Minoan and Mycenaean Art: Origins of Greek Culture
The Origins in Crete and Mycenae
A. Cycladic and Cretan Art
Greek art did not arise suddenly. Instead, it is the product of a long process of formation in which some local influences are essential. These include Cycladic art and Cretan art, developed on the island of Crete.
Art developed in the Cycladic Islands during the third millennium BC, around these islands in the Aegean Sea. Its pieces bear little resemblance to the art which would later be developed in Greece, but there is, in any case, a constant
Read More17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Explained
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Yes, I’m familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These goals are designed to address a wide range of global challenges, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
List of the 17 SDGs:
- No Poverty: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
- Zero Hunger: End hunger,
Nietzsche’s Influences and Philosophical Evolution
Historical, Cultural, and Philosophical Context
In the nineteenth century, Europe experienced the widespread impact of the Industrial Revolution (originating in England in the eighteenth century) and the liberal-bourgeois revolutions (such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution). Consequently, the estate society was replaced by a class society, represented by the capitalist bourgeoisie, who advocated for political and economic liberalism, and the proletariat. The proletariat became
Read MoreSpain’s 19th-20th Century Social & Cultural Shifts
Cultural Transformations and Changing Mentalities in Spain (19th-20th Century)
The New Urban Society
During the 19th century in Spain, the influence of landowning elites established a rentier, aristocratic-bourgeois society rather than an industrial one. Only in specific industrial areas or among certain business groups did the idea of valuing work, personal effort, and austerity take hold. This contrasted with the prevailing social model that often neglected work in favor of living off income.
The
Read MoreChinua Achebe’s Impact on Postcolonial Literature
Origins of Postcolonial Literature
Chinua Achebe’s Mission
The 20th century witnessed the decline of the British Empire. After World War II, colonies gained independence, leading to a postcolonial era. Former subjects began reassessing their national identity, history, literature, and relationship with the colonizers’ cultural traditions.
The Colonized as “Other”
Colonized populations were often viewed as inferior, existing outside history and civilization. This “othering” relied heavily on racial
Read MoreLiterary and Intellectual Currents: American, French Revolutions, and Victorian Era
American and French Revolutions
American Revolution (AR): Excessive taxes, perceived as unfair to the American colonies, fueled corruption and smuggling. Restrictions on trade with other nations and the lack of representation in the British Parliament were major grievances. These ideas were published in Common Sense. Thomas Paine argued that humanity was self-owned, stating, ‘his person is his title deed’.
French Revolution (FR): It was perceived as a natural, rational development, a simple democratic
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