Peoples and Civilizations of the Americas, 200-1500 Chapter 11

Classical Era Culture and Society in Mesoamerica 200-900

Teotihuacan Large Mesoamerican city from 450-600. It population was _____ to ______. Dominated by religious structures, including pyramids and human sacrifice. 125k, 200k

Agricultural innovation Farming families Irrigation Chinampas Lodging Apartment-like buildings Commoners: Residential compounds Elites: Forced to move to city, floating gardens; commoners made pottery, obsidian tools and weapons; controlled state bureaucracy, tax collection, and commerce

Government Collapse in 650: Family v. Kings Goals of military: Families ruled the nation; they ruled weak kings that were figureheads. No single ruler!!To protect long distance trade and ensure farmers paid taxes or tribute to elite; mismanagement of resources, conflict with elite, and invasion

The Maya 250-900, in modern day _______, _____, ______, and ____. However: Agricultural productivity Elevated fields, terrace fields Forest resources Irrigation systems Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and southern Mexico. They never unified and fought each other for regional dominance.

Large city states Religion Military Women Impressive monuments Simple technology Religion Three layers: rulers/elites served as priests Military Captives, not territory. Why? Women Elite Non-Elite Levers and stone tools; heavens, human, and underworld; sacrifice, bloodletting, fasting, hallucunating rituals, elite women-bloodletting rituals- 2 ruling women, non elite- agricultural or textile production- all women played a signifigant role in house and religious roles

Technology The most important developments were the ______, ______, and _______. Collapse 800-900 Reasons: Calandar, math, writing system; disruption of mesoamerican trade, upon the fall of the Teotihuacan, overpopulation, and disease. Calander long time- important in mesoamerican society

The Post-Classic Period in Mesoamerica, 900-1500 population, increased agricultural practices, military, Conquest,

The Toltecs Arrived in central Mexico in the 10th century, built on legacy of Teotihuacan. Politics and War Tula First conquest Dual kings, eventually led to: Destroyed by invaders around 1156 More politicaly advanced and dedicated to warfare and sacrifice. Two kings ruled together=Internal conflict around 1000

The Aztecs/Mexica Originally northern people with clan based social organization. Established the cities of Tenochtitlan and Tlateloco around 1325. Monarchy No primogeniture Mexico City; twin capitals; DID NOT HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER

How did kings increase their wealth and power? Aztec Empire increased resulting in: Agricultural production was increased by undertaking land reclamation projects and constructing irrigated fields and chinampas. Merchants Simple technology: Economy Disproportionate income barter A “real” tribute and forced labor from ______. ¼ Territorial conquest, unequal distribution of wealth, commoners lost ability to influence political decisions; no wheeled vehicles, draft animals, or money was used; conquest led to more wealth for elites, nobles, and warriors. Disproportionate income, food, wives

Religion Polytheistic Huitzilopochtli, sun god Healthy diet of ______. Hearts, sacrifice of thousands a year.

Northern Peoples Mesa Verde

Southwestern Desert Cultures Irrigation agriculture was introduced to Arizona from ______ around 300 B.C.E. Hohokam Anasazi emerged around 450-750 population Developed a maize, rice, and bean economy constructed kivas exerted some political/religious dominance over a large region. Declined in 12th,13th century: MEXICO- population 15,000; Constructed extensive irrigation works in Salt and Gila valleys around 1000. underground buildings in CO,UT,NM,AZ; war, drought, and overpopulation

Mound Builders: The Adena, Hopewell, and Mississippian Cultures hierarchical _____ and _____ society in the Ohio Valley. Blended with Hopewell in 100 C.E. Hopewell Ohio Valley but extended trade to: hereditary chiefs mounds hunter, gatherer; IL, MI, WI, NY, Ontario, FL. like Adena, hunters and gatherers. chiefs were priests and conducted trade. mounds were used as burial sites and sites for temples

Hopewell sites and technology were linked to Mississippian culture (700-1500). Urbanized chiefdoms were made possible by increased agricultural productivity, the bow and arrow, and expanded trade networks. Cahokia 1200 population _____ largest mississippian center, 30,000, declined because of population pressure and climate changes

Andean Civilizations, 200-1500

Cultural Response to Environment Challenge How did the harsh high altitudes affect the life of inhabitants? Ayllu After 1000 introduced mit’a Divided responsibilities Gender Four Zones Vertical integration It caused them to organize labor effiecient to produce enough food to live;harsher climate but more dependable agriculture, no droughts; ayllu- clan held land collectively, obligated to work together for food and supplies to chief. Mit’a- organized members of the ayllu to provide a quota or labor workers for religious establishments, royal court, and aristocracy. Men for hunting, war, and government; women wove clothes and cared for the crops at home. Gave birth and kept working. 4 zones with different goods all exchanged goods through a network of exchange routes; exchange allong ecological boundries

Moche and Chimu Peru 200, had mit’a system to produce a range of crops. Stratified and theocratic Artisans were skilled in textiles, portrait vases, and metallurgy. Gold, silver, copper alloy women Fall: Social hierarchy and priests and military controled wealth; earthquakes, flooding, droughts

Chimu 1200 Elaborate capital at Chan Chan Luxury goods and burial grounds

Tiwanaku and Wari 200-1000 Tiwanaki, in Bolivia Wari, in Peru Agricultural and urbanization Pyramids, large enclosures, Simple technology, copper alloy Wari, in Peru Some contact with Tiwanaki

The Inca Small chiefdom in Cuzco until military expansion in 1430s. By 1525, the Inca constructed a huge empire. What was the key to their wealth? Expansion of the mit’a Provide for the: This sounds just like _______. 6 million, Using a strong military to expand its trade. Old, sick, and weak. Socialism-

Local rulers Central rule Control by way of: military garrisons, taking hostages Central rule King How did the king prove himself worthy? Left conqured people in charge and held they by way of: Conquering more territory

Cultural achievements Cuzco Puma Stone Rituals, feasts, sacrifice Cultural achievements Didn’t create, made better Astronomical observation Metallurgy

Inca domination resulted in increased wealth, but also in reduced levels of local autonomy. When the elite fell into civil war in 1525, Inca control over its vast territories was weakened.

Conclusion Both: highly integrated political economic systems long before 1500s; women important; highly stratified society; simple technology, influenced heavily by climate and geography, huge populations, conquests ruled by elites; using religion for legitimacy In the Andes, more geographical influenced cultural integration and state formation. Use of domesticated animals, broad control expand vertical exchange system, used more trade to combat the region Mesoamerica; no total dominant ruler, pyramids, sacrifice, tribute relationships and markets, used more technology to combat climate.