, American strategic ends — containment of the Soviet Union — remained unchanged. Containment meant preventing Soviet expansion and military aggression, often through military deterrence. The strategy employed — be it the Truman Doctrine, New Look, Flexible Response, Détente, or…
Bloom and Gardner
Evaluating Major Learning Theorists Two major theories of learning have had an important impact on how I approach my teaching and how I learn. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory and Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy of Ed Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory and Bloom’s Taxonomy aren’t entirely different. They share many of the same principles. In Gardner’s theory,…
Cicero and the Roman Ideal of Governorship
Governing the province of Cilicia from 51–50 BC, Cicero offers an example of what appears to be the idealistic Roman view of governorship. Cicero’s task was significant, especially against a looming war with the Parthians. Still, Cicero is perhaps the model Roman governor. One can only hope that subsequent governors learned from his example. Throughout…
The Domestication of Dogs
The domestication of dogs has both improved society AND benefited human happiness. I have had the privilege of serving my country for seventeen years and I have witnessed first-hand the benefits of domesticated dogs. In the form of working dogs, both bomb sniffing and PTSD service animals. Throughout my service, I have been deployed three…
Racial Caste and the Spanish in Latin America
The seeds of rebellion and eventual independence in Latin America were sewn by Spanish hypocrisy from the beginning of their occupation of the Americas. Race, and therefore racial hierarchy and racism, are a prevalent theme from the beginning of the Spanish conquest. Early ideas of a racial hierarchy brought to America by the Spanish would…
Economics and Warfare
Economics is the Sine Qua Non of Waging War In their three-volume Military Effectiveness set, Allan R. Millett and Williamson Murray argue that political effectiveness involves a nation’s ability to obtain and allocate resources for military activity. This might be the most critical factor in determining a nation’s ability to succeed in a great power war. Throughout…
Impiety in Ancient Greek Religion
What can we learn from this practice? Homer and Herodotus provide an excellent window into the ancient Greek view of impiety. The ancient Greeks believed pious behavior was essential to everyday life. Impiety is having a lack of reverence for the gods. In both Homer’s and Herodotus’ works, impiety is punished by the gods. In Herodotus, however, some…
The Assasination of Julius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was seemingly a “benevolent dictator,” wasn’t he? He was what Rome needed after nearly a century of strife. Despite Caesar’s pompous attitude, assassination is never justified. His compassion, expansion of the Senate, and strict adherence to elections for plebian office demonstrated a desire to serve the people of Rome and not merely…