Ford Company Management

Introduction The Ford Company is an American-based automaker. The company’s headquarters is located in Michigan. The company was started by Henry Ford and was incorporated later, in 1903. The company trades its commercial vehicles ad automobiles under the Ford brand. The company trades its luxury cars under the name Lincoln (Reuters, 2013). The company also produces tractors, heavy trucks, and automobile parts.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ford Company Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The Ford Company controls some stake in the Japanese company Mazda and the UK Company Aston Martin. The company is listed on the NYSE and is managed by the Ford family (Reuters, 2013). The Ford Company introduced models of large scale car manufactory, and the large scale management of productive resources, based on elaborately designed manufactory sequences. The sequences are characterized by moving assembly mod els. During the 1914, these sequential models were globally known as Fordism (Reuters, 2013). Brief History of the Company Ford Motor Company was launched in 1903, starting with a capital base of USD 28,000 contributed by twelve depositors. In the early years, the company produced only a few cars daily, using the parts supplied by contracted suppliers (Bryant.edu, n.d). A decade later, the company developed the refined assembly model concept. In 1908, the company introduced a revolutionary engine, the Model, which had removable cylinder heads. In 1930, the company introduced a safer car with a windshield. Later in 1932, it launched a low-cost V8 powered car (Bryant.edu, n.d). During the 1950s, the company introduced more safety specifications, including childproof door locks. During the 1980s, the company introduced successful vehicles into the market. In 1990 and 1994 the company acquired Jaguar and Aston Martin, respectively (Ford Foundation, 2013). In 2005, the company developed survival strategies, including downsizing, dropping some models, closing 14 production outlets, and reducing employee count by 30,000. These strategies were meant to get the company out of the slowdown (Bryant.edu, n.d). The company continued to introduce new brands. In 2009, the company sold Landover and Jaguar to Tata motors. In 2009, the company reported losses of $ 14.6 billion, depicting a challenge to profitability. How Ford Motor Company Applied Goods, Services and Operations Management Since the 1920s, the operations of Ford motors are embodied in a number of scientific management elements. These include standardized product designs, mass production, mechanized assembly lines, low manufacturing costs, interchangeable parts and the specialization of labor. Through the standardization of product designs, the designing of vehicles is done in ways that are accepted. These include the use of uniform procedures, materials and dimensions. For example, during the early years, 1903 a nd ahead, the company produced their cars using inputs collected from the contracted suppliers (Bryant.edu, n.d). Through the outscoring and the production of standardized vehicles, the company was able to develop strong product platforms, lower supply chain expenses, and design their products faster.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through mass production, the company produces cars in high numbers, which they supply to the market. For example, after its launch in 1903, the company produced a few cars daily, at its plant on Mack Avenue, Detroit (Bryant.edu, n.d). Through the mechanized assembly lines, Ford Company was able to develop the vertical integration that seemed to work well for their vehicle production. The company realized the reduction of manufacturing costs, through reducing the labor force, for example, during the 2005 proposal to reduce their employee count by 30,000 (Maynard, 2006). Through the use of interchangeable parts outsourced from the contracted producers, the company ensured that production did not delay due to the limitations of supply chain management. Through labor specialization, the Ford Company, since its start has been able to manage its human resources, ensuring that the workforce is optimally utilized. For example, after the 1903 launch, a group of two or three workers would work on the assembly of one car everyday (Bryant.edu, n.d). Management of Value Chains The supply chain profile of Ford Motor Company is characterized by different products, suppliers and locations that contribute to the manufactory of vehicles. These include more than 60 countries where suppliers are sourced, 38 emerging markets where suppliers are sourced, 17 emerging markets characterized by inferior working conditions, 70 Ford vehicle production centers, and more than 1300 supplier corporations (Ford Company, 2012). There are also 4,400 supplier production centers, more than 130,000 parts under production at any time, and more than 500 manufacture commodities to be administrated (Ford Company, 2012). The long value chain, which relies on thousands of input suppliers who deliver parts, materials and services used in the production of the end product, is characterized by a complex value chain. Many of the suppliers serve different automakers, and the suppliers also have numerous vehicle makers (Ford Company, 2012a). At Ford, there are approximately 6 to 10 supplier levels between the source of the raw materials and the ford company. Value chain management is administered by the company through a number of strategies. This includes building strong relationships with suppliers, developing shared capacity and commitment to uphold sustainability, and aligning the business structure (Ford Company, 2012a).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Ford Company Management specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More These three strategies are actualized through a number of actions, including developing a global, product development model that implements product plans, enhancing the re-usability, stability and the commonality of production processes, and increasing communication levels with suppliers. The Ford Company also allows the suppliers, contact with the company’s managers. It also fosters organizational stability in product development, manufactory and purchasing, including the improvement of order fulfillment, and engaging suppliers in discussions related to quality, process stability, and CSR (Ford Company, 2012a). Ford Motors’ Measure of Performance in Operations The Ford Company has identified key performance areas, where improvements in the performance of the company reflect a good or bad change in their operations (Ford Company, 2012b). These performance areas include financial health, water usage, climate change and environmental im pact, vehicle safety levels, supply chain management and its relations with different stakeholders. Under the area of financial health, effective operational performance is marked by increasing net income and revenue and sales levels, which should be accompanies by overall service and product satisfaction at the company operational points. In the area of climate change and environmental protection, improved operational performance is marked by a number of indicators (Ford Company, 2012b). The indicators include an increase in miles per gallon covered by Ford vehicles, among truck and car owners. The indicator implies increased fuel efficiency of the cars produced by the company towards protecting the strained fuel economy. A reduction in the CO2 footprint, in grams per mile, marks an improvement in the production operations of the company’s products (Ford Company, 2012b). In the area of water consumption, a reduction in the company’s water usage marks an improvement in their operational performance. Also, a reduction in the water used by ford vehicles, per cubic meters, marks an increase in the efficiency of the cars produced by the company, as well as a reduction of the impact caused to the environment. In the area of vehicle safety, the improvement of safety standards in Ford vehicles marks increase in operational performance (Ford Company, 2012b). A reduction in the number of recalled cars in a year indicates an improvement in production operations. Under supply chain management, employee training on chain management and working conditions standards marks an improvement in the performance of the company. Under stakeholder relationships, employee satisfaction, improvement in dealer attitude and the company’s corporate contribution show improvements in operational performance (Ford Company, 2012b).Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Ford Motors’ Operation Strategy Ford Motors is the only vehicle producing corporation implementing a global Powertrain approach. This global operational strategy started with the production of the Ford F-150, when the company developed networks of designing transmission models and engine models that can be changed with changes in market needs (MediaFord, 2013). The strategy is also aimed at increasing manufacturing efficiency and the quality of the vehicles produced by the company. The Powertrain manufacturing strategy is the most innovative approach since the deployment of the assembly line (MediaFord, 2013). Among the operations that characterize the new operational strategy is the deployment of medium-sized production, which is expected to yield about 325,000 vehicles annually. The approach will enable the company to improve its efficiency, respond to changing market needs, and improve the efficiency of the company (MediaFord, 2013). The strategy also entailed the developm ent of plant-floor layouts and manufactory equipment that are universally similar throughout the world. As a result, the strategy will reduce the costs of capital investment in the management and the redesigning of the different production plants. The strategy is aimed at improving cross shipping, which allows for the shipping of production inputs and components between different plants (MediaFord, 2013). As a result, the company will be able to ease the startup of different plants, as well as increase the rate of product delivery to target markets. The operational strategy is characterized by the standardization of production facilities, which is expected to reduce operating costs as well as improve the deployment of best practices. The strategy employs the use of computer-controlled machines, which are expected to increase the company’s adoption to changing customer demands and needs (MediaFord, 2013). Ford Motors Companies Forecasting and Demand Planning Style The demand f orecasting and planning style of Ford motors are adjusted according to the company’s evaluation of customer preferences and changing product needs. Ford’s demand planning style and forecasting are exemplified by the account of Healey (2012), which notes that Ford Motors is responding to the changing needs of customers. Healey (2012) noted that Americans are increasingly changing their preferences from automatic to stick transmissions. This is the change that has considerably shifted the demand planning of the company. From the report, the change of consumption patterns is based on the price preference on manual cars, as they come at $ 1,000 less than similar automatic transmission vehicles (Healey, 2012). The increased preference for manuals is based on the view that many drivers consider driving manual vehicles fun to drive compared to automatic transmission vehicles. Modern manual transmission cars are more user-friendly, and the drivers that used to drive a manual t ransmission cars are going back to them, which has shifted the demand for manual transmission cars. In response to the changing preferences, the forecasting and the demand planning of Ford has been continually changing, from time to time (Healey, 2012). An example is the case of the redesigned Ford focus, whose demand is rising towards 10 percent. According to the report by Paul Russel, the marketing manager in charge of the brand noted that the company had planned to offer between 4 and 4.5percent. However, due to the change in the demand for the manual transmission version, the company demand forecasts were increased to meet the 10 percent demand increase (Healey, 2012). For instance, during March 2012, Ford started offering stick transmission cars in many brands, including the high-end Titanium edition of the Ford Focus, despite earlier projections that Titanium buyers preferred only automatics. The new projections are incorporated into the planning for Dodge, Dart compact, which the company predicts will offer 20 percent in manual versions (Healey, 2012). Ford’s Management of Inventories Ford manages its inventory on the basis of the Just In Time (JIT) inventory control model. The strategy aims at cutting costs and eliminating waste, through reducing inventory levels (Ford, 2008). Through the strategy, the company ensures that they uphold the continuous improvement of their vehicles as well as eliminate any materials that are wasted due to inventory management. The wastes reduced through Ford’s JIT include those related to the usage of finished inventory and raw materials, as well as those related to stocking (Ford, 2008). The earliest usage of JIT at Ford was practiced by Henry Ford, as an effort towards managing production materials during the period between 1903 and 1920. Among the areas covered by the JIT inventory management model of Ford are order taking, operations, purchasing, sales, distribution, accounting, Sales, Human resources, d esigning, and other production areas. One of the major areas covered in the JIT model of Ford is ensuring that waste through surplus inventory is reduced (Ford, 2008). The model entails areas like eliminating unnecessary production stages, correcting defective working techniques, and reducing the idling time of company machines and plants. The JIT strategy of Ford entails the elimination of product defects, eliminating overproduction and ensuring that unnecessary transportation is not incurred by the company (Ford, 2008). References Bryant.edu. (n.d). HISTORY of Ford Motor Company. Retrieved from http://web.bryant.edu/~ehu/h364proj/fall_97/lushing/Ford.html Ford Company. (2012). Sustainability 2011/12: Supply chain profile. Retrieved from http://corporate.ford.com/microsites/sustainability-report-2011-12/supply-sustainable-profile Ford Company. (2012a). Sustainability 2011/12: Creating a Sustainable Supply Chain: Strong Relationships, Shared Commitment, and Capacity Building. Retrie ved from http://corporate.ford.com/microsites/sustainability-report-2011-12/supply-sustainable Ford Company. (2012b). Sustainability 2011/12: Performance Summary. Retrieved from http://corporate.ford.com/microsites/sustainability-report-2011-12/review-performance Ford Foundation. (2013). Ford Foundation: Overview. Retrieved from http://www.fordfoundation.org/about-us/history Ford. (2008). Sustainability Report 2007/8. Retrieved from http://www.ford.com/doc/sr07-ford-sustainability.pdf Healey, J. (2012). Stick shifts popular again, despite lower gas mileage. Retrieved from http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/stick-shift-manual-transmission-ford-focus-surprise-more-interest——-/1#.UTcJ5TdBwRQ Maynard, M. (2006 Jan 23). Ford to Cut Up to 30,000 Jobs and 14 Plants in Next 6 Years. The NewYork Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/automobiles/23cndford.html?ei=5090en=cf46b8ec2384929dex=1295672400adxnnl=1partner=rssuserlandemc=rssadx nnlx=1163187340-bR8cdDJ67iqlJbzzYR/lig_r=0 MediaFord. (2013). Global Manufacturing Strategy Gives Ford Competitive Advantage. Retrieved from http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=13633 Reuters. (2013). Profile: Ford Motor Co (F.N). Retrieved from http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=F.N This essay on Ford Company Management was written and submitted by user Raylan Oneil 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.

Free Essays on Fredrick Douglass

Slavery Effects on the American People By his own accounts, Federick Douglass was born into slavery sometime in 1818.(p170) During the twenty years Douglass would endure the wrath of slavery, he would withstand and observe many different trials and tribulation that ultimately lead him to write about his story. In his story, Douglass not only tells how slave owners treated and mentally abused their slaves, but he also reveals how slavery effected not only the slave but the slave owners as well. Per Douglass, the goal of the slave industry, as a whole, was to destroy the spirit of the slaves. The owners would treat the slaves as if they were a common farm animals. This form of mental abuse would help to ensure that the owners would have authority and control over their slaves. But this was probably not the most damaging form of mental abuse. By preventing the slaves from learning to read or gaining any other form of learning, the owner also hindered the slaves from having any mental leverage against slavery. Douglass believed that learning to read was â€Å"The Pathway from slavery to freedom(974).† To further their control they would separate the young slaves from their mother to hamper the baby from forming a bond with her. Douglass would only see his mother a few times before she died and when he was told of her death he said â€Å"I received †¦ her death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger(p971).â⠂¬  These abuses were just the beginning of a long line of atrocities that the slave owners subjected their slaves to. Another form of mental, and physical, abuse was the practice of sleeping with the slave women. As a result, the slave owner was often both master and father of the slave child. Consequently, these children would sometimes suffer more abuse from the mistress. In most cases the mistress would put so much pressure on these children and her husband, that he w... Free Essays on Fredrick Douglass Free Essays on Fredrick Douglass On July 5th 1852, Frederick Douglass gave his speech, â€Å"The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro,† to a group of white abolitionist women in Rochester, New York. It tells a story of the history of slavery, about the barbaric traditions of the American nation. The speech talks about the equality of slaves to the white people in terms of manhood, and in the eyes of god. This writing has deep meaning and also carries a sense of symbolism. Fredrick Douglass wrote this political document to send a word out to the whites and make them think. He wanted to show the whites how the black slaves feel, think, and the many things that were taken away from them, not only physically but also emotionally. Douglass’s goal and purpose for writing this document is the hope to completely abolish slavery. He is hoping to make the whites stop and think about how wrong it is and to unite with one another. This document shows that the blacks or just people in general strongly value freedom and society. They believe that we all should be treated as one. Over the years, history has repaired itself. Blacks did not have the same freedoms and the rights as the whites. Now a day, blacks and whites seem equal to each other. They have the same freedoms and rights.... Free Essays on Fredrick Douglass Slavery Effects on the American People By his own accounts, Federick Douglass was born into slavery sometime in 1818.(p170) During the twenty years Douglass would endure the wrath of slavery, he would withstand and observe many different trials and tribulation that ultimately lead him to write about his story. In his story, Douglass not only tells how slave owners treated and mentally abused their slaves, but he also reveals how slavery effected not only the slave but the slave owners as well. Per Douglass, the goal of the slave industry, as a whole, was to destroy the spirit of the slaves. The owners would treat the slaves as if they were a common farm animals. This form of mental abuse would help to ensure that the owners would have authority and control over their slaves. But this was probably not the most damaging form of mental abuse. By preventing the slaves from learning to read or gaining any other form of learning, the owner also hindered the slaves from having any mental leverage against slavery. Douglass believed that learning to read was â€Å"The Pathway from slavery to freedom(974).† To further their control they would separate the young slaves from their mother to hamper the baby from forming a bond with her. Douglass would only see his mother a few times before she died and when he was told of her death he said â€Å"I received †¦ her death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger(p971).â⠂¬  These abuses were just the beginning of a long line of atrocities that the slave owners subjected their slaves to. Another form of mental, and physical, abuse was the practice of sleeping with the slave women. As a result, the slave owner was often both master and father of the slave child. Consequently, these children would sometimes suffer more abuse from the mistress. In most cases the mistress would put so much pressure on these children and her husband, that he w... Free Essays on Fredrick Douglass Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1817, in Tuckahoe, Maryland. Because his slave mother, Harriet Bailey, used to call him her "little valentine," he adopted February 14th as his birthday, not knowing the exact date of his birth. He knew very little about his mother since she was employed as a field hand on a plantation some twelve miles away, and she died when he was eight or nine years old. Douglass knew even less about his father, but it was rumored that he was the son of his White slave master, Aaron Anthony. Young Frederick was grossly mistreated. To keep from starving, on many occasions, he competed with his master's dogs for table scraps and bones. In 1825, he was sent to serve as a houseboy in the home of Hugh and Sophia Auld in Baltimore. Mrs Auld grew fond of him and sought to teach him to read and write. By the time her irate husband discovered the deed and put a stop to it, Douglass had acquired enough of the rudiments to carry on by himself. His life in Baltimore was interrupted in 1832 at the death of Captain Anthony. Frederick was passed along to the possession of Thomas Auld, Anthony's son-in-law. The lessons he learned about the evils of slavery and his hatred of the institution was deepened during his stay with Thomas Auld. He infuriated the Auld's by his refusal to call his owner "Master" instead of "Captain." Determined to crush the spirit of young Frederick, Thomas Auld hired him out to Edward Covey, a slave breaker who worked and whipped him mercilessly. He endured the mistreatment until one day he could stand it no longer and fought back. Soon thereafter, Fred was again sent to Baltimore, where he met Anna Murray. His love for and encouragement from Anna, a free Black woman, heightened his quest to be a free man. On September 3, 1838, Douglas, dressed in a sailor's uniform and carrying identification papers provided by a free Black seaman, managed to reach New York City. There he met David Rug...

How Football Rules Should Be Improved Assignment

How Football Rules Should Be Improved - Assignment Example The fans enjoy the performance of such players as if their abilities and talents are tethered in their souls (Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Culture, Media, and Sports Committee 28). The overwhelming worldwide support accorded to the sport does not imply of its sense of perfection. Apparently, the fans remain principle victims of irregularities and flaws associated with the sport due to their passionate commitment. They are compelled to adhere to the misdeed due to their limited options of address. However, the sport still remains oriented to benefit from numerous opportunities of adjustment and perfection. Embracing few changes in some critical areas of concern may allow for the bettering of the sport, hence making it enjoyable for the fans. Additionally, the perception of the sport being global implies that its rules should be applied and interpreted with an absolute sense of consistency across all regions. As a global football governing body, FIFA needs to develop better policies towards the training of its referees. Such policies should aim at ensuring a sense of improvement in the officiating standards that are engaged in the sport. The game has grown from the ages of zero substitutions and disciplinary cards to the introduction of various rules, including the goal-line technology. Such allows a reflection on the versatility that may be embraced by the sport. However, the game is still in need of the embracing of various adjustments in its officiating. Therefore, suggestions aimed at making changes to the game range from scrapping the penalty shootout to sin bins. There are also suggestions to scrap the penalty shootout in the determination of the victorious team. It is of merit to acknowledge that not all not all the suggestions would be beneficial to the game. However, such should not limit the possibility of their consideration.

Stereotypes in Advertising Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Stereotypes in Advertising - Essay Example This paper shall now discuss stereotyping in advertising. It will first explain what stereotyping means; second, it will show two different examples of stereotyping (gender and age); and third, it will discuss the role of stereotyping in future advertising. Stereotyping is about sharing beliefs and values, based on personal qualities, personalities, behaviour, and traits distinct to a specific group of people (Gafencu-Bandiul, 2006). Stereotype was first used by Lippmann in 1922 in psychosociological applications where he evaluated images of the mind needed in order to sift through complicated and objective realities (Gafencu-Bandiul, 2006). At present, most researchers in psychology declare with the definition used on Leyens and colleagues (1994) who suggest implicit discussions on personality seen for specific groups of people. In terms of personalities, stereotyping relates to associated variables, mostly visual and unique, variables which assist cognitive functions. In the same vein, the direction of data from the environment supports these stereotypes (Gafencu and Bandiul, 2006). Expressing stereotypes is based on premises where behaviour is based. However, as pointed out by Cuddy and colleagues (2009) this often is not confined to behaviour alone, but on the way people express and support stereotypes within groups. Language used to describe what is observed may sometimes be different from the abstract concepts. Speech is sometimes applied to image, not so much on the written language; however stereotypes can also be manifested through written speech, film, sports, concerts, and advertisements where the stereotype would impact significantly on utterance (Gafencu and Bandiul, 2006). There are numerous gender stereotypes across the world. Due to globalization trends around the world, consideration unification of these stereotypes has been seen. Social trends like women’s emancipation, feminism, and the thirst for human rights have

Why some students cheats Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Why some students cheats - Essay Example Similarly, students who cheat on academic work do so because they feel the pressures of such an environment, and, lacking the means to pass the grade by their own skills and knowledge alone, they depend upon an unfair advantage to help them. Because of this, the rationale behind cheating is deeply embedded in human and animal nature, and the operations of the education system. The education system does not exist to â€Å"enlighten† its students. Ideally, however, it does offer students what they will need in life, and the opportunity to seek those goals. Post-secondary education institutions market their product instead by stressing class differences and distinctions between those who have a degree and those who do not. The requirements of a typical University often make personal success contingent upon one’s ability to conform to the expectations and needs of the department. It is the expectations of the college department which move students to try their hand at cheating. They do so in an effort to avoid falling behind and potentially losing their chance to move further into the course of study they found themselves on. This fear is based on economics and personal expectations (those of the student, his parents, and faculty). Ubiquitous access to the internet is often cited as the cause of a large volume of academic dishonesty. But although the internet is a necessary cause, it is not sufficient. While the internet has made cheating a more efficient process for students, it has not made irrelevant the more fundamental reasons for students to decide to cheat. The root cause of most cheating is, as I have already identified, unrealistic expectations on the part of parents, teachers, and faculty. These individuals provide the selection pressures on the cheater and make it such that if he or she does not cheat, he or she will be selected against and not allowed to move on. This cheating is seen as â€Å"natural† precisely because it is: all

The Hellenistic Period In Greek Religion

The Hellenistic Period In Greek Religion The Hellenistic period, (from 323 B.C. to 30 B.C) refers to the time between the passing away of Alexander the Great and the growth of the Roman Empire under Augustus. This term Hellenistic in many occasions was used to create a distinction from the classical Hellenic period that preceded it. At this time of the three hundred years, the Greek culture was highly dominant in both the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean. The Hellenistic religion particularly consisted of a variety of spiritual belief and practices of the people who existed at the time of the ancient influence of the Greek culture and the Roman Empire. Many years back, between 540 and 300BC during Alexanders Era, Greece exhibited unique characteristics in their architecture deigns, culture and tradition as well (Lockard 171). In the same period, Hellenistic age, Greek empire experienced the end of Alexanders era as Atigonus and Seleucustook over thus becoming the new rulers of the empire. However, these two leaders had their own specific territory to rule since Greece had been divided into several (three) parts (Martin 75). Greece, Macedonia and the near east constituted the three divided parts, which initially formed Greece previously ruled by the great Alexander. Antigonus controlled Greece and Macedonia, whereas, his counterpart, Seleucus, controlled the near east. These events had significant influence to Greeks economy, culture among other various aspects. However, our discussion will majorly concentrate on the culture of Greece during the historical period, Hellenistic age. During the period of Greek dominance, there existed a lifelong continuation of the Hellenistic religion. In essence, Greek gods and goddesses continued to be worshiped including the ancient rituals and practices that symbolized their spirituality. However, new religions from other nations and countries were adapted and brought change including the Egyptian gods such as Isis, the Syrian gods of Hadad and Atargatis provided a new dimension for those people in search of fulfillment in the present and afterlife. Despite the existence of these gods and goddesses, Hellenistic rulers were also commonly worshiped by people at this period. In Egypt for example, the ptolemies had taken up the worship of the pharaoh and established themselves everywhere as god kings. Some rulers even received the divine godly status in many parts of Greece (Mikalson 195). The socio economic and political turns that were occasioned due to Alexanders missions, the policies of his predecessors and wars brought massive changes to the religious cultures and traditions. The degree of these changes however, varied so much for Greeks living in the different cities and parts of the country. A good example was the Athenians who conventionally restored their old religious cults, festivals and a spiritual practice in the fifth century B.C.E. At the same period in Alexandria, there was a major contrast due to the clear heterogeneity of Greeks, Egyptians, the Jewish deities and the common religious practices in this multiethnic society (Mikalson 57). By design a the area had a mixed population of different cultures in the Greek world as all the residents and citizens of one city were never expected to worship in the same kind of sacrifices and festivals. As a result of religion bringing together these several nationalities to create a homogeneous city that is does not restrict religious policies of its rulers became possible. The changes attributed to Hellenistic Greek religion largely came from this religious multiculturalism in other metropolitan areas and Alexandria eventually affecting all other parts in Greek world. During the Hellenistic period the Greek religion had turned out to be a highly developed polytheism of a comprehensively anthropomorphic kind. The Greek gods were just merely male and females with normal human passions and sins but more powerful indeed but not so righteous than the people who worshiped them. The Greeks believed there was nothing lifeless about their gods, whether it is being portrayed by the chisel of the sculptors; to them they were warm, living and breathing human figures. However, there was no doubt in the moral quality in worship as it was regarded as a propitiation of risky tyrants. After the successful conquest of Alexander, the Greek culture spread like wild fire all over coming into closer contact with other civilizations in Egypt and the near East. Although the loss of independence of some Greek states to Macedonian rulers had a significant impact on their religion, the development of new philosophical systems never change their religion. There were instances of a decline in Hellenistic religion due to the discerning rise in atheism, skepticism and agnosticism and also an increase in superstitious beliefs, mysticism and astrology. The Greeks continued to worship the same gods giving similar sacrificial offerings, festivals and dedications as it was in the classical era. This period in the Hellenistic religion did not witness new religious practices as only minorities of Greeks were concerned with them (Fairbanks 121). Another key aspect of religion in the Hellenistic period was the institutions of cults that were dedicated to renowned rulers in the various Hellenistic Kingdoms. The initial cults were established under Alexanders rule whose power, stature and conquests had elevated him to a level the dictated special recognition. Many of his heirs extended his worship to the extent that in Egypt he was honored as god under Ptolemy Soter. Later on Ptolemys son declared his late father as god and went ahead to proclaiming himself as a living god and by doing so, made the Ptolemies adapted to earlier Egyptian concepts of worshiping Pharaoh. In some parts the practice varied since a ruler ended up receiving divine status and not full godly status. During 307 BCE in Athens, Demetrius and Monophthalmus were honored and respected as saviors for liberation of the city. As a result of these, alters were mounted and annual festival to mark the celebrations were founded including the introduction of the offic e the priest of the saviors. It was rare to find a temple being dedicated to rulers but in many occasions their statues were regularly erected in different temples and kings would end up being worshiped as sharing gods. Interestingly during the Hellenistic period the use of magic was evidently practiced as part of the religion of the time. Sanctuaries for witchcraft and oracular shrines were very popular including the use of charms and also incidences of casting cursing spells on others. Various symbols would be seen placed many house doors as a belief in bringing good luck or even prevent misfortunes for the occupants of the household (Fairbanks 234 ). Charms were designed and cut from precious stones and believed to carry protective power and sometimes were used to cast evil spells. There were also astrological beliefs that heavenly bodies like stars and planets had the capacity to influence a persons future, this arose commonly in Babylonia where it was specifically applied to a king or a nation. However, the Greeks in the Hellenistic age sophisticated this concept into an extremely complex system of Hellenistic astrology. During the Hellenistic era, worship generally consisted of sacrificial offerings of a number of domestic animals in holy alters that were accompanied by prayer and hymns. The worshipers would eat part of the sacrifice leaving the rest to be burnt for the purposes of appeasing the gods. The Greek authority extended into the field of religion as during the early times the ancient roman gods in most occasions were recognized with Greek gods. In addition, there were alternatives to religion that were presented in the Hellenistic philosophy the most common system being stoicism. This religious philosophical concept taught the beliefs about life as to live in accordance with the rational order which was believed to rule the entire universe (De Gruyter 207). It further explains that people must accept their fate in accordance to the divine will. There was also an extensive mythology in the Hellenistic Greek religion that consisted of a lot of stories about gods and goddesses and how they af fect the life of earthy beings especially humans. Even though many of the myths revolved around heroic actions most of them were recognized as part of religion in all times.

Essay --

Day 2: Start the day off by visiting one of the 7 wonders of the Modern World. The great city, Chichen Itza, located in deep jungle of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, flourished between the 9th and 13th centuries A.D. It was also a sophisticated urban center and center of regional trade. The Mayans emerged around 3,000 years ago in present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. According to a Mayan source, a man named K’uk’ulkan, which means feathered serpent, come from the west and establish a capital at Chichen Itza. It is unknown if this story refers to the Toltec groups or the Itza groups, or if it just a myth. During 550 to 800 AD, the main purpose of the city was to make human sacrifices and magical ceremonies. Itzamnà ¡, the supreme God, was the most important deity; he was the creator god, the god of fire, and the god of the hearth. Other significant Gods included Chac, a hooked-nose god of rain and lightning, and Kukulcà ¡n, the Feathered Serpent, who resembles the man who established the city, K’uk’ulkan. These Gods appear on many temples and were later adopted by the Toltecs and Aztecs as Quetzalcoatl. The Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo, is considered the most famous monument in the city; a unique feature of the pyramid is that it represents today’s modern calendar. A 16th-century Spanish bishop, Diego de Landa, named this pyramid after the legendary ruler of the city and the ancient snake deity. The accuracy of Mayan astronomy influenced the number of steps the temple has. In addition to space observations, the Maya used their mathematical knowledge to create a monument that has 91 steps on each side and a total of 365 steps, the same number of days in a year. The Mayans wanted to create monuments to observe and ... ...eas. The primary attraction of the town is the Ollantaytambo Fortress, located on the edge of the settlement in a section known as the Temple Hill. A monument close from the fortress is the Wall of the Six Monoliths, a towering section of wall composed of six large sections. Archaeologists believe that the construction of the wall was abandoned before its completion and the reasons are remain unknown. Some might believe that the Spaniards swiped the Incas out of the region. A nature megalithic structure near Lake Titicaca is Aramu Muru. Legends say that Viracocha first created life on Earth at Lake Titicaca, on the borders of Peru and Bolivia. In the center of the lake, the Island of Sun stands; in the island, there’s a sacred temple and unknown burial towers called chulpas in Sillustani; these towers were plated with gold and holds the remains of the Inca royalty.