...The Mayan civilization had it beginnings around the year B.C. 2,000. Its earliest origins point to the Yucatan Peninsula of present day Mexico. The Maya culture was made up of various groups of indigenous peoples who shared a common religion, practiced its rituals, shared a common calendar, and to some degree, a common writing system. The ability to read one type of hieroglyphics does not mean one can read the writings from all Mayan geographical areas. The Mayas spoke several distinct dialects; their hieroglyphics also depict this difference. One theory is the Mayans did not disappear; although millions did vanish, all at once, about 1,200 years ago, in the ninth century AD. There are many, many Mayans living today, principally in Guatemala. It is stated that in the Tikal area of Guatemala, there are relatively that the Atlantic area turned extremely cold, that the normal tropical rain band of Central America is pushed further south, into the northern part of South America. Secondly, scientific investigations of the ice in the far north were using ice techniques the deep core corresponding shows extremely low ammonia content in the soil. The second theory is that over population may have caused the people to move because there was not be enough food for everyone. The Maya was a farming people and the farmland would to be fertilized like today. Some historians have also said droughts may have caused the people to move-since they would have to land and water for their...
Words: 473 - Pages: 2
...Importance of Speech Popol Vuh, written anonymously by Mayans and later translated by Father Ximenez, is a myth on the creation of humans through a process of trial and error. By examining the role of speaking and its relationship to humans in Popul Vuh, we can see that the ability to speak and reason defines humanity. Speech is first introduced as just existing when the world had just begun. Any form of life had not existed except for the sea. Then the myth illustrates the power of speech when the Gods create the earth from just their words after talking and pondering together. The ability to speak has great power and is something that the Mayans felt important in their culture. The story then goes on as the Gods create animals as the first living beings. . However, these living beings were incapable of human thought and the gods expressed their dissatisfaction by saying to the animals, “You shall be replaced because you were not successful.” This begins many experiments by the Gods for the perfect human being. After being disappointed in the creations of animals, mud people, and wood people, the Gods finally create human that are capable of human thought. These humans were created by maize and water which are the necessary nutrition to sustain life for the Mayans. However these humans become another “mistake” for the Gods when they are asked to speak. The relationship between speech and reasoning is distinguished when they rename the Gods as “grandmother” and “grandfather...
Words: 374 - Pages: 2
...THE EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY: COMPARING COMMUNICATION METHODS OF MODERN SOCIAL NETWORKS TO RURAL INDIGENOUS GROUPS [DO NOT CITE WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE AUTHORS] 1 ABSTRACT “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity” (Einstein 1875-1955). This quote by Albert Einstein shows the vast technology changes experienced by humanity. The early indigenous tribes and groups had developed systems of communication and networks to conduct their daily activities (ie. trade, etc) with the use of technological resources which were far inferior compared to modern day. They created social networks to communicate and share common interests during their interactions. A social network defined is a social structure that encompasses individuals and organizations who become connected through sharing of common interests, for example in friendship, beliefs, knowledge, etc. In the modern era, post 1950s, humankind had begun to see a sharp climb in technology uses to ease daily tasks and activities. They created a social structure such that much of the interaction and creation of social networks revolves around the use of technology as a resource. Technology in the modern era has begun to be viewed as a means of effective communication and function for a majority of individuals. The comparison between rural indigenous groups of the past and the modern era communication methods can be studied to see whether technology has increased level of communication. ...
Words: 2208 - Pages: 9
...End of Mayan Civilization Samuel Nathaniel H. Stansbury HUM 111 11/3/2012 The mystery concerning the fundamental explanation for the collapse of the Mayan Civilization has been a major focus for researchers in the fields of anthropology and archeology for a considerable period of time. At the very core of this mystery of the Mayan collapse was the question of how could such a strong, stable civilization that had flourished for approximately twenty-seven hundred years disappear without a clear, rational explanation. As a result, researchers have put forth a large number of theories for the explanation of the collapse and subsequent decimation of the Mayan empire. Although it would be convenient or simple to put forth a theory concerning only one reasonable or rational factor explaining the collapse of the Mayan civilization, this would be both insufficient and impossible from a strictly theoretical standpoint. For example, Henry M. Sayre argues that by 900 A. D. (900 CE), Mayan civilization had been decimated as a result of not just one single factor, but, rather, as a result of a number of equally important factors. These factors included overpopulation and accompanying ecological degradation, political competition, and warfare (Sayre, 2012, p.392). Once again, it is essential to clearly articulate the fact that it is theoretically impossible to put forth only one single underlying factor in a theory offering a coherent explanation for the collapse of the Mayan civilization...
Words: 1150 - Pages: 5
...civilizations, we have come to know of their rich culture and traditions. One group that we know a great deal of, the Classic Maya, exhibited a culture that was not only sophisticated and ahead of its time, but also one of great art and rituals. What was of great significance to these people was the Mayan Ballgame. The ballgame will be analyzed throughout this text, signifying its importance to the Mayan culture as evidenced in various articles and how these articles contribute to our understanding of these people. Though these written articles differ in some aspects they are all effective in advancing our knowledge of Mayan history and civilization because collectively they communicate how the ballgame taught Mayan values and proper behavior, was crucial in Mayan ritual and civilization, and how it was used as an interaction with other civilizations. How was this Mayan ballgame played? All the information historians have on the ballgame derived from visiting the actual sites in Mesoamerica where these games were played and the interpretation of various glyphs depicting the game. According to Freidel, Schele, and Parker, the ballcourts were oriented at the North – South axis, probably in line with astrological movement of stars, and usually in the center of the city-state. And though there were variations in the courts and the game itself most were shaped like a capital “I” with sloping playing surfaces and a sunken alley were the Mayans probably...
Words: 1522 - Pages: 7
...Theories Behind the Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization Travis Epling Prof. Aprile Castagna Cappuzzo Introduction to Humanities 2 May 2014 Theories Behind the Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization There are many theories behind the decline of the Mayan Civilization. They range from over-population, war, famine, immigration, deforestation, climate change, and even aliens. When we say the disappearance of the Mayans we do not mean that the culture completely disappeared, we are talking about and extreme reduction in population. Tom Server believes as much as 90 to 95 percent of the population. Many of the major bustling cities of the Mayan Empire such as Tikal, Palenque, and Copan were simply abandoned for, what appears to be, no reason. Many of these theories have been debunked over time with the development of new science technology that allows for more thorough of investigations of these ancient civilizations. The first theory we will visit will be the affects of deforestation which also encompasses part of the climate change theory. NASA archaeologist, Tom Sever(2004) states that , “The Mayan civilization in Mesoamerica was one of the densest populations in human history”. He believes that the population during the height of the Mayan Empire would have been between 1800 and 2600 people per square mile. In 2000, the population density of Los Angeles was around 2300 for a comparison. The extreme amount of people living in the area would have put...
Words: 1215 - Pages: 5
...need for a hierarchical government to keep them operating. Civilization is the way of life that began by those who live in cities. Civilization comes from the word civis, which is a Latin word meaning citizen of a city. Civilization is characterized by everything that makes up the way of life in a city. This includes form of government, arts, customs, and technology. Civilization is similar to a culture except that civilization is more advanced and complex. Everyone has a culture but not everyone is in a civilization. The increase in agriculture and domestication of animals were major steps in civilization. This supported everyone in a small town. Trade was involved in which they exchanged grain, pottery, and various raw materials. Everything in the town was supported as much as possible to make life easier, this is what a civilization was. Civilization can also describe the culture of a complex society, not just the society itself. Every society, civilization or not, has a specific set of ideas and customs, and a certain set of items and arts, that make it unique. Humanities fits into the discussion when it comes to civilization...
Words: 666 - Pages: 3
... Corinna Sullwold |Religion Name |Cult of Pharaoh - Ancient |Mayan/Aztec - Ancient | |Origins of the religion: |Between 10000 and 7000 BCE a group of ancient Egyptians settled in the Nile Valley. |Mayan religion was founded c.250AD which is the rise of the Mayan civilization | |It's Founder, dates, Key Figures, Historical |7000 – 3000 BCD the people became organized into separate villages. After 3000 BCE |(http://www.religionfacts.com/mayan-religion) | |Development, Cosmogony (creation stories), |hieroglyphics were developed after the independent villages become united under one |Aztec formed between the 12th and 15th centuries AD. | |Myths |kingdom. They were then ruled by one imperial Pharaoh. |(http://www.aztec-history.com/aztec-timeline.html) | | | |Religion for both cultures was a central part of their daily lives. They prayed and | |HOW THE RELIGION STARTED … | ...
Words: 5398 - Pages: 22
...Disappearance of the Mayan Civilization Gladis Y. Romero Prof. Lowell Larry Pullen, Ph.D. HUM111 – World Cultures I Strayer University May 4, 2013 Abstract Maya Civilizations was truly remarkable. There is so much to learn from this Ancient society. Due to advance research, new clues have aroused about the disappearance of this magnificent empire. We now know they suffered a calamity, the mighty Maya; timekeepers of the universe, together with their centers of learning were vanished. Their incredible achievements and legacy in astronomy, mathematics, Maya pottery and other Pre-Columbian art as well as monumental constructions in stone were obliterated. All was reclaimed by nature. Even their writing was forgotten in time. Until very recent, the glyphs in stone and four surviving Maya manuscripts were considered a mystery. It is only recently with some scientific advancement that we are starting to decode what words were written and truly comprehend the excellence of their achievements, their great fall and disappearance. The Disaster and Warfare Theory are discussed, believing the Warfare Theory is the most plausible one. No one can say for certain what happened to the Mayan people, but theories abound and include varied possible alternatives to explain the abrupt and mysterious disappearance of the Mayan civilization. Minster’s (2013) Article explains the following: In 800 A.D., the Maya Empire consisted of a number of powerful city-states spreading from southern...
Words: 798 - Pages: 4
...whether or not these prophecies are true or just myths. Let’s begin with the most famous prophecy; it originates from the Maya Empire. This is where the prophecy was first discovered in one of the great Mayan empires in Mexico. The Mayan calendar ends on the leap year of 2012. The Mayan calendar was invented by a civilized tribe from Central America, dating back to 250-900 AD. The Maya empire stretched around most parts of Mexico down to El Salvador and even some parts of Honduras. Mayans had very advanced writing skills and an amazing ability when constructing cities. The Mayans are most famous for their magnificent pyramids which can be found all over South America. The Mayans were obsessed with time keeping; it was a spiritual practice for them. Their calendar was so precise it predicts a lunar eclipse thousands of years before it happens. The prophecy would just be like the Y2K bug though unless it had a good track record of predictions. The calendar predicted the arrival of the Spanish fleet on the day. If this is true which we have no way in proving, than this calendar has the ability to predict the end of the world. This prophecy wouldn’t be so popular if several other predictions were made from other cultures and areas of the world also different time frames. The I Ch’ing (first book of China) dates back to 2,000 BC. It predicts the world will undergo...
Words: 1227 - Pages: 5
...Extended Essay In World Religions [pic] “An Investigation into the Sacrificial Blood Rituals of the Maya Culture.” Abstract This essay focuses on the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Mayan civilization that spanned from the borders of present day Honduras up to Mexico, but which only a certain amount is truly known. The principal reason why I chose to focus on these people was to challenge myself to try and gain a greater understanding of why they engaged in such strange rituals as bloodletting and even human sacrifice? What prompted them to commit such acts? I proposed that the performance of these actions, as they seemed to be so entwined with their culture, must have had something to do with their religious beliefs but which ones exactly, and how did they originate? It was with this in mind that I conducted an investigation into the sacrificial blood rituals of Maya culture. Thus, from conducting library based research - using books, Encyclopedias and the Internet - I found out that the Mayans had created for themselves a complex Creation Myth and pantheon of gods. It was to supposedly sustain these gods, who were constantly fighting against one another, that the Mayan conducted bloodletting and human sacrifices, believing that in return the gods would provide them the water needed to grow their maize. The gods, replenished by this blood, were able to maintain the harmony of the universe by preventing any one group of...
Words: 8185 - Pages: 33
...The symbol of feminine worship can be traced back to 22-24,000 B.C.E, when the artifact called the Venus of Willendorf was thought to have been carved. It depicted a feminine figure with an abundant figure that was naked and showed prominent breasts. It is thought that this artifact represented a Neolithic adherence to fertility and the female’s inherent importance in that society. If this is indeed the case, the reverence of the feminine has existed for nearly thirty thousand years. It is the case historically that there exists a female godhead in nearly every type of culture, all around the globe. Within the dogma of these cultures, the Goddess is worshipped as a Great Mother; she is nurturing and maternal, promotes fertility in both humans and the earth, and also like the earth, has a dark side which can destroy. It is this concept of the Great Mother, a figure who gives life, creates all, the explanation to the unexplainable; that despite the often forced conversion to Western religions, is still flourishing in many areas of the world. Women are the bearers of life and because of this our identity is inexorably entwined with the identity of Mother. Those who choose to not become mothers sometimes struggle with this aversion to the social and oftentimes spiritual norm, and are looked down upon in society as selfish or strange. Women who are unable to bear children also grapple with the inability to fulfill this deeply ingrained natural role. The identity of Mother...
Words: 3157 - Pages: 13
...central Mexico, more than 1000 km (625 miles) from the Maya area. Many outside influences are found in Maya art and architecture, which are thought to result from trade and cultural exchange rather than direct external conquest. The Maya peoples never disappeared, neither at the time of the Classic period decline nor with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores and the subsequent Spanish colonization of the Americas. Today, the Maya and their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs that are the result of the merger of pre-Columbian and post-Conquest ideas and cultures. Many Mayan languages continue to be spoken as primary languages today; the Rabinal Achí, a play written in the Achi' language, was declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...a part of human life worldwide. Some may dismiss this idea based on their ignorance of the subject or their own personal detachment from such situations; however, religion surrounds the American culture and other cultures worldwide. Understanding religious traditions, relationships, and foundational beliefs enables humans to understand their differences and better prepare themselves to make decisions regarding religious interactions in the appropriate context. Religious Foundations C.S. Lewis once said, “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else,” (C.S. Lewis Foundation, 2010). Lewis expresses the importance that his faith has in his life, just as so many others might view their faith as intrinsic to their lives. Although many religious people might view their faith in this way, religions vary in several ways. Some religions express faith in a singular sacred holiness known by various terms such as divine parent, Great Spirit, Dao, and God (Molloy, 2010). Some religions believe in one divine being with a supreme cosmic power. Believing in one God or supreme-being is monotheism; believing in more than would God is known as polytheism (Molloy, 2010). Recently, a team located an ancient Mayan temple dedicated to the Sun God in...
Words: 993 - Pages: 4
...Misrepresentations of Mesoamerica in Popular Culture There is an awkward manner by which popular media can distort, manipulate or even reorder facts so that the real becomes surreal. Oftentimes people tend to believe in things they read without an iota of doubt concerning their veracity or validity. When it comes to historical facts, truthfulness is often established through some scientific means or records from the time under investigation. It is no wonder therefore that when there are no records of how a particular phenomenon came to be, scientists will spend so much of their time trying to formulate theories and test-case scenarios that might have led to their origin. Take the pyramids of Egypt and the Great Wall of China for instance, it...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
