Blog #9 WorldView

 (The Mayan People)

    I believe the way society depicts other cultures values may at time embrace others beliefs or show criticism to ones values. For instance at times when we watch the discovery channel and it gives us insight on a certain culture, we immediately may think "OK, so that's what their all about. The truth is I believe some societies only show you or tell you only certain parts of what they want you to know because they may feel by doing this they can sway your beliefs into their own. When it comes down to it the belief system is based on what some may find not good for themselves or others but doesn't really mean that every other persons beliefs aren't good at all to other.

 (The Buddhist)

(Christianity)                           

(The Inca)

Blog #8 Cosmic Diagram Project

     I wanted to design a cosmic diagram that was unique but with not a lot of different colors, only filled with traits of what I think the universe is. I believe the universe is a abundant yet deformed guitar shaped planets that is its own world filled with many other worlds revolving around a sunflower. The sunflower centered right in the middle of my universe signifies the growth and provides nourishment to the green and blue stone. The green signifies wellness and life. The eighteen green stones are represented as planets having human life among them, at the end of the guitar the green stones preside outward showing that their is are planets not among the center of the guitar that are not known to man but only the universe. The blue symbolizes potential showing that their is a never ending passage into life and that my dreams are crystal clear. The  blue stones also add enrichment from the sunflower into the planets. The black symbolizes power, the hardness of the stone provides strength to the universe and acts as a shield to me, against all obstacles that may come my way. In doing my cosmic diagram I found that building it wasnt as easy at first, as far as the shape I wanted it to have concerns but when I think about the universe i believe that my inspiration came from music. The guitar has many different strings and each one may have the same color but each string provides a different sound. So in my planet I wanted every  green stone to be the same but have its own different space and meaning to me in life from point a to b.

Blog #7 Maya Culture

(Maya Sculpture)

The Mayan people lived in the South and Central America between 2000 BC and 1500 AD. During certain periods the Maya people dedicated themselves to building cities, temples and pyramids. The Mayans also created a calendar in reference to their beliefs and also where the only civilization to document their lives, which would led to their history being known. The Mayan civilization excelled mostly because of their understanding of the land and adaption to their environment. The Mayans believed that the Gods created the face of the Earth. The Maya  people were also create in the way they designed their own version of the cosmos to fit their calendar and what the worlds doom my bring.

(Mayan Calendar one of the greatest achievements and examples of the Maya peoples views)

Blog #6 The Aztecs of Tenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan, Mexico was the capital city for the Aztecs. The Aztec people believed in human sacrifices as many cultural groups did back in the early centuries of time. It was said that thousands of people were sacrificed over the course of a 4 day period for the Great pyramid. The sun, planet Venus and the moon were symbolic religious meanings to the Aztec people.

(Aztec Map)

Their were 3 parts the Aztec world was composed of the earth world where humans presided, the sky world, and the underworld which the Aztecs called Mictlan which had 9 layers. The layers where the different phases of the 3 worlds, which the sky contained 13 layers.

Blog #5 Apache Indians

The Apache Indians are a Native American group that include several Indian tribes. They were said to have migrated from Canada to the southwestern part of the United States in the 1500s.

Apache stands for fighting men and enemy, which they were said to have lived up to not back down from anyone.  The Apache include tribes such as Chiricahua, Kiowa, Lipan, Mescalero and Jicarilla. Their main regions of control were Mexico, Arizona and New Mexico.

Most Apache Indians had a muscular build even the woman from those times, as a way of survival they had to be strong and fit to move around the regions and hunt for food.

(Some Apache Indians settling)

They also used symbols to as the picture i added above to enhance communication with the spirits.

Blog #4 Inca Empire

 

(Picture of the Inca Empire)

The Inca Empire was created during the 13th century, it was the largest Columbian America at the time. The Inca Empire prided itself on arts and crafts and in many was were the language.

Since the Inca people did not have a exact form of communication they adapted was of communicating such as doing ceramics and tying knots using colorful thread.

(Thread called quipus by the Incas to communicate with one another)

(Map of the land Inca controlled)

The Inca rulers and people believed in showing great devotion to the Gods. There were sacrifices in celebrations of nearly 200 children in order to show respect of the coming of the new empire.

(Picture of a Inca Child Mummy)

(Silver face breaker from 1300-1500 A.D.)


















When the Inca empire would grown the Inca armies would as well in under to protect every part of the Empire.

Blog #3 Kenyan Tribes

Kenya is a east African country that a population of about 42 million people. I decided to do this blog on Kenya because it is where my father and his family is from, and apart of my ancestral background.

Kenya is well known for its national parks, Mount Kenya, and lake Victoria which is the 2nd largest lake in the world but what makes Kenya unique is the tribes.

The Bantus ethnic group is the largest tribal group in Africa, but they represent 30% of Kenya. Which includes the Swahili tribe which my dad is apart of,Embu , Kikuyu, Meru, Taita, Kisii, Kamba and the Mijikenda. The Bantus ethnic groups are considered to be the farmers, teachers and doctors of the 3 groups.They reside in the most rural areas of the land.

Another ethnic group in Kenya is the Nilotes which consist of tribes such as Samburu, Luo, Kalenjin and the Maasai tribes. The Nilotes tribes are known to roam the territory for agricultural reasons and water and food because of how they live. Most are in the rift valley of Kenya.

Cushites consist of the Oromo, Somali, Borana and Rendile tribes. The Cushites people live in the northeastern Kenya, and live around dry land raising herds to make a living.

Blog #2 Buddha & Buddhism

Gautama Buddha was born in Nepal which is a Democratic Republic of south Asia. Buddha was a spiritual teacher, and through doing his studies he found Buddhism. Buddha also means the awakened one which is characterized in the Buddhism religion.

Buddhism is composed of beliefs and traditions. The philosophy of teacher Buddha composed practices to create the religion. In Buddhism there are two major branches one being Theravada and the other being Mahayana. Theravada is the school of the elders which is believed to be the greatest religion in southeast Asia.

(Buddhist monks in southeast Asia chanitng)

Mahayana is the largest Buddhism tradition existing in today's society. Mahayana means the great vehicle in life, everyone needs a driven direction or path for seeking great achievement and completions in life. The history of Mahayana leaves a great deal of inspiration on places such as India, Vietnam, China, Nepal which is where Buddha himself is from, Mongolia, Korea and other Asian countries.

 (Buddha Statues)

The Southeast Asian beliefs(top) of Buddhism differ in some ways as you see from comparing the to picture charts above with the other Asian countries beliefs (below).

Blog #1 Sasanian Empire

The Sassanian Persians ruled parts of western Asia from 224-641 CE. The founder of the empire was Ardashir I. The empire included Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Turkey, Iraq, Central Asia, Pakistan, Persian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. The Empire was considered to be the most important period in Iran.

(Picture or a Battle Ground from the Sassanian Empire)

Their where 2 battles fought between Aradshir and his overlord Artabanus. The first battle was won by Aradshir and the second battle in 224 would be won by Artabanus.

(Map of the territory of the Sassanian Empire)

 (Sassanian silver)

(Sassanian Art from a wall in Iran)


The fall of the Sasanian Empire split a lot of territories and created different cultural outlooks amongst the people but the formation of  Islam religion was one of the greatest.