THE AMERICASBefore Contact with Europeans

Introduction Migration to the Americas

Early migrations from northern Asia to Alaska – occurred 35,000 to 15,000 years ago

Some contact with Polynesians possible Geography

Great geographical diversity – frozen regions, tropical rain forests, vast plains, heavily forested areas, and high mountain ranges○ Made farming impossible in some areas○ Long distance between arable areas made contact

between groups difficultTwo main areas of agriculture

○ Mesoamerica- Mexico and Central America○ Andean Mountain region – along the west coast of S.

America

Olmecs

Early American Civilizations Olmecs (1200-400 BCE)

Society○ Authoritarian and Hierarchial

Priestly classRuler and his familyArtisans and merchants Labor class

Political○ Form of kingship○ Giant sculptures of heads. Evidence of

power of the ruling family.○ Fall was due to internal conflict

Early American Civilizations Olmecs

Cultural – SEE MAYANS!!Economic

○ Agricultural-based economyNo large beasts of burden (horse, oxen)No wheeled vehiclesHuman labor did all the work

- BUT: Built elaborate drainage systems

○ Traded various products – salt, cacao, clay and limestone

○ Developed religious centers which grew into city-states

Chavin

Early American Civilizations Chavin (900 – 250 BCE)

Social○ Hierarchal

Ruler and his familyPriestly classArtisans and merchantsCommoners

Political○ Empires were created to control 3 ecological zones

(coastal plains, mountain valleys, and tropical rain forests and connecting trade routes)

○ Some evidence of irrigation projects and organized militaryShows political power of the central government

Early American Civilizations Chavin

Cultural○ Chavin religion spread to other areas,

perhaps Meso-AmericaEconomic

○ Chavin capital, Chavin de Huantar was situated along long distance trade routesTrade between west coast of S. America

and Andes mountain region○ Agriculture-based economy

Used llamas to carry things up and down the mountains

Mayan Empire

Classical American Civilizations Maya (300-900 CE)

Social○ Rigid and strict classes

Political○ Rulers performed both priestly and political

functionsRulers NOT divine but able to communicate with gods

and ancestor spirits

○ Fall of the Mayan EmpireAround 800 CE – Mayan population moved out of

cities which soon fell into decline- No evidence as to why – possible explanations

include foreign invasion, civil war, disease

Classical American Civilizations Maya

Cultural○ Religion

PolytheisticSome rituals called for human sacrifice

- Victims were prisoners of warMayan priests constructed very advanced calendar for

religious ceremonies, planting/harvesting cropsEconomic

○ Agriculture-based economyPracticed slash and burn agricultureAlso built terraced fields along the river banks

○ Cities – built large citiesPrimarily religious and administrative cities

Classical American Civilizations

MayaEconomic

○ Cities (cont.)Little trade conducted within the citiesIncluded large pyramids, houses for the

elite, ritual ball courts Memorial alters and pillars

- To honor great actions of leaders- Inscribed with pictograms (similar to

hieroglyphics)

Classical American Civilizations Teotihuacan (300-750 CE)

Social○Priests were an important part of the

elite classPolitical

○Teotihuacan was the name of the capital city

○City was well plannedEvidence of group of powerful families

ruling cooperatively

Cultural – See Aztecs!!

Teotihuacan

Classical American Civilizations

Teotihuacan

Economic○Agriculture-based economy

Irrigation produced abundance of crops

○TradeUnlike the Mayans, the Teotihuacan

had a large class of professional merchants who traded their products

Toltecs

Post-Classical American Civilizations

Toltecs (950-1150 CE)Social

○ The priestly class was important part of the elite class○ Emphasis on military prowess

Led to rise of an elite warrior class from which rulers would emerge

Political○ Created an extensive Empire from Central Mexico to

Yucatan Peninsula to Guatemala○ A strong militaristic legacy

Allowed the Toltecs conquer or intimidate neighboring peoplesRequired “tribute” – in the form of treasure, food,

prisoners/slaves

Post-Classical American Civilizations

ToltecsPolitical

○ Had 2 rulers instead of 1, leading to internal conflicts

○ Decline due to internal fragmentationCultural

○ Relied heavily on religious sacrifices to satisfy the gods

Post-Classical American Civilizations

ToltecsEconomic

○Agriculture-based economy○The exchange of turquoise with

people in the American Southwest○Tributary payment from

surrounding areas was a large part of the Toltec economy

Aztecs

Post-Classical Civilizations Aztecs

Social○ Militaristic aristocrats headed the social structure○ Priests were advisors to the king and performed

religious rituals○ Warrior class – came from ordinary freemen who

proved themselves in battle○ Merchant class – conducted long-distance trade○ Serfs/Freemen○ Slaves – mainly prisoners of war or debtors○ Women were subservient to men but those who

bore warrior sons were given higher status

Post-Classical American Civilizations

AztecsPolitical

○ Tenochtitlan was the capital city○ Emperor appointed military governors to rule

over conquered peoples○ Empire stretched from Central Mexico to

Guatemala○ Aztec military power - Led to tributary empire

Conquered peoples had to pay tribute – such as food, luxury goods, and prisoners

Post-Classical American Civilizations Aztecs

Cultural○Religion played an extremely important

role in Aztec cultureLarge step pyramidsReligion provided political legitimacyHuman sacrifice practiced extensively

- Victims were mainly prisoners of war

Post-Classical American Civilizations

AztecsEconomic

○ Agriculture-based economyInnovations include chinampas – floating islands for

growing food- Led to increase food production

○ Tribute systemGov’t controlled the distribution of tribute to the

population – noble class received the majority and commoners received much less

○ Long-distance tradeTraded for luxury goods with neighboring peoplesCarried by slaves or serfs because there were no

beasts of burden

Inca Empire

Post-Classical American Civilizations Incas (1100-1540 CE)

Social○ INCA (Emperor) was on top○ Aristocratic class – served emperor as advisors and

governors○ Priests○ Warrior class○ Peasants – organized into communities○ Patriarchal but women did have the ability to inherit

property

Post-Classical American Civilizations

IncasPolitical

○ Cuzco was the capital○ The Inca/Emperor owned all property and the commoners worked

for the IncaMit’a system = all commoners owed required labor to the state for a

certain number of months each year, to build temples, roads, etc.

○ The Inca/Emperor controlled the empire with:Vast and powerful militaryExtensive network of roads

○ Alliances were made with neighboring rulers who swore allegiance to the Inca and were allowed to keep their ruling positions

Post-Classical American Civilizations Incas

Cultural○ Religion played an important role in the Inca

EmpireTemples were built for religious ritualsHuman sacrifice was practiced but NOT as much

or as frequently as the Aztecs- Victims were mainly prisoners of war or as

tribute given by neighboring peoples

○ The Incas had no written languageRelied on system of knots (quipu)

Post-Classical American Civilizations

IncasEconomic

○ Agriculture-based economyInnovations included terraced farming to utilize the

mountainsAgricultural surplus was owned by the state and stored in

state storehouses- For use in times of shortages or famine

○ Mit’a system created a more socialized economy – people didn’t “own” property but instead worked for the good of the Inca people

○ No distinct merchant classLong distance trade was LESS important than the Aztecs

due to self-sufficiency and state regulation of production and surplus