Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania Ch. 6

Peopling the Americas and Oceania n Land bridges n Overseas migration as well n Left Asia before Neolithic Revolution

Mesoamerica n c. 13,000 BCE large scale migration from Siberia to Alaska n By 7000 BCE hunted most large game into extinction n Agricultural & fishing became more prominent

Early Agricultural n Experiment w/ag c BCE n corn./maize c BCE n Villages dev. C BCE n More interest in cultivation than domestication n No beasts of burden, no wheel

Ceremonial/Religious Centers n Large ceremonial centers that served a number of villages in an area n few inhabitants lived full time in ceremonial centers n Large gatherings for religious days or market days

Olmecs n True name unknown n C BCE – San Lorenzo – major ceremonial center n Abundant rainfall – cooperative projects were for drainage

Olmec Society n Likely autocratic n Commoners – paid taxes in the form of crops and labor n Co-operative projects – architecture & decoration as well as agriculture n Giant Stone Heads – large stone sculptures n Huge pyramids (La Venta)

Decline of the Olmecs n By 400 BCE – Olmecs in decline n Demise still uncertain n Intentional destruction of ceremonial centers n Revolution ?, civil war ???, invasion???? n Foundation for later Mesoamerican cultures

The Maya (300 BCE-900 CE) n Large population growth n Huge cities (Tikal – largest) n Long distance trade n Dev. of written language n Priestly class dominated n Terrace farming – -Maize, cotton, cacao beans

Mayan Warfare n Chronic – mostly with other Mayans n More important to capture than kill n Brief imperial period – ’s CE Chichen Itza gained control over other cities n By 800 CE population decline, began to abandon cities

Mayan Societies n dominate priestly class n Hereditary aristocracy – landowners, organized the military n High status for merchants n Educated professionals n Skilled workers n Large class of peasants n Slaves

Mayan Accomplishments n Sophisticated calendar (combined solar year with “traditional” 260 day year), 52 year cycle n System of writing – prolific writers – both practical and literature n Concept of zero, probability, n Solar year (only 17 seconds off)

Ritual Bloodletting n Would prompt gods to bring rain and productivity n Sacrifice of captives with large amounts of blood flow n Self- “donations” of blood for a variety of rituals

The Fathers of Soccer? n Early ball game for both recreation and religion n Had to propel ball through small goal using only feet n Almost all villages and towns had a “pitch”