CH. 16 People and Empires in the Americas Christopher Chance WHH 2016

West Coast Societies Groups like Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Haida, located along the North American west coast, depended on the sea for survival They built canoes, hunted whales, and collected shellfish along the coast Predictably, their gods revolved around the sea, and the potlatch, an elaborate ceremony, in which families would display their wealth by offering gifts to other members of the community

American Southwest Living in the harsh deserts of the American southwest, the Hohokam used irrigation techniques to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash The Anasazi lived in the four corners region of modern day Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico The Anasazi built impressive cities out of the cliffs called pueblos, which was built out of sun baked stone or adobe. The Anasazi peoples died out around 1200, possibly because of extreme doubt

Mound Builders In the areas of east of the Mississippi, the mound builders, a group of Native Americans located in the American southeast, began building elaborate burial mounds where they buried their dead Tribal leaders were found with artifacts such as money, tools, and weapons for use in the afterlife.

Question 1 What differences existed between the Northwestern tribes and the Desert tribes?

Northeastern tribes and Iroquois Nation Because of proximity, NE tribes often came into conflict with one another They would fight over water rights, hunting grounds or blood feuds NE tribes eventually starting forming political alliances the most famous of these was the Iroquois League which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Catuga, and Seneca tribes of upper New York

Question 2 What do the mounds of the southeastern NA tribes tell us about their culture?

Trade networks Native Americans created vast trade networks along rivers for the purpose of diversification Cultural diffusion between tribes also occurred as a result

Question 3 Why was trade between NA tribes important?

Early American religion most early native americans believed spirits could be found in nature, including in plants, rocks, and rivers. Natives had much respect for the land and tried to alter it as little as possible When Europeans arrived and tried to farm, and eventually claim landownership, it caused conflict

Social Patterns Family was at the core of all Native American social functions NA society was divided amongst family units, sometimes extended families or clans would make up tribes Totems were used as symbols of a tribes shared heritage

Question 4 What purpose did Totems serve in NA society?

Mayan City States Mayan civilization is centered in modern day Mexico but included areas as far south as northern central America Because of geography, most Mayan cities such as Tikal, and Chichen Itza developed as independent city-states, usually governed by a God- king Despite being independent of one another, these city-states were united through trade and political alliances

Trade and diversification Like their northern cousins, the Maya engaged in trade to better diversify their crops products such as salt, flint, feathers, shells and honey were traded at one point cacao served as currency

Farming and dynasties the Mayan people practiced slash and burn farming they also engaged in a form of terrace farming Advances in farming techniques led to an increase in food, which in turn led to population growth As the population grew, development of specialized labor, and the social classes developed.

Religion The Maya were polytheistic believing in gods based on their needs (corn, rain, war and death) Offerings were made to appease the gods of crops, water, silver, gold, and in extreme cases, human sacrifice was practiced

Question 5 What led to an increase in population in Mayan society?

Math and language The Maya developed a calendar based on the movements of the sun (solar calendar) They also developed the concept of zero Mayan language was written in glyphs (pictoral) and collections of glyphs called codex’s recorded important events and ideas

Aztecs and Central Mexico Just north of the Maya were the Aztecs a warrior people who established a capitol near modern day Mexico City Aztec civilization was also based on the city-state

Aztec religion Aztec gods were mostly gods of war and conquering although nature gods also existed Quetzalcoatl or the feather serpent was the main god According to legend, Quetzalcoatl would come back one day to rule the Aztec

Aztec society At the top of Aztec society was the God-King, followed by the priests and land-owning nobles, at the bottom were the peasants (operated much like European feudalism) The last God-King, Montezuma II was eventually deposed by the Spanish

Question 6 Who was the main god in Aztec religion?

Incan Empire The Incan empire exists in the Andes Mountains of South America (modern day Peru) Their main city, would be settled in the Valley of Cuzco, a fertile area which received snow melt from the surrounding mountains Incans were mostly farmers but also engaged in tribal warfare to supplement bad harvests

Government and religion Because the Incan empire was so vast, and in the mountains, emperors would appoint governors to rule cities in the stead. But the Inca also had a vast central bureaucracy Religiously the Inca worshipped the sun, sacrifice of llamas and other valuables were often given to appease the sun gods