History of Frankincense, Ancient Aromatic Tree Resin

Frankincense is an ancient and fabled aromatic tree resin, its use as a fragrant perfume reported from a multitude of historical sources at least as early as 1500 BC. Frankincense consists of the dried resin from the frankincense tree, and it is one of the most common and sought-after of aromatic tree resins in the world even today. Purposes Frankincense resin was used in the past for a variety of medicinal, religious and social purposes, and many of those purposes are still used today. Its perhaps best-known use is to create a permeating scent by burning crystalized pieces during rites of passages such as weddings, childbirth, and funerals. The incense is and was used to smooth and oil hair and sweeten the breath; soot from the incense burners is and was used for eye makeup and tattoos. More pragmatically, melted incense resin is and was used to mend cracked pots and jars: filling the cracks with frankincense makes a vessel watertight again. The bark of the tree is and was used as a red-brown dye for cotton and leather clothing. Some species of resins have a delightful flavor, which is sampled by adding it to coffee or by simply chewing it. Frankincense also is and was also used as a household medicine for dental problems, swellings, bronchitis, and coughs. Harvesting Frankincense has never been domesticated or even truly cultivated: the trees grow where they will and survive in place for very long periods. The trees have no central trunk but seem to grow up out of the bare rock to heights of about 2-2.5 meters or about 7 or 8 feet. The resin is harvested by scraping a 2 centimeter (3/4 of an inch) opening and allowing the resin to ooze out on its own, and harden on the tree trunk. After a few weeks, the resin has dried and can be taken to market. Tapping the resin is done two to three times a year, spaced out so the tree can recover. Frankincense trees can be overexploited: take away too much resin and the seeds wont germinate. The process was not easy: the trees grow in oases surrounded by harsh deserts, and overland routes to market were difficult at best. Nonetheless, the market for incense was so great the traders used myths and fables to keep rivals away. Historical Mentions The Egyptian Ebers Papyrus dated to 1500 BC is the oldest known reference to frankincense, and it prescribes the resin as a use for throat infections and asthmatic attacks. In the first century AD, the Roman writer Pliny mentioned it as an antidote to hemlock; the Islamic philosopher Ibn Sina (or Avicenna, 980-1037 AD) recommended it for tumors, ulcers, and fevers. Other historical references to frankincense appear in the 6th century AD in the  Chinese herbal manuscript Mingyi Bielu, and numerous mentions appear in both old and new testaments of the Judeo-Christian bible. The Periplus maris Erythraei (Periplus of the Erythryean Sea), a 1st century sailors travel guide to shipping lanes in the Mediterranean, Arabian gulf and Indian Ocean, describes several natural products, including frankincense; Periplus states that South Arabian frankincense was of a finer quality and more highly prized than that from East Africa. The Greek writer Herodotus reported in the 5th century BC that frankincense trees were guarded by winged serpents of small size and various colors: a myth promulgated to warn off rivals.   Five Species There are five species of frankincense tree which produce resins suitable for incense, although the two most commercial today are Boswellia carterii or B. freraeana. The resin harvested from the tree varies from species to species, but also within the same species, depending on local climatic conditions. B. carterii (or B. sacra, and called olibanum or dragons blood) is thought to be the tree mentioned in the bible. It grows in Somalia and the Dhofar valley of Oman. The Dhofar valley is a lush green oasis, watered by monsoonal rains in sharp contrast to its surrounding desert. That valley is still the leading source for frankincense in the world today, and the highest grade resins, called Silver and Hojari, are only found there.B. frereana and B. thurifera grow in northern Somalia and are the source of Coptic or Maydi frankincense, treasured by the Coptic church and Saudi Arabian Muslims. These resins have a lemony scent and today are manufactured into a popular chewing gum.B. papyrifera grows in Ethiopia and Sudan and produces a transparent, oily resin.B. serrata is Indian frankincense, golden brown in color and mainly burned as incense and used in Ayurvedic medicine. The International Spice Trade Frankincense, like many other aromatics and spices, was carried from its isolated origins to market along two international trade and commercial routes: the Incense Trade Route (or Incense Road) that carried the trade of Arabia, East Africa and India; and the  Silk Road  that passed through Parthia and Asia. Frankincense was extremely desired, and the demand for it, and the difficulty of getting it distributed to its Mediterranean customers was one of the reasons the Nabataean culture rose to prominence in the first century BC. The Nabataeans were able to monopolize the frankincense trade not at the source in modern Oman, but by controlling the Incense Trade Route that crossed Arabia, East Africa, and India. That trade sprang up during the classical period and had a huge impact on Nabataean architecture, culture, economy and urban development at Petra. Sources: Al Salameen Z. 2011.  The Nabataeans and Asia Minor.  Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry  11(2):55-78.Ben-Yehoshua S, Borowitz C, and HanuÃ… ¡ LO. 2011.  Frankincense, Myrrh, and Balm of Gilead: Ancient Spices of Southern Arabia and Judea.  Horticultural Reviews: John Wiley Sons, Inc. p 1-76. doi: 10.1002/9781118100592.ch1Erickson-Gini T, and Israel Y. 20113.  Excavating the Nabataean Incense Road.  Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies  1(1):24-53.Seland EH. 2014.Archaeology of Trade in the Western Indian Ocean, 300BC–AD700.  Journal of Archaeological Research  22(4):367-402. doi: 10.1007/s10814-014-9075-7Tomber R. 2012.  From the Roman Red Sea to beyond the Empire: Egyptian ports and their trading partners.  British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan  18:201-215.

The Effects Of Popular Energy Drinks On Young Adults And...

Popular energy drinks, such as Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy, and Monster are consumed by individuals, as a way to remain cognizant, as well as alert, throughout their day. Many of the people consuming these drinks are young adults and teenagers. These people are oftentimes overwhelmed and busy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, states, â€Å"Energy drinks are beverages that typically contain caffeine, other plant-based stimulants, simple sugars, and other additives. They are very popular among young people and are regularly consumed by 31% of 12- to 17-year-olds and 34% of 18- to 24-year-olds (CDC, 2015, p. 1). These statistics show the ages of people consuming these products and prove that it is mostly young people. Individuals might feel the need to consume an energy drink before a sports match, work, school, homework, or any task which requires them to be mentally, as well as physically alert. There are many different types of energy drinks people can consume and these beverages have similar ingredients. An advantage to these drinks, would be that an individual accomplishes their goal for the day, because they were given the energy to do so. There are also certain health benefits that might occur, due to these drinks. For example, they have ingredients that might protect against some illnesses. However, people who consume these drinks might not know that they could be risking their overall health. The Food and Drug Administration has all three of theseShow MoreRelatedDanger in Disguise Essay1332 Words   |  6 PagesAs a busy teenager, I find my schedule filled with a variety of activities including athletics, academics, and other extra-curricular responsibilities. Although teenagers are supposed to have the opportunity to relax and enjoy their high school years, I find myself becoming overwhelmed with the stress of fulfilling all the expectations placed upon me. Living out such a hectic schedule can become tiresome, and I often find mys elf running low on mental and physical energy. Because we constantlyRead MoreEffects Of Energy Drink Consumption On All Age Groups Are Real And Impacts1613 Words   |  7 Pageslimited English sources dated 2005 to 2010, energy drinks have become more popular among teenagers and young adults (Rath, 2012). SixWise.com’s (2008) article â€Å"What is really in a hot dog?† provided evidence that just because the product is purchased by the public does not automatically mean it is beneficial long term (Wyrick). This new craze of energy drinks has the world consuming them at a staggering rate. The debates concerning the effects among energy drink consumption in all age groups are realRead MoreTopic On Alcopops And Teen Binge Drinking1338 Words   |  6 Pagespurpose of getting drunk. Teenagers generally do this on a weekend and the drink of choice is the sweet flavoured Alcopops. These drinks come in a variety of cool colour and flavours and are marketed at the younger ta rget group Binge drinking is a widely used term, and is the act of drinking heavily over a short period of time or over several days. Alcopops are the only alcoholic drink whose popularity declines with age. Alcopops begin introducing young people to alcohol at a young age, before they moveRead MoreThe Sports Energy Drink Industry1102 Words   |  5 Pages This case study written by Krupa Kansaru on the history of Red Bull and their success in making the sports energy drink market what it is today has shown the key strengths of the company. The obvious strength that the Red Bull company has a unique and early start in the sports energy drink industry. CEO Dietrich Mateschitizin was quoted in the case study, he says that â€Å"if we don’t create the market, it doesn’t exists,† this quote parallels with Red Bull as a whole. Starting in the 1980s Red BullRead MorePros And Cons Of Energy Drinks1177 Words   |  5 PagesAs the selling of energy drinks begin to accelerate quickly over the years there has been the pros and cons of these kinds of beverages. Researchers have been finding evidence where adolescents have stated the hazards and benefits of these common drinks. In the early 2000s the percentages of consumptions of energy drinks from young children including early adults have rapidly been increasing over the ye ars. The evidence that the Pediatrics is stating is proven and have reported that in 2003 an averageRead MoreThe Problem Of Energy Drinks Essay1300 Words   |  6 Pagesawake. Energy drinks have many untested contents within the drink that aren’t tested or regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, deeming it unsafe for consumption. The FDA needs to test the effects of the combined contents of an energy drink and draft regulations so that the public can make more informed decisions about its consumption. Energy drinks have undeniably meshed into the subculture of any US college campus. College students who consume copious amounts of energy drinks claimRead MoreHistory Of Energy Drink Consumption On Australia1632 Words   |  7 Pages1. History of Energy Drink consumption in Australia: An energy drink is a popular non-alcoholic drink that includes caffeine and may contain other ingredients such as taurine and B vitamins, ginseng and guarana. In Australia, a 250ml can of an energy drink contains 80mg of caffeine, which is equivalent to the amount of caffeine in a 250mL cup of instant coffee. Every energy drink sold in Australia must include a list of ingredients on the can or bottle. The labels include nutritional informationRead MoreWhy Energy Drinks Are Unhealthy2216 Words   |  9 PagesWhy Energy Drinks Are Really Unhealthy: Some Dangers of Drinking Energy Drinks Why Energy Drinks Are Really Unhealthy: Some Dangers of Drinking Energy Drinks A lot of people drink energy drinks now, especially young people and teenagers. Adults drink Red Bull and Monsters too explaining it that strong coffee doesn’t help them. Of course, people feel good when they drink energy drinks. Energy drinks have become popular among students in preparation for exams, office workersRead MoreProduct Demand Life Cycle Impact On The Marketing Mix1095 Words   |  5 Pages(Tanner Raymond, 2010) Target Market The Coca-Cola Company attempts to satisfy the wants and needs of many different types of people. They carry beverages that target different age groups, sexes, and lifestyles. Their most popular product, as many know, is Coca-Cola and it is popular in multiple different nations. The Coca-Cola Company took note on their success with Coke, so they produce many similar products that would then fit the lifestyle of everyone, such as Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Caffeine FreeRead MorePepsi Elements Of Marketing Strategy814 Words   |  4 Pagesworld. The marketing strategy and mix both are connected to target marketing, focusing on the company needs and wants in a large group setting. According to Young’s study, â€Å"PepsiCo’s marketing mix has evolved over time, especially because of the effects of mergers and acquisitions† (2016). The marketing mix or 4Ps is the combination of strategies and tactics that the firm uses to implement its marketing plan. Their four policy procedures are advertising, sale promotion, direct marketing and public

History and Evolution of Dogs free essay sample

Domestic dogs inherited complex behaviors from their wolf ancestors, being pack hunters with complex body language. These sophisticated forms of social cognition and communication may account for their trainability, playfulness, and ability to fit into human households and social situations, and these attributes have given dogs a relationship with humans that has enabled them to become one of the most successful species on the planet today. Although experts largely disagree over the details of dog domestication, it is agreed that human interaction played a significant role in shaping the subspecies. Shortly after domestication, dogs became ubiquitous in human populations, and spread throughout the world. Emigrants from Siberia likely crossed the Bering Strait with dogs in their company, and some experts suggest the use of sled dogs may have been critical to the success of the waves that entered North America roughly 12,000 years ago, although the earliest archaeological evidence of dog-like canids in North America dates from about 9,000 years ago. We will write a custom essay sample on History and Evolution of Dogs or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Dogs were an important part of life for the Athabascan population in North America, and were their only domesticated animal. The divergence date of roughly 15,000 years ago is based in part on archaeological evidence that demonstrates the domestication of dogs occurred more than 15,000 years ago,and some genetic evidence indicates the domestication of dogs from their wolf ancestors began in the late Upper Paleolithic close to the Pleistocene/Holocene boundary, between 17,000 and 14,000 years ago. But there is a wide range of other, contradictory findings that make this issue controversial. Archaeological evidence suggests the latest dogs could have diverged from wolves was roughly 15,000 years ago, although it is possible they diverged much earlier. In 2008, a team of international scientists released findings from an excavation at Goyet Cave in Belgium declaring a large, toothy canine existed 31,700 years ago and ate a diet of horse, musk ox and reindeer. Prior to this Belgian discovery, the earliest dog fossils were two large skulls from Russia and a mandible from Germany dated from roughly 14,000 years ago. Remains of smaller dogs from Natufian cave deposits in the Middle East, including the earliest burial of a human being with a domestic dog, have been dated to around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. There is a great deal of archaeological evidence for dogs throughout Europe and Asia around this period and through the next two thousand years, with fossils uncovered in Germany, the French Alps, and Iraq, and cave paintings in Turkey The oldest remains of a domesticated dog in the Americas were found in Texas and have been dated to about 9,400 years ago.