ANCIENT_AND_CLASSICAL_AMERICAS

EARLY SOCIETIES OF MESOAMERICA

EARLY PRE-HISTORY

• Migration to Mesoamerica

  • First migrations occurred from Siberia to Alaska approximately 40,000 years ago.

• Agriculture Beginnings

  • Began around 7500 B.C.E. in Mesoamerica.

  • The Valley of Mexico emerged as the first center of agriculture.

  • Crops cultivated included beans, chili peppers, avocados, squashes, and gourds.

• Development of Agricultural Villages

  • Emerged after 3000 B.C.E.

  • Notable absence of large domesticated animals and wheeled vehicles.

THE OLMECS

• Overview

  • Known as the "rubber people," they settled along the Gulf Coast of Mexico around 1200 B.C.E.

  • Major sites included La Venta and Tres Zapotes.

• Social Structure

  • Olmec society was authoritarian in nature.

  • Colossal human heads may be likenesses of rulers, indicating political power.

  • Rulers demonstrated their authority through the construction of huge pyramids.

• Economy

  • Engaged in trade of jade and obsidian, key resources in Mesoamerican cultures.

• Decline

  • Civil conflicts likely led to the decline; by 400 B.C.E., they were eclipsed by other societies.

• Cultural Influence

  • Shared elements such as maize cultivation, ceremonial center formats, and cultural legacies like calendars, human sacrifice rituals, and ballgames with later societies.

OLMEC ART

• Distinctive Features

  • Known for colossal stone heads and sophisticated artwork that reflects religious and political themes.

EARLY GEOGRAPHY

• Key Locations in Mesoamerican Societies

  • Major Cities: Tula, Teotihuacán, and their geographical contexts.

  • Highlighted regions such as the Yucatán Peninsula, Gulf of Mexico, and important archaeological sites like Chichén Itzá and Tikal.

THE MAYA

• Origins

  • The Maya were the earliest heirs of the Olmecs, primarily existing in the highlands of Guatemala.

  • Teotihuacán rose to prominence in the 4th century C.E.

• Agriculture and Social Structure

  • Besides maize, Maya agriculture included cotton and cacao.

  • Social organization revolved around warfare, with warrior prestige and sacrifices as central themes.

• Decline

  • Beginning around 800 C.E., the Maya largely deserted their cities; reasons for decline remain ambiguous.

MAYAN SOCIETY

• Social Hierarchy

  • Elite Class: Comprised of kings, priests, and hereditary nobility.

  • Merchants: Often from the ruling class and played ambassadorial roles.

  • Peasants and Slaves: The majority of the population worked the land; slaves were often war captives.

• Calendrical Systems

  • The Maya developed complex calendars, including a solar year and a ritual year of 260 days.

• Writing System

  • Extensive use of hieroglyphics by scribes; only four pre-Columbian books survive.

MAYAN RELIGION

• Cultural Beliefs

  • The Popol Vuh narrates the Maya creation myth explaining the gods' role in creating humans from maize.

  • Agriculture cycles were maintained through divine appeasement involving bloodletting rituals, which were pivotal for agricultural fertility.

MAYAN TRADE

• Trade Networks

  • Developed extensive sea and land trade routes optimizing regional interactions.

  • Key products included salted meats, jade, cacao, obsidian, ceramics, and tools.

TEOTIHUACAN

• City Overview

  • Built in highlands of Mexico, notable for colossal pyramids and a prominent population of around 200,000 between 400-600 C.E.

• Societal Structure

  • Dominated by rulers and priests; significant portion of the population worked in agriculture.

  • Artisans became recognized for their obsidian tools and orange pottery.

• Cultural Legacy

  • Inherited cultural traits from the Olmecs, especially in religious traditions.

• Decline

  • Experienced military pressure beginning in roughly 500 C.E., leading to a gradual decline and eventual sack in the mid-8th century.

EARLY ANDEAN SOCIETY

• Migration and Agriculture

  • Hunters and gatherers migrated to South America by 12,000 B.C.E.

  • Transition to agriculture around 8000 B.C.E. culminating with the emergence of complex societies by 1000 B.C.E.

• Crops and Pottery

  • Key crops included beans, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and cotton.

  • The development of pottery, and temples reflect the sophistication of these early cultures.

CHAVIN AND MOCHE

• Chavín Cult

  • Dominated from approximately 900 to 800 B.C.E. with profound influences on Andean culture, vanishing by 300 B.C.E.

  • Artists left behind large temple complexes and intricate artwork.

• Mochica Society (300-700 C.E.)

  • Renowned for ceramics depicting various social classes; not a fully integrated societal network.

TOLTECS AND TULA

• Overview of Toltecs

  • Emerged after the collapse of Teotihuacan, establishing a state and powerful military from the mid-10th to mid-12th century.

  • Tula served as a central hub for weaving, pottery, and obsidian craftsmanship.

• Cultural Relationships

  • Maintained connections with Gulf Coast societies and the Maya.

  • Experienced decline due to civil strife and nomadic incursions in the late 12th century.
    ## EARLY AZTECS

• The Mexica

  • Known as Aztecs, they began migrating to central Mexico mid-13th century, settling in Tenochtitlan around 1345.

  • Developed chinampas for agriculture in the Lake Texcoco area.

• Empire Expansion

  • Conducted military campaigns in the 15th century, establishing dominance over Oaxaco.

• Tribute System

  • An empire that lacked a bureaucratic structure, ruling through oppressive tribute obligations from subjects.

MEXICA SOCIETY

• Social Hierarchy

  • Military elites occupied the top tier, followed by artisans, farmers, and merchants.

  • Women honored in society as mothers but held no public role.

MEXICA RELIGION

• Deities

  • Worshipped gods such as Tezcatlipoca, Quetzalcóatl, and Huitzilopochtli, reflecting their cultural narratives.

  • Human sacrifice was integral to their devotion, especially to the war god Huitzilopochtli.

SOCIETIES OF THE NORTH

• Pueblo and Navajo

  • Emerged in the American southwest, developing stone and adobe structures by 700 C.E.

• Iroquois Peoples

  • Formed an agricultural society in the Northeast with matriarchal governance.

• Mound Builders

  • Engaged in earthen mound construction used for various ceremonial and domestic purposes.

COMING OF THE INCA

• Chucuito and Chimu Cultures

  • Developed agricultural practices focused on potatoes and maize, establishing trade networks in the region.

THE INCA EMPIRE

• Expansion and Administration

  • Initiated by Pachacuti in 1438, growing over 4000 kilometers.

  • Utilized quipu for administrative records.

• Cuzco

  • Capital city with a population of 300,000; strategic roads facilitated communication and trade.

INCA SOCIETY

• Social Structure

  • Limited merchant class; peasants contributed labor and products to sustain the elite.

  • Society operated under a centralized, socialist-like model.

INCA RELIGION

• Belief Systems

  • Worshipped deities like Inti (sun god) and Viracocha (creator god).

  • Sacrifices included animals and agricultural products, with a strong sense of moral order.