Roman Games and their Role in Ancient Rome Research Paper

Roman Games and their Role in Ancient Rome - Research Paper Example While the different types of games including horse racing, gladiatorial combat and so on, all emerged from different origins, each had two important functions: to provide entertainment and titillation to the population, keeping them happy to be part of the Pax Romana and establishing aspects of Roman culture and rule across the breadth of the giant Empire, and as a commercial venture for those involved. There were two major types of games held during the Roman era: chariot racing and gladiatorial combat. Both were immensely popular, but chariot racing was one somewhat more common than gladiatorial games (Romano 387), partly because of the cost of the gladiatorial games, which could often end with an incredibly expensive and well trained slave being wounded or even killed. It is estimated that at their height, there were twenty-four races a day on sixty-six days of the year, meaning that races were relatively common but still rare enough to be of great entertainment value (Bennet 42). Chariot races would consist of several competitors racing in an oval around central pier in a building called a circus or, after the Greek fashion, a hippodrome. Roman chariot racing evolved from the Greek practice, which had been ongoing for centuries, with a recorded history dating back to the first Panhellenic games (Levick 117). Though the Roman one was probably adapted from the Etruscan adaption of Greek racing, it was also probably directly influenced by the Greek practice (Matz 33). While the evolution of Roman chariot racing evolved slowly over many centuries, and has distinctive origins that are somewhat difficult to trace, the origins of gladiatorial games, which involved two slaves fighting each other for public entertainment, are a bit clearer. It seems that it was an Etruscan religious practice amongst the wealthiest people in society to hold funerary games to send off the dead: perhaps to give them a companion to accompany them to the underworld (Minowa 89). These the n began to be a part of traditional religious practices during the Roman ludi (games), which were massive week long festivals that would also include dramatic performances, religious festivities honoring Jupiter, music, and other activities (including chariot racing) (Plecket 160). Gladiatorial combats were also held by various wealthy and/or powerful Romans (people were rarely one without being the other) for various reasons, including celebrating an event like a military victory, ascension to a position and so on (Tataki 369). While the origins of both chariot racing and gladiatorial games are somewhat obscure and debated, their role in Roman society is relatively clear. The Roman state, and the people who ran it, saw games as part of their patrician obligation to their populace (Boatwright 190). They would keep the population happy and entertained as well as thankful to the Roman state. This was true of games that were held as a part of ludi, which also had religious significance , as well as one-off games that were often more explicitly designed for entertainment. Furthermore, amphitheaters and circi were often installed in smaller cities in Roman provinces, making their connection with the Roman state strong and centralizing the importance of Roman culture that might be quite distant from its centre, Rome (Carter 300). This all plays a central part of the Roman character, the idea

Consequences for domestic oil & gas companies resulting from the Research Paper

Consequences for domestic oil & gas companies resulting from the recent crash in oil prices - Research Paper Example According to Baker Hughes, there was a reduction of energy industry oil rigs by 16 rigs in the week ending December 23, 2014 with 26 more rigs reduced in the week ending January 2, 20153. The decline in the rig count is evidenced by the chart below. The other impact on the US oil and gas companies is a reduction in drilling of new wells with a fall of 40% in issuance of new permits for oil production in the United States in November in response to fall in oil prices. Hemerich & Payne, an energy exploration and production company based in Tulsa, reduced its oil rigs by 50 in January in response to the low oil prices after a previously reducing its oil rigs by 11 rigs. The other impact of the declined oil prices on US oil and gas companies is a reduction in share prices. US shale producer’s shares fell by 8.4% on January 5, 2015. The fall in oil prices resulted in the fall of share value of Continentals resources by 12%4. Transocean’s shares declined by 7% making it a 65% fall in stock for the company within the last one year5. Rigs witnessing low production have also been shut to allow the company’s to concentrate on more productive rigs. The fall in oil prices also resulted in the layoff of workers in the oil and gas sector. Schlumberger (SLB) stated low oil prices and few wells being drilled as reasons for dismissal of 9,000 workers6. A total of 53,041 jobs were lost in January in the United States with 40% of the job cuts being directed related to the fall in oil prices7. Of the 53,041 jobs lost, a high percentage was lost from the energy sector with 21,322 jobs attributed to oil price cut. Halliburton and ConocoPhilips announced 0.42% (1000 workers) and 0.75% job cuts in January respectively, because of the reduced prices of oil. In Texas, 19, 833 people lost their jobs with the main reason being the fall in oil prices while Baker Hughes reduced its workforce by 7,000 workers. The fall in oil prices has also affected economies that were booming