1. Before Contact with Europeans

2. Introduction  Migration to the Americas Early migrations from northern Asia to Alaska – occurred 35,000 to 15,000 years ago Some contact with Polynesians possible  Geography Great geographical diversity – frozen regions, tropical rain forests, vast plains, heavily forested areas, and high mountain ranges ○ Made farming impossible in some areas ○ Long distance between arable areas made contact between groups difficult Two main areas of agriculture ○ Mesoamerica- Mexico and Central America ○ Andean Mountain region – along the west coast of S. America

3. Olmecs

4. Early American Civilizations  Olmecs (1200-400 BCE) Society ○ Authoritarian and Hierarchial Priestly class Ruler and his family Artisans and merchants Labor class Political ○ Form of kingship ○ Giant sculptures of heads. Evidence of power of the ruling family. ○ Fall was due to internal conflict

5. Early American Civilizations  Olmecs Cultural – SEE MAYANS!! Economic ○ Agricultural-based economy No large beasts of burden (horse, oxen) No wheeled vehicles Human labor did all the work -BUT: Built elaborate drainage systems ○ Traded various products – salt, cacao, clay and limestone ○ Developed religious centers which grew into city-states

6. Chavin

7. Early American Civilizations  Chavin (900 – 250 BCE) Social ○ Hierarchal Ruler and his family Priestly class Artisans and merchants Commoners Political ○ Empires were created to control 3 ecological zones (coastal plains, mountain valleys, and tropical rain forests and connecting trade routes) ○ Some evidence of irrigation projects and organized military Shows political power of the central government

8. Early American Civilizations  Chavin Cultural ○ Chavin religion spread to other areas, perhaps Meso-America Economic ○ Chavin capital, Chavin de Huantar was situated along long distance trade routes Trade between west coast of S. America and Andes mountain region ○ Agriculture-based economy Used llamas to carry things up and down the mountains

9. Mayan Empire

10. Classical American Civilizations  Maya (300-900 CE) Social ○ Rigid and strict classes Political ○ Rulers performed both priestly and political functions Rulers NOT divine but able to communicate with gods and ancestor spirits ○ Fall of the Mayan Empire Around 800 CE – Mayan population moved out of cities which soon fell into decline -No evidence as to why – possible explanations include foreign invasion, civil war, disease

11. Classical American Civilizations  Maya Cultural ○ Religion Polytheistic Some rituals called for human sacrifice -Victims were prisoners of war Mayan priests constructed very advanced calendar for religious ceremonies, planting/harvesting crops Economic ○ Agriculture-based economy Practiced slash and burn agriculture Also built terraced fields along the river banks ○ Cities – built large cities Primarily religious and administrative cities

12. Classical American Civilizations  Maya Economic ○ Cities (cont.) Little trade conducted within the cities Included large pyramids, houses for the elite, ritual ball courts Memorial alters and pillars -To honor great actions of leaders -Inscribed with pictograms (similar to hieroglyphics)

13. Classical American Civilizations  Teotihuacan (300-750 CE) Social ○ Priests were an important part of the elite class Political ○ Teotihuacan was the name of the capital city ○ City was well planned Evidence of group of powerful families ruling cooperatively Cultural – See Aztecs!!

14. Teotihuacan

15. Classical American Civilizations  Teotihuacan Economic ○ Agriculture-based economy Irrigation produced abundance of crops ○ Trade Unlike the Mayans, the Teotihuacan had a large class of professional merchants who traded their products

16. Toltecs

17. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Toltecs (950-1150 CE) Social ○ The priestly class was important part of the elite class ○ Emphasis on military prowess Led to rise of an elite warrior class from which rulers would emerge Political ○ Created an extensive Empire from Central Mexico to Yucatan Peninsula to Guatemala ○ A strong militaristic legacy Allowed the Toltecs conquer or intimidate neighboring peoples Required “tribute” – in the form of treasure, food, prisoners/slaves

18. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Toltecs Political ○ Had 2 rulers instead of 1, leading to internal conflicts ○ Decline due to internal fragmentation Cultural ○ Relied heavily on religious sacrifices to satisfy the gods

19. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Toltecs Economic ○ Agriculture-based economy ○ The exchange of turquoise with people in the American Southwest ○ Tributary payment from surrounding areas was a large part of the Toltec economy

20. Aztecs

21. Post-Classical Civilizations  Aztecs Social ○ Militaristic aristocrats headed the social structure ○ Priests were advisors to the king and performed religious rituals ○ Warrior class – came from ordinary freemen who proved themselves in battle ○ Merchant class – conducted long-distance trade ○ Serfs/Freemen ○ Slaves – mainly prisoners of war or debtors ○ Women were subservient to men but those who bore warrior sons were given higher status

22. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Aztecs Political ○ Tenochtitlan was the capital city ○ Emperor appointed military governors to rule over conquered peoples ○ Empire stretched from Central Mexico to Guatemala ○ Aztec military power - Led to tributary empire Conquered peoples had to pay tribute – such as food, luxury goods, and prisoners

23. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Aztecs Cultural ○ Religion played an extremely important role in Aztec culture Large step pyramids Religion provided political legitimacy Human sacrifice practiced extensively -Victims were mainly prisoners of war

24. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Aztecs Economic ○ Agriculture-based economy Innovations include chinampas – floating islands for growing food -Led to increase food production ○ Tribute system Gov’t controlled the distribution of tribute to the population – noble class received the majority and commoners received much less ○ Long-distance trade Traded for luxury goods with neighboring peoples Carried by slaves or serfs because there were no beasts of burden

25. Inca Empire

26. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Incas (1100-1540 CE) Social ○ INCA (Emperor) was on top ○ Aristocratic class – served emperor as advisors and governors ○ Priests ○ Warrior class ○ Peasants – organized into communities ○ Patriarchal but women did have the ability to inherit property

27. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Incas Political ○ Cuzco was the capital ○ The Inca/Emperor owned all property and the commoners worked for the Inca Mit’a system = all commoners owed required labor to the state for a certain number of months each year, to build temples, roads, etc. ○ The Inca/Emperor controlled the empire with: Vast and powerful military Extensive network of roads ○ Alliances were made with neighboring rulers who swore allegiance to the Inca and were allowed to keep their ruling positions

28. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Incas Cultural ○ Religion played an important role in the Inca Empire Temples were built for religious rituals Human sacrifice was practiced but NOT as much or as frequently as the Aztecs -Victims were mainly prisoners of war or as tribute given by neighboring peoples ○ The Incas had no written language Relied on system of knots (quipu)

29. Post-Classical American Civilizations  Incas Economic ○ Agriculture-based economy Innovations included terraced farming to utilize the mountains Agricultural surplus was owned by the state and stored in state storehouses -For use in times of shortages or famine ○ Mit’a system created a more socialized economy – people didn’t “own” property but instead worked for the good of the Inca people ○ No distinct merchant class Long distance trade was LESS important than the Aztecs due to self-sufficiency and state regulation of production and surplus