THE GOAL: to gather all the information we can about the world as of the year 1450 so we can then simulate the past 560 years to the present.

How we will do it:
Each student will sign up for a specific part, dedicate themselves to knowing everything they can about that topic, and write up a section on this wiki presenting what they have learned. They will also do a short 5 minute presentation in their recitation.

Step One: Sign up for a role under your TA/time below:

India

China

Indonesia

Japan

Egypt

Germany

Iberian Peninsula

Ottomans

British Isles

Mongolia

West Africa (Benin)

!Kung

Aztecs

Incas

North American Native American Tribe

Inuit

Amazonian Tribe

France

New Guinea Tribe

Australia

TA/Time

Danielle F 9:30

Steven U 10:30

Shelley W 2:30

Erin F 10:30

Steven U 2:30

Shelley U 3:30

Jammie W 4:30

Sarah F 11:30

Derek W 3:30

Jammie F 12:30

Shane W 1:30

Erin F 12:30

Derek U 9:30

Becca U 4:30

Maria U 2:30

Maria W 3:30

Danielle U12:30

Shane F 8:30

Sarah U 1:30

Becca W 12:30

Environment

Felicia Norton

Brooke Hollis

Andrea Schwagerl

Marie Gardner

Cody Combs

Clare M.

Dylan H

Joseph B.

Sarah Beebe

Grant

Language

Amanda C.

Kate H

Steph Keith

Jillian

Meagan Stauffer

Elaine E.

Kent H

Haley V.

Allison Goodpasture

Nichole

Media / Technology

Alec T.

ShultzKSU (tentative)

Jarrett B

Christina Low

Education/Child-rearing

Madison Debes

Kari W

Ashley Lund

Kayla L

Evelyne S

Connor Staats

Taylor Kuhlmann

Karim

Lynsey H

Kristin McCormick

Brad

Gender

Elizabeth K.

Beth J

Rebekah F.

Gabbie S.

Chelsea Spencer

Betsy Dunlap

Carissa Yardley

Amanda S.

Clarissa Hendricks

Chris

Subsistence

Jessa K.

Melissa Heeney

Caleb G.

Megan C.

Courtney Frantz

Molly H

Allie E

Exchange

Mitchell Durrrrrr

Matt Wilson

Grant L.

Adam

Family Life

Kendra lauer

Bailey A

Alarie Kennedy

Kate N.

Chelsa

Chase M.

Ashley Shaheen

Courtney H.

Katelyn B

Alexsis F

Rachel T.

Ellen H.

Kali

Society

Kristin Allen

Shelby Smith

Megan S.

Sydney L.

Winston Duncan

Stephanie Durkes

Heather

Politics

Kelsey Huston

Alex G.

Teddy W.

Tony

Jessica Cates

Kasey F.

Dawndra

Religion

Ben-Jamin

Kenzi K

Kacie B.

Megan T.

Shane H.

Shana L.

Roxanne

Cheyenne Meredith

Christina Nixon

Nora Hubler

Molly B.

Taylor Smith

Matthew Tyler

Charlie Long

Erika

Ritual

Kylie M.

Margaret Davidson

Isaak L.

Katie S.

Anthony C.

Kory M

Kelsey Duck

Randi

Mark M.

Art

Christa P.

Kaitlin Woellhof

Orlando Williams

Samantha

Ali Boehler

Cassondra

Jeremy H.

Kortney Bailey

Ellen McGuire

Adrienne

Music

Martin C.

Matthew Criqui

Dane Harris

Kraig S.

Brianna R.

Briana K.

Audrey

Core Values

Emma O.

Nate Bozarth

Megan D

Brittany Jacob

History

Ryan Moore

Anthony K

Tom

Brittany Tollman

Will E.

Jenni T

Brady

Poster

Lauren E.

Lyndi S.

Ashlan F.

Sim-Video

Jacob Palacios

Sim Summary

Sim-Rules

Bailey M

Step Two: If you have signed up for an ethnographic section, create it following these steps:

1. Sign up for the wiki.
   
   
   
2. Sign on.
   
   
   
3. Go to your group page by clicking the link in the table above.
   
   
   
   
4. Click "EasyEdit" at the top of the page.
   
   
   
   
5. Write your section of the page, adding pictures and other relevant materials if possible.
   
   
   
   
6. Save it and review how it looks. Sometimes it does not format correctly if you pasted it from another program. Edit it so it looks good.
   
   
   

Grading criteria for ethnographic sections:
(Grading criteria for poster, sim-rules, sim-history and videographers are different (click on them for more details)

Remember that you are writing/presenting about your culture *as of the year 1450*. This will take considerable effort to do well. In some cases, there will be no information about your culture as of the year 1450. In these cases, go as far back as you can. If you are writing about an indigenous culture, try to write about them as they were prior to colonization or extensive contact with other cultures.

Aim for about 500 words for your section and prepare an engaging 5 minute presentation.

Your paper & presentation should include at least 3 *high-quality* references. It is very rare that a high quality reference for this time period can be found online. You should plan on finding and reading 3 books from the library to complete this assignment. Cite your reference in your text by using this format: ((AUTHOR'S LAST NAME) (YEAR): (PAGE #)) e.g. (Wesch 2010: 24) = Book by Wesch, published in 2010, page 24. Also include the author, publication date, and full title as a reference at the bottom of the page, along with the library call # if you found it in the library.

The assignment is worth 100 points (10% of your final grade) and will be carefully graded with the following criteria:

40 points Research. Your description should be thorough and accurate. You should demonstrate that you have read some quality books and articles on the subject (not just Wikipedia). Make sure you cite your sources and make a list of your sources at the end of the report.

25 points Creativity and Insight. This is the something extra you add by thinking about the material in-depth and tapping into your own creativity.

25 points Quality of Presentation.

10 points Formatting. Make sure your work looks good. Use Firefox to edit the wiki. Reload the page when you are done to see how it looks. Edit as needed to make it look good.

Please note that your contribution should be well-written and well-presented. If you have troubles with writing I highly encourage you to use the Writing Center
(English/Counseling Services Room 122D). It is one of the best and must underused resources at KSU. For more info go to: http://www.ksu.edu/english/writingcenter/

Do not copy and paste from Wikipedia or any other source. Click here for more information on plagiarism and proper citation.


More specific instructions for each role:


Environment:

• Describe your climate throughout the year.
  
  
  
  
• Describe your flora and fauna.
  
  
  
• Describe the terrain and the type of biome in which your culture exists.
  
  
  
  
• What minerals and resources are common? How are they used? (or are they used at all in 1450?)
  
  
  
  

Language

• Describe the language(s) spoken in your culture
  
  
  
• What language family is the language in?
  
  
  
  
• Describe the language's key characteristics? (Is it tonal? click? unique grammar? etc.?)
  
  
  
• Describe any notable rituals of communication? (special handshakes, gestures, etc.?)
  
  
  
  
• Can anybody and everybody speak to anybody and everybody anytime, or are there rules about who can say what, to whom, etc.? (any gender or status differences in communication?)
  
  
  
  
• Describe any special communication technologies other than the human voice? (smoke signals, writing, mail couriers, etc.?)
  
  
  
  
• Describe any special forms of communication, such as special types of speech for ritual or political purposes? Any special entertainment styles of communication (such as poetry)?
  
  
  

Media/Technology:

• What tools do you have and how are they used?
  
  
  
• What technologies do you have for transport (boats, carts, bags, pots, baskets, horses, camels, etc.)?
  
  
  
• What technologies do you have for communication (smoke signals, writing, codes, talking drums, etc.)?
  
  
  
  

Gender

• a description of the different genders in the culture and their main characteristics (note that some cultures will have more than 2 genders!)
  
  
  
  
• describe the different roles of different genders (who does what?)
  
  
  
  
• describe specific cultural events or rituals that express or create these genders (e.g. initiation rituals, sporting events, other ceremonies, etc.)
  
  
  
  
• Which gender (if any) has political power? spiritual power? domestic power?
  
  
  
  

Education/Child-Rearing

• What is the philosophy of child-rearing and education? (This sometimes ties into spiritual beliefs about what a "mind" or "soul" is ...)
  
  
  
  
• Do they emphasize dependence or independence? (How?)
  
  
  
  
• Who raises the children? Are there notable aspects of the way children are raised that create the genders? (For example, in the US boys are encouraged to play sports, while girls are encouraged to play with dolls, etc.)
  
  
  

Subsistence

• What do you eat and how do you get it? Who is getting/growing/hunting these things? How often do you work? When? How?
  
  
  
• What tools and technologies do you have available for subsistence?
  
  
  

Exchange

• What mode(s) of exchange will operate in your culture?
  
  
  
• What do you exchange & trade? With who? (think about exchanges both within the culture and outside of it)
  
  
  
  
• In your exchanges, do you emphasize social prestige and building relationships, maximizing profit, or both? In what contexts or events?
  
  
  
  

Family

• How will your culture reproduce? What sexual taboos or restrictions will there be? (gender, time, age, incest)
  
  
  
• What form of marriage will be most common? Monogamy, Polygyny, Polyandry, Group, Same-Sex, Cousin? Why?
  
  
  
• What form of marriage will be most preferred? Why?
  
  
  
• What rights and obligations will marriage establish? Sex? Labor? Property? Child rearing? Exchange?
  
  
  
• Will you practice arranged marriage or love marriage?
  
  
  
• Will you practice brideprice, dowry, or neither?
  
  
  
• What do your households like? Nuclear, extended, polygamous?
  
  
  
• What do your houses look like? What is it made out of? What is the layout? How does the layout reflect other aspects of your culture?
  
  
  
  

Society

• What is your residence pattern (after marriage)?
  
  
  
• What is your kinship terminology system?
  
  
  
• How does all this fit with the rest of your culture?
  
  
  
• Do you have descent groups? What kind? What do they do? (land, help, war allies, inheritance, etc.
  
  
  
• Are there any special associations or common-interest groups in your culture? Would it be useful to have one or some of the members of your group act on behalf of this association or common-interest group in the world simulation? (Note: Remember that these should be realistic as of 500+ years ago. New associations and political movements will hopefully occur naturally through the actual simulation. (I suppose you could plan to “simulate” these ahead of time if you want.) Smaller scale cultures might consider age sets as important to social organization (see text))
  
  
  
• Is your culture stratified or egalitarian? Describe and Explain.
  
  
  
• If your culture is stratified, is there social mobility? How does it work?
  
  
  
• How are your answers above integrated with the rest of your culture?
  
  
  
• To what extent do your answers above represent your culture’s “ideology” and what is the true reality of your culture. You should distinguish these in the ethnography.
  
  
  

Politics

• Broadly speaking, is your political organization centralized or uncentralized?
  
  
  
• Does your culture have leaders with “power” or “influence”? How do they attain their position? What role(s) do they serve?
  
  
  
• How are major decisions made? (consensus, council, authority makes the decision?)
  
  
  
• Is there a bureaucracy? If so, outline how it is organized.
  
  
  
• How are disputes settled? (informal/formal? Negotiation/mediation/adjudication?)
  
  
  
• Are there formal sanctions (laws)? If so, how are they enforced?
  
  
  
  
• What informal sanctions (if any) are present (examples include: gossip, ridicule, ostracism, accusations/fear of witchcraft, other supernatural or religious factors)?
  
  
  
• What is your cultural stance towards foreigners? (accepting? engaging? reclusive?)
  
  
  

Religion

• Would you describe your culture’s religion as animist, monotheist, polytheist, pantheist, ancestral, other, or some combination of these? Describe and explain.
  
  
  
• What are some of the core moral values that your culture’s religious ideas express, explain, and legitimize?
  
  
  
• How do your religious ideas express, reflect, explain, and legitimize the socio-political order?
  
  
  
• What sorts of religious practices are performed in your culture? (worship, prayer, rituals, séances, dances, etc.)
  
  
  
• When somebody in your culture dies, what happens? (you can answer in both spiritual and “real-world” terms).
  
  
  
• How do people in your culture explain the unexplained? (God? Luck? Spirits?)
  
  
  
• What happens when somebody becomes seriously ill? What kinds of explanations emerge? (this usually taps into people's core beliefs about how the world works)
  
  
  

Ritual

• Describe an important ritual of your culture and explain its significance.
  
  
  
• Demonstrate how the ritual relates to other aspects of your culture (how it "fits in" the barrel model of culture)
  
  
  
  

Art

• What are some of the primary art forms in your culture?
  
  
  
  
• What cultural values are expressed in your culture's art?
  
  
  
• How do these cultural values affect art in your culture? (For example, cultures who do not emphasize individualism might place higher value on the best copy rather than the most innovative art)
  
  
  
• What everyday items/events in your culture might be considered artistic? Describe them.
  
  
  
• What religious items/rituals in your culture might be considered artistic? Describe them.
  
  
  

Music

• What are some of the primary musical forms in your culture?
  
  
  
  
• What cultural values are expressed in your culture's music?
  
  
  
• How do these cultural values affect music in your culture? (For example, cultures who do not emphasize individualism might place higher value on the best copy rather than the most innovative music)
  
  
  

Core Cultural Values

• What are your core cultural values?
  
  
  
  
• How are these values connected to other aspects of your culture (think about the barrel model and relate your values to all levels)
  
  
  
  

History

• Make sure you cover the major events since the year 1450. You can go over 500 words if necessary.
  
  
  
  
• Don't just cover *military* history, document how the entire "barrel" of culture has changed over time (economics, family structure, social structure, politics, values, art, religion)
  
  
  
• If you are documenting an indigenous culture, you may need to find a recent ethnographic book or article(s) (use JSTOR or another library database for recent articles).
  
  
  
• Start soon so that Professor Wesch can help you find resources if needed.
  
  
  

Sim-Rules: Work with your class to create some simple rules for your culture that will be followed during the simulation. This should include:

• culturally appropriate greetings
  
  
  
  
• proxemics
  
  
  
• guidelines for gender roles noting how genders should interact during a conversation
  
  
  
• appropriate trade partners
  
  
  
• appropriate mobility to match transportation technology
  
  
  
  
• You will also need to give an estimate as to how much hard power and wealth your group should start out with for the simulation
  
  
  
  

Click on the following for more details:
Sim-Video: Video the simulation and create a 5 minute video of what happened to your group during the simulation
Simulation Summary and Correlations: Write a summary of what happened to your culture and compare and contrast this with real world history
Poster: Make a poster summarizing your culture.