““Pre-Historical” GeographyPre-Historical” Geography

1.1. Pre-1492:Pre-1492: Pre-Colombian Pre-Colombian– Columbus = Colon

– Colon = Colonial?

– Coincidence?

2.2. 1492 to 1532:1492 to 1532: Colonial PeriodColonial Period**

* Fall of Cuzco, Peru* Fall of Cuzco, Peru

3. 3. Post-1532:Post-1532: Post-ColonialPost-Colonial

Three Time Periods:Three Time Periods:

1. Pre-Columbian1. Pre-ColumbianPeople already here! But from where?• Ancient Vikings, Greeks, Egyptians, Celts, Ancient Vikings, Greeks, Egyptians, Celts,

Chinese?Chinese?• Lost Tribes of Israel?Lost Tribes of Israel?

-- (~1,000 B.C.: Biblical account of Assyrians (~1,000 B.C.: Biblical account of Assyrians taking over Israel redistributing the population taking over Israel redistributing the population elsewhere for security and control purposes)elsewhere for security and control purposes)

• Ancient Astronauts from Outer Space?Ancient Astronauts from Outer Space?

-- Erich Van Daniken’s theory based on Erich Van Daniken’s theory based on mythological “gods” and supernatural mythological “gods” and supernatural phenomena mentioned in religious textsphenomena mentioned in religious texts

Bering StraitBering StraitTheoriesTheories

BeringiaBeringia• When ocean levels dropped,

a land “bridge” formed between Alaska and Russia

• Earliest migrations about 12,000 - 40,000 years ago • Similar artifacts found from

Blackwater Draw, NM all the way to Chile

• DNA similarities between Native Americans and Asians

• Second migration about 4,500 years ago across Canada.

• Contested by many Traditionalists / Natives!

Native Origin Theories Native Origin Theories (“cosmologies” or “mythologies”)(“cosmologies” or “mythologies”)

Yaqui: “The Creator made ocean animals and allowed “The Creator made ocean animals and allowed some to emerge onto land. Some evolved into a short some to emerge onto land. Some evolved into a short human form: the Surem. These are the early human form: the Surem. These are the early ancestors of the Yaquis. The Surem lived in a time ancestors of the Yaquis. The Surem lived in a time out of mind and were a peace-loving, gentle people out of mind and were a peace-loving, gentle people who had no need for government. Life in the Sonoran who had no need for government. Life in the Sonoran desert was a harmonious perfection for the Surem desert was a harmonious perfection for the Surem until God spoke through a little tree and prophesied until God spoke through a little tree and prophesied about new horticultural techniques, Christianity, about new horticultural techniques, Christianity, savage invaders, and disunity. The Surem became savage invaders, and disunity. The Surem became frightened about parts of this message and frightened about parts of this message and transformed into taller, defensive farming people transformed into taller, defensive farming people called Yaquis (Hiakim) or Yo'emem (The People).”called Yaquis (Hiakim) or Yo'emem (The People).”

http://www.manataka.org/page129.htmlhttp://www.manataka.org/page129.html

Many, many theories…Many, many theories…

Pre-Siberian American Aborigines TheoryPre-Siberian American Aborigines Theory• Came from Pacific IslandsCame from Pacific Islands• Sailed to ChileSailed to Chile• Easter Island (faces west)Easter Island (faces west)• Thor HeyerdahlThor Heyerdahl

– Kon-Tiki:Kon-Tiki: 1947 built and sailed a balsa boat 1947 built and sailed a balsa boat from South America to Polynesiafrom South America to Polynesia

– Ra I and II:Ra I and II: 1969-70 built and sailed a papyrus 1969-70 built and sailed a papyrus reed boat from Morocco to Barbadosreed boat from Morocco to Barbados

– What does this prove?What does this prove?

Which current?Which current?Which tradewinds?Which tradewinds?

ManyMany Pre-Columbian Civilizations! Pre-Columbian Civilizations!

1,000’s!!1,000’s!!

Pre-1492Pre-1492Estimates…Estimates…

• U.S. and Canada:U.S. and Canada:900,000 – 12.5m900,000 – 12.5m

• Mexico:Mexico:3.2m – 37.5m3.2m – 37.5m

• Central America:Central America:150,000 – 13.5m150,000 – 13.5m

• Caribbean:Caribbean:200,000 – 550,000200,000 – 550,000

• Andes:Andes:3m – 27.5m3m – 27.5m

• Rest of South Am:Rest of South Am:1.5m – 11.25m1.5m – 11.25m

Nobody knows!Nobody knows!• For all of the AmericasFor all of the Americas most estimates have most estimates have

placed the native population ranging anywhere placed the native population ranging anywhere from 8.4 million to 112.5 million.from 8.4 million to 112.5 million.

• Whichever answer you choose, there are Whichever answer you choose, there are HUGE sociopolitical ramifications!HUGE sociopolitical ramifications!– Pro-native? Anti-native?Pro-native? Anti-native?– Watering down atrocities or overstating Watering down atrocities or overstating

tragedy for personal / political gain?tragedy for personal / political gain?

• Does it matter? 7 million killed or 50 million?Does it matter? 7 million killed or 50 million?

CivilizationCivilization Site Site LocationLocation• OlmecOlmec San LorenzoSan Lorenzo Veracruz, MexVeracruz, Mex• MayaMaya Tulum Tulum Yucatan, MexicoYucatan, Mexico

PalenquePalenque Eastern MexicoEastern Mexico

TikalTikal NE GuatemalaNE Guatemala

CopCopáánn Western HondurasWestern Honduras• TeotihuacTeotihuacánán TeotihuacTeotihuacánán Central MexicoCentral Mexico• ZapotecZapotec Monte AlbMonte Albánán Oaxaca, MexicoOaxaca, Mexico• MogollonMogollon -- AZ, NM, TXAZ, NM, TX• AztecAztec TenochtitlanTenochtitlan Central MexicoCentral Mexico• Taíno / ArawakTaíno / Arawak -- Caribbean / Caribbean /

GuianasGuianas• IncaInca Machu PicchuMachu Picchu ~Cuzco, Peru~Cuzco, Peru

Ancient Civilizations / Sites Ancient Civilizations / Sites of Latin Americaof Latin America

Teotihuacán

CaribCarib

Mogollon

Dry climate has too low of carrying carrying capacitycapacity to support large civilizations!

Major Civilizations of Mesoamerica

and the Caribbean

General Characteristics of Pre-General Characteristics of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican SettlementsColumbian Mesoamerican Settlements

• Most developed in Most developed in humid areas humid areas (not (not Mogollon) and along coastal plainsMogollon) and along coastal plains

• Coastal Plains = Fertile Soils, HumidCoastal Plains = Fertile Soils, Humid• Nomadic Hunters / Gatherers became Nomadic Hunters / Gatherers became

FarmersFarmers• Fairly localized (Maya expansive)Fairly localized (Maya expansive)• Most either died out, became mixed, or fled Most either died out, became mixed, or fled

to less-desirable areasto less-desirable areas• New sites being “discovered” constantlyNew sites being “discovered” constantly

OlmecOlmec• 1500 BC – 300 AD1500 BC – 300 AD• Isthmus of Isthmus of

TehuantepecTehuantepec• VeracruzVeracruz• ““Mother Culture” of Mother Culture” of

all Mesoamerican all Mesoamerican civilizations?civilizations?

• First First Mesoamerican Mesoamerican culture to develop culture to develop hieroglyphic scripthieroglyphic script

• Farming: maizeFarming: maize• Climate!Climate!

San LorenzoSan Lorenzo1200-900 BC1200-900 BC

OlmecOlmec

MayaMaya• 2000 - 1000 BC? – ??2000 - 1000 BC? – ??• Still around! • Mexico to Costa Rica:

debatable• Yucatan, Guatemala,

Belize, El Salvador, W Honduras in particular

• Developed writing, math and the calendar far beyond their origins

• Had “0” before Europe• Urbanized• Many historical sites!

MayaMaya

1. Chichen Itza1. Chichen Itza

3. Tulum3. Tulum

6. Tikál6. Tikál

8. Cop8. Copáánn

Chichen ItzaChichen Itza~600 AD~600 AD

Voted as one of the Voted as one of the newnew “Seven “Seven Wonders of the World” in 2007Wonders of the World” in 2007

TulumTulum~500 AD~500 AD

(most from ~1200-1400)(most from ~1200-1400)

TikalTikal400 BC400 BC

(largest Mayan site)(largest Mayan site)

CopCopáán: n: 900 BC900 BC

http://www.livescience.com/32017-lost-city-honduras-images.html

TeotihuacTeotihuacánán

• 300 BC – 750 AD• Civilization and City • Centered around D.F.• Multi-ethnic (Maya,

Mixtec, Zapotec, etc.)• “Urban Farmers”• Canals, Irrigation• Pyramids• City >200,000: Largest in

the worldworld:150-450 AD• City “disappeared”

around 650 AD: Fire?

Teotihuacán300 BC? Who built it?

#1 most visited ancient site in Mexico

ZapotecZapotec

OaxacaOaxaca

• 600 BC – 1551 AD ?600 BC – 1551 AD ?

• Artisans: Jewelry (Jade)Artisans: Jewelry (Jade)

• Irrigation Irrigation

• OaxacaOaxaca

• Monte Alban:Monte Alban: First major First major city in the West (walled)city in the West (walled)

• Developed syllables in Developed syllables in languagelanguage

• Still up to 400,000 Zapotec Still up to 400,000 Zapotec in Mexico todayin Mexico today

Monte AlbMonte Albáánn(built over the course (built over the course

of 2,000 years)of 2,000 years)

ZapotecZapotecMonte AlbMonte Albánán

600 BC600 BC

MogollonMogollon• 200 BC – 1400 AD200 BC – 1400 AD• NW Mexico, SW U.S.NW Mexico, SW U.S.• Evolved from bands Evolved from bands

of nomadic peoplesof nomadic peoples• Lived in dry, Lived in dry,

mountainous regionmountainous region• ““Cliff Dwellers”Cliff Dwellers”• Merged with other Merged with other

natives (Hohokam, natives (Hohokam, Anasazi)Anasazi)

• Pueblo, ZuPueblo, Zuñi, othersñi, others

AztecAztec• 1350 – 1521 AD1350 – 1521 AD• ““from Aztlan” from Aztlan”

(mythical place in (mythical place in Northern Mexico)Northern Mexico)

• Called selves “Mexica” Called selves “Mexica” • Oldest continuously Oldest continuously

inhabited city in the inhabited city in the West?West?

• Their sun god saw a Their sun god saw a vision where to build vision where to build TenochtitlanTenochtitlan

Tenochtitlan(1824: D.F.)

The Aztec sun god told Aztec priests to settle The Aztec sun god told Aztec priests to settle where they “saw an eagle perched on a where they “saw an eagle perched on a

cactus full of fruits (Tenochtli) eating a snake”cactus full of fruits (Tenochtli) eating a snake”

1325: Tenochtitl1325: Tenochtitláánn

Destroyed, dismantled, Destroyed, dismantled, or buried under what is or buried under what is today Mexico Citytoday Mexico City

“Altepetl” = “Water Mountain” (“community”)(“community”)

Caribbean CivilizationsCaribbean Civilizations• Arawak (includes TaArawak (includes Taííno): no):

– Everywhere in CaribbeanEverywhere in Caribbean– Largely in Greater AntillesLargely in Greater Antilles– Also on mainland South America (Colombia, Venezuela) Also on mainland South America (Colombia, Venezuela) – Even joined with Spanish against CaribsEven joined with Spanish against Caribs

• Carib: Rivals of ArawakCarib: Rivals of Arawak– Particularly in Lesser AntillesParticularly in Lesser Antilles– North Coast of South America (Venezuela, Guyanas)North Coast of South America (Venezuela, Guyanas)– ““Cannibals:” Dubbed by Columbus (karibna = person)Cannibals:” Dubbed by Columbus (karibna = person)

• Only cannibals could be taken as slavesOnly cannibals could be taken as slaves• Very warlikeVery warlike• Veracity of label?Veracity of label?

(Ta(Taííno)no)

CaribCarib

• Only ~3,000 Only ~3,000 “true” Caribs “true” Caribs left (Dominica)left (Dominica)http://www.centrelink.org/KearnsDNA.html

Native Civilizations: South AmericaNative Civilizations: South America

Inca Inca (altiplano)(altiplano)• Cuzco• Machu Picchu ……and and manymany

Amazonian Amazonian civilizationscivilizations

Incan Center of Cuzco: High up in the AndesIncan Center of Cuzco: High up in the Andes(~12,000 feet!: Northern end of Altiplano)(~12,000 feet!: Northern end of Altiplano)

Machu Picchu: Machu Picchu: One of One of “The “The NewNew Seven Seven Wonders of the World.”Wonders of the World.”

Chichén Itzá, Mexico Chichén Itzá, Mexico Christ the Redeemer, Brazil Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

The Great Wall, China The Great Wall, China Machu Picchu, Peru Machu Picchu, Peru

Petra, Jordan Petra, Jordan Roman Colosseum, Italy Roman Colosseum, Italy

The Taj Mahal, IndiaThe Taj Mahal, India#8: Easter Island#8: Easter Island

•http://www.gadling.com/2010/01/15/stone-henge-machu-picchu-top-most-threatened-wonders-list/

Atlantis?• On trade route

• Earthquake

• Lower water levels

• Pyramid?Pyramid?

• Buildings?Buildings?

• Streets?Streets?