Modern World History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Modern World History - Essay Example Explorer Christopher Columbus discovered the western hemisphere and established the foundations for the modern global economy. The voyages of Columbus that led European Conquistadors to the western hemisphere, the Middle East, and other regions were referred to as the Columbian exchange. Discovery of the Americas was the first step in a process that led to the spread of civilization throughout the world and expanded global trade network. The Columbian exchange involved a series of population movements including the spread of nomadic peoples across Central Asia. Following the death of the prophet Muhammad, Islam also spread outside the Middle East.Opening up of the Americas was beneficial in that there was the introduction of the horse, the cow and various grains that increased food production in the Americas. The cultivation of potato, corn, and manioc can all be traced back to the Western hemisphere. The Columbian exchange led to increased economic well-being of the Americas.The Col umbian exchange also had negative consequences associated with it. Some observers were of the view that it led to harsh colonial exploitation and the spread of virulent diseases that devastated local populations. The Spanish economy was distorted because vast amounts of gold and silver were imported leading to price revolution. Whatever shortcomings that were associated with the Columbian exchange, it is undeniable that it was beneficial to the world since it heralded modernization.

A critical evaluation of affordable housing policy for the first time Essay

A critical evaluation of affordable housing policy for the first time buyer in leeds city centre - Essay Example staining a dualism in the housing market where renting, in its different guises, is relegated to a marginal position and tenants, unlike owners, are arguably cast as second-class citizens. However, past and recent research (e.g. Bramley & Watkins,P.23, 2004; Maclennan et al., P.104, 2002; Radley, P.45, 2004) has suggested that there are severe limits to the proportion of housing needs which can be realistically satisfied through owner occupation (even including low cost sales and Right to Buy). Action is therefore needed to provide greater term choice through the provision of more private and, especially, social rented housing to meet the needs of those unable to become homeowners. The British land-use planning process has changed very little since its constitutional beginning in the 1940s. Planning is primarily restricted to considering land-use issues through the management and coordination of policy at various levels of administration by a variety of agencies and actors. Implied to the operation of the land-use planning system is a national coordinating level, where the social, economic and environmental needs of spatial areas can be addressed in an integrated way. Although this suggests that planning can only be operated effectively when land-use issues are considered strategically (Bruton and Nicholson, P. 21-40, 2004; Rowan-Robinson et al., P, 369-381, 2004; Breheny, P. 233-249, 2002), the provision of a national element of strategic coordination by the central state is an essential ingredient in physical development. As Diamond (P18-25, 2004) has remarked, strategic planning sets out a frame of reference for the organisation of planning at the lower tie rs of administration. The planning process is managed and implemented by national and local tiers of government and is hierarchical in policy framework (Tewdwr-Jones, P. 584-593, 2005). Although there has never been a national physical plan in England, central government has always provided a clear approach