Essay --

Before the conquest of Gaul consulship was yet to be decided as the senate were being secured by massive bribery from Marcus Bibulous as a part of an anti- caesarean election although failed to prevent Caesars election. Caesar had than succeeded in organising an irresistible coalition of political bosses which included (Pompey and Crassus) which became the first triumvirate. The alliance was affectively sealed by Pompey marrying Caesars only child Julia. The Gallic war (58-51 BC) was the conflict in which Julius Caesar emerged as a great military leader after an earlier career as a politician. A conflict that began with an attempt to preserve stability on the borders of Roman province Transalpine Gaul soon turned into a war of conquest. Only after putting down three major Gallic revolts. Caesar described Gaul as being split into three sections â€Å"Omniun Gallo in tres partes divisa est†- Commentarri de Bello Gallico. The north east of the country was populated by the Belgae, the centre of the country was inhabited by the Celts and the area beyond the Garonne River was populated by the Aquitani. As Gaul was split up Caesar effectively able to divide and conquer. Rome’s new province was officially called Transalpine Gaul to distinguish it from Cisalpine Gaul in northern Italy. Transalpine Gaul governed separately from Cisalpine Gaul but in 59 BC the governor of Transalpine Gaul died and the province was assigned to Caesar. Cisalpine Gaul also owned by Caesar gave him a military recruiting ground which gave Caesar a springboard for the conquest beyond Romeâ₠¬â„¢s North West frontier. In 58 BC Rome’s northwest frontier, ran from the Alps down the left bank of the upper Rhone River to Pyrenees, skirting the south eastern foot of the Cevennes.... ...and gave the name for the month July. Although it was said the invasions were pre-emptive it is believed they were fought primarily to boost Caesars political career and pay of his massive debts. His achievements over the defeat of Gaul regardless still amazing as the Romans didn’t possess any great superiority in the military equipment over the north European barbarians. The Gallic Calvary was far superior to Rome but Rome’s military superiority lay in its master of strategy in tactics, discipline and military engineering. In Caesars mind his conquest of Gaul was probably carried out as a means to his ultimate end. He was acquiring the military manpower; the plunder and the prestige that he needed to secure a freehand for the prosecution of the task of reorganizing the roman state and the rest of the Greco- Roman world. â€Å"I came, I saw, I conquered†- Julius Caesar.

Favorite Trip

Topic #12 I have visited many places in my lifetime, from as far east as Florida to the topics of Kauai. There were two places during my travels that have stuck out to me the most though. Visiting Mason City, Illinois, a little town of twenty-two hundred people and visiting family in Beverly Hills, California, there are bound to be some differences but also, some similarities on the subject. The majority of people in the United States, even internationally, know what Beverly Hills is.It is the place to be for amazing shopping, fancy cars, big houses, and the place to go to see celebrities. This little town in Southern California is very materialistic. When visiting, I almost felt as though I had to dress and act like these people just to fit into their society. Now, Mason City is my kind of vacation. Back in the country, life really does move slower and it is much simpler. What you wear and what you look like do not matter.The older and more broke down your truck is, the better off y ou are for mud bogging and road tripping to surrounding towns and the creeks. Everybody knows everybody and where each other live. In Beverly Hills, there are a wide variety of job professions. You could be virtually anything your heart desired, from being a banker to being a personal assistant to someone famous. The work that they do in California is on the opposite end of the spectrum compared to the work they do in Illinois.In Mason City, you either works on some kind of a farm, be it a pig farm or a corn farm, or you work for the local HULL Trucking Company. Obviously, there are other professions there otherwise there would be no local businesses or education, etc. That is virtually impossible. The job choices in both places are ways that people make their livings and contribute to our society. Beverly Hills is an urban jungle, full of high rises and the lovely smell of a big city. There are loud noises and a lot of vehicle and foot traffic through its winding streets and hills. I’m pretty sure that the drivers of these fancy vehicles on these winding streets make up their own rules of the road, almost like they are more obligated than others. In M. C. there is one road in and out of the town, Highway 65. There are not even any traffic lights, and only a few stop signs. Most roads there only require you to yield and make sure there is no one coming. People that are from Central and Southern Illinois say that Chicago and its surrounding suburbs should be considered an entirely different state. I believe that this is true.Central Illinois is rolling plains and a horizon as far as the eye can see. The smell of fresh air and the surroundings, make it an absolutely beautiful place to visit or to even live. Illinois is probably where I will end up some day, owning a farm and lots of animals. It was and still is my favorite place to visit in the United States. But, having been visiting California all of my life, it has a special place in my heart. These pla ces are polar opposites in every way imaginable. I like being able to visit different ways of life.

Samuel Johnson Quotes

Samuel Johnson was a prodigious wit whose landmark Dictionary of the English Language was not only innovative but often hilarious, with many of the definitions and usages offered prime examples of the man’s unparalleled sense of language and humor. It’s that skill with language that allows Samuel Johnson quotes to remain powerful and useful three centuries after his death. Here are some examples of Johnson’s way with words. Quotes About Intelligence â€Å"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful.† Many of the most memorable Samuel Johnson quotes come from his fiction and dramatic works; this pithy quote comes from The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia, published in 1759. â€Å"I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.† Johnson said this about Hugh Kelly, an Irish poet, playwright, and journalist who was often dismissed as an artist due to his lack of formal education and low-class origins. This quote is a prime example of Johnson’s ability to think on his feet and offer devastating bon mots on demand. Quotes About Writing â€Å"I would rather be attacked than unnoticed. For the worst thing you can do to an author is to be silent as to his works.† This quote is attributed to Johnson by his friend and biographer James Boswell, and appears in The Life of Samuel Johnson, published shortly after Johnson’s death. This book (and quotes like this) was a big contributor to Johnson’s historical reputation as a wit. Quotes About Human Nature â€Å"Tea amuses the evening, solaces the midnight, and welcomes the morning.† Johnson was a huge fan of tea, which was a relatively new addition to Western lifestyles at the time, as well as a major economic driver for the British Empire. Johnson was well known to work late nights, fueled by a heroic consumption of tea. â€Å"Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.† Found in a letter Johnson wrote in 1763. While this might seem like a statement supporting women’s equality, Johnson was not quite that progressive; he often couched reactionary attitudes in sarcastic inversions like this. â€Å"He who praises everybody praises nobody.† A simple yet profound observation of human nature and polite society that is as applicable today as it was in the 18th century. â€Å"Every man is rich or poor according to the proportion between his desires and his enjoyments.† From The Rambler #163, 1751. This is an interesting perspective considering how often Johnson found himself scrambling for money, and how acutely he felt the sting of not being able to provide for his wife. â€Å"The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.† Widely attributed to Johnson, although it does not appear in his writings. Considering Johnson’s attitude towards his fellow citizens and other statements he made during his life, this quote would seem to be a perfect fit. Quotes About Politics â€Å"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.† Another quote from Boswell’s Life of Samuel Johnson, which Boswell goes on to explain was not meant to be a general insult to anyone who feels a real love for their country, but rather an attack on those who Johnson felt pretended to such feelings when it served their purpose. â€Å"Liberty is, to the lowest rank of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving.† This quote from the essay The Bravery of the English Common Soldiers is part of a longer passage where Johnson, having decided that English soldiers were more brave and dauntless than those of other nations, sought to determine why this was the case. His conclusion was that as the quote above suggests, it had nothing to do with freedom, but rather everything to do with a sense of personal honor and responsibility. He concludes by saying their â€Å"insolence in peace is bravery in war.† â€Å"There are, in every age, new errors to be rectified, and new prejudices to be opposed.† From The Rambler #86 (1751). This sums up Johnson’s general view of history, which is that there is no such thing as a permanent solution to our problems, and that society will always find new concerns to worry over. That this has proved very true underscores Johnson’s genius.