Study Notes: The First Americans (Olmec to Eastern Woodlands)
Origins and Early Settlement of the Americas
Native stories say they've always been here, but many scholars think people came from Asia across a land bridge called Beringia, between 9{,}000 ext{ and } 15{,}000 years ago.
When the ice melted, Beringia was covered by water (Bering Strait), so later people used boats.
DNA evidence (Y chromosome) supports this Asia-to-America migration.
These early people moved south, creating many different cultures.
Some think people also traveled along the coast by water.
Around 10{,}000 years ago, people started farming, growing plants and raising animals, alongside hunting and gathering.
Farming helped populations grow and led to permanent towns, especially in Central America (Mesoamerica).
This farming change helped complex societies grow worldwide.
The Olmec: The Mother Culture of Mesoamerica
The Olmec lived on Mexico's Gulf Coast from about 1200{,} ext{-}400 ext{ BCE}.
They believed in many gods, some with both male and female traits, and performed blood sacrifices.
Maize (corn) was grown by 5000 ext{ BCE} and was their main food.
They made a calendar to predict events like eclipses, which priests used for farming.
The Olmec had the first writing system in the Western Hemisphere, seen on temples.
They traded items like obsidian and chocolate (cacao beans), which helped a rich class form.
The Olmec culture heavily influenced later Maya and Aztec groups.
They are known for giant head sculptures, the Pyramid at La Venta, and water systems (aqueducts).
Their decline is unclear, but their cities were taken over by the jungle, yet their ideas lived on.
The Maya: Calendar, Writing, and Urban Centers
After the Olmec, Teotihuacan, a major city near modern Mexico City, became important.
Teotihuacan had over 1 imes 10^5 people around 500 ext{ CE}, 30 ext{ miles} northeast of today's Mexico City.
It had many apartment buildings, over 100 temples, and huge pyramids like the Sun ( ext{about } 200 ext{ ft}) and Moon ( ext{about } 150 ext{ ft}) Pyramids.
Human sacrifices were part of their religion.
Teotihuacan was also a big trading place.
The Maya, living from about 2000 ext{ BCE} to 900 ext{ CE} (in parts of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala), created advanced calendars, a written language, and math to keep records.
Their big cities like Copán, Tikal, and Chichén Itzá had temples, pyramids, and places to watch stars.
Large Maya cities declined around 900 ext{ CE}, likely due to dry weather and bad soil.
The Maya wrote using glyphs (symbols). Many of their books were burned by the Spanish in 1562, so few are left.
The Aztec: Tenochtitlán, Society, and Rituals
When Cortés came to Mexico in the 1520s, he found Tenochtitlán, a magnificent city built on an island in Lake Texcoco.
The Aztec (Mexica) founded Tenochtitlán in 1325 ext{ CE} after moving from a legendary place called Aztlán.
By 1519, Tenochtitlán had over 2 imes 10^5 people, likely more than many cities in Europe at the time.
It was a well-planned, clean city with specific areas, trash pickup, markets, two fresh water pipes, and many public buildings and temples.
Conquered tribes had to provide enslaved people for labor to build the city and its three roads to the main land.
They used "chinampas" (floating gardens) to make fertile land in the lake, watered by lake water; you can still see these today.
Their religion had many gods for nature (sky, farming, etc.).
A ruling class of warriors and priests did daily human sacrifices to keep the sun moving and ensure good harvests.
This system relied on work and payments from conquered people to support the powerful leaders.
The Inca: Empire, Roads, and Records
The Inca Empire stretched about 2{,}500 ext{ miles} along the Pacific coast and Andes mountains, from modern Colombia to Chile.
They built cities high in the mountains (up to 14{,}000 ext{ ft}) and had a great system of roads.
They didn't use wheels, but built stepped roads for people and animals. "Chasquis" (runners) sent messages quickly.
The Inca had no traditional writing. They used "quipu" (knotted colored strings) for records and counting.
Their ruler had complete power. Farmers paid taxes by doing labor for the state ("mita") and helped with public projects.
Food was stored for times of hunger, and the ruler gave laws and safety for labor.
They grew crops like corn, beans, squash, quinoa, and potatoes, using leveled fields on steep slopes.
The sun god Inti was most important; gold was seen as the "sweat" of the sun.
Human sacrifice was rare, only for very serious emergencies.
Machu Picchu, found again in 1911, was built around 1450 ext{ CE} for religious events. It's about 50 ext{ miles} northwest of Cusco at 8{,}000 ext{ ft} high and became a UNESCO site in 1983.
Native Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands and the Pueblo Southwest
In the Eastern Woodlands, Native groups were smaller and more spread out, not like the big empires.
The Pueblos, in North America's Southwest, lived in permanent, multi-story towns made of stone and mud. Key groups were Mogollon, Hohokam, and Anasazi.
Mogollon (about 150 ext{ BCE} to 1450 ext{ CE}) made black-on-white pottery with designs.
Hohokam (from about 600 ext{ CE}) built complex canal systems to water the desert, supporting many people, and made red pottery and turquoise jewelry.
Anasazi (until about 1300 ext{ CE}) lived in cliff homes, using ladders for defense.
Cahokia, in the Mississippi River Valley, was perhaps the biggest Native American city in North America. Around 1100 ext{ CE}, it was a five-square-mile city with over 10{,}000 people and about 120 earth mounds, a major center for politics and trade. It declined after 1300 ext{ CE}.
The Hopewell Culture (Ohio River Valley) was strongest from the 1^{st} ext{ century CE} to about 400 ext{ CE}, living in small villages and trading widely. They made detailed crafts and large burial mounds that showed social levels.
Many Eastern Woodlands tribes (like Iroquois) were matriarchal, meaning women had important roles.
Europeans changed Native American gender roles and land ideas.
Native people generally didn't believe in owning land privately, unlike Europeans who saw land as personal wealth. This difference caused much conflict.
Connections, Implications, and Overall Themes
Early cultures like the Olmec set the stage for later Maya and Aztec groups, who also traded and shared religious ideas.
There was huge diversity: from big empires (Aztec, Inca) to smaller, regional cultures (Eastern Woodlands, Southwest).
These cultures showed great smarts, from farming advances (corn, irrigation, floating gardens, terraces) to complex roads (Inca) and advanced calendars and writing (Maya).
Environment, like dry spells and bad soil, affected how civilizations rose and fell (e.g., Maya and Cahokia).
Europeans brought terrible results: diseases, conquest, and the destruction of Native cultures (like burning books and new land ideas).
The impact of these civilizations lives on, seen in UNESCO sites (like Machu Picchu, named in 1983) and new discoveries.
Key Figures, Sites, and Terms (Reference Points)
Beringia and Bering Strait: A land mass then water passage connecting Asia and North America. DNA shows a link.
Maize domestication: Around 5000 ext{ BCE}, corn started being grown.
Olmec: Gulf Coast people. Known for rain and maize gods, feathered serpent, huge head sculptures, La Venta pyramid, water pipes, cacao trade, and first writing.
Teotihuacan: Has the Sun ( ext{about } 200 ext{ ft}) and Moon ( ext{about } 150 ext{ ft}) Pyramids, Feathered Serpent Temple, city planning, and trade.
Maya: Advanced calendars and writing (glyphs). Major cities: Copán, Tikal, Chichen Itza. Declined around 900 ext{ CE} due to drought. Many books burned in 1562.
Aztec: Built Tenochtitlán on Lake Texcoco, founded 1325 ext{ CE}. By 1519, had over 200{,}000 people. Used "chinampas" (floating gardens) and obsidian knives for sacrifices.
Inca: Empire had 2{,}500 ext{ miles} of roads (no wheels), "chasquis" (runners), and "quipu" (knotted strings for records). Taxes paid by "mita" (labor). Worshipped sun god Inti; gold was his "sweat." Machu Picchu built 1450 ext{ CE}, abandoned ~1550 ext{ CE}, UNESCO 1983.
Eastern Woodlands and Pueblos: Groups include Mogollon, Hohokam, Anasazi (Pueblo people until 1300 ext{ CE}). Cahokia was a major mound city around 1100 ext{ CE}. Hopewell culture active from 1^{st} ext{ century CE} to 400 ext{ CE}. Many Eastern Woodlands groups like Iroquois were matriarchal. Land ownership was a main conflict with Europeans.
Notable Dates Recap (for quick REF)
9{,}000 ext{ to }15{,}000 years ago: people came to Americas via Beringia.
10{,}000 years ago: farming began in Americas.
5000 ext{ BCE}: maize (corn) grown.
1200{,} ext{ BCE} to 400{,} ext{ BCE}: Olmec civilization.
Teotihuacan population over 100{,}000 around 500 ext{ CE}.
Pyramid of the Sun (200 ext{ ft}) and Pyramid of the Moon (150 ext{ ft}) heights.
Tenochtitlán founded 1325 ext{ CE}; Cortés arrived 1519 ext{ CE}.
Bishop Diego de Landa burned Maya books 1562.
Inca empire 2{,}500 ext{ miles}; Machu Picchu built 1450 ext{ CE}, left around ~1550 ext{ CE}; listed by UNESCO 1983.