In our world, where the forces of good and evil constantly collide, certain themes emerge to illuminate the struggles and triumphs of humanity. This article explores one such central topic: the intricate interplay between power and agency. Throughout history, power dynamics have shaped societies and individuals, determining the course of nations and the fates of individuals. From the rise and fall of empires to the intimate conflicts within ourselves, the balance of power leaves an indelible mark on every aspect of our lives.
Ice and Fire: The Historical Struggle for Power
From time immemorial, power has been coveted and contested. Ancient civilizations like the Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire vied for dominion over vast territories, often subjecting weaker nations to their will. These empires were ruled by individuals who wielded immense power, capable of shaping the destiny of millions.
More recently, the two World Wars of the twentieth century showcased the destructive potential of power in the hands of a few. Leaders such as Hitler and Stalin unleashed devastation on an unprecedented scale, leaving lasting scars on the world. These historical events remind us of the dangers inherent in concentration of power, and the dire consequences when it runs amok.
Waste and Want: Power and Disenfranchisement
While great powers played their games on the world stage, ordinary people experienced varying degrees of agency and empowerment. The massive gap between the rich and the poor throughout history has highlighted the disenfranchisement and exploitation of marginalized communities. Often, those with power have used their influence to further their own interests at the expense of the powerless.
Contemporary societies continue to grapple with power imbalances, as evidenced by the ongoing struggles for social justice and equal rights. Movements like feminism and civil rights highlight the need for marginalized groups to reclaim agency and challenge the systems that perpetuate their disenfranchisement. In the face of these challenges, the quest for empowerment remains a central element of our collective human experience.
Limbs of Power: Personal Journeys amid Power Structures
As individuals, we also navigate power dynamics in our daily lives. Sometimes, we find ourselves caught in the systems of power, where societal norms and expectations limit our freedom and autonomy. Other times, we wield power ourselves, making choices that affect the lives of others.
Within ourselves, we may experience a tug-of-war between our desires for power and the ethical boundaries we set. It is in these personal journeys that we understand the complex relationship between power and agency. Ultimately, we must each grapple with how to use our personal power responsibly, resisting the temptation to exploit or oppress others.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” –Lord Acton
This quote from Lord Acton reminds us of the inherent risks associated with power and serves as a cautionary tale for those who seek it. As we delve into the exploration of power and agency, we must reflect on the lessons of history and draw inspiration from the ongoing struggles for justice and equality.
Through examining the interplay of power and agency in historical and contemporary contexts, we gain a deeper understanding of the intricate web that governs our world. As we navigate the shifting tides of power, we must strive to cultivate a balance that empowers without corrupting, uplifts without oppressing, and ensures agency for all.
Underwater archaeology is a field that continues to uncover fascinating discoveries from the past. The recent findings by the research team from the University of Ljubljana’s Institute of Underwater Archaeology off the coast of Portorož, Slovenia, are just one example of the potential future trends in this field. This article will analyze these key points and provide predictions and recommendations for the industry.
Key Points
The discovery of the Roman harbor and its artifacts provides valuable insights into the history of the port town and its importance during the Roman Empire.
The findings of the wooden stakes and two ancient ship masts are unique on a global scale, highlighting the significance of the site.
The presence of sigallata pottery suggests trade connections and imports during the 1st century CE.
The preservation and storage of the artifacts at the Sergei Mašera Maritime Museum ensure their accessibility for future research and public display.
The excavation is part of a larger campaign to explore Slovenia’s coastline, indicating a growing interest in uncovering underwater heritage.
The consistently poor visibility during the study adds complexity to the research process, highlighting the need for innovative underwater archaeological techniques.
The presence of other Roman sites in the area suggests the possibility of a small Roman harbor, which requires further investigation.
Predictions for the Industry
The recent discoveries and ongoing exploration in the field of underwater archaeology suggest several potential future trends:
Increase in Research and Exploration: The successful findings off the coast of Portorož demonstrate the importance of conducting systematic underwater archaeological surveys. This is likely to lead to an increase in research and exploration efforts in coastal regions around the world.
Advancements in Underwater Archaeological Techniques: The consistently poor visibility during the study highlights the need for advancements in underwater archaeological techniques. Research teams are likely to invest in innovative technologies such as underwater drones, 3D imaging, and remote sensing to enhance their capabilities in uncovering and documenting submerged sites.
Collaboration and Partnerships: As underwater archaeological projects require diverse expertise and resources, collaboration and partnerships between academic institutions, government agencies, and private organizations will become more prevalent. These collaborations will ensure the successful preservation, research, and public outreach of underwater heritage.
Digital Preservation and Virtual Reconstruction: With the advancements in 3D imaging and virtual reality technologies, the industry is likely to adopt digital preservation and virtual reconstruction techniques. This will enable researchers to create immersive experiences for the public, allowing them to explore underwater sites without physically visiting them.
Recommendations for the Industry
Based on the analysis of the key points and the predicted future trends, the following recommendations can be made to enhance the development and growth of the underwater archaeology industry:
Investment in Research and Training: Governments, academic institutions, and funding organizations should allocate resources for underwater archaeological research and training programs. This will ensure a skilled workforce and foster the advancement of the field.
Integration of Technology and Innovation: Research teams should actively explore and adopt new technologies and innovative approaches to overcome the challenges of underwater archaeological studies. Collaborations with experts in fields such as robotics, computer science, and remote sensing will be instrumental in driving these advancements.
International Cooperation: The underwater archaeology community should encourage international cooperation and knowledge sharing. This can be achieved through conferences, workshops, and collaborative projects. Sharing best practices and lessons learned will accelerate the progress of research and deepen our understanding of underwater heritage.
Public Outreach and Education: Efforts should be made to raise awareness about the significance of underwater archaeology and engage the public in preserving and appreciating underwater heritage. This can be achieved through interactive exhibitions, educational programs, and the use of digital platforms to disseminate information.
Conclusion
The recent discoveries off the coast of Portorož, Slovenia, provide a glimpse into the potential future trends in underwater archaeology. Advancements in technology, increased research efforts, collaborations, and public outreach initiatives will shape the industry in the coming years. By investing in these trends and following the recommendations mentioned above, the underwater archaeology industry can continue to uncover the mysteries of the past and preserve our underwater heritage for future generations.
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1. What is a violin plot?
A violin plot is a mirrored density plot that is rotated 90 degrees as shown in the picture. It depicts the distribution of numeric data.
2. When should you use a violin plot?
A violin plot is useful to compare the distribution of a numeric variable across different subgroups in a sample. For instance, the distribution of heights of a group of people could be compared across gender with a violin plot.
3. How to code a ggplot2 violin plot?
First, map the numeric variable whose distribution you would like to analyze to the x position aesthetic in ggplot2. Second, map the variable you want to use to separate your sample in different groups to the y position aesthetic. This is done with aes(x = variable_of_interest, y = dimension) inside the ggplot() function. The last step is to add the geom_violin() layer.
To exemplify these steps, we will examine the capacity of Roman amphitheaters across different regions of the Roman Empire. The data for this comes from the cawd R package, maintained by Professor Sebastian Heath. This package contains several datasets about the Ancient World, including one about the Roman Amphitheaters. To install the package, use devtools::install_github("sfsheath/cawd").
tips_and_updates
Learn more about Roman amphitheaters in this informative article by Laura Klar, Department of Greek and Roman Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art:
After loading the package, use data() to see the available data frames. We will be using the ramphs dataset. It contains characteristics of the Roman amphitheaters. For this example, we will use the column 2 (title), column 7 (capacity) and column 8 (mod.country), which specifies the modern country where the amphitheater was located. We will also consider only the three modern countries with the largest number of amphitheaters – Tunisia, France or Italy. The code below loads and filters the relevant data.
content_copy Copy
library(cawd)
library(ggplot2)
# Store the dataset in df1
df1 <- ramphs
# Select all rows of relevant columns
df2 <- df1[ ,c(2,7,8)]
# Filter only the rows where modern country is either Tunisia, France or Italy
df3 <- df2[df2$mod.country %in% c("Tunisia", "France", "Italy"), ]
# Delete NAs
df4 <- na.omit(df3)
# Plot a basic ggplot2 violin plot
ggplot(data = df4, aes(x=mod.country, y=capacity))+
geom_violin()
We can further customize this plot to make it look better and fit this page theme. In the code below we improve the following aspects:
geom_violin(color = "#FF6885", fill = "#2E3031", size = 0.9) changes in the color and size of line and fill of the violin plot;
geom_jitter(width = 0.05, alpha = 0.2, color = "gray") adds the data points jittered to avoid overplotting and show where the points are concentrated;
coord_flip() flips the two axis so that is more evident that a violin plot is simply a mirrored density curve;
the other geom layes add title, labels and a new theme to the plot.
ggplot(data = df4, aes(x=mod.country, y=capacity))+
geom_violin(color = "#FF6885", fill = "#2E3031", size = 0.9)+
geom_jitter(width = 0.05, alpha = 0.2, color = "gray")+
ggtitle("Roman Amphitheaters")+
xlab("Modern Country")+
ylab("Capacity of Spectators")+
coord_flip()+
theme_bw()+
theme(text=element_text(color = 'white'),
# Changes panel, plot and legend background to dark gray:
panel.background = element_rect(fill = '#2E3031'),
plot.background = element_rect(fill = '#2E3031'),
legend.background = element_rect(fill='#2E3031'),
legend.key = element_rect(fill = '#2E3031'),
# Changes legend texts color to white:
legend.text = element_text(color = 'white'),
legend.title = element_text(color = 'white'),
# Changes color of plot border to white:
panel.border = element_rect(color = 'white'),
# Eliminates grids:
panel.grid.minor = element_blank(),
panel.grid.major = element_blank(),
# Changes color of axis texts to white
axis.text.x = element_text(color = 'white'),
axis.text.y = element_text(color = 'white'),
axis.title.x = element_text(color= 'white'),
axis.title.y = element_text(color= 'white'),
# Changes axis ticks color to white
axis.ticks.y = element_line(color = 'white'),
axis.ticks.x = element_line(color = 'white'),
legend.position = "bottom")
Note that amphitheaters in the territory of modern Tunisia tended to have less variation in their capacity and most of them were below 10,000 spectators. On the other hand, amphitheaters in the Italian Peninsula exhibit greater variation.
Can you guess what the outlier on the very right of the Italian distribution is? Yes! It’s the Flavian Amphitheater at Rome, also known as the Colosseum, with an impressive capacity of 50,000 people. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below!
4. Conclusions
A violin plot, a type of density curve, is useful for exploring data distribution;
Coding a ggplot2 violin plot can be easily accomplished with geom_violin().
To leave a comment for the author, please follow the link and comment on their blog: coding-the-past.
Analyses and Implications of Utilizing Violin Plots in Data Visualization
The designated text describes the implementation and significance of violin plots, especially within the context of R programming language. These plots are essentially mirrored density plots, depicting the distribution of numeric data. The article subsequently provides an illustrative snippet of how to generate a violin plot using library packages such as ggplot2 in R.
Long-Term Implications
The long-term implications of this analytical tool provide far-reaching applications in the field of data analysis, not just limited to R programming. Violin plots present an intuitive and compact way to visualize and compare data distributions across different subgroups or categories within datasets. This is extremely beneficial in diverse fields such as finance, sales, healthcare, physics, social sciences, and more.
To exemplify these cases, imagine a company trying to compare its monthly sales across different regions or a healthcare researcher analyzing the spread of disease symptoms across diverse demographic subgroups. Violin plots can offer excellent visual insights into these exploratory data questions.
Possible Future Developments
While violin plots have significant merits, the ability to convey multivariate distributions intuitively and compactly remains an open question. Hence, focusing on the development of such visual aids can be a prospective future direction for improving data analysis capability.
Besides, as the importance of presenting complex data in accessible formats continues to grow across industries, we can expect an increasing number of tools and programming languages to adopt and refine violin plot capabilities.
Actionable Advice
For both seasoned coders and beginners in data analysis, continue exploring and honing violin plot techniques. Given the growing analytics demand across industries, developing skills in efficiently conveying complex data insights puts you at an advantage.
Educational institutions should consider integrating data visualization techniques such as violin plots in their curriculum, given the pressing need to comprehend and convey complex data across academic disciplines.
Meanwhile, companies should encourage data analysis literacy among employees, enabling them to understand and utilize such visual tools for better business decisions. Providing easy-to-understand resources and opportunities for learning would be a significant starting point in this direction.
Lastly, future developers should consider the idea of designing more user-friendly tools that help generate violin plots as well as other forms of data visualizations, with minimal coding know-how.
Note: The use of any software or package such as R or ggplot2 should align with their usage license agreements and guidelines.
The Hidden Power of Interamna Lirenas: A Glimpse into the Roman Empire’s Enduring Influence
The 13-year-long excavation of what was once believed to be a “backwater town” in Central Italy has provided strong evidence that the Roman Empire remained powerful even as the fall of Rome, in 476, drew near. The Interamna Lirenas Project by the University of Cambridge’s Classics Faculty has conducted surveys and excavations in what is now a field of crops, uncovering a thriving Roman town that adapted to challenges for almost 900 years.
Unveiling a Hidden Gem
The town of Interamna Lirenas was founded in 312 BC as a Latin colony affiliated with Rome. Situated at the intersection of the Via Latina and the river Liris, it played a crucial role in connecting Lazio and Campania. The excavation project, initiated by the University of Cambridge in 2010, initially encountered skepticism due to the lack of visible evidence of buildings on the surface. However, deep radar and magnetometry revealed a vibrant town that evolved over centuries.
The Role of Pottery
Pottery played a central role in studying the Interamna Lirenas site. The absence of imported pottery led scholars to believe that the city was declining by the second century. However, by focusing on the pottery used by average citizens in the region, rather than the imported wares favored by the wealthy, archaeologists discovered that the town thrived well into the 3rd Century, hosting significant developments such as a large warehouse, a temple, three bathhouses, and a roofed theater capable of accommodating 1,500 people.
Challenges and Adaptations
Interamna Lirenas successfully adapted to the challenges it faced for almost 900 years. The town’s ability to thrive in the face of these challenges reflects the broader transformations taking place in Roman Italy from Republic to Empire. Despite being considered a “backwater town,” it displayed remarkable wealth, power, and ambition through its thriving theater, which served as a major status symbol.
The Town’s Abandonment
Interamna Lirenas was eventually abandoned in the 6th century C.E., likely due to the Lombard invasion of Italy. The inhabitants salvaged materials to build farms elsewhere, leaving behind a hidden gem buried under the Earth. Modern methods of plowing the land have both damaged the structures that remained buried and helped uncover the civilization that once lay beneath the fields of Central Italy.
Future Trends and Predictions
The excavation of Interamna Lirenas presents valuable insights into the enduring power of the Roman Empire. This discovery highlights the importance of reevaluating assumptions about ancient civilizations and encourages further exploration into lesser-known sites.
As more archaeological projects utilize advanced technologies like deep radar and magnetometry, we can anticipate similar revelations in the future. These technologies allow researchers to uncover hidden cities and unlock the secrets of their pasts. Excavations like that of Interamna Lirenas demonstrate the potential for historical narratives to be reshaped and enriched through continued examination.
Gaining a deeper understanding of ancient civilizations not only broadens our knowledge of the past but also provides valuable lessons for our present and future. The adaptability and resilience displayed by Interamna Lirenas should serve as inspiration for modern societies facing their own challenges. By studying the ways in which ancient towns like this thrived despite adversity, we can gain insights into sustainable practices, community resilience, and long-term planning.
Recommendations for the Industry
Based on the excavation of Interamna Lirenas and the potential future trends in archaeological exploration, it is recommended that the industry:
Invest in and utilize advanced technologies: Embracing technologies like deep radar and magnetometry enables researchers to uncover hidden civilizations and challenge preconceived notions about the past.
Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration: The excavation of Interamna Lirenas benefited from a multidisciplinary approach involving archaeologists, historians, and experts in various fields. Encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange between different disciplines can lead to more comprehensive and nuanced interpretations of ancient sites.
Promote public engagement: Sharing the findings and stories of excavations like Interamna Lirenas with the public fosters a deeper appreciation for history and archaeology. Museums, educational programs, and online platforms can play a vital role in disseminating information, sparking curiosity, and inspiring future generations of archaeologists.
Support preservation efforts: As more sites are uncovered, it is crucial to prioritize their preservation. Balancing excavation with conservation will ensure that future generations can study and learn from these valuable remnants of the past.
In conclusion, the excavation of Interamna Lirenas has provided fascinating insights into the power and endurance of the Roman Empire. This discovery challenges preconceived notions about “backwater towns” and emphasizes the importance of reevaluating assumptions in archaeology. By investing in advanced technology, promoting collaboration, engaging the public, and supporting preservation efforts, the industry can continue to uncover hidden gems and reshape our understanding of ancient civilizations.
References:
1. News article: Interamna Lirenas Project: Excavating a Roman Town, Popular Mechanics. Link: [Insert Link]
2. University of Cambridge’s Classics Faculty – Interamna Lirenas Project, Available at: [Insert Link]
