Chapter 14- Ancient Civilizations of the Americas:
(1). Compare and contrast the rise of
civilization in Mesoamerica
with that of the “old world.”
(2). Examine formative period of
Mesoamerican civilization & emergence of Olmec and Monte
Alban.
(3). Discuss the emergence of writing and the Mesoamerican
calendar.
(4). Examine the classic period in Mesoamerica. and the rise of Teotihuac'an.
(5). Describe Mayan civilization and the extent of their
achievements.
(6). Explain why the Toltecs deserved their war-like reputation.
(7). Examine the Aztec Empire and describe their capitol, religion, and
society.
(8). Describe the geography of Andean South America, and its
impact on the early inhabitants.
(9). Outline the seven periods into which
Andean civilization is
divided.
(10). Examine the Inca Empire and describe its culture and society.
(11). Contrast the ancient civilizations of
the Americas with that of the “old world.”
v
Reconstructing Native American Civilization’s History
Ø
Problems
& difficulties encountered:
§
Andean Civilizations did not develop writing
§
Mesoamerican written records destroyed
·
Time & Spanish
conquest destroyed most
·
Remainder undeciphered
until recently
¨
Maya records
recently deciphered
Ø
Primary means
& sources of historical data:
§
Archaeology => minute details of past
·
Urban monumental burial
mounds
·
Social & economic
life of common remains
§
Record accounts of
Spanish missionaries & officials
·
Inca &
Andean Civilizations (last native empires)
·
Problem with European accounts?
·
Role of European words, categories, & values?
v
Mesoamerica
Ø
Overview:
§
Geography: central Mexico to Central America (Map)
·
Lowland tropical rain
forest to temperate highlands
§
People: culturally & linguistically diverse
·
Writing (Andean), Sun
& Moon calendars, gods
·
Ritual ball game
·
Impressive urban centers
·
All linked to some
extent by long distance trade
§
Major Mesoamerican Timeframes:
·
Archaic =>
8000-2000 BC
·
Formative
(Pre-Classic) => 2000 BC – 150 AD
·
Classic* => 150-900
AD
¨
(*derived from European
historical context)
·
Post-Classic =>
900-1521 AD
§
Major Archaic events=> Neolithic Revolution:
·
Transition form Hunter-Gather=> village settlements
·
Cultivation of: Maize, beans, squash, tomatoes, peppers
·
Contrast of New World’s protein source vs. Old World?
¨
Other differences:
Ø
No large draft
animals=> no wheels for carts
Ø
No horses for army=>
foot soldiers for wars
·
Village settlements
emerged (5000-2500 BC)
¨
Appear in both highland
& lowland regions
·
2000 BC => settled
agricultural life established=>
¨
Clay vessels &
ceramics produced (for what?)
Ø
Pottery
conveys artistic expression
Ø
Key role in religious
& ritual ceremonies
Ø
The Formative
Period:
§
Emergence of
Mesoamerican Civilization
·
1500:
agricultural villages evolve to complex societies
¨
towns & monumental
architecture constructed
¨
Social divisions: elite
& common classes established
¨
Long distant trade
between & among regions
¨
Sophisticated cultural
& artistic traditions emerge
·
The Olmec =>
centered in lowlands of Mex Gulf coast
¨
Archeologist finds=> San Lorenzo (1200-400)
Ø
La Venta
(900-400) => Great Pyramid (110’)
¨
Both known for stone art
(pix)
Ø
Massive stone heads - famous
¨
Civilization faded around 400 BC.
·
The Valley of
Oaxaca & Rise of Monte Alban(Map)
¨
Late Formative period:
Ø
500 BC: San Jose Mogote => thrive to 1000
Ø
500 BC:
Monte Alban=> population of 5000
§
Emerged as state capital of Oaxaca
§
Able to maintain
authority into classic period
§
Art: carved images of bound prisoners=>
???
¨
Emergence of
writing & Mesoamerican calendar
Ø
Oaxaca Valley (San Jose Mogote & Monte Alban)
§
Earliest evidence of
writing found here
Ø
Calendar based
on two interlocking cycles
§
Each with unique day
& month names
§
Solar Year cycle=>365 vs. Other cycle: 260
§
Combined cycles=> 52
year “century”
§
No fixed date in time
for beginning (‘til Maya)
Ø
The Classic
Period in Mesoamerica:
§
Classic period considered time of cultural florescence
·
Saw rise of Teotihuac’an=>
equal other major cities
·
Maya built
densely populated cities in rain forests
¨
Most advance
hieroglyphic writing & math system
¨
Built temples &
plazas=> secular & religious rule
·
Mesoamerican Classic
Period superior to NW Europe
§
Teotihuac’an (great city
of the Central Mexico)
·
Possibly Mesoamerica’s
first true city-state
·
Dominated for central
Mexico for many centuries
¨
Strong influence on rest
of Mesoamerica
¨
Key trade node of
region: obsidian => prosperous
·
Agriculture: Fertile
farmland supported population
¨
Terraced plots &
irrigation system
·
Reached peak at 500 AD:
9 sq miles w/150K residents
¨
One of largest cities in
the world at the time
¨
Ruled by powerful
central authority
·
City’s layout=> grid
plan w/impressive structures
¨
Decorated w/striking
sculptures & murals of gods
¨
City center=>
religious & admin structures
Ø
Market at center
¨
Pyramid of the Moon with Avenue of Dead (see
pix)
¨
Practice Human
sacrifice like many other regions
·
After 500 AD=>
influence declined=> fell by 8th
cent.
·
Ruins inspired Aztec
name: City of the Gods
§
The Maya (Yucatan
Peninsula – Map)
·
Sophisticated urban environment w/great cities
¨
Tikal (50-70K
population)=>
Ø
Temple of the
Giant Jaguar (pix)
¨
Terracing & irrigation
·
Mayan religion & politics combined=> ruling
elite
·
Sacrifice & ritualistic Ball Game=> creation
myth
¨
Recorded in Popol Vuh =>
¨
Hero twins defeat gods in Ball Game & return to life
¨
All cities had Ball Courts=> symbolic reenactment
·
Creative ideas=> included math => concept of zero
·
“Long count”
calendar=> point fixed is past=>
¨
Allowed European
correlation with Mayan events
·
Astronomy =>
accurately recorded celestial movements
¨
Venus
identified as both morning & evening star
¨
accurately measured
lunar cycle (29.53 days)
·
800-900 AD=> Classic
Civ in So. Highlands declined
¨
Causes TBD: Warfare, pop. increases unsupported
¨
Over farming soil or
drought also possible factors
·
Focus shifted to
Northern Yucatan=> Chichen Itza
¨
Gradually Maya divided
into small competing ctrs
Ø
The
Post-Classic Period:
§
Following fall of Teotihuacan (8th
cent.)=> war increased
·
Several militaristic
states emerged (fort hilltop cities)
·
Interregional trade
& markets became more important
·
Secular & religious authority started to diverge
§
Toltecs => strong
warrior image
·
900 AD=> Toltecs rose at Tula (35-60K) (Map)
·
$$$ trade advantage: near obsidian mine source
·
Toltecs migrated
from Northern “barbarian” tribes
·
Revered by Aztecs as
fount of civilization
¨
Aztec myth glorified
Toltecs=> vast empire/power
¨
(Western parallel?)
·
Toltec icons stressed
human sacrifice & warlike image
¨
Toltec gods adapted to
Aztecs’ (feathered serpent)
¨
Many death, blood, &
militaristic symbols
·
By 1100 Tula’s influence
declined & influence waned
§
Aztecs
(Mexica) => Mexico
·
Controlled powerful empire => most of Mesoamerica
·
Tenochititlan=> islands
& landfills on Lake Texcoco
¨
200-300K people lived in
splendid surroundings
¨
luxurious temples &
palaces along canals (see p.369)
Ø
3 great causeways
connected city with mainland
Ø
Admin center with
officials, artisans, workers, zoo
·
Empire comprised much of modern day Mexico (Map)
¨
Successful Aztec conquests ended with indirect rule
¨
Local elite submitted to
Aztecs as vassals
¨
Left in charge=> pay
tribute in goods
¨
NTL=> tribute
undermined Empires stability – how?
·
Religion & Human Sacrifice
¨
Aztec Sun god required Human blood – why?
Ø
Huitzpochtli & his battle to rise again (disc)
Ø
Need victims for
sacrifice (captured pows)
¨
Major festival=>
1000s sacrificed
¨
Tlaloc (rain
god) desired small children be sacrificed
·
Aztec Society => organized for war (parallels?)
¨
Hierarchical, authoritarian, &
militaristic
¨
Two broad classes: Noble elite vs. commoners
Ø
Well off life vs. hard
rough life
¨
Morally conservative
with strict mores:
Ø
Obedience, discipline, respect, moderation
Ø
Strict laws with severe
punishment (with rank)
§
To whom much is given much is expected
¨
Market was central to
economy=>
Ø
Professional traders
& merchants important
Ø
Key to spreading Aztec
influence (commerce)
§
Commercial efforts
backed by Aztec Army
¨
Men trained constantly
for war => (women’s role?)
Ø
Stress on individual
combat => goal?
Ø
Flower Wars?
v
Andean South America
Ø
Geography: (Modern Peru
& Bolivia- Map)
§
Dramatic range of contrast
·
From equator south along
Pacific coast
¨
Dry dessert strip
·
Inland=> Andean Mountain range rises sharply
¨
extremely high peaks
·
East=> grass puna & dense vegetation
¨
Descends into tropical rain forest
Ø
People:
§
Andean
highlands:
·
Domesticated potato (other tubers), & quinoa (grain)
§
Intermountain Valley: maize
§
Puna grasslands:
herds of llamas & alpacas (fur, meat)
§
Shared inter-region
resources=> verticality (parallels?)
Ø
Seven Andean
time periods:
§
Pre-ceramic (3000 - 2000
BC)
§
Initial
Period (2000 - 800 BC)
§
Early Horizon
(800 - 200 BC)
§
Early
Intermediate Period (200 BC - 600 AD)
§
Middle
Horizon (600 –
800/1000 AD)
§
Late
Intermediate Period (800/1000 – 1475 AD)
§
Late Horizon
(Inca Empire) (1475 – 1532 AD)
Ø
The Pre-ceramic
and the Initial Period:
§
Earliest monumental architecture (Peru)- 3rd
millennium
·
Coast:
ceremonial mounds & plazas (predate pottery)
¨
Coastals ate
seafood w/beans, squash, & peppers
¨
Also cultivated gourds & cotton – why?
·
Highlands: stonewall structures w/fire pits=> used for?
¨
Highland people: Kotosh religious tradition (Map)
¨
Depend more on
agriculture: maize, potatoes, tubers
¨
Llamas & alpacas domesticated by 2500 BC
¨
Believed equalitarian societies (communal ritual)
§
Initial
Period:
·
Pottery & major shift in settlement &
subsistence
¨
Coastal people rely more
on agriculture + seafood
¨
Move settlements inland
& build irrigation systems
¨
Grow maize & construct large ceremonial
structures
Ø
Central coast: U-shaped
structures facing inland
Ø
North coast: circular
sunken courts w/platforms
¨
Populations grew and
became more stratified
¨
Cerro Sechin & Sechin Alto=> severed heads found?
Ø
Chavin de
Huantar and the Early Horizon:
§
800 BC=> highland
site grew in influence (Map)
·
Positioned as trade link
between coast & rain forest
§
Powerful religious cult
w/population of 3K at peak
·
Old Temple
complex of U-shapes & sunken 0 courts
·
Artistic icons draw form
tropical forest animals
·
Knife shaped Stela carved image of fanged deity
·
Oracle voice
tube system from priest’s chamber above
§
400-200 BC: Chavin
influence spread throughout Peru
·
Archaeologists: Chavin icons reflect cult’s prestige
¨
(not Chavin political or military expansion)
·
Key Chavin technological innovations shined in:
¨
Ceramics, weaving, & metallurgy
§
Recent site
excavations=> increased social stratification
·
Those closer to
ceremonial site lived & ate better
§
The Early Intermediate Period:
·
Increased warfare marked
collapse of Chavin culture
¨
Ideological unity to
Andes also wanes as well
¨
Result: increased regional
diversity, combined with:
Ø
Political centralization & territorial
states emerge
·
What were the most famous cultures of the period?
§
Nazca (South coast of Peru – Map)
·
Flourished from 100 BC –
700 AD at Ica & Nazca
·
Constructed underground
aqueducts (for irrigation)
·
Cahuachi was
large religious site for religious festivals
¨ Possible capital of