Cannibalism Essay -- Cannibals Cultural Culture Essays

Cannibalism "Cannibalism, or institutionalized anthropophagi, has been part of human culture from the earliest times. Human teeth marks in ancient human bones offer clues cannibalism was commonplace. When Christopher Columbus explored the Americas, the term cannibal was coined after the Caniba, â€Å"a ferocious group of man-eaters who lived in the Caribbean islands† (Salisbury, 2001, Brief history . . .). The idea of cannibalism in the New World evoked paranoia in Europe. Any such practice was considered demonic and sacrilegious. Cannibalism was a topic of ancient horror stories. In Greek mythology, â€Å"after Thyestes unwittingly ate the flesh of his own children, the Sun was so appalled that he turned back on his course and plunged the world into darkness† (Hodgkinson, 2001). Cannibalism has been detested throughout Western history and was declared a sin by Pope Innocent IV in the sixteenth century. Spain’s Queen Isabella â€Å"decreed that Spanish colonists could only legally enslave natives who were cannibals, giving the colonists an economic interest in making such allegations† (Salisbury). Many natives were falsely accused of cannibalism and were made inferior as a result. Although they criminalized and enslaved West Indians for cannibalism, Europeans imported mummified body parts from Egypt and consumed medicine made from them to cure various diseases. Such treatment was commonly prescribed by seventeenth century doctors (Salisbury). Cannibalism is a significant part of Western history and it has sparked much controversy. In some present cultures, cannibalism remains a way of life. The Kim Yal people in Indonesia and the Wari’ people of the Amazon both have practiced cannibalism as part of their heritage.... ...rty and starvation struck the region. One of the most remembered stories of cannibalism in recent history was the 1972 crash of a Uruguayan airliner into the snowy Chilean Andes. An amateur rugby team en route from Montevideo to Santiago met with disaster and was lost in the high wilderness. Of the thirty-two passengers who survived the impact, only sixteen endured ten weeks of subfreezing weather and avalanches before their rescue. Their story was chilling. The survivors admitted to eating the flesh of the deceased, one by one, after each teammate consented to provide their bodies for food after they died. The world was shocked. Their dramatic accounts were re-created in the 1993 movie, Alive. The deceased victims were seen as heroes because they sacrificed themselves for the lives of the others. In times of disaster, cannibalism is often the only way of survival." Cannibalism Essay -- Cannibals Cultural Culture Essays Cannibalism "Cannibalism, or institutionalized anthropophagi, has been part of human culture from the earliest times. Human teeth marks in ancient human bones offer clues cannibalism was commonplace. When Christopher Columbus explored the Americas, the term cannibal was coined after the Caniba, â€Å"a ferocious group of man-eaters who lived in the Caribbean islands† (Salisbury, 2001, Brief history . . .). The idea of cannibalism in the New World evoked paranoia in Europe. Any such practice was considered demonic and sacrilegious. Cannibalism was a topic of ancient horror stories. In Greek mythology, â€Å"after Thyestes unwittingly ate the flesh of his own children, the Sun was so appalled that he turned back on his course and plunged the world into darkness† (Hodgkinson, 2001). Cannibalism has been detested throughout Western history and was declared a sin by Pope Innocent IV in the sixteenth century. Spain’s Queen Isabella â€Å"decreed that Spanish colonists could only legally enslave natives who were cannibals, giving the colonists an economic interest in making such allegations† (Salisbury). Many natives were falsely accused of cannibalism and were made inferior as a result. Although they criminalized and enslaved West Indians for cannibalism, Europeans imported mummified body parts from Egypt and consumed medicine made from them to cure various diseases. Such treatment was commonly prescribed by seventeenth century doctors (Salisbury). Cannibalism is a significant part of Western history and it has sparked much controversy. In some present cultures, cannibalism remains a way of life. The Kim Yal people in Indonesia and the Wari’ people of the Amazon both have practiced cannibalism as part of their heritage.... ...rty and starvation struck the region. One of the most remembered stories of cannibalism in recent history was the 1972 crash of a Uruguayan airliner into the snowy Chilean Andes. An amateur rugby team en route from Montevideo to Santiago met with disaster and was lost in the high wilderness. Of the thirty-two passengers who survived the impact, only sixteen endured ten weeks of subfreezing weather and avalanches before their rescue. Their story was chilling. The survivors admitted to eating the flesh of the deceased, one by one, after each teammate consented to provide their bodies for food after they died. The world was shocked. Their dramatic accounts were re-created in the 1993 movie, Alive. The deceased victims were seen as heroes because they sacrificed themselves for the lives of the others. In times of disaster, cannibalism is often the only way of survival."