CHAPTER 14.2

Early South American Civilizations

Eurasia: The continent containing both Europe and Asia; Europe and Asia are not separate continents

The Nazca and Moche

Nazca

• Existed 200 BCE – 600 CE in southern Peru

• Not much is known about Nazca; Nazca Lines suggest they practiced religion outdoors• Nazca Lines: Large grooves etched into rocky soil in southern

Peru in the form of various animals and shapes

Moche

• Existed 300 – 700 CE south of Ecuador

• Successful farmers; likely provided food for the entire region

The Inca• 1440 CE: Inca people, led by Pachacuti, began conquering southern

Peru• Capital at Cuzco• Spoke the language of Quechua

• Inca civilization was built on war• All young men required to serve; 200,000 strong• Supplies carried by llamas; no wheel

• New territories allowed to keep their local leaders; had to pledge loyalty to the Inca• Children taken as hostages to ensure loyalty

Inca Society• Inca emperors believed to be descended from Inti, the sun god

• All Inca subjects were responsible for several weeks of manual labor each year• Entire communities were moved around the empire as needed

• Men and women married only within their immediate tribes

• Inca government organized extensive trade• Built ~25,000 miles of roads

• Rest houses located along roads one day’s walk apart; stocked with supplies

• Needed government permission to use roads

• Trained runners carried messages; traveled up to 140 miles per day

Emperor (Pachacuti)

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Inca Culture• Inca considered the greatest engineers of the Americas

• Cuzco built entirely of tightly fitting stone; can withstand the strongest of earthquakes

• Village of Machu Picchu built between mountains; harmony between man and nature

• No writing system; used system of knotted strings to keep records called quipu• Could only keep numerical records

• No writing led to importance of theater and story-telling

Pre-Activity• With your table partner, come up with 2 reasons why you think the

Americas developed technology slower than Eurasia. Write these two reasons down on a sheet of paper (one paper per student) – 6 minutes

• Find a new partner and discuss your ideas – 2 minutes• Add any new ideas to your sheet of paper

• With a new partner discuss what ideas you have – 2 minutes• Again, add any new ideas to your sheet of paper

• Circle or highlight the ideas you believe are the most likely reasons why the Americas developed technology slower than Eurasia