Essay on The Etruscan Religion - 1937 Words

The origin of the Etruscans is a mystery, still unsolved by modern man. Ancient peoples held an almost unanimous opinion on the subject, based on the account of the first great Greek historian, Herodotus, who wrote in about 800 B. C. as follows: In the reign of Atys, son of Manes, a great famine is said to have occurred in the whole of Lydia. For some time, the Lydians persisted in carrying on their usual life; then as the famine did not abate, they sought remedies and some thought of one thing and some thought of another. It is said that is was then that the game of dice, the game of knuckles, games of ball and other games were invented but not the game of draughts, the invention of which the Lydians do not claim. And this is how†¦show more content†¦The name Etruscan comes from the Romans, who called them Tusci or Etrusci, the Greeks called them Tyrrhenoi, and they called themselves Rasena. A Lydian or Oriental origin is probable because there is a locality in Lydia which is called Tyrra, which would help to explain the Greek name, Tyrrhenoi. At any rate, it is believed that during the Iron Age in the first millennium B. C. groups of people of the so-called â€Å"Villanovan† culture settled on various hilltops, which provided ideal defensive locations. Following the Villanovans came the Etruscans who invaded by ship and set up their first towns on the coast. They were exceptional metal-workers and were evidently attracted to this section of Italy by the vast supplies of copper near Populonia and Piombino and by the iron ore on the island of Elba. The date is estimated at 750 B. C. The Etruscan language is another mystery, still unsolved by modern man. A reason for this is a lack of sources. Although about ten thousand inscriptions have been found, about nine thousand are funerary and contain only the name of the deceased, his parentage and the age at which he died. There are only about ten texts which consist of more than one line; there are only two that consist of more than one hundred words. One is an engraved tile discovered at Capua, containing about three hundred words, the other is the Cippus Perusianus, containing about one hundred twenty words. A manuscript was also found.Show MoreRelatedEtruscan Culture, Architecture, Art, And Religion936 Words   |  4 Pages1. What were some key aspects of Etruscan culture, architecture, art, and religion? Little is known about Etruscan culture, but from what evidence that has been discovered we know that they were indigenous people of what we today call Italy and Turkey. Some other things we do know is that they inherited some aspects of their culture from the Greeks such as their art, literature, and religion. The Etruscan architecture, being influenced by the Greeks, had temples with stone foundations that wereRead MoreEtruscans1697 Words   |  7 PagesEtruscans: The Building Block of Rome The dominant early settlers on the Italian peninsula were a non-Indo-European-speaking people known as the Etruscans (Coffin Stacey 168). The Etruscans were among three groups of people from the East that entered Italy as colonists and later as rulers of various segments of the peninsula. The Etruscans came into Italy about 800 B.C.E. following the Adriatic Sea. Although our knowledge of the Etruscans is severely limited by the fact that their languageRead MoreThe Early Influences of Rome1710 Words   |  7 Pagessouthernmost Etruscan centers[1]. These places, Caere, Tarquinii, Vulci, and Veii, were the first city-states to be formed. It wasn’t long before the great city of Rome would rise. In this essay, we will briefly comment on the founders of Rome and their influences. Taking each part of history step by step hoping to uncover the secrets of Rome’s first steps towards become a great empire. The first thought of discussion will be on the Etruscans, the people of Etruia. The Etruscans playedRead MoreEssay on Roman â€Å"Res Publica†1007 Words   |  5 Pages These people were known as the Etruscans. The Etruscans were a military ruling class that exploited the native Italians, making them work the mines and serve in the Etruscan armies, while they themselves became wealthy from farming the land, piracy and trade commerce. Although the Etruscans exploited much of the people, they brought with them an abundance of knowledge and ideals that would change civilization as they once knew it for the better. The Etruscans brought with them ideals of philosophyRead MoreThe Temple Of Jupiter Optimus1353 Words   |  6 PagesLike the Etruscans and Greeks before them, the Romans are known for having constructed monumental temples in highly visible locations. Situated atop the Capitoline Hill in the heart of the ancient city of Rome, the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, shared with Juno Regina, and Minerva, represented this tradition well. Before the iconic Temple became known as the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, the site came to symbolize Rome’s position as Caput Mundi, which literally means ‘head of the world’Read MoreClassical Societies Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pagesthe society, the artwork must be studied in a variety of ways. The artwork that will be examined will be the Parthenon from the Classical Greece period, the Nike of Samothrace from the Hellenistic Greece period, the Capitoline She-Wolf from the Etruscan Civilization, a Roman Patrician with Busts of His Ancestors from the Roman Republic, and Pantheon from the Roman Empire civilization. The Parthenon is a perfect example of the Doric style of architecture from the Classical Greek period. The ParthenonRead MoreSummary : Mausoleum Of Augustus 1593 Words   |  7 PagesRoman Kingdom emerged with the aid of the Etruscans, the original Italians inhabiting Italy around 800 BCE. Their great influence came in the forms of: living arrangements, burial rituals, architecture, religion, monarchy, and culture. Rome’s early successes were attributed to the bond they had with the Etruscans. As many leaders arose throughout Rome’s history, the greats wanted a divine connection to Rome, to be like Romulus and his dear friends the Etruscans, the ancient ancestors of Rome. JuliusRead MoreRise of the Roman Empire Essay examples1226 Words   |  5 Pagesand Etruscans. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Etruscans settled in Rome somewhere between 900 and 800 BC. archaeologists suspect that they came from the eastern Mediterannean, possibly Asia Minor. We will, however, never really know where they came from or why they colonized Italy. We do know that when they came to Italy, they brought civilization and urbanization with them as Radice asserts AThe advance of Rome was due to the expansion of the mysterious neighbors from the north, the Etruscans.@(17)Read MoreAeneid Analysis789 Words   |  4 Pagesespecially the arts. Roman art, writings, religion, and celebrations were on the rise as they experienced a time of rest, enabling them to develop a rich, eclectic culture. The Roman nation s origins are very pedestrian in comparison to Virgil s poem. The Romans were governed by the Etruscan nation between 750 BC and 250 BC (Time Maps, 2012). The Etruscan governing and belief system is the foundation of Roman society but they differ slightly. The Etruscan government began as a monarchy but eventuallyRead MoreReligious Accessibility . In The Course Of This Class We1296 Words   |  6 Pagesrole when looking at each culture and their key monuments and artifacts. When specifically looking at religious buildings we can see that they reflect the function and the belief system of the culture, it also speaks directly to the accessibility of religion to the culture’s population. Not only the buildings culture is reflected in the architectural design, but also to accessibility, limitations, or privilege over others that some citizens had when accessing their place of worship, their sacred artifacts

The Ethics of Genetic Engineering Essay - 2933 Words

Bioethics Outline: It is my belief that genetic engineering has promise to better mankind, and it is our ethical obligation to research it but not exploit it. There is a need to have a morally correct legislation that guides the way science develops this. Outline: I. Social a) Personal Privacy i. Individual rights b) Society i. Implication on society II. Religious a) Religious concerns b) Different religion views III. Medical Benefits a) What are they b) What are the risks IV. Legislation a) Who regulates it b) What is regulated The Random House Webster’s College Dictionary defines bioethics as a field of study and counsel concerned with the implications of certain medical procedures,†¦show more content†¦Human genes are short segments of DNA that determine human traits, ranging from sex to eye color (Toward 1995.) To a large extent, DNA predetermines what diseases we will get, what our IQ will be and how we will function etc. According to Time magazines DNA is a complex structure that has 100,000 genes and 3 billion chemical codes (Isaacson 42) which encrypt the very basis of our biological unit. DNA is the true thumb imprint which makes each individual unique, and the entire controversy surrounding genetic engineering revolves around the idea of destroying the human by changing this code. Genetic engineering today has already helped many infertile patients to have children by a technique called in-vitro fertilization (Toward E01.) In October 1993, the Doctor Jerry L. Hall, a geneticist , at George Washington to University Medical Center cloned a human embryo. This set off an ethical debate. Ethicists asked why the cloning was done, and who will set the guidelines for this practice in the future. There are those who believe that this issue is about individual autonomy. They believe that this is not society’s business and no one should be allowed to interfere with a person’s personal privacy and that nothing can be more personal then genetic material that makes us who we are (Kolata A1.) According to Richard A. McCormick, S.J., who teaches theology at the University of Notre Dame,Show MoreRelatedThe Ethics Of Genetic Engineering1639 Words   |  7 PagesGenetic engineering has to do with manipulating organisms and DNA to create body characteristics. The practice of genetic DNA has shown an increasing amount over the past years. The process of genetic enhancement involves manipulating organisms by using biotechnologies. The technique is by removing a DNA from one life form and transferring it to another set of traits or organism. Certain barriers are conquered, and the procedure involves changing a form of cells, resulting from an improvement orRead MoreThe Ethics Of Genetic Engineering2194 Words   |  9 Pagescalled genetic engineering. Some of the living things being experimented on are live people, plants, and animals. Today scientists are debating on the morals of genetic engineering due to what the community thinks of it, because of the christian s viewpo int of genetic engineering. To some christians it may pose a threat to their, but to others it may be a blessing or a gift. Genetic Engineering is a growing breakthrough in the science community. â€Å"Over the last 30 years, the field of genetic engineeringRead MoreEthics of Genetic Engineering Essay637 Words   |  3 PagesEthics of Genetic Engineering Within the last two decades scientists have developed several new techniques, which manipulate and alter the genes found in the cells of living organisms. This wonder of the century, genetic engineering has turned heredity --the passing of inheritable characteristics from parent to off spring- from a natural, random event into a process that can be artificially controlled and exploited. It has the potential of giving humanity unprecedented power over life itselfRead MoreThe Ethics Of Human Genetic Engineering1454 Words   |  6 PagesBiemmnet Eshete Professor Eng 112 2 November 2015 The Ethics of Human Genetic Engineering DNA stands for Deoxyribonucleic acid. Deoxyribonucleic corrosive is an atom that conveys a large portion of the hereditary guidelines utilized as a part of the improvement, working and propagation of all known living creatures and numerous infections. The National Institutes of Health and Welcome Trust from the London UK and Craig Vendor of Celera Genomics from Maryland USA at the same time exhibited the groupingRead MoreThe Ethics Of Human Genetic Engineering1424 Words   |  6 PagesImagine the possibility of eliminating serious genetic diseases from the world. Imagine the idea of treating, preventing or even curing diseases that are yet to be cured. Imagine the feeling of being given improved health and a prolonged lifespan. This can all be accomplished with the aide of genetic engineering. Human genetic engineering refers to the process of directly manipulating human DNA to produce wanted results. DNA is a simple but very complex chemical that has the power to change the worldRe ad MoreThe Ethics Of Genetic Engineering Essay1940 Words   |  8 Pagesnot it improves the lives of humans and whether or not it is considered part of the social norm. It stands to reason that Genetic engineering can be accepted and subsequently refined to evolve the human race, as shown with its ability to improve quality of life through advancements in agriculture and medicine. Genetic engineering is the manual modification of an organism’s genetic composition by artificial means in order to transfer the specific traits, genes from one organism into a plant or animalRead MoreEssay about The Morals and Ethics of Genetic Engineering3310 Words   |  14 Pagesbreakthrough, genetic engineering has been on a path toward changing the world since its introduction in 1973 by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer (What). However, as genetic engineering slowly permeates the lives of humanity, the morals and ethics behind what are now common practices are entering public attention, and a s a culture we are left to question whether the change brought on by such a discovery bring benefits and positive change, or damage and destruction. Genetic engineering is justifiedRead MoreEthics of Human Cloning and Genetic Engineering Essay1843 Words   |  8 Pagesunfertilized sheep egg and removed its genetic material. They then placed the empty egg in a dish with a cell from an adult sheeps udder, which contained a full complement of the adult sheeps genes. Finally the scientists applied an electric spark, which caused the two cells to fuse and begin dividing. The embryo was then transplanted into the womb of a surrogate mother to grow. The original aim of Dr Wilmuts nuclear transfer work was to find better ways to make genetic modifications in animals, by growingRead MoreThe Genetic Engineering Debate Essay1411 Words   |  6 Pagesrecent discussions of genetic engineering, a controversial issue has been whether genetic engineering is ethical or not. In â€Å"The Person, the Soul, and Genetic Engineering,† JC Polkinghorne discusses about the moral status of the very early embryo and therapeutic cloning. J. H. Brooke’s article â€Å"Commentary on: The Person, the Soul, and Genetic Engineering† comments and state opinions that counter Polkinghorne’s article. On the other hand John Harris’s â€Å"â€Å"Goodbye Dolly?† The Ethics of Human Cloning† examinesRead MoreSale - Pro Plans Are 20% Off Today View Plans. Gradeproof1164 Words   |  5 PagesSentence Count: 28 Readability: 11.52 % Grade Level: 16.59 years Reading Time: 2 minutes Speaking Time: 4 minutes Type your title here... Genetic Engineering is a common theme of Gattaca, Splice, and Blade Runner. Gattaca takes place in a future where the best opportunities are given people that have the best genes, as a result from Genetic Engineering (cite). The main character Vincent has not been genetically engineered and has many health issues like Myopia (cite). He aspires to become an

Early America Essay Example For Students

Early America Essay Everyone always talks about the early America, how it started the thinking of people today. Throughout this report you will understand more about early America. People always say America is a land of beginnings, well after Europeans discovered America, the New World became peoples hope for a new life. They tried to escape from poverty and just to start over. So we know that America started with hope but does the American writers?In order for something to begin there needs to have experiences. So the writers looked back on American history. They even had to go as far as before Christopher Columbus, and even before the year 1000. At that time the Native Americans lived here. They each had a tribe and their writings were very personal to how they lived their life and how they knew of America. They also had to think about all their fears and even the excitement in life itself. Some of the people lived and died horrible lives so the ones that survived it told others all about it. Some unforgettable and some hard to even believe, but thats how the people of the early America lived. The New World had lots of experiences for the new writers to tell. Some of the new writers included John Smith; he only spent two in a half years in America. Jonathan Edwards, he thought that a revolution would create a world of literature. He was the first major writer to be educated and lived his whole life in the New World. When he was eleven he wrote science essays on insects. Then when he was thirteen we went to Yale for religious experience. He wrote Sinners in the Hands of an angry God and still is one of the most famous literary monuments to the great Awakenings The first book published in America was the Bay Psalm Book; it was a translation of the biblical psalms. Many of the puritans kept journals to help they with their relationship with god. The journals and diaries were usually meant to be private. But somehow they got out to the public. Even when it did get out to the public the puritans said that none of it had ever happened. They did not write to entertain the public they wrote for themselves, and for God. They wrote no fiction, and they didnt even want to read it. They didnt even write poems because they thought didnt like to violate the theater. Everything they wrote avoided Ornate Style, which is a complicated style of writing. They liked to write in Plain writing, which is to tell the facts as simply as possible. They did not think that writing was a way to show off how much you know or how clever you are, but a way to serve God and the community. William Bradford tells the story of them when we wrote of Plymouth Plantation. He even wrote it in the Plain Style. He is a gifted writer, he writes not only facts but also feelings. That back then didnt get approved much by the people of his days. When reading his work you feel his struggle, and his fears of the starving time. Times started to change. The southern colonies did not live like the pertains. They lived on plantations and didnt write plain style. They didnt even live that same way. They lived far away form each other. They were more into letters public reports, and the told details of their lives. They wrote about politics and put some excitement into how they wrote. William Byrd was a between the world being more widely and witty southerners and really didnt like the puritans.

Working conditions

Introduction Observing ethical standards is extremely fundamental in any working environment. They should be upheld in every business aspect such in determining the amount of wages, working conditions, and methods of firing and hiring workers. In an ethical point of view, every employee is entitled to a healthy, safe working environment and adequate remuneration (Garrett Klonoski, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working conditions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, any practice that disregards any of these ethical requirements is considered unethical. This document, therefore, is going to explicate an instance whereby workers are exposed at an extremely risky environment. The Most risky task in the company The most dangerous job is working with the ovens in the bakery. This is because employees are exposed to high temperatures, which can cause extremely serious injuries such as frequent burns. Ho wever, the employer of the company has taken adequate measures to contain the any undesired situation. He has trained employees on how to conduct their various tasks safely. The employer has also provided protective equipment such as gloves, boots, aprons, and headgear for employees to use while conducting their tasks. This ethical act is in accordance with the stipulated rights of employees. Employees or workers are entitled to work in a risk-free environment. The received protection is in accordance with the law, which insists that employees should work with protective equipment (Fernando, 2009). Moreover, they are entitled to walk out immediately they feel unsafe or in case of an impending danger. The bakery also has ventilation for free flow of air to moderate the existing temperatures. Despite the efforts of the employer, it is the also responsibility of the workers to be conscious while working, in order to avoid mistakes. Whether workers are adequately informed about the dang ers The employer takes training provision incredibly seriously and thus every employee of the company must be part of the process. The employer prioritizes safety before anything else. In addition, the company has adequate and safety procedures instilled in its policies. The employer has enough first aid kits installed in all working areas, to ensure that any emergencies are easily contained. All employees have an emergency plan and undergo drills from time to time. The drills and trainings confirm that worker fully understand the dangers in their work as well as the process of captaining any emergencies. Ultimately, the working areas are properly marked with warning signs to show areas that may pose a danger to the employee (Griseri Seppala, 2010).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Whether the danger is reasonable The company has a risk assessment program run by a qualified health officer. It helps to identify areas that pose a danger to the employees, as well as the company as a whole. This program helps in preventing the occurrence of accidents due to fault of machines or health hazards. Therefore, I believe that the employees are exposed to limited and reasonable dangers. However, some risks are inevitable the best one can do is to control them using various measures (Sage PUBNS, 2011). For instance, the ovens in the bakery undergo frequent check up and service to prevent any accidents that may occur. Conclusion It is fundamental for every employer to uphold at most ethical standards within their organizations. This is because some tasks in companies are extremely risky thus the need for protecting employees. An example of such risky task is working with ovens in bakery. Employees who perform such tasks should be adequately informed on how to avoid or contain dangerous situations or emergencies. Moreover, employees should only be exposed to limited or reasonable dangers. References Fernando, C. (2009). Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective. New Delhi, ND: Pearson Education India. Garrett, T. Klonoski, J. (2008). Business Ethics. New Jersey, NJ: Prentice-Hall. Griseri, P. Seppala, N. (2010). Business Ethics. Ohio, OH: Cengage Learning EMEA. Sage PUBNS. (2011). SAGE Brief Guide to Business. California, CA: Sage Publications.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Working conditions specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This essay on Working conditions was written and submitted by user Osvaldo Navarro to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

McDonalds SWOT Analysis Essays

McDonalds SWOT Analysis Essays McDonalds SWOT Analysis Essay McDonalds SWOT Analysis Essay McDonalds (NYSE: MCD ) has been outperforming the market this year and recently set a new all-time high. A SWOT analysis – a look at strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – can help assess whether the fast food giant can keep the growth on a high-calorie diet. Strengths: McDonalds has successfully rolled out new items like coffees, smoothies, and Angus burgers, expanding the range of menu choices. With a strong product offering, the company has grown income throughout the recession, notching strong increases in same-store sales. Operations are spread around the world, meaning the company is not exposed to just once currency or economy. Even trading near its highs, McDonalds serves up sizzling dividend yields that top the 10-year Treasury. The yield comes with a side order of annual dividend hikes dating back to 1976. The annual dividend payment has gone from 55 cents per share in 2005 to $2.20 this year. Weaknesses: It will be harder and harder to find prime locations to build a set of golden arches. The U.S. is saturated with its restaurants, so growth will have to occur internationally, posing potential cultural challenges. While the annual dividend hikes are likely to continue, the dividend growth rate has been slowing and will probably continue to slow or level off. Opportunities: There are opportunities for new restaurants outside the United States, and McDonalds has been taking advantage of them. China is a great opportunity for the company, as is much of Asia. Menu innovations are limited only by imagination. Low interest rates provide cheap capital for growth. In addition to dollar-denominated debt, McDonalds recently became the first foreign company to issue yuan-denominated bonds in Hong Kong. Threats: Governments are considering regulations targeting fast food. McDonalds faces competition from strong peers such as recent 11 OClock Stock pick Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM ) and Burger King (NYSE: BKC ) . New product rollouts often have to go head-to-head with established players like Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX ) coffee or Jamba (Nasdaq: JMBA ) smoothies. Commodity price increases could increase costs while a weak economy limits the ability to pass the price hikes through to consumers. Summary McDonalds is still attractive and deserves to be considered as a core holding for income-oriented investors, as my Foolish colleague Jim Royal argues. P/E ratios are in line with fast-food competitors, and the company is performing at or near the top of its industry. McDonalds has earned its new highs and is likely to set a few more in the coming months. Plus, the company has a massive $9 billion stock buyback ongoing.

Does Welfare Reform in New York City Work Essay

Does Welfare Reform in New York City Work - Essay Example It stretched from accommodating few natives to a large influx of immigrants from Latin America and other parts of the world. The city had not come up with a long term strategy to include all these new members. So the welfare system was overburdened and after some years (forty years), it started becoming inefficient. In the nineties, employees working for the welfare system in the City felt unsafe and started reinforcing their offices to protect themselves. Clients on welfare had to waste most of their day waiting for welfare workers who could not even deliver upon meeting the clients. Client files started getting lost; welfare workers did not complete cases and kept jumping from client to client so there was no case of continuity. This made most clients angry and they vented out their frustrations on social workers forcing security guards to intervene. This meant that people on welfare could not make time for other productive activities because they spent most of their time trying to chase for benefits and looking for child care. 'Mass confusion' are the perhaps the most appropriate words to use when describing the city's welfare prior to 1995. The New York welfare system underwent a rapid change between 1995 and 2001 or we could say that reforms were introduced. These reforms occurred during Rudolph Giuliani's term as New York mayor. Some of the changes that the welfare system saw were the decline in number of people on welfare; from one point one million to about six hundred. The welfare system's method of approach also changed. Instead of giving checks to clients, they were given jobs; it became employment based instead of issuing handouts. However, there is another side to this reform. Jobs were not just dished out from all directions. Welfare clients had to prove that they were compliant. This implied that the so called 'difficult clients' were not considered this included drug addicts and the like. Besides, this there were problems in system management and all these will be looked at in the subsequent sections in detail. Welfare reforms were not 'the knight on a white horse' for the residents of the City of New York. (Mead, 1992) 2.0 Literature review There are a number of changes that were observed during Giuliani's regime. There is no doubt that the general approach was work oriented. From the 1995 to 1999, most of the policies imposed sanctions and mainly dealt with work requirements. Clients were required to meet a certain criteria and if they were did not comply, then they were met by sanctions. During this time, New York saw the rejection of about a large number of adults. Cases of sanctioning increased from eight percent to fourteen percent. Besides these, the system was characterized by compulsory workfare jobs. This implied that there were a number of adults that were involved in work experience program jobs. These were more of assignments than actual jobs. However in the last years of Giuliani's regime (99-01) emphasis on workfare started diminishing and some emphasis was now being placed on training for jobs. This involved the three plus two model. Welfare adults were required to attend three days of workfare and they were also supposed to dedicate the remaining two days of the week to a training program such as education or job readiness service. There were also a number of programs that focused on special groups.

BMWs Launch of its Mini Brand in US Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

BMWs Launch of its Mini Brand in US - Case Study Example The company hosts three important brands as part of its production, they being BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Since the inception of its brands in the global market the company has always focused on one most important thing i.e. none other than providing sheer driving pleasure to its customers. BMW's MINI - The MINI brand of the BMW is a wonderful creation of the company which wins many hearts and turns many heads. This brand of the company is something extraordinary and also refreshingly different. The brand was basically targeted at the younger generation and the brand undoubtedly became a cult brand in the market within very few days of its launch in the market. Since its launch in the market, the brand has lost none of its youthful charm. MINI is part of a lifestyle that is cosmopolitan and confident, ready for everythingiii. The global automobile industry is the industry and area of commerce in which automobile models are planned, designed, manufactured, and marketed. The automobile industry is concerned with profits and competition; with consumer demands for styling, safety, and efficiency; and with labor relations and manufacturing efficiency. From the 1970s the automotive industry has been dominated by the United States, Western Europe and Japan, three geographical areas known collectively as the Triad. Such domination served to intensify the degree of competition that already existed as firms sought to achieve a global presence in markets that were becoming increasingly fragmented as consumer tastes diversified. From its inception until 1978, the U.S. automotive industry showed a steady expansion, with the exception of the years during World War II when its plants were converted to the production of war materials. In 1978, motor vehicle production reached an all-time high of 12.9 million units, including about 9.2 million cars; since then production has fluctuated. In the early 1980s the industry was in a recession, producing fewer cars in 1982 than in any year since 1958. From 1990 to 1992 the industry experienced another recession. In 1996, U.S. motor vehicle production totaled 11.8 million, including 6.1 million cars and 5.7 million trucks; North American motor vehicle production, including all vehicles made by domestic and foreign companies in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, reached more than 15.4 million-8.2 million cars and 7.3 million trucks. In the mid-1990s, the U.S. auto industry showed signs of recoveryiv. To try to improve their global positions in terms of output and market share almost all of the major firms in the industry embarked on a period of consolidation in the 1980s and continued this in the 1990s. Ford acquired Aston Martin, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo. Volkswagen gained Skoda and Seat. General Motors took major interests Saab, Suzuki, Isuzu and Daewoo. Finally, Renault merged with Nissan, Dacia and Samsung. The most salient point arising for the purposes of this paper is the firms which bought firms in economies where they had little previous presence as part of their strategy of going global. Essentially then DaimlerChrysler was