The Pasts' Best Hopes

     The process of living is filled with change. Nothing remains the same, but all change is faced by opposition. Nature resists reconstruction of its surfaces, and in direct opposition to this reluctant transformation, humans constantly carve out, reshape, and innovate while striving to live the best possible life.
     Anthropological accomplishments pass on through history to motivate, inspire, and stand as a testament to the strength of humanity. These innovators of stable, prosperous, and painful change revolutionized their worlds and served to shape the world today both through their decisions as well as the inspiration of their legacies.
     The establishment of an empire is much easier than its consolidation and maintenance. Many ancient empires failed to live on past the second or third generation from the founder. Hammurabi understood the importance of governance in an empire and established the first known written law code. Even today his face decorates many courts because of his recognition that justice is instrumental to the foundation of any government.
     Russia is a geographically large nation, but being outside of the cultural centers of Western Europe and China, she has often struggled to stay with the leading technological edge despite her massive resources. Csar Peter the Great began the modernization of Russia's vast lands in the early eighteenth century. No man can live forever, and after his death, Russia began to slip from its perch near the forefront of the world. The modernization craze did not become recognizably complete until Stalin's efforts from the 1930s-1950s when he transformed the military and industry of a large but poor population into one of the greatest powerhouses in the world.

     Meji the Great transformed the Empire of Japan from a samurai ruled and agriculturally dependent island into the steel war machine that controlled Asia and dominated the Pacific by the mid-twentieth century after only a few decades of dramatic change. The industrial revolution sacrificed traditional Japanese culture in order to maintain self-governance, and with the incredible speed of this transformation, Meji saw Japan succeed in that goal.
     Frederick the Great established the Prussian military's high standards of performance, capable nobles, and cultural fluency. He sowed the seeds of union as Prussian lands, once scattered and unconnected, became a cohesive kingdom that called the German peoples to unite once again into a single, great nation.
     Otto von Bismarck used his talents in political maneuverings and Moltke's military organization to defeat several nations, promote economic growth, and consolidate centuries-divided kingdoms into a powerful Germany.
     Alfred the Great defended his English kingdom against the Vikings, Saladin staved off the Christian invaders of Jerusalem, Thutmose III expanded Egypt's boundaries to previously inconceivable extents, and Napoleon began the modern European age of nationalism, total war, and propaganda-fueled domestic support. Throughout time and place, great challenges have revealed the greatest of man's potential. Nothing stays stable, nothing is permanent, and nothing lasts forever, but as long as mankind is able to push forward, reach farther, and never surrender, he shall persist, thrive, and inspire.


  __    
Agatha Tyche