Ch. 16People and Empires

in the Americas500-1500

Section 1North American Societies

Complex Societies• Unlike the

Mesoamerican and S. American natives, the N.A. tribes never build empires

• Tribes in the NW were the first to display their wealth/rank• The potlatch was a celebration usually thrown by the wealthy for the people

Builders• In the west, tribes

adapted to their environment• Irrigation for water• Cliff dwellings (Mesa

Verde)

• The Anasazi would build large, apartment style communities (pueblos) that had up to 600 rooms (Pueblo Bonito)

Mound Builders• From the Mississippi and

East• Around 700 BC• The huge earthen

mounds were like pyramids (tombs for the leaders filled with gifts)

• Could also be used for religious ceremonies

• Trade networks existed between the native groups as far as Mesoamerica

Alliances• While not building

empires, the natives did use alliances

• Best example – Iroquois League• Spoke related languages• Lived in the Northeastern Woodlands• Promoted joint defense and cooperation

Trade Connects Cultures• Trade was the most

common link between native groups• Chinook established a marketplace where people from all over the West brought their goods• The Mississippian had a trade network including everything in the US east of the Rockies

Religion & Family• Nearly all tribes

worshipped nature spirits with one “Great Spirit” above all others

• Most gave great respect to the land• nobody owned the land;

land was sacred

• Society was typically organized around the family• Totems were used to

identify your clan

Section 2Maya Kings and Cities

City-States• As we entered the

AD era, Central America began creating civilizations

• The Mayan people were among the first• Southern Mexico to Central America• By 250 AD, they were pushing forward

Mayan Urban Centers• Mayan Classic Period

250-900 AD• Built huge cities• Each was ruled by a god-

king and was a religious center

• People lived in communities on the edges

• Ruled independently, the city-states were linked only by trade/alliances

Social Structure• Farming led to the

growth of wealth in individuals, which led to a class system• King – passed on to son• Nobles – priests and warriors•Merchants – special skills• peasants

Religion• Plays a significant role

on Mayan life• Polytheistic (based on

nature)• Corn, death, rain, and war• Good and evil

• Lots of different ways of worshipping• Offerings (sometimes

human) and body modification were most common

Math links to religion• Gods ruled on a schedule

(handed it on to another when their time was up)

• Religion led to the development the calendar• 2 calendars that had

different significances that affected many aspect of lives (farming, war, crowning new leaders)• Based on observing the

planets, sun, and moon• 17 seconds off of our calendar

Written Language• Most advanced writing

in the Americas• 800 hieroglyphic symbols

(glyphs) that represented words/sounds• Used to record history,

pass on stories, and make calendars

• Recorded history into a bark-paper book known as a codex (only 3 still exist)• Other books exist, but are

informal accounts

Mysterious Decline• Late 800s, Mayan cities

were suddenly abandoned

• Taken over by warriors (Toltecs) who drastically changed the culture

• Theories• Mayan civil war disrupted

trade, made them weak• Environment was

overworked

Section 3The Aztecs

Valley of Mexico• Preceded by Olmec

and Zapotec• Nestled in the

mountains of Mexico, is has lakes, resources, and fertile soil

• This would be the center of their empire

Early City-State• Teotihuacan will be the

first major city-state• Population reached over

150,000• 1 central avenue with

more than 20 pyramids dedicated to gods

• Teotihuacan was the center of trade for all of central America• Obsidian was their most

valuable item

• By 750, it was abandoned

Toltecs Take Over (900 AD)• Took 150 years for a new

culture to take over• Built pyramids/temples to

their gods• Extremely warlike

• God demanded blood and human sacrifice

• Topiltzin will try to reform the religion using Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent)• This becomes a legend after he

is forced out and will come back to haunt them

• Power is gone by 1200

Aztec Origins• Moving throughout

Mexico, the Mexica (Aztecs) people were poor nomads that made great mercenaries

• They are given a sign from their god on to build Tenochtitlan in 1325

Aztec Empire Grows• They grew steadily• In 1428, they will merge

with the Texcoco and Tlacopan city-states to create the Triple Alliance

• They continued to expand using military force• Pay tribute and not much

changed• Refuse to obey and you

would be crushed

Aztec Social Structure• At its peak, the Aztec

nobility consisted of gov. officials, priests, and military leaders

• Beneath them were the commoners (merchants, artisans, soldiers, and farmers) and the slaves (conquered peoples)

• Above everyone else was the emperor who ruled absolutely

Religion in Aztec Society• Had about 1000

gods• Adopted a lot of

previous cultures gods (Quetzalcoatl)

• Ceremonies were elaborate to win the favor of the gods

Sun God & Sacrifices• Responsible for the sun

rise and set, the Sun God is most important• To be strong enough to rise, he demanded human blood sacrifice• Thousands/year were

sacrificed• Usually used slaves,

criminals, people “offered” as tribute, and mostly conquered peoples

Fall of the Aztecs• 1502, Montezuma II

takes power• Called for more sacrifices as the empire grew larger

• Many provinces rebelled in anger over sacrifices• He tried to limit government/sacrifices, but it was too late. People felt that the gods were angry with the Aztec leaders

Section 4The Inca Create a Mountain Empire

Origins• Built on the

traditions of the Chavin, Moche, and the Nazca

• They had been mountainous but eventually settled into the Valley of Cuzco

Pachacuti• Began his reign in 1438• The Incan Empire will

grow quickest under his leadership• 80 provinces with 16

million people

• Used diplomacy and military strength• Many will give up without

resistance• Incans tried to gain loyalty even of the conquered people

Incan Unity• The empire was

divided into units• Governed by bureaucracy• Roads connected the cities• The Quechua language was spoken by all• Schools educated people about their culture

Government Presence• The Incans built

cities in conquered peoples lands using their style of architecture• Reminded conquered people who was in charge•Master stonemasons

• All roads led to Cuzco

Incan Government• Exercised complete control

• Little private commerce

• Society was like the welfare state (socialism), you provide for the state, the state will provide for you.• This kept people loyal

• People were grouped (ayllu). If a group resisted Incan control, they would be moved

• The greatest demand from the government was the mita (labor tribute)• Farmed, built crafts, built public

works

Public Works• Most important was the

road system• 14000 miles of roads/bridges

through the rocky terrain• Could be paved or just a path• Guesthouses could be found

along the path

• Even had a postal service using a system of runners

• Like the Romans, they were very skilled engineers

Record Keeping• Never had a

writing system• Everything was memorized

• For numbers, they used the quipu (knotted strings)• Colors represented topic, knots were the numbers

Religious Practices• Had fewer gods

than the Aztecs, but gods were still based on nature spirits•Most Important: Creator and sun god (the king is his descendant)

Fall of the Empire• Peaked in the early

1500s with Huayna Capac

• Upon his death, the empire was divided among his sons• They fought a civil war not long after that tore the empire apart