| Pages:
1
2
3 |
motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
|
|
Origins of "California"
A recent poster suggested California started in Baja in the 1600's....
I wasn't convinced of that , and being aware of the myth of black Amazons ruling such a place, I followed up with a short but interesting read that
certainly fills in some blanks...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_California
Don't believe everything you think....
|
|
|
willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
|
|
hmmmm....can't seem to get it on my box?
|
|
|
Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
|
|
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etymology_of_California
|
|
|
Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
|
|
That's interesting, one of the theories is "California" is derived from the 'caliph' (the religious leader who rules in place of Mohammed) which
'caliphate', a form of government, is derived from (ISIS is currently trying to reestablish the caliphate that was in place hundreds of years ago in
the Middle East's golden age). Seeing as though Islamic presence had a huge influence in Spain it makes sense.
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
actually it's a truncation of a term used in Colorado in the 60's "Don't Californicate Colorado"....But they did...
|
|
|
sargentodiaz
Nomad
Posts: 259
Registered: 2-20-2013
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Member Is Offline
|
|
I'm surprised that DavidK hasn't chimed in as he's the absolute expert here on the Californias.
|
|
|
motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
|
|
Mexitron,
Yes, that lesson in language/history also caught my eye....the article teases out some more areas of possible research...for geography as well as the
histories...
Quote: Originally posted by Mexitron  | | That's interesting, one of the theories is "California" is derived from the 'caliph' (the religious leader who rules in place of Mohammed) which
'caliphate', a form of government, is derived from (ISIS is currently trying to reestablish the caliphate that was in place hundreds of years ago in
the Middle East's golden age). Seeing as though Islamic presence had a huge influence in Spain it makes sense. |
Don't believe everything you think....
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Well, this thread began just 2 hours ago, and I was busy writing a new article... then I have a sprinkler leak to repair in Carlsbad (what a beautiful
day today is).
In my new book, on Page 3-5, I describe the discovery and naming of California by the Spanish...
Here is Page 3
|
|
|
motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
|
|
It is always entertaining to see how Europeans "discovered" lands that had been inhabited for eons....
David, please provide a map for where I can visit those Calafia Amazons my next trip down....I like a woman who has lots of gold and a fierce grip
 
For the rest of you....I promise a trip report with pics once David sends me the map.
Don't believe everything you think....
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
You one weird Dude, Motog...
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
LOL
I think 4x4abc knows where the Amazons live and that's what keeps him living happily in La Paz!
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
I thought they all lived in Minnesota and were named "Helga"...
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Californians not real welcoming in 1530s:
|
|
|
grizzlyfsh95
Nomad
Posts: 226
Registered: 1-8-2010
Location: East Cape
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: Originally posted by motoged | It is always entertaining to see how Europeans "discovered" lands that had been inhabited for eons....
David, please provide a map for where I can visit those Calafia Amazons my next trip down....I like a woman who has lots of gold and a fierce grip
For the rest of you....I promise a trip report with pics once David sends me the map. |
It never fails that this Big Richard shows up to taint the water.
The harder I work, the luckier I get
|
|
|
chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
|
|
HE is the OP....Show some respect....Fo da Kahuna...
|
|
|
Bajatripper
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3148
Registered: 3-20-2010
Member Is Offline
|
|
Speaking of names, a Baja California Sur native and noted writer once lamented that his half of the peninsula has had its name stolen twice. First, as
David noted, it was the original holder of the name "California" until the US state of California took sole custody of that name and relegated the
peninsula to Baja California. And later, when the northern half of the peninsula became the State of Baja California in the 1950s, the southern
peninsula was left with having to add the "Sur" to distinguish it from its northern peninsular neighbor. I've always wondered how it is that the
northern state was allowed to take ownership of Baja California since now one must distinguish on if one is talking about the entire peninsula or just
the northern state. "Baja California Norte" seems like a natural solution, and yet hasn't been used.
There most certainly is but one side to every story: the TRUTH. Variations of it are nothing but lies.
|
|
|
windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1329
Registered: 9-2-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Thank you for starting this interesting discussion which prompted me to consult the Google for more insight.
Origins of California
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calafia
Excerpt:
Calafia is a warrior queen who ruled over a kingdom of Black women living on the mythical Island of California. The character of Queen Calafia was
created by Spanish writer Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo who first introduced her in his popular novel entitled Las sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures
of Esplandián), written around 1500.[1]
In the novel, Calafia is a pagan who is convinced to raise an army of women warriors and sail away from California with a large flock of trained
griffins so that she can join a Muslim battle against Christians who are defending Constantinople. In the siege, the griffins harm enemy and friendly
forces, so they are withdrawn. Calafia and her ally Radiaro fight in single combat against the Christian leaders, a king and his son the knight
Esplandián. Calafia is bested and taken prisoner, and she converts to Christianity. She marries a cousin of Esplandián and returns with her army to
California for further adventures.[2]
The name of Calafia was likely formed from the Arabic word khalifa (religious state leader) which is known as caliph in English and califa in Spanish.
Similarly, the name of Calafia's monarchy, California, likely originated from the same root, fabricated by the author to remind the 16th-century
Spanish reader of the reconquista, a centuries-long fight between Christians and Muslims which had recently concluded in Spain. The character of
Calafia is used by Rodríguez de Montalvo to portray the superiority of chivalry in which the attractive virgin queen is conquered, converted to
Christian beliefs and married off. The book was very popular for many decades—Hernán Cortés read it—and it was selected by author Miguel de Cervantes
as the first of many popular and assumed harmful books to be burnt by characters in his famous novel Don Quixote.[2]
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64746
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
See how fun history can be!
|
|
|
Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
|
|
David, what is the history on the painting you posted (date, artist, etc.)?
|
|
|
motoged
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6481
Registered: 7-31-2006
Location: Kamloops, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: Gettin' Better
|
|
windgrrl,
Thanks for the excerpt....this is the story told to me by my sister who was a kayak guide in Baja for 10 years....and who introduced me to Baja in
1989 via a 10 day kayak trip to Isla Espiritu Santo...
The story / metaphor of marriage as a spiritual conquest is an interesting twist to margaritas and sand.
And the Christians and Muslims are still bashing away at declaring whose god is best....ya can't trump that fight.
Don't believe everything you think....
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2
3 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
