Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Conflicts Between the Holy Roman Emperors and the Popes

The popes and Holy Roman Emperors engaged in many different conflicts time and time again, but the main reasons behind the conflicts are really quite simple.  The conflicts arose generally out of hunger for power.

For example, the emperors would sometimes completely throw the promises that they made to the popes out the window.  Likewise, on several different occasions we see the Holy Roman Emperors attempting to downsize the power of the pope.

Many desired to assert their power over vast areas, and this concerned the popes.  The popes feared that the Holy Roman Emperors would try to gain some amount of control over the papacy, and this was unacceptable in the minds of the popes.

Like I said, the reasons for the conflicts between the emperors and popes were quite simple.  The lesson that we should take from these conflicts, is that a quest for power usually stands in the way of peace, and it is unfortunate that the emperors didn't pay attention to this major truth.

Thank you very much for reading this essay, and please give me some feedback in the comments section below!  I would love to hear from you!    

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Identifying the Diet of a Deceased, Unidentified Animal

"Suppose you found the bones of an unidentified animal.  How could you learn about what the animal ate?  What specific structures would give you clues about the creature's diet?"



If you were to find the bones of an unidentified animal, your first thought probably wouldn't be, "I wonder what this animal ate when it lived among us in space and time."  But lets pretend that this was your first thought regarding the animal.  How would you find the answer to the question?  Well, you would look at the teeth.  What kinds of teeth are among the bones?  If they are mostly molars and premolars, then that would mean that the animal generally ate a diet which would require it to grind and crush the food in it's mouth.

A good example of this sort of animal is the horse.  The horse's diet is made up of foods such as oats, grass, grain, and hay.  All of these require the horse to grind and crush the food using it's molars.

Likewise, if the animal's teeth are mainly incisors and canines the animal was probably be a flesh eating, ferocious best from the underworld.  Either that, or it could be a harmless little chihuahua that generally wore little booties and doggy dresses...both work I suppose.  My point is that incisors and canines are characteristics of meat-eaters.

This is one of the fascinating ways that you can identify an animal's diet.

I hope that you have found this essay informational, as well as enjoyable!  Please leave me some feedback; I would love to hear from you!