people & civilizations of the americas 600-1500. mesoamerican culture 200-900 teotihuacan =...
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People & Civilizations of the Americas 600-1500
Mesoamerican Culture 200-900• Teotihuacan = 150,000
strong city dominated by religious structures
• Growth of the city due to the following factors…– Forced relocation– Agricultural Tech (Floating
Gardens) • Ruled by alliances of
wealthy families• Military used to protect
and expand• Collapsed around 650 C.E.
The Maya• Never formed a unified state / civil war
between competing Mayan City-States• Agricultural productivity increases
– Swamp draining, building elevated fields, irrigation systems
• Religion =– 3 Layers of Cosmos (Heavens,
Humanworld, & Underworld)• Women in Mayan Society
– Participated in rituals but held no power– “Common” women important with
Agricultural & Textile production• Military = Fought for captives not
territory (sacrifice & slavery)• Notable Achievements =
– Mayan Calendar & Writing System– Mathematics
• Declined between 800-900 C.E.
The Aztecs• Originally a Northern, clan-based
people• Founded major cities of Tenochtitlan
& Tlatelolco• Government = Monarchy
– Wealth & Power through territorial conquest
– As empire grew…so did the gap between rich & poor
• Women = – Controlled the household & economic
markets• Chinampas = small, rectangle-shaped
areas of fertile arable land to grow crops on the shallow lake beds
• Trade– Very simple & basic = Barter System
• Religion = Polytheistic– Worshipping the gods required human
sacrifice
Andean Civilizations 600-1500• All shaped by geography• Moche Culture
– Northern coastal Peru 200 C.E.– Political = Structured and
theocratic (society dominated by elites)
– Artisans skilled in metallurgy• Tiwanaku
– Founded in Bolivia after 200 C.E.– Political = Ruled by the hereditary
elite (s)– Construction = Human Powered
• Wari– Near Ayucucho, Peru– Warlike culture / Not as advanced
as Tiwanaku– Declined by 1000 C.E.
The Incas• Started small in Cuzco, but
through military expansion created a large empire
• Controlled empire through local leadership with military garrisons & hostages in Cuzco
• Government = imperial bureaucracy led by a “Proven” King
• Cultural Achievements =– Astronomical observations– Weaving & Metallurgy– Didn’t introduce new technology
but improved existing technology. • Civil War weakened the empire
by 1525 C.E.