1.4 State Building in the Americas (1200-1450)

Mesoamerica

• Historical Context: Maya Civilization (250-900 CE)
  • Built huge urban centers.
  • Sophisticated writing system.
  • Complex math, including the concept of zero.
  • Decentralized collection of city-states frequently at war.
  • Sought to create tributary states, where conquered regions remained somewhat independent but paid tribute (textiles, weapons, building materials).
  • Emphasis on human sacrifice: Believed the sun deity needed the energy of human blood to combat darkness.

Aztec Empire (1345-1528)

• Mexica people: Semi-nomadic group who migrated south in the 14th century.

  • Built military prowess and strategically married into powerful families.
  • In 1428, they allied with two other Mesoamerican states to establish the Aztec Empire.

• Continuity with Older Mesoamerican States (e.g., Maya):

  • Decentralized political power structure with tributary states.
  • Conquered peoples provided regular tribute payments (food, animals, building materials).
  • Wars of expansion motivated by religious beliefs (human sacrifice for the sun god).
  • Claimed heritage from older, renowned Mesoamerican people to secure legitimacy.

• City-Building Projects:

  • Tenochtitlan: Capital city with a population of 150,000-200,000.
  • Vast marketplaces indicating a commercialized economy.
  • Elaborate palaces and pyramid temples (one 200 feet tall).

Andean Civilizations

• Wari: Significant earlier society that collapsed around 1000 CE.

• Inca Empire (mid-1400s):

  • Established in roughly the same area as the Wari and borrowed from older civilizations, including the Wari.
  • Similar to Aztecs: Outsiders who rose to power through military strength and rapid expansion.

• Differences from Aztecs:

  • Centralized power structure with a massive bureaucracy to ensure the ruler's will was followed.
  • Mita system: Required labor payments from conquered people for state projects (mining, military service) for a period of time each year.
  • Used systems employed by earlier civilizations like the Wari: religion-centered political structure and the use and expansion of infrastructure, including vast networks of roads and bridges.

North America

• Mississippian Culture (8th-9th century CE):

  • Established in the Mississippi River Valley.
  • First large-scale civilization in North America.
  • Society developed around farming due to fertile soil.
  • Political structure dominated by powerful chiefs known as the Great Sun, ruling each town and extending power over smaller settlements.
  • Hierarchical society.
  • Extensive mound-building projects as burial sites and for religious ceremonies.
    • Cahokia: Largest urban center with the biggest mound.

• Chaco and Mesa Verde Societies (Southwest US):

  • Developed after the rise of the Mississippian culture.
  • Dry climate required innovative water transport and storage methods.

• Chaco:

  • Carved sandstone blocks and imported timber to build massive structures.

• Mesa Verde:

  • Built housing complexes into the sides of cliffs using sandstone.