Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Slavery: The Main Ingredient To An Ancient Greek Polis' Military Dominance, Steven T. Tran

Young Historians Conference

Spartan and Athens' victories against the Persians and their eventual military dominance cannot be attributed to military strategy or government alone. The social acceptance of slavery provided the foundation for Greek poleis' social and economic spheres, leading to the development of slave deployment during the Persian Wars and Peloponnesian War. An in-depth analysis of Classical Greece slavery shows that its prevalence is much greater than what previous historians have thought, and more notably, that it was one of the most massive slave usage in history, allowing for the development of a dominating western world.

The Rise And Fall Of Human Dissection In Hellenistic Alexandria, Ellie H. Barany

Young Historians Conference

Classical and Hellenistic Greece were known to be a hub of scientific research. However, the potential for scientific discovery was limited by dominating religious beliefs. Advancements in the study of human anatomy were inhibited by religious taboos that prevented the practice of human dissection. These taboos took hold of Greek society, with a consequence of exile to anyone who violated them. The exception however, is in Hellenistic Alexandria under the rule of the Ptolemaic Kings, Soter and Philadelphus. This paper examines the factors under which the Greek scientist Herophilus was allowed to practice systematic human dissection, as well as the …

What’S Your Temperament: The Humoral Theory’S Influence On Medicine In Ancient Greece, Riley Sebers

Young Historians Conference

Prior to the birth of Hippocrates of Cos in 460 BCE, medicine in ancient Greece revolved around the gods and magic. During Hippocrates lifetime, he remastered an old practice called the humoral theory: an idea stating that every individual person has a unique balance of substances called humors in their body. The balance of these humors is what keeps a man healthy, and if a specific amount is disturbed, sickness sets in. This theory allowed physicians in ancient Greece to move away from dominantly using magic to treat illness and start using the humoral theory instead.

The Divine Viscera: Medicine And Religion In The Islamic Golden Age, Isabella A. Pua

Young Historians Conference

Islamic medicine is largely ignored in Western tradition, but in an era when Western European medical practice relied more on mysticism than science and had lost the advances made by Classical Greece, the Islamic Empire entered a golden age of scientific thought. The impetus for the Golden Age medicine that developed can be partially attributed to the Islamic religion itself. This paper explores the role of Islam as both a unifying force and a set of broad cultural values in creating that atmosphere that allowed for the study of medicine, within the context of the scientific-religious duality that characterized discovery …

More Than A Misunderstood Religion: Rediscovering Vodou As A Tool Of Survival And A Vehicle For Independence In Colonial Haiti, Eliza M. Kamerling-Brown

Young Historians Conference

The majority of Americans today closely associate the term “Voodoo” with satanism, witchcraft and barbaric sacrifice. Yet, far from these ill­-formed depictions and misconceptions— which first took root through the western dominance of 18th century colonial Haiti and have been perpetuated through mediums of popular culture ever since—a closer look at Haitian Vodou will illuminate that the spiritual practice transcends religion alone and should be better recognized as the very mechanism of unity that spurred Afro­-Caribbean independence via the Haitian Revolution of 1791. This paper explores not only the ways in which Haitian Vodou has been intentionally demonized throughout history …

The Devil Is In The Details: A Study Of How Ancient Greek Historian Thucydides’ Greatest Work, The History Of The Peloponnesian War, Changed Historiography, Kirsten E. Dodge

Young Historians Conference

Before the time of recorded history, how did people view historical events? Was it just a story that was told and past down with narrative embellishments? Or did they take a more factual approach? This essay will explore one such work of historiography that attempts to transcend history as a story, and more as a necessary combination of dry facts for future generations to use. Thucydides' History of the Peloponnesian War endeavors to relay only the facts of what he thought would be one of the most influential wars in the history of his modern world.

Since Time Immemorial: The Decline Of Columbia River Basin Salmon, Samuel J. Levin

Young Historians Conference

Since Time Immemorial: The Decline of Columbia River Basin Salmon studies the near extinction of what has been historically the world’s largest salmon population. By examining the issue systemically, my paper reveals that the environmental misjudgments that have brought the salmon so near extinction are not isolated, but rather are the product of cultural trends. A study of these misjudgments reveals a culture within the Columbia Basin that has, since the mid-19^th century, sought expansion for expansion’s sake and valued short-term wealth over long-term sustainability. My paper illustrates how his philosophy has guided and continues to guide Columbia Basin …

Empress Matilda: Always The Consort, Never The Queen, Sadie M. Kok-Carlson

Young Historians Conference

In 12^th century Europe, a world built and run primarily by men, a woman's success was defined through the men around her. This social concept applied especially to Empress Matilda, whose opportunity to claim her right to the throne of England was squandered by her husband, her rival, and her contemporaries. This paper examines the series of events leading up to the subsequent anarchistic civil war, argues that the decisions made by opposing parties were driven by sexist attitudes of the era, and affirms the importance of recognizing and remembering the Queen of England that never was.

Breaking Boundaries: The Worth Of Women In The Merovingian Period, Rachel R. Mckinnon

Young Historians Conference

In a world run by men, the question of a woman’s role in society is always relevant. Were women allowed basic rights? Were they generally respected and considered essential to society? Was there a difference in treatment based on class? The upper-class women of the Merovingians, a dynasty lasting from 457-751 CE, were viewed merely with the degrading expectations that the patriarchy allowed them. They were extremely limited and generally not respected. However, Queen Radegund’s life and accomplishments suggest that upper-class women still yearned for a more meaningful life. Radegund demonstrates the desire women had to prove their worth, and …

The Link Between Artemisia Gentileschi’S Biography And Her Artistic Oeuvre, Emma Komers

Young Historians Conference

Up until the era of Modern Art, the artistic community excluded women and dismissed their work as inferior. One exception to this trend is the 17th-century Italian artist, Artemisia Gentileschi, whose work demonstrated her ability to use scenes depicting familiar stories as a way to express her personal struggles as a woman. Drawing upon historical interpretations of her art, popular stories at the time, and the artwork itself, this paper demonstrates the use of art as a tool to communicate social injustice.

The Role And Influence Of Anne Boleyn, Cynthia L. Abrams

Young Historians Conference

While Anne Boleyn's reputation is one that is often associated with Elizabeth I and her scandalous relationship with King Henry VIII, following her death she began to be identified as a Protestant reformer and proto-feminist. Drawing on primary sources including Anne Boleyn's correspondence with King Henry VIII and Cardinal Wolsey, as well as her portrayal in John Foxe's Book of Martyrs, this paper examines her defiance of 16th century social norms, specifically refusing to remain a mistress, favor of biblical translations, and manipulation of Henry VIII.

Edith Wilson And The Treaty Of Versailles, Ceili Janae Charley

Young Historians Conference

Edith boiling Wilson used her position as First Lady to assume presidential powers, including making executive decisions. She was the single most important non-elected presidential advisor of all time. This paper describes Edith’s growing political involvement, the decisions she made after Woodrow Wilson’s stroke in October, 1919, and the impact of her decisions on the defeat of the Treaty of Versailles.

Music In The Hapsburg Empire 1750-1850, Alexander S. Klas

Young Historians Conference

This paper examines the role of music within the Habsburg empire in the century between 1750 and 1850. Music was used as a political tool beginning in the reign of Empress Maria Theresa to incite hostility against foreign enemies, reinforce public perception of the Habsburgs as leaders of the German nation, and stifle revolutionary sentiments among the populace. Drawing upon biographies and analysis of composers found in the Milton Cross' Encyclopedia of the Great Composers and their Music by Milton Cross and David Ewen from throughout the period, this paper demonstrates that patronage of music gave the Habsburgs a way …

The Art Of War: Battles Won And Wars Lost, Mark W. Dekay

Young Historians Conference

Sun Tzu is one of the most influential military figures of all time; his treatise The Art of War provides the framework for waging an effective war. War is much more than a game of numbers or pawns on a board, Sun Tzu identifies the underlying factors that determine the outcome of every war, past or present. Follow The Art of War and victory is ensured, but if you ignore Sun Tzu defeat is inevitable. Many wars throughout history are proof of this statement, but there is no greater example than America's defeat in Vietnam. Despite having a much more …

Crisis In Education -- The Effect Of The Cold War On The American Education System, Spencer C.J. Gregg

Young Historians Conference

The Cold War era had a dramatic impact on the American educational system. Striving to demonstrate superiority over Soviet counterparts, new curriculum were developed to prepare the American youth intellectually, emotionally, and technologically to position the U.S. as a world power. With the American public polarized whether schools were a venue for the dissemination of national ideologies or institutions for the development of critical thinking; world events including nuclear warfare, space exploration, and military preparedness served as catalysts for the development of future citizens that would effectively contribute to the intellectual and technological growth of the nation.

Print Media In The Cold War, Madeline Chu

Young Historians Conference

This investigation evaluates the degree to which print media propaganda in America reflected its anti-Communist ideologies during the early years of the Cold War. Specifically, the decade following the end of World War II in 1945 is examined. The messages, mediums, and subjects addressed of four images are analyzed in order to determine the degree to which they embody anti-Communist sentiments. These four pieces include a Time magazine cover from 1950, a comic book cover, a page of a Life magazine fashion article, and an advertisement by Radio Free Europe. Through these images, a conclusion was reached that while anti-Communist …

Charles University: A History Of Revolution, Matous Komers

Young Historians Conference

Although the students of Prague’s Charles University are mostly remembered for starting the Velvet Revolution in the 20th Century, the university’s history of revolution started nearly seven hundred years earlier with a young priest named Jan Hus. Hus started a movement of religious reform called Hussitism, which laid the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation. “Charles University: A History of Revolution” explores the impact and influence that Charles University had on the development and spread of the Hussite Reformation and Hus’ massive theological shift.

To What Extent Did British Advancements In Cryptanalysis During World War Ii Influence The Development Of Computer Technology?, Hayley A. Leblanc

Young Historians Conference

This investigation will focus on the advancements made in the field of computing by British codebreakers working on German ciphers during World War II (1939­1945). Along with examining the state of code­breaking technology before the war, it will discuss the nature of computing after the war up until the present to determine the impact of the war on computers. It will consider being electronic (rather than electromechanical) as the defining characteristic of modern computers. This investigation will not discuss the cryptanalysis effort by any other country during the war, nor will it consider cryptography ­related advancements after the war. However, …

Alexander Of Macedonia And His Transformation Into Despotism, Brandon Tran

Young Historians Conference

At the age 20, Alexander of Macedonia began his campaign. After inheriting Macedonia from his father, he would expand his empire, stretching from Ancient Greece to Asia Minor. Besides conquering the land, Alexander changed the land by connecting cultures, adopting foreign customs and expanding trade. Historians like Plutarch and Arrian of the Second Sophistic Age would call him Alexander the Great. But was he truly great? His military campaign was riddled with atrocities and unjustified murders, but history books still describe Alexander as a great man. This paper explores the viewpoints of antiquities greatest historians like Plutarch and Arrian, while …

The Effects Of Imperialism On The Us: 1899-1902, Logan Marek

Young Historians Conference

This paper focuses on the Philippine-American conflict that occurred in the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. It investigates the instances in which imperialism were justified by the American people. The Philippine-American war was a conflict that brought the morality of traditional American values into question. Americans were forced to face a backlash of rebel resistance on the islands as well as anti-imperialist movements at home. This war defined not only America as a world power, but as a symbol. It paved the road for the century of Americanism to come.

Plato's Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Emmanuelle M. Mckinney

Young Historians Conference

Plato is undeniably one of the most influential men in the history of Western philosophy, and he deeply examined a remarkable number of diverse fields. However, in the attempt to understand his various writings, scholars too often over-categorize Plato’s work without recognizing that there are no partitioning lines between subjects: they are all blended together to form a complex body of thought. This paper summarizes Plato’s philosophy of ethics, with a focus on its inclusion of many contrasting disciplines.

Map Walk Of The Middle East, Stephen Cory

Migration in Global Context Symposium

All Migration in Global Context participants are welcome to attend the map walk on April 28th as a fitting follow-up event to the series. Come anytime throughout the day to walk on large, laminated tactical pilotage charts, each at a scale of 1:500,000 (eight miles to the inch) and measuring approx. 3½ x 5 feet, so you can gain a better sense of the geographical layout of the Middle East and Mediterranean region. The maps show cities and towns as well as principal roads, railroads, rivers, bodies of water, distinctive landmarks, spot elevations, contours, elevations tints, and stream-drainage patterns.

See …

26th Annual Young Historians Conference, Portland State University History Department, Portland State University Challenge Program

Young Historians Conference

This is the 2016 Young Historians Conference schedule and abstracts.

Building Capacity For Dh Work In The Library And Beyond, Ashley Sanders

Digital Initiatives Symposium

Using the Claremont Colleges Library as a case study, this interactive, workshop-style presentation offers ideas and suggestions about how to build capacity within the library and the broader campus community to support and advance Digital Humanities (DH) projects, as well as digital scholarship more broadly. Through workshops, spring symposia, summer institutes, and introductory short courses for faculty, grad students, and librarians, the Claremont Colleges Library has become an integral part of the DH community and digital skilling process at the colleges.

To meet the needs of interested but inexperienced faculty members, Digital Scholarship Coordinator, Dr. Ashley Sanders, offers a six-week …

Redefining Medicine: The Epistemology, Political Theory, And Phenomenology Of Health And Disease, Jacqline J. Murillo

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

This thesis argues that health needs to be redefined in a more comprehensive fashion, namely as a physiological/biological state, with social, environmental, and individual determinants always related to one’s personal needs to achieve one’s life plan. The benefits of this new definition include more emphasis on the distribution of health as a social good.

Additionally, redefining health puts the value of the individual’s life rather than the strict monetary value of their needed treatment as a focal point. It also draws more attention to medicine as a practice of care, rather than viewing it simply as a technology or science, …

Toxic Treasure Island: Finding Radium Instead Of Gold, Nicole Rejer

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

This presentation explores the Navy’s controversial use of radioactive materials in former decades on Treasure Island. It highlights the incomplete cleanup of contaminated soil and radioactive materials, and how current radiation measures are damaging to present-day residents’ health. Finally, it explains the city’s current plans for redeveloping the island, and how many public officials are ignoring the entire radiation problem, as long as other environmental issues Treasure Island residents face on a daily basis.

Reparations For Slavery In The United States, Alicia G. Kinsellagh

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

After the Civil War, freed slaves were promised “40 acres and a mule” to start new lives. This plan was opposed and following proposals for reparations have been opposed since. The majority of U.S. citizens believe that reparations are unnecessary because no living person is responsible for slavery, arguing that there is no “legacy of slavery.” However, others believe that African Americans today are still impacted by the vestiges of slavery. Thus, all U.S. citizens share responsibility for slavery’s legacy. This project explores the arguments for and against giving reparations to African Americans.

Keywords: reparations, “legacy of slavery,” collective responsibility

A Look At Boys Love, Douglas Mejia

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

In an attempt to shed some light on the overlooked genre of graphic novels and, more specifically that of the homoerotic Japanese comic books of the Yaoi and Shounen Ai genre, this presentation examines multiple representations of the young male body ( i.e., the concept of Bishounen or "beautiful boy") in contemporary Japanese popular culture. My presentation demonstrates that Shounen Ai and Yaoi comic books, by women and for women, rely on the well-established concept of the Bishounen body to transcend traditional gender roles that restrict women from exploring their sexualities or experiences outside the domestic sphere. While retracing …

Artists' Books And The Medical Humanities Workshop

Maine Women Writers Collection Conferences

Program for the 2016 workshop Artists' Books and the Medical Humanities in Canterbury, England.

National Human Rights Museums: An Engine For Social Or Economic Growth? A Comparative Analyses Of Conscience Museums Of Canada, Usa And Russia., Shabnam Shermatova

Creative Activity and Research Day - CARD

Human rights have become highly discussed topic and one of the dominant themes in the museum field. The main reason that the idea of social inclusion is popular is that society constructs a sense of reliability and creativity, and hence becomes an important power element in politics. Therefore, social issues can be discussed, constructed and politicized in museums. More specifically, this research will compare and analyze three case studies – Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg, Canada, Civil and Human Rights Center, Atlanta, USA and GULAG, Perm - 36, Kuchino, Russia). While these three museums are treated as important …