TRADITIONAL VIEWS OF DEATH
What does the burial of grave goods in the Stone Age suggest about early beliefs?
A belief in an afterlife or journey after death.
What was the dominant view of death during the Stone Age?
A short awareness of dying with a focus on preparation for the afterlife.
How do Native Americans view death?
As a continuation of life and a transformation, not an end.
What is a death mask?
A cast of the deceased's face made shortly after death.
Why were some early burials stained with red ochre?
It symbolized rebirth and revitalization of the body.
What major changes occurred during the Pastoral Age?
Longer awareness of death, spiritual explanations for epidemics, and redistribution of goods.
What is “homegoing” in African American culture?
A funeral that celebrates the return of the deceased to God.
What was the purpose of the “Dance of Death”?
To show that death comes for all, regardless of status.
According to Giambattista Vico, what is a basic social institution related to death?
Burial of the dead.
How did death change during the Age of the City?
It became tamer, more private, and part of religious and social preparation.
What is the purpose of Día de los Muertos in Mexican tradition?
Welcome back and honor the spirits of the deceased.
Why are bells rung after someone died in medieval Europe?
To drive away evil spirits and notify the community.
What did myths from traditional cultures explain about death?
That death often resulted from disobedience or failing a divine test.
What characterizes the Cosmopolitan Age?
Long dying process due to chronic illnesses and the medicalization of death.
What does ancestor worship in Asian cultures often involve?
Maintaining altars, performing rituals, and offering paper goods.
What is a charnel house?
A place where bones were stored for resurrection.