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Environment & Lifestyle. Characteristics of Northwest. Geography North Pacific Current flows west to east. Northwest. High mountain ranges near coast Cascades Cool, wet air coming from west Rainy. Northwest. Northwest. Environment High mountains near ocean Rainy, wet
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Characteristics of Northwest • Geography • North Pacific Current flows west to east
Northwest • High mountain ranges near coast • Cascades • Cool, wet air coming from west • Rainy
Northwest • Environment • High mountains near ocean • Rainy, wet • Rarely extreme cold • Fast flowing streams • Abundant fish (salmon) • What do they do? • What do they not do?
Northwest • Rich natural environment • Fishing, hunting, some agriculture • Wealth easy to obtain • What cultural practices develop because of this?
Northwest Cultural Region • Wealth = status symbol • Potlatch • Parties with hosts giving gifts to guests • Redistribution of wealth • Not who has the most, but who can give away the most
Potlatch • Held in winter • Objects given away • Household goods (pots, pans) • Food • Blankets • Consumable goods, not wealth producing • Slaves (very wealthy)
Potlatch • Objects often destroyed afterward • Occasion often celebration
Environment • High mountains to coast • Desert to tropical Mexico City • Weather: 2 seasons, dry and wet • Temperatures: Winter 14 C, Summer 26 C
Geography Mexico City • Elevation: 2200 m • Located in valley • Lake Texcoco • Tenochtitlan (island)
Geography →Economy • Good agricultural area Corn, beans, cocoa bean, spices (peppers) • Hunting (geese, deer, rabbit) • Domesticated dogs & turkeys
Foods • Tortillas (corn-based) • Fruits & vegetables • Chocolate
Economy • Abundance → high population, cities, advanced culture. • Highly developed – most advanced in North A. • Built irrigation system • Barter system (used cocoa beans) • Turkey egg = 3 beans • Rabbit = 30 beans
Tenochtitlan • Causeways connected to mainland
Class society • City = 100,000 to 300,000 inhabitants • Two social classes: nobility and commoners • Ruler • Priests / Warriors • Commoners (artisans, merchants) • Peasants • Slaves
Social beliefs/religion • Male-dominated society • Established schools • Huitzilopochtli - chief among gods (sun & war)
History - Aztecs • Came from North (1200s?) • Attacked by neighbors (1300) • Retreated to island/city • Establish selves as empire (1420) • Spanish arrive in 1521
Time of European Contact • Aztecs were empire • Invented writing system • Arrival of Spanish accompanied by bad omens • Defeat caused also by non-Spanish tribes
Questions for consideration Why was Mezo-American culture so advanced? Is glorification of Aztec culture justified? What happened to the people?