chapter 12 the americas. paleoindian americans amerindians first crossed beringia land bridge...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 12The Americas
Paleoindian Americans Amerindians first crossed Beringia land bridge about 30,000-10,000 BCE Clovis Culture – earliest-known hunting
culture Folsom points – smaller points developed
as game got smaller The Archaic period
Conditions everywhere became warmer, drier, so people had to depend more on gathering as game disappeared
Little is known about social organization in this period
Result of continued environmental change
First occurred in Mexico Chili, pumpkins, beans, plus
maize Farming spread across Mexico,
to Central America, coastal Peru by 1500 BCE
This high productivity made possible the great civilizations
Ancestral Puebloan civilization (Anasazi) Began agriculture about 400 CE Chaco phenomenon – 14 “Great Houses” –
multi-story stone and timber pueblos Road system in nearly straight lines
converged on Chaco Canyon Regional trade center wielding great power Puebloan clans migrated west, south, east
about 1300-1500
Mississippian and Cahokia civilizations Mysterious mound-building cultures based
on religion, burial, farming etc. Cahokia – largest, most important
settlement from this period May have had social hierarchy Some mounds were for religious rituals,
others were tombs Ended mysteriously about 1300
http://cahokiamounds.org/
Olmecs 1500-300 BCE Foundation of all other
Amerindian cultures in Central America
Skill in stonework – basalt heads, ceremonial stone pyramids
Primitive form of writing and number system
Chavin 800-400 BCE Found in valleys inland from
Peruvian coast Neolithic agrarian lifestyle Gold work
Most advanced of all pre-Columbian Amerindians Hierarchy of cities ruled by kings
Peasant villagers lived in satellite settlements Chichen Itza
Public buildings, temples, palaces, ball courts Wealthy hereditary elite, powerful priesthood Religious belief was important in ordering the round
of daily life Extremely accurate astronomy based on refined
mathematics Only pre-Columbian people to be fully literate
Teotihuacan 200 BCE Found in northern part of Valley of Mexico Center of religious rituals, offerings to the
gods Might have been first true city in Western
Hemisphere, also largest, most impressive Toltecs
Federation of nomads Chief city was Tula
Tenochtitlan – capital city, one of largest cities anywhere
War was reason for existence of Aztecs, shaped their religion, social structure
Aztec religion featured frequent human sacrifices, cannibalism
Aztec government and society Emperor and his officials Class of warriors Ordinary free people Serfs and slaves Large, powerful group of priests Upper class women had some rights and freedoms
Empire in South America rested on dramatically increased food supply
Centered in Cuzco, Peru By 1400s empire may have held
as many as 8 million people After conquering new area,
Incas often deported inhabitants Local chiefs took responsibility for
obedience, good behavior Efficient tax collection Established colonies to help
conquered people become loyal Quechua replaced various
languages, was never written
Material culture Great roads Irrigation systems, dams, canals,
agricultural terraces Domesticated llamas as beasts of burden Stone buildings of extremely high quality Fine textiles of wool, cotton
Macchu Picchu – city in the clouds, purpose unknown
Government and society Small elite of nobles with semi-divine king Ayllu (clan) was basic unit of society Unusual level of concern for social
welfare