The Iroquois agricultural system was based on the hill-planting method. Iroquois women, who were responsible for farming, placed several kernels of corn in a hole. Farming provided most of the Iroquois diet. The Iroquois made tools for farming. One tool was a wooden rake for leveling the soil. Another was…
Unlike the Aztec Empire, the Maya had no central controlling government. Rather, each Maya city-state had its own individual ruling family that controlled the city and surrounding rural area. Some city-states were larger and controlled other smaller city-states, ruling them indirectly but taking tribute from the smaller polity. The Maya…
Eighth-century mathematician Muhammad al-Fazari is the first person credited with building the astrolabe in the Islamic world. The mathematical background was established by Muslim astronomer Albatenius in his treatise Kitab az-Zij (c. 920 AD), which was translated into Latin by Plato Tiburtinus (De Motu Stellarum). Mariam “Al-Astrolabiya” Al-Ijliya. Mariam “Al-Astrolabiya”…
Archaeologists have found what may have been stone rollers used to compact the road bed during construction. But no wheels. While it is certainly true that the Maya did not possess the potter’s wheel, they did make use of a device called the k’abal. At least one New World civilization…
During the exile in Babylon, they developed what is now known as Rabbinical Judaism. They already had Judaism as given in the Law of Moses, i.e. the first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible. When did the Israelites developed Judaism during their exile in Babylon? In 66 CE, this group…
The greatest Maya enemy was in fact, each other. War between Mayan city-states was common because resources were scarce and conflict was the best way… Recent advances in the interpretation of stonework at Maya sites have changed that, however, and the Maya are now considered a very violent, warmongering society.…
Japan did sign the Geneva Convention but, like the USSR, failed to ratify it, so was not bound by the laws. While the extent of the atrocities committed are still a matter for intense debate, there is little doubt the Japanese grossly violated the Geneva Conventions during the Second World…
The Maya dating didn’t have leap years at all, so every year they went off by approximately a quarter of a day. But they could count time — days — very well, hence the Long CountLong CountThe Mesoamerican Long Count calendar is a non-repeating, vigesimal (base 20) and octodecimal (base…
The 2011 New York Jets season was the franchise’s 42nd season in the National Football League (NFL), the 52nd season overall and the team’s third season under head coach Rex Ryan. They failed to improve upon their 11–5 record from 2010 and failed to reach the playoffs for the first…
Unfortunately, it’s a myth. Author and beer historian Bob Skilnik maintains it’s absurd to believe the Pilgrims anchored simply because they had run out of beer. Aside from making them sound like drunken frat boys on a transatlantic beer cruise, historical documents indicate they had other priorities. It seems the…