Ch. 16 People and Empires in the Americas

1. Ch. 16People and Empires in the Americas 500-1500

2. Section 1North American Societies

3. Complex Societies • Unlike the Mesoamerican and S. American natives, the N.A. tribes never build empires • Tribes in the NW were the first to display their wealth/rank • The potlatchwas a celebration usually thrown by the wealthy for the people

4. Builders • In the west, tribes adapted to their environment • Irrigation for water • Cliff dwellings (Mesa Verde) • The Anasaziwould build large, apartment style communities (pueblos) that had up to 600 rooms (Pueblo Bonito)

5. Mound Builders • From the Mississippi and East • Around 700 BC • The huge earthen moundswere like pyramids(tombs for the leaders filled with gifts) • Could also be used for religious ceremonies • Tradenetworks existed between the native groups as far as Mesoamerica

6. Alliances • While not building empires, the natives did use alliances • Best example – IroquoisLeague • Spoke related languages • Lived in the Northeastern Woodlands • Promoted joint defenseand cooperation

7. Trade Connects Cultures • Trade was the most common link between native groups • Chinookestablished a marketplacewhere people from all over the West brought their goods • The Mississippian had a trade network including everything in the US east of the Rockies

8. Religion & Family • Nearly all tribes worshipped naturespiritswith one“Great Spirit” above all others • Most gave great respect to the land • nobody ownedthe land; land was sacred • Society was typically organized around the family • Totemswere used to identify your clan

9. Section 2Maya Kings and Cities

10. City-States • As we entered the AD era, Central America began creating civilizations • The Mayanpeople were among the first • Southern Mexico to Central America • By 250AD, they were pushing forward

11. Mayan Urban Centers • Mayan Classic Period 250-900 AD • Built huge cities • Each was ruled by a god-king and was a religious center • People lived in communities on the edges • Ruled independently, the city-states were linked only by trade/alliances

12. Social Structure • Farmingled to the growth of wealth in individuals, which led to a class system • King– passed on to son • Nobles – priestsand warriors • Merchants– special skills • peasants

13. Religion • Plays a significant role on Mayan life • Polytheistic (based on nature) • Corn, death, rain, and war • Good and evil • Lots of different ways of worshipping • Offerings (sometimes human) and body modification were most common

14. Math links to religion • Gods ruled on a schedule (handed it on to another when their time was up) • Religionled to the development the calendar • 2 calendars that had different significances that affected many aspect of lives (farming, war, crowning new leaders) • Based on observing the planets, sun, and moon • 17 seconds off of our calendar

15. Written Language • Most advanced writing in the Americas • 800hieroglyphic symbols (glyphs)that represented words/sounds • Used to record history, pass on stories, and make calendars • Recorded history into a bark-paper book known as a codex(only 3 still exist) • Other books exist, but are informal accounts

16. Mysterious Decline • Late 800s, Mayan cities were suddenly abandoned • Taken over by warriors (Toltecs) who drastically changed the culture • Theories • Mayan civil wardisrupted trade, made them weak • Environment was overworked

17. Section 3The Aztecs

18. Valley of Mexico • Preceded by Olmec and Zapotec • Nestled in the mountains of Mexico, is has lakes, resources, and fertile soil • This would be the center of their empire

19. Early City-State • Teotihuacanwill be the first major city-state • Population reached over 150,000 • 1 central avenue with more than 20 pyramids dedicated to gods • Teotihuacan was the center of tradefor all of central America • Obsidianwas their most valuable item • By 750, it was abandoned

20. ToltecsTake Over (900 AD) • Took 150 years for a new culture to take over • Built pyramids/temples to their gods • Extremely warlike • God demanded blood and human sacrifice • Topiltzin will try to reform the religion using Quetzalcoatl (feathered serpent) • This becomes a legend after he is forced out and will come back to haunt them • Power is gone by 1200

21. Aztec Origins • Moving throughout Mexico, the Mexica (Aztecs) people were poor nomadsthat made great mercenaries • They are given a signfrom their god on to build Tenochtitlanin 1325

22. Aztec Empire Grows • They grew steadily • In 1428, they will merge with the Texcocoand Tlacopancity-states to create the Triple Alliance • They continued to expand using military force • Pay tributeand not much changed • Refuse to obey and you would be crushed

23. Aztec Social Structure • At its peak, the Aztec nobility consisted of gov. officials, priests, and military leaders • Beneath them were the commoners (merchants, artisans, soldiers, and farmers) and the slaves (conquered peoples) • Above everyone else was the emperorwho ruled absolutely

24. Religion in Aztec Society • Had about 1000gods • Adopteda lot of previous cultures gods (Quetzalcoatl) • Ceremonieswere elaborate to win the favor of the gods

25. Sun God & Sacrifices • Responsible for the sun rise and set, the SunGod is most important • To be strong enough to rise, he demanded humanblood sacrifice • Thousands/year were sacrificed • Usually used slaves, criminals, people “offered” as tribute, and mostly conqueredpeoples

26. Fall of the Aztecs • 1502, MontezumaII takes power • Called for moresacrifices as the empire grew larger • Many provinces rebelledin anger over sacrifices • He tried to limitgovernment/sacrifices, but it was too late. People felt that the gods were angry with the Aztec leaders

27. Section 4The Inca Create a Mountain Empire

28. Origins • Built on the traditions of the Chavin, Moche, and the Nazca • They had been mountainous but eventually settled into the Valleyof Cuzco

29. Pachacuti • Began his reign in 1438 • The Incan Empire will grow quickestunder his leadership • 80 provinces with 16 million people • Used diplomacy and military strength • Many will give up without resistance • Incans tried to gain loyalty even of the conquered people

30. Incan Unity • The empire was divided into units • Governed by bureaucracy • Roadsconnected the cities • The Quechualanguage was spoken by all • Schools educatedpeople about their culture

31. Government Presence • The Incans built cities in conquered peoples lands using their style of architecture • Reminded conquered people who was in charge • Master stonemasons • All roads led to Cuzco

32. Incan Government • Exercised completecontrol • Little private commerce • Society was like the welfare state (socialism), you provide for the state, the state will provide for you. • This kept people loyal • People were grouped (ayllu). If a group resisted Incan control, they would be moved • The greatest demand from the government was the mita(labor tribute) • Farmed, built crafts, built public works

33. Public Works • Most important was the road system • 14000miles of roads/bridges through the rocky terrain • Could be paved or just a path • Guesthouses could be found along the path • Even had a postal service using a system of runners • Like the Romans, they were very skilled engineers

34. Record Keeping • Never had a writingsystem • Everything was memorized • For numbers, they used the quipu(knotted strings) • Colorsrepresented topic, knotswere the numbers

35. Religious Practices • Had fewergods than the Aztecs, but gods were still based on naturespirits • Most Important: Creator and sun god (the king is his descendant)

36. Fall of the Empire • Peaked in the early 1500swith Huayna Capac • Upon his death, the empire was dividedamong his sons • They foughta civil war not long after that torethe empire apart