National Museum of World Cultures

<b>Recorrido</b><br><br><p>This museum is unique in Latin America due to its theme and its collections, focused on the diffusion of the world's cultural diversity. The history of its collection is interesting, as it comes from the friendship of Mexico with other nations. The route is divided into three groups of rooms:</p><br><b>Archaeological and Historical</b><br><br><p><i>Prehistory</i><br>The development of our ancestors, variations in their physical constitution and the way of life of the species that preceded us is shown. The fundamental trait of the first humans, called <i>Homo habilis</i>, was, without a doubt, culture, evidenced by their ability to transform the environment with learned and shared forms of behavior unique in the animal kingdom. Some of the most significant cultural manifestations are displayed, such as tool-making and the creation of paintings and sculptures, evidence of learning and symbolization.</p><br><p><i>Agricultural Civilizations</i><br>About six thousand years ago, major agricultural regions developed: Mesopotamia, between the Tigris and Euphrates; Egypt, along the Nile; the floodplain watered by the Indus River, and China, in the valleys and plains near the Hoang Ho (Yellow) and Yangtze rivers. In more recent times, two major centers of agricultural civilization appeared in America: Mesoamerica and the Andean area.</p><br><p><i>Mesopotamia. The land between rivers</i><br>Mesopotamia is the name given by the Greeks in the early centuries of our era to the land between the Euphrates and Tigris, specifically in its lower course, from the mouth in the Persian Gulf to the center of modern-day Iraq, where the rivers run more abundantly through the arid plain. Upstream, the middle and upper courses separated the region from the Syrian-Arab desert to the west, and from the Zagros Mountains and the Iranian plateau to the east, enclosing an island from which its name derives in Arabic. Peasant communities had to practice their agricultural know-how, building canals that would transform a marshy landscape into arable fields. Mesopotamia’s agricultural production stood out, enabling population growth and the emergence of the first cities.</p><br><p><i>Pharaonic Egypt. Life in the Two Lands</i><br>In the northeastern part of Africa, on the banks of the Nile, one of the world’s most important ancient cultures flourished more than five thousand years ago: Pharaonic Egypt. It was primarily an agricultural/animal husbandry society, so life was closely tied to the Nile cycle, which periodically deposited fertile silt known as kemet “the black land.” Thanks to community-based labor organization, a theocratic state arose with administrative and religious institutions ensuring ma´at “order, justice, and truth” and a social well-being during times of splendor.</p><br><p><i>Korea. The Land of the Morning Calm</i><br>The millennia-long Korean culture traces its legendary origin to the founding of Go-Joseon by Dangun, grandson of the Sky god, from which the name Go-Choson derives and which gives Korea its epithet “the Land of the Morning Calm.” Given its eastern location, Korea faced invasions and cultural influence from neighbors throughout history. In artistic manifestations, Koreans display a sense of freedom, the natural rhythm of life, spiritual and aesthetic aspirations, and a strong national identity. This space offers an approach to traditional beliefs and customs illustrated with works dating from the Neolithic to the early 20th century, including funerary offerings, paintings, musical instruments, clothing, and celadon porcelain, pieces that distinguish Korean art and contribute to its cultural significance.</p><br><p><i>China. The Middle Kingdom</i><br>From the Chinese worldview emerged beliefs and symbols reflected in Taoism and Confucianism. Ideas about the divine and natural world, life and death, ancestor veneration, and other conceptions have been a source of inspiration and creativity. About 5,000 years ago, this ideology formed the basis of what the Chinese still consider their greatest civilizational sign: writing. It also laid the foundation for inventions and technological advances, expressed in traditional arts such as painting, poetry, calligraphy, sculpture, music, and dance. Bronze, silk, and porcelain were raw materials for their extraordinary creative drive, which motivated the Chinese to travel the world and share their cultural heritage.</p><br><p><i>Archaeology of America</i><br>About five thousand years ago, part of the American population already practiced agriculture as their main activity. Two major agricultural regions emerged: Mesoamerica and the Andean area, which based their economy on irrigation systems to produce corn, beans, squash, chili, peanuts, potatoes, and manioc. Animals such as turkeys, dogs, and guinea pigs were domesticated for food, while llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos were used for transport and textile fibers. In Mesoamerica, a tribute-demanding system for subjected peoples developed; archaeological finds in the burials of notable individuals attest to this practice, evidenced by ceramic and jade objects on display, as well as shells, featherwork, coral beads, and turquoise.</p><br><p><b>Historical</b><br><br><i>Greco-Roman Culture</i><br>Mythology explains origins, values, and characteristics of each people. The Greco-Roman civilization developed myths that endure to this day and reflect their view of humanity. In this polytheistic culture, deities often appeared human, immortal and mighty. They were depicted through offerings, sacrifices, and prayers, symbolizing natural forces, economic activities, and human emotions and behaviors. Representations appear in paintings, ceramics, coins, and sculptures. In this hall one can see reproductions of Poseidon, Athena, and Hermes. Because the Greek lands are not very fertile, olives, vines, and wheat were the main crops. In contrast, their central location in the Mediterranean fostered maritime trade, which led to influence from Asia, northeast Africa, and the rest of the Mediterranean Europe.</p><br><p><i>Japan. The Land of the Rising Sun</i><br>A historical overview explains Japan’s long isolation until the mid-19th century and its enduring adherence to tradition. Social organization during the Tokugawa period (17th to mid-19th century) was hierarchical and rigid. Samurai, distinguished by their armor, formed a social class above peasants, artisans, fishermen, and merchants. There was an absolute monarchy with two powers: the emperor in Kyoto performing religious duties and the shogun in Edo (Tokyo) exercising political power.</p><br><p><i>Türkiye. Cradle of Cultures</i><br>Anatolia is a high plain bordered to the south by the milder Mediterranean coast with fertile plains. To the west lie the rugged Aegean coast and its valleys leading to the interior plateau. Northward, the Black Sea coast is rugged, mountainous, and forested. The eastern boundary meets the Caucasus. The central plateau is semi-arid, though there are fertile lakes. The northern half is crossed by the Kızılırmak (Red River) from southwest to north to the Black Sea. In the southeast, the Konya plain stands out with gold mines. This geographic diversity produced a rich and varied culture among its peoples. The pieces you will observe in this hall reflect the different ways of life across these peoples.</p><br><p><b>Ethnographic</b><br><br><i>Levant. Between Nomads and Sedentaries</i><br>The Levant connects Egypt with Mesopotamia and Anatolia, allowing diverse environments in one region. The coastal Mediterranean climate contrasts with the green mountains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon with snowy peaks in winter. The Jordan River runs north to south through a subtropical valley. Eastward, mountains shade the great desert, including the Negev and Sinai. This environmental variety shaped diverse lifeways: valley and coastal populations developed agricultural lifestyles with cereals, vines, and olives, while desert-edge communities adapted to nomadic pastoralism with sheep and goats, moving between seasonal zones. From the shepherds of the Ghassulian culture at the end of the 5th and early 4th millennia BC to today’s Bedouin clans, interactions with sedentary populations have included trade and exchange, not without tensions.</p><br><p><i>North America</i><br>Organized into cultural areas from the Arctic to the forests, showcasing objects reflecting environmental adaptation among Arctic coastal and island peoples of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Seal and caribou hunting shaped nomadic life; outputs from hunting provided clothing, tents, boat coverings, tools like harpoons, and even fat burned in stone lamps for heat and light. In contrast, the Northwest coast, spanning from southern Alaska to northern California, houses a sedentary people who, though not agricultural, rely on abundant marine resources such as salmon. The collection also includes carved wood such as totem poles, ritual masks, and storage boxes, representing myths of tribes like the Tlingit, Kwakiutl, Tsimshian, Nootka, and Haida. Notable items include copper and a richly decorated Chilkat blanket, gifts of high-ranking chiefs used in potlatches to reaffirm status. In the Great Lakes region, part of the extensive forested area from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi, communities combined hunting, fishing, gathering with maize, beans, and squash agriculture.</p><br><p><i>Southeast Asia</i><br>This region includes the Indochina and Malacca peninsulas, the Indonesian archipelago, and the Philippines. The Semang of Siam, hunter-gatherers, are represented with bamboo objects such as blowguns, quivers, darts, a venom container, and a paddle for applying venom. The bamboo culture is often cited for its abundance and usefulness in making utensils, containers, knives, ornaments, combs, and musical instruments, some of which are on display. Rice-farming groups organize into tribes descended from builders of ancient empires who created large architectural and hydraulic works and controlled maritime trade between India and China. The collection highlights metalwork, including weapons and jewelry, demonstrating expertise in metallurgy.</p><br><p><i>Mares del Sur</i><br>This vast region comprises four cultural areas: Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Australia. Melanesian horticulturalists and hunter-gatherers developed a material culture centered on village origins, human supremacy, and ritual practices that promote productive activities. The Polynesian triangle includes Hawai‘i in the north, Easter Island in the east, and New Zealand in the west. Communication relied on boat-building with lateral outriggers for stability at sea (canoe models are displayed in the room). Polynesian society was divided into horticulturalists, warriors, priests, and a ruling class led by a chief. Micronesia shares some features with the other regions but differs in wooden mask carvings, generally black and white. A map used by these seafaring peoples is on display. Finally, Australia is represented by hunter-gatherer communities with a seemingly modest material culture; as nomads they used few but effective tools, helping preserve their culture for millennia.</p><br><p><i>Africa Sub-Saharan</i><br>The hall explores themes illustrating the complex cultures of these peoples: magic, music, and a historical synthesis. Many West African communities practice slash-and-burn agriculture near the jungle, symbolizing nature’s vitality. Ceremonial objects, such as the kponyugu mask with a crocodile’s fangs, antelope horns, boar teeth, and spotted hyena skin, reflect this proximity. A hornbill on the forehead represents fertility and supports a chameleon, believed to be the first being to inhabit the earth. Masks appearing at funerals are thought to carry the deceased’s soul back to the forest.</p><br><p><i>Mediterranean. A Sea of Cultures</i><br>For thousands of years humanity depended on hunting and gathering. Yet in various times and regions—Southern Europe, North Africa, the Anatolian peninsula, and the Syria-Palestine area—agriculture emerged, giving rise to early civilizations that developed independently though interacted. The first part of this journey features works mainly from Greek and Roman cultures, drawing on earlier influences from Persia, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, which appear in later rooms.</p><br><p><i>Sala del Pueblo Sami</i><br>The Sami are an indigenous people living in Sápmi, spanning northern Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula (northwest Russia). With nearly 100,000 inhabitants, they coexist with the national populations of these countries. They have a long history in the Arctic and are associated with reindeer herding, as well as fishing and hunting. They speak nine distinct languages and maintain traditional costumes used in celebrations that strengthen their identity. They maintain aspects of traditional nomadic life integrated with modern technologies. Despite past discrimination and land dispossession, they continue to strive to preserve their cultural identity and rights. The Sami People Hall honors the history and resilience of this Indigenous European group.</p>