The Crusades +/- (Blog 5)

Looking back on the Crusades the aftermath is a mixture of pluses and minuses. There are many subjects that I know a little about, a few subjects that I might even consider myself to have a respectable amount of knowledge on, but as for religion – I usually leave that discussion to the experts. However, religion overall has had a larger, more profound impact than anything else ever has; it has changed lives and controlled history, inspired the arts, and transformed our thoughts and views. Try to imagine for a moment a world where God does not exist and attempt to rewrite history. It is difficult because almost every significant past event has an intimate relationship with religion and God, regardless of their validity. From the first sacrifice, to the crusades, to the recent events in the Middle East, God and rituals surrounding him has been a vital part of our human culture.

The results of the Crusades cannot be stated simply. The crusades started the abhorrence of the Muslim attitudes towards Christians. At the same time, doubts were raised among Christians about God's will, the church's authority, and the role of the Pope. However, as a result of the Crusades, European cities had a better commerce, a greater interest in exploring the orient, and as a result new trade markets were established. Arab influence on styles and customs was also seen throughout the west.

During this age of religious wars, leading to the Renaissance, warfare drastically changed. Strategies, weapons, as well as art itself was reshaped by the contact with other peoples. This new contact and new knowledge of vast possibilities of trade, as well as the violent way in which the nonbelievers were forced into Christianity, expanded into many new areas of bloodshed, all for the sake of beliefs.

On a positive note a strong impact of the Crusades is that they caused the European expansion into the rest of the world. Europeans learned great military tactics such as the crossbow, catapults and they also learned about gun powder from the Muslims. The departure of so many nobles and knights for the crusade led to the decline of feudalism. The crusades can be stated as the first step in the long history of European imperialism and although Europe had been exposed to the Muslim beliefs for many centuries much “knowledge in areas such as science, medicine, and architecture was transferred from the Islamic to the western world during the crusade era.”

If you look closely at the crusades there should be a feeling of deja vu - The Catholic Church sent thousands of soldiers, many of them mercenaries, to wipe out the Islamic infidels in order to open trade routes and steal their wealth. The order was to wipe out every man, woman and child - and they did or tried to. Now we have the Islamic jihads calling Americans and Europeans infidels saying that anyone who does not convert should be wiped off the face of the earth. Sounds like a pure case of karma to me. The definition of karma −which I believe in − is an action or deed which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect. The Church gave an order which started an action which has now cycled 180 degrees back from whence (more or less) it came. The answer is not going to be found in war because it was war that began the cycle and war will only continue the cycle. A political attitude was set in motion during the Crusades which continues today. What's the answer? I can only say it cannot be found in war. Einstein said that you cannot solve a problem from the same mindset that created the problem, you must change how you think about the problem − find a different perspective.

Maturing is a thing that comes with time, and with thousands of years of humanity, we should come to realize that fighting and killing solely because is religious disagreement is asinine. While some third-world countries still persecute its citizens for following other beliefs, hopefully we live in a society that has come to accept most every belief or a pessimistic attitude, or it could be that we are still immature with wisdom still to come.

Bagpipes - The Art of Musical War (Blog 4)

From the very first tone the distinctive sound of the bagpipes is recognized, love it or hate it the instrument brings strong emotions. In the earliest times each clan maintained its own piper who was awake first to play a morning tune to motivate the others. From ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, Germany, Scotland and to currently the United States the bagpipe is the musical instrument deemed a weapon of war because it's sound notes the end of the anticipation period, waiting time is over, it is the time for action.

Numerous references are made of the bagpipes being played during the days of the Roman Empire with many references that Nero knew how to play the pipe with his mouth and the bag thrust under his arms" (Sachs, p. 141). This reference concerns bagpipes, and has been positively dated. One possibility relates that Nero was playing a bagpipe not a fiddle while Rome burned, but this is only a conjecture. When the Romans conquered Greece they took the pipes back to Rome.  It is in the first century AD with Emperor Nero that we have the addition of the bag. More than likely the Romans brought bagpipes to Scotland during their invasions.

The Spartans were the first to use the pipes with drums to march in formation. "They were the first to use a drum with the pipes and the first to have massed pipers playing the same tune ".  Aristotle advised that it was the music of their pipes that added to their fearlessness: Imagine a body of men, three thousand massed infantry advancing in step in utter silence. Silence must have been enforced, because otherwise, the tune would have been lost. A rhythmical advance would not have been possible. The pipers would need silence also to concentrate on the unison of playing. . .

Current as well as ancient versions of bagpipes have two main factors concerning the sound.  The sound is always continuous without any breaks, and the volume of each individual note never changes. Various tones do however have slightly different volume levels.  The steady drone note can enhance the music, but as utilized in battle this tone can be an incredible irritation, and when the bagpipes were utilized as a call to war, these powerful tones incited or motivated the troops into action. "The notes of the pipes have a shrill and penetrating quality that can be heard at distances up to nine miles, and are not easily drowned out even by the sounds of battle". 

 

A Scotsman states, "It was the pipers duty to stand on the battlefield playing stirring tunes to rouse his comrades out of trenches and into battle. The effect on troops who were often cold, frightened and demoralized was miraculous". 

Roman military followed the Spartan’s concept of intimidation through instruments and used pipes and drums to added fearlessness to their troops throughout Europe and into the British Isles. The use of the bagpipe among the Ancient Celtic people was common and the troops were called to war by the harp or a bard, however, but only a portion of the troops could hear tones, so it became necessary to for the piper to go first, actually lead the troop into battle.  The end of the eighteenth century and into the early 1900's there are written accounts of pipers playing and leading into battle but the practice of the piper leading into battle was abandoned due to the extremely high mortality rate due to the exposed position and usually was the first to fall. Over 1,000 pipers were killed during World War 1 due to being this easy of a target, and going into war, imagine the fear these player must have felt as they picked up their instruments knowing that the bagpipe that leading the troops was almost like painting a big bulls eye on their body. The only known piper from World War I that survived was Harry Lunan. He described that "his piping experiences in the war...was . . .an honour. 'You were scared, but you just had to do it, they were depending on you' ".

The decades before the American Civil War led to some of the highest numbers of American Immigrants. The foreign born mostly settled in the north portions of the county, Union territory and a great portion of these immigrants were from Great Britain, Scotland and Ireland.  The "Highlanders” were men with Scottish birth, with complete dress that included kilts, bonnets, and came with bagpipes. At the First Battle of Bull Run in 1861 these Highlanders were a part of the Union army with their piper proudly leading the way.

The bagpipe is considered a weapon of war because of both the moral boost to allied troops and the fear it gives to the enemy. The bagpipe’s high-decibel tones make its presence known immediately with power and influence in battle as in life. The unrelenting power of the pipes has carried them across cultures oceans and time itself. From the origins and development of the pipes, their use among the ancient civilizations, especially the Romans, and recently in the past century in modern warfare and life, the bagpipes have proven themselves to be an enduring force in both war and culture and will continue their influence for generations to come.

Seneca - Stoic Philosopher (Blog 3)

One of Rome's greatest philosopher's could be just as vital now has he was during the first century. In a letter Seneca stated, "Look around at the huge influx of people which even a city as large and diverse as Rome can scarcely house. From the whole world they converge, ambition draws some, others are compelled by duty. Many thirst for liberal studies, others crave spectacles. Some put their beauty on sale, others sell their eloquence. The entire human race has flocked here, a city offering rich returns for both virtues and vices" (The Roman Empire in the First Century, Virtual Library: Seneca On Rome).

This was Seneca’s depiction of Rome which could very well describe any large city in the United States  like New York or Los Angeles. I believe that more of his basic viewpoints need to be practiced in our world today. Similar to the 1970's with the Make Peace not War Movement, he believed in the power of positive thinking, teaching philosophies of love and how to apply these ideals for one and all, "If you want to receive love you need to love yourself first.". . .“If you wish to be loved, love.” ... “Where there is a human being there is an opportunity for a kindness” (Seneca, and Campbell).

Seneca was born in 4 BC at Cordoba, Spain with a relatively undistinguished  background, however rose quickly to prominence at Rome with careers in both the courts and political life (Seneca, and Campbell). Considered a statesman, philosopher, writer − author of tragedies, and essays that considered moral, literary, and scientific subject matter. Seneca was educated in the philosophy of Sextii which was the heavily influenced by stoicism where virtue is based on knowledge and the challenges of everyday life should be accepted calmly. All knowledge enters the mind through the senses. No reason to stress over an issue, all the worry causes is more stress, worrying will not solve the problem. Recently I found myself so stressed that the work I was trying to accomplish was taking hours instead of minutes. The stress caused more stress, instead of being accepted calmly as a Stoicism practitioner.

Stoicism as a belief system based it's beliefs on the fundamental proposition "nothing incorporeal exists" only physical sensations matters, reality is what is known by the senses, and nothing else exists, everything else is imagination. There are no extremes, both pain and pleasure are acceptable parts of life, to be accepted with dignity. Stoics accept virtue as the highest good in life. and only by putting aside passion, unjust thoughts, and indulgence and by performing duty with the right disposition can people attain true freedom and rule as lords over their own lives. From my reading so far on this subject my interpretations of Stoic moral thought follows the concept that emotion leads to negative reactions so by living a life emotionlessly or with complete control over our own emotions we are able to conquer fear therefore the evils of the world. As an ideal, or a goal it might be worth pursuing, but I am not sure I want to be just like Mr. Spock, logic based. The Stoics believed that destructive emotions resulted from errors in judgment, and that a sage, or person of "moral and intellectual perfection," would not suffer such emotions.^"

Seneca expanded on these beliefs with a contexts that might be more valid today than in ancient Rome. He believed in making peace with death and living in accordance with nature. Many of his teachings are more like axioms to live by. Some of my favorite Seneca quotes:

On Anger

Even if it (anger) could be controlled, anger would still not be beneficial. But once started, anger by its nature is beyond control. Therefore the person is out of control.

Anger is a kind of madness that destroys the ability to think, and thus attacks our humanity directly. It is always to be resisted.

On Surpassing Difficulties

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.

On Direction:

If a man does not know to what port he is steering, no wind is favourable to him.

If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.

Delay not; swift the flight of fortune's greatest favours.

On Loving

If you wish to be loved, love.

On Living or Death:

It should be our care not so much to live a long life as a satisfactory one.

Death you'll think of as the worst of all bad things, though in fact there's nothing bad about it at all except the thing which comes before it - the fear of it" (Seneca, and Campbell).

He will live ill who does not know how to die well

No man's good by accident. Virtue has to be learnt. Pleasure is a poor and petty thing. No value should be set on it: it's something we share with dumb animals - the minutest, most insignificant creatures scutter after it. Glory's an empty, changeable thing, as fickle as the weather. Poverty's no evil to anyone unless he kicks against it. Death is not an evil. What is it then? The one law mankind has that is free of all discrimination" (Seneca, and Campbell).

Basic Instructions on Life

The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity" (Seneca, and Campbell).

All art is an imitation of nature.

Consult your friend on all things, especially on those which respect yourself. His counsel may then be useful where your own self-love might impair your judgment

In conclusion Seneca didn't believe that philosophy should be a word game or a practice of arguing for the sake of having an arguments for their own sake. Instead − and I agree with this concept − that philosophy is a way of life that all those who seek the good should investigate and adopt.

 

Works Cited

       Seneca, Lucius Annaeus, and Robin Campbell. Letters from a Stoic: Epistulae morales ad Lucilium. New York: Penguin Classics, 1969. 7-67. Print.

 

Blog 2: The Art of Silence - The Mime

Mime developed into a true theatrical form in ancient Greece where performers enacted everyday scenes with the use of elaborate gestures. When the actor was at a loss for words, physical movements took over. Performers were known as "ethologues" and the purpose of their skits was to teach moral lessons or to entertain without words.

Jerome Murat

I have always been amazed at the control of the very deliberate movements both of the body and limbs of the mime as well as facial expressions. The age old expression of a picture is worth a thousand words definitely relates to feelings or deep emotions that are developed by the actor. Miming appears very simple, but to be proficient takes dedication and years of practice. One performer that totally amazed me is a French performer, Jerome Murat (sorry about the French but this short video is worth watching) with his facial abilities. mannerisms and ability to make an inanimate object seem real. Just watching him standing still he appears to be a work of art.






From the very early beginnings of the ancient world − long before speech −cave men mimed the actions and movements of the world around them. Gestures were developed andaccompanied by body posture that developed into basic communication. This most fundamental way of learning is still the basis of how babies discover their world today, through imitation. As cave men hunted, they would often wear the head of their kill as a mask or camouflage, in honor of their kill. Possibly this was the first form of a play or drama.

Original refererce to mime go back to the original Theater of Dionysus in Athens where audiences of more that 10,000 would watch plays that honored Dionsysus (God of Theater), which is also considered the birthplace of Greek tragedy. Productions seemed to be centered around the development of a character rather than a plot, the most elaborate being call "hypothesis", thought to be the highest form of entertainment.  



The earliest versions mime was as a form of Greek comedy. The first mime performances could be very rude or be satirical insinuations of prominent Greeks as they ad-libbed their performances. In the beginning, the comedy was frank, indecent and sexual. But the action could also be heartwarming or tell a story. The performers could be coarse while using satire or use their talents to depict important contemporary moral, social and political issues.

Briefly, this entertainment flourished in the fourth and fifth centuries BC and when the Romans later conquered Greece they took the art form back to Rome where it enjoyed great success under Emperor Augustus. After the fall of the Roman Empire the church took offense to the theater and thereby closed all theaters and excommunicated the actors forcing the acting troupes into the street. Mime continued throughout the Middle Ages reaching its height in sixteenth century Italy in for form of Commedia dell'Arte. Performers would don masks with exaggerated features to draw attention to themselves and complement this with their acrobatic skills.

Marcel Marceau in 1940's brought miming into the countries awareness, a household name known worldwide, known as the world's greatest mime. Today, Cirque du Soleil went back to the roots of mime as a development of a character rather than a plot, added back in the acrobatics, costumes, dance movements and create enormous productions for international entertainment that would do the early Italian street performers proud.


Hundreds of mime schools and mime theater exist international for training and instruction including story building technique, basic mime illusions and character development. As an art form, nothing compares or clomes close to a miming for entertainment, relating a moral or a story visually without words.