Representation of Power in Marvels Daredevil

Representation of Power in Marvels Daredevil Kimmy Huynh How are the characters in Marvel’s â€Å"Daredevil† Netflix series portrayed as powerful? Introduction The portrayal of power in fictional media often reflects connotations and assumptions made in the real world. By using the theoretical framework of semiology to analyse how Marvel’s Daredevil constructs the notion of power, an insight into what elements audiences see as power and how media creators materialise power in their work can be brought to light. Ideologically, the idea of power has been at the very core of capitalist societies such as the one we live in, it would therefore be insightful to pursue academic research in the area through deconstructing its representation. Marvel’s Daredevil series is an origin story created for the on-demand platform of Netflix. As a piece of media that exists within the modern superhero genre, power is a key theme. From a media studies perspective, Daredevil is a noteworthy text for analysis. Much like other Netflix series, its release on the digital platform saw the entire season of Daredevil released at once. This creates a pressure free form of storytelling for the media creators as it allows for characters and other elements of the Daredevil world to develop naturally over time without taking into consideration whether an audience member has watched the show sequentially each week. It would therefore be insightful to analyse how power is developed and represented in this new structure of storytelling. Methodology (strengths and weaknesses) In order to analyse the representation of power in the Daredevil show, a semeiotic analysis will be used to answer the question. A semiotic analysis of elements within the episodes will be used in order to deconstruct how power is represented. A semiotic analysis is a form of media research originally coined by the theorists Charles Sanders Pierce and Ferdinand De Saussure in the early twentieth century. Widely meaning the study of signs, Pierce stated that a sign is â€Å"something which stands to somebody for something in some respect or capacity† (Pierce 1955: 99) while Saussure describes semiology as â€Å"a science that studies the life of signs.† (Saussure 1959: 16) Media texts, such as television shows, are seen as constructs of meaning. Theorist Stuart Hall (1997) suggests that meanings are encoded within the media by its creators and then decoded by audiences who actively react to it based on personal experiences, lifestyles and social norms at the time of viewing. Fiske describes denotation as being what is photographed and connotation as how the photo has been taken (Fiske, 1990). By deconstructing the representation of power in Daredevil through semiotic analysis, the underlying symbols used by media authors to create power can be brought to light. To analyse semiotics is to analyse the symbolic meaning of signs in a media text. De Saussure suggested that signs consist of two inseparable aspects: the signifier and signified. The signifier often exists in the material world in the form of letters, objects and images and is interpreted through our senses of touch, sight, sound etc. The signified is the mental concept or meaning attached to the signifier. Essentially, the equation for signs is as follows: The Signifier + Signified = Sign The purpose of a semiotic analysis, then, is to understand how meanings are formed by reviewing how texts are constructed by using the above equation. In employing this methodology, it would be beneficial for a researcher to understand the strengths and limitations of semiology. Theorists such as Robert Hodge and Gunther Kress advocate the notion that â€Å"semiotics offers†¦a systematic, comprehensive and coherent study of communications phenomena as a whole† (Hodge Kress, 1988:1). Furthermore, Semiotics provides scholarly research with conceptual framework and a set of tools and terms to analyse many forms of communication. On the other hand, semiology is often critiqued as being almost imperialistic, since some theorists see it as being applicable to anything and everything, infringing on almost every theoretical and ideological discipline. As a result of the breadth in which semiology is applied, it is said to be difficult to offer a critique on a theoretical framework that changes so much depending on its application. This is emphasised by John Sturrock in Structuralism (1986) where he illustrates this infringement as a â€Å"dramatic extension†¦Ã¢â‚¬  that would â€Å"include the whole of culture†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Sturrock, 1986:89). Literature Review Literature surrounding semiotic analysis often suggests that there are not many who work as ‘semioticians’, however it is rational to accept that everyone utilises semiotic methodology to some extent in their everyday lives. In an article written by Arthur Asa Berger, it is suggested in the section titled ‘People Watching and Facial Expression’ that curiosity is a driving force for why people may make a semiotic analysis, stating that â€Å"we often watch people [and] scrutinise them† (Berger, 2013:23), he continues to state that semiotic analysis is exercised when a person wonders where someone is going or what they are doing, â€Å"†¦body structure, body language, clothing, brands†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Berger, 2014:23) are some of the elements that are scrutinised in order to make an informed guess in answering those questions. While both key thinkers, De Saussure and Ferdinand, did not originally develop semiotics and semiology respectively for analysing media, it has since been a pioneering force in analysing contemporary media texts. In The Consumer’s Stake in Radio and Television, theorist Dallas Smythe suggested that television texts should be analysed as a â€Å"group of symbols† that â€Å"serve as a medium of exchange between the mass media and the audience† (Smythe, 1954:143), the ideas of semiotics and semiology coincide with Smythe’s statement. Smythe’s statement can also be applied to genre studies in the sense that genre is essentially a group of symbols that create a medium in which recurring codes and conventions allow a media text to be â€Å"classified and organised† (Casey, 2002:135). Listed under the superhero, action and adventure genres on Netflix, Daredevil will inevitably adhere to those specific genre conventions, it can therefore be said that signifiers that link to the signified ideas of superheroes, such as having extraordinary powers, a moral code and a secret identity will be used in the show. In terms of the ideological stance on power, Marxist literature focuses on the argument that mass media, such as television, is significantly influenced by the needs of the upper class in capitalist society. Marxist theory regarding the base and superstructure reinforces the idea of upper class dominance through mass media (Marx Engels, 1947). However a more culture orientated Marxist approach to media lies in Gramsci’s theory of hegemony. In Gramsci’s Prison Notebooks (1995), Gramsci rejected ideas of crude materialism and instead offered a more humanist form of Marxism that focused on human subjectivity and the power of media. He used the term hegemony to describe the predominance of one social class over the other (Gramsci, 1995). The media therefore prescribes, through signs, the dominant norms, values and tastes, political practices and social relations. (Sassoon, 1982) Analysis As mentioned before, signifiers often take form in the materialistic world of production. These catalysts for meaning can range from anything in the mise-en-scene, such as performance, lighting and costume, to the cinematographers choice of angles and camera shots. These verbal and visual elements then become the signified in which audiences draw links between an object and an idea. The two major characters in Daredevil, the antagonist and protagonist, will be analysed to understand how the idea of power has been encoded within them. The characters, Fisk and Murdock, can be seen as mirrors of one another. In literary terms they would be labelled as foils, the term is used to describe two characters that have comparative traits but are contrasted by their actions. Both characters believe they are saving the location of Hell’s Kitchen and exercise their power to do so. Power is therefore denoted in their actions, whether it’s violently interrogating criminals to find out where hostages are being kept or violently making an example of someone in order to keep the criminal underworld in line, both characters use their violent power to achieve their objectives. This is emphasised in Fisk’s dialogue in which he says â€Å"I want to save this city, like you. But only on a scale that matters†. This acts as a verbal signifier and indicates his exercise of power, even if innocent lives are lost in the process. In Episode three, titled Rabbit in a Snow Storm, the audience are introduced to a painting of the same name which symbolically represents more than just a simple painting. On one hand it denotes how the characters get caught up and lost in the bigger picture just as the rabbit is caught in the snowstorm. On the other hand, Fisk’s obsession with this piece of art soon brings out one of the major themes of the entire show: What kind of man or woman do you want to become? Fisk’s power over monetary wealth and the criminal underworld is at the core of this concern and the painting acts as a signifier for this idea. Moreover, this idea of power and the responsibility that comes with great power is applicable to the character of Murdock. Fisk is repeatedly shown to have struggled with what kind of man he wants to become and this is seen when he stares at the painting over and over again, which in turn signifies his increasing power as different events occur. Conversely, Murdock also struggles with who he is and what he may become as a result of his power. Murdock finds himself in the confession booth seeking guidance from Father Lantom. Through this faith, an iconic signifier which emphasises power is revealed. The juxtaposition between the iconic symbols of the church and Daredevil connotes the power of both good and evil existing within Murdoch. Faith plays a central part in the original Daredevil comic book story and it is what drives him to constantly question his own morality. The show has been widely praised for its violent and gritty fight scenes, however as a media construct, Murdoch’s fighting prowess in these scenes act as obvious signifiers for him being a powerful character as he is often pitted against insurmountable odds. Another symbol of power is seen through Murdoch’s questioning of his morality, this is seen in episode three where he confronts Fisk’s hired killer. While his own life is at risk, he still struggles with the notion of murder. This also reflects the superhero genre conventions of morality and its idea of killing one villain to save the many innocent. In the final scenes of episode thirteen, Daredevil obtains his most symbolic costume from the comic books. Reminiscent of the devil, his attire symbolises his identity as the Daredevil. Murdoch eventually adopts this identity as his alias as it has the power to instil fear. As an iconic sign, the media creators of Daredevil construct this verbal signifier in the dialogue where criminals often call Murdoch â€Å"the devil† in fear. Fear is therefore a sign used in representing the character of Murdoch as powerful. On the other hand, Murdoch’s foil, Fisk is not a character revealed until the third episode. And other characters often state that â€Å"we don’t say his name.† Furthermore, characters who end up revealing his name state that â€Å"he will find me†¦and everyone I’ve ever cared about†¦and make an example†. An element of the mise-en-scene, the performance and dialogue of other characters, are therefore used as verbal signs to imply how powerful the character of Fisk is. This element of fear derives from merely saying the character’s name and again, parallels Murdoch’s use of fear. Connotations that represent power are seen in the character of Wilson Fisk through his attire. Episode eight, titled Shadows in the Glass, illustrates this well by beginning with a montage of Wilson Fisk’s typical morning routine. A number of visual signifiers take shape in this opening sequence to connote power. His choice of clothing acts as a symbolic sign, reflecting what society has deemed a stereotypical rich man to look like. His suits, mainly black, therefore symbolise economic wealth and power respectively as the colour of black is widely associated with power and strength. Power is also encoded through the use of non diegetic sound. Classical music is inserted by the media creators in order to reinforce this idea of Fisk being a powerful member of the upper class in which the ‘finer things in life’ such as classical music and Fisk’s skills in the culinary arts as he makes breakfast is underlined. Politics and media, and more specifically power and media has always had an ambiguous relationship. Gross (1991) suggested that the powerful can often â€Å"influence† their own portrayals as well as others. The show takes this idea and illustrates it within episode six, titled Condemned, in a scene where the antagonist coerces the media, police and other public institutions into making the Murdoch the scapegoat for bombings that occur in Hell’s Kitchen, hence the episode name being Condemned. The representation of power is highlighted here as the media is influenced by the antagonist. Fisk’s control over the media is therefore another symbolic sign of him being a powerful character. A visual signifier for power used effectively throughout the season is body language; the positioning of Fisk often underlines him as a powerful character. The actor casted in the role, Vincent DOnofrio, stands at 6ft4 and weighs 130kg. While a man of this build already visually connoted as being powerful, the cinematography in Daredevil emphasises this by using low angles. By viewing the character from a low angle, Fisk is positioned above the audience and looks down on them, just as Fisk is framed in such a way that causes the audience to look up at the character, connoting a sense of power as he towers over the viewer. Conclusion In closing, the makers of the Daredevil Netflix series evidently employ signifiers that create the idea of power in order to truly illustrate how powerful a character is. A semiotic analysis of the two characters, Murdoch and Fisk, allow for an understanding of what elements have been used in order to create the impression of power a hero or villain. Most notable is the performative element of the mise-en-scene. Just as it is suggested by Berger in his analysis of applied semiotics in Semiotics and Society (2013), â€Å"body structure, body language† and facial expressions acts as strong signifiers in Daredevil. The performance of the actors who play Wilson Fisk and Matthew Murdoch therefore play a major role in creating verbal and visual signifiers for the notion of power. Furthermore, this is empowered by the character foils in which their parallels work to empower their different powers, be it supernatural as Murdoch or economic and coercive as Fisk. Media texts such as television and film are essentially signs containing other signs, and while some signifiers may not be obvious, a semiotic investigation aims to make these implicit signals, explicit. The employment of a semiotic analysis was insightful in regards to how ideas are constructed. The representation of power corresponds with Marxist ideology in which the powerful, such as Fisk, control the superstructure (Marx Engels, 1947) in the show. As stated at the beginning of the research report, the idea of power often reflects assumptions made in the real world. It is therefore informative to see how verbal and visual signs in actions, performances and costume present the idea of power to the audience. Bibliography BERGER, A.A. 2014; 2013, Semiotics and Society, Society, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 22-26. CASEY, B. (2002). Television studies: the key concepts. London, Routledge. FISKE, J. (1990). Introduction to communication studies. London, Routledge. GRAMSCI, A. (1995).Futher Selections from the Prison Notebooks. U of Minnesota Press. GROSS, L. P., KATZ, J. S., RUBY, J. (1988). Image ethics: the moral rights of subjects in photographs, film, and television. New York, Oxford University Press. HALL, S. (1997). Representation: cultural representations and signifying practices. London, Sage in association with the Open University. HODGE, B., KRESS, G. R. (1988). Social semiotics. Ithaca, N.Y., Cornell University Press. MARX, K., ENGELS, F., ARTHUR, C. J., MARX, K. (1947). The German ideology. [New York, United States of America] International Publishers. PEIRCE, C. S., BUCHLER, J. (1955). Philosophical writings of Peirce. New York, Dover Publications. SASSOON, A. S. (1982). Approaches to Gramsci. London, Writers and Readers. SMYTHE, D.W. 1951, The Consumers Stake in Radio and Television, The Quarterly of Film Radio and Television, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 109-128. SAUSSURE, F. D. (1959). Course in general linguistics. New York, Philosophical Library. STURROCK, J., WINTLE, J. (1986). Structuralism. London, Paladin. Page 1 of 6

A Can of Bull

A Can of Bull? Impulse Energy Drink Charley’s List of Questions Energy is the capacity to do work 1. Nature of each ingredient on the cans: Xcitrusblast: Amino acid: l-taurine, l-glutamine, Acid: Citric acid, pantothenic acid, hcl Concentrated water-based extraction: adaptogen blend Sugar: sucralose, acesulfame potassium, Vitamin: Niacin, cyanocobalamin Energy: Caffeine Salt: sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, Dye: yellow 5 Redbull: Amino acid: taurine Acid: glucuranolactone, pyridoxine HCL Sugar: sucrose, glucose Vitamin: niacin, D-pantothenol, vitamin B12 Energy: caffeineSalt: sodium citrate, Dye: colors Sobe Adrenaline Rush: Amino acid: taurine, Acid: citric acid, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine hydrochloride Sugar: high fructose corn syrup, , Vitamin: monopotassium phosphate, beta-carotine, folic acid, Energy: caffeine, Siberian ginseng, Salt: sodium citrate, Dye: caramel color Impulse: Amino acid: taurine Sugar: sucrose Vitamin: niacinimide, C, B12, Energy: caffeine, Dye:color s 2. Acesulfame Potassium (Sunett) – Arti? cial sweetener to provide taste. Aspartame- Low calorie arti? cial sweetener that provides taste. Ca? eine- Some studies have shown that ca? ine may improve memory and reasoning responses on tests Citric Acid- It is a precursor for the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s Cycle), which is a major pathway in the cell’s production of chemical energy. Cyanocobalamin- Important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis. Folic Acid- Required for metabolism of carbon compounds, nucleic acids, and amino acids. Fructose – Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body.Glucose – Enters the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body. â€Å" Glu curonolactone- It is a normal human metabolic byproduct formed from glucose. Glucuronolactone is found in connective tissue in animals. Also regulates formation of glycogen. Small amounts shouldn’t be harmful. 1-Glutamine – Aids in muscle building and maintenance. Inositol – Controls cholesterol levels and has potential antioxidant capabilities. Niacin (nicotinic acid) – Derivatives such as NADH are required for metabolism.It is said to aid in the synthesis of amino acids, the subunits of proteins. It has not been directly linked to improving athletic performance. Niacinamide Pantothenic Acid (also known as D-pantothenol) – Precursor of coenzyme A. Helps you use fats and carbohydrates to make molecules used for energy. Potassium sorbate †¢ Chemical formula: C6 – Used to inhibit fungal growth in foods. Pyridoxine HCL – Energy production, e? cient metabolic functioning, protein digestion, as well as maintaining healthy nervous syst em, skin, hair and nails. Sucralose (splenda) – Arti? cial sweetener to provide taste.Sucrose – Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body. 1-Taurine – Improved reaction time, concentration, and memory (not proven); essential amino acid for cats. Water – Essential for physiological processes. 3. Caffeine, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine hcl, Sucrose 4. Cyanocobalamin Post Research Analysis: IMPULSE Sources of Energy Amino Acids Stimulants & Vitamins Other Pyridoxine HCl Sucrose Glucuronolactone Inositol 1-Taurine Caffeine Vitamin B12Vitamin C Niacinamide Artificial flavors Colors Carbonated Water Questions 1. Energy is the ability to do work 2. Water- Essential for physiological processes Sucrose- Can be converted into a form for entry into the primary metabolic pathway in which the chemical energy of its bonds is converted into ATP, the primary â€Å"energy† molecule in the body Taurine- : Improved reaction time, concentration, and memory (not proven); essential amino acid for cats. Glucuronolactone- It is a normal human metabolic byproduct formed from glucose. Glucuronolactone is found in connective tissue in animals.Also regulates formation of glycogen. Small amounts shouldn’t be harmful. Caffeine- Some studies have shown that ca? eine may improve memory and reasoning responses on tests; other studies have shown that ingesting 3-9mg of ca? eine one hour before physical activity improves endurance running and cycling in athletes. No adverse e? ects inhumans have been documented. Inositol- Controls cholesterol levels and has potential antioxidant capabilities Niacinimide- component of the coenzymes NAD and NADP, important in the redox reactions of metabolism pyridoxine HCL- Energy production, e? ient metabolic functioning, protein digestion, as well as maintaining healthy n ervous system, skin, hair and nails. h e B-compound vitamins are probably the single most important set of factors needed for proper maintenance of the nervous system as well as proper functioning of the cell and its energy metabolism vitamin C- : It is a precursor for the citric acid cycle (Kreb’s Cycle), which is a major pathway in the cell’s production of chemical energy vitamin B12- : Important for growth, cell reproduction, blood formation, and protein and tissue synthesis ) Pyridoxine HCl – Energy production; Sucrose, Glucuronolactone, and Inositol – all converted into ATP b) None. 3. Ca? eine is a mild CNS stimulant with a transient e? ect. 4. They help your energy boost for the short while 5. Yes, the analysis does support the claim that Impluse is an energy drink. Pyridoxine HCl, sucrose, glucuronolactone, and inositol are all sources of energy. 6. Yes, the drink could serve different purpose depending on the consumer.For instance, if the consume r is an athlete, he/she could use the drink as a source of energy, to perform better. It helps improve endurance in running, cycling, improve reaction time and concentration and Astor normal everyday people it can speed up metabolism, help control cholesterol, give energy, help maintain healthy nervous system, even improve reasoning skills on tests. If the consumer is a student, however, he/she could use the drink again as a source of energy but perhaps to work better in school, stay up to study, and do homework. . Sugar hyperglycema can occur in high in takes of sugar Caffeine hallucinations and suicide 8. No sugar doesn't cause hyperactive activity. 9. Your body uses sleep as a rebuilding time for muscles. Your muscles use energy most efficiently. If they never have time to recover then they cannot work properly. Therefore your energy can be depleted. However, lack of energy can be a sign of more serious issues such as anemia or thyroid problems. If this is an on going problem you should definitely consult your physician. 0. Yes, the energy drink contains ingredients like caffeine to temporary allow you to be boost your energy along with others and pyridoxine which helps keep a healthy nervous system some vitamins. And also has multiple ingredients to increase metabolism 11. If given the option between a can of Coke or one of the energy drinks, one should choose the energy drink. This is because the energy drink has fairly lower calorie count and less sugar. Also, the energy drinks provide more energy and have certain vitamins.Also, I would rather buy an an energy drink because it would benefit you better than buying a coke that gives no nutrition at all but instead just full of caffeine and sucrose for energy. At least with impulse you get some nutritional benefit out of it. However, energy drink is only good if taken in moderation. Assessment After conducting the assessment on the Impulse energy drink, we’ve concluded that the marketing claim for th is particular drink does prove to be legitimate and is supported by the ingredients of the drink.The drink does, in fact, acquire its energy from nutrients, minerals, and vitamins such as the ones listed on the nutrition facts. The marketing claim does not leave off any ingredients and directly inform the consumers of how each functions and its purpose. However, one thing that the marketing claim does forget to mention is that the drink should only be consumed in moderation because of the harmful effects it could have on the body if consumed in massive amounts.

Environmental Determinism Related to Ancient Greece, Rome and Medieval Times Essay

Environmental determinism essentially means where you live has a direct correlation with how you live. Countries that need to focus on hunting and gathering cannot focus on other aspects of their society like military power, religion, technology and education. Geographic luck is another factor of environmental determinism. Geographic luck means that people have strong advantages to their lives because of where they currently live. Environmental determinism allowed countries to grow their military power and allowed them to enhance their weaponry, which was shown during the Peloponnesian War, the Punic Wars and the Viking Invasions. During the period of Ancient Greece, the Peloponnesian War showed military changes because of environmental determinism. After the Persian War, the Persian Empire was very weak (â€Å"Peloponnesian War. â€Å"). The Athenians saw this as a great opportunity to attack and take control of some very important land. Some of the land that they wanted to capture was called the Fertile Crescent and was very rich with many resources such as very rich soil which is opportune for growing crops, as well as large rivers of water for drinking (â€Å"Fertile Crescent. â€Å"). The Athenians were able to attack the Fertile Crescent because of environmental determinism. The land the Athenians were on allowed them to create a strong civilization early, which allowed them to grow their military power, which in turn also allowed them to defeat the Persians in the Persian War. Environmental determinism also allowed the Athenians focus on upgrading their navy to a high enough level that they could travel the long distance of attacking the weakened Persian Empire. Environmental determinism also factored into the primary reason the Peloponnesian War started. When the city states divided up between the Delian League and the Athenians, and the Peloponnesian League and the Spartans, in the agreement it stated that each side was to not get involved with the opposite sides affairs and the Athenians ignored that rule because of environmental determinism (â€Å"Peloponnesian War. â€Å"). Corcyra and Corinth were in a small war of their own and it was a Peloponnesian League matter, however, Corcyra had a large navy and Athens was afraid of Corinth taking this navy because they were a part of the Peloponnesian League, while Corcyra was still undecided on which side it was on. Environmental determinism factors into this because Corinth was powerful enough because of their developed civilization to make Athens worried, and Corcyra had a powerful enough navy that Athens was willing to start a war with the Peloponnesian League to start a war. At the beginning of the war, environmental determinism seriously affected the Athenians. Pericles, the most important general in Athens, decided at the beginning of the war to take a defensive strategy by keeping the army within the Athenian walls (â€Å"Peloponnesian War. â€Å"). He thought this would wear the Spartan army out to the point where they would retreat. The main problem with this strategy was that all of the Athenians crops were located outside of the Athenian wall. Athens still had a secret trade route which allowed them to eat, however they could not sell their crops and they had to keep buying crops so they were rapidly losing a large amount of money. The plan also backfired a second time, because the Athenians were hit with a plague which killed a third of their people in 3 years, including Pericles. Environmental determinism is shown because the crops had to grow there because the soil within the city was not rich enough and the Athenians could not grow crops outside the other side of the Athenian walls, because they were located right on the coast of the Aegean Sea (â€Å"Ancient Greece Map. â€Å"). Athens was hit by the plague before the Spartans because of environmental determinism as well. They are closer to where the plague started, which was in Ethiopia, where it then moved through Rome and the Persian Empire. In the next phase of the war, environmental determinism influenced the decisions of Athens and Sparta. One of the new leaders of the Athenian war party, Cleon wanted to be much more physical than Pericles was, and he saw his opportunity in Italy (â€Å"Peloponnesian War. â€Å"). The city state of Syracuse in Sicily was allied with Sparta and when they attacked a tribe called the Leontini, Cleon chose to help fight back. He chose to fight against Syracuse for the reason that he wanted to weaken the Spartans because their grain supply came from Syracuse. The Spartans used Cleon’s over-aggressiveness against him, by setting up a Spartan colony named Heraclea right near Athens. This forced Athens to make a decision of sending its troops to Syracuse and getting attacked in Athens, or not attacking Syracuse altogether. This goes back to environmental determinism again, because generals such as Brasidas of Sparta was able to come up with this plan, because the Spartans had a growing and strong enough colony that they did not need to focus on hunting and gathering and could focus on military matters. Focusing on military matters helped the Spartans again when the Athenians attacked the city state Boetia. This was important for the Athenians, because Boetia was a short distance away from them and did not want to get attacked, as well as they needed morale boost because they were losing the war, however the Spartans outsmarted them. When the Athenians were attacking and the fight seemed to be over, Boetia brought out their two hidden lines of cavalrymen and encircled the Athenians, and then routed them. In the final stage of the war, the Athenians were finally finished off because of environmental determinism. The Athenians sent 130 ships in one final effort to attack in Sicily (â€Å"Peloponnesian War. ). Because of environmental determinism however, the Syracusians were able to upgrade their navy with a new piece of equipment, which rammed the ships and damaged them on water, which made them not mobile and sink. In this battle the Athenians lost twenty thousand people, and that was enough for the Persians to get involved in the war and ally with Sparta. Environmental determinism takes a big part in this move, because the Persian army was now attacking from the east, while the Spartans were attacking from the west and the Athenians were conquered. Because of where Athens was situated, they could not even flee from the incoming attacks, because they were surrounded by the Persians coming over the water, and the Spartans coming by land. In conclusion, the Spartans were successful in defeating the Athenians by outsmarting them with new tactics that were studied and by defeating them with a stronger army, which they were able to create because of environmental determinism. Environmental determinism influenced other parts of history too, as shown in Punic Wars in the period of Ancient Rome. During the three Punic Wars fought by Rome and Carthage, Rome was successful because of military power and strategies they could develop because of environmental determinism. Before the Punic Wars started, Carthage extremely wealthy and was the most technologically advanced city in the region, as well as having the strongest naval power (â€Å"Punic Wars. â€Å"). Rome was very powerful as well with the biggest land army in the region. These two countries were allowed to become this advanced and this powerful because of environmental determinism. Both cities were so well developed and had such a strong way of life that they could focus on expanding their empires instead of worrying about if they were going to survive. In 264, there was a dispute in Sicily and both Rome and Carthage got involved and that was the beginning of the Punic Wars. Because of Carthage’s large navy, they were able to win many battles on water, however the Roman fleet were able to break their naval superiority, with allowed them to take Sicily as their own, making it their first overseas province. Carthage and Rome went to war over Sicily because of the land. The Sicilian land was very rich with its soil and natural resources, as well as having many wealthy cities and many major ports for trading. It was also located right between the capitals of Carthage and Rome. Rome and Carthage also wanted to go to war because of where they were located. Both cities were located on either side of the Mediterranean (â€Å"Ancient Rome Map. â€Å"). By defeating the other power there, Carthage or Rome could become the main power in the Mediterranean which would allow them to trade and make themselves even more powerful. So, because of environmental determinism and greed, the Punic Wars had begun. In the second Punic War, environmental determinism would urge Carthage to attack the Roman Empire once again. In 237 B. C, Carthage established a new base of influence in Spain under the powerful general Hamilicar Barca (â€Å"Punic Wars. â€Å"). After his death, his son Hannibal took command of the forces in Spain, and in 221 B. C, Hannibal took these forces and marched his army across the Ebro River into Saguntum. This was an important gesture, because Saguntum was under Roman protection which showed that Hannibal wanted to continue war against the Roman Empire. Carthage, using its ninety thousand infantry, killed as many as fifty thousand Roman soldiers, destroyed the Italian countryside and recaptured Sicily, but since the Romans have such a large infantry, this was not a large enough causality to faze them as they fought back. Rome pushed back and took all of Italy, as well as Carthage’s ties in Spain and North Africa. Environmental determinism played a role in many factors in this part of the Punic Wars. Firstly, the Roman Empire was able to bounce back so easily after losing fifty thousand troops because their population was so large and was still growing. This has to do with the fact that the land the Romans were on was very rich in resources and could maintain a large amount of people living there. Secondly, Carthage used a maneuver where they destroyed the Italian countryside. This was a smart move by the Carthaginians, because it stopped the Romans from getting some of their food supplies, as well as them losing a large sum of money, and the Carthaginians were able to do this maneuver before the Romans could stop them because they are located closer to the countryside than Rome is. In the third and final of the Punic Wars, the Romans used environmental determinism against Carthage to capture the Carthaginian power, money and land. Before the war started, Rome and Carthage had signed an agreement that they could not attack Rome or anyone else without consulting Rome, or else war would start again (â€Å"Punic Wars. â€Å"). This treaty was broken by Carthage, when they chose to attack Numidia, who was allied with Rome. Carthage was fending off the Roman army until the young general of Rome Scipio the Younger used environmental determinism to defeat Carthage. Rome launched a forceful attack on the harbour side of Carthage, and pushed the enemy troops towards their citadel. Carthage then surrendered after seven days and the Romans succeeded in destroying Carthage. This was important, because Rome destroyed a city that no one could defeat for 700 years, and the Romans were not done there as they later moved east and gained Macedonia. Environmental determinism allowed Rome to attack from both sides of Carthage and surround them, because Carthage was located right next to the Mediterranean Sea. The Roman Empire succeeded in becoming the main power in the Mediterranean because of military techniques, a strong army, and advantages of positioning because of environmental determinism. During Viking Invasions in the Medieval Times, the Vikings and Europe would experience cases in which environmental determinism aided them as well. During the Viking Invasions, the Vikings disrupted and benefitted many European countries because of environmental determinism. The Vikings began their raids in 789 A. D when Norwegian ships attacked Portland, located in the British Iles (â€Å"Medieval Maritime Culture. ). The Vikings then continued to raid Europe including Spain, France, Constantinople and England and find parts of Russia, Greenland, Norway and Canada. This is important because it shows how powerful and influential the Vikings were in Medieval Times, by finding new land and establishing it as a major trade centre, and converting whole countries to different religions as shown when they converted Greenland and Iceland to Christianity in 1000. Environmental determinism is shown in why the Vikings began to raid. The Vikings began to raid partially because of the terrible weather conditions that they were subject to in Scandinavia, as well as a lack of agriculture which led many Vikings to sail south in search of land. Because Scandinavia was farther away from the equator, this made the weather colder, which also allowed for fewer crops to grow. This was the main premise on which the Vikings began to head south. Environmental determinism also allowed the Vikings to have a large army which allowed them to attack many places with a high degree of effectiveness. The Vikings were able to sail in fleets of many hundreds of ships filled with 100 people each, because of environmental determinism. The Vikings developed themselves into a powerful people in Scandinavia which allowed them to focus on strengthening their people instead of keeping their population or army at the same level. This is much like what happened in the Peloponnesian Wars and the Punic Wars. The Vikings were also able to attack strong countries so well because of their advanced technology. The Vikings developed a ship called a â€Å"longship†, which was very fast and very agile (â€Å"Viking Timeline. â€Å"). They used these boats to travel quickly, allowing them to attack more people at a faster rate and gain more land. This along with their strong navigation system called â€Å"celestial navigation†. This was important because it allowed them to find land and capture it efficiently. The Vikings were able to invent these powerful and innovative ships and means of travel because of environmental determinism. The Vikings were a very civilized culture that were very strategic and very smart because of their way of life. Their way of life was so enhanced because of environmental determinism. The Vikings could not grow as many crops as countries that were closer to the equator, so they had to adjust to their surroundings accordingly (â€Å"Viking Timeline. â€Å"). For example, the Vikings of York were very close to a river, so they consumed a large quantity of freshwater fish. Around the year 1000, the Vikings used their innovative ways to develop a square rigged sailboat that they called the â€Å"knaar†. The knaar was used as a merchant ship that the Vikings used to form and trade with their colonies in the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. This was important because this allowed them to solve one of the problems that is caused by environmental determinism. The colonies the Vikings had were so far apart that it would take long periods of time to trade between them, or they would not trade at all, so the Vikings made the knaar to help solve this problem. This showed once again that the Vikings were ground-breaking with new technology during the Medieval Times. This technology along with their large military power allowed them to attack larger armies and successfully defeat them. The Vikings used environmental determinism as a reason to claim new land as their own by attacking and using their large armies, innovative weaponry, and navigation. They also solved their problem that environmental determinism caused by making their colonies too far away by adapting and creating new technology. In conclusion, in all three cases the main factors of the reasoning or victories of the winning sides were because of environmental determinism. Whether it was the Spartans defeating the Athenians because of new militaristic techniques combined with their strong army, Rome using Carthage’s positioning against them to conquer the Mediterranean, or the Vikings successfully defeating armies much bigger than theirs in Europe using new technology; environmental determinism was the main factor in success.

Pre Sentence Investigation ( Psi ) - 832 Words

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