Saturday 29 October 2016

Modern technology and culture change

Examine the influence of modern technology in culture change
With BRIAN MAREGEDZE (2016)
The influence of technology in culture change in my society has come with its own positive and negative attributes. Culture  is defined as a social domain that emphasise the practices ,discourse and material expressions, which , overtime express the continuities and discontinuities of social way of a life held in common. However, technology has changed all the sectors of people’s lives in politics, economic, religion and all sets of customs and norms. Technology has influenced even the way people think, behave, dress, and many other things as to be examined below.
Culture is a complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, moral, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a number of societies. Todays’ modern technology have changed the traditional people‘s culture across the globe. For instance D.Terrence (1977) points out that the inventions of the twentieth century such as electricity, steel building and infrastructural development have changed the societies of Europe and America. In as much as one appreciates technology, S.Turkle (2012) points out that technology is a blessing and a curse at the same time towards cultural change.
Furthermore, technology also led to globalization of culture and cultural diffusion. In this present law, the western culture seems to dominate other cultures due to their influence and exposure in technology .the technology has changed the way people conduct their businesses, communicate and interact. According to J.D Jackson (2011) he remarked that technology has made people familiarize with other areas they had never been to and also do business with people of different parts of the world without necessarily traveling to their offices. In this regard, the culture of travelling have been reduced, through to a certain extent hence been also improved.
Moreover, technology can produce changes within a society by attiring social dynamics and promoting new cultural models and spurring or enabling generative actions. Technology, in terms of cultural communication have created quiet people .E Griffen (2012) postulates that as we expect less from each other.in other words ,people started to have the culture of sending messages to each other electronically without discussing important issues seeing each other.
Developing, further the essence of human level of communication have been lost, where discussions are open up where feelings, thoughts are exposed to be shared and probed but online communication do not do that. In this regard, technology does not fully experience the culture of disappointment, failure or celebration. This means that technology have derailed our culture to some degree. However, technology gives a culture of comfort and control of course where people are lonely, having friends without companionship.
Moreover, technology has changed the culture of thinking in a society. Societies started to despise each other in terms of advancement in technology and those who are not skilled in technology have become victims and often seen as inferior in the society. According to C.Gitelman (2008) he stresses that publics are compromise d as user, but not all users are entitled  or constitutive members of the public sphere. This shows how skills differ in ability of use of technology also changes the culture of general human conduct and often, it has led to isolation. This often do not  allow the time to think or listen to each other with constant sensory stimulus of texts, tweets, Facebook updates, emails and more.
Moreover, technology resulted in many changes of culture and promoted new cultural models .for instance as put forward by J.D Jackson (2008) technology created the culture of the desire to develop and catch up with the latest trends of fashion, shopping tourist destinations and so on. This has also led to the development of the city. As much as technology has divided and influenced the culture in that it led to objective culture where culture is seen as a thing and subjective culture is its unique experience.
In addition to that, technology has influenced a lot of dynamics in the political culture especially of Africa. Most African nations have been forced to abandon African traditional politics and adopt the western hegemony had spread throughout the world and continuously in many autonomies of various countries due to this technology. Western governments through technology have influenced how African states especially, the nations which are grouped as third world countries should govern themselves. African states do have a culture of complain towards these big nations that always like to direct course of events in African states.
Furthermore, C. Barker, Further demonstrates that technology have influenced culture change especially in norms, values and customs of a society. Technology has influenced the true language , changed expresions and eradicated some of the social trends wchich had been seen as a threat to the development and implemantations of technology and that many societies had been vexed by technology and their cultural erisoin oe decay . Some societies have tried hard to resist. The negative changes brought by the advent of technology in the morden day society.
As evidnenced by the above essay, one may conclude that technology had been accepted with mixed feelings and contributed or influenced the culture of the morden day societies culture in a member of ways which stretches from economic political social and religion. To holds much water to content that technology have influenced the culture of the modern day societies in a positive was as discussed in the above essay. 











Bibliography
Barker. C. (2004)     The Sage Dictionary of Cultural Studies, Oxford, Oxford University Press
Gitelman, C. (2008) New media Users, London Haus
Griffen, E (2012) Communication; a First look at Communication theory McGraw Hill, New York
Jackson.J.D (2011) In Media Studies: a critical sociology of media, Oxford, Oxford University Press
Turkle, S. (2012) Connected but alone; The Technological Change, Manchaster, Manchester University Press
Terrence, D (1997) The Symbolic Species; The Lo-evolution of Language and Brain New York, New York Press











Friday 28 October 2016

Cambridge and Zimsec Divinity Seminars

Are you ready to excel in Divinity?

A Seminar @ your school?

Invite the Writer, High school Speaker, Christian Historian-essayist and blogger

Brian Maregedze

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Thursday 27 October 2016

Moses and Elijah, Ideal or Real Figures?

Consider the view that Moses and Elijah were ideal prophets rather than real prophets.

With Brian Maregedze

The above question is a comparative analysis of Moses and Elijah
Critical candidates will explain what it means to be
*ideal- simply suggest being the best possible of all, the prototype so to say, the perfect example.

*real- original, genuine

As ideal and real prophets the 2 ie Moses and Elijah,

1. Law giver whilst the other upheld

2. Introduced Yahweism with the latter reviving

3.Unique Theophanic experiences

4 . both associated with the holy mountains ie.Sinai and Horeb

More points can added.
NB. Candidates should use Biblical evidence and scholarly comments to attain highest grades.

However

Other prophets like Abraham and Samuel have been given much attention with some noting that they deserve the titles of being the ideal and real prophets. Relate to comments from the likes of R. A. B Ewbank on the Abrahamic theory.
Samuel being the first proohet in a well established nation Israel thereby being a multi functionary prophet like no other. Comment on the Evolutionary theory.
[Support your arguments]
Critical candidates will consider the view that Moses and Elijah were legendary rather ideal or real figures.
Archaeological evidence attest that due to lack of tangible evidence for their existence in the material world like for example Moses, the fact that he once walked and lived in Egypt is controversial. Although Some scholars wouod like to argue that Pharaohs of the time can be found in their tombs,  Moses' issue raises debates.
Again, the way Elijah vanished from the earth has left some scholars questioning whether he was really an ideal or real figure thereby arguing that he belongs to folklore or folktales out of this world.

More points can be added.

A balanced essay attains higher grades.

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��ALL THE BEST,  2016 CANDIDATES��

KEEP CALM YOU WILL MAKE IT

Wednesday 26 October 2016

An account for the emergency and growth of independent African churches in Malawi and West Africa

Tropical History Revision Question and Answer

With Brian Maregedze

Account for the emergence and growth of independent African churches in either Malawi or West Africa and assess the importance of this development.

The main reasons for the emergence of the independent African church movement were linked with the style of management of mission controlled churches and with certain unpopular aspects of colonial rule in the late 19th and early 20th century:
- the alienation of African land for use by foreign settlers;
- colonial taxation policies;
- the use of forced labour;
- the slow speed of Africanisation of mission churches e.g. in the ordination of African priests and the promotion of Africans within the church hierarchy.

In Malawi
Here the growth of independent churches was closely associated with protest against colonial rule in general. The main leaders in the movement were Eliot Kamwana (the Watch Tower movement);
Charles Domingo (the Watch Tower movement and the Seventh Day Baptists);
John Chilembwe who went to the USA with Charles Booth and returned as an ordained priest in 1900. He led the 1915 Rising as an anti- rebellion directed particularly against the recruitment of Africans to fight in the First World War.

In West Africa

The main leaders here were Majola Agbebi and William Wade Harris. Agbebi was associated with several independent churches including the African Baptist Church
(1888), the United Native African Church (1891), and the African Bethel Church
(1901). He was President of the African Baptist Union of West Africa. Harris, a Liberian Protestant evangelist, was the most successful in terms of the number of followers and converts. He moved to the Ivory Coast in 1913 where he enjoyed his greatest success.

Importance

Though reasons for the emergence and growth of independent churches varied from place to place there was much commonality in their importance and significance. All were examples of protest against colonialism in general and against foreign control of churches and all were early examples of African nationalism. Only Chilembwe in Malawi carried protest to the point of open rebellion. Most leaders were opposed to the use of violence. All were advocates of more and better education for Africans as a means of improving living standards and promoting progress and justice. All believed that Christianity in Africa must come to terms with African culture and the African personality.

NB:To gain a mark in one of the top two bands answers must respond to both parts of the question.

Answers which give no specific examples can hardly expect to get beyond

Courtsey of Cambridge Examinations

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Sunday 23 October 2016

Commitment to your goals

You’re a “public speaker”? Ok, what impactful speech are you writing or giving today?

You’re an “entrepreneur”? Awesome, how are you actively solving a real-world problem with your business, right now?

You’re a "leader”? Interesting -- are you actively, right now in this moment, helping other people become better

You’re an “author”? That’s pretty cool --- what are you writing this afternoon?

You are a student? Wonderful----What are you doing everyday that exibit your commitment  to your studies?

Titles don’t matter because titles don’t produce value. If anything, they prevent value from being created because they allow ego to get in the way of real accomplishment.  Even if titles did mean something, you’d still only deserve a title that fits what you’re doing and who you are in the present moment.

Show your commitment to your goals everyday

# divinityhistoryalevel.blogspot.com,  motivational

Thursday 20 October 2016

A prophet is a fool and the man of spirit is mad-T. Madungwe?

"A prophet is a fool and the man of spirit is mad”-Talent Madungwe?

Zimbabwe as a country has witnessed many kinds of people claiming to be prophets rising and vanishing appearing in both print and electronic media for various reasons. The late Madzibaba Nzira, the likes of Matthias and Mildred among others have made headlines for good reasons and sometimes bad reasons.In Ancient Israel the Bible brings testimony to some stories, cases which left the hearers in wonderment for example in 1 Samuel 10, Saul had to spend sometime walking naked and he was associated with the prophetic spirit. In as much as nudity is viewed as immoral and unacceptable universally its associated with the office of prophecy. However, this article seeks to analyse the recent case of Talent Madungwe a self-styled Zimbabwean Harare based prophet in light of his theophanic claims so to say and the view that a prophet is associated with doing acts which appear to be abnormal in ordinary terms or language.
The writer would like to argue that a prophet can be regarded as a fool and or a madman if His message is delivered and not listened to. Also his acts, actions are viewed as abnormal in his society. Examples can be gathered from; Micaiah Ben Imlah Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah among others. Micaiah Ben can be said to have appeared to be a fool in the eyes of two Kings and other more than 400 prophets led by Zedekiah in 1 Kings 22. Being a fool simply suggests that one is not doing the expected or saying the unthinkable. On the same note, Isaiah walked for three years in nudity as indicated by Isaiah 20:1-3. Although the case of Isaiah can be interpreted as that of one doing the acts of God which may be regarded as symbolic it is no doubt that his actions shocked his audience and or people of his time. Thus its justified to argue prophets are associated with being labelled foolish and mad as the Bible indicates. This does not suggest therefore that they are indeed foolish and mad but rather in the eyes of their audience its most likely high and probable that they are viewed that way.
In Zimbabwe Talent Madungwe -a young Zimbabwean self-styled prophet claiming to have visited God in heaven, interviewed by Radio Zimbabwe, has made a number of claims leaving many perplexed with some Zimbabweans expressing anger accusing the man of blasphemy and being a foolish mad person who needs psychiatric treatment. According to Kwayedza a local Zimbabwe weekly paper of August 2016 indicates that, ‘Muporofita Madungwe, Tamba nezvimwe’(Prophet Madungwe Dont be Foolish so[translation from writer]). In another related issue a headline said, Maungwe Penga Mushe,’[Be Foolish in a Wise way]. In this regard the prophet can be viewed as a fool and mad person.
Some sympathisers of Madungwe would like to cite Hosea in an effort to understand him.
Hos 9:7 The days of punishment have come, the days of recompense have come; Israel shall know it. The prophet is a fool, the man of the spirit is mad, because of your great iniquity and great hatred.
Hosea married a Harlot (prostitute) as he was instructed to do so by God (Hosea 1:1-4), “Go take yourself a wife of harlotry and have children of harlotry...” In the Jewish society it can be observed that this act whether taken metaphorically, literary or historically the fact remains that there is immorality and a deviation from the norms of the society by the man of God. Thus prophets are foolish and mad depending on the believer’s perspective.
Prophet Talent Madungwe of the Exile Desire of All Nations Ministry. He says he is busy preparing to visit Heaven. For the second time. The prophet claims he entered Heaven for four to five hours early this year at the invitation of an angel who visited him whilst praying and he claims he saw God. He insists this was not a vision but an actual visit. Prophet Madungwe also claims there are three – and not one – heavens. Apart from “seeing God seated at his magnificent throne that has a blazing fire beneath it”, the prophet also got “wise counsel from prophets Daniel and Paul” during his visit to paradise. He says he will be embarking on another journey to Heaven “before the end of June to present people’s requests directly to God”.
It has to be agreed that a prophet is insane, a fool and a mad person. This is true of Amos, Isaiah who were insane to people of their times. Can this be also said of prophet Talent Madungwe? Food for thought.
Having said it can be concluded that In Zimbabwe prophets have been associated with visions, dreams about their calls into the prophetic office and also some revelations. Madungwe and his case still remain a contenious one since he has attracted both foes an friends.

ABOUT WRITER
Brian Maregedze is a Christian Historian,  an independent researcher, essayist, blogger and High School Divinity and Religious studies teacher in Harare.
Comments and feedback +263779210440 or email bmaregedze@gmail.com













Sources consulted

http://www.sundaymail.co.zw/ive-been-invited-to-heaven-again/, accessed on 17 October 2016.

.http://www.kwayedza.co.zw/muporofita-madungwe-tamba-nezvimwe/, accessed on 17 October 2016.
http://zimbabwe.shafaqna.com/EN/ZW/33333, accessed on 17 October 2016

Moments of Reflection With Brian Maregedze-Follow your passion

Moments of Reflection

With Brian Maregedze

Follow your passion, be prepared to work hard and sacrifice, and, above all, don't let anyone limit your dreams. - Donovan Bailey

What is it that you want in your career life? Are you scared of following your passion because of negative criticism? Let me honest with you, you are the master of your destiny.  Stop being a coward, stand up your ground and be the person you are mearnt to be.
If you follow your passion with passion it means you have the burning desire to become the real person who lives a life of fulfillment.
Concerntrate mentally and focus on that which you so desire and it shall all be possible.
Again, it is true that there is no genuine worship without sacrifice for the believers. One has to sacrifice and give special time to his her passion for all to be possible.  If its your marriage, are you sacrificing your time to make things work well. If its your career, what are you doing everyday that exibits your passion and need to grow? If its your academic goals, what are you doing everyday that demonstrates your commitment and passion?
Over and above all, dont be a person of excuses for you to achieve your dream and have a life filled with joy and happiness.  When you complain about the economic problems they grow big because you concerntrate on them mentally. Isnt it true that what you think grows big? Even the Holy book in Proverbs acknowledges that, 'as a man thinketh so is he'. If you think passionately that you are victor, so it becomes. If you think otherwise, so it shall be.

☆it is not the answer which enlightens but the question-author unknown☆

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Colossian heresy?

Apostolic Age With Brian Maregedze

Discuss the Colossian heresy and show how it affects
churches of today?

Before any attempt to response to the above question
one has to be able to define what heresy is and relate
to Colossians as a book.
The challenge/problem that candidates face is to do
with defining heresy within Colossian community.
Thus there is need to identify Colossian false teachings
in light of Gnostic tenets.
There are a number of features, characterstics
associated with Colossian heresy and these include;
Gnosticism
Consider the various tenets, features of Gnosticism
which include
Libertinism
Ascerticism
Escatology (realised, event)
Gnosis
Dualism
Marcionism
Churches of today are affected in various ways,
Comment using the issue of
Gospel of prosperity (gospelprenuership)
Materialism, ownership of the means of production by
church leaders and how believers react
Fasting, what is true fasting? Is it abstinence from
food, having 30 days of absolute fasting or not? Relate
to Ascerticism
More points can be added

Monday 17 October 2016

Zimbabwean government and agriculture (1980-1990), Developments?

Advanced level Zimbabwe History Question and Answer

Evaluate the measures taken by the government of Zimbabwe in its attempt to develop agriculture from 1980-1990.

With Brian Maregedze

Define,
evaluate- draw conclusions from examining or assessment
Agriculture- the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.
Agriculture is the backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy inasmuch as Zimbabweans remain largely a rural people who derive their livelihood from agriculture and other related rural economic activities. It provides employment and income for 60-70 percent of the population, supplies 60 percent of the raw materials required by the industrial sector and contributes 40 percent of total export earnings.

Three main policy frameworks have affected the performance of agriculture in Zimbabwe in the past two decades. First, there was the “growth with equity programme” pursued by the government between 1980 and 1990. It sought to redress the colonial legacy in favour of communal farmers. Second, there was the “structural adjustment market-oriented reforms”, the Economic Structural Adjustment Program (ESAP), adopted in 1991. Finally, with more profound implications for the sector, there was the programme of “fast-track land resettlement and redistribution”For the purpose of the question under study more attention is paid to 1980 to  1990 started in 2000 and currently in progress.

Measures taken by Government (1980-1990)
1. Protection of large scale Commercial farmers as a condition of the Lancaster House willing buyer willing seller- this had the merit of leading to the gradual increase in the country's agricultural exports from Z$409.2 million in 1981 to Z$1.1 billion in 1988
Financial institutions had confidence in  large scale commercial farming
Large scale farms drew on cheap, long term finance obtained both domestically and offshore

2 . reconciliation policies pursued by the then Prime Minister of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe
3.provision of subsidies, free access to seed and fertilizer packs.
In 1986, government took measures to stimulate production through export incentives, introducing the
Export Retention Scheme and the Export Revolving Fund and foreign exchange allocations in favour of
exporters. Air transport was improved, the Horticultural Promotion Council was formed, and the communal areas management programme for indigenous resources (Operation Campfire) was established towards the end of the 1980s. In addition, government policy indirectly stimulated export production through the relatively low government-set producer price for maize, which made many commercial farmers diversify into cash crops destined for the more lucrative export markets.

However
Despite following the above policies, it goes without saying that loopholes could be identified
1. Formal employment decreased from 327,000 in 1980 to 284,600 in 1989.
2. Unequal access to financial resources for communal farmers under Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) this implies that loans reached only a small percentage of the rural population.

By the early 1990s, the interventionist policies had reached their limit and could not be sustained any
further, forcing government to embark on market- oriented reforms including in agriculture. The market reforms adopted in 1991 were aimed at market deregulation, liberalization and export promotion
(Government of Zimbabwe, 1991).

More information can be added

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Sources to Consult
Beyond the Enclave
http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4632e/y4632e0y.htm, accessed on 19 September 2016

Saturday 15 October 2016

Jewish Religious Movements

Jewish Religious Movements

In the Jewish religion they were different sects which believed in different things and their study helps us to understand their conflict with Jesus.

The Pharisees

In the gospels Pharisees are generally depicted as opponents of Jesus, critical of his behavior, hostile in the questions, malicious in their deliberations.
In turn their piety is attached as hypocritical. The derivation, force and use of the name Pharisee are all disputed. Commonly the name is traced from the Hebrew word parish and taken to mean separatist. Many scholars see them as spiritual descendants of the Hasidim, a group of pious Jews who attached themselves to the Maccabean opposition of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanies.
Pharisees committed themselves to the scrupulous observance of a particular understanding of Israel‘s law. (Philippians: 3:5).
Pharisees were drawn from all classes and professions of Jewish society. It is possible that this designation was first applied to them by outsiders because they held themselves aloof from their environment in order as God‘s holy community to avoid contact with any impurity.
M.C.Tenney argues that, “they were the largest and most influential sect in the new testament times”.
According to Josephus, “the fellowship of the Pharisees included more than 6000 members.

Beliefs

• Their theology was founded on the entire canon of the Old Testament,
which included the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the writings. In the
interpretation of the scriptures they used the allegorical method in order to allow for elasticity in applying the principles of the law to new
questions that might be raised.
• They attached great value to the oral law or tradition, which they
observed scrupulously.
• They believed in the existence of angels, spirits, and in the immortality of the soul, and in the resurrection of the body. ( Acts: 23:7-8)
• They practiced ritual prayer and fasting twice a week, and tithed their property meticulously. (Matthew: 23: 23; Luke: 11: 42; 18: 12).
• They kept the Sabbath very strictly, allowing not even for the healing of the sick or for the casual plucking of grain for eating by the wayside.
(Matthew: 12: 1-2)
• They washed their hands before every meal as a sign of purity. (Mark: 7: 3-4)

Kohler lists seven types of Pharisees who were extremes;

• The ―Shoulder‖ Pharisees- who paraded their good deeds before men like a badge on the shoulder.MATT 23V4

• The ―Wait-a-little‖ Pharisees- who would ask someone to wait for him
while he performed a good deed. Prestigious in a religious lead but did
not like it. they showed off MATT 23V5

• The ―Blind‖ or "bleeding" Pharisees-who bruised themselves by walking
into a wall or thorns because they shut their eyes to avoid seeing a
woman, especially the ones in there menstrual cycle. tryed by all means
to avoid a women .MATT 23V24

More information can be added

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☆You can't make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen. -Michelle Obama☆

Thursday 13 October 2016

Divinity Gospels Revision Questions


1) Examine the four gospels' portrayal of the Pharisees. How does this compare with Zimbabwean media on religious issues
2) Evaluate using the four gospels the view that instead of helping Jesus,the disciples more if a hindrance.How can church leaders be a hindrance to church growth?
3) Discuss the significance of Jesus' transfiguration
4)Analyze the four gospels' presentation of Jesus' words on the cross. How do Zimbabweans value the last words of a dying person.
Demonstrate the prophetic character of Jesus in four gospels and link this character with contemporary prophets in Zimbabwe.
5) Demonstrate how Mark's gospel sets the theology of the cross in forefront.
6) Discuss Matthew 's use of his sources in the composition of his gospel
7) Evaluate the significance of parables unique to Luke ,showing their relevance to today's believers.
8) Analyse the purpose of the fourth gospel
9) Discuss the synoptic problem and identify possible solutions
10) Compare Matthean and Lukan birth narratives and show the accounts can be explained
11) To what extend can it be said that Jesus was always in conflict with his contemporaries. How can  conflicts be resolved in today's Church?
12) Examine the importance of the last supper in the synoptics and show how banguets and parties help in contemporary society
13) Discuss the view that the kingdom of God was at the heart of Jesus' teaching and make a comparison with today's teachings towards prosperity.
14)Define reduction and source criticism and examine their significance in the study of the four gospels
15) Identify the similarities and differences between Jesus' healing methods and those by contemporary prophets in Zimbabwe
16) One major weakness of the Pharisees was that they emphasized on Orthodoxy (right belief) than Orthopraxis (right practice)-M Green.
a) to what extend is this a fair assessment
b) how far does this statement apply to religious leaders in Zimbabwe.
17) Discuss the importance of John the baptist in the gospels
18) Critically examine Jesus' teaching on material possession and indicate its relevance to believers in your society.
19) Matthew's gospel is more thematic and well planned than other synoptics.Discuss
20) Matthew's gospel is pro Jewish. Discuss the validity of this statement
21) Discuss the theme of judgement as presented in Matthew's gospel. Do teachings today point to judgement?
22) What can be learnt about ''the kingdom of Heaven'' from the parables unique to Matthew.
23) Discuss Jesus' attitude on the Old Testament as presented in Matthew.
24) Discuss the authorship, place of authorship and dating of Matthean gospel
25) how far does the birth narratives in Matthew, s gospel portray the universalism of Jesus'ministry,
26) Examine the passion narratives in Matthew.
27) Mark presents a much more human view of Jesus than any other synoptic.How justified is this view
28) -----he would not permit demons to speak---''.To what extend was Mark successful in presenting the Messianic secret.
29) To what extend are disciples presented as failures in Mark
30) Examine how the titly "Son of Man'' is used in the gospel of Mark
31) Discuss the importance of suffering of Jesus in Mark and show how this suffering is important to believers today.
32) Discuss the date of writing and authorship of Markan gospel
33) What evidence has been presented in support of the view that Mark was the first gospel to be written.
34) Luke was concerned with universalism of salvation,does this apply in today, preachers
35)Luke presents Jesus as a model of prayer.How far does this statement apply to today's church leaders
36) To what extend does Luke's birth narratives set in motion what was to follow in the rest of the gospel.
39) To what extend does Luke's gospel promote gender equality.Examine the role of contemporary churches in Zimbabwe play in promoting gender equality.
40)  Discuss the purpose of the signs in John's gospel
41) Discuss the farewell discourses in John's gospel
42) Asses the ''I am '' sayings in the fourth gospel.
43) Evaluate the view that the gospel of John

Stay Motivated with Brian Maregedze

☆It is not the answer which enlightens but the question-author unknown☆

☆Trust your hopes, not your fears. -David Mahoney☆

☆Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself. -Harvey Fierstein☆

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Islam and Tropical Africa


Why did Islam spread so rapidly within Tropical Africa during the last quarter of the 19th century?

Question Demands

An analysis of the reasons why Islam appealed to Africans is expected, as is some understanding of the geographical, political, economic and cultural framework forming the necessary preconditions for Islam’s rapid expansion. The spread of Islam in several areas should be considered.

Islam had natural advantages

• In many areas of Africa it had been established for centuries.
• Both the British and the French banned Christian missionaries from areas where Islam was established (British in Sokoto Caliphate/French in the interior of Senegal) – this facilitated expansion.
• Muslim migrant workers spread Islam in both West Africa (north of the Gold Coast and among Wolof groundnut farmers in Senegal) and East Africa (Arab-Swahili traders from the coast carried Islam into the interior).
• Islam also had a message which was simpler to understand (acceptance of Allah and Muhammad meant instant membership of the Umma, no long catechumenate as for Christians).
• Socially and culturally Islam was very compatible with African traditions and behaviour (polygamy/extended family systems).
There were also political reasons for the spread of Islam:
• It could depend upon the whim of the ruler (as in Buganda where the Kabaka Mutesa used the Swahili Arabs to encourage trade until threatened by a Muslim invasion from the north making it more advantageous to ally himself with Christian missionaries).
• The establishment of colonial rule brought relative peace and stability and improved transport and communications systems allowing religion to spread.
• Islam was not associated with colonial conquest which meant in many areas it was more popular than Christianity.
Strong responses could be expected to focus on why Islam spread rapidly in the last quarter of the 19th century and in their analysis identify obvious links to the colonial expansion of Britain and France.

More points can be added

Courtsey of Cambridge Examinations

For more information

Contact us +263779210440 or follow the Facebook page Brian Maregedze or like the page Divinity and History A level.

☆Enduring setbacks while maintaining the ability to show others the way to go forward is a true test of leadership. -Nitin Nohria ☆

Nothing can stop you if you have the desire, the will to do it

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Authorship of Hebrews Presentation by Brian Maregedze

AUTHORSHIP OF HEBREWS PRESENTATION BY BRIAN MAREGEDZE

PASS DIVINITY 2016

Today the writer would like to educate the readers on the authorship of Hebrews.  This is imperative since its one of those books that students find challenging but the following information will definitely make one understand better and easier.

Church tradition  has it that  Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. However, though a vast majority of Christians—both and scholars and the laity—still believe Paul wrote the book, there are some tempting reasons to think otherwise.

The human author of this book does not name himself. On the other hand, he is not anonymous, for he speaks as though the readers are familiar with his identity.
Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I shall see you. (Hebrews 13:23).
The author of this book was not attempting to be anonymous. If that had been the case, he would not have closed the book on this personal note. He goes unnamed, but assumes that his readers know who he is. This has led to a number of different theories as to the identity of the author.
The following explanations will help in understanding differing views on who the author is and also assist one to come up with the most possible author of the book of Hebrews.

1. Paul.

Many of the teachings found within this epistle have already been introduced in other epistles of Paul’s. It has been suggested that, if this epistle was not written by Paul, then it was at least written by someone who was familiar with Paul’s teachings and writings.
Clement of Alexandria tells of a tradition that he had heard that the epistle was written by Paul in Hebrew and translated into Greek by Luke.
The epistle to the Hebrews he [Clement] attributes to Paul, and says that it was written to the Hebrews in the Hebrew language, and that Luke translated it carefully and gave it out to the Greeks. Hence the same style of expression is found in this epistle and in the Acts. (Eusebius, History of the Church 6:14).
However the book does not read like a translation. Its quotations of the Old Testament are evidently taken from the Greek Septuagint.
The most compelling evidence for Pualine authorship of Hebrews comes from Scripture itself. Remember that Peter wrote to the Hebrews (that is, the Jews; see Galatians 2:7 , 9 and 1 Peter 1:1 ). Peter wrote: "...just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him[emphasis added]" (2 Peter 3:15 ). In that last verse, Peter is confirming that Paul had also written a letter to the Hebrews! The theology presented in Hebrews is consistent with Paul's. Paul was a proponent of salvation by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8 , 9 ), and that message is strongly communicated in this epistle (Hebrews 4:2 , 6:12 , 10:19-22 , 10:37-39 , and 11:1-40 ). Either Paul wrote the epistle, or the writer was trained by Paul. Although it is a small detail, this epistle makes mention of Timothy (Hebrews 13:23 ), and Paul is the only apostle known to have ever done that in any letter.

2. Barnabas.

Tertullian , the third century Christian theologian, believed that Barnabas wrote the book of Hebrews.
Barnabas has several items which are in favor of his
authorship.
First, Barnabas can be associated with Rome, having accompanied Peter on a visit to that city after they left Corinth, following Claudius' death in A.D. 54 (Hill 1979 145).
A second reason which supports Barnabas as an author is that his name meant "son of encouragement" (Acts 4:36), and 13:22 may have been designed as a play on words. This would certainly fit in well with Barnabas' known exhoratory skills.
Third, Barnabas was a Levite who would have been acquainted with the temple ritual, but Guthrie (1982) argues that this consideration carries little weight because the author of Hebrews is more interested
in the biblical cults than in the current ritual, although a Levite would certainly have been deeply concerned about the issues raised in this book. In opposition to this view, Borchert (1985 322) says, "The question
remains whether a Cypriot Jew would develop a writing style closely akin to the Alexandrian writers. It is, of course, not impossible because Philo and other Alexandrian writings were known on the island."
Fourth, Hill (1979 :145) argues, "The situation ad-dressed by the letter to the Hebrews requires that it be written by someone who had already proved himself a mediator in the church, and this Barnabas had certainly done (Acts 9:26-30; 11:22-30; 15:22-39)."

However, Guthrie (1982) makes a strong argument that Acts 15:23-24 could not apply to Barnabas for the same reason that it could not apply to Paul, but he does say, "The absence of data regarding
the way in which Barnabas became a Christian makes it impossible to be certain."

3. Apollos.

We know very little about Apollos except that he was an Alexandrian Jew who was said to be eloquent of speech (Acts 18:24).

Ever since Luther first suggested Apollos, he has gained tremendous popularity among New Testament scholars, although some consider Apollos nothing more than a "brilliant guess" (Lightfoot 1976 25). Borchert (1985) says, "Nevertheless, if one is to conjecture about who wrote Hebrews, it would be difficult to propose a finer candidate."Henshaw (1952 344) notes, "There is only one person, of those whom we know, satisfies all the conditions, namely, Apollos."

Because Apollos was aware that there was a growing tendency in Corinth to venerate him above Paul, he decided not to accede to Paul's wish that he revisit the church at that time, stating instead that he
would come sometime later (1 Cor. 16:12). In line of this proposed visit, Apollos sent a letter to the church addressed to the "He-brews" because, from 2 Corinthians 11:22, there is evidence of Jewish
troublemakers at Corinth. Montefiore suggests that instead of following Apollos' advice, the Hebrews took his letter and used it as an example of the wisdom and eloquence which they themselves boasted. They also
launched an intense depreciation of Paul be-cause he, they claimed, lacked these qualities (506). Paul's response to this matter is contained in 1 Corinthians1-4.

There are several points which Guthrie (1982) and Lightfoot (1976 26) give in support of Apollos. First, he was an Alexandrian Jew and therefore could have been well versed in the type of thought current there. This fact would also account for the extensive use of the
Septuagint in the Old Testament quotations. Second, Acts mentions his great biblical knowledge and his oratorical gifts, both of which would support the claim of his authorship of Hebrews. Third, Apollos knew
Timothy and had a close association with Paul.

Fourth,Apollos was "fervent in spirit," a man characterized by
boldness of speech. Fifth, Apollos was a man of high reputation in the early church. Sixth, Apollos "spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus." This accords with the subject of the Epistle.

R.C.H. Lenski (1946 24) believes that the evidence is simply too strong to deny that Apollos wrote the Epistle. He states that the only evidence lacking that would re-move all doubt that Apollos was the author is a New Testament passage that actually places Apollos in Rome.

A challenge which arose pertaining to Apollos' authorship  is that no argument concerning style and phraseology is possible because there are no extant writings of Apollos to compare with Hebrews. Hiebert (1977 81) concludes that no decisive evidence against Apollos which exists.4(78-79) argues that Apollos was probably not the only Alexandrian in the apostolic age who was mighty in the Scriptures or that he possessed all the characteristics in more abundance his contemporaries. He concludes, "The wide acceptance of the conjecture as a fact is only explicable by our natural unwillingness to frankly confess our ignorance on a matter which excites our interest" (1892 79). Lightfoot (1976 :26) has similar reservations by saying, "The hypothesis of Apollos as author has received wide acceptance; but without doubt much of this can be accounted for on the ground that in the search for a positive solution, there seems to be no other place to go."

4. Luke.

We have already noted the words of Eusebius in mentioning the similarity of Greek style which is found in Acts and Hebrews. This is a very high style of Greek.
Furthermore, we know from 2 Timothy 4:11 that Luke was with Paul in Rome just prior to Paul’s death. It was at this time that Paul instructed Timothy to come to Rome.

Over the past  years, Luke has increasingly found many supporters which base their opinion upon the verbal similarities between Hebrews and Acts, particularly some affinities with Stephen's speech (Guthrie 1982). Westcott (1892:76) remarks, "When every allowance has been made for coincidences which consist in forms of expression which are found also in the Septuagint or in other writers of the New Testament, or in late Greek generally, the likeness is unquestionably remarkable.

However, Lightfoot (1976: 24-25) adds, "It would be precarious to claim Lukan authorship solely on the grounds of stylistic similarities."

Some scholars and early church writers have suggested that Paul wrote the epistle, and Luke translated it into Greek. Borchert (1985 321-322) suggests that this is improbable for two reasons. First, the Greek of Hebrews does not look like a transliterated Greek; and second, Luke-Acts has a very Gentile outlook, while Hebrews has a highly Jewish outlook.

In the book of Hebrews, we see that Timothy is now in prison, but it soon to be released. The author plans to journey with Timothy back to the churches to whom the epistle is written.
Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I shall see you. (Hebrews 13:23).
In the next verse, the author delivers a greeting from the believers of Italy: Those from Italy greet you (Hebrews 13:24b).
We can conclude from this that the epistle was written from Italy after Timothy had come to Rome in accordance with Paul’s instructions. It was not written by Paul, for he was not released from prison following this imprisonment.

SOURCES CONSULTED

Borchert, Gerald L. "A Superior Book: Hebrews." Review and Expositor 82 (Summer 1985) 319-323.

Delitzsch, Franz. Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. 2 vols. Reprint ed. Minnesota: Klock and Klock, 1978.Filson, Floyd V. "The Epistle to the Hebrews." Journal of Bible and Religion 22 (1954):20-26.

Guthrie, D. "The Epistle to the Hebrews." International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. (1982) 2665-667.

Henshaw, T. "The Epistle to the Hebrews." New Testament Literature in the Light of Modern Scholarship. London, George Allen Ltd., 1952.

Hiebert, D. Edmond. "The Non-Pauline Epistle and Revelation." An Introduction to the New Testament, 3. Chicago, Moody Press, 1977.

Hill, David. New Testament Prophecy. Atlanta, John Knox Press, 1979.
Hurst, L.D. "Apollos, Hebrews, and Corinth: Bishop Montefiore's Theory Examined." Scottish Journal of Theology 38 (1985): 505-513.

Legg, John D. "Our Brother Timothy: A Suggested Solution to the Problem of the Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews." Evangelical Quarterly 40 (October-December 1968): 220-223.

Lenski, R.C.H. An Interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Epistle of James. Columbus, Wartburg Press, 1946.

Lightfoot, Neil R. Jesus Christ Today. Abilene, Bible Guides, 1976.

Milligan, R. The Epistle to the Hebrews. New Testament Commentary, 9. St. Louis, Christian Board of Publication, 1875.

Shackelford, Don. "On to Maturity." New Testament Survey: An Introduction and Survey of the New Testament. Searcy, AR. College of Bible and Religion at Harding University, 1987.

Westcott, B.F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. 2nd ed.London, MacMillan and Sons, 1892.

http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume40/GOT040175.html, accessed on 7 October 2016.

https://christcenteredteaching.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/who-authored-hebrews-why-i-think-it-was-barnabas/, accessed on 08 October 2016.

More points can be added for analysis

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'Only God knows'-Origen (referring to the author of Hebrews).

Thursday 6 October 2016

Jeremiah:character

Discuss the view that Jeremiah had many different sides to his character.

Candidates are likely to treat this question in terms of the different things that Jeremiah did, as illustrative of the different sides to his character. They might mention some of the following points:

• at his call, Jeremiah displayed hesitation, dismay and modesty

• his family had a priestly background. There are several details in the book which suggest that Jeremiah inherited this part of the family duties, e.g. his Temple Sermon.

• he appears to have had ecstatic visions / experiences, for example his call narrative

• he was a visionary in general (e.g. the basket of figs, 24:1-10)

• he had a marked tendency to perform symbolic acts

• he was a magnificent poet, not least in the ‘confessional’ material

• some scholars think that the ‘I’ of his ‘confessions’ is cultic, and that he is thereby operating as a cultic prophet – a paid functionary who gave professional responses to a lament offered in a cultic context

• he appears to have had a morbid side to his nature, suggested both by the ‘confessions’ and by the general details of his life, such as his withdrawal from family and social life

• he had a deeply personal relationship with Yahweh, illustrated by the words he addresses to God

• he was heavily involved with the history and politics of his time, e.g. perhaps with Josiah’s reform; the Temple sermon; involvement with royalty; the Babylonian crisis / deportations; his removal to Egypt

• his international concerns, seen for example in his oracle against foreign nations

• the charge that he was a traitor / the insistence that he was really a patriot.

Credit these and other suggestions to show character diversity. Credit also attempts to show unity of personality. Some candidates might relate diversity to editorial activity, although this would be an exceptionally high level of a comment.

© Cambridge International Examinations

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Monday 3 October 2016

Congress of Vienna,

MAREGEDZE RESOURCE CENTER

ADVANCED LEVEL EUROPEAN HISTORY NOTES

Brian Maregedze
bmaregedze@gmail.com or +263779210440

The Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815

The rise of Napoleon and his subsequent conquests of the European states had upset the social order and the political system of the pre-Revolutionary days. A conference was needed to discuss solutions to these problems and thus was called at Vienna, the capital of Austria.

The root problem facing the European powers at the Vienna Congress was whether the changes made by Napoleon to the map and to the government of Europe be allowed to remain permanently or whether the former political and social order of Europe be restored. The decisions at the Congress of Vienna showed that the victorious powers chose to destroy the principles of the Napoleon had instituted. This was a reaction against the principles of the French Revolution. On the whole, the aims of the Congress of Vienna were the following:

the Congress of Vienna was said to be a congress to divide the spoils among the four victorious states - Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia ;
to sweep away the ideas popularized by the French revolution and Napoleon ;
to prevent future aggression from France ;
and to work out an effective means among the four great powers to tackle future problems were also important aims of the Congress of Vienna.

Outstanding personalities in the Congress:

The congress included all the European states except Turkey. Even France, the defeated nation, was represented. But the negotiations were dominated by 5 men.

Metternich of Austria:

He was the Austrian Chancellor and Foreign Minister who presided over the congress and became its guiding spirit. He became the most outstanding figure in Europe from 1815-1848 which was a period often referred to as the era of Metternich. He was the embodiment of the older Europe of the monarchies fighting against the newer Europe of revolutionary ideals. He devoted his life vanquishing revolutionary principles spread by Napoleon's army. He regarded himself as the apostle of conservatism. His thoughts were too deeply rooted in the old order to find the ideas of liberty and equality attractive.

His policies in the congress:

He sought to prevent the outbreak of revolutions in Europe through the joint efforts of the five great European powers. He opposed nationalist and revolutionary movements as they would threaten the existence of the Austrian Empire which was multi-racial state.

    
He sought to preserve the Austrian Empire on the basis of a balanced society of European states and of an international alliance of like-minded rulers. He knew how to use the great powers' fear of the revolution to create the concert of Europe. Thus, he was able to establish a balance of power among the five great powers which would counteract the increased power of Russia, the naval power of England and the diminished power of France.

As Metternich saw the need of some machinery for concerted action to maintain European peace, he supported the device of periodic congresses. In fact, Metternich's idea was not only that rulers should meet frequently in congresses to decide what measures to take, but also that they should be able to intervene in a neighboring state to restore order when it was threatened. The contention of Metternich was that internal and international affairs are inseparable. In giving the European alliance its anti-revolutionary, anti-liberal character, Metternich had a very clear sense of serving first of all the interests of Austria, the power most vulnerable to popular attack.

Alexander I of Russia:

He had a major role in the downfall of Napoleon and through him, Russia could have assumed the leadership of Europe at the time. But he had neither the diplomatic skill nor the persistence of Metternich. He was inconsistent and too much of an idealist. At one moment, he was a champion of liberalism but at the next, an ambitious imperialist

Alexander I looked forward to territorial gains and he had an ambition   over Poland. What he desired most was to have the whole of Poland. Such Russian aim was supported by Ferderick William of Prussia.

Talleyrand of France

Although he represent France, the defeated nation, he succeeded in establishing himself as an influential member of the congress by means of skillful diplomacy. All he wanted was to secure a lenient treaty for France, to promote and safeguard the interests of France and to end her isolation. He secured admission to the congress on the plea that it was not France but Napoleon whom the allies had been fighting. He was shrewd enough to set the victors against one another by making use of their different selfish interests in order to get he wanted for France. The allies's quarrel over the question of Poland and Saxony offered an ideal opportunity to Talleyrand. He openly supported the Austrians in their resistance to Prussian acquisition of Saxony. When Harderbery of Prussia announced that any further interference would lead to war, Tallryand proposed to Castlereagh of England and Metternich a secret treaty of alliance against Prussia and Russia. The treaty was signed in 1815. Talleyrand could say in triumph that France was no longer isolated.
Hardenberg of Prussia

Hardenberg cared relatively little for the general European settlement but a great deal for the fortunes of Prussia. His attention was concentrated on gaining as much territories as possible for the loss of Prussian Poland to Russia and to reassure Prussia's position in Germany.

Castlereagh of England

He was the British Foreign Minister. He had a typically practical Bristish mind as opposed to Alexander I's idealism. What worried him most was how to keep the European continent open to British trade. Napoleon had tried to close Europe to British goods. He had also attempted to invade England. In fact, the Napoleonic war had greatly upset the British trade pattern. For these reason, he wanted to achieve peace in Europe. Only by this could it be possible for English trade and commence to proper and develop. As such, it was necessary to create a balance of power in Europe. The wealth, population and territory of the states needed to be carefully redistributed. This would ensure that no one power would be too strong to endanger to others. His idea of a balance was, first to contain France. He was adamant on keeping the French out of the lowland countries. The next problem was to strengthen central Europe as a buffer between France and Russia. He also believed that the joint meetings of persons in authority were a better method of removing international misunderstanding.

Treaties signed before the Vienna Congress:

The treaty of Chaumont (March 1814)
By this treaty, Austria, England, Prussis and Russia promised:

to unite in alliance for 20 years;
to prevent Napoleon returning to Europe;
to restore the status quo, to quarantee the territorial settlement.

The First Treaty of Paris (May 1814)
The terms imposed on France were lenient:

France was not forced to disarm;
She did not pay any indemnity;
She did not restore the works of arts which she had removed from Italy or Germany;
Her boundaries were to be those of 1792;
France ceded Mauritius, Malta and other territories to England and Spain.

The Vienna Settlement:

The main part of the 1815 peace settlement was worked out at Vienna. The Vienna Congress rounded up its business with the signing of the Treaty of Vienna in June, 1815. Other arrangements relating to France alone were stated in the Second Treaty of Paris of November, 1815. To uphold the Treaty of Vienna (Sept,1815), two other arrangements were made, they were the Holy Alliance and the Quadruple Alliance (Nov,1815).

Problem of Poland-Saxony:

Immediately after the opening of the Congress of Vienna, quarrel broke out among the powers over Poland and Saxony. Before the Battle of Nations between France and Europe, Alexander I promised to abolish the Grand Duchy of Warsaw which Napoleon had created. The Tsar wanted to occupy Poland, Austria who wanted Poland was to be compensated by taking Lombardy and Venetia. Prussia desired to annex the whole of Saxony in exchange for the Polish territory she was surrendering to Russia.

Britain, Austria and France were against it. Britain was worried about the expanding influence of Russia in eastern Europe. Austria feared the strengthening of Prussia as her rival. France liked to see Poland independent. Seeing his rivals deadlocked, Tallreyrand won Britain and Austria over to a secret alliance. They would fight Russia and Prussia unless the latter withdrew their demands. In fact, neither side was willing to go to war at this moment. A compromise was then made:

Russia aquired greater part of Poland, to whom he promised a constitution within a dependent kingdom.
Austria got Galicia.
Prussia got about 2/5 of Saxony and retained a corridor to North Sea.
Cracow, Poland's old capital, became an independent republic. (At this point, Napoleon escaped from Elba. War reopened in 1815 March. His reappearance made the powers unite again and then continued their work at Vienna.)

Guiding priciples:

Balance of power - to prevent the status quo by preventing any of the Great powers from gaining too much and dominating Europe. For example, France was not dismembered but treated leniently instead for the peace makers of the Vienna Settlement felt that achieving in Europe as a whole was more important than punishing France.

To restrain the power of France - although France should not be punished    too severely, she had to be restrained so that she would not be able to threaten the strong buffer states was put around France. 

Legitimacy - It meant that the dynasties of Europe that had reigned in pre-revolutionary days should be restored to their thrones. This principle of legitimacy was supported by Talleyrand as a device for protecting France against drastic punishment and adopted by Metternich as a convenient expression of the general policy of resisting changes. The principle of legitimacy was looked upon as an insurance against future revolutions. Restored rulers were usually despotic and reactionary; die-hard supporter of conservatism and enemy of liberalism. They were thus expected to uproot any revolutionary movements to the detriment of peace and stability.

To reward the victors and punish the defeated - Austria, Prussia, Russia and England all gained new territories whereas France, Denmark and Saxony were reduced in size for supporting Napoleon.

Compensation - This was connected with the preservation of the balance of power. The map of Europe was rearranged so that the land lost to Napoleon and under Napoleon were restore, but where the powers aould not be restored or where restoration was not wise, there was compersation.

The Treaty of Vienna, June 1815
The important decisions made in the Congress were passed by the powers by the Treaty of Vienna.

Legitimacy
The Bourbons, Louis XVIII, Ferdinand VII and Ferdinand I, were restored to France, Spain and Two Sicilies respectively.
The House of Orange in Holland and the House of Savoy in Pietmont-Sardinia were restored.
The Pope again ruled the Papal States.
Various German princes were restored to the throne.
Members of the Hapsburg family were restored to the thrones of Tuscany, Parma and Modena in Italy.

Balance of power, Reward and punishment, Compensation:
Russia - got Finland and parts of Prussian Poland; Bessarabia had been gained from Turkey during the Napoleonic Wars. In the opinion of Castlereagh and Metternich, Russian gains were too great and upset the balance of power. It was because Russia had negotiated with the sword in her hand and so secured more than the other allies liked.
Prussia - recovered the German territories which Napoleon had taken from her. She also acquired Swedish Pomerania about 2/5 of Saxony, the whole of Westphalia and most of the Rhineland. Prussia appeared on post 1815 maps as 2 separate areas - Prussia Proper in the N.E. and Prussia on the Rhineland. Prussia complained that she got less than the 1805 standard and this was true. But the gains in the Rhineland  provided Prussia with great mineral resourses for her later industrialization. Besides, her membership in the German Confederation made her an important competitor with Austria for leadership in German affairs.
Austria - recovered Lombardy and acquired Venetia in exchange of Austrian Netherlands. The members of the Austrian Royal family were rewarded the thrones of the three duchies in Italy, they were Parma, Modena and Tuscany. She was also made the President of the newly established German Confederation. Also, Austria gained part of Poland which was called Galicia.
Holland - was given the Austrian Netherlands (Belgium) to form with Luxembourg the United Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Britain - kept the balance by securing gains mainly in colonial field. She took final possession of Cape Colony in S.Africa, Ceylon and some islands in West Indies. She gained valuable naval bases of Heligoland in the North Sea, Malta in the Mediterranean and a protectorate over the Ionian Islands whuch gave her the command of the entrance to the Adriatic. Her acquisitions laid the foundation of the modern British Empire and added further to Britain's position as a world power.
The Swiss Confederation was declared neutral.
The Italian Kingdom of Piedmont - was to take Nice, Genoa and Savoy from France and to unite with another Italian Kingdom, Sardinia.
Sweden - was compensated for the lost of Finland to Russia by gaining Norway from Denmark (which was penalized for her hostility to the Allies).
The powers were not willing to revive the Holy Roman Empire. During the Napoleonic conquests, the Holy Roman Empire was abolished. The Allies in the Congress did not have it restored. Instead, a German Confederation of 39 states was created.

To restrain the power of France
Barrier states were created around France do that all states on French frontiers would be strong enough to hold up any recurrence of French aggression long enough for the powers to mobilize their forces.

The Rhineland on the east were given to Prussia.
The neutrality of Switzerland was guaranteed.
Austria had acquisitions in Northern Italy.
Piedmont had Savoy and Genoa added to her.
Spain and Portugal were guaranteed against French attack.
In between France and Spain, there was the Pyrenees to ensure inconvenient French attack on Spain.
Belgium was given to Holland to form with Luxumbourg to form the United Kingdoms of Netherlands under the Dutch king.

The Second Treaty of Paris, Nov 1815:

French boundaries were reduced to those of 1790. This deprived her of the Saar Basin and certain strategic places on the frontier.
France had to pay a war indemnity of 700 million francs.
France had to support an army of occupation for 5 years.
France had to restore the art treasures to other countries on the frontier were taken away from.

Evaluation of the Congress of Vienna:

Merits:

The adjustment of balance of power and the checking of France were on the whole successful. No power dominated Europe as it had been under Napoleon. It had created a lasting peace in Europe for about 40 years until the Crimean War broke out in 1854. It might even be said that this aim was achieved for about 100 years. Between 1815 and 1914, there was no general European War. The great powers in this period went to war only in isolated conflicts of a short period of time.
On the other hand, it might be pointed out that this long-term peace was not attributed to the 1815 settlement alone. It was also the outcome of other factors. The general exhaustion of the European powers after the Napoleonic wars was one of the reasons. Europe then witnessed the rapid industrialization. Many European governments were preoccupied with the improvement of conditions at home and suppression of revolutions. Thus, there was little time for them to wage war. Europe thus enjoyed long-term peace.

Another merit was the international guarantee of permanent neutrality of
Switzerland. Only a geographical expression in 1789, Switzerland became an independent state in central Europe after 1815.

Credit should also go to the 1815 Congress for its policy of moderation
Towards France. France was rather generously treated. She was allowed to attend the Congress of Vienna and was admitted as one of the five great powers in Europe. The significance was that hostile feeling both insude against Louis XVII and outside towards the European states was avoided. This would also have the effect of strengthening the constitutional monarchy headed by Louis XVIII. It was expected that constitutional monarchy would bring a reconciliation of the old and revolutionary forces. If France had internal peace, Europe would also be safe.

The 1815 Congress should also be credited for starting the system of
Settling international disputes through negotiation. It led to the Congress system which was a leading step to future international system of meeting whereby conflicts and problems common to the European powers after 1815 were settled.

By strengthening Prussia and Piedmont-Sardinia, the congress contributed
indirectly to the unification of Italy and Germany. The decisions taken by the 1815 peace-makers for Prussia and Piedmont-Sardinia to take up the leadership in the German and Italian unification and to found national states by 1871.
Largely through the effect of England, and important concession was
made to humanitarianism. Slave trade was declared inhuman and was abolished by Spain, France, Holland and Sweden and promised to be abolished by Portugal. 



'Those without history are on the edge of madness'- unknown

'Success is going from failure failure without losing your enthusiasm' Winston Churchill