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Before Contact with Europeans
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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
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Olmecs
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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
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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
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Chavin
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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
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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
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Mayan Empire
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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
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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
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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)
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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!!
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Teotihuacan
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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
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Toltecs
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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
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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
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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
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Aztecs
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Inca Empire
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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
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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
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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)
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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