...Pre-Hispanic Art Background Pre-Hispanic works are largely unrecognized as art; rather they tend to be categorized as archeological relics. That’s why most of the pre-Hispanic art treasures in Mexico are housed in museums of history and anthropology, rather than gracing the walls of art galleries alongside modern greats like Rufino Tamayo and Diego Rivera. In fact, both of these famous artists drew inspiration from pre-Hispanic art and prized their personal collections. Tamayo (1899-1991) a Zapotec from Oaxaca, was adamant that his collection be preserved as art, not science (Barto, 2006). That’s why upon his death he donated it to National Institute of Fine Art instead of the National Institute of Anthropology. The result is the Rufino Tamayo Museum, the only place in Mexico where you can see pre-Hispanic works on display as art for art’s sake. Some of the most significant humanistic pieces come not from celebrated city states like Teotihuacán or Chichen Itza, but from the civilizations of the west coast, from what is today Guerrero, Colima, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa. For the most part, these cultures remain an enigma. “To some extent this is due to geographic isolations,” Pesqueira explains, “but mostly it is because they left no great ceremonial centers like Teotihuacán and Monte Albán.” The art of occidental Mexico mostly differs from that of other regions in its secular nature (Barto, 2006). Rather than depicting idealized images of priests and warriors, their sculpture...
Words: 2225 - Pages: 9
...http://ancientmayawebquest.weebly.com/index.html Gathering Questions 1. The ancient Maya were the only people in the Pre-Columbian America to develop what? hieroglyphics 2. Mesoamerica is considered by historians and archaeologists as one of the "well-springs" of civilization. What are some other "well-springs"? 3. What are the 3 major periods archaeologists have separated Maya history into? 4. What are the approximate years of the 3 periods? 5. What happened to the Maya as a people? the Maya Empire consisted of a number of powerful city-states spreading from southern Mexico to northern Honduras. 6. Where were the Maya primarily living? (In what modern-day countries?) 7. Name some of the more famous Maya sites 8. What are Maya "Codices"? folding books stemming from the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, 9. Why are there only 4 Maya codices today? What happened to the rest? 10. What mathematical milestone did the Maya achieve (that the Greeks and Romans did not?) 11. What is obsidian and what did the Maya use it for? 12. Who was "Pacal the Great"? He was king of the Maya kingdom of Palenque. Analysis Stage (3-5 sentence minimum response) 1. Briefly describe the term epigraphy. identifying graphemes clarifying their meaning classifying their uses according to dates and culture context. 2. Who was Linda Schele and what was her contribution to Mayan epigraphy? Linda Schele was an expert in the field of maya epigraphy. 3. Who is David Stuart and what was his contribution...
Words: 531 - Pages: 3
...The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, as well as its art, architecture, and mathematical and astronomical systems. Initially established during the Pre-Classic period (c. 2000 BC to 250 AD), according to the Mesoamerican chronology, many Maya cities reached their highest state development during the Classic period (c. 250 AD to 900 AD), and continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish. At its peak, it was one of the most densely populated and culturally dynamic societies in the world.[1] The Maya civilization shares many features with other Mesoamerican civilizations due to the high degree of interaction and cultural diffusion that characterized the region. Advances such as writing, epigraphy, and the calendar did not originate with the Maya; however, their civilization fully developed them. Maya influence can be detected from Honduras, Guatemala, Northern El Salvador and to as far as 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...
Words: 302 - Pages: 2
...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 Mexico to northern Honduras. These cities...
Words: 798 - Pages: 4
...At the time of the Conquest, the Maya were confined to a single unbroken area that includes all of the Yucatan Peninsula, Guatemala, Belize and the western portion of Honduras. The Maya may be thought of as the greatest culture-givers and innovators to the rest of the Central America. They developed advanced systems of mathematics, astrology, and writing; they built cities of stone temples and pyramids; and lived in a society with daily religious practices. Although the geographic region in which the Maya had occupied has since become multiple conventional political boundaries, there is a commonality of histories, cultures, economies, political systems, and geographic features shared by Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. More specifically, The Gulf of Honduras, also called the Bay of Honduras, is an inlet of the Caribbean Sea extending as far north as Dangriga,...
Words: 1036 - Pages: 5
...Title – The Maya Student id – 136625 From – Manpreet Singh To instructor – Sharaf Research project outline: Vergara, C. (2009). Maya. In Worldmark encyclopedia of cultures and daily life (Vol.2,pp.355-359).Farmington,MI:Gale Introduction: My name is Manpreet Singh and I have chosen ethnography. Furthermore, I am going to write about the history of Maya. History: The location of Maya is southeastern Mexico; Guatemala; Belize; Honduras; El Salvador and their population is near about 8-10 million and they use different type of language such as Spanish; English; Mayan dialects and their religion is Folk Catholicism; evangelical Christianity. The Mayan civilization started in meso America about 4000 years ago and this period is known as Pre-classic period. However, from 250-900 AD Mayan culture reached on its highest point and done a great advancement in the different fields such as art, architecture, astronomy, and as well as in mathematics and they figured out the concept of zero also and Mayan People also created accurate calendar for 365 days. And they built great monuments and buildings also from their only the advancement gets started. During this period Maya human progress was framed by...
Words: 511 - Pages: 3
...Sultan Choudhry Professor Wendt Article Response 12/06/2015 Picture Perfect Essay Response Maya vases have many unknown meanings to them and there are many people around the world that try to uncover these discoveries. I think it is very incredulous how two young people, Kerr and Barbara, have discovered a whole new adventure of changing the way they see the past. Kerr and Barbara are not seeking this journey for just themselves, but to change others views on the past of the great Maya people. The couple feel a spirit and connection towards the sculptures they see and the images they capture with their eyes. Taking a vacation can change one’s life for some people as it did for Kerr and Barbara. The pre-Columbian Americas and the Classic Maya civilization dominated their lives. Good spirits drove them to Yucatan because when they arrived, they could not take their eyes off of all the beautiful sculptures they witnessed. Items such as carved skulls, snakes, warriors, and glyphs changed their lives towards a whole new path. When I think of photographing archaeological material, people looking at these images may think that they are boring. As for Kerr, he realized this and imputed life into his images. There is a bigger meaning to pictures than just trying to make it look nice, there is beauty, devotion, and emotion. After reading this article, I see that there are many small details to create a great image, such as the lighting and the fabric. Kerr has created a great...
Words: 568 - Pages: 3
...The Pre-Columbian peoples of the Mesoamerican area are a population that has since fascinated historians and archaeologists to this day. Exploration and investigation has brought to light the great advancements these civilizations made in the areas of art, technology, and even astronomy. By means of examining and analyzing the remains, the massive structures and artifacts left behind by the early people of these 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...
Words: 1522 - Pages: 7
...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
...Analyzing Civilizations/Cultures Pre-Columbian America The Pre-Columbian era entails all period subdivisions in the American history, which starts from the time when there was original settlement of the Americas to when Americas got colonized by the Europeans. This is the period of time when during the indigenous cultures of America until they got conquered by the Europeans. Civilizations during Pre-Columbian era established features such as permanent settlements, cities and towns, agriculture, architecture and societal hierarchies. The lithic stage is known to be the earliest era of occupation by humans in America, which occurred during the late Pleistocene period to earlier than 8,000 B.C. This period refers to the cultures of the post glacial collectors and hunters in South America. The period was called Lithic because of the Lithic flaked stone tools that first appeared. The period embraced two types of stone technology that included unformulated and unspecialized flake and core industries, and industries that exhibited a blade technique that was more advanced and improved of the stone working. There are stone tool traditions in South America of the lithic stage that show localized adaptations to the continent’s diverse habitats. People lived in small mobile groups that depended on hunting, plant gathering and fishing. Due to the extreme and continued use of wild animals and plants, it resulted into changes in genetics to some of the species and ere eventually...
Words: 1821 - Pages: 8
...Weaving). The groups of people we will be talking about will be the three major groups in the early Americas. Their names are the Mayas, Aztecs, and the Incas. Mayans Many of the Mayans greatest achievements dates back to the Classic Period (300 -900 C.E.) It was during this time that the Maya civilization achieved its greatest achievements in art, culture, power and influence. Most of their achievements were so high that hundreds of years later other groups such as the Aztecs and the Incas used them (i.e. the calendar and mathematics) The Mayans are important because they made a major breakthrough in both Mathematics and Astronomy. The Mayans were the first to calculate the number of days in a year accurately by observing how the start and planets move. Doing this, they helped create the calendar as we know it today. The Mayans also had a strong hand the Art and Crafts, they made large statue of solid rock to represent an important leader (Called a Stele). Not only did they represent important leader, but they represented a written record of his accomplishments in the formed of carved stone glyphs. Aztecs Even though the origins of the Aztecs are not necessarily clear, we know that they did adapt from the Mayan ways. One of their achievements was building their city called Tenochtitlan. The Aztecs appeared in Mesoamerica–as the south-central region of pre-Columbian Mexico is known–in the early 13th century. Their arrival came just after, or perhaps helped bring about, the fall...
Words: 561 - Pages: 3
...World Mythology LIT 229 Dennis Flanders Professor Lee When we think of competition the first thought that comes to mind ids sports. Competition is relevant in many things. Spirts is not the only thing. Competition is engrained in our DNA from the day we are born and we all have a different competitive spirit within. Competition has no racial or gender bias. Competition within has bene around for ages. Competition has shaped many cultures and is an important social building block. Competition is defined as “a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage.” There is no real historical background on competition as it is ingrained within our DNA the day we are born. We are taught at a young age to win, not lose. This is echoed within every culture and seems to be a main similarity within all cultures. Learning the word competition and how to “win” a young age is not always a good thing. Teaching children that winning is the only way is not as helpful to their future as parents may be lead to believe. Competition is prevalent in many situations from test taking to elections. A debatable quote that one may hear is “If you aren’t first, you are last.” Obviously, this isn’t the most accurate picture we should be painting about competition and teaching children but it is what it is and is throughout all cultures. One glaring similarity in regards to competition throughout several cultures is that parents want their children to succeed at any cost and to be the best at everything...
Words: 2566 - Pages: 11
...The Origins of the Chinese Empire, to 220 C.E. these cities, built by rulers to move troops and supplies, were traveled by traders transporting such items as metal tools and utensils, lacquered wood plates and boxes, silk, pottery, gems, salt, and lumber. A money economy emerged, using copper coins called cash, with center holes for stringing them together for counting and carrying. China's towns and cities were likewise linked into a large economic system . Trade between China and distant lands A metal bell from the Zhou era. was difficult and dangerous, but by the era's end commerce was conducted by sea with Southeast Asia and by land routes crossing Central Asia. The Central Asian Connection Central Asia, a vast expanse to China's north and west where the climate was too dry for farming (Map 2), was home mainly to pastoral nomads who grazed herds on its plateaus and plains. Skilled on horseback, the nomads occasionally attacked Chinese settlements to carry off goods and supplies, but they also spread commerce and useful knowledge. Some nomads, for example, exchanged their Central Asian nomads connect China with other cultures Nomads and Chinese adopt horse riding and crossbows from each other Iron tools and weapons spread to China, enhancing farming and warfare hides, wool, and horses for Chinese silk, pottery, metalware, and wood products and then traded these items with other societies across Central Asia. Over time, connections with the...
Words: 18516 - Pages: 75
...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
...to Hurston's autiobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road, Maya Angelou wrote, "Her books and folktales vibrate with tragedy, humor and the real music of Black American speech." A published short story writer by the time she came to New York in 1925, Hurston studied anthropology at Barnard, where she was the college's first African-American student. After graduation, Hurston pursued graduate work at Columbia with renowned anthropologist Franz Boas. She left New York to conduct research in Florida and in Haiti and Jamaica, and her field work resulted in the folklore collections Mules and Men (1935) and Tell My Horse (1938). Her classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God was published in 1937. Still, Hurston never received the financial rewards she deserved. (The largest royalty she ever earned from any of her books was $943.75.) So when she died on Jan. 28, 1960--at age 69, after suffering a stroke. Her neighbors in Fort Pierce, Florida, had to take up a collection for her February 7 funeral. The collection didn't yield enough to pay for a headstone, however, so Hurston was buried in a grave that remained unmarked until 1973. In 1975, Ms. Magazine published Alice Walker's essay, "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston" reviving interest in Hurston's work. Thanks to Alice Walker's efforts, Hurston's grave now has a fitting epitaph: "Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South." Today, Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African-American...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
