before the first global age
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Before the First Global AgeChapter 2
America’s First Civilizations—Theories of Arrival
• First bands of hunters reached Americas across a land bridge linking Siberia to eastern Asia to Alaska
• Another theory: by boat• Hunters cross arctic waters and got to North America by sea
• New adaptions—planting crops, built permanent villages, growth in populations
America’s First Civilizations
• Earliest known North American civilization was the Olmecs• Characteristics of a civilization: cities, government, social
classes, religion, system of record keeping• Olmecs lived in Gulf of Mexico
Olmec Picturesleft—jade maskright—colossal head
Colossal Heads & Sports?
• Colossal heads—most recognized aspect of Olmec civilization
• Heads are now thought to be portraits of rulers dressed as ballplayers
• Mesoamerican ballgame• Olmecs possible creators of this game• Dozen rubber balls found in El Manati in 1600 B.C.• First court found in 1400 B.C.—don’t know if balls were to
go with this game
Mesoamerican ballgame
• Similar rules to racquetball—keep the ball in play; score a goal
• Ball made of a mix of latex producing plants—3-6 pounds• Played by other pre-Columbian cultures• Players struck ball with hips, forearms, rackets, bats, hand
stones (depends on rules/culture)• Human sacrifice• Loss could equal death• Decapitation common—speculation that head was then used as
a ball
Mesoamerica ball field
Ball field in Guatemala
Put ball through hole on wall to score?
Depiction of sacrifice
America’s First Civilizations
Mayas• Lived in rainforests of modern-day
Guatemala & Mexico• Became great farmers after moving
from rainforests • Social classes—priests, nobles,
farmers• Educational advances• Astronomy/math• Created first 365 day calendar
• Mysteriously abandoned cities around 900 A.D.
Aztecs• Settled around Lake Texcoco
in central Mexico• Built the capital Tenochtitlan• Religion• Worshipped the sun god• Human sacrifice
• Eventually ruled an empire of millions, spanning from Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific
Theory of Mayan Abandonment
• Many theories as to why the Mayans just left are out there, including:• Overpopulation• Environmental disaster• Epidemic disease• Drought • Exhausted agricultural potential/overhunting megafauna
(large animals—white tailed deer, red kangaroos)
Mayans—note craftsmanship…they didn’t have cranes/modern technology to build this stuff
Uxmal Nunnery Quadrangle
North Acropolis in Tikal
Mayan calendar
More on the Aztecs
• Aztec human sacrifice• Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan rededication—sacrificed 84,400 prisoners
over 4 day period (now we think 2,000)• Sometimes cannibalistic
• Primary enemies—the Spanish• Conquest by Hernan Cortes• Had early battles; then became allies with Aztec enemy—confederacy of
Tlaxcala• Arrived at gates of Tenochtitlan in November 1519• Hostilities break out in June 1520• Destroyed temple and killed Montezuma II (Aztec ruler)
• City destroyed by 1521
Colonial population decrease of Aztecs & others
• 1520-1521• Outbreak of smallpox hits Tenochtitlan• 10-50% of population died from smallpox• Ultimate fall of city
• Two more epidemics hit Mexico • Smallpox again 1545-1548• Typhus 1576-1581
• Over 60 years, the population in the Valley of Mexico
declined by more than 80% because of Spanish conquest
Aztec pyramid at St. Cecilia Acatitlan
Aztec feather headdress
Aztec sacrifice as shown in Codex Magliabechiano (basically a textbook)…Spain had many of these codices published after voyages
Map of Aztec empire in 1519
Hernan Cortes/Cortes w/ Montezuma (famous emperor)
Cortes
America’s First Civilizations
• Incas• Capital was Cuzco; empire stretched over west coast of S.
America• Center of Cuzco included the emperor’s palace, called Sapa
Inca (title given to emperor—like President Obama)• Emperor used governors to rule over vast lands• Incas=engineers• Built forts and temples (could move 200 ton rocks with
manpower and ropes!)• Created terraces in mountainsides for farming
Incan empire
Cuzco
Incan Claim to Fame
• Machu Picchu• 50 miles northwest of Cuzco• Built as an estate for Pachacuti (ruled from 1438-1472)• Started building around 1400 for the Incan rulers• Unknown by Spanish—therefore, very intact ancient and
highly significant cultural site• Has been reconstructed to modernize it
Machu Picchu—1911 @ time of discovery
• Statue of Pachacuti in Peru—manfor whom Machu Picchu was built
Terracesgraduated steps used to farm on hilly or mountainous terrainIncan empire was focused in western South America, near Andes Mountains
Sacsayhuaman—Incan fortress
America’s First Civilizations
• Mayan and Aztec cultures had an effect on early North American cultures• A culture is a way of life of a group of people
• Hohokams and Anasazis were two groups that emerged• Anasazi built houses that formed pueblos (villages)
Anasazi settlementMesaverde Cliff Palace in Colorado
• Pictures of villages
Pueblo Bonitol in Chaco Canyon (New Mexico)
Native American Cultures
Native American Cultures
• Columbus thought he landed in the Americas in 1492…not even close!• Called the people living there
“Indians”…thought he was near East Indies (Asia)• Indian term is misleading—hundred
of tribes; all different
Christopher Columbus Bio
• Not the guy we all think he is…• Very selfish…went on
voyages for riches and glory
• His initial exploration brought over many diseases…responsible for deaths of many as an direct result of that
Native American Cultures
• Culture Areas of North America• Each area had different tribes, ranging
from coast to coast• Nat. Americans met basic needs by
hunting, fishing, farming, and trading between tribes
Native American Cultures
Far North and Plateau Regions• Far North• Icy and cold climate
(Canada/Alaska)• Popular tribes—Inuits, Nez
Perces• Nomads—roamers
• Plateau region• Cold and dry climate• Popular tribe—Utes
Northwest Region• Better climate=more
complex culture• Those in Pacific
Northwest built permanent villages
• Had good harvests; able to fish
Native American Cultures
• Southeast Region• Cherokee
(right)/Natchez were renown tribes
• Warm climate; hunted, fished, farmed along Gulf Coast
Native American Cultures
• Had many shared beliefs, including:• Respect for nature• Believed in the power of spirits and
mother nature• Special ceremonies•Held ceremonies to ensure good
rainfalls (for harvesting)
Ceremonial Pictures
• Green Corn Ceremony • Kachina doll—given to children as teaching tool
Native American Cultures
• Iroquois Confederacy• Group in Eastern Woodlands region (New York)• Lived in long houses• Women harvested and planted, men moved in with wife’s
family; also held some political power by choosing clan leaders
• Iroquois had five nations: Mohawk, Seneca, Onondaga, Oneida, and Cayuga
• Five nations joined forces in 1570 forming the League of the Iroquois
Native American Cultures
Pictures of Iroquois
Long house—up to 150 feet w/ 12 families
Trade Networks of Africa and Asia
Trade Networks of Africa and Asia
• First global age began when people started trading goods and services from distant places
• Arab merchants played huge role in growing trade• Spread their religion=Islam (through trade and conquest)• Silk Road—known for Chinese silks• Trade routes traveled by Muslims • Linked China and the Middle East
Trade Networks of Africa and Asia
• African Trading States• East African trade• Gold in Zimbabwe carried to China/India• $$$ from gold allowed East African rulers to build city-states• Large town that has a govt. and controls surrounding countryside
• West Africa—Timbuktu (major trading city)
Trade Networks of Africa and Asia
• African life was different across the continent• Most people did not partake in trading• Lived in small villages with extended families• Religious beliefs varied• Still a lot like this today
• Chinese Voyages of Trade and Exploration• Emperor suspicious of outsiders (no trust)• The Great Treasure Fleet—1402• Emperor orders ships to leave China and go on voyages to expand
business• Returned with goods/animals
Zheng He—voyage leader of Great Treasure Fleet
Zheng He voyages
Tradition and Change in Europe
Tradition and Change in Europe
• European ships sailed to explore the world in the 1400s• Brought traditions that affected the world• Christianity and Judaism• Judaism—Israelites believed in one God and wanted to obey
his laws• Christianity believes Jesus is the Son of God who was sent to
save all people• Belief in 10 commandments and some Jewish laws
Tradition and Change in Europe
Greek government• Greece enters golden age
around 500 B.C.• Lived in small city-states,
ruled by monarchs• Created first direct
democracy• Ordinary citizens have power to
rule• People think/act for themselves
Roman government and law• Absorbed ideas from places
conquered, including Greece • Overthrew king in 509 B.C.
and formed a republic• Citizens choose representatives
to rule for them• Faced opposition from Julius
Caesar and Octavian• Empire lasted 500 years
BOTH FORMS OF GOVERNMENT WOULD SHAPE AMERICAN HISTORY
Julius Caesar
• Dictator for life• Political reforms• Relieved debt• Increased Senate size to
help with representation• Ides of March• Concern over gaining too
much power by others• Assassinated on March 15th • Was to present himself to
the Senate, but killed by friends
• Organized by Brutus and Cassius
• Pic of Caesar
Greek ruins (Parthenon—upper right)
Map of Roman Empire
Tradition and Change in Europe
• The Middle Ages• Period from 500-1400 A.D.
• Feudalism• Form of government where kings and queens divided land
among lords• Social rankings• Lords• Nobles• Peasants/serfs
Tradition and Change in Europe
• Daily life in feudal society• Revolved around the manor• Included lord’s castle and surrounding lands• Included multiple villages
• Manors=self-sufficient• Roman Catholic Church• Powerful force—influenced nearly everything• Owned tons of land• Source of education (clergy often only could read/write)
Feudal Cycle
Manor Layout
Tradition and Change in Europe
• The Crusades• Series of wars fought by
Christians (vs. Muslims)• Fought over the Holy Land
(Jerusalem)• Multiple wars lasting over
200 years (1100-1300 A.D.)• Christians won small
victories, but not control of Holy Land
• Results of the Crusades• Growth of trade• New navigational
knowledge• Europe acquires sailing
skills & magnetic compass
• Astrolabe—helped sailors determine latitude at sea
Map of Holy Land (green)
Crusaders (red cross)
Crusades Map
Tradition and Change in Europe
• Renaissance (French word for “rebirth”)—late 1300s-1600s• Rebirth in literature, art, education, etc…
• Credited as being the bridge between Middle Ages and the modern era
• Word about discoveries quickly spread with invention of the printing press• Johannes Gutenberg
Gutenberg/Printing Press
What led to the Renaissance?
•A newly discovered vigor for life•Questioning of the Church•Change from the medieval way of
thinking, and a want for classical ideas
Origins and Why it Prospered
• Began in 1300 in Northern Italy• Eventually spread to northern Europe
• Reasons it prospered• Thriving cities• Wealthy merchant class• Important classical heritage
Secularism vs. Medieval Life
Secularism (worldly values)• Renaissance life was
more…• Materialistic• Self-indulgent• Concerned with the
present• Luxurious
Medieval Life (classical values)
• Medieval Life was more…• Religion based• Church had a lot of
power• Conservative lifestyle• Afterlife was of the
utmost importance
Art
• Renaissance brings along revolutionary changes in art
• Two key figures:• Leonardo da Vinci• Michelangelo Buonarotti
• Perspective style comes back (from one main point)
Perspective
Leonardo da Vinci
• Famous Renaissance painter and inventor
• One of his most famous works was the Mona Lisa
• Inventions• First “flying machine”
(helicopter)• Hydraulic pumps• Finned mortar shells• Steam cannon
Mona Lisa/Flying Machines
Michelangelo Buonarroti
• Renaissance architect, artist, and sculptor
• Architecture• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Artist• Sistine Chapel
• Sculptor• Statue of David
St. Peter’s Basilica
Sistine Chapel (ceiling)
Statue of David
Portuguese Voyages
• Portuguese voyages• Henry the Navigator—trained sailors; invented caravel—
triangular sails/steering rudder—could be sailed into wind• Stopped along coast of West Africa—found riches of gold,
ivory, and slaves• Vasco de Gama• Rounded the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)—not the first
to do it• Ends up in East Indies
Caravel
Henry the Navigator
de Gama’s route
Cape of Good Hope