Dome in persian architecture Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 7000 words

Dome in persian architecture - Term Paper Example Although it may seem logical to conclude that since all kinds of Persian architecture arose from one guiding concept, they may have similar characteristics. However, the historical background of a specific architectural style may also be considered worthy of notice. It would be very interesting to note how Persian architecture may be subdivided into types of architecture according to its history and style. Persia, or Iran, as it is known today, possesses an architectural style that has a history of thousand years. It started from about 5000 B. C. and persisted up to the present (Pope 1965). The materials used were almost the same: heavy clays, bricks, stones and wood. The building technique used somewhat dictates the major forms of the structures (Pope 1965). In its earlier years, Iranians used a building technique that involves compression of pis'-molded mud as solidly as possible and allowing it to dry (Pope 1965; Mehraby n.d.). These resulted to large, well-defined masses that had broad surfaces which are suitable for ornamentation. This kind of architecture had matured while facing certain factors such as the climate, the availability of materials, the religious purposes, and the dominant cultures in the periphery of the structure. While these factors played decisive roles in the architectural development, the Iranian landscapes, on the other hand, provided inspiration (Mehraby n.d.). It can be clearly seen that the domes we adore were patterned after the huge, snow-capped mountains of Persia. And the Persian concept of beauty (which is associated with light and clarity) added up to the grandeur of the domes' architectural design. Beauty was an attribute of the divine (Mehraby n.d.), for ancient Persians, and this may justify the usage of domes for religious purposes. Statement of the Problem The current study would like to know the architectural differences of two specific domes in Persia: The Firuzabad domes and Sarvistan domes. The following were the main questions that this study would like to answer using the existing literature: 1. What are the differences between the Firuzabad domes and Sarvistan domes' 2. On what aspect of Persian culture or architectural history may we account the differences' 3. What, if there is, the more dominating architectural style based on the comparison made' The course of the study will be centered on concepts and topics related to the questions above. Objectives This paper focuses on the differences of the domes constructed in Persia, particularly their architectural aspects. The paper will provide a deeper analysis of two specific domes that were famous both in Persia and also worldwide. Thus, the following were the objectives of the study: 1. Provide an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the differences between Persian domes while taking into account the history of the architectural style used. 2. Compare two specific Persian domes and delve into the weaknesses and strengths of these famous domes. 3. Give a conclusion while integrating the knowledge gained from the literature and relating it to personal experiences and thoughts. These objectives were the guiding element of the study and the researcher hopes to stick to it. Scope and Limitation The study will be tackling

Deforestation in the Amazon Rain Forest Research Paper

Deforestation in the Amazon Rain Forest - Research Paper Example The majority of the rainforest, just over 60 percent, is within Brazil, and the rest of the rainforest falls within the territory of countries such as Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and others (Senna, Costa, & Pires, p. 14). Rainforests once covered over 14 percent of the earth’s surface; however, the same percentage has now decreased to almost 6 percent and the most significant chunk of this deforestation has taken place in the biggest rain forest of Amazon. The deforestation of Amazon Rainforest is perhaps, the most significant concern for green movements, environmental activists, experts, governments, NGOs and various other stakeholders. Human activity and demand in the region has already destroyed a significant portion of rainforest and caused immeasurable damage to the animal species, ecosystem, and the current and future human generations (Rice, p. 25). This paper is an attempt to explore the dynamics of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and most import antly, its impact on the soil with respect to soil degradation, soil erosion, and soil leaching. Discussion Prior to the second half of the 20th century, the access to the interior of the rainforest was highly restricted and in the absence of roads, railways and others forms of communication, it was almost irrational to conduct mass deforestation of the Amazon for any purposes (Marshall & Watson, p. 327). The costs of transportation were so high that people did not see deforestation as a profitable venture. However, during the 1960s, many farmers initiated deforestation with the slash and burn method for agricultural purposes. With the creation of roads and railways for transportation and the increasing demand for natural resources, deforestation of the Amazon began at massive rates. The rise on population and the aspirations to become a modern economy further increased the demand for wood and wood products and thus, year after year, rates of deforestation kept increasing. For many years, deforestation within Brazil did not catch the attention of the policymakers of the country as a significant environmental issue because they had evidence to believe that there is a strong link between deforestation and economic growth within the country (Senna, Costa & Pires, p. 14). During the period of 1988-1991, the figures revealed a strong correlation between the slowing down of the economic growth and the decline in the deforestation of the Amazon forest. This correlation was validated by the figures of the period of 1993-1998, when the boom in the economic growth appeared to parallel the increase in deforestation activity of Amazon. Many experts even started claiming this link is not merely a correlation but causation. More importantly, it is a unidirectional causation where deforestation activity within Brazil is causing economic growth and; therefore, it was indispensable (Gabler, Petersen, & Trapasso, p. 89). However, by the mid 2000s, it became apparent to the poli cymakers and the public that the link between deforestation and economic growth is not a significant one. Since then, there has been a significant decline in the deforestation of Amazon. In fact, the rate of deforestation of Amazon in the year 2011 was the lowest during the past couple of decades. Experts believe that many factors have caused this decline. First, during