Due to religious prejudice, most of the non-stone Mayan materials were burned by the Spanish. The Mayan civilization did not leave a mathematical legacy to the West, it simply beat the process by hundreds of years. However, in the modern age, as scholars look more and more into the Mayan calculations, they are able to deduce astromical records prior to recorded Western observations, as well as some of the predictions for natural disasters, weather events, and even seasonal migrations. In a typical example of the misinterpretation of a non-Western culture's science, some have postulated that the Mayan caldendar actually predicts the end of the earth in 2012. Instead, what is more likely is that 2012 is the end of a 5,126-year cycle from the Mayan long-count calendar; there may well be atmospheric or celestial convergence, but for the Maya, it was equivalent to a spritual rebirth -- not literally the death of the earth, but the demise of the old and the birth of the new (MacDonald, 2007).
The modern Maya, though, while not a hegonomous country, are still a genetially separate ethnic group centered largely within the Yucutan penninsula in modern day Mesico, Beliez, Guatemala and a bit in Hondouras. They are a diverse people only marginally acculturated into the modern world, numbering about 7 million. They still identify themselves as Maya, speak a variation of ancient Maya, then Spanish, and hold to the traditions of the ancient culture as much as possible. Their world view is also centered around the ancient culture; with their paradigms of philosophy, medicine, and culture a conglomoration of the ancient and imposed Spanish influence. They cling, for instance, to much of the folk ways in medicine that are directly from Mayan culture. Scientifically, they tend to adopt what archaeologists know as Mayan science (astronomy, botany, enumeration, etc.) with more folk traditions kept alive orally from generation to generation as folk legend (using herbs, the meaning of the stars, etc.) (Grube, 2006).
The challenge for the Maya focuses on the juxtaposition of cultural relevancy -- how to incorporate the Ancient knowledge of herbalism and using the forest (which was the only source of product) with modern, Western techniques. Many Maya, for instance, are reluctant to participate...
When concerning the media present in India one might observe that the western world has deeply influenced it. The Indian movie making business is entitled Bollywood, in reference to the American Hollywood. Not only have the Indians named their movie industry Bollywood, but they have also incorporated several western cliches into their movies, so as for them to depict aspects from the western culture. Not only do foreigners express their appreciation
Workers are employed in fisheries, mining, and defense industries while the farmers work in the agricultural collectives. Standards of living are defined by the family background as to the political and ideological heritage. The children of revolutionaries (those who died in the Korean War) are given special educational opportunities at an elite school called the Mangyndae Revolutionary Institute. However, the children and descendants of those who were in collaboration
General grade point averages, SAT scores, and school involvement tend to be lower than their peers coming from two parent homes (Park, 2008). Lower collegiate attendance is also another major issue that is seen within this growing population. On average individuals coming out of single parent homes go to college less than their counterparts with both parents present (Huan, 2003). This is often associated with the poorer grades that were
Globalization and its effects on non-Western cultural practices Globalization is typically defined as the phenomena of increasing world interconnectedness. It is an undeniable feature of the modern world. The world is gets smaller as technology advances and economies become interlinked. Today's economic crisis is a prime example of globalization. One nation undergoing a financial crisis can easily become an international economic meltdown. Nederveen (2009) comments how modernization has advanced at the
Western Religion In his book, "Western Ways of Being Religious," (Kessler, 1999) the author Gary E. Kessler identifies the theological, philosophical and societal ramifications of the evolution of religion in the West. Christianity, Judaism and Islam can be traced to a single origin but their divergence has been very marked. Kessler sets his thesis very early in the book. He avers that there are two approaches to religion. One is to
In some cultures, however, dance is also used for spiritual purposes. The art of creating dances is known as choreography. Outside of the performing arts, one of the most important features of the humanities is philosophy. Philosophy is derived from an ancient Greek term that means "the love of wisdom." Philosophy studies life, the nature of existence, and what it means to use one's reason. Philosophy is one of the
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