Preview

Ancient Mayan Culture Research Paper

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
690 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Ancient Mayan Culture Research Paper
In this essay I will discuss two different ancient civilizations: Ancient Egypt and Ancient Maya. I will discuss life in Ancient Egypt and why I would want to live there. I will also discuss life in Ancient Mayan culture, and why I find it fascinating.
If I could live in any of the ancient societies we have studied, I would like to live in Ancient Egypt. I would probably serve as a priest in a temple of Heru (also known as Horus). Being that I would be a Shemsu-Hor (Priest of Horus), I would probably live in Nekhen (Hierakonpolis). I am not sure which time period would suit me best, though. I would probably want to live in the time of a wise and just Pharaoh. Perhaps during the reign of Ramses the Great or Narmer.
Ancient Egyptian culture …show more content…
I find their emphasis on human sacrifice and warfare the most interesting aspect of life for the Ancient Mayans. The movements of the planet Venus controlled everything the ancient Mayans did, from their rituals and human sacrifices, to their warfare. They saw Venus as God of War. "Resplendent in jaguar pelts, quetzal plumes, and helmets fashioned in the form of fantastic beasts, Maya warriors set out for battle on a day often ordained by the position of-Venus in the predawn sky. " (Martin, Maya Superstates, p.1) The Mayans were a very bloodthirsty lot. Even their ball games ended in bloodshed. The team that lost would be beheaded and sacrificed to the ancient Mayan Gods. The loser's skull sometimes replaced the ball. (Lost King of the Maya, 43:50) It seemed that everything the ancient Mayans did revolved around blood in one way or another. To commune with their ancestors, Mayan kings would pierce their genitalia, tongue or ears with stingray spines and then offer some of the blood to their Gods by burning the blood, which was placed on paper or cloth, in the sacred incense. (Lost King of the Maya, 41:20). I honestly do not think I would have wanted to live in such a blood-centered culture, but I do find it interesting
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The Early Mayan Civilization
    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Early Mayan Civilization

    The Maya was thought of to be one among the best ancient Native American civilizations within the Americas, and probably the planet. Archaeologists discovered and dug up and studied several of the civilization sites trace the Mayas to thousands of years ago. Their ancestors migrated from Asia across the Bering Sea and Alaska to the Americas and also the Yucatan Peninsula throughout the last ice age. Early Mayan settlements originate to 2400 B.C.. They engineered huge stone pyramids and temples to honor their gods and preserve their faith. They additionally accomplished advanced achievements in arithmetic and astronomy, that were recorded in hieroglyphs. Their lives rotated around their king and sacrificial blood. Their cultural achievements…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Art Chapter 1 Essay
    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mayan Art Chapter 1 Essay

    1. Explain the contributions of the Maya to art and civilization, describing at least one Mayan work of art as part of your answer. Please include page number from your book where art piece is found.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Gender Influence On Mayan Culture
    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Gender Influence On Mayan Culture

    Mayan culture gender means that women were to work in their homes mostly providing food and clothes for their family. If necessary they were allowed to come and help bring in the harvest. Women were not allowed to hunt, only able to clean and serve the food, such as deer. Women weren’t allowed to hunt deer only men did that. So after the women cleaned and prepared the food the men would eat first and the women would wait until the men finished to have their women only dinner. Gender as a whole relates to the Mayan Culture because they are influenced by the man but dependent on the women to cook, clean and take care of the children and also make some money in the process. Also some of their beliefs are that men should do all of the outside work…

    • 329 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Ritual Sacrifice In The Mayan Civilization
    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Ritual Sacrifice In The Mayan Civilization

    Reasoning: The Mayans sacrificed their people to appease their gods which would lead them to endure, and sustain their civilization. The Maya used ritual sacrifices as a massive role in the Mayan civilization. such as turkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, and jaguars. Similar to the Aztecs, the Mayans have done this as an attempt to allow their gods to please them. In fact, criminals, slaves, and children made up of most of the individuals in which got sacrificed. The Mayans sacrificed animals such as turkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, and jaguars.…

    • 962 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Mayan Tribe Research Paper
    • 1597 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Mayan Tribe Research Paper

    The Navajo or as they are know by their own culture as Diyin Diné, which means the holy people, is the largest Native American tribe in the United States. A nation established more than 600+ years ago, in a time before Christopher Columbus landed in the “New World”; the Navajo Indians is one of the oldest tribes located in our country. Located 2,313 miles to the south, another famous tribe existed. The Mayan Indians called the beautiful, tropical lowlands of present day Guatemala home. A culture that began around early 1800 B.C. as primarily an agriculture society until the cities were abandoned around 900 A.D. These two tribes were very similar to each other given that both tribes believed in similar gods and had similar traditions.…

    • 1597 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Cultural Beliefs
    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mayan Cultural Beliefs

    The British Museum, home to 100 objects, explores and unravels fascinating truths of human history dating from two million years ago to the present. In each object, historians are able to establish what was important to individuals living at a specific point in time when the object was used or created. Objects such as the Maya Maize God Statue, the Egyptian Clay Model of Cattle, and the Chinese Zhou Ritual Vessel, reveal different rituals in various cultures. The unique cultural rituals associated with the three objects allow historians to understand the beliefs and every day philosophy of the Mayan, Egyptian, and Zhou Dynasty cultures. Specifically, the Maya Maize God Statue reflects the importance placed on maize for creation and agriculture,…

    • 538 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Popol Vuh: The Ancient Mayan Religion
    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Popol Vuh: The Ancient Mayan Religion

    Centuries ago, there existed a religion, one with no true name, human sacrifices, games where participants are highly likely to die, and Gods found in almost every aspect of daily life. This was the ancient Mayan religion. Although some beliefs, values, and minor traditions are still upheld by followers today, for the most part this religion has completely vanished along with the ancient mayan civilization. This may be for good reason, as some of the practices were barbarous and bordering on pure insanity. Through the madness, there were three very important aspects of this religion that guided the mayans;…

    • 865 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Ritual Human Sacrifice In Mayan Life
    • 230 Words
    • 1 Page

    The Ritual Human Sacrifice In Mayan Life

    to the ballgarne. The Maya rulers extended the outcome of the ballgarne by satisfYing th.,…

    • 230 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Mayan Influence On The Mayans
    • 140 Words
    • 1 Page

    Mayan Influence On The Mayans

    Most Mayans feared by the Jaguar. Because of that, many Mayan gods Had something to do with the Jaguar. Warriors wanted Jaguar teeth and claws to decorate their bodies spears and shields. Priests wanted Jaguar fur for masks and cloaks so they would look fierce and powerful when they communicated with their gods.…

    • 140 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Environmental Issues
    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Mayan Environmental Issues

    In early civilization, a complex society known as the Maya resided in lowlands of Mesoamerica. At the time that they lived, the Mayans were considered to be one of the most advanced societies. Their culture and their cultural influences on other societies are constantly being studied even today. The Mayans were known to be prosperous people with a growing population, rich agricultural, unique architecture, and sacrificial religious beliefs. Knowing this information, many wonder what caused such an advanced society to suddenly disappear. One theory explains that environmental stresses at the time may have lead the Mayans to their end.…

    • 830 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Accomplishments
    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Mayan Accomplishments

    The Mayans are one of the most interesting and mysterious history civilizations out there. Nobody knows where they came from, how they managed to build their amazing stone cities in the rainforest without any stone tools, or why they seemed to die out at around 900 ce. Their accomplishments in astronomy and the understanding of time were great, and their cities were breathtaking.…

    • 605 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The Aztec Culture of Sacrifice
    • 3009 Words
    • 13 Pages

    The Aztec Culture of Sacrifice

    There exists, in general, two analytical approaches to the practice of human sacrifice: one seeing it as an analogue to cannibalism, and a means of the community ensuring a supply of animal protein, while the other perceives it as a cultural construct fostered by a violent society. This essay will argue, through an examination of the role of human sacrifice in the religious practices of the Aztec civilization, that human sacrifice should be interpreted primarily as a cultural activity that is firmly integrated into the signification and value system of the community as a whole.…

    • 3009 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Influence On The Maya
    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page

    Mayan Influence On The Maya

    In addition, one of the best Maya cities that summarizes though itself the Maya´s power is the city of Palenque, which name honors its greatest ruler Pakal The Great. Anna Blume professor at the University of Yale, informed in 2004.´´ Palenque remains one of the best preserved and most visited sites in Chiapas since it was first rediscovered by the modern world in the 18th century´´. After 68 years on the throne, Pakal was buried in the temple of Inscriptions, one of the largest stepped pyramids all around the world with a total of nine levels, and secret chambers. Later, because of the warfare, resource´s scarcity and the European colonization, the Maya empire vanished and disintegrated, but its culture and legacy never disappeared. Today…

    • 147 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Mayan Culture
    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mayan Culture

    The Mayan culture is known for their rituals and ceremonies. Everything done in their culture had its place and time. This allowed the priest in the Maya community to know when to plant, harvest, as well as knowing which seasons were wet and which were dry. In Mayan belief, blood sacrifice performed by Kings was important for major calendar cycle endings. The beginning or ending of a cycle was cause for ceremony in this culture. In addition, children in are named after the day they were born and each day had a specific name for boy and girl and parents are to follow that practice. Also, Mayan healers believed that there are male and female energies associated with the calendar. The male energy cycle ended on November 11, 2011 and is celebrated…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Egypt Essay
    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Egypt Essay

    Ancient civilizations are studied to help us understand more about our world’s past and to help us recognize how we have become what we are today. Our findings have not only answered questions, but also brought us to ask questions. Perhaps one of the most studied, yet least understood civilizations was the mysterious Ancient Egypt. This country is located in northeast Africa and dates back to over five thousand years. Ancient Egypt is a civilization that held a very unique culture that was separate from the ideas of other ancient civilizations. Intriguing artifacts that have been discovered over time help us to understand what it was like to have lived back then. Egypt is widely known for many things such as The Great Pyramids; The Nile River; Hieroglyphics; Pharaohs, such as King Tutankhamen; mummies, and more. Ever since I first learned about Egypt’s unique culture, ideas, and history, I began to develop a fascination for this ancient civilization. The discovery of ancient findings of mummified pharaohs allows us to better understand what life was like as a pharaoh and the Egyptian’s process of mummification.…

    • 1695 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More

Related Topics