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Transcript of Chapter 6scherrl/documents/Chapter6Handout2007.pdf · q Temples q Ball courts ... n Majority of...
Chapter 6
Early Societies in the Americas and Oceania
Chapter 6: Early Societies in the America
n Early Societies of Mesoamerica q The Olmecs q Heirs of the Olmecs: the Maya q Maya Society and Religion q Heirs of the Olmecs: Teotihuacan
n Early Societies of South America q Early Andean Society and the Chavín Cult q Early Andean States: Mochica
n Early Societies of Oceania q Early Societies in Australia and New Guinea q The Peopling of the Pacific Islands
Why did civilization develop later in the Americas than in Southwest Asia?
Origins of Civilization in the Americas n The Americas were originally populated by peoples from Asia who moved during the last Ice Age – c. 13,000 B.C.E. and possibly as early as 20,000 B.C.E. when the ocean levels fell q from a group of only 25 original migrants that doubled every generation, a population of 10 million would result in 500 years
n By 9500 BCE people reached southernmost part of South America
Agriculture in the Americas n Plant domestication by 5000 B.C.E., as in Old World, by women n 100 different crops, including peppers, beans, avocados, gourds,
squash, tomatoes, and the grains amaranth and quinoa n Principal crops: ________, _______, and _______
q These crops require less labor than grain does – so there was always a large pool of people who were available to do labor projects (construct buildings, serve in standing armies, etc.)
n Principal domesticated animals: q _______ q _______ q NO draft animals (no development of wheeled vehicles)
Early Civilization in the Americas
n 2 major areas of complex cultural development: q 1. ______________ q 2. ______________
n Other areas of the Americas – people living as huntergatherers or semisedentary farmers and hunters
Early Mesoamerican Civilization:
n Several American civilizations arose between 1500 B.C.E. – 900 C.E. q Olmecs q Maya q Teotihuacan
n Later civilizations (Chapter 21) q Toltecs q Aztecs
Early Mesoamerican Civilization: The Olmecs, 1200-100 B.C.E.
n Olmec civilization appeared quite suddenly – i.e., without much evidence of gradual development in the archaeological record
n Irrigated agriculture n Monumental sculpture n Urbanism (ceremonial centers) n Elaborate religion n Beginnings of calendar and writing systems n “The Rubber People” (derived from the word “Olmec”)
Early Mesoamerican Civilization: Major Sites:
n Ceremonial Centers q San Lorenzo (1200 800 B.C.E.)
q La Venta (800300 B.C.E.) n Huge 110 foot Great
Pyramid q Tres Zapotes (c. 400 100 B.C.E.)
Early Mesoamerican Civilization: The Olmecs
n Modern knowledge of the Olmecs comes entirely from archaeological evidence: q Pyramids q Jade objects (see B & Z, p. 138) q Obsidian objects q Axes q Figurines q Stone monuments q Palaces q Plazas q Temples q Ball courts q Human sacrifice q Drainage systems q Tombs Olmec Head, Basalt. 9’4” high;
10 tons. It probably took 1000 workers per head.
See also B & Z, p. 137.
Olmec Society
n Probably authoritarian in nature n Large class of conscripted laborers to construct ceremonial sites q Also tombs for rulers, temples, pyramids, drainage systems
Mysterious Decline of the Olmecs
n Ceremonial centers were destroyed and deserted
n No evidence of warfare n Revolution? n Civil war?
Early Mesoamerican Civilization: The Olmecs
n Olmecs have been called the ______________ of Mesoamerica
n After the Olmecs, the period from 150900 C.E. was a great age of cultural achievement in Mesoamerica the Classic period q Maya in southern Mexico, Yucatan, and Guatemala q Teotihuacan in the Valley of Mexico
The Maya n Maya civilization encompassed modern Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and southern Mexico
n Huge cities discovered in 19th c.
n 300 BCE900 CE n Terrace Farming
q Cacao beans n Hot chocolate n Currency
n Major ceremonial center at Tikal
The Maya, 300 B.C.E.-900 C.E. n Not a unified political state q Numerous independent “citystates” or confederations
q Centered on major rival Maya sites with monumental architecture (pyramids, plaza, citadels, ball courts) n Largest Maya citystates dominated neighboring citystates q Tikal (Guatemala) q Copán (Honduras) q Chichén Itzá (Mexico)
n Elite tombs with valuable artifacts (jade, pottery)
Maya Warfare
n Increasing competition and warfare between polities throughout Classic Period q Wars fought for captives, not territory q Elite captives were sacrificed q Commoners were enslaved
n Small kingdoms engaged in constant conflict until Chichén Itzá began to absorb captives q Some nevertheless chose death q Center of empire develops
Maya City-States
n Tikal (Guatemala) n Copán (Honduras) n Chichén Itzá (Mexico)
Tikal n Second largest and one of two most powerful Mayan citystates of Classic Period
n Height, 600800 CE n Best known for elaborate architecture q Six enormous temple pyramids (Temple 4 229 ft tall)
q Acropolis, Plaza q 10 reservoirs for drinking water
n Ongoing war with neighboring states n Population c. 40,000
Copán n Western Honduras n Medium sized citystate; one of best preserved sites q Ball court (best preserved for Mayan Period) q Hieroglyphic stairway q Elaborate stone carvings of Mayan rulers and supernatural figures
n Majority of monuments built by 13 th ruler “18 Rabbit” 695738 C.E. q Later captured and executed by a rival city
n Elaborate artifacts
Mayan Writing n Ideographs and a syllablealphabet
q Most writings destroyed by Spanish conquerors q Deciphering work began in 1960s q Individual glyphs represent syllables or complete concepts q At present, partially translated by epigraphers and linguists
n Writing used for religious and political purposes (rather than economic) q Preservation of myths and astrological data q Used by elite to record the events of their rule; source of legitimization of
elite rule n Preserved mostly in stone carvings on monuments and stelae (mostly
political representations) q Pottery decorations also q Codices (folding paper books) mostly contain religious and astrological
information n Only four survive
n Popol Vuh: Mayan creation myth q Bentley & Ziegler, p. 143
Maya Religion n Importance of bloodletting rituals
q Human sacrifices followed after removal of fingers, piercing to allow blood flow
q Selfmutilation of tongues, earlobes q Association of blood with rain and agriculture q (Chapter opener – bloodletting rituals of September 683 C.E. at
funeral of Pacal, King of Maya city of Palenque) n Elaborate pantheon of gods
q Individual gods had numerous avatars based on cardinal direction, color, upper and lower world versions
q Major deities include Maize God, Rain God (Chak) and Death God (Xipi Totec)
q Rulers often appeared in clothing of gods on political monuments (legitimization of elite authority)
n Elaborate ritual schedule based on 260 day religious year in 52 year cycle
Mayan Ritual Calendar
n Complex math q Invention of “Zero”
n Calendar of 365.242 days (17 seconds off) q Solar calendar of 365 days q Ritual calendar of 260 days q 52 year cycle
n Management of calendar lends authority to priesthood q Timing of auspicious moments for agriculture
The Maya Ball Game
n Ritual form of ball game n Highranking captives, prisoners of war contestants
n Execution of losers immediately follows the match
n Bloodletting ritual for the gods
The End of Maya Civilization
n Maya citystates were abandoned or destroyed between 800900 C.E.
n Possible causes: q Disruption of Mesoamerican trade when Teotihuacan fell
q Geologic evidence for increasing drought after 800 C.E.
q Environmental pressure caused by overpopulation q Epidemic disease q Possible internal revolt by nonelite population
Classic Era Culture and Society in Mesoamerica, 200-900
n The Maya – Mesoamerican Lowlands n Teotihuacan – Highlands of Mexico
Teotihuacan, 200 B.C.E. – 750 C.E. n Large Mesoamerican citystate
q Advantageous location near obsidian q Cloth and pottery soon also economically important q Large and important religious center q Dominated most of Valley of Mexico q Extensive trade network
n Height 450650 C.E. q Regional towns were abandoned as people moved to the city
(ceremonial center) q Control of a wide ranging economic empire q Population 125,000200,000
n Centralized government – Headed likely by a semidivine priests and/or ruler.
n City supported by agricultural surplus q Chinampas (“floating gardens”) n Maize, beans, squash
The Valley of Mexico n Highland mountain valley surrounded by volcanoes (3,000 m
elevation) q Rich soils, swamps and lake systems
n Idea for raised field “chinampas” agriculture q Maize, beans, squash
q Abundant raw materials n Especially obsidian
n Adequate rainfall and temperate environment q Rich environment (agricultural surplus) supported large population
(as many as 2 million by 16 th century C.E.)
Teotihuacan Culture n Pyramids, temples n Sacrifices n Use of sports like “the Ball Game” both as entertainment and religious nature
n Collapsed c. 650 C.E. q War? Invasion?
Post-Classic Period in Mesoamerica, 900-1500
n The Toltecs q Power vacuum left by collapse of Classic Maya culture filled by neighboring societies
q 987 C.E.: Mexican Toltecs invade from highlands; establish elite, nonMayan dynasty in Yucatan lowlands
n The Aztecs n After 1500: Spanish Conquest n (Chapter 21)
Andean Societies
n Migration into South America c. 12,000 BCE
n Climate improved c. 8000 BCE
n Largely independent from Mesoamerica
n Highly individualized due to geography
Andean Civilization
n A peculiar geography of complex microregions with extreme changes in altitude and temperature q narrow strip on the western coast, cut by a few rivers that flow to the Pacific
q the high Andes, where some peaks rise to more than 15,000 feet
q between the 2 lie high valleys and steppes, or puna, that form the highlands
n The cool uplands supported potatoes and maize n Good grazing for llamas and alpacas, the “sheep of the Andes” n Harsh environments forced human inhabitants to organize labor
efficiently in order to produce enough food to live
Early Developments in Andean Civilization
n 30002000 B.C.E. permanent agricultural villages were established in the Andean highlands and on the arid Pacific coast
n New discovery – c. 2600 B.C.E. – civilization in Peru at city of Caral
Early Developments and the Rise of Chavín
n Chavín – the 1 st major urban civilization in South America q 900250 B.C.E. q ceremonial centers with large stone buildings q in the highlands and on the coast q the most important center was Chavín de Huantar in the Peruvian highlands
Chavín Civilization
n The essential characteristics of later Andean Civilization q Architecture
n Platforms of packed earth used for ritual purposes and residences
n Platform at Chavín de Huantar known as the Castillo – 250 feet on each side and 50 feet high q Hollow interior housed the remains of
royal ancestors q Statecraft – kings q Decorative elements – serpents,
condors, jaguars, humans q Textile production
Chavín Cult
n New religion in central Andes, 900300 BCE n South America, contemporary Peru q Little known about particulars of religion q Intricate stone carvings
End of Chavín Civilization
n Civilization collapsed around 200 B.C.E. q Warfare disrupted trade
n 400+ years later, other major Andean Civilizations: q Moche, 200700 C.E. n Undisturbed Moche royal tombs at Sipan
q Tiahuanaco, c. 200 C.E. – 1200 C.E. q Nazca (not easily dated) q Chimu, c. 850 C.E. – 1460s q Incas, c. 1400 C.E.
The Mochica State
n Valley of the Moche River n Dominated northern Peru, 200700 CE n Painting survives n One of many states in region, none able to consolidate into empire
Moche
n Moche culture in the north coastal region of Peru, c. 200 C.E.
n Extensive irrigated agriculture – maize, quinoa, beans, manioc
n Society led by priests and military leaders n Artistic work known from Moche graves – elaborate textiles, gold and silver jewelry
n Decline of the Moche attributed to natural disasters in the 6 th century and to pressure from the warlike Wari people in the 8 th century
Oceania
n 60,000 B.C.E. Human migration to Australia and New Guinea
n Prehistoric land bridges, lower seas permit migration
n Outrigger canoes for opensea travel n Early huntergatherer societies in Australia n Early agriculture in New Guinea, c. 3000 BCE
Lapita Peoples, 1500-500 B.C.E.
n Found throughout Pacific Islands
n Agriculture, animal herding
n Political organization based on chiefdoms
n Trade over open ocean declines 500 BCE q Greater independence of
settlements
Americas and Oceania
n In what ways did the civilizations of the Americas and Oceania resemble those of the eastern hemisphere?
n In what ways did the civilizations of the Americas resemble those of the eastern hemisphere?