Early America’s Pre-history – 1600 CE (AD)

Pre-history The first humans arrived in the America’s thousands of years ago. Archaeologists disagree on exactly when the first migrants came and where they came from. There is no evidence dating earlier than about 12,000-15,000 years ago Most believed that people crossed over to the America’s (North and South) during the Ice Age due to the land bridge. Most Archaeologists think that early Americans came from Europe, Africa or the South Pacific.

Early Americas The first Americans migrated in small groups across the continents. Took thousands of years to spread from the Arctic to the Southern tip of S. America The first Americans had to adapt to their environment much like those in the Eastern Hemisphere had to adapt to theirs.

The FIRST Americans Hunter and gatherers Migrated and followed wild herds of big game – Mastodons – Mammoths As big game herd died out, the men turned to hunting bison and smaller game like deer and rabbit. Women gathered plants, nuts, berries and dug root.

Mexico and South America Learned to domesticate plants and began growing crops Farming produced a surplus of food, which freed some people to become craft workers, full- time soldiers and priests. Due to being able to settle, this made living in one place year round possible, which in turn created civilizations which led to cities.

The Mysterious Mayans 300 CE-900 CE

Mayan Civilization 300 CE – 900 CE Largest civilization in Mexico and Central America Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in what is Mexico today. – This area is mainly rain forest They did not build cities. Instead they built large religious centers, known as ceremonial centers. Video

Mayan Ceremonial Centers Temples dedicated to the deities Palaces for ruler and other nobles Huge ball courts and marketplaces Each center and its nearby villages made up an independent city-state Rival city-states often warred against each other Video

Mayan Temples Several stories high Built in the shape of pyramids – tops were flat – Priests carried out human sacrifices on the flat surface to the gods in order to satisfy them. – Humans to sacrifice came from the losing side of the ball games, as well as enemies captured in battle. – Sometimes battles were fought just to get prisoners for sacrifice – WHY DO YOU THINK THEY DID ALL THIS SACRIFICING TO THE GODS??? Video

Mayan Social Class Ruler and His Family Nobles and Priest – Ran government and collected taxes. Warriors – Led soldiers into battle Craft workers, merchants, traders – Small part of the population Farmers – Took up most of the population – Chief crops were beans, corn and squash. Slaves

Mayan Accomplishments Developed a form of hieroglyphic writing Very accurate calendar – Economy was based on farming and so the calendar was very important Video

Mayan Decline/Fall Sometime around 900, the Mayans left the area. No one really knows why they left Archaeologists think it could be been: – Over-farmed their land – Migrated in search of new land – Enemies may have invaded their territory – Farmers may have rebelled under a burden of high taxes. Video

Connections to Today Today descendants (people related to) of the Mayans live in Guatemala, the Yucatan Peninsula and Northern Mexico

The Awesome Aztecs

Introduction The Aztec tribe lived in ancient Mexico for about 400 years. For the first 200 years, the Aztecs were constantly on the move. No one wanted the Aztecs as neighbors.  The Aztecs practiced human sacrifice. They believed that if their gods were not fed, they would not do their jobs. The sun god would not bring up the sun, and everyone would die. Video

Introduction To keep their gods happy, the Aztecs believed that human sacrifice was necessary. They used people to feed their hungry gods. Some of the people they sacrificed were Aztecs. However, most of the people they sacrificed were captured from neighboring tribes. This did not make them popular with their neighbors. Sooner or later, their neighbors would band together to chase the Aztecs away. Video

Settlement When the Aztecs first arrived in the Valley of Mexico, other tribes were already living on the best land in the area. This time, rather than fight for the best land or for captives to feed their hungry gods, the Aztecs quietly settled along the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. They built canoes so they could fish, hunt waterfowl, and trade with other tribes for the building materials they needed. Video

Free School for Everyone To build the city they wanted, they knew that they would need many engineers, builders, and traders. This required an educated population. To solve this problem, the Aztecs set up a system of public schools. Attendance was mandatory for all Aztec children, even girls and slaves. The Aztecs were the only people up to that time in history to have free schools that every child had to attend.

All-Girls School There were three different schools: one for girls, and two for boys. Girls learned about religion and were trained to be good wives and mothers. They learned how to cook, sew, and how to care for their children. They also learned how to make beautiful woven textiles.

Sons of the Upper Class Sons of the upper class went to the nobles’ school. Sons of wealthy traders and merchants also went to this school. They studied law, writing (hieroglyphics), medicine, engineering and building, interpretation of dreams and omens, and self-expression. They also learned about their history and religious beliefs. It was a tough school. The boys were humiliated and tormented to toughen them up.

Sons of Commoners and Slaves The other boys’ school was for sons of commoners. Its main goal was to train warriors and farmers. Boys had to sleep under skimpy blankets. They were given hard bread to eat. The commoners’ school also taught history, religion, manners, correct behavior, and important rituals, along with singing and dancing.

Specialized Professions No matter which school an Aztec boy attended, he was trained to be a specialist. Boys studied how to be farmers, traders, engineers, builders, astronomers, and doctors. Students who became builders and engineers designed and built the amazing Aztec cities, including the capital city of Tenochtitlan, located on the swampy shores of Lake Texcoco. Video

Floating Gardens As the Aztec population grew, more food was needed. To solve this problem, Aztec engineers created “floating” gardens. They built a series of rafts, which they anchored to the lake bed. They piled on dirt and grew crops. They made walkways out of mud and reeds to connect the floating rafts. The gardens were quite successful. The Aztecs grew chili peppers, squash, corn, tomatoes, and beans.

The Incredible INCAS

Background Started as a small group in the mountains of Peru. Empire extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from northern border of modern Ecuador to Maule River in central Chile Inca originated in village of Paqari-tampu, about 15mi south of Cuzco Official language: Quecha Video

Events leading to Rise and Fall 1438 : Manco Capac established capital at Cuzco (Peru) Pachacuti set out to conquer surrounding groups. By 1527 Pachacuti gained control of Andean population about 12 million people 1532 : Spanish arrived in Peru 1535 : Empire lost

Pachacuti ( ) Usurped (overthrew) throne from brother Inca Urcon Considered the founder of the Inca Empire Skilled warrior and chief religious leader Claimed he was divine, son of the sun Exercised absolute power

Incan Society: Social Class 1. Ruler and Family 2. Nobles and Priest 3. Merchants and craft workers 4. Farmers and slaves – Most of the population were farmers

Important Positions Local governors responsible for exacting labor tax which could be paid by service in army, on public works, or in agricultural work Coya carried out important religious duties and governed when Sapa Inca absent Nobles ruled provinces w/ chieftains Inca conquered

Incan Society Did not develop a writing system, instead they knotted and colored strings to keep records called quipu. (explained in a later slide) Developed a calendar Developed a way to farm in the mountains – Terraced style farming, cut out like steps – Irrigation system to bring water to their fields high in the mountains.

Inca empire Inca was divided into four provinces As soon as a group was conquered, their land was take over by the government Some of the land was given back to the people, some went to the Empire and some was given to the sun god. – Lands for the sun god supported the priests who took care of the temples. Local rulers could remain in power as long as they were loyal to emperor. Did not demand gold or goods from conquered people, instead wanted labor. Video

How they Controlled Taught conquered people their language of Quechua – The Inca would send Quechua-speaking colonists to live among the newly conquered people and teach them the ways of “Inca”. A road system kept Cuzco in touch with all parts of the Empire. Had 24,000 miles of criss crossing roads. – What other civilization does this sound like?

Political (Government) System policy of forced resettlement ensured political stability officials collected taxes, enforced laws, kept records on a quipu (collection of knotted colored strings) which noted dates, events, population, crops use of road system strictly limited to government, military business all land belonged to Inca, crops allotted to specific groups, government took possession of each harvest private property forbidden, crime nonexistent, citizens never starved no written records; oral tradition preserved through generations

Economic Developments constructed aqueducts, cities, temples, fortresses, short rock tunnels, suspension bridges, 2250mi road system metal works of alloy, copper, tin, bronze, silver gold developed important medical practices- surgery on human skull, anesthesia resources-corn, potatoes, coffee, grain created woven baskets, woodwinds Video

Inca Religion Polytheistic religion- Pantheon headed by Inti-the sun god offered food, clothing, and drink rituals included forms of divination, sacrifice of humans and animals

Incan Fall/Decline Like the Aztec, the Inca Empire ended when the Spanish came Incan Swords were no match for Spanish guns and horses

Today descendants of Inca are present day Quechua-speaking peasants of Andes, constitute about 45% population of Peru combine farming, herding w/ simple traditional technology rural settlements three kinds: families living in midst of fields, true village communities w/ fields outside of inhabited centers, combination of two towns centers of mestizo (mixed-blood) population Indian community close-knit, families usually intermarrying; much of agricultural work done cooperatively religion is Roman Catholicism infused w/ pagan hierarchy of spirits and deities

Role of Women in Mesoamerica MAYAN – Take care of home and children AZTEC – Could inherit property – Could make legal contracts – Take care of home and children INCA – Could inherit property – Could own property – Work the fields – Take care of home and children