Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for University

1. Relaxing in Spain

I) Part 1

II) F 1

III) Junk

IV) c

2. Instagram Trends

I) Part 1

II) F 1

III) Encourages

IV) b

3. Jobless Women in Spain

I) Part 1

II) F1

III) Set Up

IV) c

4. Transforming Education

I) Part 1

II) T2

III) Available

IV) a

5. Research Ship Trapped

I) Part 2

II) F2

III) Actually

IV) c

6. Rural Americans and Healthcare

I) Part 2

II) T1

III) Prosper

IV) c

7. Cigarette Regulations

I) Part 2

II) F

III) Ban

IV) b

8. Tablets vs. Desktops

I) Part 2

II) F

III) Device

IV) c

9. Social Media in Schools

I) Part 3

II) F

III) Opportunity

IV) b

10. Teenage Life and Experiences

I) Part 3

II) F

III) Transition

IV) c

Key EU Treaties: SEA, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Nice

The founding treaties of the European Union were amended with two distinct purposes:

• Horizontal Extension: To increase the number of Member States.
• Vertical Extension: To increase the number of powers transferred to the communities.

A major reform in this regard resulted from two pivotal treaties, effectively forming a single, comprehensive reform: the Single European Act (SEA) of 1986 and the Treaty on European Union (TEU) of 1992. This period marked a significant turning point for the European Union. These treaties not only increased and strengthened the powers of economic integration but also introduced political cooperation, all wrapped up in the newly formed EU. This represented a substantial...

Belgium: A Federal Parliamentary Monarchy

Belgium is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy, as consolidated on February 17, 1994. The state's origins trace back to 1790, with the independence revolution in 1830 definitively establishing the Belgian State.

In 1831, the enactment of the Constitution established a constitutional monarchy, with Parliament electing Leopold of Saxe-Coburg as the first King. In 1970, the Constitution was amended, introducing three cultural communities: French, Dutch, and German.

The Federal Structure of Government

Between 1970 and 1993, Belgium transitioned into a federal structure. The federal authorities retain powers over finance, the navy, justice, social security, foreign affairs, a significant part of...

The Marshall Plan (1948-1951)

The spread of communism was a significant threat to the United States, which implemented a strategy to contain its influence. U.S. President Harry S. Truman concluded that aid needed to be global to effectively solve Europe's post-war problems. This doctrine became a reality through the Marshall Plan.

The United States invested capital into Europe for two primary reasons:

• Economic: U.S. growth depended heavily on stable international trade.
• Political: Following the start of the Cold War, it was essential to raise the population's standard of living to prevent communists from coming to power.

Main Objectives of the Marshall Plan

• Increase income levels, particularly for workers.
• Facilitate Europe's economic growth.
• Prevent

Does Oil Hinder Democracy?

The Research of Michael Ross

In 2001, UCLA Professor Michael Ross explored the intriguing question: Does oil hinder the development of democracy? He observed that while most wealthy nations are democratic, oil-rich countries often are not. This raises the question: What is the relationship between oil wealth and democratic governance?

Beyond Arab Oil: A Global Perspective

While some might point to Arab oil-producing nations as examples, it's important to consider countries like Mexico and Norway, which are both oil-rich and democratic. This suggests that the issue is more nuanced than simply the presence of oil. Could the problem lie in a country's dependence on a single source of income, such as oil or diamonds?

The Rentier

1. Historical-Political Analysis

The constant struggle against water compelled the civilian population to organize levee maintenance. From the 13th and 14th centuries, "tips" formed to regulate their control.

Furthermore, the nature of their land prevented the consolidation of a powerful landed aristocracy, and feudalism did not take root. The inhabitants were predominantly smallholder farmers.

The current Kingdom of the Netherlands is the historical successor of the former Republic of the United Provinces of the Netherlands North. It emerged as an independent entity after the Wars of Religion of the 16th and 17th centuries.

This historical period, known as the Eighty Years' War, was a continuous conflict against the Hispanic Monarchy from the...

The Conquest of Peru: Pizarro and Atahualpa

The Quest for the South Sea and the Capture of Atahualpa

After the conquest of Mexico, other Spaniards were challenged to match Hernán Cortés’s achievements. The challenge was taken up by Francisco Pizarro. He embarked on the quest to the South Sea that Balboa started, sailing with two partners: Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque.

Pizarro made two preliminary trips in 1524 and 1526, and then requested royal permission for the enterprise in Peru. He returned to Peru in 1531 to discover that the Inca Empire was undergoing a civil war. Atahualpa and his half-brother Huáscar were fighting for the Inca throne. Atahualpa won and soon received news of the white strangers landing on his shores.

They...

New Year Celebrations in Ecuador

Ecuador's New Year celebrations are a unique and vibrant affair. Beginning with the Day of the Innocents and extending until New Year's Eve, the festivities are full of tradition and revelry.

One striking custom involves families burning effigies resembling humanoid monkeys with the faces of famous people. This act symbolizes the passing of the old year.

Another tradition sees men dressing up as the "widows of the old year." These playful figures dance and playfully accost passing cars, demanding a "toll" that inevitably fuels the merriment with more alcohol. If you plan to drive through the streets of Quito on New Year's Eve, be prepared to part with plenty of coins, or these "widows" might just delay your journey...

Mesopotamian Art and Civilization: Key Innovations

Mesopotamian art emerged alongside significant advancements in civilization. Writing, specifically cuneiform (wedge-shaped) of Sumerian origin, dates back to 3100 BC. This period also saw the birth of trade based on a barter system and the emergence of the first cities.

Other crucial Mesopotamian innovations include:

• The development of currency.
• The invention of the wheel.
• The first written laws, famously codified by King Hammurabi.
• Early investigations into astronomy.
• The sexagesimal system, which provided for the division of months, days, hours, minutes, and seconds according to the lunar cycle, a system still in use today.
• The invention of the plow, among other agricultural tools.

Mesopotamian mythology...

The Soviet Union: From Revolution to Cold War

The Soviet Union had its roots in the October Revolution of 1917, when the Bolsheviks, led by Vladimir Lenin, overthrew the Russian Provisional Government that had replaced Tsar Nicholas II. This established the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (Russian SFSR) and started the Russian Civil War between the revolutionary "Reds" and the counter-revolutionary "Whites." The Red Army entered several territories of the former Russian Empire and helped local communists take power through workers' councils called "soviets", which nominally acted on behalf of workers and peasants. In 1922, the communists were victorious, forming the Soviet Union with the unification of the Russian, Transcaucasian,...