Metropolitan Museum Analysis

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Exploring the Metropolitan Museum's sections on India, China, Pre-Columbian Americas, Africa and Islamic art I was able to visually dissect these cultures and gain insight about their similarities and differences. These cultures excelled in different aspects of the arts and the making of artifacts. The used of a wide variety of materials allowed for a unique specialization and craftsmanship in certain materials like copper, clay and stone that distinguished these cultures from each other. Each of these civilizations marked an important time period in history due to their artistic, intellectual and political contributions. Most of these contributions have inspired many of our current technological advances in different aspects of society. These …show more content…
The Indus River Valley thrive during the Golden Age in which science, art, literature and creativity gained momentum . During this time the Gupta empire enjoyed of many achievements like the creation of coins, pillars and classical art. Artists were paid for their work. Among the greatest paintings of this period are those that were found on the "walls of the Ajanta Caves… The paintings illustrate the various lives of the Buddha." ^1 This demonstrates the importance of the arts and religion in India and their specialization in the arts. China was the most culturally rich civilization in the world leading in the science and the arts. Confucius taught Chinese to be kind and love one another. They created the most elegant and elaborate potteries and carvings. Chinese invented paper and had an advance and standardized system of writing. Most of their contributions are still used today like gunpowder, silk and paper. Both of these cultures were devoted to religion, philosophy and their family. The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibitions show cases their collections in a way that one can perceive their value for religion and the …show more content…
Many of the counting methods we use today come from the Egyptians, they also kept records of the sun, the moon and constellations. Metals were used to create jewelry and technological machines that made their lives easier. Architecture was prominent throughout African civilizations, they builded pyramids, temples and obelisks out of stones. The medications and remedies used in Africa were more advanced than medicine in other parts of the world. American civilizations like the Mayas, Incas and Aztecs created the most impressive systems of irrigation and roads to connect their empires. They performed brain surgery, had an advanced methods of accounting and were the masters of the stone work. In addition, they had an enormous advantage in architecture making the eastern civilizations look like amateurs when it came to the construction of roads, bridges, and terraces. The invention of chinampas, gun and a 360 days calendar is attributed to these influential civilizations. Like the African civilizations the American Civilizations constructed pyramids that served as monumental structures in their cities. Walking on the hallways of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and looking at their works of art and life style is impossible to imagine that these cultures didn't have any connection before the beginning of

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