AP world 2.2

Lesson 2.2: American Cultures, 1200–1450

Main Characteristics of Major Cultures in the Americas

North of Mexico: Mississippian Culture

• Moundbuilders:

  • Mississippians are known as Moundbuilders, a term also applicable to other early American civilizations.

  • Characteristics:

  • Built enormous mounds.

  • Imitated aspects of Central American cultures.

• Agriculture and Crops:

  • Relied on the 'three sister' crops: corn, beans, and squash.

• Religion and Games:

  • Practiced animistic religions.

  • Played the ball game.

• Urban Development:

  • Cities were laid out similarly to Mesoamerican civilizations.

• Cahokia:

  • Largest city north of Mexico with a population of approximately 40,000 residents.

  • Only surpassed in size around 1800 by Philadelphia.

• Eastern Tribes:

  • Other cultures existed that farmed along the East Coast and participated in seasonal foraging.

  • Farmed on river bottoms in the Great Plains, occasionally hunting buffalo.

  • Northwest natives, with abundant rainfall, preferred foraging due to plentiful resources.

• Southwestern Cultures:

  • Tribes like the Hohokam and Anasazi engaged in agriculture despite limited water supply.

  • Developed complex irrigation systems for farming.

  • Created ceremonial and residential complexes in cliff dwellings like Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon, featuring multi-story buildings.

  • Engaged in trade with Central America for items such as turquoise, copper, and seed corn.

• Disruptions:

  • Late Postclassical centuries brought water issues and competition for food, leading to settlement abandonment and relocation, similar to Maya society.

Central America: The Aztecs

• Origins:

  • According to legends, migrated from Aztlan, settling on Lake Texcoco as revealed by an eagle on a cactus.

• Cultural Development:

  • Nahautl-speaking foragers became the Mexica by linking with established peoples in Central Mexico.

  • Capital city: Tenochtitlán named after an ancestor, Tenoch.

• Agriculture and Economy:

  • Practiced intensive agriculture through chinampas and irrigation, enabling urban specialization beyond farming.

  • Trade often conducted through barter systems.

  • Example: Three cacao beans for a turkey egg; thirty cacao beans for a small rabbit.

• Political Structure and Military:

  • Formed the Triple Alliance in 1428, controlling approximately 500 smaller city-states, with a population of 5 to 6 million.

  • Conquered regions became client states instead of provinces, with tribute based on local commodities.

• Tribute System and Feudal Characteristics:

  • Non-occupation of conquered regions; leaders often retained or were chosen anew, strengthening alliances through marriage.

  • The empire was characterized by feudal-like relationships rather than strict imperial control.

• Cultural Practices:

  • Inherited aspects from earlier cultures like the Maya and Toltecs, including calendar systems.

  • Conducted New Fire Ceremony every 52 years, lighting new flame from sacrificial victim.

• Deities and Beliefs:

  • Worshiped gods like Quetzalcoatl and Huitzilopochtli (god of sun and war).

  • Central themes: life and death, leading to frequent blood sacrifices believed necessary for sun and agricultural fertility.

• Flower Wars:

  • Special bouts against enemies with ritualistic significance, where warriors strived to capture skilled opponents for sacrifice rather than kill indiscriminately.

  • Emphasis on military skill, where attire indicated rank and capability.

  • Rituals preceded combat, minimizing violence, with emphasis on wounding and capturing.

• Sacrificial Occurrences and Frequency:

  • Debate exists on the frequency of sacrifices; occurred on significant spiritual occasions or festivals, potentially involving thousands of victims.

South America: The Incas

• Rise to Power:

  • Named themselves Tawantinsuyu, “The Four Quarters,” establishing Cuzco as the political center.

  • Expansion through scouting and diplomacy, with many regions capitulating under threat of force or lure of benefits.

• Road Systems:

  • Created extensive network (Carpa Nan) of approximately 25,000 miles of stone roadways for trade and governance.

  • Llama and human transport replaced conventional wheeled vehicles; trade volume remained light.

  • Messengers could traverse about 150 miles per day.

• Records and Histories:

  • No writing system; methodology involved quipu (knotted strings) and oral transmissions by memorizers.

• Societal Structure:

  • Populations organized into groups for labor, military, and support down to the level of ten.

  • Encouraged self-sufficiency with grain storehouses created for emergencies.

• Craftsmanship:

  • Incan craftsmen excelled in gold, silver (symbolic of sun and moon), and stone works.

  • Architecture showcased vulnerability to earthquakes through trapezoidal walls and distinct imperial style visible across the empire.