okay. Its been 7 days already now it's finally up to us to post our feelings and what we have learnt these past few days.
the weathers has been sooooo coooooold...rain and wind throughout the afternoon these past few days and even in prague. Even then we did our best to maximise our learning be it indoors or outdoors.
Traveling to euroupe have been exhausting, not only got to do with the time difference, there is also the weather being extremely cold. But nevertheless, i enjoyed myself throughly throughout the whole trip and learned many things which i may never learn.
it was about dividing post-war germany, on the other hand the 3 countries wanted to spread their own ideologies. for example the soviet union wanted to spread communism to the areas they were given control to. it was also about post war orders, peace treaty issues and countering the effects of war, trying to prevent another world war from happening.
the most involved groups were the soviets. the americans and the british and althought the french signed the treaty, they did not play a significant role at the conference in portsdam.
the americans and the british did not honour their commitments as they gave an excuse that they had to answer to their parliaments. the french argued that they did not play a huge role in the meetings. so they did not have to abide the terms of the treaty either. then ultimately only the soviets where binded.
at berlin, we have seen some of the major attractions like the berlin wall, reichstag castle, the holocaust memoriale and chack point charlie.the berlin wall proved to be a barrier between communism and socialism in central europe. many lives where lost and the demolition of the wall was a significant part of germany's history as it resulted in the merge of east ans west german. and most importantly the end of aommunism in germany.
the reichstag burning was a major factor to why hitler could gain complete control of germany because the Nazi party faced strong competitions from the communist rivals. then hitler gained the trust of the citizens as he promised to end communism in germany.
the holocaust memoriale allowed us to understand how the jews suffered during the nazi regime.
checkpoint charlie was the gate point of the border control where the east germans were allowed to go over to west germany.
we have noticed some differences between the to cities we have been to, dresden and berlin.
the temperature ranges between 1-5 degrees while raining most of the time. the food has a few differences though. dresden serves more of a balanced meal compared to berlin who is more concerned about the main course serving size.
in the context of architecture, berlin is much more historical and medieval while dresden is more modernised.
the roads in dresden are cobble stones therefore it's impossible for heavy vehicles like our bus to enter. however, the roads are made of granite thus allowing us to access many places.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
online assignment 3
- Explain the ideological differences between Democracy, Capitalism, Communism and Socialism.
The way that the states are ruled are different,as some ideologies like communisnm facism do not allow citizens to voice out their views and their intentions.
- Explain the origins of Cold War.
The Origins of the Cold War are widely regarded to lie most directly within the relations between the Soviet Union and its World War II allies the United States, Britain and France in the years 1945–1947. Those events led to the Cold War that endured for just under half a century.
Events preceding the Second World War, and even the Russian Revolution of 1917, underlay pre-World War II tensions between the Soviet Union, western European countries and the United States. A series of events during and after World War II exacerbated tensions, including the Soviet-German pact during the first two years of the war leading to subsequent invasions, the perceived delay of an amphibious invasion of German-occupied western Europe, the western allies' support of the Atlantic Charter, disagreement in wartime conferences over the fate of Eastern Europe, the Soviets' creation of an Eastern Bloc of Soviet Socialist Republics and Soviet satellite states, western allies scrapping the Morgenthau Plan to support the rebuilding of German industry and the Marshall Plan.
- Was Cold War a war?
No , it wasn't ,it was just the continuing state of political conflict , military tension, and economic competition that existed after WW2.
- Describe the impacts of the Cold War.
The Cold war led to significant effects in the neighboring countries like the Korean War, the Berlin Blockade , the Vietnam War , the Berlin crisis, and Soviet's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.This resulted in many countries experiencing massive losses in wealth and life at such times.Another effect would be the Cuban Missile Crisis that widely drew fears of an oncoming world war.The Cold War also caused many countries to suffer monumental economic stagnation as a result of the war.Most importantly , the Cold War contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
(http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Effect-of-the-Cold-War-on-the-World&id=1730034)
- What was the peak of the Cold War (Germany divided)?
after WW2,germany and its capital berlin were divided,and east germany came under communist influence when their west counnterparts became a democratic state.
- How and why did the the Cold War ended?
The cold war ended due to a relax in tensions between the united states and the soviet union.Some credit this to new leadership in the soviet regime ie Gorbachev but others credit this to reagan.
(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_and_why_did_the_cold_war_end)
The way that the states are ruled are different,as some ideologies like communisnm facism do not allow citizens to voice out their views and their intentions.
- Explain the origins of Cold War.
The Origins of the Cold War are widely regarded to lie most directly within the relations between the Soviet Union and its World War II allies the United States, Britain and France in the years 1945–1947. Those events led to the Cold War that endured for just under half a century.
Events preceding the Second World War, and even the Russian Revolution of 1917, underlay pre-World War II tensions between the Soviet Union, western European countries and the United States. A series of events during and after World War II exacerbated tensions, including the Soviet-German pact during the first two years of the war leading to subsequent invasions, the perceived delay of an amphibious invasion of German-occupied western Europe, the western allies' support of the Atlantic Charter, disagreement in wartime conferences over the fate of Eastern Europe, the Soviets' creation of an Eastern Bloc of Soviet Socialist Republics and Soviet satellite states, western allies scrapping the Morgenthau Plan to support the rebuilding of German industry and the Marshall Plan.
- Was Cold War a war?
No , it wasn't ,it was just the continuing state of political conflict , military tension, and economic competition that existed after WW2.
- Describe the impacts of the Cold War.
The Cold war led to significant effects in the neighboring countries like the Korean War, the Berlin Blockade , the Vietnam War , the Berlin crisis, and Soviet's invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.This resulted in many countries experiencing massive losses in wealth and life at such times.Another effect would be the Cuban Missile Crisis that widely drew fears of an oncoming world war.The Cold War also caused many countries to suffer monumental economic stagnation as a result of the war.Most importantly , the Cold War contributed to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
(http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Effect-of-the-Cold-War-on-the-World&id=1730034)
- What was the peak of the Cold War (Germany divided)?
after WW2,germany and its capital berlin were divided,and east germany came under communist influence when their west counnterparts became a democratic state.
- How and why did the the Cold War ended?
The cold war ended due to a relax in tensions between the united states and the soviet union.Some credit this to new leadership in the soviet regime ie Gorbachev but others credit this to reagan.
(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_and_why_did_the_cold_war_end)
online assignment 2
Describe roughly the history of the Czech Republic (and also Czechoslovakia) : The Czech Republic is a country in Central Europe. The capital and largest city is Prague
The capital and largest city is Prague. The Czech Republic has been a member of NATO since 1999 and of the European Union since 2004. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the Czech lands fell under Habsburg rule, becoming part of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and of Austria–Hungary in 1867. The independent Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire after World War I.
In a 1948 coup d'état, Czechoslovakia became a communist-ruled state. In 1968, the increasing dissatisfaction culminated in attempts to reform the communist regime. The events ended with an invasion by the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, the troops remained in the country until the 1989 Velvet Revolution, when the communist regime collapsed. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into its constituent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic is a pluralist multi-party parliamentary representative democracy. President Václav Klaus is the current head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament has two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group.
The Czech Republic made economic reforms such as fast privatizations. The country is the first former member of the Comecon to achieve the status of a developed country. The Czech Republic also ranks top among the former Comecon countries in the Human Development Index.
How is the country divided / organized today?
Since January 1, 2000 (according to Czech Law no. 129/2000 (Law on Regions), which replaced paragraph 1/1993 of the Czech Constitution on Vyšší územně správních celcích (higher-level territorial administrative units) the Czech Republic has consisted of thirteen regions (kraje) and one capital city (hlavní město) with regional status. The older seventy-three districts (okresy, singular okres) are still recognized and remain the seats of various branches of state administration[1], such as the judicial system.
Regions of the Czech Republic.
Prague, the capital city
Central Bohemian Region Prague
South Bohemian Region České Budějovice
Plzeň Region Plzeň
Ústí nad Labem Region Ústí nad Labem
Liberec Region Liberec
Hradec Králové Region Hradec Králové
Pardubice Region Pardubice
Olomouc Region Olomouc
Moravian-Silesian Region Ostrava
South Moravian Region Brno
Zlín Region Zlín
Vysočina Region Jihlava
Czech Republic Prague
¹ 2004 estimate. updated numbers and source (in Czech)
What are the major physical features and formations in Czech?
The Czech landscape is quite varied. Bohemia, to the west, consists of a basin drained by the Elbe and the Vltava rivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains, such as the Krkonoše range of the Sudetes. The highest point in the country, Sněžka at 1,602 m , is located here. Moravia, the eastern part of the country, is also quite hilly.
. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Czech Republic can be subdivided into four ecoregions: the Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, Western European broadleaf forests and Carpathian montane conifer forests.
What are the different natural vegetation in Czech?
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Czech Republic can be subdivided into four ecoregions: the Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, Western European broadleaf forests and Carpathian montane conifer forests.
What are the major types of economies / industries in Czech?
The Czech Republic possesses a developed, high-income economy with a GDP per capita of 82% .Most of the economy has been privatised, including the banks and telecommunications.
Before World War II, Czechoslovakia favored traditional export-oriented light industries, including food processing. Concentration on the production of capital goods since the war has been at the expense of consumer goods and foodstuffs, although there have been increases in the metalworking industry and in the production of glass, wood products, paper, textiles, clothing, shoes, and leather goods. Some of these and other consumer goods—such as the world-famous pilsner beer, ham, and sugar—had figured prominently in the pre-World War II export trade, but machinery was predominant under the communist regime
The capital and largest city is Prague. The Czech Republic has been a member of NATO since 1999 and of the European Union since 2004. Following the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the Czech lands fell under Habsburg rule, becoming part of the Austrian Empire in 1804 and of Austria–Hungary in 1867. The independent Republic of Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire after World War I.
In a 1948 coup d'état, Czechoslovakia became a communist-ruled state. In 1968, the increasing dissatisfaction culminated in attempts to reform the communist regime. The events ended with an invasion by the armies of the Warsaw Pact countries, the troops remained in the country until the 1989 Velvet Revolution, when the communist regime collapsed. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully dissolved into its constituent states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Czech Republic is a pluralist multi-party parliamentary representative democracy. President Václav Klaus is the current head of state. The Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament has two chambers: the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. It is also a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Council of Europe and the Visegrád Group.
The Czech Republic made economic reforms such as fast privatizations. The country is the first former member of the Comecon to achieve the status of a developed country. The Czech Republic also ranks top among the former Comecon countries in the Human Development Index.
How is the country divided / organized today?
Since January 1, 2000 (according to Czech Law no. 129/2000 (Law on Regions), which replaced paragraph 1/1993 of the Czech Constitution on Vyšší územně správních celcích (higher-level territorial administrative units) the Czech Republic has consisted of thirteen regions (kraje) and one capital city (hlavní město) with regional status. The older seventy-three districts (okresy, singular okres) are still recognized and remain the seats of various branches of state administration[1], such as the judicial system.
Regions of the Czech Republic.
Prague, the capital city
Central Bohemian Region Prague
South Bohemian Region České Budějovice
Plzeň Region Plzeň
Ústí nad Labem Region Ústí nad Labem
Liberec Region Liberec
Hradec Králové Region Hradec Králové
Pardubice Region Pardubice
Olomouc Region Olomouc
Moravian-Silesian Region Ostrava
South Moravian Region Brno
Zlín Region Zlín
Vysočina Region Jihlava
Czech Republic Prague
¹ 2004 estimate. updated numbers and source (in Czech)
What are the major physical features and formations in Czech?
The Czech landscape is quite varied. Bohemia, to the west, consists of a basin drained by the Elbe and the Vltava rivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains, such as the Krkonoše range of the Sudetes. The highest point in the country, Sněžka at 1,602 m , is located here. Moravia, the eastern part of the country, is also quite hilly.
. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Czech Republic can be subdivided into four ecoregions: the Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, Western European broadleaf forests and Carpathian montane conifer forests.
What are the different natural vegetation in Czech?
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the territory of the Czech Republic can be subdivided into four ecoregions: the Central European mixed forests, Pannonian mixed forests, Western European broadleaf forests and Carpathian montane conifer forests.
What are the major types of economies / industries in Czech?
The Czech Republic possesses a developed, high-income economy with a GDP per capita of 82% .Most of the economy has been privatised, including the banks and telecommunications.
Before World War II, Czechoslovakia favored traditional export-oriented light industries, including food processing. Concentration on the production of capital goods since the war has been at the expense of consumer goods and foodstuffs, although there have been increases in the metalworking industry and in the production of glass, wood products, paper, textiles, clothing, shoes, and leather goods. Some of these and other consumer goods—such as the world-famous pilsner beer, ham, and sugar—had figured prominently in the pre-World War II export trade, but machinery was predominant under the communist regime
online assignment
What is the population in Czech? : 10.5 million (approx)
What are the major languages? : Czech, Slovak, German, Polish and Romany
Explain the government structure in Czech Republic? :
The prime minister, 14 members heading different ministries, 2 ministers without any portfolio and 1 head of government legislative council.
What are the different / main religions in Czech Republic? : agnostic, atheist, roman catholics, protestants, and non-believers.
Explain the education system in Czech Republic : Elementary, Secondary, Tertiary
Describe Czech Cuisine : Strongly emphasis on meat dishes and beer during meals
What are some Czech festivals? : All kinds of music festivals
What are some Czech folktales? : The Soldier and the Devil and The Waternick
(from wikipedia.org, czech.cz)
What are the major languages? : Czech, Slovak, German, Polish and Romany
Explain the government structure in Czech Republic? :
The prime minister, 14 members heading different ministries, 2 ministers without any portfolio and 1 head of government legislative council.
What are the different / main religions in Czech Republic? : agnostic, atheist, roman catholics, protestants, and non-believers.
Explain the education system in Czech Republic : Elementary, Secondary, Tertiary
Describe Czech Cuisine : Strongly emphasis on meat dishes and beer during meals
What are some Czech festivals? : All kinds of music festivals
What are some Czech folktales? : The Soldier and the Devil and The Waternick
(from wikipedia.org, czech.cz)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)