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Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

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11–20 of 51 posts

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#11

> "attract subjects" that's an interesting little phraseology/unsubstantiated theory of state, especially coming from a science publication. typically, you "subject" subjects, hence the word. alternatively, if the redundancy bothers you, you can subject populaces instead.

The article is specifically about the leadership in question willingly attracting people to rule over rather than forcibly subjecting them to rulership.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#12

> "attract subjects" that's an interesting little phraseology/unsubstantiated theory of state, especially coming from a science publication. typically, you "subject" subjects, hence the word. alternatively, if the redundancy bothers you, you can subject populaces instead.

> typically, you "subject" subjects, hence the word.

That seems like an appeal to linguistic authority.

I have a hard time imagining building a hierarchy without an attraction phase. There are many real world examples: Jim Jones, Uber, the French Revolution, etc.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#13

> "attract subjects" that's an interesting little phraseology/unsubstantiated theory of state, especially coming from a science publication. typically, you "subject" subjects, hence the word. alternatively, if the redundancy bothers you, you can subject populaces instead.

Terms which were coined in Norman feudalism will need some stretching to adapt to different cultures and political systems. The judges in the Book of Judges aren't anything like a judge in our sense, for example.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#14
post #2

My guess is whoever paid attention to the stars/sky and deciphered solstices could get enough knowledge to start being seen as a holy man. You are able to predict seasons and plan agriculture, etc. Add some secrecy in the mix and you have multi-generational power structures.

> plan agriculture

this is the big one; the reason shaman/priests were at the top of the hierarchy in all post-agrarian cultures is because knowing when to plant seeds was the most crucial societal role in changing from hunter-gatherer to domestic agricultural, fueling population density and allowing even more specialized roles.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#15

Why is it "Maya rulers" rather than "Mayan rulers"?

Generally, Maya refers to the people and culture, while Mayan is the language. He is Maya. They are Maya. Maya ruins. Maya clothing. Mayan languages (30 odd ancient, plus one currently spoken in the Yucatan region).

eh? If we are now saying he is Maya vs Mayan, well news to me. He is America. America clothing. America buildings.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#16
post #2

My guess is whoever paid attention to the stars/sky and deciphered solstices could get enough knowledge to start being seen as a holy man. You are able to predict seasons and plan agriculture, etc. Add some secrecy in the mix and you have multi-generational power structures.

>My guess is whoever paid attention to the stars/sky and deciphered solstices could get enough knowledge to start being seen as a holy man

Persian astologer-priests were literally the magi from which the word magic is derived, so yes.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I disapprove. It should be changed to match the adjective form of other countries or regions like Singapore/Singaporean, Mexico, Mexican.

Perhaps it is fitting that the same rival people/nation that oppressed them suffer from the same ambiguity: Spanish vs. Spaniard.

There is zero ambiguity there. What were you trying to say?

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally, Maya refers to the people and culture, while Mayan is the language. He is Maya. They are Maya. Maya ruins. Maya clothing. Mayan languages (30 odd ancient, plus one currently spoken in the Yucatan region).

eh? If we are now saying he is Maya vs Mayan, well news to me. He is America. America clothing. America buildings.

Ooooh trying to find perfect rules in English, wait let me make enough popcorn to share. And please go on - now do England and English. Switzerland and Swiss, Iceland and Icelandics, etc, etc, etc.

Re: Some Maya rulers may have taken generations to attract subjects

#20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Generally, Maya refers to the people and culture, while Mayan is the language. He is Maya. They are Maya. Maya ruins. Maya clothing. Mayan languages (30 odd ancient, plus one currently spoken in the Yucatan region).

I disapprove. It should be changed to match the adjective form of other countries or regions like Singapore/Singaporean, Mexico, Mexican.

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