Chapter 11: Peoples & Civilizations of the Americas, 600-1500

Classic-Era Culture and Society in Mesoamerica, 200-900 Teotihuacan

Large Mesoamerican city-population of about 150,000 Pyramids/temples- human sacrifice Forced relocation of farm families & agricultural

innovation such as irrigation & chinampas Apartment-like stone buildings housed commoners-

elites lived in separate residential compounds- controlled the bureaucracy, taxes, & commerce

Ruled by alliances of wealthy families Collapsed around 650 C.E.-mismanagement of

resources, conflict within the elite, or invasion

The Maya

De-centralized city-states Increased agricultural productivity-drained swamps, built elevated &

terraced fields, managed forest resources Believed cosmos consisted of three layers, heavens, human world, &

the underworld Rulers & elites communicated with the other worlds Fought for captives, not for territory. Elite captives sacrificed &

commoners were enslaved Mayan women held no political power but participated in bloodletting

rituals Technological developments included the Mayan calender,

mathematics, & the Maya writing system Reasons for fall include disruption of trade, overpopulation & increased

warfare around 800-900 C.E.

The Post-classic Period in Mesoamerica, 900-1500 Toltecs

Central Mexico Built civilization based on Teotihuacan Capital at Tula ruled by dual kings-destroyed

by invaders around 1156 C.E.

The Aztecs

Migrated to lake Texcoco area & established the cities of Tenochtitlan & Tlatelolco

Females maintained control of household & market Established irrigation & chinampas-also received

food from tribute Goods exchanged through barter Worshipped a large number of gods-most important

was Huitzilopochtli, the Sun god-he was appeased by sacrifice with human hearts

The Northern Peoples

Southwestern Desert Cultures The Hohokam established extensive irrigation

systems in Salt & Gila valleys around 1000 c.e. Anasazi constructed Kivas in American southwest Chaco Canyon community engaged in trade, hunting

& irrigated agriculture- exerted some political & religious dominance over the area but

Declined due to drought, overpopulation, & warfare

Mound Builders: The Mississippian Cultures

Hopewell culture developed from Adena culture- based in Ohio Valley

Major Hopewell centers ruled by chiefs-served as priests, managed secular affairs such as long distance trade

Hopewell built large mounds as burial sites & platforms upon which temples & residences of chiefs were constructed

Hopewell sites abandoned around 400 C.E.- mound building continued by Mississippian culture(700-1500 c.e.)

Mississippian chiefdoms made possible by increased agricultural productivity, bow & arrow & expanded trade networks

Largest center was Cahokia-abandoned around 1250 because of climate changes & population pressure

Andean Civilizations 600-1500

Cultural Response to Environmental Challenge Andes, dry coastal plain, & Amazon forced inhabitants to

organize labor effectively The clan (ayllu) held land collectively-assisted each other in

production to supply goods & labor to clan chief Mit’a introduced around 1000-required each ayllu to provide

a set number of workers each year for religious establishments, royal court, or aristocracy

Work divided along gender lines Andean region divided into 4 ecological zones; coast,

mountain valleys, higher elevations, & Amazonian region

Moche

North coastal region of Peru in about 200-700 C.E. Moche society stratified & theocratic Commoners supplied mit’a labor to elite-elite military

leaders & priests lived atop large platforms-decorated themselves in magnificent clothing

Moche artisans skilled in production of textiles, portrait vases, & metallurgy

Decline attributed to series of natural disasters & pressure from warlike Wari people

Tiwanaku and Wari

Tiwanku located in Bolivia Urban construction of large terraced pyramid,

walled enclosures, a reservoir Ruled by hereditary elite Wari had contact with Tiwanaku-but separate

culture-built without central planning, used different techniques, much smaller scale than Tiwanaku

Inca Inca empire grew from small chiefdom of Cuzco Key to wealth was strong military- used to expand

traditional exchange system that linked the Andes together Inca left local rulers in place- took heirs to Cuzco as

hostages- created an imperial bureaucracy Cuzco laid out in shape of puma- palaces were scene of

rituals, feasts, sacrifices of textiles, animals, tribute goods- occasional human

Did not introduce new technologies-made efficient use of existing technology-increased profits gained by trade

Technology included astronomy, weaving, copper & bronze metallurgy, gold & silver working

When the elite fell into civil war in 1525, Inca control over its vast territories weakened

Comparative Perspectives

Political and Economic Comparisons The Aztec and Inca Empires shared similarities in the

use of powerful armies, strong economies based on large workforces, and their dependence on organized government and religious practices that connected secular rulers to the gods.

Distinctions were in their systems of distributing goods and in their management of the empire.

Aztecs used local leaders, while the Inca created a strong central government administered by trained bureaucrats.

Imperial Comparisons

Both Aztec and Inca were last in a line of successive indigenous populations organized into strong empires from former collapsed civilizations

The arrival of Europeans ended the cycle of crises and adjustment in both regions