Cultural Transformation Theory  _______________ is defined as "any society in which women's power is equal or superior to men's and in which the culture centers _______________________ _______________________ -Cynthia Eller

Cultural Transformation Theory  History as conventionally written has _______________________________. But if we re-examine our past, taking into account the whole of our history, a very different picture emerges. -Riane Eisler

Cultural Transformation Theory  For example, we have been told that European civilization _________________ _______________________________- with a way of structuring society in which women and anything associated with the "feminine" is held ____________________ _______________________ to a subordinate and subservient position. -Riane Eisler

Cultural Transformation Theory  The Judaeo-Christian Bible tells of a garden where woman and man lived in harmony with each other and nature - a time before a male god decreed that woman henceforth be subservient to man. The Chinese Tao Te Ching describes a time when the yin or feminine principle was not yet ruled by the male principle or yang, [and]... the wisdom of the mother was still honored. -Riane Eisler

Cultural Transformation Theory  Data from... Neolithic sites indicate that in these societies, where women were priestesses and craftspeople, the female was not subordinate to the male. Although the ___________________ _______________________________________ ____________, the powers that create and govern the universe were generally depicted as a goddess rather than a god. -Riane Eisler

Cultural Transformation Theory  Based on _____________________- the ranking of one gender over another.  The original direction in the mainstream of our cultural evolution was toward partnership.  Following a period of chaos and almost total cultural disruption, _____________________ ________________________.

Cultural Transformation Theory 30,000 B.C.E Today 10,000 B.C.E 7,000 B.C.E PaleolithicNeolithic

Cultural Transformation Theory The earliest development of ______________ was in SW Asia between _____ BC and _____ BC. The earliest development of ______________ was in SW Asia between _____ BC and _____ BC. There, the There, the____________________________________________in Matriarchic societies

Cultural Transformation Theory The ____________period began when humans first ____________________ and settled in ____________________. The ____________period began when humans first ____________________ and settled in ____________________. Important artistic expressions reflected the ____________ Important artistic expressions reflected the ____________ _________________________ _________________in megalithic stone monuments.

Neolithic excavations have yielded Goddess figurines and symbols, which span a wide geographical area ranging _________ __________________ _____________. Neolithic excavations have yielded Goddess figurines and symbols, which span a wide geographical area ranging _________ __________________ _____________. Cultural Transformation Theory

The vast majority and ____________ The vast majority and ____________ _____________________as expressions of the centrality of the female in myth and ritual [suggests] the __________________________ in the continuity of cultural life.

Cultural Transformation Theory "Goddess" is often problematic for Westerners who tend to imagine a female version of the transcendent Father God. "Goddess" is often problematic for Westerners who tend to imagine a female version of the transcendent Father God. The “___________________" has been The “___________________" has been defined as ”____________________ ________________" and "the infinite powers and patterns of nature expressed through plant, animal, and human life.” __________________________ of the living earth rendered in myriad anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms. __________________________ of the living earth rendered in myriad anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms.

Through ___________________________ Through ___________________________ ______________________________________ _________, and the changes that occur in that mythology as the years pass, a pattern emerges portraying a ____________________ _______________________________________. This _______________________________ This _______________________________ into a society parallels the slow colonization of Egypt by foreigners from the north. Cultural Transformation Theory

Therefore, this first _________________ Therefore, this first _________________ can be seen to be arriving in Egypt as a part of ____________________________ an indigenous deity _________________ an indigenous deity _________________ amidst the population. amidst the population. Cultural Transformation Theory

Many cultures have myths about a time when women were dominant. Through examination of several of these myths from various cultures, reveals that, by Many cultures have myths about a time when women were dominant. Through examination of several of these myths from various cultures, reveals that, by _________________________________ ____________________________, they often serve to keep women ____________________________. Cultural Transformation Theory

The Goddess appears to have been originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with ________________is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a _________or a _____________is common. The Goddess appears to have been originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with ________________is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a _________or a _____________is common.

Cultural Transformation Theory There was a ____________ There was a ____________ ______________ of societies that worshiped life- generating and nurturing powers of the universe – “___________________” - to social organizations who worshiped “_____________ ______________________.”

Cultural Transformation Theory The early Neolithic period in several areas shows a gradual transition from a __________ The early Neolithic period in several areas shows a gradual transition from a __________ _____________ to a _____________________ culture. A conflict between two philosophies: A conflict between two philosophies: “The Leavers and the Takers are enacting two separate stories, based on entirely different and contradictory premises.” Qiunn, Daniel. Ishmael.NewYork:Bantam/Turner,1992.

Cultural Transformation Theory Archaeologist Maria Gimbutas’ ”__________________" remains the most accepted and consistently debated explanation of [societal] changes, which she described as "a collision of cultures" resulting in ___________________________ Archaeologist Maria Gimbutas’ ”__________________" remains the most accepted and consistently debated explanation of [societal] changes, which she described as "a collision of cultures" resulting in ___________________________ ___________________________.

Cultural Transformation Theory In sharp contrast to later art, a theme notable for its absence from Neolithic art is imagery idealizing _____________, _________, and __________________. In sharp contrast to later art, a theme notable for its absence from Neolithic art is imagery idealizing _____________, _________, and __________________.

Cultural Transformation Theory The Goddess appears to have been originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with primal waters is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a bird or a serpent is common. The Goddess appears to have been originally worshiped in all ancient agricultural societies. The association of the female principle with primal waters is a ubiquitous theme; the Goddess in the form of a bird or a serpent is common.

Cultural Transformation Theory Consider the stories that involve serpents Consider the stories that involve serpentsGreek Zeus slays the serpent Syphon Zeus slays the serpent Syphon Apollo kills the serpent Python Apollo kills the serpent Python Hercules kills the serpent Landon Hercules kills the serpent LandonHebrew Jehovah kills the serpent Leviathan Jehovah kills the serpent LeviathanJudeo-Christian Eve tempted to eat forbidden fruit. Eve tempted to eat forbidden fruit.

Cultural Transformation Theory What implications exist if the theory is true?

Cultural Transformation Theory Eisler, Riane. The Battle over Human Possibilities: Women, Men and Cultural Transormation.September - Ocrober matriarchal-studies.com/eisler.html. 1/24/08. Marler, Joan. “The Myth of Universal Patriarchy: A Critical Response to Cynthia Eller’s Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory” /25/08.