Profile of Demosthenes, the Greek Orator

Profile of Demosthenes, the Greek Orator Demosthenes, renowned as a great Greek orator and statesman, was born in 384 (or 383) B.C. He died in 322. Demosthenes father, also Demosthenes, was an Athenian citizen from the deme of Paeania who died when Demosthenes was seven. His mother was named Cleobule. Demosthenes Learns to Speak Publicly The first time Demosthenes made a speech in the public assembly was a disaster. Discouraged, he was fortunate to run into an actor who helped show him what he needed to do to make his speeches compelling. To perfect the technique, he set up a routine, which he followed for months until he had mastered oratory. Plutarch on the Self-Training of Demosthenes Hereupon he built himself a place to study in underground (which was still remaining in our time), and hither he would come constantly every day to form his action and to exercise his voice, and here he would continue, oftentimes without intermission, two or three months together, shaving one half of his head, that so for shame he might not go abroad, though he desired it ever so much. - Plutarchs Demosthenes Demosthenes as Speech Writer Demosthenes was a professional speech writer or logographer. Demosthenes wrote speeches against Athenians he believed guilty of corruption. His first Philippic was in 352 (it is named for the man Demosthenes opposed, Philip of Macedonia.) Aspects of Athenian Political Life Greek men of means were expected to contribute to the polis and so Demosthenes, who became active politically in c. 356 B.C., outfitted a trireme and, as choregus at Athens, he paid for a theatrical performance. Demosthenes also fought as a hoplite at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338. Demosthenes Gains Fame as an Orator Demosthenes became an official Athenian orator. As an  official orator, he warned against Philip  when the Macedonian king and father of Alexander the Great was beginning his conquest of Greece. Demosthenes three orations against Philip, known as the Philippics, were so bitter that today a severe speech denouncing someone is called a Philippic. Another writer of Philippics was Cicero, the Roman with whom Plutarch compares Demosthenes in Plutarchs Parallel Lives. There is also a fourth Philippic whose authenticity has been questioned. Death of Demosthenes Demosthenes troubles with the royal house of Macedon didnt end with Philips death. When Alexander insisted that the Athenian orators be delivered to him to be punished for treason, Demosthenes fled to a temple of Poseidon for sanctuary. A guard prevailed on him to come out. Realizing he was at the end of his rope, Demosthenes requested permission to write a letter. Permission was granted; the letter was written; then Demosthenes began to walk, quill pen in his mouth, to the door of the temple. He died before he reached it of a poison hed kept in his pen. Thats the story. Works Attributed to Demosthenes On the Accession of AlexanderAgainst AndrotionAgainst ApatouriusAgainst AphobusAgainst Aphobus 1Against Aphobus 2Against AristocratesAgainst Aristogiton 1Against Aristogiton 2Against Boeotus 1Against Boeotus 2Against CalliclesAgainst CallippusOn the ChersoneseAgainst CononOn the CrownAgainst DionysodorusErotic EssayAgainst EubulidesAgainst Evergus and MnesibulusExordiaOn the False EmbassyFuneral SpeechOn the HalonnesusAgainst LacritusAgainst LeocharesAgainst LeptinesLettersOn the Liberty of the RhodiansAgainst MacartatusAgainst MidiasAgainst Nausimachus and XenopeithesOn the Navy-BoardsAgainst NeaeraAgainst NicostratusAgainst OlympiodorusOlynthiac 1Olynthiac 2Olynthiac 3Against OntenorAgainst OntenorOn OrganizationAgainst PantaenetusOn the PeaceAgainst PhaenippusPhilips LetterReply to Philips LetterPhilippic 1Philippic 2Philippic 3Philippic 4Against PhormioFor PhormioAgainst PolyclesAgainst SpudiasAgainst Stephanus 1Against Stephanus 2Against TheocrinesAgainst TimocratesAgainst Timot heus On the Trierarchic CrownAgainst ZenothemisFor the Megalopolitans Available through The Internet Library.

Scholarship Essay - Texas A&M University essays

Scholarship Essay - Texas A&M University essays Throughout my life, people have always compared our house to a jungle. I have never understood why...after all, like every other American family, ours consists of a husband and wife, three glorious children, seven Rhodesian Ridgebacks, one stray cat, and fifteen Romognola cows. This is normal...right? Even I can answer this...NO! Yes, the rumors are true, and quite frankly, I am not ashamed. I am honored to be part of such a diverse group of family members. They have each helped me form my ultimate life-long goal of becoming a small-animal veterinarian or specialist. Since I was young, animals have never failed to captivate my interest. I have always been fascinated with their minds and bodies, and often find myself watching Animal Planet or reading the newest information on the TAMU College of Veterinary Medicine website on Saturday nights (humorous, I know). I try to do anything to gain a better understanding of my desired field of study. In my summer and free time, I have dedicated numerous hours of volunteer work to shelters and clinics throughout Texas and in Edgartown, Massachusetts where my mother lives. I devote my time to such activities because I truly believe that I could make a difference in the way people view and appreciate animals. I feel that by obtaining knowledge and giving my time to this area will only help me achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a practitioner. I feel that I am different from many individuals who plan on taking their education to the next level, in that I have already paved a road for the long journey. Many students have the desire to obtain some sort of higher education but are not sure in which direction they wish to go. I am honored to have a direction that I know I can make a difference in and that I will enjoy. Although my desire and perseverance continue to persist, I know that I have a lot to learn when I begin attending Texas A&M in the fall. One of the most intimidating aspects abo...

New Imperialism in Africa (Sudan and Egypt) Essay

New Imperialism in Africa (Sudan and Egypt) - Essay Example There were spurts of resistance to foreign invasion and dominance throughout Africa. Iweriebor (n.d.) points out that colonization of Africa was primarily orchestrated by European powers. The drive for conquest and colonization of Africa was for obtaining economic, political and social advantages among competing European powers. The underlying source of competitive powers among European states was the capitalist incentive. European powers were searching for natural resources, markets and ultimately profits in order to obtain economic, political and social dominance over one another. Specifically, Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Portugal were aggressively attempting to gain dominance in Europe and it was believed that acquiring foreign territories globally would improve economic, political and social prowess. The social problems that colonizing Africa was intended to address were unemployment, displacement, homelessness, poverty and many other social issues arising out of i ndustrialization. Roger, L. and History Guy Media. â€Å"The Wars of Sudan: From Egyptian Conquest to the Present†. Master of Arts Military History, Norwich University, 2011. http://www.historyguy.com/wars_of_sudan.htm (Retrieved March, 29th 2012). ... n 1875 and 1877, with Egypt’s control of Sudan, Sudan became involved with Egypt’s retaliation when Ethiopia attempted to take control of the coastal area of the Red Sea. Between 1881 and 1885, Egypt was a protectorate of the British. During that time, the Mahdi, a Sudanese religious official started a resistance movement against Egypt’s control over Sudan. The British deployed military aid to Egypt. It was only after a long drawn out war that the Egyptians and the British would withdraw. The Sudanese War lasted from 1896-1899 marking the return of the British and the Egyptians who defeated the resistance movement rejuvenated by the Khalifa, successors to the Mahdi. During the Second World War, Egypt and Britain controlled Sudan. The British in particular, began a movement to affect the liberation of Ethiopia from Sudan. Essentially, division in Sudan during the joint occupation of Egypt and the British had long-lasting consequences for Sudan with civil wars, and uprisings dividing the country most notable was the Darfur War from 2003-2010. 2011, independence referendum resulted in even more unrest within Sudan. CIA World Factbook. â€Å"Sudan.† Central Intelligence Agency. (n.d.). https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/su.html (Retrieved March, 29th, 2012). Sudan received independence from Britain in 1956 and the consequences of imperialism and colonization of Britain is evidenced by the country’s economic, social and political struggles since that time. Politically, there is a struggle between Islamic and non-Arab Sudanese in the South seeking political and social dominance in Sudan. As a result, Sudan has suffered through two protracted civil wars during the greater part of the 20th century. The results have been devastating as Sudan