Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Talk:Essay:Greatest Mysteries of World History

2009-02-09T13:09:00Z

DaveClark: /* Humor */

==Dark Ages==

I have to ask: does this really qualify as a "mystery?" Most people who have actually taken the time to study European history, I would suggest, would say that there's a clear and simple answer: "No, the so-called "Dark Ages" weren't really so backwards." Significant advances were made during the period generally termed the "Dark Ages" in many fields: music, agriculture, metallurgy, and philosophy spring to mind immediately. Historians today generally avoid using the term "Dark Ages" for precisely that reason.

Should it really be termed a "mystery" just because some people continue to hold misconceptions about it? --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 14:11, 28 December 2008 (EST)
: Yes, it's not a mystery at all. Renaissance humanists hated the "dark ages" with a passion. Now we know just how much science and culture were developed during those centuries. Not so much a mystery as a myth, really (liberals love to claim early Christian Europe was fruitless) [[User:RodWeathers|- Rod Weathers]] 14:14, 28 December 2008 (EST)

::Perhaps a better question would be "Why are the advances of the early Middle Ages frequently overlooked or dismissed?" --[[User:Benp|Benp]] 14:19, 28 December 2008 (EST)

==Humor==
Perhaps this entry could be clarified: is there a particular form of humor that the author had in mind? There are examples of jokes, riddles, puns, comic figurines/images, anthropoligical notes of humorous conversations, etc. from both pre-Christian times and from post-Christian 'first contacts' with cultures that had had no previous exposure to Christianity.--[[User:Brossa|Brossa]] 09:37, 8 February 2009 (EST)

:Brossa: Can you provide some? --[[User:AbnerY|AbnerY]] 21:51, 8 February 2009 (EST)

:I'd like to see Brossa's alleged examples also.--[[User:Aschlafly|Andy Schlafly]] 23:49, 8 February 2009 (EST)

::How about Greek and Roman comedy? that way predated Christianity. Andy, what kind of claim are you making here? on what basis would you allege that humor does not predate Christianity? it seems pretty far-fetched. I'd like to see some evidence. --[[User:DaveClark|DaveClark]]

George Orwell

2009-02-05T22:13:07Z

DaveClark:

[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumb|George Orwell (Eric Blair)]]
'''George Orwell''' is the pen name of '''Eric Arthur Blair''' (June 25, 1903 - January 21, 1950), an open-minded, leading English [[democratic socialist]] writer, essayist and journalist who became increasingly critical of his ideological allies. He grew increasingly [[conservative]] among democratic socialists. "There are nevertheless four aspects of Orwell's later work which are more closely linked to conservative than to left-wing styles of thinking."<ref>http://revel.unice.fr/cycnos/document.html?id=1391</ref>

Contrary to most writers, Orwell's greatest works came late in his life. He harshly criticized communism and totalitarianism in ''[[1984]]'', which was thought by many to be his finest novel. His short story named ''[[Animal Farm]]'' was an allegorical reference to the Russian Revolution and a frightening tale of how people can change the meaning of words and commandments over time to suit a totalitarian regime. These works were far more influential than his first novel, based on his experiences on the Imperial Police Force in Burma, ''[[Burmese Dаys]]'', which explored the evils of [[coloniаlism]].

== Biography ==
Orwell's political views became to move away from [[leftism]] when he volunteered to fight the Spanish [[Fаscist]] forces to keep them from overturning the [[democraticаlly elected]] socialist government of Spain in the [[Spаnish Civil War]] (1936-1939). He enlisted in the POUM (In English, Workers Party for Marxist Unity) Militia, and saw action on the Aragon front, where he fought side by side with [[Anarchy|Anаrchists]] and [[Communist]]s, as well as Republican regulars.

He became disillusioned with the Spanish government's policy of withholding arms from the POUM and the Anarchists, which he saw as an attempt by the Communists to water down the revolutionary nature of the Anti-Fascist resistance, and centralize power in the hands of the Moscow-backed Communist Party. Taking a bullet through his neck but surviving, Orwell was invalided to Barcelona, where he witnessed the [[Stalin]]ist repression of [[Trotsky]]ist and [[Anarchist]] parties. Orwell and his wife were forced to escape from Spain as fugitives, after the POUM was banned by the increasingly repressive regime.

Despite his persecution, Orwell initially continued to support the Republic upon his return to England, viewing a Communist dominated Spain as better than a Fascist Spain. He recounted his experiences in Spain in the book ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]''.<ref>[http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html]</ref> He remained a socialist, and was for a time in the late 1930s a member of the [[Independent Labour Party]], although he split from the ILP over its opposition to the [[Second World Wаr]]. Orwell served in the [[Home Guаrd]] during the war.

Orwell had only ten years left in his life when he returned. During that period he and his wife adopted a baby boy, but Orwell's wife died shortly thereafter.

In those ten years Orwell wrote his famous anti-communist fictional works, demonstrating how much his views had moved to the right from his youth. First he spent three years writing ''Animаl Farm'' (1944), and then perhaps five years on the longer novel ''1984'' (1949). Orwell continued to espouse forms of [[sociаlism]]<ref>[http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/eaip_03]</ref> right up to his death, but utilized his position as a regular columnist for the left-labor ''Tribune'' paper to strongly criticize the USSR. Such criticism was unusual for a [[left-wing]]er of the period, but Orwell was so well respected that his position was secure. "I belong to the left and must work with it," he declared in 1945.<ref>http://revel.unice.fr/cycnos/document.html?id=1391</ref> He died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1950.

==Quotes==

*"In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

*"It cannot be said too often - at any rate, it is not being said nearly often enough - that collectivism is not inherently democratic, but, on the contrary, gives to a tyrannical minority such powers as the Spanish Inquisitors never dreamt of."

*"One sometimes gets the impression that the mere words 'Socialism' and 'Communism' draw towards them with magnetic force every fruit-juice drinker, nudist, sandal-wearer, sex-maniac, Quaker, 'Nature Cure' quack, pacifist and feminist in England."

*"If only the sandals and pistachio-colored shirts could be put in a pile and burnt, and every vegetarian, teetotaler and creeping Jesus sent home to Welwyn Garden City to do his yoga exercises quietly. As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents."

*"The truth is that to many people calling themselves Socialists, revolution does not mean a movement of the masses with which they hope to associate themselves; it means a set of reforms which 'we,' the clever ones, are going to impose upon 'them,' the Lower Orders."

*"War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it."

*"The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."

*"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against [[totаlitarianism]] and for [[democratic socialism]], as I know it."

*"I have no particular love for the idealized 'worker' as he appears in the bourgeois Communist's mind, but when I see an actual flesh-and-blood worker in conflict with his natural enemy, the policeman, I do not have to ask myself which side I am on."

*"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."

==Bibliography==
===Books===
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_London/english/ ''Down and Out in Paris and London''] (1933)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Burmese_Days/ ''Burmese Days''] (1934)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/A_Clergymans_Daughter/ ''A Clergyman's Daughter''] (1935)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Keep_the_Aspidistra_Flying/ ''Keep the Aspidistra Flying''] (1936)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pier/ ''The Road to Wigan Pier''] (1937)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Homage_to_Catalonia/ ''Homage to Catalonia''] (1938)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Coming_up_for_Air/ ''Coming Up for Air''] (1939)
*''[[Animal Farm]]'' (1945)
*''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' (1949)

===Essays===
*[http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/spike.htm ''The Spike''] (1931)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/hanging/ '' A Hanging''] (1931)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/elephant/ ''Shooting An Elephant''] (1936)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/dickens/ ''Charles Dickens''] (1939)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/boys/ ''Boys' Weeklies''] (1940)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/whale/ ''Inside The Whale''] (1940)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lion/english/ ''The Lion and The Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/wells/ ''Wells, Hitler and the World State''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/McGill/ ''The art of donald McGill''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/Spanish_War/ ''Looking back on the Spanish War''] (1943)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/yeats/ ''W. B. Yeats''] (1943)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/dali/ ''Benefit of Clergy: Some notes on Salvador Dali''] (1944)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/koestler/ ''Arthur Koestler''] (1944)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/ ''Notes on Nationalism''] (1945)
*[http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/nicecupoftea.htm ''A Nice Cup of Tea''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Poor_Die/ ''How The Poor Die''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/swift/ ''Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver's Travels''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/ ''Politics and the English Language''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/burnham/ ''Second Thoughts on James Burnham''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/decline/ ''Decline of the English Murder''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Common_Toad/ ''Some Thoughts on the Common Toad''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/vicar/ ''A Good Word for the Vicar of Bray''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/plum/ ''In Defence of P. G. Wodehouse''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/wiw/ ''Why I Write''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/prevention/ ''The Prevention of Literature''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/joys/english/ ''Such, Such Were the Joys''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lear/ ''Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool''] (1947)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/gandhi/ ''Reflections on Gandhi''] (1949)
*[http://www.george-orwell.org/Bookshop_Memories/0.html ''Bookshop Memories''] (1936)
*[http://www.whitebeertravels.co.uk/orwell ''The Moon Under Water''] (1946)

===Poetry===
*Romance
*A Little Poem
*Awake! Young Men of England
*Kitchener
*Our Minds are Married, But we are Too Young
*The Pagan
*The Lesser Evil
*Poem From Burma

[[Category:Authors|Orwell, George]]

==References==
<references/>
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926380-6,00.html That Year Is Almost Here] by Paul Gray, Time Online.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orwell, George}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Socialism]]

George Orwell

2009-02-05T22:11:58Z

DaveClark: just adding the truth. he wasn't the anti-communists saint he's made out to be.

[[Image:Hgdctuy6.jpg|right|thumb|George Orwell (Eric Blair)]]
'''George Orwell''' is the pen name of '''Eric Arthur Blair''' (June 25, 1903 - January 21, 1950), an open-minded, leading English [[democratic socialist]] writer, essayist and journalist who became increasingly critical of his ideological allies. He grew increasingly [[conservative]] among democratic socialists. "There are nevertheless four aspects of Orwell's later work which are more closely linked to conservative than to left-wing styles of thinking."<ref>http://revel.unice.fr/cycnos/document.html?id=1391</ref>

Contrary to most writers, Orwell's greatest works came late in his life. He harshly criticized communism and totalitarianism in ''[[1984]]'', which was his finest novel. His short story named ''[[Animal Farm]]'' was an allegorical reference to the Russian Revolution and a frightening tale of how people can change the meaning of words and commandments over time to suit a totalitarian regime. These works were far more influential than his first novel, based on his experiences on the Imperial Police Force in Burma, ''[[Burmese Dаys]]'', which explored the evils of [[coloniаlism]].

== Biography ==
Orwell's political views became to move away from [[leftism]] when he volunteered to fight the Spanish [[Fаscist]] forces to keep them from overturning the [[democraticаlly elected]] socialist government of Spain in the [[Spаnish Civil War]] (1936-1939). He enlisted in the POUM (In English, Workers Party for Marxist Unity) Militia, and saw action on the Aragon front, where he fought side by side with [[Anarchy|Anаrchists]] and [[Communist]]s, as well as Republican regulars.

He became disillusioned with the Spanish government's policy of withholding arms from the POUM and the Anarchists, which he saw as an attempt by the Communists to water down the revolutionary nature of the Anti-Fascist resistance, and centralize power in the hands of the Moscow-backed Communist Party. Taking a bullet through his neck but surviving, Orwell was invalided to Barcelona, where he witnessed the [[Stalin]]ist repression of [[Trotsky]]ist and [[Anarchist]] parties. Orwell and his wife were forced to escape from Spain as fugitives, after the POUM was banned by the increasingly repressive regime.

Despite his persecution, Orwell initially continued to support the Republic upon his return to England, viewing a Communist dominated Spain as better than a Fascist Spain. He recounted his experiences in Spain in the book ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]''.<ref>[http://www.george-orwell.org/Homage_to_Catalonia/index.html]</ref> He remained a socialist, and was for a time in the late 1930s a member of the [[Independent Labour Party]], although he split from the ILP over its opposition to the [[Second World Wаr]]. Orwell served in the [[Home Guаrd]] during the war.

Orwell had only ten years left in his life when he returned. During that period he and his wife adopted a baby boy, but Orwell's wife died shortly thereafter.

In those ten years Orwell wrote his famous anti-communist fictional works, demonstrating how much his views had moved to the right from his youth. First he spent three years writing ''Animаl Farm'' (1944), and then perhaps five years on the longer novel ''1984'' (1949). Orwell continued to espouse forms of [[sociаlism]]<ref>[http://www.orwell.ru/library/articles/As_I_Please/english/eaip_03]</ref> right up to his death, but utilized his position as a regular columnist for the left-labor ''Tribune'' paper to strongly criticize the USSR. Such criticism was unusual for a [[left-wing]]er of the period, but Orwell was so well respected that his position was secure. "I belong to the left and must work with it," he declared in 1945.<ref>http://revel.unice.fr/cycnos/document.html?id=1391</ref> He died of [[tuberculosis]] in 1950.

==Quotes==

*"In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

*"It cannot be said too often - at any rate, it is not being said nearly often enough - that collectivism is not inherently democratic, but, on the contrary, gives to a tyrannical minority such powers as the Spanish Inquisitors never dreamt of."

*"One sometimes gets the impression that the mere words 'Socialism' and 'Communism' draw towards them with magnetic force every fruit-juice drinker, nudist, sandal-wearer, sex-maniac, Quaker, 'Nature Cure' quack, pacifist and feminist in England."

*"If only the sandals and pistachio-colored shirts could be put in a pile and burnt, and every vegetarian, teetotaler and creeping Jesus sent home to Welwyn Garden City to do his yoga exercises quietly. As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents."

*"The truth is that to many people calling themselves Socialists, revolution does not mean a movement of the masses with which they hope to associate themselves; it means a set of reforms which 'we,' the clever ones, are going to impose upon 'them,' the Lower Orders."

*"War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it."

*"The nationalist not only does not disapprove of atrocities committed by his own side, he has a remarkable capacity for not even hearing about them."

*"Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against [[totаlitarianism]] and for [[democratic socialism]], as I know it."

*"I have no particular love for the idealized 'worker' as he appears in the bourgeois Communist's mind, but when I see an actual flesh-and-blood worker in conflict with his natural enemy, the policeman, I do not have to ask myself which side I am on."

*"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear."

==Bibliography==
===Books===
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Down_and_Out_in_Paris_and_London/english/ ''Down and Out in Paris and London''] (1933)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Burmese_Days/ ''Burmese Days''] (1934)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/A_Clergymans_Daughter/ ''A Clergyman's Daughter''] (1935)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Keep_the_Aspidistra_Flying/ ''Keep the Aspidistra Flying''] (1936)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/The_Road_to_Wigan_Pier/ ''The Road to Wigan Pier''] (1937)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Homage_to_Catalonia/ ''Homage to Catalonia''] (1938)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/novels/Coming_up_for_Air/ ''Coming Up for Air''] (1939)
*''[[Animal Farm]]'' (1945)
*''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'' (1949)

===Essays===
*[http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/spike.htm ''The Spike''] (1931)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/hanging/ '' A Hanging''] (1931)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/elephant/ ''Shooting An Elephant''] (1936)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/dickens/ ''Charles Dickens''] (1939)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/boys/ ''Boys' Weeklies''] (1940)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/whale/ ''Inside The Whale''] (1940)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lion/english/ ''The Lion and The Unicorn: Socialism and the English Genius''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/wells/ ''Wells, Hitler and the World State''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/McGill/ ''The art of donald McGill''] (1941)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/Spanish_War/ ''Looking back on the Spanish War''] (1943)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/yeats/ ''W. B. Yeats''] (1943)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/dali/ ''Benefit of Clergy: Some notes on Salvador Dali''] (1944)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/koestler/ ''Arthur Koestler''] (1944)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/nationalism/ ''Notes on Nationalism''] (1945)
*[http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/essays/nicecupoftea.htm ''A Nice Cup of Tea''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Poor_Die/ ''How The Poor Die''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/swift/ ''Politics vs. Literature: An Examination of Gulliver's Travels''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/politics/ ''Politics and the English Language''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/burnham/ ''Second Thoughts on James Burnham''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/decline/ ''Decline of the English Murder''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Common_Toad/ ''Some Thoughts on the Common Toad''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/vicar/ ''A Good Word for the Vicar of Bray''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/plum/ ''In Defence of P. G. Wodehouse''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/wiw/ ''Why I Write''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/prevention/ ''The Prevention of Literature''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/joys/english/ ''Such, Such Were the Joys''] (1946)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/essays/lear/ ''Lear, Tolstoy and the Fool''] (1947)
*[http://orwell.ru/library/reviews/gandhi/ ''Reflections on Gandhi''] (1949)
*[http://www.george-orwell.org/Bookshop_Memories/0.html ''Bookshop Memories''] (1936)
*[http://www.whitebeertravels.co.uk/orwell ''The Moon Under Water''] (1946)

===Poetry===
*Romance
*A Little Poem
*Awake! Young Men of England
*Kitchener
*Our Minds are Married, But we are Too Young
*The Pagan
*The Lesser Evil
*Poem From Burma

[[Category:Authors|Orwell, George]]

==References==
<references/>
*[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,926380-6,00.html That Year Is Almost Here] by Paul Gray, Time Online.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orwell, George}}

[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Socialism]]

Talk:World History Lecture Twelve

2009-02-05T22:10:24Z

DaveClark:

The paragraph "Victory" reads like the USA won the 2.WW all on theire own.
The US armed forces only lost about 170.000 men in europe. If you compare that to the 13.000.000 soldiers, who died fighting for the soviet union, this is hardly anything.
The USA might have done a big chunk of the work, when it comes to financial help for the the allies, but claiming that American soldiers defeated Germany without mentioning all the other nations lossing millions of lives in the struggle against the third reich, is just wrong! - [[User:MolotoK|MolotoK]] 14:27, 30 April 2007 (EDT)

== Italy ==
'' In October 1922, the Fascists or “Black Shirts” protested in Rome, demanding that King Victor Emmanuel abdicate in favor of Mussolini. The king did step down and Mussolini became Il Duce, the leader of Italy.''

This is incorrect. The March on Rome did not seek the abdication of Victor Emmanuel, nor did he abdicate; but he did makle Mussolini head of government. VEII was still on the throne and dismissed Mussolini in 1943. [[User:Pachyderm|Pachyderm]] 09:55, 30 August 2007 (EDT)

== China ==

''In 1937, Japan invaded China, and Japan invaded northern and central China. It sacked the Chinese capital of Nanjing, killing thousands of soldiers and civilians. Jiang Jieshi fled to the west while Mao Zedong’s guerilla fighters stayed to combat the Japanese.''

Tut, tut, tut. I'm surprised at you of all people peddling this line. That the CCP stood and fought the Japanese while the Nationalists either fled or held back waiting for the post-war conflict is a staplke of Communist historiography. Objective assessments have found that both Communist and Nationalist forces fought bravely against the Japanese (there were Nationalist guerillas as well as 'conventional' forces), with successes and failures, but that the Nationalists were more successful and more active than the 'conventional wisdom' has it and the Communists less so. The Communists were just better at getting their message across. There was also an element of both sides holding back forces to face each other rather than the Japanese - ''vide'' the New Fourth Army incident of 1941. [[User:Pachyderm|Pachyderm]] 10:03, 30 August 2007 (EDT)

==Britain not England==
We live in the United Kingdom. Occasionally, it is called Britain. "England" however, is merely one part of the union, and is incorrect. I don't refer to the US as Texas, although sometimes it seems like it. [[User:KarlJaeger|KarlJaeger]] 06:39, 3 June 2008 (EDT)

==George Orwell==
While George Orwell WAS fighting on the side of the republican government, he wasn't fighting for them. He was a member of the socialist POUM (Workers' Party for Marxist unification) militia. the Communists who had power in the Republican government were Stalinists and were therefore against the POUM who was more aligned with Trotsky. the fighting referred to here was between the Republican government and the communists on one side, and the anarchists and anti-stalin POUM on the other. so while Orwell did fight against the Communists, it was not on the side of the government.

--[[User:DaveClark|Dave Clark]]

Mount Everest

2009-01-18T01:40:42Z

DaveClark: /* Expeditions */

[[Image:mount_everest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mount Everest]]

The summit of '''Mount Everest''', or '''Qomolangma''', is the highest point on Earth, at 29,035 ft (8,850 m). (The formerly accepted elevation of 29,028 ft (8,848 m), established in the early 1950s, was recalculated in the late 1990s to be 29,035 ft.) <ref> http://www.mounteverest.net/ </ref>

It is is part of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain range and is located on the border between [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]].

== Name ==

Mount Everest, once known as Peak 15, was named after [[Sir George Everest]], the British surveyor-general of [[India]] in 1865. In Nepal, Mt Everest is called "Sagarmatha" which translates roughly as "goddess of the sky" and in Tibet it is called "Qomolangma" which translates to "mother of the universe". <ref> http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html </ref>

== Notable Climbers ==

English explorers [[George Mallory]] and [[Andrew Irvine]] disappeared in 1924 while attempting to summit the mountain. Mallory's body was discovered below Everest's peak in 1999. Irvine's body has never been recovered. It is unclear whether or not they were successful in climbing to the top of the mountain before they died.

[[Sir Edmund Hillary]] and Tenzing Norgay are credited with the first successful ascent on May 29,1953.

Another notable climber is [[Reinhold Messner]], who made the first solo ascent on Aug. 20,1980, after a prior successful summit two years earlier with his partner Peter Habeler, made without supplemental oxygen.

The first female to climb Everest was a Japanese climber named Junko Tabei. She summited on May 16th, 1975.

== Climbing Mt Everest ==

Climbers can approach Mt Everest from either Tibet or Nepal. The two most often used climbing routes are the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is considered to be easier to climb and is preferred by many climbers.

Climbers are required to have valid permits to climb issued by the Nepalese or Tibet government.

Many climbers these days are part of commercial expeditions, although some climbers choose to climb alone. Most commercial expeditions employ local residents to assist in the climb, often Sherpas, who live in the Khumbu, the national park surrounding Everest, and are adapted to the high altitude. Sherpas with experience climbing the mountain can offer valuable assistance in many tasks, carrying gear and equipment, setting up camps, laying out routes, fixing ropes for the climb, and acting as guides and assisting climbers.

The climb itself is difficult and takes much planning if it is to be successful. Climbers must take into consideration the weather conditions, and few climb without supplemental oxygen.

Typically, the expedition will take several weeks or longer. A Base camp is usually established near the bottom of the mountain, then 3 to 4 camps at higher levels. At each camp, climbers spend several days in "acclimatization" to get used to the higher altitude. Climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous and without proper acclimatization can cause serious, life threatening medical conditions, including High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are caused by fluid collecting in the lungs and brain.

Other medical problems that can occur while climbing the mountain include [[frostbite]], snow blindness and [[hypothermia]].

Many times, weather will be the deciding factor in whether or not the climbers will be able to summit the mountain (reach the top).

The top of Everest is always covered in snow, and a strong wind constantly blows.

Most summit attempts are made from late March through May before the summer [[monsoon]] season begins. <ref> http://www.answers.com/topic/mount-everest </ref>

== Expeditions ==

In 1996 members of three commercial expeditions were stranded high on the mountain during a blizzard, and eight climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including veteran climbers [[Scott Fischer]] and [[Rob Hall]] who owned the commercial expedition companies. One survivor, [[Jon Krakauer]] wrote a book about the tragedy, called ''[[Into Thin Air]]''.

==List of fatalities<ref name=list>[http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/removed/evfat.htm List of Everest Fatalities] AdventureStats.com</ref>==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Nationality
! Expedition
! Location of death
! Cause of Death
|-
| Doug Hansen (Client)
| USA
| rowspan=4| Adventure Consultants
| South Summit
| Unknown
|-
| Andrew Harris (Guide)
| New Zealand
| Southeast Ridge, 8800 m
| Disappeared
|-
| [[Yasuko Namba]] (Client)
| Japan
| South Col
| rowspan=6| Exposure
|-
| [[Rob Hall]] (Guide)
| New Zealand
| South Summit
|-
| [[Scott Fischer]] (Guide)
| USA
| Mountain Madness
| Southeast Ridge
|-
| Subedar Tsewang Samanla
| India
| rowspan=3| Indo-Tibetan Border Police
| rowspan=3| Near First or Second Step
|-
| Lance Naik Dorje Morup
| India
|-
| Head Constable Tsewang Paljor
| India
|}

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html 360-degree image (not live) taken from atop Mount Everest]
*[http://www.everest1953.co.uk All about the British on Mount Everest]

[[Category:Mountains|Everest, Mount]]

Mount Everest

2009-01-18T01:35:34Z

DaveClark: /* Expeditions */

[[Image:mount_everest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mount Everest]]

The summit of '''Mount Everest''', or '''Qomolangma''', is the highest point on Earth, at 29,035 ft (8,850 m). (The formerly accepted elevation of 29,028 ft (8,848 m), established in the early 1950s, was recalculated in the late 1990s to be 29,035 ft.) <ref> http://www.mounteverest.net/ </ref>

It is is part of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain range and is located on the border between [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]].

== Name ==

Mount Everest, once known as Peak 15, was named after [[Sir George Everest]], the British surveyor-general of [[India]] in 1865. In Nepal, Mt Everest is called "Sagarmatha" which translates roughly as "goddess of the sky" and in Tibet it is called "Qomolangma" which translates to "mother of the universe". <ref> http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html </ref>

== Notable Climbers ==

English explorers [[George Mallory]] and [[Andrew Irvine]] disappeared in 1924 while attempting to summit the mountain. Mallory's body was discovered below Everest's peak in 1999. Irvine's body has never been recovered. It is unclear whether or not they were successful in climbing to the top of the mountain before they died.

[[Sir Edmund Hillary]] and Tenzing Norgay are credited with the first successful ascent on May 29,1953.

Another notable climber is [[Reinhold Messner]], who made the first solo ascent on Aug. 20,1980, after a prior successful summit two years earlier with his partner Peter Habeler, made without supplemental oxygen.

The first female to climb Everest was a Japanese climber named Junko Tabei. She summited on May 16th, 1975.

== Climbing Mt Everest ==

Climbers can approach Mt Everest from either Tibet or Nepal. The two most often used climbing routes are the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is considered to be easier to climb and is preferred by many climbers.

Climbers are required to have valid permits to climb issued by the Nepalese or Tibet government.

Many climbers these days are part of commercial expeditions, although some climbers choose to climb alone. Most commercial expeditions employ local residents to assist in the climb, often Sherpas, who live in the Khumbu, the national park surrounding Everest, and are adapted to the high altitude. Sherpas with experience climbing the mountain can offer valuable assistance in many tasks, carrying gear and equipment, setting up camps, laying out routes, fixing ropes for the climb, and acting as guides and assisting climbers.

The climb itself is difficult and takes much planning if it is to be successful. Climbers must take into consideration the weather conditions, and few climb without supplemental oxygen.

Typically, the expedition will take several weeks or longer. A Base camp is usually established near the bottom of the mountain, then 3 to 4 camps at higher levels. At each camp, climbers spend several days in "acclimatization" to get used to the higher altitude. Climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous and without proper acclimatization can cause serious, life threatening medical conditions, including High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are caused by fluid collecting in the lungs and brain.

Other medical problems that can occur while climbing the mountain include [[frostbite]], snow blindness and [[hypothermia]].

Many times, weather will be the deciding factor in whether or not the climbers will be able to summit the mountain (reach the top).

The top of Everest is always covered in snow, and a strong wind constantly blows.

Most summit attempts are made from late March through May before the summer [[monsoon]] season begins. <ref> http://www.answers.com/topic/mount-everest </ref>

== Expeditions ==

In 1996 members of three commercial expeditions were stranded high on the mountain during a blizzard, and eight climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including veteran climbers [[Scott Fischer]] and [[Rob Hall]] who owned the commercial expedition companies. One survivor, [[Jon Krakauer]] wrote a book about the tragedy, called ''[[Into Thin Air]]''.

==List of fatalities<ref name=list>[http://www.adventurestats.com/tables/removed/evfat.htm List of Everest Fatalities] AdventureStats.com</ref>==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name
! Nationality
! Expedition
! Location of death
! Cause of Death
|-
| Doug Hansen (Client)
| {{USA}}
| rowspan=4| Adventure Consultants
| South Summit
| Unknown
|-
| Andrew Harris (Guide)
| {{NZL}}
| Southeast Ridge, 8800 m
| Disappeared
|-
| [[Yasuko Namba]] (Client)
| {{JPN}}
| South Col
| rowspan=6| Exposure
|-
| [[Rob Hall]] (Guide)
| {{NZL}}
| South Summit
|-
| [[Scott Fischer]] (Guide)
| {{USA}}
| Mountain Madness
| Southeast Ridge
|-
| Subedar Tsewang Samanla
| {{IND}}
| rowspan=3| Indo-Tibetan Border Police
| rowspan=3| Near First or Second Step
|-
| Lance Naik Dorje Morup
| {{IND}}
|-
| Head Constable Tsewang Paljor
| {{IND}}
|}

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html 360-degree image (not live) taken from atop Mount Everest]
*[http://www.everest1953.co.uk All about the British on Mount Everest]

[[Category:Mountains|Everest, Mount]]

Mount Everest

2009-01-18T01:32:57Z

DaveClark: removed the stuff about krakauer. i didn't see it below.

[[Image:mount_everest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mount Everest]]

The summit of '''Mount Everest''', or '''Qomolangma''', is the highest point on Earth, at 29,035 ft (8,850 m). (The formerly accepted elevation of 29,028 ft (8,848 m), established in the early 1950s, was recalculated in the late 1990s to be 29,035 ft.) <ref> http://www.mounteverest.net/ </ref>

It is is part of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain range and is located on the border between [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]].

== Name ==

Mount Everest, once known as Peak 15, was named after [[Sir George Everest]], the British surveyor-general of [[India]] in 1865. In Nepal, Mt Everest is called "Sagarmatha" which translates roughly as "goddess of the sky" and in Tibet it is called "Qomolangma" which translates to "mother of the universe". <ref> http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html </ref>

== Notable Climbers ==

English explorers [[George Mallory]] and [[Andrew Irvine]] disappeared in 1924 while attempting to summit the mountain. Mallory's body was discovered below Everest's peak in 1999. Irvine's body has never been recovered. It is unclear whether or not they were successful in climbing to the top of the mountain before they died.

[[Sir Edmund Hillary]] and Tenzing Norgay are credited with the first successful ascent on May 29,1953.

Another notable climber is [[Reinhold Messner]], who made the first solo ascent on Aug. 20,1980, after a prior successful summit two years earlier with his partner Peter Habeler, made without supplemental oxygen.

The first female to climb Everest was a Japanese climber named Junko Tabei. She summited on May 16th, 1975.

== Climbing Mt Everest ==

Climbers can approach Mt Everest from either Tibet or Nepal. The two most often used climbing routes are the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is considered to be easier to climb and is preferred by many climbers.

Climbers are required to have valid permits to climb issued by the Nepalese or Tibet government.

Many climbers these days are part of commercial expeditions, although some climbers choose to climb alone. Most commercial expeditions employ local residents to assist in the climb, often Sherpas, who live in the Khumbu, the national park surrounding Everest, and are adapted to the high altitude. Sherpas with experience climbing the mountain can offer valuable assistance in many tasks, carrying gear and equipment, setting up camps, laying out routes, fixing ropes for the climb, and acting as guides and assisting climbers.

The climb itself is difficult and takes much planning if it is to be successful. Climbers must take into consideration the weather conditions, and few climb without supplemental oxygen.

Typically, the expedition will take several weeks or longer. A Base camp is usually established near the bottom of the mountain, then 3 to 4 camps at higher levels. At each camp, climbers spend several days in "acclimatization" to get used to the higher altitude. Climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous and without proper acclimatization can cause serious, life threatening medical conditions, including High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are caused by fluid collecting in the lungs and brain.

Other medical problems that can occur while climbing the mountain include [[frostbite]], snow blindness and [[hypothermia]].

Many times, weather will be the deciding factor in whether or not the climbers will be able to summit the mountain (reach the top).

The top of Everest is always covered in snow, and a strong wind constantly blows.

Most summit attempts are made from late March through May before the summer [[monsoon]] season begins. <ref> http://www.answers.com/topic/mount-everest </ref>

== Expeditions ==

In 1996 members of three commercial expeditions were stranded high on the mountain during a blizzard, and several climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including veteran climbers [[Scott Fischer]] and [[Rob Hall]] who owned the commercial expedition companies. One survivor, [[Jon Krakauer]] wrote a book about the tragedy, called ''[[Into Thin Air]]''.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html 360-degree image (not live) taken from atop Mount Everest]
*[http://www.everest1953.co.uk All about the British on Mount Everest]

[[Category:Mountains|Everest, Mount]]

Mount Everest

2009-01-18T01:30:05Z

DaveClark: Added info about Jon Krakauer.

[[Image:mount_everest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mount Everest]]

The summit of '''Mount Everest''', or '''Qomolangma''', is the highest point on Earth, at 29,035 ft (8,850 m). (The formerly accepted elevation of 29,028 ft (8,848 m), established in the early 1950s, was recalculated in the late 1990s to be 29,035 ft.) <ref> http://www.mounteverest.net/ </ref>

It is is part of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain range and is located on the border between [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]].

== Name ==

Mount Everest, once known as Peak 15, was named after [[Sir George Everest]], the British surveyor-general of [[India]] in 1865. In Nepal, Mt Everest is called "Sagarmatha" which translates roughly as "goddess of the sky" and in Tibet it is called "Qomolangma" which translates to "mother of the universe". <ref> http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html </ref>

== Notable Climbers ==

English explorers [[George Mallory]] and [[Andrew Irvine]] disappeared in 1924 while attempting to summit the mountain. Mallory's body was discovered below Everest's peak in 1999. Irvine's body has never been recovered. It is unclear whether or not they were successful in climbing to the top of the mountain before they died.

[[Sir Edmund Hillary]] and Tenzing Norgay are credited with the first successful ascent on May 29,1953.

Another notable climber is [[Reinhold Messner]], who made the first solo ascent on Aug. 20,1980, after a prior successful summit two years earlier with his partner Peter Habeler, made without supplemental oxygen.

The first female to climb Everest was a Japanese climber named Junko Tabei. She summited on May 16th, 1975.

Writer and journalist [[Jon Krakauer]] climbed Everest during the deadly 1996 climbing season when 15 climbers died, including eight climbers the night of his successful summit attempt and four climbers from the team with which Krakauer was climbing.

== Climbing Mt Everest ==

Climbers can approach Mt Everest from either Tibet or Nepal. The two most often used climbing routes are the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is considered to be easier to climb and is preferred by many climbers.

Climbers are required to have valid permits to climb issued by the Nepalese or Tibet government.

Many climbers these days are part of commercial expeditions, although some climbers choose to climb alone. Most commercial expeditions employ local residents to assist in the climb, often Sherpas, who live in the Khumbu, the national park surrounding Everest, and are adapted to the high altitude. Sherpas with experience climbing the mountain can offer valuable assistance in many tasks, carrying gear and equipment, setting up camps, laying out routes, fixing ropes for the climb, and acting as guides and assisting climbers.

The climb itself is difficult and takes much planning if it is to be successful. Climbers must take into consideration the weather conditions, and few climb without supplemental oxygen.

Typically, the expedition will take several weeks or longer. A Base camp is usually established near the bottom of the mountain, then 3 to 4 camps at higher levels. At each camp, climbers spend several days in "acclimatization" to get used to the higher altitude. Climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous and without proper acclimatization can cause serious, life threatening medical conditions, including High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are caused by fluid collecting in the lungs and brain.

Other medical problems that can occur while climbing the mountain include [[frostbite]], snow blindness and [[hypothermia]].

Many times, weather will be the deciding factor in whether or not the climbers will be able to summit the mountain (reach the top).

The top of Everest is always covered in snow, and a strong wind constantly blows.

Most summit attempts are made from late March through May before the summer [[monsoon]] season begins. <ref> http://www.answers.com/topic/mount-everest </ref>

== Expeditions ==

In 1996 members of three commercial expeditions were stranded high on the mountain during a blizzard, and several climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including veteran climbers [[Scott Fischer]] and [[Rob Hall]] who owned the commercial expedition companies. One survivor, [[Jon Krakauer]] wrote a book about the tragedy, called ''[[Into Thin Air]]''.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html 360-degree image (not live) taken from atop Mount Everest]
*[http://www.everest1953.co.uk All about the British on Mount Everest]

[[Category:Mountains|Everest, Mount]]

Mount Everest

2009-01-18T01:26:00Z

DaveClark: added some info on Andrew Irvine

[[Image:mount_everest.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Mount Everest]]

The summit of '''Mount Everest''', or '''Qomolangma''', is the highest point on Earth, at 29,035 ft (8,850 m). (The formerly accepted elevation of 29,028 ft (8,848 m), established in the early 1950s, was recalculated in the late 1990s to be 29,035 ft.) <ref> http://www.mounteverest.net/ </ref>

It is is part of the [[Himalayas|Himalayan]] mountain range and is located on the border between [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]].

== Name ==

Mount Everest, once known as Peak 15, was named after [[Sir George Everest]], the British surveyor-general of [[India]] in 1865. In Nepal, Mt Everest is called "Sagarmatha" which translates roughly as "goddess of the sky" and in Tibet it is called "Qomolangma" which translates to "mother of the universe". <ref> http://www.mnteverest.net/history.html </ref>

== Notable Climbers ==

English explorers [[George Mallory]] and [[Andrew Irvine]] disappeared in 1924 while attempting to summit the mountain. Mallory's body was discovered below Everest's peak in 1999. Irvine's body has never been recovered. It is unclear whether or not they were successful in climbing to the top of the mountain before they died.

[[Sir Edmund Hillary]] and Tenzing Norgay are credited with the first successful ascent on May 29,1953.

Another notable climber is [[Reinhold Messner]], who made the first solo ascent on Aug. 20,1980, after a prior successful summit two years earlier with his partner Peter Habeler, made without supplemental oxygen.

The first female to climb Everest was a Japanese climber named Junko Tabei. She summited on May 16th, 1975.

== Climbing Mt Everest ==

Climbers can approach Mt Everest from either Tibet or Nepal. The two most often used climbing routes are the southeast ridge from Nepal and the northeast ridge from Tibet. The southeast ridge is considered to be easier to climb and is preferred by many climbers.

Climbers are required to have valid permits to climb issued by the Nepalese or Tibet government.

Many climbers these days are part of commercial expeditions, although some climbers choose to climb alone. Most commercial expeditions employ local residents to assist in the climb, often Sherpas, who live in the Khumbu, the national park surrounding Everest, and are adapted to the high altitude. Sherpas with experience climbing the mountain can offer valuable assistance in many tasks, carrying gear and equipment, setting up camps, laying out routes, fixing ropes for the climb, and acting as guides and assisting climbers.

The climb itself is difficult and takes much planning if it is to be successful. Climbers must take into consideration the weather conditions, and few climb without supplemental oxygen.

Typically, the expedition will take several weeks or longer. A Base camp is usually established near the bottom of the mountain, then 3 to 4 camps at higher levels. At each camp, climbers spend several days in "acclimatization" to get used to the higher altitude. Climbing at high altitudes can be dangerous and without proper acclimatization can cause serious, life threatening medical conditions, including High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) which are caused by fluid collecting in the lungs and brain.

Other medical problems that can occur while climbing the mountain include [[frostbite]], snow blindness and [[hypothermia]].

Many times, weather will be the deciding factor in whether or not the climbers will be able to summit the mountain (reach the top).

The top of Everest is always covered in snow, and a strong wind constantly blows.

Most summit attempts are made from late March through May before the summer [[monsoon]] season begins. <ref> http://www.answers.com/topic/mount-everest </ref>

== Expeditions ==

In 1996 members of three commercial expeditions were stranded high on the mountain during a blizzard, and several climbers lost their lives on the mountain, including veteran climbers [[Scott Fischer]] and [[Rob Hall]] who owned the commercial expedition companies. One survivor, [[Jon Krakauer]] wrote a book about the tragedy, called ''[[Into Thin Air]]''.

==References==
<references/>

==External Links==
*[http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen2/full22.html 360-degree image (not live) taken from atop Mount Everest]
*[http://www.everest1953.co.uk All about the British on Mount Everest]

[[Category:Mountains|Everest, Mount]]