Mesoamerican Civilizations The Americas

Mesoamerica: Land area south of the US (Central and South America)

Geography NOT based in a river Tropical Climate Geographic Diversity No Domestic Animals Seasonal Rains

The Olmecs “Mother Culture” Economy Collapse Cities No Metal Tools Large Stone Heads Economy Agriculture Few Raw Materials (needed trade) Collapse 400 BC Cities La Venta

Olmec Head

Teotihuacan (250 BC – 800 CE) “Place of the Gods” 1st Major City 150,000 Avenue of the Dead Pyramid of the Sun (200ft) Agriculture Mostly Farmers Trade

Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan

Maya (300 – 900 CE) Yucatan Peninsula City States Writing System Central Pyramid Conflict Writing System Hieroglypics * Bishop Diego LeDanda

Calendar Religion Politics August 13 3114 BC  December 23 2012 CE 2 Calendars Solar (365 Days) Sacred (260 Days) Religion Polytheistic Supreme God: Itzamna Human Sacrifice Politics Powerful Kings Hereditary Ruling Class

Chichen Itza

Tikal

Toltecs Mexico City Fierce and Warlike Builders 1st Metal Workers

Aztecs/Mexica 1100s Migration to Central Valley Capital City – Tenochtitlan Lake Texcoco Warriors Semi-Independent Local Lords Rulers Paid Tribute Politics Authoritarian State Monarchs had secular and religious power Bureaucracy

Social Structure Women Religion Commoners, Indentured Workers, Slaves Own/Inherit Property Enter Contracts Priestesses Arranged Marriages Religion Polytheistic Life is struggle between good and evil

Tenochtitlan

Aztec Warriors

Aztec Art

SOUTH AMERICA

Moche/Chavin Cult Moche River Society Decline – 8th Century Irrigated Farming Maize, Potatoes, Cotton, Peanuts Society No Language Pottery Warfare Decline – 8th Century

Chuquito Andean Highlands/Lake Titicaca Dependant on Potato Cultivation Llama and Alpaca Herding Terraced Farming Chimu Lowlands Irrigation Networks Maize and Sweet Potatoes

Inca Advanced Cities Politics Capital is Cuzco (Peru) Macchu Picchu Stonework Politics 4 Quarters  Each into Provices (Governors) Emperor descended from Sun God Forced Labor Building projects (Cities, Roads, Bridges, Terraced Farms)

Society Culture Arranged Marriages Within Tribe Women could be Priestesses Rigid life Culture Based on War 200,000 Person Army Llamas for transportation Theater (Comedy/Tragedy) Poetry and Music

Advancements Terraced Farms Road System (Postal System) Quipu for Record Keeping

Inca Art

Inca Masonry

Rope Bridge

Quipu

Downfall of Mesoamerican Civilizations SPANISH CONQUEST Europe – Age of Explorations 3 Goals of Europeans: Gold God Glory

The Aztec 1519 – Hernando Cortes Advantages 1520 – Local Aztec Revolt Gunpowder: Cannon, Musket Cavalry Spanish Weakened by Disease (Smallpox) Native Allies 1520 – Local Aztec Revolt 1521 – Spanish Destroyed

The Inca 1530 – Francisco Pizarro Pizarro 200 Men - Atahualpa 30,000 1532-Spaniards won and conquered Incas

OCEANIA

Oceania: Oceania is a geographic, often geopolitical region consisting of numerous lands—mostly islands in the Pacific Ocean and vicinity

Peopling of the Pacific Islands Begins about 1500 BCE Australia – Hunters and Gatherers N. Guinea – Yams, Taro, Pigs and Chickens Vanuato, Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, Easter Island, New Zealand

Australia Remain nomadic foragers until European migration in 19th century Limited interactions with New Guinea Intertribal trade

Pacific Island Societies Regional Trade Networks Intermittent Long Distance Trade Yams Distinct Social Classes Polytheistic Marae Chiefly States Powerful Chiefs Organized land allocation, labor mobilization and military