Comparison "Essay": Tang and Sui

The Tang and the Sui dynasties were similar socially and culturally, where both had improvements in their arts and were influenced by Han China, and they were different in politics and the causes for decline since women never came to power in the Sui and Tang fell because of rebellions.

Rulers of both dynasties were part nomad, since they were successors of the Han rulers. The dynasties had Chinese stratagems for war, but they also incorporated their nomadic lifestyles to their rule.

Another similarity of both dynasties were their architectural and artistic improvements. The Sui's most renowned structure was the Grand Canal, used to better commerce and social interactions. The Tang's greatest achievement in arts was block printing, making text transportable. Both of these creations improved their societies since it made communication more efficient.

Tang and Sui differed in politics since women were not allowed to become Emperor during the Sui dynasty. Empress Wu (of the Tang) was a ruthless character during her process of claiming the throne. She was the only women to bear the title of Empress, thus differentiating the Sui and Tang dynasty with her rule.

The Tang and Sui largely differed in their downfall. The Sui's economy collapsed after the construction of the Grand Canal and campaigns against the Koreans. The Sui government enforced brutal taxing and labor from the people, who were already strained from the reconstruction of the Great Wall. Sui fell because of economic decline and mismanagement of resources. The Tang had political corruption and rebellions that weakened the dynasty for an additional 150 years before the Arabs completely took over.

The Tang and Sui dynasties both had social and cultural similarities, where arts improved and Han rulers were their predecessors, and they had differences in politics and causes for decline since women never came to power in the Sui, and Tang fell to rebellions.  

Emperor Justinian and the Byzantine Empire

1. Hey, what's up with Justinian's wife, Theodora? 

Theodora was a former burlesque dancer, and Justinian named her co-empress.
2. Why was Justinian unpopular? 

Justinian was born a peasant, but his reign would be ruled by intelligence and brutality. He tried to stamp out prostitution, pagans, Jews, study of ancient Athenian philosophers, gambling, homosexuality, and any Christians that refuse to follow him.
3. What amazing fun things took place in the hippodrome? 

It was the center of Constantinople's public life--with its capacity of hundreds of thousands of people. It was a stadium for chariot racing, modeled after Rome's Circus Maximus.
4. Oh no, what did Justinian do at the hippodrome? 

He gathered his officers and marched to the hippodrome. He promises to compromise with the citizens, but once everyone was present, he closed the gates and had his soldiers massacre everyone.
5. Why did Justinian quickly move to rebuild Constantinople? 

He saw the opportunity to rebuild the city so that the power would ultimately be his own and in the name of God.
6. What was the monumental architecture built in Constantinople? 

The Church of Holy Wisdom, also known as the Hagia Sophia,
7. What's unique about this building? 

It was the large dome ever built, and it seemed to float in midair, because of its construction. The columns were elaborately designed, depicting Justinian and his wife. The Church became a significant location to the residents of Constantinople.
8. How did Justinian ultimately cause the downfall of Byzantium?

Justinian's constant military campaigning and the construction of the Church bankrupted the empire. 

"What's Rakestraw Up To?"

Rakestraw and his newly wedded wife, Duval, lept from the airplane, a smile dazzling both of their faces. "Welcome to our honeymoon!" Rakestraw sang out loud. Duval rolled her eyes, but nonetheless, she was just as excited as he. Rakestraw broke into a wild dance. Jazz hands. Lugging their heavy suitcases, they made their way out of the airport, meeting the salty draft with open arms. The sun burned bright, and tourists populated St. Martins. Rakestraw pointed to this little villas along the beach, but Duval didn't sea them; she was focused on the small pain in her toes.

"COD DAMMIT!" Duval cursed like a sailor, pulling her foot up from the sand, only to reveal the tiny crab upon her toesies. 

"Water you doing????" Rakestraw shrieked when she shook her foot viciously. "You have got to be squidding me!" Rakestraw and Duval rushed over to the villas, zig zagging through the crowd. 

And that marks the first incident upon arriving at St. Martins for the Rakestraws. Soon afterward, a whirlwind of wind and water swept through the island, but the Rakestraws had each other to cling to.

On the third day, Rakestraw rubbed his tiny hands together, like a villain who has an evil bunny upon his chair, and made the first contact with his students. He could imagine Andy's cackle as he took over the classroom, oh the destruction! 

He had told Andy, "When you've taken over, let minnow!" 

"I NEED SOME KELP OVER HERE!" Duval screeched from the kitchen. Rakestraw rushed to her, but when he arrived she said, "What did one ocean say to the other?"

Rakestraw shrugged, "Sea you soon?"

"Wrong!! They just waved. Now, what's the difference between a dirty bus station and a well endowed lobster?"

"Uhhhh."

"One's a crusty bus station, the other is a busty crustacean."

"For the love of Cod! KRILL ME NOW!" Rakestraw screamed, overwhelmed by awful jokes. 

"Whale you can dolphinately say I'm amazing, that's why you married meeee!" 

This, though, was true. "Fintastic," Rakestraw grinned, running straight through the open window and flopped into the ocean. He did love Duval, and this honeymoon was gonna be remembered.