The Americas: A Separate

World40,000 BCE – CE 700

Hunters and Farmers in the Americas

• Ice Age– Cold period in which huge ice sheets spread outward

from the polar regions– Beringia

• Land bridge connecting Asia to the Americas (through modern-day Alaska)

• Early nomads followed food across Beringia during the Ice Age

• Archaeology– Study of prehistoric human cultures

• Paleontology– Study of ancient animals & plants

Agriculture

• Around the 3000 BCE, early Americans began to farm– Maize (corn)– Huge turning point in human history

Early Mesoamerican Civilizations

• Mesoamerica– Region that stretches from central Mexico to

Honduras– Hot & humid– Swamps & jungles– Rain forests

• Trees provide thick covers that prevent sunshine– 100 inches of rain per year– Lots of flooding– Abundant supply of salt, tar, clay, wood, rubber, stone

• Lots of rivers for transportation• Fertile land from the floods

– corn, beans, & squash=staple

Mesoamerica’s Mother Culture

• Olmec– 1200 – 400 BCE– First civilization in Mesoamerica– Influenced neighboring groups & future

civilizations

Olmec Society

• Polytheistic with many nature gods– Worshipped the jaguar

• Many sculptures with half-human & half-jaguar carvings

• Representations unknown– Some believe it is a powerful rain god– Some believe it represents the earth, fertility, & maize

• Fisherman, farmers, artisans, & traders– Traded throughout the region of Mesoamerica– Imported iron ore & stones

Olmec

• Artifacts discovered at San Lorenzo & La Venta – Earthen mounds– Courtyards– Pyramids– Large stone monuments with columns & altars– Large sculpted heads

Reasons of Decline of the Olmec

• ??????????Unknown??????????????– Invaders?

– Left no written records– Left many artifacts & monuments

Zapotec Civilizations500 BCE – CE 700

• Advanced society developed southwest of the Olmec

• Settled in a rugged region of mountains and valleys

• Show traces of influence from Olmec

• Mild climate• Fertile soil• Enough rainfall to support agriculture

Monte Alban & San Jose’ Mogote

• Two major cities with stone platforms• Forms of hieroglyphic writing• Calendar system• Pyramids• Temples• Palaces• Observatory for star gazing• Stone sculptures like the Olmec

Decline of the Zapotec

• ????????????Unknown??????????????

• Trade & economic decline?

Early Mesoamericans’ Legacy

• Olmec– Art styles– Jaguar– Pottery & sculptures– Urban design– Pyramids & plazas– Monumental sculptures– Planned ceremonial

centers– Ritual ball games– Elite ruling class

• Zapotec– Hieroglyphic language– Calendar system based on

the movement of the sun– City builders

Early Civilizations of the Andes

• Andes Mountains– 4,000 miles along western edge of South America– From Colombia to Chile– Second highest mountain range in the world– Steep & rocky– Poor soil– Ice & snow cover the highest elevations year round– Climate

• Hot & dry during the day• Freezing during the night

Early Civilizations of the Andes

• In-between the mountains and the Pacific Coast lies harsh deserts with little rainfall

• some rivers flow from the mountains to the ocean across these deserts– River valleys were sites of first settlements

• Hunter-gatherers relied on seafood & small game

• 3000 BCE = start of agriculture

• Staple=corn(maize), beans, & fish

• Peru = first advanced civilizations of South America

Chavin900 – 200 BCE

• Arose in the mountains• First civilization of South

America• Pyramids, plazas, &

earthen mounds• Art styles• Religious civilization with

many images carved into stone, pottery, & textiles– No evidence of

political/economic organization

Chavin Pottery

Chavin laid the foundations to unify Andean Culture

<mother culture for future civilizations>

Nazca200 BCE – CE 600

• Southern coast of Peru

• Extremely dry land• Developed irrigation

systems– Underground canals

• Farmers• Beautiful textiles &

pottery

Nazca Lines

• Scraped away stone to reveal lighter soil underneath

• Large drawings of plants & animals

• Can only be seen from above

• Believed these drawings were for the gods

Moche100 - 700

• Northern coast of Peru

• Used rivers from mountains to make irrigation systems

• Farmers– Corn, beans, potatoes,

squash, & peanuts

• Wealthy civilization

Moche

• Gold & silver

• Ceramics & pottery

• Doctors, weavers, musicians, & soldiers portrayed on pottery

• No written language