Norse mythology was the belief system of the Norse people before Christianity. It includes a creation legend, a pantheon of gods, heroic sagas, and a pessimistic worldview. The world was created by three gods, and the Aesir ruled Asgard. The Aesir had enemies, and Norse mythology includes sagas about heroes and creatures. Much of it […]
Joseph Needham’s big question is why China was surpassed by the West in science and technology. Needham believed that Confucianism and Taoism promoted a way of life incompatible with scientific advances, and that Chinese culture was not interested in the Age of Discovery. The emphasis on community thinking and respect for elders meant that questioning […]
General fiction encompasses novels and literature that do not fit into a specific genre, such as romance or mystery. These works focus on the protagonist’s world and experiences, often in a “coming-of-age” story. Examples include A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and The Catcher in the Rye. Uncategorized fiction, without a specific theme, is also shelved […]
Core requirements are basic courses that students must take to be admitted to a school or program or to graduate. Many US schools have reduced their core requirements to allow for more student choice, but some schools, like St. John’s College, have an extreme dedication to essential requirements. Essential requirements are the name given to […]
Russian mythology is rooted in Slavic traditions and includes deities, folklore, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Baba Yaga and Firebird are popular supernatural creatures. Russian nationality includes many ethnicities with their own mythologies. Perun and Veles were major gods, and Russian mythology has a variety of supernatural creatures. Old Russian religion was deeply connected to […]
A main verb indicates the action performed by the subject, while auxiliary and modal verbs provide additional information. Sentences consist of a subject and predicate, with the main verb providing direct information about the action. Auxiliary verbs change tense or provide additional meaning, while modal verbs indicate ability or recommendation. A main verb is the […]
Slavic mythology featured gods, spirits, and magical beings, with Christianity replacing the belief in ancient Slavic gods. The pantheon included Perun, Svarog, Dazhbog, and Chernobog. Spirits like domovoi and vodyanoi inhabited homes and natural environments. Baba Yaga was a famous folklore figure, and Slavic literature often imbued animals with magical powers. Originally Slavic mythology appears […]
Inuit mythology includes animism, animal importance, multiple deities, and mythological creatures. Animism is consistent throughout, with many characters depicted as animals. Inuit deities hold power over specific parts of nature, and mythical beasts are often terrifying creatures responsible for unexplained deaths. Inuit mythology is a deeply complex set of beliefs, images and stories passed down […]
Egyptian mythology is the religion of ancient Egypt, featuring stories of mortals meeting gods and how they created the natural world. Kings were revered and gods were often part animals. The belief in the afterlife was important, as seen in mummification and the symbolism of the Nile and lotus flower. Legends of gods like Isis […]
Native American mythology includes trickster figures, death as a universal theme, twin myths, and oral tradition. These elements differentiate it from other mythologies and teach cultural truths and values. Trickster figures represent human nature and the potential for change. Death signifies cycles of life and rebirth, while twin myths teach balance and meaning in life. […]
Mayan mythology centers around corn and the belief that humans originated from a single grain brought from the underworld by the First Father. The civilization declined in the 10th century, but tales of Mayan mythology continued to be passed down as oral history. The creation myth, set in “Popul Vuh,” features the First Father, who […]
Japanese mythology is based on the Shinto religion, which includes thousands of gods, goddesses, and spirits. Major deities include Amaterasu, Hachiman, and Susano, with deities called “kami” representing the life force in every being and nature. Susano is linked to storms, while Amaterasu is the sun and fertility kami, and Hachiman is the kami of […]
The Aztecs were a violent civilization that ruled southern Mexico and Central America from the 14th to 16th centuries. Their mythology centered around human sacrifice, reincarnation, destiny, and duality, with the gods requiring sacrifices to be fed and the belief in predestination. Duality was represented in their gods and goddesses, with Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl being […]
Welsh mythology includes stories of kings, warriors, and magic users, often following family lines, and featuring creatures like dragons, giants, and fairies. The Mabinogion contains 11 well-preserved stories, while The White Book of Rhydderch and The Red Book of Hergest are among the oldest collections. The Arthurian legends may have originated in these stories. There […]
Scandinavian mythology includes myths and folktales from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and other regions. It influenced neighboring Slavic mythology and was influenced by Greco-Roman traditions. Surviving texts were written by Christians, potentially with bias. The cosmos is divided into realms, with Midgard being the human realm. The pantheon of gods was headed by Odin and included […]
Germanic mythology is the religious and supernatural beliefs of Northern Europe before Christianity. It includes gods, goddesses, heroes, and distinct worlds. Woden, Thor, and Freyja are some of the major deities. The study is complicated by the lack of written records and the influence of Christian or Roman authors. Germanic mythology is the set of […]
Hindu mythology is the dominant set of beliefs and traditions in the Indian subcontinent, including legends of gods and heroes in ancient texts. Karma and dharma are important concepts, and Vishnu is a supreme being who can manifest as various avatars. Reincarnation is also a key belief. Hinduism has influenced other religions and has been […]
Chinese mythology includes a diverse pantheon of deities, creatures, and enlightened people, drawing from Taoist, Confucian, and Buddhist beliefs. Pangu created the universe and Fuxi and Nuwa created humanity. The Jade Emperor rules heaven and rewards those who follow moral values. The dragon is a benevolent symbol of wind and water, and one of the […]
Roman mythology was heavily influenced by Greek culture, with the Romans incorporating Greek gods into their own religion. The founding of Rome is a central myth, featuring the twin brothers Romulus and Remus, born from the union between Rhea Silvia and the god Mars. Romulus killed Remus and founded Rome with refugees and criminals, later […]
Developmental tasks are skills that must be acquired at specific stages in life for physical and mental health. They can come from physical maturation, cultural expectations, and individual ideals. Failure to acquire them can make subsequent tasks more difficult. Developmental milestones mark the end of one stage and the beginning of the next. Erik Erikson […]
