The Americas on the Eve of Invasion

Civilizations in the Americas

• Created thriving civilizations– Political organization– Advanced math, astronomy– Agricultural techniques– Population growth and urbanization– Social Stratification– Developed economies & trade

• Important Civilizations:– Maya, Aztec, Inca

Maya

• Tropical Climate, poor soil• Variety of ag. techniques depending on

environment– Slash & burn (aka swidden agriculture)– Drain swamps for land– terracing

• Government:– Series of rival kingdoms w/ hereditary rulers

• Rulers serve both political & religious function

Maya Empirehttp://www.adishakti.org/images_foreign/mayamap_L.gif

Maya

• Religion– 3 layer cosmos (underworld, human world,

heavens)– Close tie b/t warfare and religion

• Rituals & fasting before war• Use of war to gain captives

– Many used for human sacrifice; others for labor

– Bloodletting, tattooing, painting of skin– Elaborately decorated temples

Maya

• Science/Technology– Sophisticated calendar-making– Hieroglyphic writing system– Concept of zero in mathematics

Maya

• Collapse of the Maya– Cities abandoned between 800 and 900– Possible reasons

• Disease• Decline in trade (likely associated with fall of

Teotihuacán)• Environmental degradation• Decline in agricultural production• Internal warfare

AztecMexica (Meh-she-ca)

• Moved into Central Mexico

• Began to buildup powerbase near Lake Texcoco

• 1325: construction on Tenochtitlan & Tlateloco– Twin capitals- Foundation of Mexico City

• Began to expand & create an empire

Aztechttp://www.plu.edu/~arnoldwp/img/aztec-empire.jpg

Aztec

• Government:– Single ruler chosen by council of aristocrats– Ruler chosen from royal family– New rulers expected to engage in military

conquest to display their power• Tie between war and religious ceremony

Aztec

• Social Structure:– Social & economic inequality– Little opportunity for social mobility– Elites used ceremony & ritual to distinguish

themselves• Better diet, richer clothing, nicer homes, different

marriage practices (ie. Commoners were monogamous, elites polygamous)

Aztec

• Economy:– Relied upon agriculture

• used chinampas (floating gardens) to increase ag.

– Tribute system supplied other goods to city• Conquered peoples sent food, cloth, luxury items,

military equipment, and sacrificial victims to city

– Trade important• Barter system

Aztec

• Religion:– Polytheistic– Twin temple dedicated to gods– Extensive use of human sacrifice

• Thousands annually• Both religious and political function

– Believed gods lived off human hearts and blood– Public sacrifice helped deter rebellion and opposition

Andean Civilizations

• In South America, a series of cultures grew in a most unlikely place– Harsh environment

• Mountains (Andes)• Desert along west coast (Atacama)• Rainforest to the east

• Andean civilizations typically followed the same plan for organization of society and the economy

Andean Civilization

• Economy:– Eac state was organized in a system known as mitá

• System required communities to contribute workers to perform various forms of labor

• Colonies were also sent out to exploit resources in the area

– Used various ag. techniques to improve productivity• Irrigation, terracing, etc.

– All goods produced were then brought together for exchange

• Use of quipu to keep records– Series of knotted colored cords

http://www.orquidea.net/peru_travel_center/inca_empire.jpg

Inca

• The Inca began as a chiefdom; expands its power in the 1430’s– Developed an imperial state in the Andes

Mountains of South America– By 1525, population of over 6 million

• Capital: Cuzco (Peru)

http://www.anntravelcorp.com/fotos/p000001_cuzco%20anntravel.jpg

Machu Picchu

City constructed at height of Inca Empire

Inca

• Buildup of military

• Government:– Rulers began reign with military conquest to

prove their power• Created a bureaucracy composed of rulers

kinsmen

– Military conquest• Left local rulers of conquered peoples in place

– Heirs of the rulers taken hostage to ensure cooperation

Inca

• Achievements of the Inca:– Skilled at stone work– Cuzco constructed to look like a Mountain

Lion• Palaces and temples • Temple of the Sun

– Astronomical observation conducted by priests

– Calendar-making

Inca

• Highly structured, government-regulated economy led to prosperity

• However, imperial system created a system of inequality

• 1525: Stage is set for European conquest when the Inca were weakened by internal division– Ruler died, triggering a power struggle between his

two sons– Civil war weakens the Inca

• Making them vulnerable to Europeans