Unit 1: Topic 4 - State-Building in the AMERICAS

Unit 1: Topic 4 - State-Building in the Americas

Mesoamerican Civilizations

• Context - Maya civilization (before 1200)

  • decentralized city-states that were often at war

  • fought to create vast tributary network among neighbors

  • human sacrifice to sun god

• Aztec Empire (1345-1528)

  • Mexica people (semi-nomadic)

  • building of military power & marrying powerful people

  • decentralized - tributary system

  • human sacrifice for sun god/motivation for expansion

  • legitimacy through claimed heritage from old renowned Mesoamerican people

  • capital: Tenochtitlan

  • commercialized economy to some degree (markets)

Andean Civilizations

• Societies in Andean mountains

• Incan Empire

  • established where Wari use to be (took many inspirations from older civilizations)

  • outsiders who rose to power - military

  • expansion

  • centralized power w/ bureaucracy

  • Mit’a System - labor of all people for some time each year (mining/military)

North American Civilization

• Mississippian Culture

• Mesa Verde

• Chaco

-Impact: Continuity and Innovation from previous states by using elements from older civilizations. success through expansion. Mostly by military means.