The Americas: A Separate World

The Earliest Americans

Thousands of years ago, the Americas were connected by a land bridge to Asia. Bering Land Bridge

Peopling the Americas The first Americans arrived sometime toward the end

of the last Ice Age Gradually Siberian hunters followed mammoths into

North America.

Second Scenario By boat around Aleutian Islands from Japan

The Earliest Americans

Hunters and Gathers Large animals like the mammoth were over

hunted and became extinct. Hunters soon turned to small prey for their

survival. They also fished and gathered edible plants and

fruits. Whenever they did settle in one place for a short

time, they lived in caves or temporary shelters in the open air.

With the end of the Ice Age came the end of land travel across Beringia.

Agriculture Creates a New Way of Life

Around 7000 BCE agriculture revolution began in what is now central Mexico.

By 5000 BCE many began to grow squash, gourds, beans, avocados, and chilies.

By 3400 BCE these early farmers grew maize, or corn. Maize soon became the most important crop.

Gradually people settled in permanent villages in the Tehuacan Valley (south of Mexico City). These people raised corn and other crops

The techniques of agriculture spread over North and South America.

In areas like Peru and eastern North America they discovered the secrets of cultivating local edible plants independently.

Agriculture Creates a New Way of Life

Farming brings great change Provided a more reliable and expanding food

supply. Population grew and they began to establish

large, settled communities. Began to develop specialized skills in arts and

crafts, building trades, and other fields. Differences between social classes – between rich

and poor, ruler and subject – began to emerge. Society became more complex.

Olmec Civilization

Mesoamerica – area that stretches south from central Mexico to northern Honduras.

First known civilization builders were known as the Olmec. Started around 1200 BCE in

the jungles of southern Mexico. Olmec influenced neighboring

groups, often called Mesoamerica’s “mother culture.”

Rise of Olmec Civilization Thrived from approximately

800-400 BCE. Lived along the Gulf Coast of

Mexico.

Olmec Civilization

Gulf coast geography Region was hot and humid and covered with swamps and

jungle. Received up to 100 inches of rain fell every year. The region had certain advantages:

Abundant deposits of clay and tar Wood and rubber Hard stone for tools and monuments. Fertile farming in Flood Plain

Cool Stone Heads Weighed up to 44 tons

Olmec Civilization

Trade and commerce Large trading network throughout Mesoamerica. Olmec goods traveled as far as Mexico City to

north and Honduras to the south. Raw materials – including iron ore and various

stone – reached San Lorenzo from faraway regions.

Trade network helped boost the Olmec economy and spread Olmec influence.

Maya Kings and Cities

Maya create city-states Two regions – a

highland region and a lowland region

They took Olmec influences.

By 250 AD Maya culture had burst forth in a flourishing civilization.

Mayans

Urban centers Built cities such as Tikal, a major center in northern

Guatemala. Other important sites included Copan, Palenque, Uxmal, and

Chichen Itza. Each were ruled by a god-king and served as a center for religious

ceremonies and trade. Pyramids, temples and stone carvings dedicated to the gods

and to rulers. Lived in residential areas around the city center.

Agriculture and trade support cities City-states linked through alliances and trade.

Salt, flint, feathers, shells, and honey. Traded craft goods.

Did not have a uniform currency. Agriculture provided the basis for Maya life.

Practiced slash-and-burn agriculture. Planted on raised beds above swamps and on hillside terraces.

Mayans

Development of social classes The Maya king sat at the top of this class

structure. Regarded as a holy figure. Position was hereditary.

The noble class (top rank in society) Priests and leading warriors.

Merchants and those with specialized knowledge. Peasants.

Mayans

Math and religion Believed that time was a burden carried on the

back of a god. Developed a 260-day religious calendar. A second 365-day solar calendar.

The two calendars were linked together. Helped identify the best times to plant crops, attack

enemies, and crown new rulers. Based on careful observation of the planet, sun, and

moon. This is only 0.0002 of a day short of the figure generally

accepted today! Able to attain such great precision by using a math

system that included the concept of zero.

Mayans

Maya decline Late 800s they suddenly abandoned their cities. The Toltec moved into their lands.

Changed the culture Cities like Tikal and Copan disappeared. Several different theories

Warfare Food shortages, famine, and disease.

When the Spanish arrived they were very weak and divided.

Aztecs control central Mexico

Aztec Empire Arrived in the Valley of

Mexico around 1200 CE. Poor, nomadic people

from the harsh deserts of northern Mexico.

Adapted to local ways. Found work as soldiers-

for-hire to local rulers.

Aztecs

Aztecs By the early 1500s, they controlled a large

empire. 80,000 square miles Population between 5 and 15 million

Tenochtitlan – early 1500s population of 200,000-400,000

Based their power on military conquest and tribute.

Exercised loose control over the empire. If local rulers failed to pay tribute they responded

brutally. Destroy the rebellious village and capture/slaughter the

inhabitants.

Aztecs

Religion rules Aztec life 1,000 gods were worshipped.

Religious practices Centered on elaborate public ceremonies

designed to communicate with the gods and win their favor Priests offered to the gods and presented ritual dramas,

songs, and dances featuring masked performers. The Aztec ceremonial calendar was full of

religious festivals, which varied according to the god being honored.

Aztecs

Sacrifices for the sun god According to their believe the god made the sun

rise every day When the sun set he had to battle the forces of

evil to get to the next day Needed the nourishment of human blood Without regular offerings he would be too weak

to fight The sun would not rise and all life would perish Priests practiced human sacrifice on a massive

scale.

Aztecs

Problems Montezuma II was crowned emperor

With a growing population he called for even more tribute sacrifice

A number of provinces rose up against Aztec oppression. Overtime Montezuma tried to lessen the pressure on the

provinces. Many people began to predict bad things were

going to happen. The most worrying event was the arrival of the Spanish.

Inca

Centered in modern day Peru

1438 – 1527Would extend empire from

the Equator almost to the tip of South America

Settled nicely in the Andes Mountains

The Inca create a mountain empire

System of System of governmentgovernment Conquered Conquered territories were territories were divided into divided into manageable manageable community community units governed units governed by a central by a central bureaucracy.bureaucracy.

LanguageLanguage Quechua was Quechua was imposed as the imposed as the official official language of the language of the varied peoples varied peoples ruled by the ruled by the IncasIncas

CitiesCities All cities built All cities built in conquered in conquered lands had the lands had the same same government government buildings.buildings.

The Inca create a mountain empire

Road SystemRoad System A 14,000 A 14,000 mile-long mile-long network of network of bridges and bridges and roads, with all roads, with all roads leading roads leading to the capital, to the capital, tied the empire tied the empire together.together.

EconomyEconomy The state The state controlled most controlled most economic economic activity and activity and regulated the regulated the production and production and distribution of distribution of goods.goods.

ReligionReligion Religion Religion reinforced the reinforced the power of the power of the state.state.Cuzco was Cuzco was both the both the administrative administrative and religious and religious capital.capital.

Decline

Francisco PizarroSpanish Conquest

Takes Atahualpa hostage at Battle of Cajamarca on Nov 16, 1532

Battle featured 168 Spaniards vs 80,000 Incas

Spaniards won

Inca Empire Crumbles