Organiser
May 30 2009
A study of world ethnology
By Ashish Joshi
World Ethnology from 6,000 BC, G Jayasena, Research Books, Pp 168, Rs
400.00
Ethnology (from the Greek ?????, ethnos meaning `habit, custom,
convention’) is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes
the origins, distribution, religion, language, and social structure of
the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity. The term
was first used by Adam Franz Kollár who defined it in his
Historiae ivrisqve pvblici Regni Vngariae amoenitates published in
Vienna in 1783.
In his World Ethnology from 6000 BC, G Jayasena provides us with a
sweeping view of ancient ethnology and civilisation. Beginning from
the Elamitic period, with its beginnings in Turkestan, the book
encompasses varied topics, touches upon the introduction of Indian
architecture to Ceylon, which was highly advanced, and as the author
says, `held a unique position connected as it was with their
(Kshatriyas’) military duties, on whom had devolved the guardianship
of Aryan culture and traditions.’
The book also devotes a section to Noah and his descendants’the
Armenians and Hittites, and also alludes to the cult of the Golden
Calf, which was `brought into historical relief in Egypt during the
age of Amenophis II (1460- 1420)’.
In this work, the author does display a slight tendentiousness towards
the Aryans- among the earliest settlers who occupied an area close to
Mount Torus situated north of North Syria, and who in the course of
time organised themselves into Kshatriya, Brahmin and Vaisya castes,
with the aim of preserving their racial and cultural purity. The
Aryans were highly advanced in mathematics, astronomy and a score of
other sciences. According to the author, the Aryan genius foresaw that
the world would be corrupted with rank materialism as a result of
putting commerical interest first. There is an in-depth discussion of
Aryan culture in Chapter X, which considers all aspects’religious,
commercial and scientific, of the Aryan age.
(Research Books, B-5/263, Yamuna Vihar, Delhi-110 053)
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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
