Aztec Society and Ecological Factors

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Questions and Answers

What was one ecological factor that led to the Aztecs practicing cannibalism?

Abundance of domesticated animals

Excessive availability of crops

Insufficient wild animal population (correct)

Overpopulation of the Aztec society

Which event marked the end of the Aztec Empire?

The implementation of trade agreements

The establishment of the Spanish Inquisition

The arrival of indigenous tribes

The defeat by Hernan Cortes (correct)

Which of the following contributed to soil erosion within the context of ecological crises?

Decline in animal husbandry

Excessive agricultural practices

Increased population density

Deforestation due to logging (correct)

What is a consequence of the growing global connections mentioned?

Escalation of global warming Signup and view all the answers

How did the Aztecs utilize captive victims in their culture?

As sacrificial offerings Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of hunting and gathering societies?

They practice a mobile way of life. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the subsistence strategy of pastoralists?

They move with their herds to find grazing land and water. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of the shift to agriculture?

Transmission of animal diseases to humans. Signup and view all the answers

What distinct feature defines the culture of the Nuer people?

A calendar strictly related to herding activities. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true regarding the !Kung San of Kalahari?

They need to gather enough food in one day for a week. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best summarizes the origin of agriculture?

It originated in multiple centers independently. Signup and view all the answers

What does cultural ecology primarily study?

The relationship between humans and their environment. Signup and view all the answers

What technological methods were typically used in early agriculture?

Simple technologies like digging sticks. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary argument of the ontological turn in anthropology?

It critiques the uncritical use of Western ontological concepts in anthropological interpretations. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following theorists is associated with cultural ecology?

Marvin Harris Signup and view all the answers

Which fossil discovery challenges the idea that Homo sapiens evolved solely in East Africa?

Fossils in Jebel Irhoud, Morocco Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT one of the four main ways humans adapted to various environmental conditions?

Agriculture Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of humans being a successful species due to culture?

Emergence of current global problems. Signup and view all the answers

When did Homo sapiens expand to Eurasia?

Approximately 125,000 years ago Signup and view all the answers

What technological advancement is linked to the early beginnings of culture?

Manufacturing of stone tools Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the subsistence strategy based on herding domesticated animals?

Pastoralism Signup and view all the answers

What method involves studying a single phenomenon across different locations?

Multi-sited Ethnography Signup and view all the answers

Which scholar's work inspired Tsing's approach to studying global phenomena?

Marcus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes postcolonial theory?

A reflection on colonialism and its impacts. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Orientalism' refer to in Edward Said's analysis?

The construction of the East as inferior. Signup and view all the answers

According to postcolonial studies, what is often a misconception about veiling?

That it always signifies oppression. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following phenomena does Tsing relate to logging on Borneo?

The interactions among various industries. Signup and view all the answers

Who was one of the earliest exponents of postcolonial theory?

Fanon Signup and view all the answers

What concept does the term 'hybridity' in postcolonial studies refer to?

A combination and mixing of cultures. Signup and view all the answers

What circumstance did the captain NOT face during the expedition?

Favorable wind conditions Signup and view all the answers

What did Antonio Pigafetta contribute to our understanding of the expedition?

He produced small dictionaries of local languages. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sources is NOT considered a classical source of ethnographic information about Southeast Asia?

The Travels of Marco Polo Signup and view all the answers

According to anthropological perspectives, culture is NOT characterized by which of the following aspects?

Complete isolation in time and space Signup and view all the answers

What idea did anthropologist Arjun Appadurai develop in the mid-80s?

The physical properties of objects define their meanings. Signup and view all the answers

What challenge are modern museums facing today?

Rising agitation for repatriation of artifacts. Signup and view all the answers

During which historical period did the interest in collecting items for European museums emerge?

Enlightenment Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant role of travelers and scientists during the 18th century regarding collections?

They collected examples of plants, animals, and artifacts. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason why the repatriation of tai moko has been significant for the Maoris?

They believed it was important for preserving their culture. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes the tsantsa from the Jívaro culture?

They represent a ritualistic form of punishment among the Jívaro. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a fake from a fantasy object?

Fakes are created to deceive, while fantasies do not intend to resemble the original. Signup and view all the answers

What was one reason for the collection of human remains in the 18th and 19th centuries?

To preserve cultures that were believed to be vanishing. Signup and view all the answers

Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, what is one of its primary purposes?

To allow tribes to receive their ancestral remains and artifacts back. Signup and view all the answers

How many museums in England hold human remains from overseas dating between 1500 and 1947?

60 museums Signup and view all the answers

What type of fakes did the Jívaro create for tourists?

Csantos or shrunken heads Signup and view all the answers

Which group has noted that many of the human remains in collections have been acquired without consent?

Indigenous cultures Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the term 'fantasy' when discussing cultural objects?

They don’t aim to deceive and are not meant to look old or authentic. Signup and view all the answers

How many human remains in English museums are estimated to be from overseas?

15,000 Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Cultural Studies - Week 1

Cultural Studies is a discipline focusing on diversity in contemporary culture, such as power, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, race, and the human body.
It was developed by British scholars in the 1960s.
Key figures are associated with the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies (Birmingham).
Traditionally, Cultural Studies draws on semiotics, Marxism, poststructuralism, ethnography, and cultural anthropology.
Anthropology is the scientific study of humankind's present and past.

Anthropology: A Short Introduction

Anthropology took shape in the 19th century.
Key figures include Tylor and Boas, despite the field being shaped largely by male scientists.
Notable female anthropologists in the US include Benedict, Mead, and Bunzel.
Anthropology was heavily influenced by colonialism.
Anthropologists often participated in colonial power structures.
Anthropological findings often resulted from colonial contexts.

Structure of Anthropology

A four-field approach was developed by Franz Boas and his students.
This approach includes biological anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeological anthropology, and cultural anthropology.
The fields draw upon field research.

Between Universals and Cultural Specifics

Humans share similar problems, but solve them differently in various cultures.
Culture universals are similarities in form, but their content varies across cultures.
Examples of culture universals include family systems, religion, magic, childbirth practices, death rituals, and body modification practices.

Cultural Studies - Week 2

Culture is a complex concept with many definitions used across a range of disciplines.
It is used in disciplines including anthropology, sociology, philosophy, media studies, psychology, literature, and musicology.
Culture as an activity focuses on values, ethics, aesthetics, and practices, such as rituals, art, music, and religious practices.
Culture as an entity is based on anthropology's understanding of culture as a tangible "thing" that people belong to.
Culture as a construct focuses on the subjective and constructed nature of culture.
Culture as an ontology emphasizes understanding different ways of being and relating to the world.

Cultural Studies - Week 3: Culture and Nature

Culture is a non-biological way of adaptation.
Some theorists view culture as a way humans adapt to natural conditions.
Examples include cultural ecology, ecological anthropology, or cultural materialism.
Culture is not just a set of behaviours or beliefs, it's fundamental to how people experience reality.

Cultural Studies - Week 4: Language

Language is a tool for communication, consisting of grammar and vocabulary.
Language likely evolved about half a million years ago, though the exact time is debated.
Language enables people to articulate language, enabling social connection.
Humans use about 16,000 words daily, approximately.
Language affects how people think, per the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis.

Cultural Studies - Week 5: Sex and Gender

Culture constructs differences between the sexes.
Biological factors (sex) and social factors (gender) contribute to gender roles.
Gender is a social construct and not entirely determined by biological sex.
Different cultures and societies have different ideas about what constitutes masculine and feminine behaviour and characteristics.

Cultural Studies - Week 6: Drawing as a Research Tool

Drawing is a tool for research.
Visual perspective has a history of use as a research tool, going back to Giotto.
Multiple perspectives can be used in drawings.

Cultural Studies - Week 7: Language

Photography and painting in anthropology were employed as research tools.
Anthropologists used photography to document traditions.
These methods help anthropology overcome bias in observation and comparison.
Cultural images and concepts can be described and understood visually.

Cultural Studies - Week 8: Globalization and Culture

Walpiri and media – Aboriginal Australians adapting contemporary technologies like TVs.
Globalisation is a process of constant change in cultures.
No culture is static; they constantly adapt and evolve.
There are no isolated societies.

Cultural Studies - Week 9: Globalization and Culture

Postcolonial studies examine the legacy of colonialism.
Postcolonial studies look at colonial power in the context of culture and its influence.
Colonialism’s effect is not only on politics, but it can also have an impact on society in a wider sense..
Orientalism is a western discourse on the ‘Orient’ that shapes how the west sees it.
The veiling of women is a powerful example of how the Orient is viewed.

Cultural Studies - Week 10: Culture

Who owns culture? This topic investigates ownership of cultural artifacts, and the history of objects.
Cultural artifacts can belong to different groups of people over time, and across cultures.
Cultural ownership of items can be complex.

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Description

Explore the ecological and societal factors that influenced the Aztec civilization, including their practices and the eventual collapse of their empire. This quiz covers concepts of subsistence strategies, ecological crises, and the impact of global connections on communities.