Early South American Civilization: Early South American Civilization: The ChavinThe Chavin

(1200-250 B.C.E.)(1200-250 B.C.E.)

Chapter 2 / Section 3Chapter 2 / Section 3

FINISHED!!!FINISHED!!!

South AmericaSouth America

The Chavin in the AndesThe Chavin in the Andes

The Chavin in the AndesThe Chavin in the Andes

The Center of the Chavin and there The Center of the Chavin and there Areas of InfluenceAreas of Influence

““Cleaned-Up” Satellite Image of the Cleaned-Up” Satellite Image of the PeruPeru

Geography Geography

Mountain Core (Andes Mountains)Mountain Core (Andes Mountains)

Arid costal plainArid costal plain

Dense interior junglesDense interior jungles

Andes Mountains of PeruAndes Mountains of Peru

Agricultural Terraces in the Agricultural Terraces in the Foothills of PeruFoothills of Peru

Coastal Plains of PeruCoastal Plains of Peru

Interior Jungles of PeruInterior Jungles of Peru

Diverse environmentDiverse environment The development of specialized regional The development of specialized regional

productionproduction Complex social institutionsComplex social institutions Characteristic cultural valuesCharacteristic cultural values

↓↓ Interregional exchangesInterregional exchanges Shared labor responsibilitiesShared labor responsibilities

Earliest Urban Centers:Earliest Urban Centers:

Villages along the coastal plain or in the Villages along the coastal plain or in the foothills near the coastfoothills near the coast

Why there?Why there?

ReasonsReasons::

1) Dependable food supply (fish & mollusks)1) Dependable food supply (fish & mollusks)

2) Trade in seafood for corn & textiles2) Trade in seafood for corn & textiles

→ → Cultural exchange: ceremonial practices, Cultural exchange: ceremonial practices, religious beliefs, & art religious beliefs, & art

Mollusks: abalone, clams, oysters, Mollusks: abalone, clams, oysters, snailssnails

Mollusks cont.: octopus, squidMollusks cont.: octopus, squid

Caral in the Supe ValleyCaral in the Supe Valley(2600 B.C.E.)(2600 B.C.E.)

Characteristics considered hallmarks of later Characteristics considered hallmarks of later Andean civilizations:Andean civilizations:

Ceremonial plazasCeremonial plazas PyramidsPyramids Elevated platforms and moundsElevated platforms and mounds Extensive irrigation worksExtensive irrigation works

→ → Population of thousandsPopulation of thousands→ → Political structure capable of organizing Political structure capable of organizing

maritime & agricultural trade over a broad areamaritime & agricultural trade over a broad area

Caral in the Supe ValleyCaral in the Supe Valley

Caral in the Supe ValleyCaral in the Supe Valley

The ChavinThe Chavin Early South American civilization Early South American civilization

Capital: Chavin de Huantar (cha-BEAN Capital: Chavin de Huantar (cha-BEAN day WAHN-tar)day WAHN-tar)

At an elevation of 13,000 ftAt an elevation of 13,000 ft

North of today’s city of Lima (today’s North of today’s city of Lima (today’s capital city of Peru)capital city of Peru)

Chavin de HunatarChavin de Hunatar(a World Heritage Site)(a World Heritage Site)

Chavin de Huantar PlazaChavin de Huantar Plaza

Underground ChamberUnderground Chamber

Densely populated region Densely populated region

Connected the Peruvian coastal plains, Connected the Peruvian coastal plains, the Andean foothills, & the tropical the Andean foothills, & the tropical lowlands of the eastern Andeslowlands of the eastern Andes

→ → Control of trade by Chavin’s political eliteControl of trade by Chavin’s political elite→ → Economic advantage & influence over Economic advantage & influence over

their rivalstheir rivals→ → Dominance as a ceremonial & Dominance as a ceremonial &

commercial centercommercial center

So, what made Chavin trade so So, what made Chavin trade so influential?influential?

Introduction of maize cultivation from Introduction of maize cultivation from Mesoamerica Mesoamerica increased food supplies increased food supplies on the coastal plains and the foothills on the coastal plains and the foothills population growth population growth urbanization urbanization Chavin grewChavin grew

As Chavin grew As Chavin grew trade b/w the coast and trade b/w the coast and

a) the high mountain valleys (quinoa, a) the high mountain valleys (quinoa, potatoes, & llamas)potatoes, & llamas)

b) the jungle (coca leaves & fruits)b) the jungle (coca leaves & fruits)

Quinoa Quinoa

Coca LeavesCoca Leaves

The Significance of the LlamaThe Significance of the Llama

First domesticated in the First domesticated in the mountainous interior of mountainous interior of PeruPeru

Provided meat, wool, & Provided meat, wool, & transportationtransportation

Could carry up to 70 lbs Could carry up to 70 lbs (human: 50 lbs)(human: 50 lbs)

Promoted specialization Promoted specialization of production and of production and increased tradeincreased trade

Llamas to Peru: Camels Llamas to Peru: Camels to trans-Saharan tradeto trans-Saharan trade

Consequences of trade & Consequences of trade & urbanization:urbanization:

Communal work Communal work Reciprocal labor organizationReciprocal labor organization

↓↓Construction & maintenance ofConstruction & maintenance of:: Roads, bridgesRoads, bridges Temples, palacesTemples, palaces Irrigation, drainageIrrigation, drainage Textile productionTextile production

Chavin de Huantar TempleChavin de Huantar Temple

Columns of the TempleColumns of the Temple

Water Ditch in Chavin de HuantarWater Ditch in Chavin de Huantar

Carved Pillar & Stone Face Inside Carved Pillar & Stone Face Inside and Outside the Templeand Outside the Temple

How did reciprocal labor How did reciprocal labor organization work?organization work?

Groups of related familiesGroups of related families Held land together Held land together Claimed descent from a common ancestorClaimed descent from a common ancestor Referred to one another as brothers and Referred to one another as brothers and

sisterssisters Obligated to help one anotherObligated to help one another

Material CultureMaterial Culture

1) 1) Architectural styleArchitectural style::

a)a) Large complex of multilevel platformsLarge complex of multilevel platforms

b)b) Small buildings on the platforms (rituals Small buildings on the platforms (rituals or elite residences)or elite residences)

c)c) Construction materials: packed earth, Construction materials: packed earth, rubble, cut stone, or adobe (sun-dried rubble, cut stone, or adobe (sun-dried clay bricks & straw)clay bricks & straw)

d)d) Buildings decorated w/ relief carvings Buildings decorated w/ relief carvings (serpents, condors, jaguars, humans)(serpents, condors, jaguars, humans)

2) 2) MetallurgyMetallurgy::

a) High-quality, 3D silver, gold, & gold alloy a) High-quality, 3D silver, gold, & gold alloy ornamentsornaments

b) Only used by the elite or in religious b) Only used by the elite or in religious ritualsrituals

c) Most common decorative motif: jaguar-c) Most common decorative motif: jaguar-man (similar to the Olmec symbol)man (similar to the Olmec symbol)

3) 3) Pottery stylesPottery styles::

Chavin Religious BeliefsChavin Religious Beliefs

Jaguar-manJaguar-man

An enduring image of religious authorityAn enduring image of religious authority

A vehicle through which the gods could act A vehicle through which the gods could act in the world of humansin the world of humans

Diffusion of Chavin culture over a Diffusion of Chavin culture over a wide area:wide area:

The Chavin must have imposed on their The Chavin must have imposed on their neighbors:neighbors:

- Some form of political integrationSome form of political integration- Trade dependencyTrade dependency

↑↑

Needed military power to accomplish them.Needed military power to accomplish them.

The Chavin must have also had a The Chavin must have also had a convincing religious system and rituals convincing religious system and rituals that attracted other peoplethat attracted other people

Chavin de Huantar also served as a Chavin de Huantar also served as a pilgrimage sitepilgrimage site

The Chavin Social StructureThe Chavin Social Structure

Religious elite: priestsReligious elite: priests Political elite: king / local chiefsPolitical elite: king / local chiefs

(differences in dress styles: high-quality (differences in dress styles: high-quality textiles, gold crowns, breastplates, textiles, gold crowns, breastplates, jewelry)jewelry)

Skilled artisansSkilled artisans

Chavin TextilesChavin Textiles

Chavin Gold JewelryChavin Gold Jewelry

What happened to the Chavin?What happened to the Chavin?

No evidence of conquest or rebellionNo evidence of conquest or rebellion Historians do not know the exact causeHistorians do not know the exact cause BUT, they do know:BUT, they do know: Increased warfare in the region (at around Increased warfare in the region (at around

200 B.C.E) 200 B.C.E) Disrupted trade & undermined the Disrupted trade & undermined the

authority of the political eliteauthority of the political elite