Before Contact with Europeans

Introduction Migration to the Americas

Early migrations from northern Asia to Alaska – occurred 35,000 to 15,000 years ago

Some contact with Polynesians possible Geography

Great geographical diversity – frozen regions, tropical rain forests, vast plains, heavily forested areas, and high mountain ranges○ Made farming impossible in some areas○ Long distance between arable areas made contact

between groups difficult Two main areas of agriculture○ Mesoamerica- Mexico and Central America○ Andean Mountain region – along the west coast of

S. America

Olmecs

Early American Civilizations Olmecs (1200-400 BCE)

Society○ Authoritarian and Hierarchal Priestly class Ruler and his family Artisans and merchants Labor class

Political○ Form of kingship○ Giant sculptures of heads. Evidence of

power of the ruling family.○ Fall was due to internal conflict

Early American Civilizations Olmecs

Cultural – SEE MAYANS!! Economic○Agricultural-based economy No large beasts of burden (horse, oxen) No wheeled vehicles Human labor did all the work

- BUT: Built elaborate drainage systems○Traded various products – salt, cacao,

clay and limestone○Developed religious centers which grew

into city-states

Chavin

Early American Civilizations Chavin (900 – 250 BCE)

Social○ Hierarchal Ruler and his family Priestly class Artisans and merchants Commoners

Political○ Empires were created to control 3 ecological

zones (coastal plains, mountain valleys, and tropical rain forests and connecting trade routes)

○ Some evidence of irrigation projects and organized military Shows political power of the central government

Early American Civilizations Chavin

Cultural○ Chavin religion spread to other areas,

perhaps Meso-America Economic○ Chavin capital, Chavin de Huantar was

situated along long distance trade routesTrade between west coast of S. America

and Andes mountain region○ Agriculture-based economyUsed llamas to carry things up and down

the mountains

Mayan Empire

Classical American Civilizations Maya (300-900 CE)

Social○ Rigid and strict classes

Political○ Rulers performed both priestly and political

functions Rulers NOT divine but able to communicate with gods

and ancestor spirits○ Fall of the Mayan Empire Around 800 CE – Mayan population moved out of

cities which soon fell into decline- No evidence as to why – possible explanations

include foreign invasion, civil war, disease

Classical American Civilizations Maya

Cultural○ Religion Polytheistic Some rituals called for human sacrifice

- Victims were prisoners of war Mayan priests constructed very advanced calendar for

religious ceremonies, planting/harvesting crops Economic○ Agriculture-based economy Practiced slash and burn agriculture Also built terraced fields along the river banks

○ Cities – built large cities Primarily religious and administrative cities

Classical American Civilizations

Maya Economic○Cities (cont.) Little trade conducted within the cities Included large pyramids, houses for the

elite, ritual ball courts Memorial alters and pillars

- To honor great actions of leaders- Inscribed with pictograms (similar to hieroglyphics)

Classical American Civilizations Teotihuacan (300-750 CE)Social○Priests were an important part of the

elite classPolitical○Teotihuacan was the name of the

capital city○City was well plannedEvidence of group of powerful families

ruling cooperativelyCultural – See Aztecs!!

Teotihuacan

Classical American Civilizations

TeotihuacanEconomic○Agriculture-based economy Irrigation produced abundance of

crops○TradeUnlike the Mayans, the Teotihuacan

had a large class of professional merchants who traded their products

Toltecs

Post-Classical American Civilizations Toltecs (950-1150 CE)

Social○ The priestly class was important part of the elite class○ Emphasis on military prowess Led to rise of an elite warrior class from which rulers would

emerge Political○ Created an extensive Empire from Central Mexico to

Yucatan Peninsula to Guatemala○ A strong militaristic legacy Allowed the Toltecs conquer or intimidate neighboring peoples Required “tribute” – in the form of treasure, food,

prisoners/slaves

Post-Classical American CivilizationsToltecsPolitical○ Had 2 rulers instead of 1, leading to

internal conflicts○ Decline due to internal fragmentation

Cultural○ Relied heavily on religious sacrifices to

satisfy the gods

Post-Classical American CivilizationsToltecsEconomic○Agriculture-based economy○The exchange of turquoise with

people in the American Southwest○Tributary payment from

surrounding areas was a large part of the Toltec economy

Aztecs

Post-Classical Civilizations Aztecs Social○ Militaristic aristocrats headed the social

structure○ Priests were advisors to the king and performed

religious rituals○ Warrior class – came from ordinary freemen

who proved themselves in battle○ Merchant class – conducted long-distance trade○ Serfs/Freemen○ Slaves – mainly prisoners of war or debtors○ Women were subservient to men but those who

bore warrior sons were given higher status

Post-Classical American CivilizationsAztecsPolitical○Tenochtitlan was the capital city○Emperor appointed military governors to

rule over conquered peoples○Empire stretched from Central Mexico to

Guatemala○Aztec military power - Led to tributary

empire Conquered peoples had to pay tribute – such

as food, luxury goods, and prisoners

Post-Classical American CivilizationsAztecsCultural○Religion played an extremely important

role in Aztec culture Large step pyramidsReligion provided political legitimacyHuman sacrifice practiced extensively

- Victims were mainly prisoners of war

Post-Classical American Civilizations Aztecs

Economic○ Agriculture-based economy Innovations include chinampas – floating islands for

growing food- Led to increase food production

○ Tribute system Gov’t controlled the distribution of tribute to the

population – noble class received the majority and commoners received much less

○ Long-distance trade Traded for luxury goods with neighboring peoples Carried by slaves or serfs because there were no beasts

of burden

Inca Empire

Post-Classical American CivilizationsIncas (1100-1540 CE)Social○ INCA (Emperor) was on top○ Aristocratic class – served emperor as advisors and

governors○ Priests○ Warrior class○ Peasants – organized into communities○ Patriarchal but women did have the ability to inherit

property

Post-Classical American Civilizations

Incas Political

○ Cuzco was the capital○ The Inca/Emperor owned all property and the commoners worked

for the Inca Mit’a system = all commoners owed required labor to the state for a

certain number of months each year, to build temples, roads, etc.○ The Inca/Emperor controlled the empire with:

Vast and powerful military Extensive network of roads

○ Alliances were made with neighboring rulers who swore allegiance to the Inca and were allowed to keep their ruling positions Paid tribute to the Inca which was then redistributed throughout the Inca

Empire

Post-Classical American CivilizationsIncasCultural○ Religion played an important role in the Inca

Empire Temples were built for religious rituals Human sacrifice was practiced but NOT as much

or as frequently as the Aztecs- Victims were mainly prisoners of war or as

tribute given by neighboring peoples○ The Incas had no written language Relied on system of knots (quipu)

Post-Classical American Civilizations Incas Economic○ Agriculture-based economy Innovations included terraced farming to utilize the

mountains Agricultural surplus was owned by the state and

stored in state storehouses- For use in times of shortages or famine

○ Mit’a system created a more socialized economy – people didn’t “own” property but instead worked for the good of the Inca people

○ No distinct merchant class Long distance trade was LESS important than the

Aztecs due to self-sufficiency and state regulation of production and surplus