Civilizations of the Americas

• Mexico and Central America• First cities began as religious centers

(China?)• Then developed into City-States• Not built on major rivers• No metal tools; no wheel (no big

animals)• No writing (except Maya)

Mesoamerica

• People arrived in the new world through a land-bridge

Early civilizations

• Olmecs- 1500 B.C.E.

• “Rubber people”• Settlements began

as religious centers• Stone heads• Foundation for

other Mesoamerican cultures

• Teotihuacan- c. 550-750 C.E.

• Constructed massive ceremonial complex

• Large population• Govt.: trade,

administration, construction

• Toltecs build religious center around the god Quetzalcoatl 900- 1170 C.E.

• Aztecs- originally nomadic• militaristic culture- constant warfare-

human sacrifice to please gods (Quetzalcoatl also a major god) Example of?

• Capital: Tenochtitlan• Destroyed by Spanish in 1521

Toltecs and Aztecs

Aztecs (Mexica)

• Power comes from alliances (political and military), control of water, and war- Originally nomadic mercenaries

• Tribute Empire- 1/4• Religion – little distinction between

sacred and secular - often oppressive – sacrifices- religion meant to ensure political legitimacy

• Worship of the sun god is a Mesoamerican continuity

• Food – Chinampas (floating gardens)

Aztecs cont.

• Society – Classes based on gender, clan, and occupation (warriors had highest status); no wheel; high population (150,000); city on a lake

• New Aztec emperor had to conquer new territory to legitimize their rule

• Conquered by Spanish (Hernan Cortes) in 1519• Diseases, weapons, alliances with Aztec

enemies

Chinampas

• 2500 B.C.E.- 1300 C.E. (Classic period 300-600 C.E.)

• Mexico and Central America• Influenced by Olmec, Teotihuacan• City-state political structure- were

independent and fought with each other• Stratified society• Great advances in science: concept of

zero, astronomy (calendar), temples

The Maya

• Mayan temples were built to aid in astronomical observations

• Maybe the most sophisticated calendar ever invented

• Actually 3 calendars• 365 day solar year• 260 day ritual year• 5,125 years of world time calendar• The Maya believed there were 5

worlds and that we are living in the fifth

The Mayan Calendar

• The solar year is exactly 365.2422 days• In 1582, the Gregorian calendar calculated

it at 365.2425 days, an error of .0003 per day

• The Maya calculated it at 365.2420 days, an error of .0002 per day

• Maya knew the time it took for the moon to orbit the earth

• Understood the concept of zero and place values

• Rome- 1848: MDCCCXLVIII

Facts

Incas

• South America, capital at Cuzco• Empire begins in 1430s• Mit’a system (labor system)- 1/7 males

for labor• Had Llamas• Extensive road networks (like

Persians)• All land owned by Inca state, then

distributed• Local chiefs allowed to govern

(Persians)• Highly stratified society (“you lookin’

at me?”)

Incas

• Sapa Inca- absolute power- had to secure new land and territory (like Aztecs)• Society- integrated subject peoples, long-

distance trade, domesticated animals• Tribute state (like Aztecs)• Worship the sun (like Aztecs)• Geography- Andes Mts. – terraced farming• Created a calendar (knowledge of astronomy)• No sacrifices • Conquered by Spanish (Francisco Pizarro) -1533

Terrace Farming

• In Mesoamerica- Aztec empire; originally nomadic; semi-writing

• In South America- Incas; quipus; runners

• Both built on traditions of predecessors

• Similar social, economic, and religious systems

• Did Mesoamerica and South America engage in frequent contact through trade?

Trade in the Americas