Indigenous Roots: Myths, Facts And Appropriation Essay - 1,434 words

Indigenous Roots: Myths, Facts and Appropriation The serious investigation of indigenous roots was initiated in 11th century. As a result Chicano historical scholarship appeared. It paid great attention to the ancient roots among Mexicans. Acknowledge of indigenous roots and geography, including former Mexican territory, have political and interpretive significance. First of all lets see who ancient Mexicans were. More then 3,000 years ago there were several Mesoamerican civilizations such as the Aztec, the Olmec, the Toltec, the Maya and some others. Many inventions: pyramid temples, cities, mathematics, astronomy medicine, writing, highly-accurate calendars, fine arts, intensive agriculture and others were due to the former inhabitants of all those tribes.


They reached the height of their civilization in the 10th and the 11th centuries. The Maya are perhaps the best known civilization of Mesoamerica. The inhabitants of the Maya occupied the territory of Southern Mexico, Guatemala, northern Belize and western Honduras. The Maya were skilled builders and farmers. They build temple pyramids, palaces and observatories. They cleared large territories of tropical rain forest to build huge underground reservoirs for the storage of rain water.


They were skilled weavers, porters. They cleared the way through jungles and swamps to trade with distant people. The Maya were divided into many subgroups such as Yucatecs, the Tzotzil and the Tzeltal, the Quiche and Cakchiquel (Maya of Guatemala), the Chontal and Chol (Maya of Mexico), and the Kekchi (Maya of Belize). The subgroups were not friendly with other tribes and were at war with them and even with each other. Each group had their own language and traditions but they had a lot of common. All subtribes had a hierarchical system of organizing society.


Each society had its own independent state. They had a rural farming community in each state. Around ceremonial centers there were built large urban sites. The subtribes were united under high ranking chiefs of king. Yucatec were one of the Maya subtribes. They lived in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. They are considered to be a well-educated nation.


Their culture was high. Between AD 300 and 900 there was a peak of their culture. During that time a system of writing and an accurate calendar were invented. Among them there were a lot of brilliant architects, potters and astronomers. Nowadays Yucatec language is often spoken especially in rural areas. The Tzotzil Maya inhabited the territory of the central highlands of the Mexican state. The word "tzotzil" means "people of wool" because they wore wool clothes.


Their culture were associated with the animal bat in the view of the Mayas) thats why their name could also be translated so. The subtribe had no opportunity to produce agricultural goods but they were good at making clothing that they exchanged. By the way, they were good hunters as all Maya of highlands. At present a lot of Tzotziles migrated to other parts of Mexico and the United States seeking for a better life. The other big subgroup of Maya was The Cakchiquiel. The group of indigenous people lived in the Midwestern highlands of Guatemala. They were a group which grew agricultural products. They had their own language Cakchiquiel. They were one of the first Mayan kingdoms captured by Spain troops; thats why the culture of the group was developed with Spanish influence.


The Cakchiquiel were the enemies of the other Mayan kingdom, Quiche. The Quiche lived in the highland valley of Guatemala. The system of their society was different from the other groups. It was a caste system and it had two forms in organization. The caste system consists of royalty, vassals, merchants, artisans, serfs, and slaves. According to one form of organization the caste was ruled by a king, a king-elect, and two captains; according to the other - a quadripartite consisting of four chiefs. It goes without saying that Maya tribe made a great contribution to the history and the development of America.


Their culture was bright and unique thats why so much has remained and can be found in clothing, music, language and the manner to express your individuality. The best example of the interaction can be seen in the manner of clothing in the late 60s and the 70s. It was the origin of Punk culture. Punks decorate their clothing very ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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Essay Tags: maya, caste system, united state, united states, mexico

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