Modules

Hello Class, my name is Lysander Perez, I am currently a senior at UCF, finishing my degree in anthropology. I am interesting in archeology because of its vast implications on history. Furthermore, I love the fact that archeologist get to work on in the field collecting ancient artifacts. Though it could be hard work, archeology allows for a great deal of curiosity and excitement in discovering the world unlike other fields of study. _ This is an image of an ancient dynasty tomb. Chinese anthropologist discovered tombs dating back to the Han Dynasty in China. The website can be located [|here] as you can see some of the artifacts in the picture seem interesting. _ http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_East_Asia&action=history

Seeing this information, I have come to realize that it might not be too accurate since just about anyone could edit it. However, the constant stream of revisions and traffic to the wiki leads me to belief that at least many people are contributing to the same amount of information before it is publish as true; suggesting that due to traffic that there is an interest in the topic and therefore, the information might be accurate. _ [| The Myth of the Xia Dynasty]

Sarah Allan [|The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland] No. 2 (1984), pp. 242-256 Published by: Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25211710

This is a journal article describing the possibility of the existence of the Xia Dynasty. It is entitled the “Myth of the Xia Dynasty” because it looks into the mythological state and whether any of the emperors or sites existed. Throughout the article, author Sarah Allen, looks at the archeological evidence, Chinese legends and mythology, information on the Shang Dynasty, whether there exists a connection between the Shang and the Xia dynasty, and connection between the mythology and historical artifacts. In addition, Allen attempts to study the cosmology and genealogy of the emperors of China to see if a connection could be made to conclude the existence of the Xia Dynasty. Although this article looks more closely at the myths associated with the Xia Dynasty, the author attempts to draw a conclusion whether any historical basis is found within the myth. Although she discovers known, she does mention that recent discoveries of archeological sites seem to provide evidence for the existence of a dynasty before the Shang Dynasty. This article is useful to people interested in the subject of Chinese history for a number of reasons including understanding of early states and whether there lies any truth in myths. In addition, archeological evidence is brought to light and questioned as is the existence of states and dynastic power before the Shang Dynasty.

1. Allen, Sarah. "The Myth of the Xia Dynasty." [|The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]. [|Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland]. No.2:1984 242-256. [].

__Module 11:__



__The article Chinese Paleoanthropology by K.C. Chang, reveals that the politics of East Asia were influenced by a large group of people, that were not all from the same region or separated from the world (13). The implications of this suggest that many different kinds of people attributed to the political structured that developed in East Asia, and continues to thrive to this day. One of the most prominent of derives from Confucius thought and culture. This religion and spiritual thought, created some boundaries and ideologies that founded some of the cultures in the area and created some of the rules and laws that formulated some of the culture in the East (Wei-ming 14). The conception of thought may have been what could have bounded many groups of people together under a common ideology, creating thriving systems of political structure. However, even though its influence was on country wide scale, the peaceful aspects of the religion and ideology did not prevent groups of people from deliberately seeking out power and control over large groups of people. From warring and political strife small groups of people sought out power under self-entitled religious structures that formulated a monarchy (Sofue). These structures could have been formulated by a need to have a centralize ruling structure or common ideology to form and thrive a culture. In addition these also may have been full by an individuals need to empower themselves. When considering ancients East Asian society, like the Han, individual people decided it was a requirement to empower themselves. According to the article "A Han Painted Tomb at Loyang" by Jonathan Chaves, the Han tried to preserve their individual powers after death. This suggest that in these societies people already sought out greater power.__ __Module 12:__



__This Google Earth image shows the location of the Xi'an which is the ancient city once known as Chang'an. Located within the region are the Banbo Museum that harbors the remains of ancient villages dating back to the neolithic era. Included in the area are artifacts and remains from the Qin Empire and Emperor housed within a mausoleum dedicated to him.__

__[|A Han Painted Tomb at Loyang]__ __Jonathan Chaves__ __[|Artibus Asiae]__ __Vol. 30, No. 1 (1968), pp. 5-27__ __Published by: [|Artibus Asiae Publishers]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/3250440__

__[|Confucian Traditions in East Asian Modernity]__ __Tu Wei-ming__ __[|Bulletin of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences]__ __Vol. 50, No. 2 (Nov., 1996), pp. 12-39__

__[|Chinese Palaeoanthropology]__ __K. C. Chang__ __[|Annual Review of Anthropology]__ __Vol. 6, (1977), pp. 137-159__ __Published by: [|Annual Reviews]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/2949329__

__[|Anthropology in Japan: Historical Review and Modern Trends]__ __Takao Sofue__ __[|Biennial Review of Anthropology]__ __Vol. 2, (1961), pp. 173-214__ __Published by: [|Bernard Siegal]__ __http://www.jstor.org/stable/2949221__

__[|Ancient China Life]__ __http://www.ancientchinalife.com/ancient-china-architecture.html__

_ __The topic I am interested in is Royal Palaces of Eastern Empires. Interestingly, these palaces depict an architecture that is unique and different from the Ancient Kingdoms of Greece the Romans, or the English. What I am curious about is whether or not they served a different function, or if the community look at them or used them differently from other political kingdoms. Perhaps there use was different because people may have had a different expectation of their political figures. This topic is of interest because of different attributes the palaces might represent, such as political power of a monarch, or political figure in charge; or the power of the government, or political entity.__

This is a web page about Ming Dynasty era and ancient pottery. []

Extra Credit-

Friday’s AIA lecture was on Dr. Deborah Carlson’s excavation of a sunken ship in Kilzilburun. In the wreck, a column, in parts, was discovered which appears to be from the second or first century b.c. The column seems designed for a Doric style temple. Interestingly, this seems to facilitate to the trade and export of items from one location to another at the time. Though it did not get to its destination, the act of transportation suggests that the civilization were becoming closely intertwined, eventually spreading throughout all nearby civilization. These acts of trade might be behind the early forms of communication that attributed to similarities found within cultures. This seems likely since it was between these times that cultures started becoming much more complex eventually leading to the end of the archaic societies ways of life.