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Pre-Columbian Civilizations In the Americas. 600-1450 C.E. Originally created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY. Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Maya Toltecs Aztecs Northern Peoples Southwest Desert Cultures Mound Builders- The Mississippi Culture Andean Civilizations
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Pre-Columbian Civilizations In the Americas 600-1450 C.E. Originally created by Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Mesoamerica Teotihuacan Maya Toltecs Aztecs Northern Peoples Southwest Desert Cultures Mound Builders- The Mississippi Culture Andean Civilizations Moche, Paracas, Nazca Inca Pre-Colombian Societies
Classic-Era Culture ofMesoamerica 600 - 900 C.E.
Expanding human populations led to congregations of people in cities and to the emergence of what is believed to be the largest city in the Americas. At its high point, about 400 to 600 C.E., Teotihuacan was home to almost 200,000 inhabitants, a thriving metropolis with scores of temples, several palatial residences, busy markets, and hundreds of workshops for artisans and craftsmen. Like the later Maya, the residents of Teotihuacan built on the cultural foundations of the Olmec. They played the ball game, adopted the Olmec calendar, and expanded the Olmec’s system of writing. Teotihuacan
Religious architecture Sun, Moon, and 20 smaller pyramids Human sacrifice was performed? Floating Gardens No evidence of single rulers Collapse of Teotihuacan is unknown Conflict, HEI, Class conflict C. 650 C.E. Teotihuacan
The Mayans Originated c. 2600 BCE Height of power 250 CE
Lands of the Mayans The Yucatan Peninsula
Mayan Cultivation of Maize Chac, God of Rain -->
Overview of Tikal (Guatemala) Temple of the Masks
Mayan Glyphs sky king house child city Mayan Mathematics
The Mayan Kingdoms fought constantly with each other. Typically, the victors destroyed the peoples they defeated. Warriors won prestige when they brought back important captives from neighboring kingdoms. Ultimately, most captives would spend their lives as slaves or sacrificial victims to the Mayan gods. Between the ninth and eleventh centuries C.E., Chichen Itza organized a loose empire that brought a measure of political stability to the northern Yucatan. Mayan Warfare
Apart from the kings and ruling families, Mayan society included a large class of priests, who maintained an elaborate calendar, knowledge of writing, astronomy, and mathematics. Like many other early civilizations, specialization of labor helped to establish distinct social classes. Peasants and slaves fed the entire society and provided physical labor for the construction of cities and monuments. Mayan Society and Religion
Between 800 -900 C.E. cities abandoned Why? Trade disrupted Tropical agriculture Slash and burn Religious, genealogies, Historical events No wheel, pulleys, beasts of burden Patrilineal but traces of women rulers Mayan Calendar Ritual calendar Solar Calendar Maya cosmos Heaven, earthly existence, dark underworld Maya
Post-classic Period inMesoamerica 900-1500 C.E.
Regional states in central Mexican valley Religious and cultural influence of collapsed Teotihuacan Intense warfare Toltecs migrate from north-west Mexico, settle at Tula (near modern Mexico city) High point of civilization: 950-1150 CE Urban population of 60,000, another 60,000 in surrounding area Subjugation of surrounding peoples Civilization First conquest state Art more warlike and violent character Two chieftains or kings ruled the Toltec state Destroyed by internal strife, nomadic incursions 1175 CE Around 1156 C.E. northern invaders overcame Tula Toltecs influenced the later Mexica or Aztec culture The Toltecs c. 800-1150
Arrived after collapse of Tula Served as serfs and mercenaries Population grew as did power 1325 C.E. began construction Capitals Tenochtitlan and Tlatelolco Military success leads to lakeshore gains Introduced Monarchial system Aristocrats selected rulers Military expansion leads to stratification of society Leaders legitimated their rule through rituals Populations of urban areas over 150,000 Developed Tributary empire by 1400s -1/4 was food 1500 C.e.- Capital and surrounding areas 500,000 Mexica or Aztecs
Hierarchical social structure High stature for soldiers Mainly drawn from aristocratic class Land grants, food privileges Sumptuary privileges, personal adornment Mexica Society
Patriarchal structure Emphasis on child-bearing Especially future soldiers Mothers of warriors especially lauded Mexica Women
Masters of complex agricultural/ritual calendars Ritual functions Read omens, advised rulers Occasionally became rulers as well Priests
Communal groups: calpulli Originally kin-based Management of communal lands Work obligation on aristocratic lands Slave class Debtors Children sold into slavery Cultivators and Slaves
Aztec View of Tenochtitlan Modern Mexico City
Ruins of the City Center, Tenochtitlan Three Plazas Aztec Spanish Mexican
Aztec Chinampa or Floating Garden:15 ft. to 30 ft. wide Dredged soil from lake bottom to create fertile plots of land-up to 7 crops per year
