Essay on Collapse in Maya Society - 1119 Words

At the end of the first millennium A.D., the lowland Maya empires disintegrated after 750 years of prominence (Handout 1). Warfare, the growing population, resource depletion, and climatic fluctuations contributed to the downfall of the Classical lowland empires (Schele and Freidel 321). 500 years later, the scattered Maya that remained would again face a crisis as the Spanish conquistadores invaded Yucatan, conquered, and began to rule. Though the Spanish conquest of the Maya brought a new religion and diseases that decimated the population, the collapse of Classical Maya civilization was the greatest crisis in Maya history. It marked the end of the great Classical empires whose knowledge and artistic achievements surpassed all†¦show more content†¦The Maya participated in extensive trade networks, as the Spanish discovered when Columbus captured a trading canoe off the coast of Honduras that contained cacao beans, Mexican obsidian, copper axes, woven garments, and slav es (Clendinnen 3). The fall of lowland Maya culture resulted from a confluence of factors. Over-population and environmental degradation led to malnutrition and disease, as residential complexes expanded to cover agricultural land and the clearing of forests for milpa agricultural resulted in erosion (Schele and Freidel 321). Social stress compounded the environmental strains, and warfare between neighboring states also affected the morale of the population (Lecture 2/10). The kings attempted to address these problems, but pride and exclusivity prevented them from sharing power or admitting defeat at the hands of an enemy (Schele and Freidel 347-8). The collapse of Teotihuacan in the 7th century A.D. altered trade and power relationships, which also may have contributed to the tumultuous state of the lowland empires prior to their collapse (Lecture 2/10). The collapse of the lowland Maya empires marked the end of a way of life. When the villagers lost faith in the powers of th e ahauob they dispersed into the forests and returned to their lives as farmers (128). With the decline of the Maya kings, Maya religion also underwent changes to become a more local matter. In the northern empires that persisted, the ruling structureShow MoreRelatedMaya Civilization Collapse1311 Words   |  6 PagesThe example of societal collapse in which I will be making reference to throughout this essay is the Maya civilization. The Maya civilization is, â€Å"probably the best known of all early American civilizations.† (Fagan, 1995) It was at its strongest point between AD 300 AND 900. Around AD 900 was the time of its collapse. This civilization was developed in a densely, tropical forest on either highlands or lowlands. Today to visit a Mayan site, people would go to the modern Mexican state, capital cityRead MoreThe Ancient Civilization1502 Words   |  7 Pages The ancient Maya civilisation has generated great interest in many academic scholars and scientists, due to the phenomenon which saw one of the most dramatic civilisation collapses in recorded history, during what has been referred to as the Terminal Classic Period- A.D. ∠¼700 to 950 (Haug et al, 2003). Interestingly, the ancient civilisation has been characterised by its collapse in the 9th century, perhaps even more so than its remarkable accomplishments, such as: creating vast hierarchical andRead MoreEnd of Mayan Civilization1143 Words   |  5 Pagesfor the collapse of the Mayan Civilization has been a major focus for researchers in the fields of anthropology and archeology for a considerable period of time. At the very core of this mystery of the Mayan collapse was the question of how could such a strong, stable civilization that had flourished for approximately twenty-seven hundred years disappear without a clear, rational explanation. As a result, researchers have put forth a large number of theories for the explanation of the collapse and subsequentRead MoreThe Class ic May A Time Of Great Expansion During The Yucatan Peninsula1086 Words   |  5 PagesThe Classic Maya was a time of great expansion in the Yucatan peninsula. Socially impactful art, massive architecture, and thriving complex societies. Across the swath of time that was the Classic Maya, there were great rulers that defined cities. Pakal in Palenque, Tahn Te K inich in Acqueteca, several kings in Tikal, and several other cities all possessed great leaders that created stability. The Terminal Classic period was when most all central power, across the Yucatan, was disrupted. ThereRead MoreThe Fall Of The Classic Maya Society1135 Words   |  5 Pagesfactors lead the Mayan’s to their end is arguably history s most enduring mystery. Every society has its rise, and inevitable fall. However, none have fallen quite like the Classic Maya society. Like many civilizations, the fall of the Classic Maya society hinged on the back of many contributing factors over the time span of 660 -900 A.D. There are many contributing factors that contributed to the demise of the society. These factors consisted of climate change, deforestation, warfare, famine, and overpopulationRead MoreThe Ancient Civilization1622 Words   |  7 Pagesintriguing story of all.To understand what causes great civilizations, it is vital to note the process of collapse in other civilizations, such as the great Roman Empire. Differences in time period, geographical landscapes, and other circumstances mean no direct correlations are possible, but the outstanding point of similarity is that no single factor accounts for a large civilization s collapse. One similarity between these two civilizations is the process which brought the downfall of other empiresRead MoreGun, Germs, And Steel By Jared Diamond1585 Words   |  7 PagesPrize in 1998 and is widely regarded as a groundbreaking scientific work. In the prologue of â€Å"Collapse†, Jared Diamond claims that his previous book â€Å"Guns, Germs, and Steel† focused on the buildup of societies over the last 13,000 years and his present book ‘Collapse† focuses on the factors that cause failure and survival in civilizations all across the world2.† Diamond analyzes the breakdown of all societies through a unique scale called the five-point framework. This framework considers environmentalRead MoreEssay The Maya Civilization904 Words   |  4 PagesThe Maya Civilization The ancient Maya once occupied a vast geographic area in Central America. Their civilization inhabited an area that encompasses Mexicos Yucatan peninsula and parts of the states of Chiapas and Tabasco, as well as Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. From the third to the ninth century, Maya civilization produced awe-inspiring temples and pyramids, highly accurate calendars, mathematics and hieroglyphics, and a complex social and political order (CollapseRead MoreArchaeological Interpretations : Archaeology Eastern Mesoamerica1888 Words   |  8 Pages Anthropology 115R Archaeological Interpretations: Archaeology Eastern Mesoamerica The Mysterious Collapse Mayan civilization began long before Christopher Columbus, â€Å" founded the new world†, The Mayan civilization persisted for more than 1,000 years, That is over twice as long as America, just think that a society formed by people some see as primitive expanded into a thriving society which lasted over 1,000 years. This also means that in 1,000 years there were factors slowly leadingRead More The Political Structure of the Maya in the Late Classic Period1739 Words   |  7 Pagesarcheological and epigraphic research has shed new light on Maya civilization, however, there is still much discussion on the political structure and how it was formed. The Maya is a Mesoamerican civilization noted for its advanced form of civilization. It reached its highest state of development during the Classic period which ranges from approximately 200-900 AD. Early in the Classic period (292-434 AD), there were several city-states found throughout the Maya lowland region with no defined hierarc hy of settlement

Make Hot Ice From Vinegar and Baking Soda

Sodium acetate or hot ice is an amazing chemical you can prepare yourself from baking soda and vinegar. You can cool a solution of sodium acetate below its melting point and then cause the liquid to crystallize. The crystallization is an exothermic process, so the resulting ice is hot. Solidification occurs so quickly you can form sculptures as you pour the hot ice. Fast Facts: Hot Ice Science Experiment MaterialsBaking SodaVinegarConcepts IllustratedSupercoolingCrystallizationExothermic Chemical ReactionsTime RequiredFrom start to finish, this experiment takes about an hour. Once you have the hot ice, you can quickly melt and recrystallize it.LevelBeginner to Intermediate LevelNotesThe chemicals in this experiment are non-toxic. However, because liquids are boiled, adult supervision is recommended. This project is best for middle school and above. Sodium Acetate or Hot Ice Materials 1-liter clear vinegar (weak acetic acid)4 tablespoons baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) Prepare the Sodium Acetate or Hot Ice In a saucepan or large beaker, add baking soda to the vinegar, a little at a time and stirring between additions. The baking soda and vinegar react to form sodium acetate and carbon dioxide gas. If you dont add the baking soda slowly, youll essentially get a baking soda and vinegar volcano, which would overflow your container. Youve made the sodium acetate, but it is too dilute to be very useful, so you need to remove most of the water. Here is the reaction between the baking soda and vinegar to produce the sodium acetate: Na[HCO3]– CH3–COOH → CH3–COO– Na H2O CO2Boil the solution to concentrate the sodium acetate. You could just remove the solution from heat once you have 100-150 ml of solution remaining, but the easiest way to get good results is to simply boil the solution until a crystal skin or film starts to form on the surface. This took me about an hour on the stove over medium heat. If you use lower heat you are less likely to get yellow or brown liquid, but it will take longer. If discoloration occurs, its okay.Once you remove the sodium acetate solution from heat, immediately cover it to prevent any further evaporation. I poured my solution into a separate container and covered it with plastic wrap. You should not have any crystals in your solution. If you do have crystals, stir a very small amount of water or vinegar into the solution, just sufficient to dissolve the crystals.Place the covered container of sodium acetate solution in the refrigerator to chill. Activities Involving Hot Ice The sodium acetate in the solution in the refrigerator is an example of a supercooled liquid. That is, the sodium acetate exists in liquid form below its usual melting point. You can initiate crystallization by adding a small crystal of sodium acetate or possibly even by touching the surface of the sodium acetate solution with a spoon or finger. The crystallization is an example of an exothermic process. Heat is released as the ice forms. To demonstrate supercooling, crystallization, and heat release you could: Drop a crystal into the container of cooled sodium acetate solution. The sodium acetate will crystallize within seconds, working outward from where you added the crystal. The crystal acts as a nucleation site or seed for rapid crystal growth. Although the solution just came out of the refrigerator, if you touch the container you will find it is now warm or hot.Pour the solution onto a shallow dish. If the hot ice does not spontaneously begin crystallization, you can touch it with a crystal of sodium acetate (you can usually scrape a small amount of sodium acetate from the side of the container you used earlier). The crystallization will progress from the dish up toward where you are pouring the liquid. You can construct towers of hot ice. The towers will be warm to the touch.You can re-melt sodium acetate and re-use it for demonstrations. Hot Ice Safety As you would expect, sodium acetate is a safe chemical for use in demonstrations. It is used as a food additive to enhance flavor and is the active chemical in many hot packs. The heat generated by the crystallization of a refrigerated sodium acetate solution should not present a burn hazard.

Job Analysis Methods Free Essays

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT 1 DETAILS OF METHODS OF GETTING INFORMATION FOR JOB ANALYSIS Job analysis may be defined as a methodical process of collecting information on the functionally relevant aspects of a job. It involves job description (determining the duties and skill requirements of a job) and job specification (determining the kind of person who should be hired for the job). The methods of Job Analysis are as follows: 1. We will write a custom essay sample on Job Analysis Methods or any similar topic only for you Order Now INTERVIEW METHOD This tool is considered to be very useful to the analysis of jobs. It is a method to collect a variety of information from an incumbent and supervisors by asking them (individually or as a group) to describe the tasks and duties performed. The benefits are that it allows the incumbent to describe tasks and duties that are not observable. However, they may exaggerate or omit tasks and duties. Three types of  interviews  are used to collect  job analysis  data: *  Individual  interviews  with each  employee. * Group  interviews  with groups of employees having the same job, and *  Interview  supervisor who are knowledgeable about the job  being analyzed. Interviews consist of structured Interviews and unstructured interviews. 2. QUESTIONNAIRE METHODS There are many techniques, one of them which is: 3. POSITION ANALYSIS QUESTIONNAIRE (PAQ MODEL) This model developed by McCormick, Jeanerette, and Mecham (1972) is a structured instrument of job analysis to measure job characteristics and then associate them with human characteristics. It consists of 195 job elements that describe generic human behaviors during work activities. It includes: 1. Information input (where and how the worker gets information), 2. Mental processes (reasoning and other processes that workers use), 3. Work output (physical activities and tools used on the job), 4. Relationships with other persons, and 5. Job context (the physical and social contexts of work). Over the years it has been observed that there exists a wealth of research on the PAQ since it has yielded reasonably good reliability estimates and has been linked to several assessment tools. 4. OBSERVATION In this method incumbents are observed performing their jobs which enables the trained job analyst to obtain first-hand knowledge and information about the job being analyzed. This method is suited for jobs in which the work behaviors are 1) observable or 2) job tasks are short in duration or 3) jobs in which the job analyst can learn information about the job through observation. With observation, the trained job analyst can obtain first-hand knowledge and information about the job being analyzed. It allows the job analyst to see the work environment, tools and equipment used, interrelationships with other workers, and complexity of the job. 5. CRITICAL INCIDENT TECHNIQUE (CIT model) This method applied to discover behaviors towards working which can help classify performance into a good and bad level. These  observations  are used to solve practical problems and develop psychological principles. The main purposes are building  job descriptions, job specification and job standards, creating a list of good and bad behaviors which can then be used for  performance appraisal and testing the effectiveness of  the job  description and job specification. . WORK SAMPLING This method is a  measurement technique  for  the  quantitative  analysis of  non-repetitive  or  irregularly occurring activity. Work sampling operates by an observer taking a series of random observations on a particular thing of interest (machine, operating room, dock etc. ) to observe its state (working, idle, sleeping etc. ). When enough samples are taken, an analysis of the observations yields a statistically valid indication of t he states for  each thing analyzed. It is relatively inexpensive to use and extremely helpful in providing a deeper understanding of all types of operations. 7. REPERTORY GRID The  repertory grid technique is a method for eliciting personal constructs, i. e. what people think about a given topic. It is based on George Kelly’s  Personal Construct Theory. It is called a ‘grid’ because one way of doing it is to use a matrix with the people along one side and the similarity and contrast poles along another side. The method is as follows: Identify a range of 10-20 people who do the job (these are called  elements). * Select three at random. * Select two that seem more similar in some way. * Identify what it is about them that is similar (this is the  similarity pole). * Identify what is different about the other person (this is the  contrast pole). * Repeat this until you have about 20 contrasts. * Thin this down to about 10 by combining similar contrasts. The remaining contrasts should give a good idea of the factors that make up the job. How to cite Job Analysis Methods, Essay examples