Absolutism is a form of government where one person or small group of people have unlimited power. The term "czar" means "caesar" ("king"), and therefore can be considered a type of absolute ruler. Ivan the Great of Russia (r.1462-1505) took the title of "czar" after marrying the niece of the last Byzantine empire. After the fall of Constantinople (and thus, the Byzantine Empire), Moscow became the most powerful city in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Thus, the "czar" of Russia would from then on claim to be the inheritor of the Byzantine emperor and protector of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Two rulers of Russia stand out as being "absolute rulers": Peter the Great (r.1682-1725) and Catherine the Great (r.1762-1796). Peter wanted to make Russia into a modern nation, and forced Russians to adopt European culture. To do this, Peter created a new class of nobles that were given land in exchange for their loyalty to the government. Nobles were given total control over their peasants, who saw their freedom decrease during Peter's rule. To reform the government, Peter created a centralized bureaucracy of non-elected advisers and local governments were placed under the direct control of the czar. Peter also brought the Orthodox Church under his authority and created a council of bishops appointed by him. While many of Peter's policies improved the Russian economy, he divided the Russian people. (See image: Courtesy of saint-petersburg.com)
Catherine the Great began her rule by seizing power from her own husband! Catherine greatly admired Peter I and continued to expand and modernize Russia. Many people consider Catherine's reign a golden age of Russia because she supported the arts, education, and culture. Despite being influenced by the European enlightenment, Catherine feared chaos and peasant uprisings were brutally crushed by her army. She allowed nobles to treat their serfs (peasants) however they wished. More peasants than ever were forced into serfdom than ever before, and their position worsened.
The first noble truth
Suffering (Dukkha):Suffering comes in many forms. Three obvious kinds of suffering correspond to the first three sights the Buddha saw on his first journey outside his palace: old age, sickness and death.But according to the Buddha, the problem of suffering goes much deeper. Life is not ideal: it frequently fails to live up to our expectations.Human beings are subject to desires and cravings, but even when we are able to satisfy these desires, the satisfaction is only temporary. Pleasure does not last; or if it does, it becomes monotonous.Even when we are not suffering from outward causes like illness or bereavement, we are unfulfilled, unsatisfied. This is the truth of suffering.Some people who encounter this teaching may find it pessimistic. Buddhists find it neither optimistic nor pessimistic, but realistic. Fortunately the Buddha's teachings do not end with suffering; rather, they go on to tell us what we can do about it and how to end it.
The Second Noble Truth
Origin of suffering (Samudāya):Our day-to-day troubles may seem to have easily identifiable causes: thirst, pain from an injury, sadness from the loss of a loved one. In the second of his Noble Truths, though, the Buddha claimed to have found the cause of all suffering - and it is much more deeply rooted than our immediate worries.The Buddha taught that the root of all suffering is desire, tanhā. This comes in three forms, which he described as the Three Roots of Evil, or the Three Fires, or the Three Poisons.A bird, a snake and a pig shown rushing around in a circle, each holding the tail of the next in its mouth. The Three Fires of hate, greed and ignorance, shown in a circle, each reinforcing the others. Photo: Falk Kienas ©
The three roots of evil
These are the three ultimate causes of suffering:
A.Greed and desire, represented in art by a rooster
B.Ignorance or delusion, represented by a pig
C.Hatred and destructive urges, represented by a snake
The Third Noble Truth
Cessation of suffering (Nirodha):The Buddha taught that the way to extinguish desire, which causes suffering, is to liberate oneself from attachment.This is the third Noble Truth - the possibility of liberation.The Buddha was a living example that this is possible in a human lifetime.
Nirvana:Nirvana means extinguishing. Attaining nirvana - reaching enlightenment - means extinguishing the three fires of greed, delusion and hatred.Someone who reaches nirvana does not immediately disappear to a heavenly realm. Nirvana is better understood as a state of mind that humans can reach. It is a state of profound spiritual joy, without negative emotions and fears.Someone who has attained enlightenment is filled with compassion for all living things.After death an enlightened person is liberated from the cycle of rebirth, but Buddhism gives no definite answers as to what happens next.The Buddha discouraged his followers from asking too many questions about nirvana. He wanted them to concentrate on the task at hand, which was freeing themselves from the cycle of suffering. Asking questions is like quibbling with the doctor who is trying to save your life.
The Fourth Noble Truth
Path to the cessation of suffering (Magga):The final Noble Truth is the Buddha's prescription for the end of suffering. This is a set of principles called the Eightfold Path.
The Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Way: it avoids both indulgence and severe asceticism, neither of which the Buddha had found helpful in his search for enlightenment.
1.Right Understanding - Sammā ditthi
Accepting Buddhist teachings. (The Buddha never intended his followers to believe his teachings blindly, but to practise them and judge for themselves whether they were true.)
2.Right Intention - Sammā san̄kappa
A commitment to cultivate the right attitudes.
3.Right Speech - Sammā vācā
Speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech.
4.Right Action - Sammā kammanta
Behaving peacefully and harmoniously; refraining from stealing, killing and overindulgence in sensual pleasure.
4.Right Livelihood - Sammā ājīva
Avoiding making a living in ways that cause harm, such as exploiting people or killing animals, or trading in intoxicants or weapons.
6.Right Effort - Sammā vāyāma
Cultivating positive states of mind; freeing oneself from evil and unwholesome states and preventing them arising in future.
7.Right Mindfulness - Sammā sati
Developing awareness of the body, sensations, feelings and states of mind.
8.Right Concentration - Sammā samādhi
Developing the mental focus necessary for this awareness.
The eight stages can be grouped into Wisdom (right understanding and intention), Ethical Conduct (right speech, action and livelihood) and Meditation (right effort, mindfulness and concentration).
The Buddha described the Eightfold Path as a means to enlightenment, like a raft for crossing a river. Once one has reached the opposite shore, one no longer needs the raft and can leave it behind.
The statement that best describes Georgia's first government as a royal colony is A. The government had a bicameral legislature representing Georgia's eight parishes
The idea of states' rights had a big role in the Civil War. States struggled to agree on whether or not the federal government could interfere with slave trade and abolishment.
Some states wanted stronger individual states' rights so they could keep slaves, while others believed the government should step in and forbid slavery.
No problem.
:D
Answer: When did Lincoln die
Explanation:
Lincoln died April 15,1865 he was assassinated
