HIS 141 Chapter 13 South Americana and Oceania

Chavin

A religious civilization of the Peruvian Andes popular c. 900-300 B.C.E., notable for its wide artistic influence.

Nazca

The people of this 800 year South American civilization resided in an area so dry they built underground irrigation canals. While they created beautiful pottery and textiles, they are most well known for their lines.

llamas

Use of these dramatically increased the scale of commercial exchange between ecological zones in northwestern South America.

ayllu

This term means "clan." Members of these held land communally and had labor obligations to each other and to their chiefs.

coca leaves

Along with pulque and chica, these were seen as essential to ritual life in South American civilizations. They were dried and chewed as a stimulant. Today they are a source of cocaine.

Mochica

This group was based in the valley of the Moche River but dominated the surrounding territory from c. 300-700 C.E. While they left no written language, their extensive painted pottery reveals much about their theocratic and highly stratified society.

colonists

In order to guarantee access to essential goods from a variety of environments, ayllus sent these out. They remained linked to their original region and kin group through marriage and ritual.

Inca

In the early 1400s, this formerly semi-nomadic pastoralist group settled in the Valley of Cuzco.

Pachacuti

In 1438, this king began the dramatic expansion of Inca territory by conquering northern and southern highlands and then the Chimu.

chuño

These freeze-dried potatoes were stored by the Inca in government warehouses and used to feed the old, weak,

and ill of Inca society as well as those in areas afflicted by famine.

ashlar

This was an Inca technique of carefully carving stones and fitting them together without mortar.

quipu

Mnemonic aid consisting of an array of small cords of assorted colors and lengths suspended from one cord. Knots tied on the cords stood for information of all sorts.

chasquis

Runners who traveled Inca roads as a kind of postal service.

Quechua

This was the official language of the Incas.

Inti

This was the name of the Inca sun god from whom Inca rulers claimed they were descended.

Acllas

These women were drafted by the Inca and served their whole lives either as virgins dedicated to Inca gods or as concubines of the king.

Francisco Pizarro

In the 1530s, this Spanish conquistador led an expedition which conquered the Incas.

Hernán Cortés

This Spanish conquistador, aided by La Malinche and allied with resentful Mexica subject peoples, conquered the Mexica in 1519.

European Diseases

This was the biggest killer of Native Americans; historians estimate these were responsible for the deaths of 80%-90% of Native Americans

Marae

Pacific island temple with a wall that divided sacred from profane space.

Ali 'i nui

The Hawaiian class of high chiefs were known as the

by taking hostages from the conquered tribes' ruling classes.

One way the Inca prevented rebellions was by

Torres Strait

This rose c. 8000 B.C.E. and separated New Guinea from Australia.

Australia

Residents of this island remained gatherer-hunters until the 1800s.

New Guinea

Residents of this island adopted agriculture c. 5000-3000 B.C.E.

Austronesian

Among the modern linguistic relatives of these languages are Filipino, Polynesian, and Malagasy.

Lapita

The name of the beach in New Caledonia where the earliest artifacts of this people were found.

South America

Historians theorize that a Polynesian group sailed to this place c. 300 C.E. where they learned of sweet potato cultivation and spread the technology throughout Oceania by 700 C.E

Pottery

The Lapita created a distinctive style of this by stamping pieces with geometric designs.

Kapu

This term translates as "taboo" or "forbidden"; in Hawaiian societies it indicated the best food and the finest clothing which were forbidden to those of lower status and meant exclusively for the eilte.

Boomerang

Hunting weapon used by Australian Aborigines.