1. Chapter 6:
Early Societies
in the Americas
& Oceania

2. Early Human Migrations
By 700 CE, humans had established communities in almost every habitable part of the world.

3. Major Pre-Columbian Civilizations

4. Early Mesoamerican societies 1200 BCE – 1100 CE

5. Origins of Mesoamerican Societies
Melting glaciers 18,000 years ago began a rise in ocean waters.
Migration across Bering land bridge?
Probably 13,000 BCE, perhaps earlier
By sea from Asia?
By 9500 BCE reached southernmost part of South America
Hunter/Gatherer societies
evolve into agricultural societies

6. Olmecs 1200-100 BCE The “Rubber People” Ceremonial Centers Olmec Heads
San Lorenzo, La Venta, Tres Zapotes
Olmec Heads
Up to 10 ft tall, 20 tons
Transported by dragging, rolling on logs
1000/workers per head

7. The Olmec heartland where the Olmecs reigned from 1400 - 500 BCE

8. It is now generally accepted that these heads are portraits of rulers, perhaps dressed as ballplayers. 17 heads have been unearthed so far!

9. Agriculture and Herding
Abundant rainfall, so no need for irrigation
Drainage systems to divert waters
Staple crop: maize
Herding: turkeys, wild dogs
Both food
No development of wheeled vehicles

10. Olmec Society Probably authoritarian in nature
Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites
Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems

11. The Olmecs
The first major American civilization who built ceremonial centers around pyramids.
Had an elaborate calendar, writing system and widespread trading network.
There is evidence that the Olmec practiced ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.

12. The Olmecs
The first major American civilization who built ceremonial centers around pyramids.
Had an elaborate calendar, writing system and widespread trading network.
There is evidence that the Olmec practiced ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.

13. Mysterious Decline of Olmecs
Ceremonial centers destroyed
No evidence of warfare
Revolution?
Civil war?

14. The Maya

15. Lands of the Maya
The Yucatan Peninsula

16. Maya Huge cities discovered in 19th c. 300 BCE-900 CE Terrace Farming
Maize
Cotton
Cacao beans
chocolate
currency
Major ceremonial center at Tikal (500,000)
Chichen Itza & Palenque b/w 10-30,000 people

17. Temple I (also known as the Temple of the Great Jaguar) in the Plaza Mayor

18. Chichen-Itza - Pyramid

19. Maya Warfare Warfare for purposes of capturing enemy soldiers
Ritual sacrifice of enemies
Enslavement
Small kingdoms engage in constant conflict until Chichen Itza begins to absorb captives
Some nevertheless choose death
Center of empire develops

20. Mayan Ritual Calendar Complex math
Invention of “Zero”
Calendar of days (17 seconds off)
Solar calendar of 365 days
Ritual calendar of 260 days
Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood
Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture
Devise written language
Compile astronomical knowledge

21. Mayan Language and Religion
Ideographs and a syllable-alphabet
Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors
Deciphering work began in 1960s
Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth
Humans created from maize & water > flesh & blood
Agricultural cycle maintained in exchange for honors and sacrifices
Bloodletting rituals
Human sacrifices follow after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow

22. The Maya Ball Game Ritual game
High-ranking captives, prisoners of war contestants
Execution of losers immediately follows the match
Bloodletting ritual for the gods
Most Maya ceremonial centers, towns and cities had courts

23. Chichen-Itza - Ball Court

24. A Goal in the Ball Court at Chichén Itzá, Mexico

25. Social Hierarchy
Most Maya were farmers who supplied resources for an elaborate trading network.
Each city had a ruling chief, followed by nobles, who served as city officials and military leaders.

26. City of Teotihuacan Highlands of Mexico
Lakes in area of high elevation
Village of Teotihuacan, 500 BCE, expands to become massive city
Important ceremonial center
Extensive trade network, influenced surrounding areas
Begins to decline c. 650 CE, sacked in middle of 8th century, massive library destroyed

27. Pirámide del Sol, Teotihuacan

28. The End of the Maya
Around 900, the Maya abandoned their cities. Historians speculate that war or overpopulation may have led to famine or class warfare.
Today, millions in Guatemala and Southern Mexico speak 28 Mayan dialects.

29. Early Societies of Andean South America 1000 BCE – 700 CE
Andean Societies
Migration into South America c. 12,000 BCE
Climate improves c BCE
Largely independent from Mesoamerica
Highly individualized due to geography
Early Societies of Andean South America 1000 BCE – 700 CE

30. Food Supply
Those who migrated into the Andes Mountains hunted deer, llama, alpaca and other large animals not found in Central America.
Cultivation of maize and squashes spread from Mesoamerica, while gold, silver and copper metallurgy spread from the Andes north.
By 2500 BCE, the earliest Andean cultivators relied on peanuts, beans, and sweet potatoes.

31. Chavin Cult New religion in central Andes, 900-300 BCE
Little known about particulars of religion
Intricate stone carvings
Cult may have arose when maize became an important crop > cult for fertility and abundant harvests.
During the era Andean society became increasingly complex
Elaborate woven clothing, cotton fishnets, metallurgy for jewelry

32. The Mochica State Valley of the Moche River
Dominated northern Peru, CE
Artistic evidence of armed warriors maintaining stability throughout region
Painting survives
No writing, but complex society with vast job specialization
One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire
6th-7th centuries CE saw climactic shifts with droughts that led to a decline of early Andean civilizations

33. Early Societies of Oceania, 1500 BCE – 700 CE

34. Oceania Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration
Canoes for open-sea travel
Humans in Oceania at least by 58,000 BCE
By 8,000 BCE trade between islands ceased due to the rising seas.
Early hunter-gatherer societies in Australia
Early agriculture in New Guinea by 3000 BCE

35. Aborigine of the Naomi Tribe

36. Early 19th Century Aboriginal Tribe

37. 21st century Aboriginal People

38. Lapita Peoples
Earliest Austronesian (language group of Oceania) migrants to sail into the Pacific Ocean and establish settlements in pacific islands.
Found throughout Pacific Islands
Agriculture, animal herding