Essays and Research Papers on Europe's Culture

This 5 page paper is a fictitious depiction of an artisan dying of the plague in Medieval times. Explanations of the reality of the times are clarified and documented. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A complete 5 page overview of the varying roles that minstrels played during the Middle Ages. The focus of the discussion is upon different types of music, instrumentation, lyrics, Gregorian chants, etc;-- Some mention of jugglers, fiddlers, dancers, and jesters exists in the body of the paper as well. Bibliography lists 12 sources.

In this 8 page research paper, the writer examines issues and circumstances concerning the coining of money during medieval times. Economic situations are assessed and the overall impact that coining had over the centuries is determined. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

A 4 page research paper which explores the way the Church regarded heresy, and the formation of the Inquisition as a response to this problem. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 3 page essay examining the role of monasteries in the Middle Ages, and using Monte Cassino, founded by St. Benedictine, as the standard against which others are compared. One cited reference.

A 3 page essay on a few of the points marking the transition from the early (or mid-) to the High Middle Ages. Briefly discussed are the influences of rural to urban life and the ensuing governmental changes, the rise of cultural and educational pursuits, and the new influence of the church. One ...

A 10 page paper discussing the history behind the legend of Santa Claus and the traditions accepted in American culture today. The writer attempts to put into perspective the life of Nicholas of Myra and the good deeds that brought him to fame. Nicholas' became legendary after committing a number of acts of ...

A 5 page paper reviewing the contributions made to Western civilizations by the men and women of monastic communities from the days of early Christianity to the Reformation. It is argued that these communities, where service to God and humanity superseded personal concerns, were significant in making Christianity a worldwide religion as well as ...

A 3 page essay responding to the lot of the Jewish in the Middle Ages. The paper mentions the premier Jewish philosopher of the era, Maimonides, and a few of his positions that are tenets of Orthodox Jewish doctrine today. It glances at the fact that practicing Jews, through application, education and commitment, ...

During the Reformation era, persecution of women whom the Catholic Church perceived to be 'witches' was at an all-time high. This 12 page paper examines sociopolitical issues from that time as well as specific theological views on witchery and witchcraft. It is argued that fear and ignorance towards women (i.e., 'the transformation of the witch ...

10 pages in length. A discussion of the life and works of Galileo and the religious controversy that surrounded his heliocentric model. Galileo was among the first to suggest that the planets revolved around the sun and not around the Earth. The specific reason and issues surrounding his condemnation are examined. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 7 page paper on the Renaissance mathematician, scientist and inventor which examines his legacy to us as we live in a modern world influenced by the scientific perspectives and methods he espoused during his life. Current applications of discoveries, inventions, and philosophy of science pioneered by Galileo in a wider variety of fields ...

A 3 page essay on the play 'Othello' and how it related both to Shakespeare himself and to the Renaissance period. Examples of themes introduced in the story are used to illustrate how Othello was both a hero and outsider... different, yet acceptable, -- and thus, an exemplary figure from Renaissance literature. Bibliography lists 4 ...

A 5 page piece on the communities that established agriculture in the middle ages, the types of farming technology used, and the inner workings of the community hierarchy as it relates to farming. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 6 page research paper focusing on the family, but specifically on the involvement of the church and castle within that family. The writer describes the way of life for both the upper and lower classes, and relevant information regarding this time period.

This 7 page analysis looks at Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel during the 15th century. Their union resulted in a unification never before seen in Spain. Bibliography list five sources.

A 4 page research paper which examines how the image of the heretic evolved into that of the witch during the time of the Inquisition. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 4 page research paper which examines the rise of France, Russia and Prussia as strong nations towards the end of the seventeenth century. The writer argues that this was due to a 'military revolution' in which the military buildup of each nation contributed significantly to its rise. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 5 page research paper which examines whether the Vikings were primarily a constructive or a destructive force in European development. The writer shows that while the term "Viking" has been used to describe those who made brutal raids on European coastal settlements, it has also been used to describe the peaceful Scandinavian farmers, traders ...

A 5 page paper that provides an overview of the issues of youth, identification, socialization, and tragedy in Norman Maclean's Young Men and Fire -- an account of 1949's Mann Gulch fire. No additional sources cited.

A 6 page review of the scientific advancements in the Seventeenth Century and how these changes affect the current Twentieth Century Western World. Bibliography lists 4 sources.

A 5 page research paper that examines how the Black Plague affected social change in English society. The writer demonstrates that the sudden reduction of the English population by roughly one-third created a severe labor shortage. This shortage, while it greatly enhanced the value of the labor of the peasantry, also speeded up the processes ...

A 10 page research paper that gives a brief summation of the elements and systems that are common to all cultures. The writer demonstrates that while all cultures have certain common features, they are also remarkably diverse, and it is through understanding these differences and similarities that intercultural understanding will be achieved. Bibliography lists 5 sources. ...

A 9 page paper examining the similarities and differences between the European Renaissance and the twentieth century world in terms of the state of the world and ideas as a means to greater human understanding, as reflected in art, architecture, literature, philosophy, and science. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 10 page research paper that discusses the use of torture in the power struggle that was being played out between the Catholic Church and the rising tide of Protestantism. The writer argues that it was used quite successfully by both sides. The Catholic Church used torture via the various tribunals of the Inquisition to ...