Mayer - World History - Pre Columbian America

1. Pre-Columbian America(Ancient & Medieval Americas) (1200 BC – 1500 AD)

2. What? • This unit will focus on the development of the major civilizations in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans in the 1500’s. • Who? • We will focus on the 3 major civilizations who had a long lasting impact on the Americas and left behind evidence of their existence: the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas. • When? • Pre-Columbian America lasts from ancient times (1200 BC) until the arrival of Europeans in the Americas (1500 AD). • Where? • This unit will focus on the Americas, specifically southern Mexico, Central and South America.

3. WORD WALL quipu maize longhouse teepee council adobe Mesoamerica

4. Topic 1: Pre-Columbian Civilizations of North America

5. Learning Goal • Students will be able to identify and locate the major Pre-Columbian civilizations of North America and describe their major cultural achievements.

7. Common Misconceptions • Native Americans were uneducated • Very few written languages; no invention of the wheel, no iron or steel tools; no gunpowder • Native Americans were uncivilized • Some were nomads, followed food sources; no monotheistic religion • Native Americans were cannibals/barbarians • Too much TV/movies; Western movies glorify the brave white man settling the West from the evil, brutal Indians • Native Americans were all simple hunters/farmers • Distorted, romanticized history; created by European colonizers to show the Natives as less civilized and needing teaching

9. Civilizations of the United States and Canada • Eastern Woodlands • Consisted of numerous tribes who joined force and became known as the Iroquois • Lived in massive buildings called longhouses; 150-200 feet long, contained 10-12 families • Hunted for survival, also farmed maize, beans, and squash; Traded heavily in animal furs and skins; • Some tribes used animals furs as currency • Around 1500 AD, the Iroquois tribes united to form a Grand Council; • Each tribe had a representative, chosen by the tribe’s elder women • Grand Council met several times a year and in emergencies to resolve disputes between tribes • The first form of democracy practiced in the Americas; long before the creation of the United States

11. Civilizations of the United States and Canada • Southeast • Consisted of numerous independent tribes; • Cherokee, Hopewell, Mississipian, Chickasaw, Seminole • Survived on farming, but traded extensively; evidence of goods from Mexico and Central America found in Hopewell cities • Hopewell city of Cahokia (modern day St. Louis) was the largest city in North America • Built massive earth burial mounds, greater in size than many Egyptian pyramids • Used Mississippi River to move north and south and trade with other tribes

13. Civilizations of the United States and Canada • Great Plains • Consisted of numerous independent tribes; • Kiowa, Sioux, Comanche, Apache, Cheyenne • Utilized some farming; main food source was migrating herds of buffalo • Tribes utilized every part of the buffalo; • Meat for food; Bones for tools, Skins for clothing and shelter • Created easily movable shelters known as teepees that could be put up and taken down quickly to follow buffalo • Were nomadic a built very few permanent cities

15. Civilizations of the United States and Canada • Southwest • Consisted of independent tribes and larger civilizations; • Navaho, Pueblo, Hopi • Largest civilizations was very early; Anasazi (500-1200 AD) • Land is mainly dry, Anasazi were able to build massive canals for irrigation and drinking water; allowed for small farming • Used irrigation water to make mud bricks which were baked in sun to create adobe; became main building material • Built massive cities using adobe; but many died out due to drought • Most Anasazi moved north and began building large cities into the sides of cliffs

21. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Maya (300 AD – 900 AD) • Grew into a large empire in Southern Mexico and Guatemala through war; conquered surrounding tribes • No unified government; made up of independent city-states (like Ancient Greece) • Each city ruled by king, claimed to be descendant of the gods; with rich nobles and priests underneath him, followed by artisans, and finally peasant farmers • City states would war constantly for land, slaves, and sacrifices • Built huge trade network around empire; connected as far south as Peru; as far north as Illinois • Cities were massive, the biggest housed near 100,000 people (Palenque, Tikal) • Built around central temple to gods; contained huge markets, palaces, businesses, and sports arenas.

23. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Maya (300 AD – 900 AD) • Most Mayans were peasant farmers; • Women – stayed home; raised children; kept house; farmed; made food • Men – fought in wars; opened businesses; hunted • Religion was polytheistic; numerous gods ranked by importance • Some gods evil, some good; All gods required human sacrifice to appease them • Without human sacrifice gods would be offended and bring bad fortune to certain cities • Created more war; sacrifices had to captured from neighboring cities; only high ranking nobles or priests could be sacrificed

25. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Maya (300 AD – 900 AD) • Maya were excellent mathematicians; astronomers, and architects • Developed a system of writing using hieroglyphs; written on tree bark and folded like an accordion • Very few examples remain; most destroyed by Spanish conquistadors in 1500-1600’s • Developed own system of numbers based on the number 20 (our system is based on 10) • Built enormous monuments and temples to their gods; in the largest cities temples could stand over 200 feet • Studied astronomy extensively; created two separate calendars based on movement of the sun; • One calendar was religious; used to interpret signs from the gods and mark holy days • Other calendar was practical; used for everyday purposes with exactly 365 days; was more accurate than the calendar in use by Europeans when they arrived

27. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Maya (300 AD – 900 AD) • Mayan civilization suddenly and violently disappeared around 900 AD • Combination of invasion, overuse of water resources, and volcanic eruption • Major cities were abandoned and covered by jungle; not rediscovered until 1800-1900’s

29. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Aztec (1300 AD – 1550 AD) • Migrated into the region of Lake Texcoco in Mexico around 1325; built capital of Tenochtitlan on the islands in the lake • Expanded the city and built stone roads and bridges connecting the many islands; eventually expanded to control entire lake • Built massive canals to connect the mainland and islands; allowed for quick travel to and from the capital • Government was ruled by emperor; empire was divided into territories run by governors • Governors paid taxes to king in return for land and military support • Like Mayans, king claimed to be descendant of gods; was supported by rich nobles and priests • Beneath them were artisans, farmers, and slaves; merchants were very highly regarded

31. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Aztec (1300 AD – 1550 AD) • Capital of Tenochtitlan was massive, as many as 200-300,00 population when Europeans arrived in 1519 • Other Aztecs cities were not nearly as large; could not be allowed to challenge the capital • Tenochtitlan was center of everything; religion, trade, government, etc. • Massive trade empire; Hernan Cortes wrote that he was surprised to find that markets in Tenochtitlan were bigger, richer, and carried more and better goods than in the Spanish capital, Madrid

32. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Aztec (1300 AD – 1550 AD) • Most Aztecs were peasants who either farmed who were artisans; • Wealthy children had the option of joining the army, becoming a government official, or training to be a priest • Peasant men – expected to find a job or begin farming by early teens • Peasant women – expected to marry early and raise children, keep house, and produce goods at home to be traded • Religion was polytheistic; similar to Mayan; different gods • Gods were seen as good or evil; constantly battling each other; if evil gods became too powerful world would be destroyed • To replenish the strength of good gods Aztec practiced human sacrifice; purchased slaves or captured sacrifices in raids or war against other tribes

34. Huitzilopochtli, Sun God & God of War, Represented by a hummingbird

35. Civilizations of Mesoamerica • Aztec (1300 AD – 1550 AD) • Developed a system of writing using hieroglyphs • Copied Mayan system of numbers based on the number 20 • Capital was centered around enormous temple to the Sun God • Created their own highly accurate sun calendar; • Aztec empire is destroyed by a combination of disease and invasion by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes • Cortes uses advanced weapons and hires other tribes to assist in capturing the capital • City is destroyed and rebuilt by Spanish as modern day Mexico City

36. Essential Question • Who were the major Pre-Columbian civilizations of North America? • The major Pre-Columbian civilizations of North America were _____________________________.

37. Essential Question • Where were the major Pre-Columbian civilizations of North America? • The major Pre-Columbian civilizations of North America were located _____________________________.

38. Essential Question • What were their major cultural achievements? • Their major cultural achievements were _________________________________________.

39. Learning Scale 4 – I can tell you all of the major pre-Columbian civilizations of North America, locate them on the map, and give you details about their society. 3 – I can tell you all of the major pre-Columbian civilizations of North America and locate them on the map. 2 – I can tell you all of the major pre-Columbian civilizations of North America, but I cannot locate them on the map. 1 – I don’t know any of the major pre-Columbian civilizations of North America.

40. Topic 2: Pre-Columbian Civilizations of South America

41. Learning Goal • Students will be able to identify and locate the major Pre-Columbian civilizations of South America and describe their major cultural achievements.

42. Civilizations of South America • Nazca (200 BC – 600 AD) • Created a small empire in southern Peru around 200 BC • Very little evidence left of their existence except pottery and few buildings; no written language • Most famous evidence left of their society is the Nazca Lines • Massive grooves carved in to the rock and ground in Southern Peru • Depict geometric shapes, animals, human-like figures • So large, can only be seen form the air or surrounding hills

48. Civilizations of South America • Moche (300 AD – 800 AD) • Created a warlike empire in northern Peru around 300 AD • Civilization was focused around the Moche River which provided water for farming and irrigation • Survived mainly on farming of maize, peanuts, and potatoes; also grew large amounts of cotton for clothing and trade • No written language so little is known about their culture; • Art and pottery commonly shows scene of war and human sacrifice of prisoners • Very few buildings remain; not believed to be as skilled builders as other civilizations

50. Civilizations of South America • Inca (1300 AD – 1550 AD) • Started out as small tribe in the mountains of southern Peru • Around 1440, Incan king Pachacuti led the Incans to war against the surrounding tribes; founded the Incan Empire • By 1500, Incan Empire covered most of Peru and Chile and parts of Ecudaor, Bolivia, Colombia, and Argentina. • Created one centralized government led by an emperor in the capital of Cuzco; claimed to descendant of the Sun God, Inti • Empire was divided into territories ruled by governors • All conquered tribes were forced to speak the Incan language, Quechua • Children of conquered tribes were taken as hostages to the Inca capital and educated in Incan schools to ensure their would be no rebellion or revolt