So what was society like in the Americas outside of the Old World Web? In some ways, there were some unique societal characteristics that were completely different from the Old World Web (bloodletting rituals being an obvious thing), but for the most part, it's apparent that when a society begins settled agriculture, all of those societies develop along similar lines (whether they have contact with other agricultural societies at all). This can be seen very clearly in looking at the development of Mayan society. Although only four books of the Maya remain (the Spanish burned the majority of Mayan texts during initial contact), what we do have available is still very revelatory. One of the texts that does remain available is the Popol Vuh. Popol Vuh relates the Mayan story of creation. Literally translated as the "Council Book," it also served as a source of advice for the Lords of Quiché, a Mayan center of civilization located northwest of Guatemala City during the post-classical era about 1000. The lords used the Council Book at meetings to interpret signs, particularly omens related to death, famine and conflict. Descendants of these ancient lineages wrote the only extant version of Popol Vuh between 1554 and 1558. They wrote in the Mayan language, using the Roman alphabet. Francisco Ximénez, a member of the Dominican Order, discovered and translated the manuscript into Spanish about 1701.As related in the story, the gods of sky and water created the earth in one attempt. By contrast, the creation of humans took four attempts. The first three were defective and spawned other types of creatures. Even on the successful fourth try, the gods lather changed the outcome because the humans were too perfect. Between the three failures and the fourth try, Popol Vuh related numerous adventures of the gods and how they influenced cosmic and earthly conditions. They created the planets, sun, animals, trees, corn planting, artisan activities, and ball games. The document I would like you to read is an excerpt from Popol Vuh (that you can read by clicking here; just read pgs 145-148) that recounts the Mayan story of human creation.
When you are finished reading, I'd like you all to discuss the following: Mayan gods created humans from corn. What does this belief suggest about the Mayan world-view? Why and how did Mayan gods alter their human creatures? What does this imply about the relationship between human and gods? Compare the Ancient American accounts of the origins humans, relations of humans to Gods and relations among the Gods to Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hebrew, and Hindu accounts. What do the comparisons suggest about the relationship of religion to politics and society? Your thoughts...
13 comments:
The Mayan belief of human beings made out of corn can be said to more of a myth then real. Their idea of gods making earth as well as humans is more nature world thoughts. I believe that in the mayan society the relationship between gods and humans was more of a reward system of giving and praising the gods.
The Mayan gods altered their human creations so that they had less knowledge, and "could not see or know all". This reminds me of the bible. The serpent told Eve that if she ate the fruit of the tree that her eyes would be opened and that she would know everything. In Roman/Greeek mythology the gods became jealous of man for also being given the knowledge of fire, and they created Pandora to punish them. This knowledge thing seems to be a big theme in creation stories. In Mesopotamia they looked at the gods as evil things that brought storms and floods and such. They didn't record much about them, or do any fancy rituals if I'm remembering right. The Mayans clearly had a much prettier relationship with their gods, probably because of such good crop conditions like lots of rain.
well it shows how much the mayans valued agriculture. that's kinda like how the polythiestic people in the old world web before the classical era would do sacrifices and pray to gods for harvests, rather than just all the time.
less knowledge does seem to crop up a lot. it was in the story of adam and eve, and as the one person pointed out in greek mythology. kinda like in all these societies, they almost wanted people to remain ignorant.
The Mayans definitely had an interesting outlook on religion. This reminds me of how Native Americans would describe things in life. We read a story in lanuage arts saying something how they saw the sun god as a frog or something. I think those thoughts closely relates to how the Mayans thought. It's more of a nature-revolved religion. Kind of like Shintoism.
In comparison to the Egyptian view of religion, the leader of the people was not a god in human form or worshipped in any way. Agriculture plays a massive part in any culture, including the Mayans, as they say the people are made of corn and water. The gods in Mayan civilization try to help the people by cutting themselves and having their blood become rain. Also, in Hebrew holy text, there is only one man and one woman created. In the Popol Vuh, it states that 4 people were created, two men and two women.
The fact that Mayans believed people were made from corn shows how important agriculture, especially corn, was to the Mayans. This story also kind of reminds me of the Christian story of creation because both say that when humans were first made they were much better than they are now.
To me it seems like the Mayans had a relationship with their gods that was based on exchange. they would do something for the gods for which the gods would pay them back. their impotance of maize led to their creation myths. it's interesting how 2 of each man and woman were created..is there a reason for why they did that?
I think it is really interesting how the all powerful Gods first created the perfect humans, and then changes and alters them. It kind of shows how the mayan society blames and handles their mistakes and faults i guess, because if the Gods gave them their faults, then they are okay to make mistakes, right? I just think it is interesting how they alter the first humans, and what does that treally mean to the Mayan society?
the myan gods alterd their creations so they caouldnt know all. and mr. p i dont get this a lil the water that was in corn was their blood?
one major thing that sticks out to me from this document is the fact that in the Popol Vu, the two men and two women who were made were all considered equal. it sais that the men didnt come from women and that they just, were. this is different than say the bible, where eve came from the rib of adam, therefore already implying a submission of women to men. also it is clear that the mayans value their crops and value a good relationship with the gods in order to maintain good agriculture.
Certainly Popol Vuh reveals how much the Mayans valued agriculture.
The gods had to change their creations so they were not equal to the gods, and they blinded them so they could not see all.
These gods seem very much like Mesopotamiam gods, who weren't really benevolent or caring. The gods have their own interests. This is intersting as both Mayans and Mesopotamians were organized into city states.
The notion that men are greater than women is presented. The women were created to make the men happy it seems.
First of all, the Myans were created from maize, as their flesh, and other foods grown by the Myan people. Their blood was water. This shows the value and importance of agriculture-food and water- to the Myans.
I noticed that just by standing and watching the sky the four humans could understand all. This is a interesting lesson and was likly taught to the people. Not wandering to find all knowelge, but standing in one place and watching the sky and all around you to gain all knowelge.
What is a Begetter? Is it the name of one of the gods?
The gods didn't like the humans gaining infinite knowelge (connection to the Crystal Skulls?) so they recreated them do understand less. Would this mean the readers of the text later on would strive for knowelge or purposfully not becuase the gods created them specifically so that they would not? Or would that mean they could gain as much knowelge as they(as humans) could, but they would know they are not gaining all knowelge because the gods control the amound given? I assume similar to the last, becuase they were technology advanced people, at least compared to where we are now...
Egyptian gods came from the sky as well. The stars and sun and moon were large factors in their lives, even as they are for us, but so much so that the gods were at some point created into the sun, moon, stars, etc., just like here. The same with the seasons and forces of nature. Agriculture makes sense to incorporate into life because it is what surrounds them.
they had a weird but interesting look on religion. it is mostly evolved around nature. this basically showed how much they valued there agriculture
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