1. CH. 16 People and Empires in the Americas
Christopher Chance
WHH 2016

2. West Coast Societies
Groups like Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Haida, located along the North American west coast, depended on the sea for survival
They built canoes, hunted whales, and collected shellfish along the coast
Predictably, their gods revolved around the sea, and the potlatch, an elaborate ceremony, in which families would display their wealth by offering gifts to other members of the community

3. American Southwest
Living in the harsh deserts of the American southwest, the Hohokam used irrigation techniques to grow crops like corn, beans, and squash
The Anasazi lived in the four corners region of modern day Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico
The Anasazi built impressive cities out of the cliffs called pueblos, which was built out of sun baked stone or adobe.
The Anasazi peoples died out around 1200, possibly because of extreme doubt

4. Mound Builders
In the areas of east of the Mississippi, the mound builders, a group of Native Americans located in the American southeast, began building elaborate burial mounds where they buried their dead
Tribal leaders were found with artifacts such as money, tools, and weapons for use in the afterlife.

5. Question 1
What differences existed between the Northwestern tribes and the Desert tribes?

6. Northeastern tribes and Iroquois Nation
Because of proximity, NE tribes often came into conflict with one another
They would fight over water rights, hunting grounds or blood feuds
NE tribes eventually starting forming political alliances
the most famous of these was the Iroquois League which included the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Catuga, and Seneca tribes of upper New York

7. Question 2
What do the mounds of the southeastern NA tribes tell us about their culture?

8. Trade networks
Native Americans created vast trade networks along rivers for the purpose of diversification
Cultural diffusion between tribes also occurred as a result

9. Question 3 Why was trade between NA tribes important?

10. Early American religion
most early native americans believed spirits could be found in nature, including in plants, rocks, and rivers.
Natives had much respect for the land and tried to alter it as little as possible
When Europeans arrived and tried to farm, and eventually claim landownership, it caused conflict

11. Social Patterns
Family was at the core of all Native American social functions
NA society was divided amongst family units, sometimes extended families or clans would make up tribes
Totems were used as symbols of a tribes shared heritage

12. Question 4 What purpose did Totems serve in NA society?

13. Mayan City States
Mayan civilization is centered in modern day Mexico but included areas as far south as northern central America
Because of geography, most Mayan cities such as Tikal, and Chichen Itza developed as independent city-states, usually governed by a God- king
Despite being independent of one another, these city-states were united through trade and political alliances

14. Trade and diversification
Like their northern cousins, the Maya engaged in trade to better diversify their crops
products such as salt, flint, feathers, shells and honey were traded
at one point cacao served as currency

15. Farming and dynasties
the Mayan people practiced slash and burn farming
they also engaged in a form of terrace farming
Advances in farming techniques led to an increase in food, which in turn led to population growth
As the population grew, development of specialized labor, and the social classes developed.

16. Religion
The Maya were polytheistic believing in gods based on their needs (corn, rain, war and death)
Offerings were made to appease the gods of crops, water, silver, gold, and in extreme cases, human sacrifice was practiced

17. Question 5 What led to an increase in population in Mayan society?

18. Math and language
The Maya developed a calendar based on the movements of the sun (solar calendar)
They also developed the concept of zero
Mayan language was written in glyphs (pictoral) and collections of glyphs called codex’s recorded important events and ideas

19. Aztecs and Central Mexico
Just north of the Maya were the Aztecs a warrior people who established a capitol near modern day Mexico City
Aztec civilization was also based on the city-state

20. Aztec religion
Aztec gods were mostly gods of war and conquering although nature gods also existed
Quetzalcoatl or the feather serpent was the main god
According to legend, Quetzalcoatl would come back one day to rule the Aztec

21. Aztec society
At the top of Aztec society was the God-King, followed by the priests and land-owning nobles, at the bottom were the peasants (operated much like European feudalism)
The last God-King, Montezuma II was eventually deposed by the Spanish

22. Question 6 Who was the main god in Aztec religion?

23. Incan Empire
The Incan empire exists in the Andes Mountains of South America (modern day Peru)
Their main city, would be settled in the Valley of Cuzco, a fertile area which received snow melt from the surrounding mountains
Incans were mostly farmers but also engaged in tribal warfare to supplement bad harvests

24. Government and religion
Because the Incan empire was so vast, and in the mountains, emperors would appoint governors to rule cities in the stead.
But the Inca also had a vast central bureaucracy
Religiously the Inca worshipped the sun, sacrifice of llamas and other valuables were often given to appease the sun gods