The cultures and civilizations of the “Americas”

Where did the Native Americans come from?

Migrations from Asia ca. 30,000 – 15,000 yrs ago over Bering strait land bridge; Isolated for at least 15,000 years!

Kingdoms and & Empires of the Americas

Who was in Meso-America? (“Middle America”) OlmecOlmec TeotihuacanTeotihuacan MayaMaya ToltecToltec AztecAztec

OLMEC BCE; Gulf of Mexico Carved enormous stone heads of volcanic rock Chief god - human-like with jaguar face urban centers; astronomy Kings, elite, merchants, laborers Hieroglyphics; calendar Corn, beans, squash, manioc Former kings?

Teotihuacan Temples Quetzalcoatl Chinampas Apartment housing for commoners Obsidian tools Aristocratic govt Military protected long distance trade Decline – violence…

Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon Teotihuacan

Maya

MAYA Yucatan Peninsula City States; hereditary Swidden agriculture; no metal tools Complex religion - 3 layers (heavens, now and underworld); trances Elite, tatoos, human sacrifice (elite capt) Writing, ball playing (pok-a-tok), astronomy, math system math systemCalendar (365) math system (zero) math system Elite women – high; women important demise - war, drought, infighting ** Mayan math computation Mayan math computation Mayan math computation

Mayan Calendar first date is actually written three possible equivalences: = 13 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian) = 11 Aug 3114 BCE (Gregorian) = 15 Oct 3374 BC (Gregorian) Assuming one of the first two equivalences, the Long Count will again reach on 21 or 23 December AD may have been the Mayas' idea of the date of the creation of the world. Ritual “divine” cycle calendar Solar “civil” calendar “long count” calendar

Maya / Aztec Calendar

Palenque

Mayan Temples

Toltec Transmitted Teotihuacan & Mayan culture to the Aztecs Conquest state; military power Violent culture Rivalries Tula art Decline & invasion by the Aztecs

The Aztecs

AZTECS Nomads; settled on islands in Lake Texcoco Adopted agriculture; gradually grew into an independent power, then empire Capital city - Tenochtitlan – Ruler chosen by nobility War – religious significance (of course) – legitimized the ruler War also increased holdings of nobles War to get captives for human sacrifice

Society - hierarchy with Aztec ruler & nobility at top & slaves/criminals/debtors at bottom; women had rights Tremendous inequalities - nobility vs commoners Elaborate ritual; Huitzilopochtli; war/sun Human sacrifice Political tribute system; pd in food; goods Economic: chinampas; barter Dike in lake: salt/fresh water

Who was in Meso-America? (“Middle America”) OlmecOlmec TeotihuacanTeotihuacan MayaMaya ToltecToltec AztecAztec

Pyramids of Tenochtitlán

needed human hearts Huitzilopochtli god of war & sun needed human hearts

Tlaloc God of Rain

Quetzalcoatl god of wind & knowledge

Canoe moving about the chinampas

weaving

Aztec Society in Transition Increasingly hierarchical Conflict between nobles and growing “middle” Violence Discontent tribute tribes; sacrifice! Empire under Montezuma II conquered by Spaniards (Cortes)

Montezuma II Cortes

Andean Societies Andean Societies environmental challenges… Moche

Andean Cultures Background: Early – small coastal & foothills villages by 2600 BCE cf - Old Kingdom Egypt Chavin Chavin ( BCE) Trade routes; controlled; linked regions Maize quinoa, potatoes, llamas Adobe & stone; 1 st metals; jaguar-man Social stratification: priests, elite, etc.

Technologies to meet the needs Environment al challenges: Altitude Frosts Arid / drought Only llamas! Compensations: Calendar New varieties potatoes & grains Terraced farming Freeze-dried vegetables & meat Llama & alpaca wool

Andean culture Khipus Ayllu Hereditary aristocracy & kings Mit’a Coca (not cacao) Colonists

khipus

Moche Ca. 600 CE Maize, quinoa, beans, manioc, sweet potatoes Irrigation, canals, aqueducts Alpacas & llamas Textiles Stratified society; theocratic Women weavers

Moche ceramic sculpture

The Inca

INCA huge empire & strong central gov’t extending length of South America Large professional military Built paved roads & suspension bridges - used running messengers; quipus Pastoralists; men and women Capital Cuzco; sun god; royal family Local rulers/chiefdoms; control by hostage taking

Inca terraces; Machu Picchu

Machu Pichu

suspension bridge

Atahualpa Pizarro

Northern Peoples Southwestern desert Aztec influence incl. maize, squash, beans Hohokam irrigation canals Anasazi – kivas; cliff dwellings & canyon “appts”, pottery, weaving Chaco canyon; Mesa Verde

Anasazi cliff dwellings

Mississippian culture Oldest mounds – 3000’s BCE “mound-builders” Chiefdoms “Hopewell” cultures Towns – central plaza surrounded by mounds; burial mounds, temple mounds Social stratification; trade (not accepted as product of the Native Americans until late 1800’s!)

How Mississippian towns might have looked

Cahokia mounds city; Illinois Had more inhabitants than Paris at that time (1150)

Etowah Indian Mound