AP World History Unit 1 Study Guide

Unit 1 - Global Tapestries | Study the Myles Way.

1.1

Developments in East Asia

Georgraphy of Asia

East Asia - China, Japan, Korea

Southeast Asia - Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam

Chineese Dynasties

Shang Dynasty (1600-1050 BCE) Zhou Dynasty (1046-256 BCE) Qin (221-206 BCE) Han (206 BCE- 220 CE) Six Dynasties Period (220-589 CE) Sui Dynasty (581-618) Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) Five Dynasties Period (906-960 CE) Northern Song (906-1127 CE) Southern Song (1127-1279 CE) Yuan (1279-1386 CE) Ming (1386-1644 CE) Qing (1644-1912 CE)

Confucianism

● Chinese philosophy originatingwith Confucius during the Zhou Dynasty

● Was made the state ideology during the Han Dynasty

● Code of ethics which includes the idea of filial piety and advocates for hierarchical relationships

Song Dyastyy (960-1279)

● Song territory did not include all of China but it was a large territory

● The Song Dynasty existed within the medieval time period

● It was time of great economic prosperity

● Technology and innovation led to a more sophisticated life

● The population more than doubled

Song Imperial Bureaucracy and Meritocracy

Emperor Taizu - Founder of the Song Dynasty

Civil Service Exam ➜ Expanded Educational Opportunities ➜ Really Good

Paychecks ➜ Creation of a Huge Scholar Gentry Class

Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty: How did that happen?

Buddhism arrives in China from India during the Han Dynasty ➜ Buddhism becomes most popular during the Tang Dynasty ➜ The Five Dynasties Periods is wrought with instability ➜ Song Dynasty favors the more native ideology of Confucianism ➜ Confucianism is blended with Buddhist and Daoist ideas ➜ Neo-Confucianism is a crucial component in the success of the Song Dynasty's imperial bureaucracy

Givernment Orginization in the Song Dynasty

Six Major Ministries

● Ministry of Personnel

● Ministry of Revenue

● Ministry of Rites

● Ministry of War

● Ministry of Justice

● Ministry of Public Works

Tang Dynasty Sets the Stage

Innovatios during the Tang Dynasty allowed the Song to flourish and become the most advanced, powerful, and richest empires in the worst at the time.

Tang Advancements and Innovations include:

● Magnetic compass

● Cartography

● Medicine

● Roads and canals

● Printing

● Paper

● Gunpowder

The Song Economy: Agriculture

Champa Rice

● Spread to China from Vietnam

● Drought-resistant

● Cut production time in half

● Rice could be farmed in new areas

● Steel production for agricultural equipment

● Resulted in an abundance of food and growth in population

The Growing Song Economy

● Proto-industrialization

● Artisanal Labor

● Grand Canal

Created the most populous trading area in the world

The Song Dynasty: External Trade

● Paper Maps

● Magnetic Compass

● Cargo Ships

● Indian Ocean Trade

● The Silk Roads

● Production Innovations

● Paper Money

A Closer Look: Silk in the Song Economy

● Silk was a cornerstone of the Song economy

● It traveled farther than any other item exported from China

● It sometimes acted as a form of currency

● Money from the Song silk trade provided funding for other Song innovations

● It brought women into the workforce

Taxes in the Song Dynasty

Prior to the Song, public projects like canals and roads were built by requiring the population to work on them. This fundamentally changed during the Song Dynasty. As Song China became a commercial state, fiscal (monetary) policies became more sophisticated and tax systems changed. People were paid money to work on such projects, and that money came from taxes.

Causes of Commercialization in Song China

Irrigation Systems, Champa Rice, Iron Tools ➜ Increases in Food Production

Paper Money, Banking Systems, Taxes ➜ Currency

Redesigned Cargo Ships, Canal Lock System, Printing and Paper, Magnetic Compass, Guns and Gunpowder, Porcelain, Water Wheels ➜ Innovations in Technology

Grand Canal, Silk Roads, Indian Ocean Trade ➜ Expanding Trade Networks

Commercialization and Urbanization in Song China

Commercialization

● Production for profit

● More efficient production

● Distribution systems

● Currency system

Leads to and is supported by:

Urbanization

Urban areas must import food to sustain a dense population that produces goods for export such as silk and porcelain

Hangzhou- the highly urbanized commercial center and capital of the Song Dynasty

Song China’s Tributary System

磕 ➜ kē ➜ knock

头 ➜ tóu ➜ head

磕头 ➜ Kowtow

中 ➜ zhông ➜ Middle

國 ➜ guó ➜ Kingdom

中國 ➜ Middle Kingdom ➜ China

Song China’s Tributary System cont.

● Reflected Confucian ideas of hierarchy and ritual

● Operated as a metaphorical patriarchy

● Very different than other tributary systems

● More accurately called a "tribute-trade" system

Tributary States - Good Subservient Children that understand their roles

China’s Emperor - Patriarch that offers stability

Tributary States ➜ Lots of Kowtows and a gift display of trading items ➜ Chineese Emperor

Chineese Emperor ➜ Extremely Lavish, over-the-top gifts ➜ Chineese Emperor

Song China’s Tributary System Cont.

Tribute = payment made periodically by one state or ruler to another, especially as a sign of dependence.

Major Tributary States Thailand Champa

Korea, Vietnam, Champa, Khotan

Comparing China’s Tributary System

Aztec Tributary System

● Conquered states paid tribute to Tenochtitlan

● Tribute was paid to maintain peace- predicated on threat of violence

● Tributary states often had to extract tribute from smaller, weaker states in order to meet the demands of the Aztecs

● Tribute requirements could be impossible to fulfill in some cases

● Tribute was exchanged for protection

Song China Tributary System

● Tributary states were not militarily conquered by China- the agreements were mutual

● Tribute was not always predicated on violence

● States in a tribute-trade relationship with China were able to fulfill tribute from their own resources

● China did not make demands that were impossible- the relationship involved more trade than just a one-way tribute

● The purpose of tribute was largely for symbolism and it was a way to engage in trade

Song China Cultural Influences on East Asia

Korea (Goryeo)

Japan

Vietnam (Dai Viet)

Song China Cultural Influences on Korea

Pre-Song Influences

● Rice and pottery styles in ancient times

● Architecture and clothing style from Han Dynasty

● Chan Buddhism from Tang Dynasty

● Written language (Chinese characters)

Song Dynasty Influences

● Landscape paintings

● True-view landscape paintings

● Porcelain wares

● Historical records are written in Chinese characters

● Neo-Confucianism and ideas of filial piety and the civil service exams

Song China Cultural Influences on Japan

Pre-Song Influences

● Buddhism via China

● Written language (Chinese characters called Kanji in Japan)

● Chinese astrology comes to Japan through Korea in the 6th century (501-600)

● Powdered tea from the Tang Dynasty

● Southern Chinese music styles via Korea in 7th century (601-700)

● Reforms to imperial government to resemble Chinese models (Taika Reforms)

Song Dynasty Influences

● Vajrayana Buddhism influences Japanese religion (begins in Tang continues through Song)

● Use of Chinese characters continues and begins to adapt to Japanese spoken

language

● Neo-Confucianism as a form of study for Japanese monks

● Tea competitions (Tocha)

Song China Cultural Influences on Vietnam (Dai Viet)

Pre-Song Influences

● Many elements of Chinese culture were often imposed on northern Vietnam during periods of occupation by China

● Irrigation systems for crops under Tang occupation caused a population boom

Song Dynasty Influences

● The Chinese model of the civil service exam producing administrative officials replaced the system of local lords

● Mahayana Buddhism flows in from China-temples are built and classic texts from China arrive

● Chinese Confucianism influences the daily lives of most people

● Knowledge in classical Chinese literature grew

Resistance to Chineese Culture

● Rejection of Chinese Confucianism- women held high positions of power so Vietnam remained in favor of Buddhism

● The Viets win independence from China after the fall of the Tang (939 CE)

Continuity in Chineese Cultural Influence

Filal Piety

The family relationships that arose from Chinese Confucianism are still alive in East Asian nations today

Powdered Matcha Tea popular in Japan Today

Tea Drinking Traditions permeate East Asia and are still alive today

A modern-day Japanese sign uses Chinese written characters

The Spread of Buddhism into China

● Buddhism arrives in China in the 6th century via the Silk Roads (501-600)

● Chan (Zen) Buddhism is a syncretic faith with mixed Daoist and Buddhist components

● Becomes popular in China during the Tang Dynasty, although it is present prior

to that

● Late Tang period- Buddhism is "too prevalent" and there is pushback from the Tang court

● Buddhism combines with Confucianism to create neo-Confucianism

The Spread of Buddhism into China cont.

Mahayana, Theravada, Vajrayana (Tibetan)

The dark orange oval between India and Nepal is the origin area of all Buddhism

An Overview of Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths

1. Life is full of suffering (stress)

2. The cause of suffering is greed or the desire to have what we don't already have

3. There is a way out of suffering

4. The Eightfold Path is the way to nirvana

Leads into The Eightfold Path

Eight steps or instructions for how to free yourself from suffering. Following the Eightfold Path leads to liberation and Nirvana

Three Distinct Forms of Buddhism

Therevada Buddhism

Took hold in Southeast Asia (with the exception of Vietnam) Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand

Mahayana Buddhism

Chinese Chan, Japanese Zen, Korean Sŏn, and Vietnamese Thien are all part of this East Asian branch of Buddhism

Vajrayana Buddhism

Part of Tibetan Buddhism

Spread as far as Mongolia, Japan, and Indonesia but became most prominent in Tibet

Comparisons in Forms of Buddhism

Therevada Buddhism

Achieving enlightenment means ending the cycle of reincarnation

Strict practice towards enlightenment generally only practiced by monks

Mahayana Buddhism

Has the largest following

Focuses on bringing others into enlightenment

Reincarnation remains as means to continue helping others- not just for monks

Vajrayana Buddhism

Vajrayana Buddhism is the "fast track" to nirvana- nirvana can be reached in one

lifetime which is not possible with either Theravada or Mahayana

1.2

Devlopments in Dar al-Islam 1200-1450

Beginnings of Islam

● Muhammad ibn Abdullah- The Prophet Muhammad

● Quran iscomposed of verses recited by Muhammad

● Muhammad must move from Mecca to Medina

● Islamic conversions begin in Medina

Five Pillars of Islam

Profession of Faith (Shahada)

Prayer (Salat)

Alms (zakat)

Fasting (sawm)

Pilgrimage (hajj)

Early Spread of Islam

Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula and spread outward. The colored regions above mark the Islamic Caliphate in the 8th century.

Caliphate - the rule or reign of a caliph or chief Muslim ruler following the death of the Prophet Muhammad

The Abbasid Caliphate

Muhammed ibn Abdullah (570-632) ➜ Rashidun Caliphate (632-661) ➜ Umayyad Caliphate (661-750) ➜ Abbasid Caliphate (750-1258)

● United by language and Islamic traditions

● The Islamic Golden Age

● Center of empire moved to Baghdad

● Growing economy- maritime and overland trade

Establishing and Spreading Islam

● Muslim conquest of Egypt in 642 marks the beginning of expansion into North Africa

● The Sassanids (remaining Persians) were defeated by Muslim forces in 644

● Muslim forces invaded and conquered Spain in 711

● Abbasid Empire stopped invading Tang Chinese forces in 751 in the Battle of Talas

● Islam introduced to India and the east through trade

New Islamic Political Entities

Seljuk Empire (1050-1300)

Delhi Sultanate (1206-1556)

Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt (1250-1517)

Seljuk Empire 1050-1300

● Nomadic Turkic peoples

● Migrated from Central Asia into Middle East

● Took over Abbasid territory during Abbasid decline and took Baghdad in 1055

● Viewed as restorers of Sunni Muslim unity

● Weakened by Mongol invasions

● Ultimately succeeded by the Ottomans who maintained much of Seljuk culture and traditions

Mamluk Sultinate of Egypt 1250-1517

Mamluk - “owned” or “slave”

● Empire ruled by a military caste of mamluks (slave soldiers)

● Central Asian origin, converted to Islam through enslavement

● Overthrew Ayyubid Dynasty in Egypt

● Established a Sultanate (as opposed to a Caliphate)

● First ruler was a woman named Shajar al-Durr, former concubine

● Shajar al-Durr ruled as Sultana for three months, then passed the rule to her husband Izz al-Din Aybak because the Abbasid Caliph would not recognize a female sultan

Trade in the Mamluk Sultanate

Overland trade from Asia through Aleppo into Europе, Maritime trade from Asia through the Red Sea to Mamluk ports in Egypt where European traders would buy and sell goods.

Decline and Fall of the Mamluk Sultanate

● Affected by the Black Plague

● Weakening political structure

● Began to lose control over valuable spice trade

● Ottoman-Mamluk War 1485-1491

● Portuguese-Mamluk War

● Defeated by Ottomans in 1517

The Delhi Sultanate 1206-1556

Mamluk Dynasty (1206-1290) ➜ Khiliji Dynasty (1290-1320) ➜ Tughluq Dynasty (1320-1414) ➜ Sayyid and Lodhi Dynásties (1414-1556)

The Delhi Sultanate

● Forms when Qutb al-Din Aibak, a slave of a Muslim warlord becomes the first Sultan of Delhi- this is the Mamluk Dynasty

● Sultanate is composed largely of Central Asian nomadic Turks who converted to Islam

● Islam spreads through Sufi missionaries but still clashes with Hindu traditions

Sufi Missionaries Spread Islams in India

● Sufism is known as "mystic Islam" (mystic religions are ones in which the practitioners have an altered state of consciousness or interaction with the divine)

● Had more appeal to Hindus than "orthodox Islam"

● Because Sufis emphasized personal experience of the divine, they were successful in blending in with local beliefs- much less rigid than traditional Islam

Pictured Above is a Sufi Shrine in India

Key Takeaways

Seljuk Empire, Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, Delhi Sultanate ➜ Islamic political entities which carried on Muslim traditions after the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate

Muslim rule expands into Africa, Europe, and Asia via conquest, trade, and Sufi missionaries.

The Islamic Gold Age

● Baghdad was built and became the epicenter of knowledge

● The Translation Movement- ancient Greek texts were translated to Arabic

● House of Wisdom established

● Studied Indian mathematics- transferred to Europe

● Learned paper making from the Chinese- transferred to Europe

Pictured Above is a depiction of Islamic Scholars in an Abbasid Library

Translation Movement

● The Translation Movement was made possible by paper- learned from the Chinese

● Translated classic texts including those from Plato, Aristotle, and Hippocrates

● Huge volumes of anatomy, medicine, and philosophy were translated and preserved

● The transfer of paper and knowledge from China and India into Europe set the stage for the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution later on

Pictured Above is an Arabic translation of the Materia Medica 1224

Notable Figures

Ibn Battuta The "Islamic Marco Polo" (1304-1369)

Lubna of Córdoba Islamic Mathematician 10th Century (10th Century - 901-1000)

Hunayn ibn Ishaq Leading Translator at the House of Wisdom (809-873)

Trade and the Flow of Technology

"Go in quest of knowledge, even unto China." - Muhammad

Islam and Other Religions (1200-1450)

● Early Islamic states were tolerant of other religions, particularly Christian and Jewish faiths

● Christians and Jews were considered "people of the book" but had to pay a tax called "jizya"

● The jizya tax encouraged conversion to Islam

● Clash between Christians and Muslims manifests as the Crusades- wars over control of holy sites

Islam in West Africa

● Islam spread to West Africa through the Trans-Saharan trade routes (rather than through conquest)

● One example- Mali Empire and Mansa Musa

● Hajj to Mecca was 2700 miles (4300km)

● 12,000 slaves carrying gold

● 60,000 men dressed in the finest silk

● 80 camels also carrying gold

● North Africa, West Africa, and the horn of Africa are predominantly Muslim today

Islam in Asia

● Sufi missionaries in India- also went into China

● Spread into China via the Silk Road trade routes

● During the Tang and Song Dynasties mosques were built in China that combined Arabic and Chinese architecture

● Zheng He, famous Chinese explorer from Yunnan was born into a Chinese Muslim family

● Zheng He also worshipped Tianfei, the Chinese patron goddess of sailors

1.3

Developments in South and Southeast Asia 1200-1450

South and Southeast Asia

These are the modern-day boundaries of many of the countries in both South and Southeast Asia

The Chola Dynasty (850-1267)

● Hindu Empire- largely rejected Buddhism and Jainism

● Maritime trade with Tang China and Abbasid Caliphate

● Greatest maritime empire in India

● Influenced Southeast Asia through maritime trade and conquest

● Continued temple-building traditions of previous dynasty

● Influenced the architecture of Hindu temples in Indonesia

Imperial Pandyas (1216-1345)

● First ruler, Maravarman Sundara I, sent the Chola king Kulothunga III into exile

● This marked a series of conflicts that ultimately ended the Chola Dynasty

● Temple-centered Hinduism and major part of the bhakti movement

Bhakti Movement

a movement in medieval Hinduism that sought to bring religious reforms to all strata of society (challenging the caste system) by adopting the method of devotion to achieve salvation.

The Nataraja Temple is dedicated to the form of Shiva as the lord of

dance. This is part of the bhakti movement!

The Bhakti Movement

● Bhakti= Devotion

● Followers have a personal devotion to a particular deity

● Emphasized music, dance, poetry, and rituals as a way to achieve direct union with the divine

● Considered an influential social reform

● Salvation was attainable by all and not limited to people of higher social status

Identifying Arguments

The bhakti movement has been described as social reform or rebellion in India. Bhaktis believed that through personal devotion to a Hindu deity, anyone-including women and people belonging to lower social classes- could achieve salvation. This was in contrast to the limiting of the path to salvation prior to the bhakti movement. The bhakti movement was not intended as form of rebellion, but rather it was a reworking of ancient traditions that drew upon ancient Hindu texts called the Vedas. Bhakti traditions are simply a continuation of the ideas in the Vedas.

Harihara and Bukka: The Brothers Who Founded the Vijayanagara Empire

● The brothers were originally Hindu Captured by Delhi Sultanate and converted to Islam

● Became generals and sent to southern India on a Delhi Sultanate mission

● Converted back to Hinduism and founded the Vijayanagara Empire

Recall from the last topic, Dar al-Islam, that the Delhi Sultanate was an Islamic Empire located primarily in northern India but whose borders fluctuated throughout the empire's existence.

The Vijayanagara Empire (1336-1646)

● Agricultural economy

● 300 sea ports, active maritime trade

● Tolerant of all religions but protected Hinduism

● Rulers were Hindu but eventually adopted some Islamic political traditions

● Bhakti movement was active in the empire

● Empire Caste system organized social structure

Northern India

Rajput Kingdoms

● Mostly Hindu, but also Muslim and Sikh

● Disjointed clans often at war with each other

● Posed a major obstacle to Muslim dominance in North India

Delhi Sultanate

● Muslim

● More centralized government under a sultan

The Rajput Kingdoms demonstrate the diversity in the region of northern India. Different backgrounds and goals of the various clans made it impossible for the Rajput Kingdoms to force a cohesive political entity.

Religious Developments

Sufism | Bhakti Movement

Muslim vs Hindu

Mystic Religion + Mystic Religion

Sought converts vs Influenced Hindus \

Buddhist Monasticism

● Buddhism originates in India

● Monasticism is renouncing worldly pursuits to devote oneself to spiritual work (becoming a monk)

● Spreads to Tibet, East Asia, and Southeast Asia

The Sinhala Dynasties

● Became a Buddhist state before it had a centralized government

● Developed advanced irrigation techniques which spurred economic growth

● Had trade agreements with other states

● During the 1200-1450 time period, they dealt with many invasions that weakened the kingdoms

● Zheng He sailed to Sri Lanka in 1411 and defeated the ruler Vira Alakeshvara, taking him captive

Sinhala Dynasties located in present-day Sri Lanka

Moving on to Southeast Asia

Rise of the Srivijaya Empire (670-1025)

● Hindu and Buddhist commercial kingdom located on the island of Sumatra in present-day Indonesia

● Gained control of the Strait of Malacca-the narrow waterway between Sumatra and Malaysia

● Controlled trade between China and India by charging fees to access the route through the Straight of Malacca

Decline of the Srivijaya Empire (670-1025)

● Control of the Malacca Strait effectively "put a target" on the Srivijaya Empire

● The empire forced ships to dock in their territory which made stops on the east coast of India unnecessary due to the ability of ships to travel further without needing to stop

● Chola Dynasty attacked Srivijaya over this, captured ruler, sacked cities

Majapahit Empire (1293-1527)

● Located primarily on the island of Java 1293-1527

● One of the last major Hindu-Buddhist empires of the region

● One of the greatest and most powerful empires in the history of Indonesia and Southeast Asia

● Considered to have set the precedent for Indonesia's modern-day boundaries

Majapahit Empire (1293-1527) Cont.

● Ruled by a king thought to be divine (chakravartin)

● State officials assist and are organized in a hierarchy

● Government structure remains in-tact throughout the majority of the empire's existence

Khmer Empire (802-1431)

ចក្រភពខ្មែរ

● Located roughly in present-day Cambodia

● Larger than the Byzantine Empire

● Reason for its collapse is a mystery

Rise of the Khmer Empire

● Officially begins in 802, when King Jayavarman II declared himself chakravartin

● He was deified as king in the Hindu tradition

● Khmer Empire territory around 900 CE

Religion in the Khmer Empire

● Main religions practiced were Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism

● Theravada Buddhism sees mass conversions in the 14th and 15th centuries

● The switch to Theravada Buddhism is thought to be a possible contributing factor to the eventual decline of the empire

Indian Influence on the Khmer Empire

Indian Caste System

The system derives it authority from the Vedas- ancient texts\

Khmer Caste System

The system derives it authority from the chakravartin- ruler with

divine authority

Both

Societal Organization

Organization of Society

● King- chakravartin

● Brahmins- priests

● Kshastriyas- royalty, warriors

● Merchants, artisans

● Rice farmers, fishermen ➜ Rice farmers and fishermen made up the largest portion of the Khmer population

● Slaves ➜ by war, by purchase, by birth

Water-fueled Empire (But NOT a maritime empire!)

● Rice farming sustains large population

● Rice planted along rivers such as the Mekong

● Tonlé Sap is a freshwater lake used for fishing

● Monsoon climate = fluctuations in water supply

● Angkor Wat becomes the "Hydraulic City"

Canals, dykes, moats, barays (reservoirs) - the West Baray is the earliest and largest manmade structure that can be spotted from space. The reservoirs were so big that entire cities could fit inside

Conflict with the Sukhothai Kingdom

Sukhothai Thailand

● Khmer controlled Sukhothai land until a revolt in 1238

● Series of wars followed Sukhothai independence from the Khmer Empire

● Khmer capital of Angkor was sieged in 1353 and 1394

● Angkor fell and was abandoned by 1431

● Post-Angkor Cambodia is referred to as the "Dark Age" until the 180os

Reasons for the Fall of the Khmer Empire

● Failing Water Systems

● Theravada Buddhism

● Sukhothai Invasions

Spread of Islam

Hindu and/or Buddhist states that had Muslim populations:

● Rajput Kingdoms

● Srivijaya Empire

● Majapahit Kingdom

1.4

State Building in the Americas

The Americas

State Systems in the Americas:

● Maya city-states

● Olmec Empire

● Aztec Empire (Mexica)

● Inca Empire

● Chaco Civilization

● Mesa Verde Civilization

● Mississippian Civilization

The Maya City-States

General Time Periods of Maya Civilization - Preclassic (2000 BCE-250 CE) ➜ Classic (250-950) ➜ Postclassic (950-1539)

The Maya occupied the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and parts of Honduras

"Mayan" refers to the language while "Maya" refers to the people and their culture. No "s" is added to make "Maya" plural.

The Maya City-States cont.

● No centralized empire or state

● Mix of city-states and chiefdoms

● Preclassic- developed a system of divine rule in which the king was connected to deities

● Reinforced by rituals and public displays

City-State

a city and its surrounding area which is politically independent. Famous examples include the ancient Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta.

Commerce in the Maya City-States

● No pack animals- goods were carried by people for overland trade

● Goods transported by canoes on waterways

● Spanish records indicate there were thriving marketplaces

● Trade occurred throughout Mesoamerica

● Cotton, salt, vanilla, ceramics, and slaves were traded

Urban Centers and Architecture

● Ruins represent central and elite areas

● Commoners' homes have not survived

● Temples, pyramid structures, ball courts

Pictured Above is a model of Tikal (Example of Architecture)

Mayan Language and Writing

Religion and Ritual

● Maya culture has many deities

● Entire supernatural world

● Deceased ancestors offer a connection between the natural and supernatural

● The Quetzal bird's feathers are frequently found in later iterations of Mayan deities

Human Sacrifice

To satisfy or "nourish" deities, offers of animal sacrifice, human sacrifice, and human blood were made during religious rituals or ceremonies.

Picture Above is a depiction of a human sacrifice during the classic period

Decline of the Maya

Like we saw with the decline and fall of the Khmer Empire, the reasons for the decline and fall of the Maya aren't completely clear. Possible contributing factors include:

● Severe drought

● Warfare among city-states

● Logging

● Overpopulation

A Quick Look: The Olmecs

● 1600-400 BCE

● Known for their "colossal heads"

● Engaged in bloodletting and ballgames

● 1st civilization in Western Hemisphere to develop a writing system

● Concept of the number zero and calendars

The Aztecs (Mexica)

● Area in orange represents the largest extent of the Aztec Empire

● Tenochtitlan is the capital

● Located slightly west of Olmec and Maya

● Flourished in postclassic period from 1300-1521

Founding of Tenochtitlan

● Mexica peoples migrated south in present-day Mexico

● Vision of an eagle eating a snake on a cactus in 1323

● Tenochtitlan was founded as an island city on Lake Texcoco in 1325

Organization of Society

● Divine Ruler

● Priest, Warriors, Nobles

● Merchants, Traders

● Farmers, Artisans

● Peasants

● Slaves ➜ Indentured Servitude, War Captives

Maintaining power in the Aztec Empire

● Emperor of Tenochtitlan

● Formed the Aztec "Triple Alliance" which was the basis for the empire

● Built roads and temples, established a strong religious and government structures

● Constantly engaged in conquering nearby city-states

● Conquered states had to pay exorbitant tribute to Tenochtitlan

Mesoamerican States Timeline

The Inca Empire

● Inca Empire founded in 1438

● Began as city-state known as the Kingdom of Cusco

● Began expanding to eventually cover Peru, parts of Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina

● Largest empire in the Pre-Columbian Americas

Kingdom of Cusco Expands

Religion in the Inca Empire

Sapa Inca “Son of the Sun” Divine Ruler Descinded from Inti

● Second to the Sapa Inca was the Chief Priest

● Sapa Inca presided over religious festivals

● Incas were polytheistic

● Mummified the dead

● Performed sacrifices (qhapaq hucha)

The Incan Ice Maid

● Discovered completely frozen on Mount Ampato in Peru

● Estimated to be 12-15 years old

● Victim of child sacrifice (qhapaq hucha)

● Perfectly preserved artifacts from the Incan Empire

Incan Economy

● Subsistence Economy

● mit'a- performing labor obligations as a form of tax

● No currency- barter and mit'a system

● Limited trade with outside states

● Roads and bridges connected the empire

● People traveled on foot while goods were moved by llama, the only domesticated pack animal in the Pre-Columbian Americas

Maintaining Control in the Empire

● Communication System of chasquis

● Bonfires signaled revolts

● Four distinct regions unified under Cusco

● Intentional displacement of new populations

● People were divided into sections of taxpayers

● Hierarchy of officials governed taxpayers

● Inspectors called tokoyrikoq enforced laws and Incan moral codes

Incan Moral Precepts

Ama Sua: Do NOT Steal

Ama llula: Do NOT Lie

Ama quella: Do NOT be Lazy

Pre-Columbian North America

Mississippian Cultures (800-1600 CE)

● Native American civilizations in present-day Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States

● Extend along and east of the Mississippi River

● Built large earthen mounds

● Matrilineal society

● Extensive trade networks

● Chiefdoms

Cahokia Mounds

The Mississippian city of Cahokia was one of the largest and most impressive pre-Columbian cities in North America. Notice the mounds are centrally located.