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What role did religion play in Mayan life?

The Mayans developed a complex system of calendars that were dependent on the movements of the sun, moon, stars and planets. The calendars determined the timing of crop planting, the waging of war and the enacting of religious rituals. The cultivation of maize, the most important Mayan crop, was tied to religion, and the maize god was one of the most important religious figures. Prayers and offerings were made before such activities as ball games played in special outdoor courts.\nBloodletting, torture and human sacrifices were integral aspects of Mayan religion. Rulers, because they were thou..

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When did India become a colony and when did it gain independence?

Although under a system of direct and indirect British rule after the Mutiny of 1857, the British annexation of India was an incremental process that began in the previous century as the British East India Company's sphere of influence grew with regard to India's economy and internal politics.Some historians consider the British East India Company's greater involvement in Indian affairs, such as education, culture and social reforms, to be the actual start of British rule. The Mutiny of 1857 was an armed response to the British trading company's growing takeover of Indian p..

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What did Robert Hooke invent?

Hooke's work as an experimental scientist led to his invention of the universal joint and the iris diaphragm, and he secured patents in the field of optics and elasticity. Hooke is said to have also made contributions to gravity theory, and he created the theory of elasticity, more commonly known as "Hooke's Law." Through his work in microscope observation, Hooke was the first to have observed plant cells and, as a result, is credited with coining the scientific term "cells." In addition to his work in science, Hook was also an philosopher and an architect making advances in surveyin..

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Who are some famous Iroquois people?

The Iroquois consider Dekanawidah, or the Great Peacemaker, the founder of the Iroquois Confederacy. He established the Great Peace and Great Law, which served as the tribe's constitution. In some legends, Hiawatha, another famous Iroquois, and Jigonsaseh, or Peace Queen, helped write the document. They forbade the Iroquois from engaging in cannibalism, human sacrifice and black magic. Though Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized Hiawatha in "The Song of Hiawatha," he based the poem on Manabozho, who wasn't even Iroquois. Some stories cast Hiawatha as Dehanawidah's descendant,..

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How many people died in Pearl Harbor?

The Dec. 7, 1941, attack claimed the lives of nearly every soldier serving on the USS Arizona. The Japanese attacked the Arizona four times, sinking it with 1,177 of its crewmen. Having caught U.S. forces unaware, the Japanese tolled up a loss of only 64 men, five ships and 103 planes. As a results of this deadliest attack on Americans in history, the USS Arizona sits still in the harbor in silent soliloquy to the lives lost. Crew members who escaped the Arizona before its final submersion are allowed to have their ashes interred in the ship's wreckage upon their deaths.

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Who founded New York City?

The original settlement of New Amsterdam was on the current-day Governors Island, but it moved to Manhattan in 1624 when Peter Minuit purchased the island from the native Lenape tribe. In 1664, the English gained control of New Amsterdam, during the Second Anglo-Dutch War over colonial holdings in the New World, and they renamed it New York after the Duke of York.

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Where did the battle of Princeton take place?

Washington routed his troops around the British army and moved north further into New Jersey instead of sailing back across the Delaware River. The British army, led by General Charles Cornwallis, mistakenly defended the Delaware River crossing while Washington's forces left quietly the other way. The colonial army ran into the rear of the British army and defeated them, forcing the British army to relinquish most of New Jersey to Washington.

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What did the ancient Spartans wear?

During the colder months, Spartan tunics were made from very thick wool and were traded for linen tunics when the weather was warm. Spartans normally wore cloaks off the battlefield, especially in the winter when the extra warmth a cloak provided was welcome. Short and long cloaks were commonly worn; the shorter cloak was worn over a tunic while the longer one could be worn with nothing underneath. They didn't wear cloaks on the battlefield because a cloak restricted movement.Men didn't wear shoes when they worked on the farm, and boots were usually reserved for battle and the winter..

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Which weapons were used in the Revolutionary War?

Holes in the enemy's line prompted an attack with bayonets, which were sharp blades attached to the ends of the muskets. This close-up assault often led to one side to retreating or surrendering.\nSome long rifles were also used during the Revolutionary War. These had grooves inside the barrels that made them far more precise than muskets. Trained riflemen were able to hit targets 300 yards away. Scouts and snipers often used these weapons. Rifles were slower to load than muskets and did not have bayonets attached.\nSmall arms, such as pistols and sabers, were sometimes carried, but they ..

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When did California enter the Union?

The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore what is now known as California, and the first Spanish missionaries settled the state in the 1700s. As a result of the Mexican War for Independence in 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain, and California became part of Mexico's northern region.\nThe Californian revolt against Mexico began in 1831. As a result of the Mexican-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed in February 1848, the Americans secured control of California.\nThe California Gold Rush began in 1848 and hastened the state's acceptance in..

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