Chapter 6 Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania

Early Mesoamerican Societies, 1200 B.C.E C.E.

Olmecs B.C.E. The “rubber people” Ceremonial centers dating from 2000 B.C.E.  San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes Olmec heads  Up to 10 ft. tall, 20 tons  Transported by dragging, rolling on logs  1000 workers per head

Agriculture and Herding Staple: maize Herding: turkeys, barkless dogs  Both food No draft animals  No development of wheeled vehicles

Mysterious Decline of Olmecs Ceremonial centers destroyed No evidence of warfare Revolution? Civil war?

Maya Huge cities discovered in nineteenth century 300 B.C.E.-900 C.E. Terrace farming  Maize  Cotton Cacao beans  Chocolate  Currency Major ceremonial center at Tikal

Maya Warfare Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers Ritual sacrifice of enemies  Enslavement  Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá begins to absorb captives

Maya Ritual Calendar Complex math  Invention of “zero” Calendar of days (17 seconds off)  Solar calendar of 365 days  Ritual calendar of 260 days Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood  52 year cycle  Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture

Maya Language and Religion Ideographs and a syllable alphabet  Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors  Deciphering work began in 1960s Popol Vuh: Maya creation myth Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices Bloodletting rituals  Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow

The Maya Ball Game Ritual game High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants Execution of losers immediately follows the match Bloodletting ritual for the gods

City of Teotihuacan Area of present Mexico City Lakes in area of high elevation Village of Teotihuacan, 500 B.C.E., expands to large agricultural city  Important ceremonial center Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas Begins to decline ca. 650 C.E., sacked in middle of eighth century, burned city

Andean Societies Largely independent from Mesoamerica Highly individualized due to geography

Chavín Cult New religion in central Andes, B.C.E. Little known about particulars of religion Intricate stone carvings Cult may have arisen when maize became an important crop During this era Andean society became increasingly complex

The Mochica State Valley of the Moche River Dominated northern Peru, C.E. Painting survives One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire

The Mochica State