Mesoamerican and Andean Civilizations: A Comparative Study
Mother Cultures in Mesoamerica
Contributed to the cultural development of Mayan and Aztec civilizations
Teotihuacan
They bet on urban planning and construction of large ceremonial centers.
Zapotec
They designed a solar calendar and a writing system based on figures – the city was better known as Monte Alban.
Toltecs
Contributed gods and sacrificial rites, and the ball game.
Olmec
They developed a calendar and an accounting system. Their heads were famous giant sculptures.
Cultures in the Andean Mother Region
These
Read MoreAncient Greek Theater: Tragedy, Comedy, and Key Playwrights
Ancient Greek Theater: An Overview
Ancient Greek theater comprised three main genres: tragedy, comedy, and satyr drama. These plays explored profound themes such as destiny, liberty, love, and death.
Tragedy
Tragedies delved into the significant problems of human existence, often focusing on the struggles of heroes and the consequences of their choices.
Comedy
Comedies, on the other hand, concerned themselves with everyday life and often presented problematic situations in a lighthearted manner. The
Read MoreSpanish Poetry: Post-Civil War Trends and Generations
Poetry is a literary genre that offers great variety. It links with the trends produced in previous years and offsets the negative impact of the exile of many of the big names (Juan Ramón Salinas, Cernuda, Alberti), with the teaching of other poets from ’27 (G. Diego, D. Alonso, Aleixandre).
In the years before 1936, poets agreed to turn their eyes to the feeling of intimacy and commitment, abandoning avant-garde forms and pure poetry. The lyric poets of the post-war period looked to serene and
Read MoreLope de Vega’s Theater, Spanish Golden Age, and More
Characteristics of Lope’s New Theater
- Characters: You can mix tragic and comic characters.
- Metric: It adjusts to situations; according to tradition, each stanza is ascribed to an issue.
- Purpose: The purpose of comedy is to delight, and the language employed must reach the public.
- Number of Acts: Works consist of 3 acts.
- Unity of Action: Must be maintained, although Lope himself did not always do so.
- Unities of Time and Place: There is no need to respect them, though it is recommended that the action takes
Troubadour Poetry: Feudal Society, Courtly Love, and Political Influence
Troubadour Poetry
Feudal Society
Feudal society was structured around two primary classes: those who commanded and did not work (the nobility), and those who worked and obeyed (the peasantry). The nobility resided in palaces and castles, managing their lands. The peasantry lived in simple dwellings made of mud and reeds, engaged in farming and animal husbandry.
To maximize the benefits derived from their lands, lords formed armies of loyal vassals, linked hierarchically through oaths of loyalty and
Read MoreRoman Historiography: Authors and Works
1. Introduction
History, as a genre, is the study and narration of past events. It is considered both a literary and scientific work; therefore, it is called historiography. Often, a certain degree of credibility and truth is subordinated to a political and national purpose. There is typically no analysis of social and economic problems, and sources are partially consulted.
2. Origins
- Legal Texts: Leges Regiae, Senatus Consulta, Law of the Twelve Tables (450 BC).
- Religious Texts: Annales Pontificum.