CHAPTER 6: EARLY SOCIETIES IN THE AMERICAS AND OCEANIA

1) What is a civilization and what are defining characteristics of a civilization? How did the civilizations of your chapter develop and grow more complex before 600 BCE? What were the effects of this increasing complexity? Civilization – the process in which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development/organization Characteristics – cities, government, religion, social structure, writing, art Ceremonial centers got adopted after Olmec’s disappearance, leading to the development of cities. Social status Agriculture Domestication of animals Trade Leader

2) Where did the early civilizations of your chapter develop (geography) and why did they develop in those locations? Olmecs – La Venta, Tres Zapotes, and Lorenzo. Developed in these location because it became difficult to live by foraging. Turned to agriculture Agriculture produced rich harvest Abundant rainfall Maya – region now occupied by southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador Highlands of Guatemala offer fertile soil and excellent conditions for agriculture Lowlands – flourished by getting artificially retaining rich earth from terraces and increasing the agricultural productivity Teotihuacan – north in the highlands of Mexico Abundant supply of fish and waterfowl Andean – Region now occupied by Peru and Bolivia Good for agricultural resources

3) What is a state? Who ruled the early states of your assigned chapter? Which segments of society usually supported that ruler? State – an organized political community under one government Olmecs – authoritarian Maya – hierarchical government ruled by kings and priests Teotihuacan – theocracy Lapita – Chief to eldest son

4) Was your state able to expand and conquer neighboring states 4) Was your state able to expand and conquer neighboring states? Why/why not? Maya – Yes, Maya kingdoms fought constantly with each other. Took over their ceremonial centers, bringing back important captives from neighboring kingdoms gave warriors prestige. Teotihuacan – Yes, although there was little sign of military organization, no defensive walls, works of art rarely depicted warriors, The Maya capital fell under the influence of Teotihuacan Andean – Yes, surviving stone fortifications and warriors depicted in works of art testify that the early Andean states relied heavily on arms to introduce order and maintain stability Austronesian – No, they migrated.

5) What role did your pastoral civilizations play in regards to building empires in your assigned chapter? Olmecs - drainage systems, ceremonial centers, artistic adornment, pyramids. Maya – temples, pyramids, altars, stone sculptures, tombs for rulers, The Temple of the Giant Jaguar Teotihuacan – Pyramids of the Sun and Moon Andean peoples – canals, irrigation systems Australians – axes, spears, canoes, small boats, irrigation system

6) How did culture play a role in unifying populations in your chapter? Ceremonial Centers – brought people together and began to from cities Maya Language – had a set language Trade – sharing of ideas and goods from other civilizations Languages – migrations causing adoption of said language Myths – believed in blood rituals

7) What architectural forms did your early civilization produce? Olmec: Ceremonial Centers, drainage systems, monumental pyramids, temples, palaces, altars, stone sculptures, tombs for rulers, artistic adornment Maya – terraces designed to trap silt, cities, The Temple of the Giant Teotihuacan – Pyramids of the Sun and Moon Andean peoples – canals, irrigation systems Australians – axes, spears, canoes, small boats, irrigation system

8) Which social class encouraged the development of art in your ancient civilization? Ruling and noble classes Traded finely crafted works of art as a sign of special status Owning fine and expensive art pieces shows social class

9) What form of writing developed in your ancient civilization? Olmecs – system of writing but little of it survives Maya – Maya script contained both ideographic elements and symbols for syllables Teotihuacan – expanded Olmecs’ graphic symbols into complete writing system Australia– Austronesian languages

10) What was the relationship between literature and culture in your ancient civilization? Language – set language Spanish conquerors – burning Maya books Myths – Maya believed in blood rituals

11) What pre-600 BCE religions strongly influenced later eras? The Popol Vuh – myth originating from Maya, taught that gods kept the world going and maintained the agricultural cycle in exchange for honors and sacrifices performed for them by humans Teotihuacun – polytheism

12) What trade routes and outside peoples did your early civilization utilize? Olmec - Central and southern portion of modern Mexico to modern Guatemala and El Salvador Spread influence partly by military force Maya – long-distance trade linked the new urban centers and extended influence to all parts of Mesoamerica Teotihuacan – extensive trade and exchange networks. Region of modern Guatemala City in the south to Durango and beyond in the north Andean – established trade and exchange networks that tied the highlands, the central valleys, and the coastal regions together Lapita – large region extending around 4500 km from New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago to Samoa and Tonga

13) How did social and gender identities develop pre-600 BCE in your early civilization? Social class formed after the development of agriculture Leaders were appointed Men – higher status than women All of the high jobs

CREDITS BY: Amy Jung, Kayla Johnson, Briana Baldovinos, Taryn Martinez Period 6 AP World History