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The 2012 phenomenon was a widespread popular interest in eschatological speculation with nearly all theories having minimal influence from Ancient Maya culture<ref name="2012 phenomenon">Robert K. Sitler. (2012). The 2012 Phenomenon Comes of Age. ''Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions'', ''16''(1), 61–87. https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2012.16.1.61</ref>, specifically the ending of a calendar cycle. The theories included: collision with a rogue planet<ref name="Myth of nibiru">Morrison, D. (2008). The myth of Nibiru and the end of the world in 2012. ''Skeptical Inquirer, 32.5''. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035216/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/myth_of_nibiru_and_the_end_of_the_world_in_2012</ref>, significant magnetic pole reversal<ref name="Magnetic pole">NASA. (2011, November 30). ''2012: Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html</ref>, severe solar maximum outbursts <ref name="Solar maximums">Poladian, C. (2013, October 26). ''Solar maximum: Three solar flares and a coronal mass ejection as the sun reaches peak solar activity''. Internation Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com/solar-maximum-three-solar-flares-coronal-mass-ejection-sun-reaches-peak-solar-1442608</ref>, and even a “radical shift in human consciousness” <ref name="2012 phenomenon" />. However, scholars and skeptics have published articles debunking these theories<ref name="Really">Bowditch, P. (2012, December 12). ''The end of the world. Really?''. ABC Science. https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/12/12/3652956.htm</ref><ref name="Beyond">NASA. (2012, December 22).''Beyond 2012: Why the world didn’t end''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html</ref><ref name="11/11 debunk">University of Kansas. (2011, November 3).''11/11/11: Anthropologist debunks doomsday myths''. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2011-11-anthropologist-debunks-doomsday-myths.html</ref>.
The 2012 phenomenon was a widespread popular interest in eschatological speculation with nearly all theories having minimal influence from Ancient Maya culture<ref name="2012 phenomenon">Robert K. Sitler. (2012). The 2012 Phenomenon Comes of Age. ''Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions'', ''16''(1), 61–87. https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2012.16.1.61</ref>, specifically the ending of a calendar cycle. The theories included: collision with a rogue planet<ref name="Myth of nibiru">Morrison, D. (2008). The myth of Nibiru and the end of the world in 2012. ''Skeptical Inquirer, 32.5''. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035216/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/myth_of_nibiru_and_the_end_of_the_world_in_2012</ref>, significant magnetic pole reversal<ref name="Magnetic pole">NASA. (2011, November 30). ''2012: Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html</ref>, severe solar maximum outbursts <ref name="Solar maximums">Poladian, C. (2013, October 26). ''Solar maximum: Three solar flares and a coronal mass ejection as the sun reaches peak solar activity''. Internation Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com/solar-maximum-three-solar-flares-coronal-mass-ejection-sun-reaches-peak-solar-1442608</ref>, and even a “radical shift in human consciousness” <ref name="2012 phenomenon" />. However, scholars and skeptics have published articles debunking these theories<ref name="Really">Bowditch, P. (2012, December 12). ''The end of the world. Really?''. ABC Science. https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/12/12/3652956.htm</ref><ref name="Beyond">NASA. (2012, December 22).''Beyond 2012: Why the world didn’t end''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html</ref><ref name="11/11 debunk">University of Kansas. (2011, November 3).''11/11/11: Anthropologist debunks doomsday myths''. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2011-11-anthropologist-debunks-doomsday-myths.html</ref>.
==Ancient Maya==
==Ancient Maya==
The Maya are indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America, specifically in modern-day Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chaipas in Mexico and extending southward in modern-day Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras<ref name="Maya civil WHE">Mark, J. J. (2012, July 6). Maya Civilization. ''World History Encyclopedia''. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Maya_Civilization/#citation_info</ref>.
The Maya are indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America, specifically in modern-day Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chaipas in Mexico and extending southward in modern-day Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras<ref name="Maya civil WHE">Mark, J. J. (2012, July 6). Maya Civilization. ''World History Encyclopedia''. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Maya_Civilization/#citation_info</ref>.
===Mesoamerica===
===Mesoamerica===
The area Mesoamerica encompasses areas of northern Mexico and southern Guatemala and Honduras<ref name="Mesoam">Arizona Museum of Natural History. (n.d.). ''Mesoamerica''. https://www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/cultures-of-the-ancient-americas/mesoamerica</ref>. Mesoamerica and those who inhabited it contributed mightly to the advancement of agricultural economies<ref name="Abuses">Webster, D. (n.d.).The uses and abuses of the ancient maya. ''The Emergence of the Modern World''. https://anth.la.psu.edu/documents/Webster_GermanyMaya.pdf</ref>. The history of Mesoamerica is expansive and is usually divided into specific periods: Archaic Period (7000-2000 BCE), Olmec Period (1500-200 BCE), Zapotec Period (600 BCE-800 CE), Teotihuacan Period (200-900 CE), El Tajin Period (250-900 CE), Classic Maya Period (250-950 CE), and Post-Classic Period (950-1524 CE)<ref name="Maya civil WHE" />.
The area Mesoamerica encompasses areas of northern Mexico and southern Guatemala and Honduras<ref name="Mesoam">Arizona Museum of Natural History. (n.d.). ''Mesoamerica''. https://www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/cultures-of-the-ancient-americas/mesoamerica</ref>. Mesoamerica and those who inhabited it contributed mightly to the advancement of agricultural economies<ref name="Abuses">Webster, D. (n.d.).The uses and abuses of the ancient maya. ''The Emergence of the Modern World''. https://anth.la.psu.edu/documents/Webster_GermanyMaya.pdf</ref>. The history of Mesoamerica is expansive and is usually divided into specific periods: Archaic Period (7000-2000 BCE), Olmec Period (1500-200 BCE), Zapotec Period (600 BCE-800 CE), Teotihuacan Period (200-900 CE), El Tajin Period (250-900 CE), Classic Maya Period (250-950 CE), and Post-Classic Period (950-1524 CE)<ref name="Maya civil WHE" />.


===Classic Maya===
===Classic Maya===
The Classic Maya adopted solar calendars carved in stone as early as 400 B.C. with the Maya adopting a hierarchical society ruled by nobles and kings by 300 B.C.<ref name="Maya timeline">Canadian Museum of History. (n.d.). ''Maya civilization''. https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/maya/mmc09eng.html</ref>. The influences of the urban civilization of Teotihuacan of Central Mexico were seen in Maya dynastic politics and economics, specifically during the 4th and 5th centuries AD<ref name="Abuses" />.
Strong archaeological and epigraphic evidence suggests only two basic institutions: kingship and the household<ref name="Abuses" />.
 
==Maya Calendar System==
The Maya developed, both from previous civilizations and from their own research, a calendar system consisting of four calendars each with their own designation of telling time<ref name="Calendar system">Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. (n.d.). ''The Calendar System''. https://maya.nmai.si.edu/calendar/calendar-system</ref>. The Long Count, Tzolkin, and Haab calendars work together as a series of interlocking wheels of different sizes<ref name="Myths">Borowski, S. (n.d.). Myths of the Mayan long count calendar. ''American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS]''. https://www.aaas.org/myths-mayan-long-count-calendar</ref>. All these calendars used a system of vigesimal arithmetical notation and allowed the Maya to track long astronomical cycles, particularly the Sun and the planet Venus<ref name="Abuses" />.
 
===Long Count Calendar===
The Long Count calendar was added as early as 300 B.C. to the Calendar Round and identifies the years<ref name="Myths" />. It measures cycles of 400 years<ref name="David stewart">Earth Sky. (2012, November 23). ''David Stewart on the Mayan calendar and 2012 doomsday predictions''. https://earthsky.org/human-world/david-stuart-on-the-mayan-calendar-and-2012-doomsday-predictions/</ref> with each universal cycle lasting 2,880,000 days<ref name="Myths" />.
 
The Long Count calendar was determined to begin on August 11, 3114 B.C. of the Gregorian calendar and marks the creation of human beings in Maya culture<ref name="Myths" />.
 
===Tzolkin Calendar===
The Tzolkin calendar (sometimes written Tzolk’in) is a 260-day calendar with days numbering 1-13 in 20 continuous cycles throughout the year with the cycles marking religious or ceremonial events<ref name="Myths" />. The length of the Tzolkin matches nine cycles of the Moon as well as the gestational period of humans and related to the movements of the zenith Sun in addition to the growing cycle of corn<ref name="Calendar system" />.
 
===Haab Calendar===
The Haab calendar is a 365-day calendar comprised of 18 months of 20 days each and one month of five days<ref name="Myths" />. The one month of five days was called “Wayeb” and approximated the solar year<ref name="Calendar system" />.
 
===Calendar Round===
The Calendar Round consists of the combination of the Tzolkin and Haab calendars, with the Long Count calendar being added later<ref name="Myths" />. Any given combination of a Tzolkin day with a Haab day will not repeat itself until 52 periods of 365 days have passed<ref name="Calendar system" />. With the addition of the Long Count calendar, the Maya were able to count 5 cycles of time<ref name="Calendar system" />.
 
==Pseudoscience==
As John Hoopes, an archaeologist from the University of Kentucky, claims, the movement is “largely the product of pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology”<ref name="2012 phenomenon" />.
 
===December 21, 2012===
The ending of the 13th baktun (sometimes written bak’tun<ref name="David stewart" />) coincided with the winter solstice and ended the Long Count calendar cycle of 5,126 solar years<ref name="Myths" />.
 
===Theories===
Popular American writers Frank Waters and Terence McKenna took up the idea of 2012 having significance popularized the idea to the public. Waters suggested the Long Count calendar closing date would lead to an era of heightened human consciousness while McKenna proposed a “singularity” and implied worldwide radicalization<ref name="2012 phenomenon" />.
 
====Galactic alignments====
One proposed theory is the Earth and Sun will align with the “Dark Rift” near the Galactic Center, which occurred about 25,800 years ago<ref name="Famsi p1">Van Stone, M. (n.d.). It’s not the end of the world: what the ancient Maya tell us about 2012 [PDF document]. ''Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc.''. http://www.famsi.org/research/vanstone/2012/2012Part1.pdf</ref>. According to NASA, any such planetary alignments would have negligible effects on Earth<ref name="Beyond" />. The solstice itself doesn’t correlate to any movements of the stars, the Earth isn’t in range of strong gravitational effects from the black hole at the enter of the galaxy, and the Sun enters the “Dark Rift” every year at the same time with no effects<ref name="Dark rift">NASA. (2011, December 21). ''2012: Shadow of the Dark Rift''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-alignment.html</ref>.
 
====Polar shift or reversal====
This theory assumes a pole reversal would momentarily leave Earth without the magnetic field of protection from solar flares<ref name="Pole reversal">NASA. (2011, November 30). ''2012: magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html</ref> with the effects of such exposure unknown<ref name="Famsi p1" />. In short, a reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible<ref name="Beyond" />.
 
====Solar maximum====
The prediction of an usually powerful “Solar maximum” for 2012, however it occurs every 11 years<ref name="Famsi p1" />. However, NASA states that even the biggest solar flares aren’t powerful enough to physically destroy Earth<ref name="Solar flares">NASA. (2011, November 10). ''2012: Killer solar flares are a physical impossibility''. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-superFlares.html</ref>.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

Latest revision as of 04:31, 16 December 2021

Global view of earth. Image from pexels.

The 2012 phenomenon was a widespread popular interest in eschatological speculation with nearly all theories having minimal influence from Ancient Maya culture[1], specifically the ending of a calendar cycle. The theories included: collision with a rogue planet[2], significant magnetic pole reversal[3], severe solar maximum outbursts [4], and even a “radical shift in human consciousness” [1]. However, scholars and skeptics have published articles debunking these theories[5][6][7].

Ancient Maya

The Maya are indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America, specifically in modern-day Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Tabasco, and Chaipas in Mexico and extending southward in modern-day Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras[8].

Mesoamerica

The area Mesoamerica encompasses areas of northern Mexico and southern Guatemala and Honduras[9]. Mesoamerica and those who inhabited it contributed mightly to the advancement of agricultural economies[10]. The history of Mesoamerica is expansive and is usually divided into specific periods: Archaic Period (7000-2000 BCE), Olmec Period (1500-200 BCE), Zapotec Period (600 BCE-800 CE), Teotihuacan Period (200-900 CE), El Tajin Period (250-900 CE), Classic Maya Period (250-950 CE), and Post-Classic Period (950-1524 CE)[8].

Classic Maya

Strong archaeological and epigraphic evidence suggests only two basic institutions: kingship and the household[10].

Maya Calendar System

The Maya developed, both from previous civilizations and from their own research, a calendar system consisting of four calendars each with their own designation of telling time[11]. The Long Count, Tzolkin, and Haab calendars work together as a series of interlocking wheels of different sizes[12]. All these calendars used a system of vigesimal arithmetical notation and allowed the Maya to track long astronomical cycles, particularly the Sun and the planet Venus[10].

Long Count Calendar

The Long Count calendar was added as early as 300 B.C. to the Calendar Round and identifies the years[12]. It measures cycles of 400 years[13] with each universal cycle lasting 2,880,000 days[12].

The Long Count calendar was determined to begin on August 11, 3114 B.C. of the Gregorian calendar and marks the creation of human beings in Maya culture[12].

Tzolkin Calendar

The Tzolkin calendar (sometimes written Tzolk’in) is a 260-day calendar with days numbering 1-13 in 20 continuous cycles throughout the year with the cycles marking religious or ceremonial events[12]. The length of the Tzolkin matches nine cycles of the Moon as well as the gestational period of humans and related to the movements of the zenith Sun in addition to the growing cycle of corn[11].

Haab Calendar

The Haab calendar is a 365-day calendar comprised of 18 months of 20 days each and one month of five days[12]. The one month of five days was called “Wayeb” and approximated the solar year[11].

Calendar Round

The Calendar Round consists of the combination of the Tzolkin and Haab calendars, with the Long Count calendar being added later[12]. Any given combination of a Tzolkin day with a Haab day will not repeat itself until 52 periods of 365 days have passed[11]. With the addition of the Long Count calendar, the Maya were able to count 5 cycles of time[11].

Pseudoscience

As John Hoopes, an archaeologist from the University of Kentucky, claims, the movement is “largely the product of pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology”[1].

December 21, 2012

The ending of the 13th baktun (sometimes written bak’tun[13]) coincided with the winter solstice and ended the Long Count calendar cycle of 5,126 solar years[12].

Theories

Popular American writers Frank Waters and Terence McKenna took up the idea of 2012 having significance popularized the idea to the public. Waters suggested the Long Count calendar closing date would lead to an era of heightened human consciousness while McKenna proposed a “singularity” and implied worldwide radicalization[1].

Galactic alignments

One proposed theory is the Earth and Sun will align with the “Dark Rift” near the Galactic Center, which occurred about 25,800 years ago[14]. According to NASA, any such planetary alignments would have negligible effects on Earth[6]. The solstice itself doesn’t correlate to any movements of the stars, the Earth isn’t in range of strong gravitational effects from the black hole at the enter of the galaxy, and the Sun enters the “Dark Rift” every year at the same time with no effects[15].

Polar shift or reversal

This theory assumes a pole reversal would momentarily leave Earth without the magnetic field of protection from solar flares[16] with the effects of such exposure unknown[14]. In short, a reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible[6].

Solar maximum

The prediction of an usually powerful “Solar maximum” for 2012, however it occurs every 11 years[14]. However, NASA states that even the biggest solar flares aren’t powerful enough to physically destroy Earth[17].

References

Template:Reflist

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Robert K. Sitler. (2012). The 2012 Phenomenon Comes of Age. Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions, 16(1), 61–87. https://doi.org/10.1525/nr.2012.16.1.61
  2. ↑ Morrison, D. (2008). The myth of Nibiru and the end of the world in 2012. Skeptical Inquirer, 32.5. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924035216/http://www.csicop.org/si/show/myth_of_nibiru_and_the_end_of_the_world_in_2012
  3. ↑ NASA. (2011, November 30). 2012: Magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html
  4. ↑ Poladian, C. (2013, October 26). Solar maximum: Three solar flares and a coronal mass ejection as the sun reaches peak solar activity. Internation Business Times. https://www.ibtimes.com/solar-maximum-three-solar-flares-coronal-mass-ejection-sun-reaches-peak-solar-1442608
  5. ↑ Bowditch, P. (2012, December 12). The end of the world. Really?. ABC Science. https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/12/12/3652956.htm
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 NASA. (2012, December 22).Beyond 2012: Why the world didn’t end. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html
  7. ↑ University of Kansas. (2011, November 3).11/11/11: Anthropologist debunks doomsday myths. Phys.org. https://phys.org/news/2011-11-anthropologist-debunks-doomsday-myths.html
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Mark, J. J. (2012, July 6). Maya Civilization. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Maya_Civilization/#citation_info
  9. ↑ Arizona Museum of Natural History. (n.d.). Mesoamerica. https://www.arizonamuseumofnaturalhistory.org/explore-the-museum/exhibitions/cultures-of-the-ancient-americas/mesoamerica
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 Webster, D. (n.d.).The uses and abuses of the ancient maya. The Emergence of the Modern World. https://anth.la.psu.edu/documents/Webster_GermanyMaya.pdf
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. (n.d.). The Calendar System. https://maya.nmai.si.edu/calendar/calendar-system
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 Borowski, S. (n.d.). Myths of the Mayan long count calendar. American Association for the Advancement of Science [AAAS]. https://www.aaas.org/myths-mayan-long-count-calendar
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Earth Sky. (2012, November 23). David Stewart on the Mayan calendar and 2012 doomsday predictions. https://earthsky.org/human-world/david-stuart-on-the-mayan-calendar-and-2012-doomsday-predictions/
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Van Stone, M. (n.d.). It’s not the end of the world: what the ancient Maya tell us about 2012 [PDF document]. Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc.. http://www.famsi.org/research/vanstone/2012/2012Part1.pdf
  15. ↑ NASA. (2011, December 21). 2012: Shadow of the Dark Rift. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-alignment.html
  16. ↑ NASA. (2011, November 30). 2012: magnetic pole reversal happens all the (geologic) time. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-poleReversal.html
  17. ↑ NASA. (2011, November 10). 2012: Killer solar flares are a physical impossibility. https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-superFlares.html
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