Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare

Toltec Weapons, Armor, and Warfare From their mighty city of Tollan (Tula), the Toltec civilization dominated Central Mexico from the fall of Teotihuacn to the rise of the Aztec Empire (approximately 900-1150 A.D.). The Toltecs were a warrior culture and fought frequent battles of conquest and subjugation against their neighbors. They warred in order to take victims for sacrifice, expand their empire and spread the cult of Quetzalcoatl, the greatest of their gods. Toltec Arms and Armor Although the site has been heavily looted over the centuries, there are enough surviving statues, friezes and stelae at Tula to indicate what sort of weapons and armor the Toltecs favored. Toltec warriors would wear decorative chest plates and elaborate feather headdresses into battle. They wrapped one arm from the shoulder down in padding and favored small shields which could be quickly used in close combat. A beautiful armored tunic made of seashells was found in an offering in the Burned Palace at Tula: this armor may have been used by a high-ranking soldier or king in battle. For ranged combat, they had long darts which could be launched with lethal force and accuracy by their atlatls, or javelin throwers. For close combat, they had swords, maces, knives and a special curved club-like weapon inlaid with blades which could be used to batter or slash. Warrior Cults For the Toltecs, wars and conquest were closely linked to their religion. The large and formidable army was likely composed of religious warrior orders, including but not limited to coyote and jaguar warriors. A small statue of a Tlaloc-warrior was unearthed at Ballcourt One, indicating the presence of a Tlaloc warrior cult at Tula, much like the one that was present at Teotihuacn, the predecessor of the Toltec culture. The columns on top of Pyramid B are four-sided: on them they show gods including Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl in full battle gear, providing further evidence for the presence of warrior-cults at Tula. The Toltecs aggressively spread the worship of Quetzalcoatl and military conquest was one way to do so. The Toltecs and Human Sacrifice There is ample evidence at Tula and in the historical record that the Toltecs were avid practitioners of human sacrifice. The most obvious indication of human sacrifice is the presence of a tzompantli, or skull rack. Archaeologists have unearthed no fewer than seven Chac Mool statues at Tula (some of which are complete and some of which are only pieces). Chac Mool statues depict a reclining man, belly-up, holding a recipient or bowl on his abdomen. The recipients were used for offerings, including human sacrifices. In ancient legends still told to this day by locals, Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl, the god-king who founded the city, had a dispute with the followers of Tezcatlipoca, mostly about how much human sacrifice was needed to appease the gods: the followers of Tezcatlipoca (who favored more sacrifices) won the conflict and were able to drive Ce Atl Quetzalcoatl out. Military Iconography at Tula It seems that nearly all of the surviving art at the ruined city of Tula has a military or warlike theme to it. The most iconic pieces at Tula are by far the four Atalantes or mighty statues which grace the top of Pyramid B. These statues, which tower over visitors at 17 ft. (4.6 m) high, are of warriors armed and dressed for battle. They bear typical armor, headdresses, and weapons including the curved, bladed club and dart launcher. Nearby, four pillars depict gods and high-ranking soldiers in battle dress. Reliefs carved into benches show processions of chieftains in battle gear. A six-foot stela of a governor dressed as a priest of Tlaloc bears a curved mace and dart launcher. Conquest and Subject States Although historical data is scarce, it is likely that the Toltecs of Tula conquered several nearby states and held them as vassals, demanding tribute such as food, goods, weapons and even soldiers. Historians are divided concerning the scope of the Toltec Empire. There is some evidence that it may have reached as far as the Gulf Coast, but there is no conclusive proof that it extended more than a hundred kilometers in any direction from Tula. The post-Maya city of Chichen Itza shows clear architectural and thematic influence from Tula, but historians generally agree that this influence came from trade or Tula nobles in exile, not from military conquest. Conclusions The Toltecs were mighty warriors who must have been greatly feared and respected in central Mesoamerica during their heyday from about 900-1150 A.D. They used advanced weapons and armor for the time, and were organized into fervent warrior clans serving different ruthless gods. Sources Charles River Editors. The History and Culture of the Toltec. Lexington: Charles River Editors, 2014.Cobean, Robert H., Elizabeth Jimà ©nez Garcà ­a and Alba Guadalupe Mastache. Tula. Mexico: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 2012.Coe, Michael D and Rex Koontz. 6th Edition. New York: Thames and Hudson, 2008.Davies, Nigel. The Toltecs: Until the Fall of Tula. Norman: the University of Oklahoma Press, 1987.Gamboa Cabezas, Luis Manuel. El Palacio Quemado, Tula: Seis Decadas de Investigaciones. Arqueologia Mexicana XV-85 (May-June 2007). 43-47Hassig, Ross. War and Society in Ancient Mesoamerica. University of California Press, 1992.Jimenez Garcia, Esperanza Elizabeth. Iconografà ­a guerrera en la escultura de Tula, Hidalgo. Arqueologia Mexicana XIV-84 (March-April 2007). 54-59.

Introduction to the Economic Term Supply

Introduction to the Economic Term Supply In economics, the supply of a particular good or service is simply the quantity of the item that is produced and offered for sale. Economists refer to both individual firm supply, which is the quantity that a single firm produces and offers for sale, and market supply, which is the combined quantity that all firms in the market together produce. Supply Is Based on Profit Maximization One assumption in economics is that companies operate with the single explicit goal of maximizing profits. Therefore, the quantity of a good supplied by a firm is the amount that gives the firm the highest level of profit. The profit that a firm makes from producing a good or service depends on a number of factors, including the price that it can sell its output for, the prices of all of the inputs to production, and the efficiency of turning inputs into outputs. Since supply is the outcome of the profit maximization calculation, its hopefully not surprising that these determinants of profit are also the determinants of the quantity that a firm is willing to supply. Implicit Time Units It doesn’t really make sense to describe supply without mentioning time units. For example, if someone asked â€Å"how many computers does Dell supply?† you would need more information in order to answer the question. Is the question about computers supplied today? This week? This year? All of these time units are going to result in different quantities supplied, so it’s important to specify which one you are talking about. Unfortunately, economists are often somewhat lax about mentioning the time units explicitly, but you should remember that they are always there.

Good Communications in architectural practice and management Essay

Good Communications in architectural practice and management - Essay Example So what is an architect Dispensing with the usual academic recourse to etymology, an architect is simply "someone qualified to design buildings and supervise their construction." (Collins, 1991). Adding dryness and formality to this raw definition, we can further say that: "An architect produces detailed workings and drawings so that buildings are designed effectively, manages the building project according to tight specifications, negotiates and coordinates with other professionals involved in the project, prepares planning applications, ensures that damages to the landscape and environment are limited, and appraises and consents listed buildings and conservation areas according to the needs of the client" (Hobsons, 2006). To put it simply, an architect is a planner, draughtsman, technical designer, a building supervisor, contracts negotiator, bureaucrat, manager, environmentalist, and conservationist all in one. But even then, considering the number of roles that an architect needs to fulfil to high standards, there is one trait that runs through all these and that determines whether the architect will forever be dabbling in mediocrity and penury or living decently and in comfort whilst being good, or be a successful virtuoso with pen, manual or digital, designing buildings at the cutting edge of genius. That singular trait is the ability to communicate. Yes, a good to great architect must be a good communicator, for the simple reason that architecture is a form of communication, and how the architect handles this important component of the job determines to a large extent how successful the practice would be. Why do we say that architecture is communication And what do we communicate Our answers to these questions lead us to the creative answers to our first two questions. What is Communication Architecture as Communication Communication is the process of transmitting information from an individual or group to another (McCloskey, 1993). Ants do it; even the birds and the bees do it. Any creature with information finds the need to communicate it to another, and this is how things get moving in our world. The whole animal kingdom (let's not go into genetics, please) depends on communication for their existence, growth, and survival; great civilizations have come and gone because of it. So important is communications to life that a successful architectural career depends on it. The architectural profession lives and thrives on communication, because architecture in itself is an expression of ideas, a manner of transmitting information, using a combination of technical and artistic languages, a mode where the message and the medium blend into one material structure that often lives long after clients, architects, and builders have gone. An architect is not merely a designer of buildings but an interpreter of dreams, a professional artist who in a design captures visions both simple and complex. Architects are masters of technology, and by their work they transform our imaginations, making them visible for the whole world to see, admire, live in, and use. Like messages trapped in the mind that goad listeners to action, architecture traps minds and allow

CCTV Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

CCTV - Research Paper Example es will be analyzed, such as whether hidden CCTV cameras reduce security breaches based on people’s perception, the specific perceptions these people have with regards to the importance of CCTV to security, reactions of these people when in establishments that have CCTV cameras, their level of confidence regarding their security in these places, and how their attitudes have changed since the introduction of CCTV. This research report will seek to show that CCTV systems increase productivity in terms of controlling security breaches, as well as providing psychological benefits to civilians by allowing them to feel secure in places with CCTV. While CCTV systems are not physical barriers that limit access to some places or make it more difficult to commit a crime, it is a highly situational crime prevention tool (Guagnin 89). In the right situations, most people believe that they have some capacity to reduce security breaches. Although the CCTV is multi-functional, its primary utility is to arouse in the potential offender a perceptual mechanism. The perception of the offender can be changed so that if he/she commits a crime, he believes that he will be traced down. In other words, there is evidence that the majority of civilians believe that CCTV can increase the potential offender’s perceived capture risk. Assuming that the offender is behaving in a rational manner, this may de-motivate them. However, most people believe that in order for CCTV to reduce security breaches, the offender needs to be aware that there is a camera in the vicinity and that the offender needs to believe that the presence of the cameras a re enough of a risk to negate any rewards for the crime they intend to carry out (Guagnin 90). Most people interviewed did not believe that hidden cameras were any deterrent to the offenders to reduce security breaches. In fact, evidence is suggestive of the fact that, even with the installation of cameras, there is no guarantee that people will be

Comparing Christianity and Buddhism :: Papers Compare Contrast Religion Essays

Comparing Christianity and Buddhism This paper is a comparison between two very different religions. Specifically Christianity and Buddhism. Coming from opposite sides of the globe these two religions could not be any farther apart in any aspect. I will discuss who Christ is for Christians and who Buddha is for Buddhists. I will also get into the aspects of charity, love, and compassion in both religions and I will be looking at the individual self and how christians see resurrection where the buddhists feel about the afterlife. One thing to keep in mind is that the two religions are very different but they seem to have a very similar underlying pattern. Both believe that there was a savior of their people, Buddha and Christ, and both believe that there is something good that happens to us when our time is done here on earth. This is a very generalized summarization but in order to go in to depth I need to explain the two religions more to fully convey this theory. The Christian religion, like all other religions has its strengths and weaknesses in our modern society. Perhaps the strengths out weight the weaknesses as this is one of the largest religions in the world. Hundreds of people follow the Catholic/Christian religion yet still a greater number follow yet other religions. Perhaps this is because they see the weaknesses or perhaps it is simply because their parents have taught them that it is a sin to follow this religion. The Christian religions do however present much more of an appealing atmosphere than such other religions which are as large as the Christian. The Christian religion is one of few religions where punishments for sins are not severe. In the Christian religion, even if you have lived a life of sin, so long as you repent in the end, you will be saved and given eternal life. This is not so in other religions. Such religions as Hinduism for instance do not believe this. For everything you do wrong you will be punished. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, if not in this life, then the next. Hindu's also believe that punishing the body is part of the path to salvation. Christianity is nothing like this. Many Christians live in high class society. Christianity is one of the most appealing in that any sins may easily be corrected and that Christians may live comfortable, if not wealthy lives without guilt.

IB Psych SRQ: Explain How One Hormone Influences Human Behavior

A hormone is a biochemical produced by the glands of the endocrine system which is transported by the bloodstream to specific cells and organs around the body in order to initiate specific biological responses. The human body can produce a large number of hormones, many of which have a large influence on our emotions and behavior. Common examples are adrenaline, oxytocin, oestrogen, and testosterone, which I will be using to demonstrate the vast influence which hormones have over our everyday lives.Testosterone is the hormone responsible for the development of secondary sexual characteristics in males (development of facial hair, deepening of voice, increased muscle mass, etc.) and is secreted from the testes and ovaries, although only in small amounts by the latter. It is essential for reproduction in males and has been strongly linked to aggressive behaviors.One study which adequately demonstrates this link is Berthold’s 1840’s study on the effects of testosterone on animal behavior. In this quasi-experiment six roosters were castrated. One group was left without testicles, one had them surgically reattached, and one had another rooster’s transplanted. Both of the groups which had been given testicle transplants behaved normally (fighting, crowing, strong sex drive) despite the fact that the testicles did not re-establish the connections they had originally had, while the control group showed decreased levels of aggression and lack of desire to mate. Berthold concluded that the testes must be responsible for secreted some chemical which is linked to these behaviors.Because this study used roosters we can argue that the results should not be generalized to fit humans, however, more recent research has reinforced this link and I chose this study because it was one of the earliest and sparked further enquiry into the area. This study demonstrated a clear cause-and-effect link between the testes and traditional male behaviors because removal the testicles directly lead to less dominant behaviors in the control group.

Free Essay Sample on Status Symbols in Society

Essay Sample about Symbols of Society Discuss some of the status symbols of today’s society Looking at the way human behavioral patterns spanning the eras, cultures and geographical barriers, creating a lasting impression on fellow society members is through symbols of one’s status. â€Å"Symbols take on important meanings in organizations; meanings that are defined by cultural and social conventions and interactions†. (Rafaeli, 1999) In societies, status symbols are a visual reflection of the excess wealth that an eminent and influential member of society might wish to showcase. â€Å"Trophy wife† is a luxurious reflection of a man’s sophisticated tastes, power and masculinity. Expensive jewelry is considered to be a sign of belonging to the upper-class society. The same goes for appearance. For instance, a well-dressed customer, who walks into a store, gets more attention from a salesperson, than a non-costly dressed one. Electronic gazettes like cell phones, tablets or laptops are the most preferred form of display, since they are must-have goods today. Owning a large number of transport options, like private jets, yachts or expensive fuel-guzzling cars, is in vogue. Nowadays is very difficult to define the meaning of status symbol due to the blurred distinctions between social classes of people. The goodwill and level of status of a human being can be reflected on the basis of the clothes and accessories worn by him. Instead, one’s social status is seen not in the frequency of indulged luxury, but in the quality of it. Where to spend a family holidays is more vital than when or how often. Is it a cruise to the South of France or a car trip to the neighboring county every month? Cooking food themselves or hiring a qualified chef? The custom now is to invest in products or services that are sophisticated. According to Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, (2008): â€Å"Impending changes in status cause changes in the brain’s reward centre that are just as strong as monetary reward.† References Meyer-Lindenberg, (2008), Central Institute of mental Health, Mannheim, Germany http://www.dana.org/news/brainwork/detail.aspx?id=12142 Rafaeli, 1999, Symbols in Organizational Culture