1. Worlds Apart: The Americas and Oceania
Chapter 20

2. I: Where we left off Olmec (->) Maya (->) Teotihuacan
After decline of Teotihuacan, lots of wars and conquest
Militarization and empire-building (esp. the Mexica)

3. I: The Toltecs
9th and 10th century, Valley of Mexico: Teotihuacan successor states (shared culture, but lots of fighting)
Toltecs: formed compact empire
Irrigation agriculture
Urban and rural pops.
Powerful army and fortresses
Tribute -> wealth

4. I: The Toltecs (cont.) Toltec capital: Tula
Also, manufacturing center (weaving, pottery, and obsidian)
Trade with Maya and Gulf Coast
Decline: conflicts between ethnic groups, too many migrants, destructive fire

5. I: The Mexica
Had migrated into V. of Mex. from NW -> bad reputation (origin story)
C. 1345: settled on an island in Lake Texcoco => Tenochtitlan
Advantages: food source, chinampas, defensive

6. I: The Mexica (cont.)
Early 15th century: defeated neighbors -> tributary relationships
Imperial expansion: often violent, colonists resettled some areas
Allied with Texcoco and Tlacopan to guide empire -> Aztec Empire

7. I: The Mexica: Trade and Tribute
Main goal: tribute from subjects (esp. foodstuffs and manufactured items)
State-sponsored merchants traded for luxury items (and pol/mil info), but weren’t trusted
Tenochtitlan had huge market
No elaborate bureaucracy for admin – relied on locals to govern and collect tribute
No standing army – ruled
through fear

8. I: Mexica Society
Social structure: rigid hierarchy – elites (rulers, priests, warriors), commoners (farmers, artisans, merchants), slaves
Warriors: honors, wealth, and land; conspicuous consumption (by law)
Women: no role in political affairs; influence in family and honor as mother of
warriors
Role = have babies, esp. warriors

9. I: Mexica Society (cont.)
Priests: special edu. in calendar and ritual lore, presided over religious ceremonies, read omens
Cultivators: farmed family lands; also, worked aristocrats’ land, and on public works projects; paid taxes of crops
Slaves: domestic servants; debtors or criminals
Artisans: prestige for skilled artisans
Merchants: important, but viewed
as profiteers

10. I: Mexica Religion (cont.)
Adopted many traditions of the area: ball game, solar and ritual calendar
Gods: 2 main – Tezcalipoca and Quetzalcoatl (common in Mesoamerica)
Ritual bloodletting: blood symbolizes water for maize; self-sacrifice to insure continuation
Huitzilopochtli: patron deity;
human sacrifices to keep him
happy; victims (criminals, tribute,
POWs); religious, not entertainment

11. I: Peoples and Societies of the North
Variety of pol, soc, econ, & cult traditions in N.A.
Lots of h/g (small-scale society)
Some areas supported large-scale, sedentary, agricultural societies
SW: Pueblo and Navajo
NE: Iroquois (women were in charge of villages and farming, men hunting, fishing, and war)

12. I: Peoples of the North (cont.)
Moundbuilders: eastern woodlands
Built mounds for ceremonies, dwellings, and burials
Largest: Cahokia – trade center
No writing, social classes, LD trade (via canoe)

13. II: States & Empires in South America
Where we left off: Chavin and Moche
After disappearance ->warring, regional states
mid-13th centuries: migrants around Lake Titicaca
1438: military campaigns expanded authority (N and S, then coast)
By late 15th century: large
empire from Andes to the coast =>
Inca Empire

14. II: The Inca Empire Inca ruled as military and administrative elites
Armies of the conquered
Bureaucracy
Obedience through hostage-taking and loyal colonists
Rebellion -> resettlement
Taxes supported rulers and admin.
Extensive road network (communication, mil. Movement, runners)
Quipu for record-keeping
Capital = Cuzco (admin., rel., and
ceremonial center) – very lavish
(lots of gold)

15. II: Inca Society
Trade: controlled by gov’t; no large class of merchants or artisans; local barter
Ruling Elites: deity descended from sun, owned all land and property, mummies governed
Aristocrats: conspicuous consumption (ear spools)
Priests: aristocrats, celibate/ascetic

16. II: Inca Society (cont.)
Peasants: small villages/towns, ownership by extended families – allocated to individuals
Also, worked state lands (but, no taxes) -> elites and surplus
Also, owed compulsory labor service (men - construction, maintenance, women –
textiles, pottery, etc.)

17. II: Inca Religion
Inti (sun god, temples with many priests and attendants) and Viracocha (creator god)
Pilgrimages to temple, elaborate décor, sacrifices of agricultural produce and animals
Moral thought: concept of sin,
life after death (rewards and
punishments based on life),
confession and penance

18. III: The Societies of Oceania
Australian nomads: h/g
“natural” specialization (<- environment) -> regional trade of surplus foods and small items
Limited trade with other areas (N.G., SE Asia)
Importance of local geography in religion

19. III: Pacific Island Societies
By early CE: agri. soc. on in all major island groups
Starting 1000 CE: increasing pop. -> soc and pol development
Trade between islands: central and west – regional trade networks
Within island groups: trade
had soc, pol, and econ functions

20. III: Long Distance Voyages
East: trade was harder due to distances, but some voyages occurred
E.g., to South America (got sweet potatoes -> spread)
Population growth: productive farming and fishing (fishponds in HI) -> pop. growth
Dense pop -> envir. degradation and social issues (e.g., Easter Island)

21. III: Polynesian Chiefdoms
Dense pop -> complex pol org (strong, centralized states/monarchies)
-> specialization (farming, axes, canoes)
-> classes: ruling elite and aristocrats (made decisions and collected surplus), priests, skilled artisans, commoners
Chiefdoms: some expanded to other islands (unsuccessful); allocated land, mobilized construction labor, organized military forces;
conspicuous consumption

22. III: Polynesian Religion
Priests = intermediaries between humans and gods
Common gods: war & agriculture, plus local deities
Common temple structure for worship, sacrifice, communication with gods