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Quimbaya Gold Necklace
Gold lends itself to the development of decorative techniques. Pre-Columbian pieces from South America were cast and decorated with twisted wire. From the Quimbaya civilization, Colombia, 11th to 16th century CE. (National Museum of Scotland...

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Traditional Reed Raft, Lake Titicaca
A traditional totora reed raft on Lake Titicaca. For several pre-Columbian cultures, including the Incas, the lake was considered the centre of the cosmos and place of creation.

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The History of Philosophy: Origins of Ancient Philosophy Around the Globe
In honour of World Philosophy Day on November 18th, we are bringing you an introduction to the history of philosophy, and the origins of ancient philosophy from around the world! What is philosophy you may be asking? Well, the word philosophy...

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The Ancient Synagogue in Israel & the Diaspora
A unique and fundamental aspect of ancient Judean society in both Israel and the Diaspora, the ancient synagogue represents an inclusive, localized form of worship that did not crystallize until the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. In...

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Dogs and Their Collars in Ancient Mesoamerica
Dogs were an integral aspect of the lives of the people of Mesoamerica regardless of their location or culture and, throughout the region, were recognized as liminal beings belonging not only to the natural world and that of humans but to...

Definition
Aristarchus of Samos
Aristarchus of Samos (l. c. 310 - c. 230 BCE) was a Greek astronomer who first proposed a heliocentric model of the universe in which the sun, not the earth, was at the center. Although his theory was noted by other thinkers of his time...

Definition
Ragnarök
Ragnarök is the cataclysmic battle between the forces of chaos and those of order in Norse mythology, ending the world and killing most of the gods and their adversaries, leading to the birth of a new world. It has been claimed, however...

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El Tajín—Veracruz—Mexico
El Tajín is a pre-Columbian archeological site and one of the largest and most important cities of the Classic era of Mesoamerica. A part of the Classic Veracruz culture. The archeological site is known by the local Totonacs, whose ancestors...

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Introduction to Thales, Anaximenes, and Anaximander
In this lecture we investigate the ideas of the first three Presocratics, who are referred to as the Milesians: Thales, Anaximander and Anaximenes. In particular, we will explain how they were in search of the arche, or the underlying source...

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Introduction to the Presocratics
In this lecture we introduce the Presocratics, discover why they deserve our attention, and investigate the difference between mythology and philosophy.
For more lectures visit www.academyofideas.com