1. CHAPTER 16 PEOPLES AND EMPIRES IN THE AMERICAS

2. PACIFIC NORTHWEST Area covered Oregon to Alaska Rich in resources
Kwakiutl, Nootka, and Haida societies relied heavily on the sea
Differences in wealth led to the creation of social classes
Potlatch = Ceremony where families showed their rank and wealth by giving away food, drinks, and gifts

3. HOHOKAM
Southwest
Used irrigation to successfully grow corn, beans, and squash
Influenced by Anasazi
Used pottery which showed contact with Mesoamerican societies in the south

4. ANASAZI
Lived in Four Corners region (Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico)
Built pueblos - huge cliff-dwellings and apartment-style villages; built in 900s AD
Pueblo Bonito is one of the largest villages
By 1200 AD, all pueblos of this culture were abandoned

5. MISSISSIPPIAN Last of the great Mound Builder societies
Lived in wooded lands east of the Mississippi River
Leaders were priests
Built gigantic temple-topped pyramids
Created thriving villages based on farming and trade
Cahokia – large village with a population of 30,000

6. NORTHEASTERN WOODLAND PEOPLES
Great Lakes region and upper New York State
Many different tribes did clash over land in this region
Five tribes united to form the political alliance known as the Iroquois League
The League promoted joint defense and cooperation
Believed in the Great Spirit

7. MAYA Located in southern Mexico and northern Central America
Tikal – major city located in Guatemala
Used a codex to keep track of important historical events; it was written on a bark-paper book
Glyphs - created 800 hieroglyphic symbols and carved them into stone
Based their calendar on careful observations of the planets, sun, and moon
Developed math and astronomy to support religious beliefs
Popol Vuh – book that tells the Maya’s story of creation
Decline of their civilization occurred several hundred years before the Spanish arrived (800s AD) due to civil war, population growth, over-farming, famine, and disease

8. TEOTIHUACAN First major civilization of central Mexico
Organized as a city-state
Center of a thriving trade network
Most valuable trade item was obsidian – green or black volcanic glass used to make weapons

9. TOLTEC
900 AD
Mesoamerican culture that ruled Mexico for 300 years before the Aztec
Built pyramids and temples
Warlike people who built and empire through conquest

10. QUETZALCOATL
Toltec ruler, Topiltzin, changed his culture’s religion by introducing this deity
Depicted as a Feathered Serpent
He was also a main god for the Aztec
His followers believed his return would result in a golden age

11. AZTEC 1200 AD Valley of Mexico
Warlike people who built and empire through conquest
Believed in human sacrifice; blood was needed to satisfy gods
Were resented by conquered peoples because the Aztec would sacrifice them
Entered into the Triple Alliance with Texcoco and Tlacopan

12. TENOCHTITLAN
Early 1500s
Planned city with a population of between 200,000 and 400,000
Capital of the Aztec empire
It was built on an island
Engineers built causeways (raised roads) to connect city to mainland
Huge center of trade

13. INCA
Built the largest Mesoamerican empire (large portion of the west coast of South America)
Began in Andes mountains
Government was supported by taxes, bureaucracy, and road system
Pachacuti was the ruler who expanded Inca kingdom into an empire
Mita – labor tribute; all capable citizens had to work for the state for a certain time period every year
Ayllu – extended families used for community work projects; built canals and terraces
Quipu – knotted strings used to record data
Decline of Inca – rivals fought for throne and arrival of the Spanish